Abstract:
An improved bubble wand assembly for a motor driven, bubble producing toy is provided. The wand assembly includes a moving substantially semi-circular, wand portion and a stationary, substantially semi-circular, wand portion, the moving and stationary wand portions being hingably connected to each other at the ends thereof to permit the moving wand portion to move in relation to the stationary wand portion from a closed and superposed position over the stationary wand portion to an open, film-forming, position at an angular orientation to the stationary wand portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention is in the field of motor driven, bubble producing toys. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Motor driven, bubble producing toys have been around for many years. Typically, such toys have a bubble solution reservoir, a motive power source, for example, a battery, a motor, a pump, a bubble solution feed tube, and a bubble wand. Exemplary patents and patent publications include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,764,141; 5,613,890; 6,200,184; 7,056,182; 7,059,930, 5,498,191; 5,975,358; 6,663,464; 7,470,165; 5,520,564; 6,024,632; 7,056,182; United States Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0061697; 2002/0090878; 2005/0148276; 2007/0032163; 2012/214378 and PCT Patent Publication No. WO2008/011346. 
         [0004]    These bubble producing toys include those in which a bubble ring is dipped into bubble solution and then exposed to an air stream and those in which a wiper, typically a wire, travels across an bubble aperture coating it with bubble solution which is then exposed to an air stream. Both of these mechanisms have drawbacks. In the former case, the dipping ring device tends to lose solution readily or fail to form film consistently so the toy works intermittently. In the latter case, the wire can easily be bent or broken and the toy rendered unusable. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved bubble producing mechanism that can be used with motor driven bubble producing toys. One such improved mechanism is provided by the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention provides an improved mechanism for producing bubbles in a motor driven bubble producing toy. The mechanism is a bubble generating assembly that automatically forms a bubble film around a bubble wand without the need to dip the bubble wand into the bubble solution reservoir or to wipe the bubble wand with a wiper blade. In the improved mechanism of the invention, a bubble ring, a flat hollow disc that is either dipped in bubble solution or wiped with a wiper to form a film across the hollow portion of the ring is not employed. 
         [0007]    The improved mechanism is a bubble wand formed with a moving semi-circular or arcuately shaped, wand portion and a stationary, semi-circular or arcuately shaped, wand portion. The arcuate wand portions are connected to each other by means of a pair of integral hinges located at each of the ends of the semi-circular wands. The pair of hinges permit the moving wand portion to move in relation to the stationary wand portion, from a closed and superposed position over the stationary wand portion to an open, film-forming, position at an angular orientation to the stationary wand portion. The arrangement and orientation of the two wand portions are similar to a jaw, and move in much the same manner. Besides being semi-circular in general shape, the two wand portions may otherwise resemble a typical bubble wand, i.e., with a width that is somewhat greater than the height and with each surface being substantially planer in general aspect. 
         [0008]    The opposed surfaces of the moving and stationary wand portions have regularly spaced grooves and ridges or ribs, with the heights of the ribs being consistent throughout, that hold the bubble solution against the wand portion and assist in film formation when the moving wand portion is in it open, film-forming, position as is typical of bubble wands and known in the art. Preferably the wand portions are made of a rigid plastic material and the pair of hinges is formed by means of a pair of integral posts disposed on one of either the moving or stationary wand portions and a pair of post-receiving bores formed in the other wand portion. For example, two integral posts, one at each end, may be formed in the semi-circularly shaped moving wand portion and two bores, one at each end, may be formed in the semi-circularly shaped stationary want portion, or vice versa. Alternatively, the moving wand portion may be formed with one bore and one post and the stationary wand portion may be formed with a mating bore and a mating post. The precise arrangement is not critical. What is critical is that the two wand portions are hinged together at their ends to form a jaw-like structure that can open and close. While the preferred shape of the two wand portions is substantially semi-circular or arcuate, other shapes may also work. For example, a half-ovoid shape or an angled shape such as a half-square or half-rectangle may be employed. Regardless of shape, the two wand portions should be mirror images of each other so as to be superposable. 
         [0009]    The invention is exemplified in the following detailed description taken together with the drawings as described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an exemplary, motor driven, bubble producing toy in which the invention is embodied. The improved bubble wand mechanism of the invention is shown in its closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is front plan view of the toy illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the improved bubble wand mechanism of the invention shown in its open, bubble generating, position. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views of the upper portion of the toy, showing the improved bubble wand in the closed position ( FIG. 4A ) and the open, bubble generating position ( FIG. 4B ).  FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the hood portion of the toy. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view illustrating the internal components of the motor fan pump assembly and the integrated electrical activation switch of the exemplary toy embodying of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the lower portion of the toy showing the arrangement of the motor, fans and actuation assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The figures illustrate how the improved bubble wand of the invention can be included in a motor driven bubble producing toy. In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a motor driven bubble producing toy in the general shape of a figurine with a head and a body. The toy is composed of a motor assembly  30 , a fan assembly  40 , and a pump assembly  50  disposed in the body of the figurine and a bubble making assembly  20  disposed in the head of the figurine. Each of these assemblies will be described in detail infra. The body of the toy has a bubble solution reservoir,  10 , for retaining bubble solution and a removable reservoir cap,  19 . Removing the cap allows the user to add bubble solution to the reservoir. Connected to the reservoir through cap  11  is a bubble solution feed tube,  12 , and a bubble solution return tube,  13 . Feed tube  12  extends from the reservoir through the body of the toy and terminates at its other end in a feed tube receptor situated in the bubble making assembly as will be described infra. In  FIG. 1 , the improved bubble wand mechanism of the invention is illustrated in its closed position and in  FIG. 2 , it is illustrated in its open, bubble making, position. Bubble solution return tube  13  is also provided, extending from bubble solution outlet  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) in the bottom of bubble making assembly  20  into solution reservoir  10  through cap  11 . It captures excess bubble solution and returns it to the reservoir. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the improved bubble want of the invention in detail in its closed position ( FIG. 3A ), its open position ( FIG. 3B ), with a hood for a toy figurine with a hooded head embodiment ( FIG. 3C ), and in an exploded view ( FIG. 4 ). In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , moving wand portion  21  and stationary wand portion  26  are formed with regularly spaced apart ribs  22  that assist in film formation by spreading the solution around the wand by capillary action. Moving wand portion  21  and stationary wand portion  26  are demountably fastened to each other by means of an integral hinge composed of a pair of hinge posts  25  at the ends of moving wand portion  21  and a pair mating bores at the ends of stationary wand portion  26 . This hinge post and bore arrangement makes for a very simple hinge and enables the bubble wand to open and close in a jaw-like manner. The wand is shown closed in  FIG. 3A  and open in  FIG. 3B . As is typical of bubble wands, the two arcuate wand portions  21  and  26  are substantially planar in aspect, having a width greater than the sides and formed with a series of spaced apart ribs  22  on their front and back surfaces. Also part of the assembly, bubble wand actuator  23  is positioned mid-way between the ends of moving wand portion  21  and projects from the outer side of the arcuate wand portion axially and in the same plane. Actuator  23  is formed with bubble feed tube receptor  24 , into which bubble solution feed tube  12  terminates. Receptor  24  is formed with an aperture to permit the solution from the bubble feed tube to enter the receptor and drip onto wand portion  21 . Stationary wand portion  26  is stabilized in the head structure  65  of the toy by its connection to wand assembly body  29 , which is secured in place by means of screw boss pair  66 . The assembly is provided with a manually movable hood,  60 , (see  FIG. 3C ) that is disposed on the head structure  65  and is formed of two pieces, head front  62  and head back  61 . Head back  61  is formed with a pair of cam axles  64  and a pair of mated openings  63  in the hood, one on each side thereof. Hood  62  is thereby movable from a closed position covering the bubble producing wand assembly and an open position that exposed the wand assembly to the environment. The front portion of hood  62  is formed so as to engage with actuator  23  when the hood is manually moved to its open position. This engagement moves the moving wand portion from its closed position to it open position and causes spring arm  31  to depress actuating the motor, and thereby the fan and the pump as will be described below. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the exemplified motorized bubble producing figurine toy is provided with fan assembly  40  composed of bladed air fan,  42 , that is disposed within fan housing  43  and connected to the motor  31  via fan mount  32  as can best be seen in  FIG. 5 . Motor  31  is provided with pinion gear  33  at its end opposite fan mount  32 . Electric switch  38  is connected to motor  31  and to spring arm  34  by means of compression spring  35  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). A pump assembly,  50 , including gear  36  and pump roller  37  is provided to pump bubble solution from the reservoir to the wand assembly via feed tube  12 . As part of the fan assembly, an air feed tube,  44 , which extends from and is formed as part of the fan housing is provided. Air feed tube  44  directs the moving air created by the turning fan blades through the tube and into air aperture  49  disposed and arranged behind the bubble wand assembly in the upper portion of the toy. When electric switch  38  is tripped to start the battery driven motor  21 , the motor turns fan  42  forcing air into air aperture  12  and, simultaneously, the motor pinion gear  16  turns pump gear  32  and pump roller  33 , which siphons bubble solution from the reservoir through the feed tube,  17 , into the bubble solution feed tube receptor and onto the grooved surface of moving wand portion  13 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of the fan, pump and motor assemblies of the exemplified toy. Motor  31  is connected to fan  42  and to pump assembly  50  by means of fan mount  32  and pinion gear  33  respectively. Fan  42  is disposed within fan housing  43 , which is formed with projecting air feed tube  44  that extends into the bubble making assembly in the head of the figurine, terminating in air aperture  49  behind the bubble wand assembly composed of hingably connected moving and stationary wands  21  and  26 . In the motor assembly  30 , pinion gear  33  engages with drive gear  36 , which in turn engages with pump roller gear  37  in the pump assembly. When motor  31  activated by switch  38 , pinion gear  33  turns gear  36 , turning pump roller gear  37  causing bubble solution in the reservoir to siphon through bubble feed tube  12  into feed tube receptor  24  and onto moving wand  21  as will be described. Cover plate  47  is provided to protect the pump assembly. 
         [0019]    As part of the motor assembly, spring arm  34  is disposed within the body of the figurine between electric switch  38 , which is operatively connected to motor  31 , and cam axle  64 . Cam axle  64  is rotated about an axis when hood  60  is opened. This rotation drives spring arm  34  downward and the bottom of spring arm  34  makes contact with electric switch  38  activating it and the motor thereby. When hood  60  is released, compression spring  35 , which is mounted between electric switch  38  and spring arm  34 , moves the latter upward and out of contact with the switch, thereby turning off the motor, fan and pump. When the switch is engaged with the swing arm, the motor assembly spins the pinion gear, rotating the drive gear, which in turn rotates the pump roller gear. The pump roller gear is provided with two integral lobes,  39 , disposed in opposed relation to each other on the back side of the roller gear. (Only one of the lobes can be seen in  FIG. 5 .) As the roller gear rotates, the lobes are forced against the bubble solution feed tube  12 . This action provides a pulsing pressure, and pumps the solution out of the reservoir into the feed to and out the aperture of the receptor,  24 , disposed on the moving wand. Simultaneously, the fan forces air through the projecting air feed tube  44  that extends into the bubble making assembly into the head of the figurine and out air aperture  49  behind the bubble wand assembly. Thus, when hood  62  is opened, bubble wand actuator  23  opens the bubble wand assembly and, simultaneously, the rotation of cam axle  64  engages spring arm  34  to contact switch  38  to turn on the motor, fan and pump to bring air and bubble solution to the wand assembly. 
         [0020]    The bubble wand assembly of the invention finds use in any motor driven bubble toy. The foregoing figurine is merely exemplary and should not be limiting. As is known, the hood actuating assembly could readily be replaced with a trigger mechanism actuating opening and closing of the arcuate bubble wand portions, the motor, pump and fan via a series of levers and the figuring replaced with an alternative structure. Also, arrangements of the motor, pump, and fan assemblies different from that describe herein are possible as the skilled artisan will appreciate. All referenced publications are hereby incorporated by reference for the substance of what they disclose.