Bubble generating device and method for forming a bubble film

A bubble generating toy includes a bubble forming assembly mounted inside a housing behind a front opening thereof. The bubble forming assembly includes a cylindrical body having diametric inlet and outlet, a cylindrical air gate having diametric inlet and outlet. The air gate is rotatable in the cylindrical body between a closed position and open position when the inlets and outlets are aligned. A sleeve extends perpendicularly from the outlet of the cylindrical body and has a bubble ring. Bubble forming liquid is pumped from a container, through a tube and into the sleeve by a pump to form a bubble film across the bubble ring. An air blower blows are through the sleeve and the bubble ring to generate bubbles.

FIELD OF THE PATENT APPLICATION

The present patent application relates to a bubble generating device. The present patent application also relates to a method for forming a bubble film in a bubble generating device.

BACKGROUND

Bubble generating devices are known in the prior art. However, those bubble generating devices typically include a wiper bar or a mechanical device moveable over an opening to form a bubble film. When air is blown into the film-formed opening, bubbles are generated. However, the wiper bar or the mechanical devices detract from a good looking bubble generating product. The cool design of a bubble generating product can be undercut by such kind of construction located at the outer front side of the product.

There is a need to produce a bubble generating device and a method for forming a bubble film in a bubble generating device without a wiper bar or any external bubble forming mechanism.

The above description of the background is provided to aid in understanding a bubble generating device and a method for forming a bubble film, but is not admitted to describe or constitute pertinent prior art to the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film disclosed in the present application, or consider any disclosures as material to the patentability of the claims of the present application.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present application, there is provided a bubble generating device including a housing having a front opening and a cylindrical body mounted inside the housing inwardly behind the front opening thereof and defining an axis of rotation. The cylindrical body may have diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon with the outlet being facing the front opening. The bubble generating device may include an air gate in the form of a cylindrical pipe having diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon. The air gate can be snugly received in the cylindrical body and rotatable therein about the axis of rotation between a closed position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are out of alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body, and an open position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are in alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body to define a diametric air passage. The bubble generating device may further include a sleeve extending perpendicularly from the outlet of the cylindrical body and having a bubble ring mounted therein in alignment with the outlet of the cylindrical body. A pump driven by an electric motor can be used for pumping a liquid capable of forming bubbles into the sleeve through an aperture at an upper portion thereof, and an air blower driven by the motor can be used for blowing air through an air tunnel, the air passage and the bubble ring. Actuation of a trigger mechanism can move the air gate from the closed position to the open position, and activates the motor thereby pumping the liquid into the sleeve to continuously form a film of liquid across the bubble ring in the sleeve, and blowing air at the film of liquid to generate and discharge bubbles through the front opening of the housing.

According to one embodiment, the trigger mechanism may include a trigger and an integral vertical bar formed with a vertical slot. The vertical slot can be adapted to receive therein an eccentric pin extending outwardly from a rotatable plate fixed at one end of the air gate, whereby pulling the trigger moves the vertical bar backwards thereby dragging the eccentric pin backwards and downwards along the slot and turning the rotatable plate and the air gate 90° anticlockwise from the closed position to the open position. The trigger mechanism may move the air gate and activates the motor simultaneously.

According to one embodiment, the liquid is pumped from a container, through a tube and into the sleeve. The container may be mounted below the sleeve. The bubble generating device may further include a funnel mounted below the sleeve and above the container for draining excess liquid back into the container.

According to one embodiment, the bubble generating device may further include a plurality of light emitting diodes and a printed circuit board for controlling the light emitting diodes. The bubble generating device may further include a light emitting diode mounted inside a slot provided above the sleeve to simulate laser beam. The bubble generating device may further include a speaker.

According to one embodiment, the electric motor can be energized by one or more batteries, the pump can be a peristaltic pump, and the housing may be in the shape of a toy gun.

According to another aspect of the present application, there is provided a bubble forming assembly of a bubble generating device including a cylindrical body mounted inside a housing of the bubble generating device inwardly behind a front opening thereof and defining an axis of rotation. The cylindrical body may have diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon with the outlet being facing the front opening. The bubble forming assembly may include an air gate in the form of a cylindrical pipe having diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon. The air gate can be snugly received in the cylindrical body and rotatable therein about the axis of rotation between a closed position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are out of alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body, and an open position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are in alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body to define a diametric air passage. The bubble forming assembly may include a sleeve extending perpendicularly from the outlet of the cylindrical body and having a bubble ring mounted therein in alignment with the outlet of the cylindrical body.

According to one embodiment, the bubble forming assembly may further include a container mounted below the sleeve and containing a liquid capable of forming bubbles, and a pump driven by an electric motor for pumping the liquid from the container, through a tube, and into the sleeve through an aperture at an upper portion thereof. The bubble forming assembly may further include a funnel mounted below the sleeve and above the container for draining excess liquid back into the container. The bubble forming assembly may further include an air blower driven by the motor for blowing air through an air tunnel, the air passage and the bubble ring. The bubble forming assembly may further include a trigger mechanism having a trigger and an integral vertical bar formed with a vertical slot. The vertical slot can be adapted to receive therein an eccentric pin extending outwardly from a rotatable plate fixed at one end of the air gate, whereby pulling the trigger moves the vertical bar backwards thereby dragging the eccentric pin backwards and downwards along the slot and turning the rotatable plate and the air gate 90° anticlockwise from the closed position to the open position.

According to a further aspect of the present application, there is provided a method for forming a bubble film in a bubble generating device. The method includes the steps of (i) providing a cylindrical body having diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon and defining an axis of rotation, and mounting the cylindrical body inside a housing of the bubble generating device inwardly behind a front opening thereof; (ii) providing an air gate in the form of a cylindrical pipe having diametric inlet and outlet formed thereon, the air gate being snugly received in the cylindrical body and rotatable therein about the axis of rotation between a closed position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are out of alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body, and an open position where the inlet and outlet of the air gate are in alignment with the inlet and outlet of the cylindrical body to define a diametric air passage; (iii) providing a sleeve extending perpendicularly from the outlet of the cylindrical body and a bubble ring mounted therein in alignment with the outlet of the cylindrical body; and (iv) pumping a liquid capable of forming bubbles across the sleeve thereby continuously forming a bubble film across the bubble ring in the sleeve. The liquid may be pumped from a container, through a tube and into the sleeve by a pump.

Although the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film disclosed in the present application are shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present application includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film disclosed in the present application, examples of which are also provided in the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film disclosed in the present application are described in detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not particularly important to an understanding of the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film may not be shown for the sake of clarity.

Furthermore, it should be understood that the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble film disclosed in the present application are not limited to the precise embodiments described below and that various changes and modifications thereof may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “above” and “below” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words noted above as well as derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

It should be noted that throughout the specification and claims herein, when one element is said to be “coupled” or “connected” to another, this does not necessarily mean that one element is fastened, secured, or otherwise attached to another element. Instead, the term “coupled” or “connected” means that one element is either connected directly or indirectly to another element, or is in mechanical or electrical communication with another element.

FIG. 1shows a bubble generating device according to an embodiment of the present application. According to the illustrated embodiment, the bubble generating device is a toy gun, though it can be any other toy and in any other shape. The bubble generating device may have an outer housing1having a front opening6provided at a front end of the bubble generating device. The housing1may be made of plastic or any other suitable material.

The bubble generating device may have a handle35, a trigger2, a front opening6and a detachable bottle or container3. The container3may contain a liquid5capable of forming bubbles. The bubble forming liquid5can be a soapy liquid or any other possible liquid5capable of forming bubbles4. The container3may be attached to an opening36provided at a front bottom side of the bubble generating device by complementary threads, snap fastening or any other conventional means. The container3may be disposed at a distance in front of the handle35. The container3may be cylindrical in shape or may be in any other shapes. A player can hold the bubble generating device by gripping the handle35by one hand. The player can also hold the bubble generating device by gripping the handle35by one hand and gripping the container3by the other hand. The trigger2may serve as an on/off switch of the bubble generating device. When the player pulls the trigger2, the bubble generating device can be activated and bubbles4can be generated and discharged from the front opening6of the housing1. When the trigger2is released, the generation of bubbles will be terminated.

As depicted inFIGS. 2-6, the bubble generating device may include a bubble forming assembly which may be mounted entirely inside the housing1inwardly behind the front opening6of the housing1. As a result of this arrangement, the bubble forming assembly can be hidden inside the housing1and cannot be visible from the outside of the bubble generating device.

According to the embodiment best illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the bubble forming assembly may include a cylindrical body38mounted inside the housing1inwardly behind the front opening6of the housing1. The cylindrical body38defines an axis of rotation X. The cylindrical body38may include diametric inlet31and outlet32formed thereon. The outlet32of the cylindrical body38can be facing the front opening6of the housing1.

The bubble forming assembly may also include an air gate27in the form of a cylindrical pipe having diametric inlet29and outlet28formed thereon. The air gate27can be snugly received in the cylindrical body38and rotatable therein about the axis of rotation X. As indicated inFIGS. 9 and 10, the air gate27can rotate in the cylindrical body38between a closed position where the inlet29and outlet28of the air gate27are out of alignment with the inlet31and outlet32of the cylindrical body38, and an open position where the inlet29and outlet28of the air gate27are in alignment with the inlet31and outlet32of the cylindrical body38to define a diametric air passage extending across the cylindrical body38and the air gate27.

The bubble forming assembly may further include a sleeve26extending perpendicularly from the outlet32of the cylindrical body38. A bubble ring25may be mounted within the sleeve26in alignment with the outlet32of the cylindrical body38.

The bubble generating device may be provided with a built-in pump8. The pump8may be located at a rear portion of the bubble generating device. The pump8may be driven by an electric motor16for pumping the bubble forming liquid5from the container3, through a tube19, and into the sleeve26through an aperture formed at an upper portion of the sleeve26. According to the illustrated embodiment, the pump8can be a peristaltic pump with three gears, namely, a motor gear24, a first gear21, a second gear22and two rollers (not shown). Although it has been illustrated that the pump8is a peristaltic pump, it is understood by one skilled in the art that other suitable pump8such as a check valve pump or a gear pump can be used. The tube19may be made of plastic and flexible. One end of the tube19can be dipped into the bubble forming liquid5inside the container3through a top opening thereof, as depicted inFIG. 3. The tube19may extend to the pump8and then to a junction33and a chamber37formed integrally at an upper portion of the sleeve26. The bubble forming liquid5discharging from the downstream end of the tube19can flow into the chamber37through an aperture at the junction33, and then flow from the chamber37into the sleeve26.

A built-in air blower14may be driven by the motor16for blowing air through the air passage. The air blower14may include an air fan20and an air tunnel15. When the air blower14is activated by the motor16, the fan20rotates and drives air through the air tunnel15, the air passage and then the bubble ring25. The pump8and the air blower14can be activated at the same time. The motor16, the pump8and the fan20may be covered by a single inner housing to form a single unit inside the outer housing1of the bubble generating device.

A power source can be employed to supply electricity to the motor16to energize the pump8and the air blower14. The power source can be one or more “AA” size batteries10accommodated within a battery compartment defined by the handle35. A battery compartment door11of the battery compartment can be disposed at a lowermost end of the handle35for easy installation and access of the batteries10. This battery-operated bubble generating device can provide a convenient hand-held bubble generating device for outdoor use.

A funnel7may be mounted below the sleeve26and above the container3for draining excess bubble forming liquid5back into the container3, as best illustrated inFIG. 7. A plurality of tapering drip pieces39may be provided at the lower ends of the cylindrical body38and the sleeve26for guiding the draining of the excess bubble forming liquid5from the lower ends of the cylindrical body38and the sleeve26towards the funnel7. The lower end of the funnel7can be connected to an opening formed on a top wall of the container3.

The bubble generating device may include a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism can be coupled with the air gate27of the bubble forming assembly and the motor16. The trigger mechanism may include a trigger2located near the handle35. A metal spring (not shown) may be fixed at a rear end of the trigger2. When the trigger2is pulled, the metal spring can be in contact with a metal shell of the motor16in order to close a circuit, thereby energizing the motor16and activating the pump8and the air blower14. When the trigger2is released, the metal spring can become out of contact with the metal shell of the motor16, and the bubble generating device can be switched off.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the trigger2may include an integral vertical bar17with a vertical slot formed thereon. The vertical slot can be adapted to receive therein an eccentric pin34extending outwardly from a circular plate30fixed at one end of the air gate27, whereby pulling the trigger2moves the vertical bar17backwards thereby dragging the eccentric pin34backwards and downwards along the slot and turning the circular plate30and the air gate27anticlockwise 90° from the closed position to the open position. The pulling of the trigger2backwards can translate linear motion of the trigger2to rotational motion of the air gate27. It is understood by one skilled in the art that other possible trigger mechanism can be employed to rotate the air gate27. For example, the trigger may be provided with a rack meshed with a central pinion fixed at the air gate27to achieve the translation of linear motion of the trigger2to rotational motion of the air gate27.

When a player pulls the trigger2of the bubble generating device, it moves the air gate27from the closed position to the open position. The pulling of the trigger2can also energize the motor16at the same time. When the motor16is energized, it can activate the pump8to pump bubble forming liquid5from the container3into the sleeve26to continuously form a film of bubble forming liquid across the bubble ring25inside the sleeve26. Excess bubble forming liquid5may run downwardly from the sleeve26and into the funnel7. The excess bubble forming liquid5can then flow back to the container3through the funnel7. At the same time, the same motor16may also drive the fan20in the air blower14to spin and generate winds blowing through the air tunnel15, the air passage and the bubble ring25, thereby generating bubbles4which can be expelled through the front opening6of the housing1.

The bubble generating device may further include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)9and a printed circuit board18for controlling the LEDs9. The printed circuit board18can be used to control the lighting sequence of the LEDs9. It can also set the LEDs9at an illuminating/flashing mode so that the LEDs9can illuminate continuously or can flash. According to the illustrated embodiment, there are three LEDs9located above the air blower14. The LEDs9can also be powered by the batteries10. The bubble generating device may also be provided with a LED slot13above the sleeve26. If a LED is installed in this LED slot13, a light beam can be produced to simulate a laser effect, and can also illuminate the bubbles4being discharged from the front opening6of the bubble generating device.

The bubble generating device may further include a speaker23to produce predetermined sound effects when the bubble generating device is activated.

The bubble generating device disclosed in the present application is simple in construction and can be manufactured at a lower cost. The entire bubble forming assembly is mounted inside the housing1so that the bubble generating device can have a contemporary design. Since the bubble forming assembly is located inside the housing1, it can be protected by the housing1and can less likely to be damaged. This can prolong the life of the product. The housing1can be made of solid plastic, or transparent or semi-transparent plastic. When transparent or semi-transparent housing1is used, the built-in LEDs9can illuminate through the transparent or semi-transparent housing1to create a phenomenal lighting effect when the bubble generating device is activated.

A method for forming a bubble film in a bubble generating device is also disclosed in the present application. The method may include the steps of (i) providing a cylindrical body38having diametric inlet31and outlet32formed thereon and defining an axis of rotation X, and mounting the cylindrical body38inside a housing1of the bubble generating device inwardly behind a front opening6thereof; (ii) providing an air gate27in the form of a cylindrical pipe having diametric inlet29and outlet28formed thereon, the air gate27being snugly received in the cylindrical body38and rotatable therein about the axis of rotation X between a closed position where the inlet29and outlet28of the air gate27are out of alignment with the inlet31and outlet32of the cylindrical body38, and an open position where the inlet29and outlet28of the air gate27are in alignment with the inlet31and outlet32of the cylindrical body38to define a diametric air passage; (iii) providing a sleeve26extending perpendicularly from the outlet32of the cylindrical body38and a bubble ring25mounted therein in alignment with the outlet32of the cylindrical body38; and (iv) pumping a liquid5capable of forming bubbles from a container3, through a tube19and into the sleeve26by a pump8thereby continuously forming a bubble film across the bubble ring25in the sleeve26. The air blower14can blow air through the bubble ring25in the sleeve26to generate bubbles4.

While the bubble generating device and the method for forming a bubble-film disclosed in the present application have been shown and described with particular references to a number of preferred embodiments thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appending claims.