BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to an amusement device that generates bubbles from a personal mobility device platform such as a skateboard.
2. Description of Related Art
Bubble makers have been around for decades and include manual, electric and automated bubble makers. Examples of bubbles makers and their variations can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,295,248; 3,861,076; 4,775,348; 6,200,184; 6,450,851 and 6,953,376.
Skateboards are also well known and are believed to have been invented in the 1950s gaining widespread popularity in the 1960s. The components of a typical skateboard include the platform which supports the rider, trucks, which connect to the platform and include an axle for attaching wheels. Traditionally, skateboards contain a forward and rear truck each having an axle and two wheels connected to each truck.
Scooters also have been around for decades with some of the first patents directed to scooters beginning in the early 1900's. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,395,4978 is directed to a platform having a plurality of wheels that can be ridden by an individual. U.S. Pat. No. 1,516,105 is directed to platform having an upright handle with three wheels. U.S. Pat. No. 1,832,018 is directed to a motorized scooter including an upright handle bar, riding platform, and steering bar. U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,832 is directed to a motor scooter having a foldable handle and a friction drive system.
Few attempts have been made to integrated mobility devices such as skateboards and scooters with bubble makers. Traditionally, these attempts amount to nothing more than attachments or accessories that are attached to the scooter or skateboard and have inherent limitations. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,376 illustrates the bubble maker attached to the rear of a scooter or roller blade. An obvious disadvantage is that the reservoir for the bubble fluid has to be attached to the bubble maker and is not integrated into the mobility device. Therefore, the capacity of the reservoir is severely limited by the footprint and ground clearance needed for the mobility device.
It would be advantageous to provide for the ability to produce bubbles either automatically or electrically while riding a skateboard, scooter or other personal mobility device without requiring the rider to use his/her hands to turn on or off the bubble maker while riding the skateboard.
It would be advantageous to provide for the ability to produce bubbles either automatically or electrically while riding a skateboard, scooter or other personal mobility device having a fluid reservoir integrated into the platform of the mobility device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objectives of this invention are accomplished by providing a system for providing a skateboard or scooter manufactured in combination with a bubble maker comprising: a platform; a bubble/fluid reservoir carried by said platform and in fluid communications with an actuator; a nozzle in fluid communications with said reservoir, and carried by said platform so that fluid contained in said reservoir is forced through said nozzle when said actuator is activated. The actuator can be activated by the rider's foot or remotely by the rider's hand and can be manual or motorized.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention
FIGS. 2 through 2C are cutout views of the portions of the invention;
FIGS. 3A through 3C are cutout views of portions of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention;
FIGS. 5A through 5E are perspective views of an embodiment of the invention;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic of a portion of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic of one aspect of the invention;
FIGS. 9A through 9D are top views of components of the invention;
FIGS. 10A through 10B are top views of components of the invention, and;
FIG. 11 includes perspective views of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to water cannon that can be integrated into a skateboard, or scooter or other personal mobility deice having a platform for supporting the rider. The invention can also be attached to a skateboard as an aftermarket accessory with modifications to the platform. Referring to FIG. 1, skateboard 10 includes a platform 12, trucks 14 and wheels 16. As is well known in the art, two trucks 14 are carried by the underside of the platform 12 and each set of trucks includes a set of wheels 16. A fluid reservoir 22 is carried by the skateboard and is in fluid communication with the nozzle 18. Fluid is transferred to a nozzle 18 through hose 20. Actuator 24 can be used to case fluid to be pumped or to activate a pump for pumping fluid from the reservoir 22 through the nozzle 18. In one embodiment, the fluid reservoir 22 is attached to or integrated into the platform 12 that supports the rider.
The reservoir can have one portion 22 that is transparent so that the fluid level can be observed by the rider by looking at the reservoir. The fluid reservoir can be attached under or otherwise to the platform. When attached under the platform, the fluid reservoir it is out of the way and does not interfere with riding the skateboard.
Referring to FIG. 2, one pump assembly for transporting fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle is shown. One embodiment of actuator 24 is shown having a button 26 that can be pressed in a direction shown as 25. A spring 28 biases the button in a direction 27 so that the button will return to its original position after being depressed. The actuator includes opening 30 which is connected to the reservoir and opening 32 is connected to the nozzle. When the actuator is activated, fluid will travel from the reservoir to the nozzle.
In operation, and referring to FIG. 2A, the button is pressed and travels in direction 25. This creates pressure in a cavity 34. In reaction to the pressure, valve 36 opens and fluid is forced from the cavity outwards toward the nozzle through opening 32. The next step, as shown in FIG. 2B, spring 28 forces the button in a direction 27. This creates a vacuum in cavity 34 and forces valve 36 to close and valve 38 opens. This allows fluid from the reservoir to be drawn through valve 38 an into the cavity 34 to fill the cavity so that it can be forced to the nozzle when the button is subsequently pressed.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C, the actuator can be operated through a motorized assembly 40. Motorized assembly can include a wheel 42 and arm 44. When the wheel 42 rotates, it causes the arm to reciprocate in a lateral direction, thus causing the plunger 46 to move in a direction shown as 48, creating pressure in the cavity and creates a vacuum in the cavity to force fluid through the nozzle and draw fluid from the reservoir.
Referring to FIG. 3A, plunger 46 is forced in a direction 25 by the wheel and the arm when the wheel is turning in a direction shown as 50. Valve 36 is forced open by pressure created in the cavity and value 38 is forced closed. Fluid is forced through opening 32 and through the nozzle. In FIG. 3B, the plunger is moved in direction shown as 27 creating a vacuum in the cavity. Valve 38 opens and valve 36 closes so that the vacuum draws water from the reservoir through the valve 38 into the cavity 34. FIG. 3C shows the cycle beginning to repeat.
Referring to FIG. 4, wheel 42 and arm 44 can be driven by a motor 52, such as an electric motor, connected to a switch 54 and power supply 56. When the switch is closed, the electric motor causes the wheel to rotate resulting in fluid being drawn from the fluid reservoir and forced out through the nozzle. In one embodiment, the switch 54 can be closed by a remote device that is wirelessly connected to the motor and its electrical circuit. When the wireless device is used to close the switch 54, the motor is actuated, thus causing the wheel 50 and arm 44 to move the plunger and directing fluid to the nozzle as described above. It should be understood that this invention is not limited to a single nozzle or that the nozzle be mounted only on the handles. Multiple nozzles can be used and nozzles can exist on the front, side or rear of a skateboard. For example, a rear mounted nozzle can be positioned near the rear of the platform and aimed to spray fluid upwards into a target that is positioned behind and above the platform.
In FIG. 5A, nozzle 16 is pivotally connected to the platform through pivot 66 allowing the nozzle to rotate in a direction shown as 68. A spring 70 biases the nozzle in a direction shown as 72 so that, in this embodiment, the nozzle tends to point to the left of the platform. Foot lever 74, when pressed forward, causes cable 76 to move in a direction shown as 78. This direction of force is accomplished since the cable is pulled around idler 80. Referring to FIG. 5B, the effect of the foot lever being moved is shown. When tension is placed on the cable, the nozzle is pulled in a direction 78 resulting in the nozzle rotating counterclockwise and thereby aiming to the right of the platform. Therefore, the nozzle spray can be aimed without the need to move the board and interfere with the direction of travel of the skateboard. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 5C, a plurality of foot levers are connected to the nozzle through cables so that when one foot lever is pressed, the nozzle rotates and changes the aim of the spray. The levers and nozzle can be arranged so that the right lever moves the nozzle right and the left lever moves the nozzle left or the directions can be reversed.
Referring to FIG. 5D, another embodiment is shown wherein a gear is connected to nozzle 16 wherein nozzle 16 includes teeth 84. When the foot lever, connected to the gear through the cable is moved, the gear rotates in a direction shown as 86 causing the nozzle to rotate in an opposite direction causing the nozzle to aim to the left. When tension on the cable is removed, the spring connected to the gear pulls the gear in a direction opposite that of direction 84 and causing the nozzle to rotate in direction 86 and aim to the right. In FIG. 5E, the idler is not present and the cable causes the gear to rotate in a direction shown as 86 when the foot lever is moved by switching the connection points of the cable and spring on the gear. In one embodiment, the direction of the gear rotation in response to the lever being pulled can be reversed.
Referring to FIG. 6A, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, actuator 88 is carried by the upper portion of the platform and can be activated upon pressure from the rider's foot. The actuator is connected to a manual pump or electric pump which will force fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle. Actuator 88 can force fluid to nozzle 18 carried by the front portion of the platform or through nozzle 90 carried by the rear portion of the platform, or both in combination.
As can be seen in FIG. 6B, in one embodiment, the actuator 92 is a foot pump assembly that forces fluid from the reservoir 22 out though the nozzle 18. In one embodiment, multiple actuators can activate pumps to force water through multiple nozzles both individually and in combination through a selector which can open and close valves to only allow fluid to travel to certain nozzles.
Referring to FIG. 7, the nozzle includes at least one bubble wand 100 which is immersed in fluid in tank 106. Fluid is pumped into tank 106 from the fluid reservoir 22 through delivery hose 20. The babble wand 100 rotates in a direction shown as 112 and as each wand elements enters and then exits the tank, air 104 from fan 102 drive by fan actuator 108 creates bubble 110a which eventually forms a complete bubble 110b and disconnects from the nozzle. The wands and fan can be electronically motivated or manually motivated by the actuator.
Referring to FIG. 8, the invention is integrated with a scooter that includes a standard 120 and a handle bar 114. A fluid reservoir 22 is carried by the scooter and in one embodiment, carried by standard 120. Fluid is transferred to a nozzle 116 through hose 118. Actuators 120 are used to pump fluid and activate the nozzle and to create bubbles. In one embodiment, the fluid reservoir is attached to or integrated into the platform that supports the rider. The reservoir can have one portion 22 that is transparent so that the fluid level can be observed by the rider by looking at the reservoir. In another embodiment, the fluid reservoir is attached under the platform so that it is out of the way and does not interfere with riding the scooter.
Referring to FIG. 9A, a nozzle attached to a handle is shown. The disadvantages with this design are that the handle bar needs to be turned from position 158 to position 160 so that the nozzle will spray in a direction shown as 162 from its original direction 164. This requires that the direction of the scooter be altered simply to change the direction of the spray of the nozzle.
In FIG. 4B, nozzle 116 is pivotally connected to the handle through pivot 166 allowing the nozzle to rotate in a direction shown as 168. A spring 170 biases the nozzle in a direction shown as 172 so that, in this embodiment, the nozzle tends to point to the left of the handles. Lever 174, when pressed, causes cable 176 to move in a direction shown as 178. This direction of force is accomplished since the cable is pulled around idler 180. Referring to FIG. 4C, the effect of the lever being pressed is shown. When tension is placed on the cable, the nozzle is pulled in a direction 178 resulting in the nozzle rotating counterclockwise and thereby aiming to the right on the handles. Therefore, the nozzle created bubbles that can be aimed without the need to move the handles and interfere with the direction of travel of the scooter. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 4D, a plurality of levers are connected to the nozzle through cables so that when one lever is pulled, the nozzle rotates and changes the aim of the spray. The levers and nozzle can be arranged so that the right lever moves the nozzle right and the left lever moves the nozzle left or the directions can be reversed.
Referring to FIG. 10A, another embodiment is shown wherein a gear is connected to nozzle 116 wherein nozzle 116 includes teeth 184. When the lever, connected to the gear through the cable is pulled, the gear rotates in a direction shown as 186 causing the nozzle to rotate in an opposite direction causing the nozzle to aim to the left. When tension on the cable is removed, the spring connected to the gear pulls the gear in a direction opposite that of direction 184 and causing the nozzle to rotate in direction 186 and aim to the right. In FIG. 5B, the idler is not present and the cable causes the gear to rotate in a direction shown as 186 when the lever is pulled by switching the connection points of the cable and spring on the gear. In one embodiment, the direction of the gear rotation in response to the lever being pulled can be reversed.
Referring to FIG. 11, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, actuator 188 is carried by the rider's platform and can be activated upon pressure from the rider's foot. The actuator is connected to a manual pump or electric pump which will force fluid from the reservoir to the nozzle. Actuator 188 can force fluid to nozzle 116 carried by the handle or through nozzle 190, or both in combination. In one embodiment, the actuator 192 is a foot pump assembly that forces fluid from the reservoir out though the nozzle. In one embodiment, multiple actuators can activate pumps to force water through multiple nozzles both individually and in combination through a selector which can open and close valves to only allow fluid to travel to certain nozzles.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
