Patent Application
20160346709
The present invention relates to spill-proof bubble creation kits and more especially to kits that preferably include nestable vacuum formed spill-proof bubble solution containers and bubble creation composition concentrate in kit form.
Ever since the commercialization of the spill-proof bubble solution container invention disclosed in the Schramm U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,046 patent, spill-proof bubble solution containers have been widely popular, have become a standard in the industry and have provided autonomy and enjoyment for young children in creating bubbles without the mess that otherwise occurs when using conventional bubble creation wands. Examples of such containers and related bubble devices are disclosed in the following patents and applications, all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,314,708, 8,430,708, 7,942,109, 7,524,230, 7,244,161, 6,857,928, 6,638,131, 6,629,870, 6,595,822, 6,547,621, 6,520,822, 6,443,790, 6,386,138, 6,186,853, 6,135,842, 6,015,327, 5,908,057, 5,832,969, 5,495,876, 5,304,085, 5,246,046, 5,105,975, 5,088,950, 4,957,464, 4,840,597, 4,180,938, 3,579,898, 2,858,639, RE42,610, RE39,443, RE36,131, 20160023822, 20150314320, 20150246295, 20150246294, 20140190858, 20110081821, 20080289975, 20050130552, 20040084453, 20030155364, 20020187716, 20020129763, 20010035413, D660,076, D600,290, and EU0094532.
Over the years, many different embodiments of the spill-proof bubble solution container have been produced by many different manufacturers. However, none such prior art spill-proof bubble solution containers have been vacuum formed and nestable and provided with a bubble creation composition concentrate (BCCC) so as to be able to be provided in an efficient kit form.
The present invention is a reusable/disposable low cost spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus that eliminates accidental spillage of bubble solution and that may be provided in a compact kit form for the use and enjoyment by several users simultaneously. The apparatus preferably defines a vacuum formed container upper portion having an inwardly extending open funnel, a vacuum formed container lower portion having a trough, a removable bubble wand having a bubble creation orifice, and a BCCC. In practice, a user may add water and the BCCC to the container, and use the bubble wand to mix the water and BCCC, and then immerse the bubble creation orifice in the newly formed bubble solution and then withdraw the bubble wand from the container to blow a bubble. However, even with the bubble wand removed from the container, the container can be oriented in any orientation without the bubble solution container therein spilling out of the container. The apparatus is preferably provided in kit form having for instance a plurality of nested container upper portions, a plurality of nested container lower portions, a plurality of bubble wands, and a bottle of bubble solution. The kit is preferably adapted such that a single compact low cost kit provides components and such that multiple containers may be assembled with each container preferably having a bubble wand and a BCCC such that each kit may be prepared with mixed BCCC and water to form a bubble solution filled to a predetermined amount in the container. Thus for instance a single kit could provide for instance a bubble solution container complete with solution and bubble wand each for six different users.
In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.
In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature table is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
Container upper portion 20 preferably defines a generally cylindrically cup shaped container upper portion having an engagement flange 22, a side wall 24, a top 26, and a funnel 28 which extends inwardly into container upper portion 20. Funnel 28 further preferably defines a funnel having a funnel mouth 30, a funnel bowl 32, a funnel spout 34, and a funnel inner opening 36 positioned within container upper portion 20. Engagement flange 22 is connected to side wall 24 which is connected to top 26 which is connected to funnel mouth 30 which is connected to funnel bowl 32 which is connected to funnel spout 34 which terminates in funnel inner opening 36. Container upper portion 20 is preferably vacuum formed (or thermoformed) from substantially uniformly thick plastic sheet and may be at least partially transparent. The sheet is preferably any thickness of no greater than 0.05 inches thick such as 0.05, 0.045, 0.04, 0.035, 0.03, 0.025, 0.020, 0.01, 0.005 inches thick and is clear or transparent. Container upper portion 20 is preferably colored an aesthetically pleasing color but may alternatively be clear.
Container lower portion 40 preferably defines a generally cylindrically cup shaped container lower portion having a base flange 42, a side wall 44, an engagement flange 46, a land 48, a tapered bowl 50, and a trough 52. Base flange 42 is connected to side wall 44 which is connected to an engagement flange 46 which is connected to land 48 which is connected to tapered bowl 50 which is connected to trough 52. Container lower portion 40 is preferably vacuum formed (or thermoformed) from substantially uniformly thick plastic sheet and may be at least partially transparent. The sheet is preferably any thickness of no greater than 0.05 inches thick such as 0.05, 0.045, 0.04, 0.035, 0.03, 0.025, 0.020, 0.01, 0.005 inches thick and is clear or transparent. Container lower portion 40 is preferably colored an aesthetically pleasing color but may alternatively be clear.
Bubble wand 60 preferably defines a generally elongated bubble wand having a handle 62, a stem 64, and bubble creation orifice 66. Handle 62 is connected to stem 64 which is connected to bubble creation orifice 66. Bubble wand 60 is preferably injection molded from plastic resin and may be provided in one or several aesthetically pleasing colors.
BCCC unit 70 preferably defines a liquid soluble capsule having BCCC 72 contained therein. BCCC 72 preferably defines a powdered BCCC. Alternatively, BCCC unit 70 may take the form of pill or pellet of dried and formed or compressed BCCC. Further alternatively, BCCC unit 70 may take the form of a BCCC gelcap defining a liquid soluble gelatin capsule having a substantially concentrated liquid BCCC 72 contained therein. Thus where used in this application unless specifically indicated otherwise, BCCC shall be understood to be a non-liquid BCCC (e.g. in powdered, crystalized, or beaded form) or a substantially concentrated liquid BCCC, wherein such substantially concentrated liquid BCCC is substantially viscous and is more viscous than water and preferably at least as viscous as SAE 10 motor oil, and further more preferably more viscous than olive oil (see Appx A for viscosity values of such liquids). In all cases of BCCC 72, it is intended that BCCC 72, when mixed with water, will readily form a bubble creation solution. In at least one embodiment, BCCC unit 70 may be provided adhered to a wall of spill-proof bubble solution container 14.
Spill-proof bubble solution container 14 is assembled such that engagement flange 22 of container upper portion 20 and engagement flange 46 of container lower portion 40 are snapped together such that a substantially liquid-tight seal is formed connecting container upper portion 20 and container lower portion 40. It is noted that spill-proof bubble solution container 14 may include a maximum fill line or like indicia thereon to indicate a level for a liquid quantity (the maximum spill-proof quantity) at or below which spill-proof bubble solution container 14 will not spill its liquid contents when oriented in any orientation. Spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus 10 is prepared by placing BCCC unit 70 in spill-proof bubble solution container 14, pouring a predetermined amount of water into funnel bowl 32 and allowing the water to run down funnel spout 34 in a metered fashion so as to approach but not exceed the maximum spill-proof quantity of bubble solution in spill-proof bubble solution container 14, and mixing BCCC unit 70 and water preferably using bubble wand 60 to create bubble creation solution. It is noted that in a preferred embodiment, if the volumetric capacity of funnel bowl 32 (e.g. even if funnel spout 34 were plugged) equals or exceeds the maximum spill-proof quantity. Spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus 10 is further prepared by placing bubble wand 60 in spill-proof bubble solution container 14 by moving bubble creation orifice 66 through spout 34 and positioning bubble creation orifice 66 in trough 52 so that bubble creation orifice 66 is immersed the bubble creation solution. It is also noted that trough 52 is preferably closely fitted or sized to bubble creation orifice 66 such that when creation orifice 66 is positioned in trough 52 there is minimal space between creation orifice 66 and trough 52 so as to enable the spill-proof bubble solution container 14 to achieve a high bubble solution consumption efficiency ratio (BSER). With spill-proof bubble solution container apparatus 10 thus prepared, the user may repeatedly withdraw bubble wand 60 from spill-proof bubble solution container 14, create bubbles, and reinsert bubble wand 60 into spill-proof bubble solution container 14, all without the bubble creation solution out of spill-proof bubble solution container 14 regardless of the orientation of spill-proof bubble solution container 14.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
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.
