BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention is in the field of motor driven, soap bubble producing toys.
Motor driven, soap bubble producing toys have been around for many years. Typically, such toys have a soap bubble solution reservoir, a motive power source, for example, a battery, a motor, a pump, a soap bubble solution feed tube, and a soap bubble forming structure, such as a wand or wand-like circular aperture for forming the soap bubbles.
In the prior art, these soap bubble producing toys commonly include a soap bubble ring that is dipped into soap bubble solution and then exposed to an air stream to form the soap bubbles. Other known soap bubble producing devices and machines commonly include a wiper or a swiper, such as in the form of a wire or blade, that travels across a soap bubble aperture coating it with soap bubble solution to form a film which is then exposed to an air stream to create the soap bubble.
Both of these existing mechanisms have drawbacks. These prior art devices, machines and mechanisms typically only include a single soap bubble aperture for creating one supply of soap bubbles. However, the volume of soap bubbles created is inherently limited when only one soap bubble creation portion is provided. In the former prior art example of a ring that is dipped into soap bubble solution, volume of soap bubbles than can be produced is increased by providing more rings that can be dipped into a one or more soap bubble solution troughs by the machine, either simultaneously or sequentially. In other words, more soap bubble creation rings, and more soap bubble solution troughs can be provided in the same machine so it can create more soap bubbles.
On the other hand, it is more difficult to increase the volume of soap bubbles created by soap bubble making machines that use some type of wiping structure because each soap bubble making port must receive a supply of soap bubble solution so that it can be wiped across the soap bubble making opening. To keep costs of manufacture as low as possible, including a separate motor, soap bubble solution supply and pump and air blower for each soap bubble producing port is not feasible. Therefore, such soap bubble making machines 10 of the prior art that employ a wiper 12 typically have only a single soap bubble making port 14 and a single corresponding wiper 12 as seen in the prior art of FIG. 1. Providing only a single supply of soap bubbles 16 inherently limits the volume of soap bubbles that can be created with a given prior art machine 10.
As can be seen in prior art FIG. 1, solution is introduced onto a ring 16 with a collection trough 18 where the wiper 16 swipes across the surface thereof to create a film of soap bubble solution. Air is then blown outwardly through an aperture port 14 to form the desired soap bubble 16. Continuous feed of soap bubble solution to the ring 16, continuous rotation of the wiper 12 to create a film of soap bubble solution and continuous blowing of air creates a continuous formation of soap bubbles 16 from the single soap bubble blowing port 14, as shown.
Also, it is common for the single mechanical wiper mechanism of the prior art of FIG. 1 to be driven indirectly by the same motor that is driving the pump for the solution and the blower. However, it is desirable for more than one soap bubble port 14 and wiper mechanism 12 to be provided in this type of device 10 as well to increase the volume of soap bubbles 16 that this machine 10 can deliver.
Incorporating more than one such soap bubble creation port with more than one corresponding wiper in a single soap bubble making machine for providing a larger volume of soap bubble is desired.
There is a need for a soap bubble machine that has a soap bubble solution manifold that can deliver soap bubble solution from one reservoir to more than one soap bubble making ports simultaneously.
There is a need for a soap bubble machine that mechanically links rotation of respective wipers associated with the more than one soap bubble ports.
There is a need for a soap bubble machine that can blow air to more than one soap bubble making port that has been wiped and provided with soap bubble solution across the opening thereof for the creation of soap bubbles at all soap bubble ports simultaneously.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved soap bubble producing mechanism that can be used with motor driven soap bubble producing toys.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an improved mechanism for producing soap bubbles in a motor driven soap bubble producing toy. The mechanism is a soap bubble generating assembly that automatically forms a soap bubble film over the more than one soap bubble port after it has been wiped by a wiper mechanism.
The present invention includes a plurality of soap bubble making ports in a housing where each of the ports includes a ring-shaped soap bubble outlet. A single tube, via the pump, pulls soap bubble solution from the reservoir and, through a manifold, such as a single input to three output manifold, delivers soap bubble solution to multiple output tubes respectively connected to the output ports of the manifold so soap bubble solution is simultaneously delivered to each of the plurality of soap bubble making ports. A plurality of mechanically linked wipers is respectively located at each soap bubble making port to form a film at the soap bubble making port. An air manifold splits air received from the air blower respectively to each soap bubble making port. When a motor-driven shaft rotates, soap bubble solution is delivered to all soap bubble ports; causes all of the wipers to rotate and causes air to be blown through all of the soap bubble ports to creates multiple soap bubbles at the same time. It is also possible that a singular, centrally mounted wiper or swiper is provided to rotated over all of the, for example three, soap bubble ports in a circular fashion. Such an embodiment can avoid additional linkages and mechanical component for multiple wipers to simplify and lower the cost of the machine.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a soap bubble machine with more than one soap bubble creation port with more than one corresponding wiper in a single soap bubble making machine for providing a larger volume of soap bubble is desired.
There is a further object of the invention to provide a soap bubble machine that has a soap bubble solution manifold, such as a single input to multiple (e.g. three) output manifold, that can deliver soap bubble solution from a single reservoir to more than one soap bubble making ports simultaneously to greatly increase soap bubble production.
There is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a soap bubble machine that mechanically links rotation of all the respective wipers associated with the more than one soap bubble port.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a soap bubble machine that can simultaneously blow air through more than one soap bubble making port that has been wiped and provided with soap bubble solution across the opening thereof for the creation of soap bubbles at all soap bubble ports simultaneously.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved soap bubble producing mechanism that can be used with motor driven soap bubble producing toys.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
The novel features that are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying Figures in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art soap bubble machine with a single soap bubble creating port with a respective single wiper and respective single blowing port;
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the multi-port soap bubble blowing machine in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the multi-port soap bubble blowing machine in accordance with the present invention in the process of blowing bubbles from multiple ports;
FIGS. 4A and 4B show the loading of soap bubble solution and swiping thereof to create a film for creating soap bubbles in the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the first embodiment of the multi-port soap bubble machine of the present invention with raised bosses below the wipers to protect them;
FIG. 6 is a top view of the second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 shows the single dip tube in the reservoir of soap bubble solution and a return draining tube feeding unused soap bubble solution back into the reservoir;
FIG. 8 is a top view of the machine of the present invention in an exploded/disassembled view, for ease of reference of the components, showing the solution feed lines, integrated peristaltic pumps and manifold;
FIG. 9 shows the linking of the three pump lines together using a 1 to 3 manifold and installed in place in the housing of the machine of the present invention;
FIG. 10 shows the feed of solution supply lines to the soap bubble ports;
FIG. 11 shows another view of the solution supply lines to the soap bubble ports
FIG. 12 shows another view of the solution supply lines with 1 input to 3 output manifold;
FIG. 13 shows an exploded view of the air blower and solution feed lines of the present invention;
FIG. 14 shows another view of the air blower and solution feed lines of the present invention;
FIG. 15 shows three spindles being simultaneously driven by the motor;
FIG. 16 shows the shaft of the blower turbine linked to the motor shaft;
FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of the use of a single pump on the single input side of the manifold; and
FIG. 18 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention with single wiper that wipes across all of the soap bubble ports.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The new and unique soap bubble machine 100 with multiple soap bubble ports 102 with respective multiple wipers 104 and blowing ports is described in detail below. The soap bubble machine 100 of the present invention is shown in detail in FIGS. 2-16.
Referring first to FIG. 2, a top front perspective view of the multi-port soap bubble blowing machine 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown. The present soap bubble machine 100 is preferably of horizontal configuration but also could be vertically positioned in similar fashion to the prior art of FIG. 1. Unlike the prior art of FIG. 1, the present invention of FIG. 2 includes more than one (e.g., three) soap bubble blowing ports, each with their own wiper and feed of soap bubble solution. The machine 100 includes a bubble solution reservoir 108, vent intake 110 and upper housing 112 with a top plate 114.
FIG. 3 shows the present machine in use and blowing bubbles 106 in a second embodiment 100′ of the present invention, details of which will be discussed in detail below.
FIG. 4A shows the loading of soap bubble solution 117 to form a film 116 onto a soap bubble forming ring 118 from a feed tube, shown in FIG. 7 below, from the soap bubble solution reservoir 108. FIG. 4B shows the swiping wipers 104 to create a film 120 for creating soap bubbles 106 when air is blown through the open soap bubble ports 102. The ports 102 are positioned through a boss structure 122 that can be of any configuration. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the boss structure 122 is large enough in plan view so that the wipers 104 rest on the top thereof at all times. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the wipers 104 extend over the edge of boss structures 122. Otherwise, the embodiment 100 and 100′ are the same in structure and configuration.
FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment 100 of the present invention that includes optional but preferred raised boss structures 122 below the each of the wipers 104 to protect them. Thus, when the wipers 104 are rotating and continuously creating soap bubble solution film to create the soap bubbles 106, it is more difficult for a person, such as a child, to grab to wipers 104 and possibly damage them. A top plate 114 is provided with more than one soap bubble making port 102 to simultaneous create soap bubbles 106 from all of the ports 102 at the same time. A drainage or drain port 124 is provided through the top plate 114 to route excess soap bubble solution 117, as indicated by the arrows, back into the reservoir for use later 108.
FIG. 6 shows a top view of the slightly different embodiment 100′ of the multi-port soap bubble machine of the present invention with smaller boss structures 122 surrounding each port 102 compared to embodiment 100.
In a further embodiment 200, as shown in FIG. 18, it is also possible that a singular, centrally mounted wiper or swiper 304 is provided to rotate over all of the, for example three, soap bubble ports 102 in a circular fashion about a central spindle or post 306 that is mechanically linked to the motor 150. The broken lines in FIG. 18 show how the single wiper 304 passes over each of the soap bubble ports 102 as it rotates by to create the bubble film for the creations of bubbles at each port 102. Such an embodiment can avoid additional linkages and mechanical component for multiple wipers to simplify and lower the cost of the machine.
FIG. 7 shows the machine 100/100′ of the present invention showing the reservoir base 108 being threadably connected to main housing 112 with vent intake 110 disposed therebetween. FIG. 7 shows the reservoir base 108 separated from the main housing 112 to permit pouring of bubble solution through port 126 into the reservoir base 108. A single dip tube 128 in the reservoir of soap bubble solution 117 and a return draining tube 130 feeding back into the reservoir base 108 from the drainage or drain port 124 discussed above. The feed tube 128, as will be discussed in detail below, pulls soap bubble solution 117 from the reservoir base 108 by use of peristaltic pumps, as seen in the figures below. The single tube feed 128 is split into multiple supply lines to the respective multiple soap bubble ports 102.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the machine 100/100′ of the present invention in an exploded condition for illustration purposes only. The components shown in FIG. 8 are installed in housing 112 with ports 102 facing upwards as in FIGS. 2 and 3.
The feed tube 128 pumps bubble solution up from the supply in the reservoir base 108, through manifold 132 and then into three output lines 134a-c having their own inline peristaltic pumps 136a-c to pull soap bubble solution liquid from the reservoir base 108 up through the manifold 128 and out through the multiple solution feed lines 136a-c (a single input to three output manifold 128 in this example case) and then to each of the respective rings 116 at each soap bubble port 102. As can be best seen in FIG. 8, three peristaltic pumps 136a-c, also commonly known as roller pumps, are provided for each of the three soap bubble solution feed lines 134a-c, The optional protective cap 140 of two on the three pumps 136a-c has been removed for illustration purposes only. FIG. 9 shows the pumps 136a-c installed in the housing 112 with manifold mounted in place with solution feed lines 134a-c routed therefrom to the rings 116 about each port 102.
Pumps 136a-c are of type of positive displacement pump used for pumping a variety of fluids and is well-suited for pumping soap bubble solution 117. Preferably, the soap bubble solution fluid routed via one supply line 128 into a manifold 132 with one input line and, for example, three output lines 134a-c to accommodate three soap bubble ports 102. The manifold 132 may have two or more than three outputs to feed the appropriate number of supply lines 134a-c depending on how many soap bubble ports 102 need a supply of soap bubble solution from the bubble solution reservoir 108.
As can be seen, a triple peristaltic pump 136a-c is configured on the output side of the manifold 128, on each output feed line 134a-c to effectively pump (i.e., pull) soap bubble solution 117 from the feed reservoir base 108 and direct it to each of the respective soap bubble ports. Referring back to FIG. 9, further details are shown as to the 1 to 3 manifold to simultaneously supply solution to each of the three bubble ports 102. A rotor (in pump housing 142), is mechanically linked to the motor and a main rotating shaft of the motor to rotate the rollers 144 thereby compressing the flexible tube feed lines 134a-c as they rotate by. The part of the tube 134a-c under compression is closed, forcing the fluid to move through the tube 134a-c. Additionally, as the tube opens to its natural state after the rollers 144 pass, more fluid is drawn into the tubes 134a-c respectively. Preferably, there are two or more rollers 144 compressing the tube in each pump 136a-c, trapping a body of bubble solution fluid 117 between them. The body of fluid 117 is transported through the tubes 134a-c, toward the pump outlet, namely toward the soap bubble making ports 102. The multiple peristaltic pumps 136a-c of the present invention 100, 100′ preferably run continuously but they may be configured to run intermittently, such as in indexed fashion through partial revolutions to deliver smaller amounts of fluid 117.
It is also possible and contemplated by the present invention to provide, instead, a single pump, representationally shown as 236 in FIG. 17, on the input leg 128 upstream before the solution manifold 132, as shown in the alternative embodiment of 200. Such use of a single pump 236, such as a single peristaltic pump 236, in certain environments and applications may be more preferred. In that alternative embodiment 200, the single pump 236 “pushes” bubble solution 117 into the manifold 132.
FIG. 11 shows yet another view of the supply lines 134a-c to feed soap bubble solution 117 to the rings 116 about soap bubble ports 102. FIGS. 10 and 11 shows additional views of the solution supply lines 134a-c to the rings 116 about soap bubble ports 102. In this view, air chamber 146 that received blown air from fan 148 that is powered by motor 150. Shaft 152 can be seen, which powers the rotation of wipers 104 that are mechanically interconnected thereto, as will be discussed below. Air 154 is pulled in through air intake 156 and then into the air manifold.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show views of the air blower manifold, generally at 158, and solution feed lines 134a-c of the present invention 100, 100′ disassembled from the housing 112 for ease of view and discussion. The details of mechanical rotation of the respective wipers 104 at each soap bubble port 102 location can be seen. Each of the wipers 104 are mounted to a free end of a respective keyed rotating spindle 160 through the top plate 114 of the machine 100, 100′. As can best be seen in FIG. 13, the free ends of the keyed rotating spindles 160 respectively reside in complementary rotating seats 162 in the air blower manifold 158 when the top plate 114 is attached to the air blower manifold 158. The rotating keyed seats 162 are mechanically linked to the shaft 152 of the motor 150 so they are all driven simultaneously by the motor 150. When the top plate 114 is mated to the top of the blower manifold 158, each spindle 160 is rotatably driven by a respective one of the rotating seats 162. FIGS. 13 and 14 shows how all three spindles are simultaneously driven by the motor.
For the blowing of air through ports 102, the motor 150 is energized and the fan 157 is actuated and air is blow through air manifold 158 and out through air ports 164, which are in fluid engagement with ports 102. Thus, bubble solution film across ports 102 receives air through ports 164 for the creation of bubbles 106.
For the rotation of the wipers 104, the motor 150 is interconnected to rotating seats 162 into which keyed spindles 160 resides. Thus, when the motor is energized, the seats 162 rotate thereby rotating the wipers 104 on the opposite side of the top plate 114. FIG. 15 further shows a cross-sectional view of the interconnection of the multiple spindles being driven by a single motor.
As a result, a single motor 150 simultaneously provides the power to blow air to multiple ports 102, routes bubble solution 117 to each ring 116 and rotates each of the wipers 104. FIG. 16 shows how the shaft of blower fan 147 is linked to the motor 150 via motor spindle 168. Thus, this enables the motor 150 to not only power the rotation of the spindles 160 (to rotate the wipers 104) but also power the fan turbine 157 to blow air through the blower manifold 158 and then out through ports 102 that carry a bubble solution film across rings 116 and trough therein to create bubbles 106 therefrom.
FIG. 15 shows the air blower 158, in the form of a transverse rotating turbine, being mechanically linked to the shaft 166 of the motor 150. Referring back to FIGS. 12 and 14, air is blown by the turbine 157 and into the linear manifold to deliver air through each of the soap bubble ports 102. The raised wall/boss structures 122 surrounding each of the output ports 102 of the air blower manifold 158 respectively mates with the keyed walls surrounding the soap bubble ports 102 at the bottom of the top plate 114 of the machine 100, 100′ to provide a sealed delivery of the air to the soap bubble ports 102. Thus, the pathway of air from the blower turbine 157 is directed more efficiently.
As can be understood, the various components shown above are assembled into a completed soap bubble machine 100, 100′, as substantially shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. The components of the assembled machine 100, 100′ are secured in place, such as by gluing, welding, heat sealing, or the like, to provide the final working machine 100, 100′ in accordance with the present invention.
In view of the above, the present invention uniquely provides a wiper type soap bubble blowing machine 100, 100′ that can supply soap bubble solution 117 simultaneously to more than one soap bubble port 102 while also rotating all wipers 104 and blowing air through all soap bubble ports 102 at the same time. As a result, the soap bubble machine 100, 100′ of the present invention can produce more soap bubbles 106 than previously possible with prior art devices and machines.
It should be noted that the various structural components of the soap bubble machine 100, 100′ of the present invention are preferably molded plastic, silicone for the tubing for the soap bubble solution lines. The motor and other electrical components are made with materials known in the art for such motors and electrical components.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20230241527
