BUBBLE MAKING SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for containing bubble solution and converting the solution into bubbles through a particular motion is disclosed. The system includes a sealed reservoir for containing the bubble solution and having an outlet, an aperture array adapted for cooperation with the particular motion to cause the bubble solution to convert to bubbles; and a delivery network adapted for allowing flow of the bubble solution from the outlet to the aperture array only during the particular motion. Several exemplary devices employing the system are also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to bubble-making for such reasons as child entertainment, visual effect, or a myriad of other purposes. More specifically, this invention is related to methods and systems for making bubbles, for purposes including use in toys and other devices. And the invention is related to toys and other such devices employing such methods and systems.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

There are numerous devices and methods in the prior art for producing bubbles for such reasons as child entertainment, visual effect, or a myriad of other purposes. Some generate bubbles when squeezed, the same way in which a container of dish soap with a small dispensing aperture makes a few small bubbles when you squeeze it. Others generate a liquid froth of bubbles. Some include a ribbed loop that is dipped in a liquid bubble solution containing soap and/or glycerin, causing a film of the solution to span the aperture of the loop then create a bubble from that film by blowing air through the aperture. These will be referred to as “ribbed wand armature” devices.

The vast majority of bubble-making devices and systems are such ribbed wand armature devices. The user immerses the entire loop end of the wand into a reservoir of bubble solution, removes the wand from the solution, and then either blows through the film of bubble solution spanning the loop aperture to create the bubbles, or moves the wand through the air to create the bubbles. This continues until the solution is gone or no longer films over the aperture, usually lasting a few seconds and a few dozen bubbles at most.

The ribs on the wand aperture are necessary in such devices and systems to act as a reservoir of bubble fluid. Small amounts of bubble fluid are retained between the ribs by capillary action and because of the viscosity of the bubble solution. As the user depletes the film inside the wand aperture by blowing and creating bubbles, additional bubble fluid is drawn from the spaces between the ribs and into the aperture, replenishing the film.

Because the ribs on the wand can only retain a tiny volume of bubble solution, a secondary reservoir is necessary. Sometimes this is a bottle or jar of bubble solution, ranging in size from less than an ounce to a half gallon or more. Whatever form the reservoir takes, the ribbed wand system requires frequent and repeated immersion of the ribbed wand armature into the secondary reservoir to replenish the bubble solution in the wand's ribs and aperture. If the secondary reservoir is small, then a tertiary reservoir may be needed to re-fill the second reservoir as it becomes depleted.

One subset of ribbed-wand armature devices employs one or more ribbed wands attached to a rotating shaft. The attached wand(s) are rotated into, through, and out of a secondary reservoir that is integrated into the device, and then rotated in front of a fan or other air-pushing device that blows bubbles from the rotating wand as it goes by. The rotation of the shaft and the fan is accomplished mechanically and can be powered by user action or by an electric motor. Many of these devices utilize electronics, which can become corroded when exposed to the bubble solution. These motors and electronics are powered either by batteries, which can be expensive and toxic when discarded, or by connecting to an AC wall socket, creating electrical shock hazards when bubble fluid is spilled near the electronic components. The openings atop the secondary reservoirs cannot be covered over during use to allow repeated dipping of the wand. Therefore the reservoir must be placed on a flat surface to prevent spilling of the bubble solution. These devices are also prone to mechanical failure and to clogging due to congealed bubble fluid coating the moving parts. And because the solution is somewhat sticky, and toys employing this technology tend to be used outdoors and by children, the wands tend to get dirty. Sand and debris tends to collect on the wand and impede the ability of the solution to form a film across the aperture.

Ribbed wand devices suffer from certain flaws and limitations. First, the ribbed wands drip. Second, the secondary reservoirs must be open-topped to receive the wand, and are therefore vulnerable to tipping over and spilling. Third, the devices produce few bubbles and for a short time span between each immersion. These aspects of ribbed-wand devices and systems expose the device and the user to unpleasant and dangerous experiences. Bubble solution is viscous, slippery (and therefore dangerous when spilled on walking surfaces), and becomes tacky as it dries. As noted above, it can be corrosive to electronic components. It is also relatively expensive and somewhat difficult to properly make at home. Ribbed-wand devices and systems are also wasteful of bubble fluid (via drips and spills) and are generally inefficient at producing bubbles relative to the effort and hand-eye coordination required from the user.

A bubble-making system and device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,693 that contains and converts bubble solution through swinging. The system has a reservoir for containing the bubble solution and having outlets communicating with an array of bubble-making apertures. While a cap closes the reservoir's filling hole, the outlets are large enough to prevent sealing of the reservoir, as solution is able to leak from the reservoir through the outlets under gravitational forces. To solve this problem, one embodiment includes a storage container to catch the leaking solution and another includes a manual shut-off valve to prevent leaking during non-use. When the valve is manually opened, the swinging motion will result in bubble-making. But the flow of liquid is not limited to only during the swinging motion. This creates a mess and inefficiency.

Another prior art bubble-making system with employing devices is described in U.S. Pat. 6,231,414. While the disclosure does not fully describe the delivery mechanisms used in the various embodiments, the scant disclosure thereof describes a gap that would be prone to gravity-induced leakage. In fact, a flying disc according to the patent was commercialized and it relied on such a thin gap from the reservoir to the apertures. Inadvertent solution leakage allegedly caused the product to fail in the market within one year. Again, the flow of liquid was not limited to only during the intended motion.

It is an object and benefit of the invention to provide a bubble making system which minimizes or eliminates the flaws and limitations of the prior art. It is a further object and benefit of the invention to provide such a system which is adaptable to various toys and devices. It is a further object and benefit of the invention to provide such an adaptable system to such various toys and devices where the toys and devices are already familiar, especially to children, so that bubble-making can be an added feature to such commonly known toys and devices and used without requiring training It is another object and benefit of the invention to provide a bubble-making system which allows adults to pre-load a supply of bubble-making solution, then allows children to play, mess-free, with the device for an extended period and produce much larger bubble quantities without the need for repeated reloadings. It is another object and benefit of the device to provide a bubble-making system which more efficiently creates bubbles to maximize the number of bubbles available from a given quantity of solution. Additional objects and benefits of the invention should become obvious to readers of the following disclosure, which is not meant to limit, but only meant to exemplify the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be all or a portion of a new bubble making system, a portion of or all of a toy or other device employing the system, or one or more of the steps of the method employed in the system, toy, or device. The system may include a pre-fillable, sealed, and unspillable reservoir of bubble solution, one or more armatures for converting the solution into bubbles, and a network for delivering the solution to the armature, only as needed during use. The system may also include the forces naturally occurring during normal use of the toy or device, as an inherent part of the delivery network.

The system eliminates the dipping requirement of the prior art and all of the troubles and complications associated therewith. The system eliminates the ribbed wands of the prior art and all of the troubles and complications associated therewith The system provides a constant “as needed” supply of a carefully and automatically metered quantity of solution to the armature. When employed in devices and toys to which motion is already being imparted, such as objects commonly thrown, swung, or spun, the system eliminates the need for providing additional bubble-making force, and eliminates the need for creating a dedicated additional airflow to create bubbles. By employing the natural and familiar motions and resulting forces of the device in which it is used, the system eliminates the need for added power, motors, fans, electronics, and other extraneous power, propulsion, and regulation components which have troubled the prior art.

The reservoir may preferably consist of a chamber, a fill opening, a cap for selectively exposing or sealing the fill opening, and one or more outlets. The one or more outlets may each include or be a valve, which may simply be an orifice specifically disposed and sized to prevent a liquid as viscous as the bubble solution from escaping the tank there-through except when a very specific force vector is applied or force threshold is reached. Or the valve may be a mechanical force-actuated valve arranged to prevent the bubble solution from escaping the tank there-through except when that very specific force vector is applied or force threshold is reached.

The one or more armatures may each include an inlet for receiving solution, one or more arrays of evenly or randomly spaced apertures of a same size or of various sizes, and a pathway for allowing the received solution to travel from the inlet to the apertures.

The delivery network may include one or more channels or tubes enabling communication from the one or more reservoir outlets to the inlets of the one or more armatures. The one or more channels or tubes may provide a direct linear pathway from the outlets to the inlets, or may provide a serpentine or indirect pathway. The channels or tubes may each include or be a valve, which may simply be an orifice or inner diameter specifically sized to prevent a liquid as viscous as the bubble solution from flowing there-through except when a very specific force vector is applied or force threshold is reached. Or the valve may be a mechanical force-actuated valve arranged to prevent the bubble solution from flowing there-through except when that very specific force vector is applied or force threshold is reached.

The outlet(s) may communicate with the armature(s) through the delivery system in a manner that permits bubble solution to the armature(s), but only under certain conditions, such as during the flight of a throwable or shootable object employing the system, or such as during the rotation of a spinnable device employing the system, or such as during the swinging of a swingable device employing the system.

The valve(s) may remain closed, or employ inherent cohesive forces, until actuated by one or more anticipated forces, such as centrifugal or linear force or acceleration, user motion, or user pressure. Once actuated, or once the inherent cohesive forces are overcome, the valve allows bubble solution to flow out of the reservoir, through the delivery network, and to the wand armature, where it forms a film of bubble fluid at the array(s) of apertures. Air naturally passing through the apertures as a result of the motion of the device causes conversion of the solution into bubbles in a stream that remains constant so long as the motion and forces continue.

The invention may therefore be embodied by or practiced using a system for containing bubble solution and converting the solution into bubbles through a particular motion. The system may include a sealed reservoir for containing the bubble solution and having an outlet. The system may include an aperture array adapted for cooperation with the particular motion to cause the bubble solution to convert to bubbles. And the system may include a delivery network adapted for allowing flow of the bubble solution from the outlet to the aperture array only during the particular motion. The sealed reservoir may include a removable and replaceable cap or plug for adding solution there-into. Either the reservoir or the delivery network may include a valve for denying the flow of the bubble solution from the outlet to the aperture array absent the particular motion. The valve may allow airflow there-through from the aperture array to the reservoir.

The valve may be an orifice of a size that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent a sufficient flow force vector. Alternatively, the valve may be a mechanical pressure release valve that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent the sufficient flow force vector. Alternatively, the delivery network may include a tube from the outlet to the aperture array, and the tube may have an inner diameter which serves as the valve and is of a size that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent the sufficient flow force vector. The particular force vector may be provided by the particular motion. Gravity alone may be an insufficient force vector.

The invention may also be embodied by or practiced using the afore-summarized system in combination with a rotatable device for dispersing the bubbles. The rotatable device may include a housing having a substantially vertical axis of rotation. The device may be adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation. And the afore-described particular motion may be the rotation. The reservoir may be disposed symmetrically about the axis of rotation. The aperture array may be a plurality of substantially identical aperture array portions disposed symmetrically about the axis of rotation outboard of the reservoir. And the delivery network may allow flow of the bubble solution to each aperture array portion equally, and only during rotation of the housing about the axis of rotation.

The housing may be adapted to rotate when thrown or shot along a flight path such that the bubbles are dispersed along the flight path. The housing may be a flying polymer disc of the type having a cylindrical grasping perimeter depending from a flat or convex circular panel.

The invention may also be embodied by or practiced using the afore-summarized system in combination with a pivotable device for dispersing the bubbles. The pivotable device may include a housing having a pivot axis, a proximal end adjacent the pivot axis and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The distal end may be adapted for being pivoted about the pivot axis. The afore-described particular motion may be the pivoting.

The reservoir may be disposed approximate the proximal end. The aperture array may be disposed approximate the distal end. And the delivery network may allow flow of the bubble solution to the aperture array only during the pivoting. The combination may also include a pivot handle at the pivot axis. The combination may further include a pivot hole at the pivot axis.

The invention may also be embodied by or practiced using the afore-summarized system in combination with a projectable device for dispersing the bubbles. The projectable device may include a housing having a longitudinal spin axis. The housing may be adapted to spin about the spin axis. The afore-described particular motion may be the spinning.

The reservoir may be disposed symmetrically about the spin axis. The aperture array may be a plurality of substantially identical aperture array portions disposed symmetrically about the spin axis outboard of the reservoir. And the delivery network may allow flow of the bubble solution to each aperture array portion equally, and only during spinning of the housing about the spin axis.

The projectile device may be adapted to spin when projected along a flight path such that the bubbles are dispersed along the flight path. The projectile device may also include fletching to cause the spinning during the projection. The projection may be one of launching, throwing, firing, gun-shooting and bow-shooting.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings showing exemplary embodiments in accordance with accompanying Detailed Description. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic view of a system for use in bubble making according to a first exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1 in a horizontal non-use orientation;

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the toy of FIG. 2 in a vertical non-use orientation;

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the toy of FIG. 2 during use;

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a second exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of a third exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1 during use;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the toy of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the armature end of the toy of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view of the toy of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a view of a fourth exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the toy of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a fifth exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1 during use;

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the toy of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a partial cross sectional view of the toy of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a view of a sixth exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross sectional view of the toy of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a seventh exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1, in use;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an eighth exemplary toy using the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 19 is a partial underside view of the toy of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a partial view of the toy of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a view of a ninth exemplary toy employing the system of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the toy of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the toy of FIG. 21; and

FIG. 24 is a partial view of the toy of FIG. 21 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to an exemplary system in accordance with or for use in practicing the invention as shown schematically in FIG. 1, and to numerous exemplary toys employing that system in various forms in FIGS. 2 through 24.

Referring first to FIG. 1, system 100 includes reservoir 102, armature 104, and delivery device 106 for providing selective fluid communication between the armature and the reservoir. The reservoir includes an interior chamber 108 for receiving and storing a bubble solution (not shown), a fill opening 112 that may be sealed by a removable and replaceable cap 114, and an outlet 116 for making solution available to the delivery device. The armature includes an array of apertures 118. The delivery device, shown schematically, may be a tube having an internal diameter aligned with the reservoir's outlet, or may be a combination pressure-relief and check valve. The delivery device allows through-flow of solution from the reservoir to the armature only when sufficient force from the reservoir to the armature is realized, and allows air to be pulled into the reservoir whenever a vacuum is created in the chamber.

When the delivery device is a mechanical pressure relief valve and check, it is calibrated to allow the flow of solution from the reservoir when forces from the reservoir toward the armature substantially exceed gravitational forces. It is calibrated to allow the flow of air into the reservoir when the pressure within the chamber falls to 8000 Pa below ambient.

When the delivery device is a tube, it's inside diameter is carefully selected to function as such a pressure-relief and check valve. The viscosity of the bubble solution is typically within the range of 50 to 300 cP at 20° C. Gravitational forces will cause the solution to flow undesirably through an opening of a larger size, so an inside diameter smaller than 3 MM is required. An inside diameter larger than 0.5 MM is required to ensure that the solution will be forced through the tube during the least forceful bubble-making activities expected by devices employing the system.

Air has a viscosity of only 0.018 cP at 20° C., so an inside diameter within this range provides little obstruction to the intake of air into the chamber under even the slightest vacuum. In other words, the bubble solution is of a high enough viscosity that its surface tension is insufficient to overcome the capillary forces within the tube and the solution cannot flow out under only its own weight.

Alternative versions of such simple “hydrostatic valves” may employ a nozzle or a flexible slit. The flexible slit is normally closed so that it contains the solution in the reservoir when the device is not subjected to substantial centrifugal or linear forces. When the user applies substantial force, the slit is forced open. The different types of valves all have the same purpose, which is to restrict the flow of and contain the solution until the user wishes to create bubbles, while allowing air to enter the reservoir as needed. The valve remains closed to the outflow of solution until actuated by one or more forces, such as centrifugal force, acceleration, linear motion, or pressure.

The fact that the valve remains closed until actuated means that the risks of tipping or knocking over the reservoir, or otherwise spilling or dripping the bubble solution are completely eliminated. This is true regardless of the orientation of the reservoir or device in which the system is employed.

Further, the various potential armature arrangements useable within this system do not require the ribbing of prior art ribbed wand systems, because the armature does not need to serve as a reservoir. Therefore, the wand armature can be formed out of different materials other than plastic ribs. Different materials can be used to construct the wand armature to achieve different effects, such as having fewer large bubbles, or many small bubbles.

In FIGS. 2-4, a first wand 200 is depicted employing the system of FIG. 1 with the delivery device being tube 206. Cap 214 is first removed and solution 220 is poured into chamber 208 of reservoir 202 through fill opening 212. The proximal end of the reservoir is cylindrically externally shaped to also function as a handle 222. Neck portion 228 of the reservoir extends to the delivery tube and armature 204. The neck portion is preferably 8 to 12 inches long to provide sufficient swinging forces at the delivery tube and armature during use.

FIG. 2 demonstrates that while the wand is stood upright, the solution is too viscous to exit the chamber though the inside diameter 224 of the delivery tube. This eliminates inadvertent leaking and the associated mess common to prior art bubble-making devices.

FIGS. 3 and 4 demonstrate use of the wand to create bubbles. In FIG. 3, holding the handle and swinging the wand rapidly forces the solution through the delivery tube to armature 204, causing the solution to splash into the interior chamber 230 of the armature and film over the armature's apertures 216. Concurrently, ambient air is forced through the apertures converting the film 232 into bubbles 234 which exit the apertures in a stream trailing behind the swinging armature. As the wand it swung back and forth, momentum pauses and resumes in the opposite direction. During these pauses, shown in FIG. 4, the vacuum created within the reservoir chamber by the forced release of solution causes air bubbles 236 to be pulled into the chamber through the delivery tube, readying the system to release more solution during the next swing.

FIG. 5 depicts a second wand 300 having a star-shaped armature 304 with smaller square apertures 316 in a grid pattern, for producing a higher quantity of equally-sized smaller bubbles 334. This demonstrates how the system enables the production of various bubble-making patterns and visual effects impossible to produce with older systems. These swarms of small bubbles diffuse, diffract, and reflect light. They move individually yet also in a loose concert with each other, propelled and swept both by the same user motion that created them and by ambient air flows. The visual effect of a diffused mass of airborne bubbles is distinct from looking at individual bubbles or a more linear stream of bubbles, and this effect is not produce-able with pre-existing systems.

Wand armatures and their aperture arrays may hereby be constructed in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, depending on how the device is to be used by the user, and what kinds of forces will act on the device. Importantly, wand armatures can be constructed to comprise apertures which have a very broad velocity window for bubble formation, a feature not present in pre-existing systems.

Continuous irrigation of the armature by solution flowing from the delivery tube films over the open apertures constantly for the continuous production of new bubbles. The productive duty cycle of a wand using this system can thereby be dramatically increased over the prior art, from the two or three seconds typical of a ribbed wand, to many minutes, with the number of bubbles produced per cycle increasing from a dozen or so to hundreds or thousands.

FIGS. 7 to 9 depict a third exemplary bubble-making wand 400 having a handle portion 440 separable from the delivery/armature portion 442 for filling the reservoir 402 within the handle portion. This eliminates the need for a cap. Other elements are identified by item numbering corresponding to the previous wand embodiments.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict a fourth exemplary bubble-making wand 500 having an array of evenly-spaced equally-sized apertures 516 for creating a cloud of equally-sized bubbles, impossible to realize with prior art bubble-making devices.

FIGS. 12 through 14 depict a throwing object 600 that employs a form of the system to leave a trail of bubbles in its flight path when it is thrown. The object includes a somewhat football-shaped housing 650 having a longitudinal spin axis 652. The housing has a central cavity 654. The housing and cavity are symmetrically shaped and arranged around the spin axis. A bubble producing assembly 656 according to the afore-described system is removably insertable into the cavity. The assembly includes a cylindrical reservoir 602, functionally similar to reservoir 102 of FIG. 1, with two symmetrically opposed channels 628 projecting radially outwardly there-from. The channels include delivery tubes 606 at their outer ends, and are connected to fin-shaped armatures 616. The reservoir is pushed into the cavity to secure the assembly to the housing. The assembly is also symmetrically shaped and arranged around the spin axis, with the reservoir disposed on the spin axis and the channels and armatures outboard thereof. The reservoir's fill opening 612 is at the object's trailing end, and is sealable by a removable cap 614 that also serves to complete the football shape of the object. The cap is also symmetrically shaped and arranged around the spin axis.

After filling the reservoir with bubble solution and securing the cap, the object may be thrown like a football. The normal and familiar football-throwing motion imparts spin on the object as it travels along an intended flight path through the air, and the fin-shaped armatures, performing aerodynamically as the fins on a rocket or the fletchings on an arrow, further enhance the spin and stable flight of the object to create centrifugal forces at the delivery tubes to cause the release of solution from the reservoir, through the tubes, and to the armatures, where it is converted into bubbles are previously described. The result is a steam of tiny bubbles following the flight path every time the object is thrown. The armatures serve not only to disperse the bubbles as afore-described, but may also serve as fletchings, like those of an arrow, to increase spin and increase the desired centrifugal force vectors, and improve flight stability.

FIGS. 15 and 16 depict a projectable object 700 employing the system of FIG. 1 to create bubbles as it flies through the air. In this case, the projectable object is arrow-shaped, but it may obviously be rocket-shaped, javelin shaped, etc. It may be projected by throwing, by launching, by bow-shooting, by firing from a toy gun, etc. As in the previous embodiment, the armatures 716 are also fletchings to serve not only to disperse bubbles, but also to impart flight-stabilizing spin. As in the previous embodiment, all components are shaped and disposed symmetrically around a longitudinal spin axis 752. The reservoir 702 is symmetrically disposed on the spin axis and the delivery tubes 706 and armatures are symmetrically disposed outboard thereof. The reservoir's main chamber 708 is disposed at the leading end of the object to provide balance during flight. The elongated hollow central shaft 760 is part of the reservoir, feeding solution from a main chamber to the delivery and bubble-making portions at the trailing end. As in the previous item, spinning of the item along its flight path creates centrifugal forces at the delivery tubes which feed solution to the armatures. The result is a steam of tiny bubbles following the flight path every time the object is projected.

FIG. 17 depicts a pivotable device 800 employing the system of FIG. 1 to create a cloud of bubbles as it is pivoted around in a circular motion, by the centrifugal forces that the motion creates. The device is operated similarly to age-old “Noise Making Ratchets” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratchet^—%28instrument%29), so children are already familiar with operating it and can now use it for the same entertainment and to also create bubbles, without any new training. The housing 850 defines a pivot axis 852 about which the moving portions of the device are rapidly pivoted. A stationary cylindrical handle 860 is disposed on the pivot axis for grasping while pivoting the housing there-around. The housing has a hole 854 concentric with the pivot axis and rotatable relative to the handle. The reservoir 802 is disposed on the housing toward its pivot axis end and feeds solution through the delivery tube (not shown) when pivoted to the paddle-shaped armature 816 where bubbles are created and dispersed in the previously described manner.

FIGS. 18 to 20 depict a rotatable device in the form of a flying disc 900. The device is intended to be used just like a common flying disc toy or “Frisbee®” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_disc), but with the added feature of bubble-making. Polymer housing 950 includes a circular panel 952 from which depends a cylindrical perimeter wall 954 for grasping. The housing defines an axis of rotation 956 about which the object will rotate when it is flung in a spinning fashion, well known to most children. The reservoir 902 is symmetrically disposed on the underside of the circular panel at the axis of rotation and includes channels 928 extending outwardly to delivery tubes 906 and armatures 916 outboard of the axis of rotation from the reservoir so that centrifugal forces suck solution from the reservoir during rotation, through the delivery tubes, and feed it to the armatures where it is converted to bubbles and dispersed along the flight path as the object flies through the air. Circular plastic sheet 960 is disposed atop the circular panel and below the armatures and serves the purpose of intercepting bubbles which may have otherwise impacted and wetted the panel. Those bubbles would have been problematic in that they will break and the solution they would leave on the panel would travel out by centrifugal force to wet the graspable perimeter wall. Instead, those bubbles impact the flat circular plastic sheet, travel out to its periphery, and are thrown there-from as droplets . . . leaving the graspable perimeter dry and mess-free.

FIGS. 21 to 24 depict a pivotable toy 1000 which emulates a commonly known “Skip-It” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip-It), but with the added feature of bubble-making. This device is actually structurally and functionally similar to pivotable device 800 of FIG. 17, except that a hole 1060 through which the user's foot is passed is substituted for that previous device's handle. The user causes the device to start pivoting in a circular path around one foot, the lifts the other foot, in “jump rope” fashion each time the housing 1002 passes there-under. Boss 1070 on the underside of the housing rides on the ground to keep the device pivoting along a horizontal plane during use.

In all of the above-described devices, the same action that creates the force that releases of the solution also causes the armature to move relative to the air, creating bubbles and stripping them off the armature. The devices are each designed so that any amount of a particular user motion over a certain threshold causes the release of the solution and the creation of bubbles, but absent at least that amount of that particular motion, the solution is “sealed” within the reservoir. It is also inherently convenient that increases as decreases in the speed of the particular motion will result in an increase in the amount of solution released, but will conveniently also result in a proportional amount of airflow through the apertures, thereby consuming the increased amount of solution and producing a proportionately increased quantity of bubbles rather than wasting the solution. Users can control the amount of bubbles made by the speed of the motion.

And because the system is so efficient, the reservoirs hold enough solution to generate many bubbles for a long time, versus older bubble-makers, such as ribbed wands, which would be quickly depleted and require the user to stop blowing bubbles and re-dip the wand every few minutes, interrupting play and making a mess.

It should be understood that while the invention has been shown and described with reference to the specific exemplary embodiment shown, various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled. It should also be understood that while the exemplary embodiment discloses automotive use, the invention may be useful in any type of vehicle, such as but not limited to trains, trucks, buses, boats, ships, and planes.

Claims

1. A system for containing bubble solution and converting the solution into bubbles through a particular motion, the system comprising: a sealed reservoir for containing the bubble solution and comprising an outlet;an aperture array which converts the bubble solution to bubbles only during and due to the particular motion; anda delivery network adapted for allowing flow of the bubble solution from the outlet to the aperture array only during the particular motion.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sealed reservoir further comprises a removable and replaceable cap or plug for adding solution there-into.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein either the reservoir or the delivery network comprises a valve for denying the flow of the bubble solution from the outlet to the aperture array absent the particular motion.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the valve allows airflow there-through from the aperture array to the reservoir.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the valve is an orifice of a size that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent a sufficient flow force vector, and wherein the particular force vector is provided by the particular motion.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein gravity is an insufficient force vector.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the valve is a mechanical pressure release valve that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent a sufficient flow force vector, and wherein the particular force vector is provided by the particular motion.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein gravity is an insufficient force vector.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the delivery network comprises a tube from the outlet to the aperture array, and the tube comprises an inner diameter comprising the valve and being of a size that denies the flow of the bubble solution there-through absent a sufficient flow force vector, and wherein the particular force vector is provided by the particular motion.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein gravity is an insufficient force vector.

11. The system of claim 1 in combination with a rotatable device for dispersing the bubbles, the rotatable device comprising: a housing having a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the housing adapted to rotate about the axis of rotation; whereinthe particular motion is the rotation;the reservoir is disposed symmetrically about the axis of rotation;the aperture array comprises a plurality of substantially identical aperture array portions disposed symmetrically about the axis of rotation outboard of the reservoir; andthe delivery network allows flow of the bubble solution to each aperture array portion equally, and only during rotation of the housing about the axis of rotation.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the device is adapted to rotate when thrown or shot along a flight path such that the bubbles are dispersed along the flight path.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the housing is a flying polymer disc of the type having a cylindrical grasping perimeter depending from a flat or convex circular panel.

14. The system of claim 1 in combination with a pivotable device for dispersing the bubbles, the pivotable device comprising: a housing having a pivot axis, a proximal end adjacent the pivot axis and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end adapted for being pivoted about the pivot axis; whereinthe particular motion is the pivoting;the reservoir is disposed approximate the proximal end;the aperture array is disposed approximate the distal end; andthe delivery network allows flow of the bubble solution to the aperture array only during the pivoting.

15. The combination of claim 14 further comprising a pivot handle at the pivot axis.

16. The combination of claim 14 further comprising a pivot hole at the pivot axis.

17. The system of claim 1 in combination with a projectable device for dispersing the bubbles, the projectable device comprising: a housing having a longitudinal spin axis, the housing adapted to spin about the spin axis; whereinthe particular motion is the spinning;the reservoir is disposed symmetrically about the spin axis;the aperture array comprises a plurality of substantially identical aperture array portions disposed symmetrically about the spin axis outboard of the reservoir; andthe delivery network allows flow of the bubble solution to each aperture array portion equally, and only during spinning of the housing about the spin axis.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein the device is adapted to spin when projected along a flight path such that the bubbles are dispersed along the flight path.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein the device further comprises fletching to cause the spinning during the projection.

20. The combination of claim 19 wherein the projection is one of launching, throwing, firing, gun-shooting and bow-shooting.