FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to toys, and more specifically to a battery powered toy device that produces bubbles from a liquid solution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There have been many bubble toys over the years that operate in various ways. However, most such toys are hand-held rings that are blown through or hand waved by the user to produce a small amount of bubbles. It is desired to provide a toy that produces a steady stream of bubbles and also that provides safe entertainment for a child. The present invention is an improved battery powered toy device that produces bubbles from a liquid solution. In the present invention, the battery compartment can be a sealed container with external contacts which prevents fluid from penetrating the interior. The present invention also has an improved access to the battery compartment interior. Additionally, the present invention improves the quality of play pattern with the addition of lights and/or sounds in a cost-effective manner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a bubble toy device that produces bubbles by pulling a trigger that causes power to be applied to an electrical circuit and/or system that activates a pump mechanism (or pump) and a fan mechanism (or fan).
One embodiment of the invention has a separate sealed internal battery compartment with external, meaning exteriorly connected, electrical contacts within the bubble toy device provides the source of power that drives an electrical motor, and this electrical motor operates the pump and the fan that produces a stream of air that flows through an air channel within the bubble toy device housing. This air channel directs a stream of air towards a secondary opening of the bubble toy device housing and through a generally circular-shaped dispensing aperture defined in a dispensing ring.
In one embodiment the dispensing ring defines a dispensing surface of liquid bubble solution that adheres to the dispensing ring across the dispensing aperture. The liquid bubble solution may be obtained or sold separately or in conjunction with the bubble toy device in the same packaging or box. The bubble toy device may have threads defined in walls of a primary opening to which a typical, commercially sold bubble solution container may be removeably-attached by mating threads in the walls of the primary opening with complimentary threads defined on the outside walls of a typical bubble container. The bubble toy device pump directs bubble solution towards the dispensing ring. Pulling the trigger activates the pump, the fan, and an up-and-down, motion of a film producing mechanism. The film producing mechanism moves an application bar in an up-and-down, motion thus sweeping a thin layer of bubble solution over the dispensing aperture of the dispensing ring. At the same time that the bubble solution is swept over the dispensing ring, the airflow generated by the fan travels through the air channel and expels one or more bubbles from the secondary opening of the bubble toy device.
If excess bubble solution accumulates on the dispensing ring, a drip flange located at the base of the dispensing ring directs the excess bubble solution downward into a drip channel attached to or defined in an interior portion of the bubble toy device housing. The drip channel directs the excess bubble solution into the ambient or a bubble container when a bubble container is so removeably-attached. It is preferable for the drip channel to be funnel-shaped, being wider at the top facing the dispensing aperture and narrower at the bottom.
In one embodiment, the bubble toy device of the present invention also may have one or more light-emitting diode (LED) lights or lighting system(s) that are activated by manually pulling the trigger, or by a switch. The bubble toy device of the present invention may also have a sound-producing device that is also activated by pulling the trigger, or by a switch. These LED lights and sound-producing features taken individually or together increase the overall enjoyment of the bubble toy device and make the bubble toy device more appealing to children.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the bubble toy device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bubble toy device of the present invention, showing the inner workings of the basic parts of the bubble toy device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a detailed view showing the trigger—handle subassembly of the bubble toy device of the present invention when the trigger is depressed.
FIG. 4 is a detailed view showing the trigger—handle subassembly of the bubble toy device of the present invention when the trigger is not depressed.
FIG. 5 shows a front view along line A-A shown in FIG. 1 with the film producing mechanism shown in a “down” position.
FIG. 6 shows a front view along line A-A shown in FIG. 1 with the film producing mechanism shown in an “up” position.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bubble toy device of the present invention without a removeably-attachable bubble solution container not attached.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bubble toy device of the present invention with a removeably-attachable bubble solution container attached.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bubble toy device, showing LED lights and a noise making attachment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a power circuit for the bubble toy device of the present invention.
FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of a battery compartment of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 shows the mechanical linkage between the trigger and the film producing mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment with an animal, character, creature or other styled or molded into the shell or outside or housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a side view of the bubble toy device 100. The bubble toy device 100 has a bubble toy device housing 102, a primary opening 104 with threads defined in walls of the primary opening 104, and a secondary opening 106 from which air bubbles will emanate. The bubble toy device 100 also has a handle 108 and a trigger mechanism, or trigger 110. In this embodiment, the handle 108 may include a battery compartment 136 (labeled in FIG. 7), which can be in the form of a sealed container, and which is shown with a transparent door 1001. Other than the door 1001, the bubble toy device housing 102 in the side view shown in FIG. 1 is opaque (can be any color). Also, although the door 1001 is shown as being transparent in the figures, it can also be opaque or partially transparent and/or partially opaque, or any color.
FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the bubble toy device 100, in which bubble toy device housing 102 is transparent. In FIG. 2, delivery tube 112 extends downward for receiving bubble solution from the exterior usually from a reservoir source or container through the primary opening 104 which may have a mechanism for attaching to opening 103, and, when a separate (not permanently attached) removeably-attachable bubble solution container 170 (not claimed as part of the invention bubble toy device 100 herein, but shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 13) is attached to opening 104 using mechanism for attaching to opening 103. The delivery tube 112 extends into the bubble solution from an exterior source which is usually from an exterior reservoir source or container. The bubble toy device 100 has the secondary opening 106 and a dispensing ring 114 with a dispensing aperture 116. The dispensing aperture 116 provides a path for egress of air and of soap bubbles.
Referring to FIG. 10, a power circuit 8 provides electrical power to activate mechanisms of the bubble toy device 100, including an electric motor 121 for operating an electric pump 120 and a fan 122. The fan 122 has a fan shroud 123 that helps to direct air towards the dispensing aperture 116 of dispensing ring 114. The delivery tube 112 extends from the electric pump 120 via the electric pump input 156 to bubble solution from the exterior usually from a reservoir source or container (bubble solution container 170 shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13) through the primary opening 104 to provide a convenient source of bubble solution to the electric pump input 156 of the electric pump 120.
Many types of pumps may be used for the electric pump 120, such as a gear pump, a screw pump or a plunger pump or other positive displacement pump. In the electric pump 120 shown in FIG. 2, rotation is caused by the drive gear 119. The electric pump 120 receives the bubble solution at the electric pump input 156 and outputs the bubble solution at the electric pump output 158 of the electric pump 120 at a sufficiently increased pressure to deliver bubble solution to the dispensing ring 114.
Bubble solution exits the electric pump 120 through the electric pump output 158 and is transported through a feed tube 125 and exits the feed tube 125 near the dispensing ring 114. The fan 122 produces moving air that is expelled through an air channel 126 defined in the fan shroud 123 and subsequently exits through the dispensing aperture 116. Inlet air is provided to the fan 122 through a hole 129 and/or series of holes 129 at the top of the fan shroud 123. A film producing mechanism 124 is pivotally attached to the fan shroud 123.
The film producing mechanism 124 moves in an up-and-down motion next to the dispensing ring 114 to deposit a thin film of bubble solution on the dispensing ring 114. The film producing mechanism 124 is mechanically linked to the trigger 110 such that pulling the trigger 110 raises the film producing mechanism 124 and releasing the trigger 110 lowers the film producing mechanism 124. In other embodiments, pulling the trigger 110 lowers the film producing mechanism 124 and releasing the trigger 110 raises the film producing mechanism 124.
When air moves through the air channel 126 and past the dispensing ring 114, the flowing air creates a bubble or many bubbles that float away from the bubble toy device 100. If there is any excess bubble solution on the dispensing ring 114, this solution drips down a drip flange 128, into a drip channel 130 attached to or defined within an interior of the bubble toy device housing 102, and eventually returns to opening 104 which can lead to the ambient, any type of reservoir, source of liquid, or a bubble solution container (not shown).
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a trigger/handle subassembly for the bubble toy device 100 of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the trigger 110 is attached to a metal spring 133 which is further attached to and fed by a spring feed wire 113. When the trigger 110 is being pulled or depressed, as shown in FIG. 3, the switch 111 (depicted schematically in FIG. 10) is in a closed position. The switch 111 is formed by the metal spring 133 and the contact zone 118 on electric motor 121, thus utilizing the metal casing of the electric motor 121 as one of the electrical contacts of the switch 111. FIG. 4 shows the trigger/handle subassembly when trigger 110 is not being pulled or depressed, and thus the switch 111 is in the open position because the metal spring 133 and the contact zone on electric motor 118 are not in contact with each other, thus not conducting electricity.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show the section along line A-A of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows the invention with the film producing mechanism 124 in a lower position and FIG. 6 shows the invention with the film producing mechanism 124 in a raised position. In this embodiment, when the trigger 110 is not pulled, the application bar 154 of the film producing mechanism 124 rests at or near the bottom of the dispensing ring 114 or below it, as shown in FIG. 5. When the trigger 110 is pulled all the way, the application bar 154 of the film producing mechanism 124 rests at or near the top of the dispensing ring 114 or above it (shown in FIG. 6), thus spreading a thin film of a bubble producing liquid across the dispensing aperture 116 when the application bar 154 executes a full range of motion from the bottom to the top of the dispensing ring 114.
FIG. 12 shows the mechanical linkage 140 connecting the film producing mechanism 124 to the trigger 110. The trigger 110 is rigidly attached to or integrally formed with a flat plate 142. Extension 144 is attached to or integrally formed with the flat plate 142 and extends upward (at an angle in this embodiment) from the flat plate 142. Extension 144 includes elongated slot 148. Horizontal post 146, which extends perpendicularly into the plane of the drawing in FIG. 12, fits in the elongated slot 148.
The film producing mechanism 124 is pivotally connected to the fan shroud 123. A first end 150 of the film producing mechanism 123 has a ring-shaped portion which is attached to the fan shroud 123 by fastening it around a cross-shaped fastener 151 which projects from the fan shroud 123, though other methods of connection are possible and the method of retention is not limited to use of one or more screws, other fasteners or attachment device(s). Application bar 154 is attached to or formed integrally with the film producing mechanism 124 at the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124.
A center portion of torsion spring 160 is attached to rod 162 with a first spring end 164 attached to the flat plate 142 or its extension 144. A second spring end 166 is secured rigidly in place at or leans against a structure 168 defined in the bubble toy device housing 102. With this arrangement, the pulling of the trigger 110 by a user causes the flat plate 142 to slide against and displace the torsion spring 160, thus causing the torsion spring 160 to exert a restoring force on first spring end 164. When the trigger 110 is released by the user, the reactive force of the torsion spring 160 causes the flat plate 142 and the trigger 110 to return to their original position before the trigger 110 was pulled.
Furthermore, the pulling of the trigger 110 causes the horizontal post 146 to move in the elongated slot 148, such that the horizontal post 146 engages walls of the elongated slot 148 and causes the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124 to pivotally move upward, thus causing the application bar 154 to move from the bottom to the top of the dispensing ring 114. With the release of the trigger 110, the torsion spring 160 causes the flat plate 142 to return to its original position, which in turn causes the second end 152 of the film producing mechanism 124 to return to a down position at the bottom of the dispensing ring 114. This up-and-down movement of the application bar 154 causes the bubble solution delivered to the dispensing ring 114 to be spread across the dispensing aperture 116. Also shown in FIG. 12 are the metal spring 133 and spring feed wire 113 that move with the motion of the trigger 110.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the bubble toy device 100 without a bubble container connected to the bubble toy device 100. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the bubble toy device 100 with a bubble solution container 170 attached for convenience to the bubble toy device 100.
FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show a perspective view of the bubble toy device 100 with LED lights 131 contained within or on the bubble toy device 100. Some or all of the LED lights 131 may be configured to flash on and off while the trigger 110 is being pulled, and some or all of the LED lights 131 may be configured to remain lit as long as the trigger 110 is being pulled. The LED lights 131 can also be lit by a manually operated switch (not shown).
FIG. 10 shows an electrical schematic for the bubble toy device 100. When the trigger 110 is pulled, the switch 111 is closed to provide electrical current from the voltage source 139, which is produced by a battery or batteries 134 which can be inserted into the battery compartment 136 of the invention, and the various electrical components of the bubble toy device 100 thus receive power. In FIG. 10, switch 111 schematically represents the metal spring 133 that contacts the contact zone on electrical motor 118 when the trigger 110 is pulled, as shown in FIG. 3. When the switch 111 closes, power is applied to the electric motor 121 that powers the electric pump 120 and the fan 122, and also the LED lights 131, and a sound producing device 132 if these are present. The sound-producing device 132 produces any provided audio such as a noise, music and/or other sounds appealing to children when the trigger 110 is pulled. Electrical connections between the various electrical components may be provided by electrical wires or by electrical contacts provided within the bubble toy device housing 102.
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a battery compartment 136 to contain a battery or batteries 134. The embodiment of the battery compartment 136 depicted in FIG. 11 displays three AA batteries having been removeably-inserted and lined up next to each other. However, the battery compartment 136 can be designed to hold any number or type of batteries. Also, when three AA batteries are used, the battery compartment 136 does not need to be configured such that the batteries are lined up next to each other. Instead, any configuration is possible. For example, three AA batteries can be arranged as shown in FIG. 4 with two of the batteries lined up next to each other and the third battery behind them. In the embodiment of the invention in which battery compartment 136 is a sealed container, it is primarily preferred that the battery compartment be configured such that it can be designed as a separate sealed container to minimize or eliminate contact between the battery or batteries and any liquid.
In FIG. 11, the battery or batteries 134 (one shown) are inserted into a sealed container 136 with external contacts 138. The external contacts 138 engage ordinary battery contacts to provide electrical energy to the power circuit 8 upon closure of switch 111 when trigger 110 is depressed, as shown schematically FIG. 10.
The battery compartment is designed with three main goals. One is to limit the amount of moisture and bubble liquid that can flow into the battery compartment. A second goal is to have a safe chamber to house batteries. A third goal is the ability to insert batteries into the bubble toy device from the side rather than through the bottom.
The battery compartment of this embodiment is sealed to keep out liquids and moisture
In general, batteries have the ability to rapidly discharge and sometimes heat up. The kind of batteries used for the bubble toy device 100 are small and limited in power but still have the ability to overheat and/or rupture for chemical or electrochemical reasons. If a battery ruptures and bursts open, it can push into the ends of a battery compartment. Because the design of the battery compartment has the door on the side rather than the top or bottom, this design helps control and contain a battery failure where internal expansion occurs axially, thus not applying excess force to the battery door, but rather to the internal walls of the battery compartment. The batteries are small so that the impact of any break up can be contained within the bubble toy device 100.
The battery compartment has a side door that opens with a securing device 137, such as, for example, a screw, as shown in FIG. 11. This allows the cover to be removed and the battery or batteries 134 accessed from the side. By inserting the battery or batteries 134 from the side, a user may better identify the proper polarity of the battery terminals and thereby minimize the possibility of incorrect insertion. A clear image of the proper battery polarity is imprinted (not shown) in the battery cover door 1001 to further minimize the probability of improper insertion of the battery or batteries 134.
The battery or batteries 134 may be replaced by taking each battery out individually. When a battery compartment has a door on the top or bottom, the batteries can fall out on the ground during changing. The side battery cover also closes on the battery or batteries 134 making a good tight fit. This design helps the electrical connections to be good and tight.
FIG. 13 is an alternate embodiment with an animal, character, creature or other image styled or molded into the shell, or outside, or bubble toy device housing 102 of the bubble toy device 100.
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the various embodiments of the invention, this detailed description is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, and especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments. Rather, various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
PARTS LIST
8 Power circuit
100 Bubble toy device
102 Bubble toy device housing
103 Mechanism for attaching to opening
104 Primary opening
106 Secondary opening
108 Handle
110 Trigger
111 Switch, (formed by metal spring 133 and Contact zone on electric motor 118)
112 Delivery tube
113 Spring feed wire
114 Dispensing ring
116 Dispensing aperture
118 Contact zone on electric motor
119 Drive gear
120 Electric pump
121 Electric motor
122 Fan
123 Fan shroud
124 Film producing mechanism
125 Feed tube
126 Air channel
128 Drip flange
129 Hole in fan shroud
130 Drip channel
131 LED Lights
132 Sound producing device
133 Metal spring
134 Battery or batteries (one is pointed to)
136 Sealed container
137 Securing device
138 External contacts
139 Voltage source
140 Mechanical linkage
142 Flat plate
144 Extension
146 Horizontal post
148 Elongated slot
150 Film producing mechanism first end
151 Fastener
152 Film producing mechanism second end
154 Application bar
156 electric pump input
158 electric pump output
160 Torsion spring
162 Rod
164 First spring end
166 Second spring end
168 Shoulder
170 Bubble solution container
1001 door
Patent Application
20140141688
