Abstract:
A bubble-squeezing toy has a body formed of resilient, stretchable plastics material having two internal chambers, one of which has an area of reduced thickness that can stretch to form an external bubble upon squeezing of the body. A partition exists between the internal chambers and an aperture is provided in the partition via which the chambers communicate with one another. An air-driven squeaker is attached to the partition at the aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/871,089, filed by the present applicant on 18 Jun. 2004. The invention disclosed in that application relates to a bubble-squeezing toy. The present relates to the development of the hand-held soft toys disclosed in the above application and comprising a body that when squeezed deforms to transfer internally captured air into one or more expanding hemispherical bubble shapes that extend from the body exterior. The invention might also have a mechanical sounding device formed internally therein to sound when the body is squeezed.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is an object of the present invention to provide an interesting and amusing toy that can be squeezed to form expanding generally hemispherical bubble shapes at its exterior.  
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There is disclosed herein a bubble-squeezing toy, comprising a body formed of resilient, stretchable plastics material having two internal chambers, one of which has an area that can stretch to form an external bubble upon squeezing of the body.  
         [0004]     Preferably said area that can stretch is of reduced thickness.  
         [0005]     Preferably the toy further comprises a partition between the internal chambers and an aperture in the partition via which the chambers communicate with one another.  
         [0006]     Probably, the toy further comprises an air-driven squeaker attached to the partition at the aperture.  
         [0007]     Probably, the body has a plug sealing an opening from one of the chambers to atmosphere.  
         [0008]     Preferably, the body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE); Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR); and Polyethylene (PE). 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of a bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0011]      FIG. 1 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 1 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0012]      FIG. 2 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0013]      FIG. 2 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 2 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0014]      FIG. 3 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0015]      FIG. 3 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 3 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0016]      FIG. 4 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0017]      FIG. 4 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 4 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0018]      FIG. 5 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0019]      FIG. 5 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 5 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0020]      FIG. 6 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0021]      FIG. 6 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 6 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0022]      FIG. 7 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0023]      FIG. 7 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 7 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0024]      FIG. 8 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0025]      FIG. 8 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 8 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0026]      FIG. 9 (A) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0027]      FIG. 9 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 9 (A) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0028]      FIG. 10 (A) is a schematic elevation of another bubble-squeezing toy in the form of a frog,  
         [0029]      FIG. 10 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of  FIG. 10 (A) in an unsqueezed configuration,  
         [0030]      FIG. 10 (C) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bubble-squeezing toy of FIGS.  10 (A) and  10 (B) in a squeezed configuration,  
         [0031]      FIG. 11 (A) is a schematic elevation of a further bubble-squeezing toy in the form of a frog,  
         [0032]      FIG. 11 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the toy of FIG  11 (A) in a relaxed configuration, and  
         [0033]      FIG. 11 (C) is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the toy of FIGS.  11 (A) and  11 (B) in a squeezed configuration in which its throat bubble is expanded. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     In FIG  1 (A) and  1 (B) of the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a bubble-squeezing toy  10  comprising an inner liner  11  surrounded substantially by a body  12 . The inner liner  11  is typically formed of a material selected from the group consisting of: gelatinous compositions of Styrene Block Copolymers (SBC); Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) compounds and alloys; Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) compounds and alloys; Thermoplastic Vulcanisates (TPV) compounds and alloys; Thermoplastic Olefins (TPO) compounds and alloys; and Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) compounds and alloys. However, the inner liner could be made of any other flexible plastics material having a high elongation of preferably not less than 300 percent up to about 1600 percent. The material must also have good retraction properties so as to return to the configuration of  FIG. 1 (A) after squeezing. The thickness of the inner liner is typically between 1 and 3 mm.  
         [0035]     The body  12  is typically formed of a material selected from the group consisting of: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC); Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE); Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR); and Polyethylene (PE). However, the body could be made of any flexible plastics material which can be squeezed or compressed. The elongation properties of the body should be low, and preferably be less than 2 - 5 percent.  
         [0036]     There is an aperture  15  in the body  12  having a diameter typically between 5 mm and 15 mm. The thickness of the body would typically be from 1 mm to 5 mm.  
         [0037]     When the body  12  is squeezed, the inner liner stands through the aperture  15  to form a substantially hemispherical bubble  16  as shown in  FIG. 1 (B).  
         [0038]     Upon alternately squeezing and releasing compression quickly, a popping sound will be created from the protruding and retracting bubble.  
         [0039]     There are sealing plugs  13  and  14  within respective apertures of the inner liner  11  and body  12 . The size of sealing plug  14  is larger than sealing plug  13 , but the plugs are aligned so that access to the sealing plug  13  is gained upon removal of the sealing plug  14 .  
         [0040]     FIGS.  2 (A) and  2 (B) depict an embodiment  20  which is similar to that of the proceeding figures, but includes a pair of apertures  15 A and  15 B through which a pair of bubbles  16 A and  16 B protrude simultaneously upon squeezing of the body  12 .  
         [0041]     FIGS.  3 (A) and  3 (B) depict an embodiment  30  having a body similar to that of FIGS.  1 (A) and  1 (B), but also including within the body  12  a pouch  16  adjacent to a smaller version of the inner liner  11  and communicating therewith via a squeaker  17 . In this embodiment, the sealing plug  13  is in the pouch, rather than in the inner liner  11 . The pouch would typically be made of the same material from which the inner liner is made. Upon squeezing the body  12 , air will pass back and forth through the squeaker  17  as the bubble  16  expands and contracts. The squeaker will produce repeated squeaking sounds. The squeaker  17  comprises a mechanical assembly mounted upon a partition comprising adjacent portions of the liner  11  and pouch  16 . The squeaker  17  can be inserted into the body through the sealing plug apertures. Air is then injected into the toy and the plugs are sealed.  
         [0042]     FIGS.  4 (A) and  4 (B) depict a further embodiment  40  in which the body does not house a separate inner liner. Instead, the body whose overall thickness is typically from 3 to 6 mm is provided with a thin area  19  that expands to form a bubble when the body is squeezed. The thin area  19  would typically be 1 to 2 mm thick in the relaxed state as depicted in  FIG. 4 (A). The material from which the body  18  is formed would typically be chosen from the same group from which the liners of FIGS.  1  to  3  are made. These are all elastomeric materials with high elongation and good retraction properties. By alternately squeezing and releasing the body rapidly, a popping sound will be created from the protruding and retracting bubble.  
         [0043]     FIGS.  5 (A) and  5 (B) depict an embodiment  50  in which the body is the same as that depicted in FIGS.  4 (A) and  4 (B), but comprising the internal components the same as those depicted in the embodiment of FIGS.  3 (A) and  3 (B). The bubble formed by this embodiment is double-linered comprising and inner bubble liner  16  and an outer liner  19 . The body  12  as well as the inner liner  11  and pouch  16  would all be formed of the same highly elastic material.  
         [0044]     The embodiment  60  depicted in FIGS.  6 (A) and  6 (B) comprises two liners of material. The body or outer liner  12  is of high elastic material with high elongation and good retraction properties and has a thinner bubble-forming portion  19 . The inner liner  11  is made of a plastic material - not necessarily having a high elongation, but is nevertheless flexible so as to return to its original shape once handed compression is released.  
         [0045]     For example, the inner liner might be chosen from a material having low elongation of preferably less than 2 percent. There is a squeaker  17  positioned directly behind the bubble-forming portion  19 . When squeezed, air passes from the interior of the inner liner through the squeaker into the bubble-forming volume to expand portion  19  as shown.  
         [0046]     The construction  70  depicted in FIGS.  7 (A) and  7 (B) is similar to that of  FIG. 2 (A) and  2 (B), except that there are two separate inner liners  11 A and  11 B that do not share air. This construction allows a bubble to protrude from each respective aperture independently of one another when the body is squeezed.  
         [0047]     FIGS.  8 (A) and  8 (B) depict an embodiment  80  the same as that depicted in FIGS.  7 (A) and  7 (B), except there is a squeaker situated between the two inner liners  11 A and  11 B.  
         [0048]     FIGS.  9 (A) and  9 (B) depict an embodiment  90  somewhat similar to that of FIGS.  6 (A) and  6 (B), but having an inner liner of reduced volume.  
         [0049]     A practical example of the invention is depicted in FIGS.  10 (A),  10 (B) and  10 (C). This practical example is a bubbled belly-popping frog  100 . This frog is made in accordance with the construction principles of FIGS.  5 (A) and  5 (B). Similarly, by applying the constructions as described here into different applications, a wide range of toys such as balls, dolls, animals, birds, insects etc can be made with expanding bubble characteristics with or without additional squeaking sounds as the case may be.  
         [0050]     In Figs.  11 (A) to  11 (C) of the accompanying drawings, there is depicted schematically a further embodiment taking the visual form of a frog similar to that depicted in FIGS.  10 (A) to  10 (C). Instead of being provided with separate internal liners however, the frog&#39;s body  12  comprises a unitary moulding including a small chamber  23  and a large chamber  24 . There is a partition  21  between the two chambers having an aperture  22  into which a squeaker  17  is fitted. A connection band or ring  25  (perhaps of plastics material that might be stretchable) might be provided to secure the elastic material of the toy about the squeaker. The squeaker can be provided with a peripheral annular groove  26  about which the band  25  is fitted. There is a plug  13  in the base of the frog closing an aperture of the large chamber  24  which communicates with atmosphere. This aperture is needed to construct the toy and particularly for the purpose of installing the squeaker therein. There is an area of reduced thickness  16  under the frog&#39;s chin. This defines a thin, expandable portion of a wall of the small chamber  23 .  
         [0051]     When the body of the frog around the large chamber  24  is squeezed, air from within that chamber passes through the squeaker into the small chamber  23  so that the bubble  16  expands with a sound made by the squeaker. Released hand pressure from the body will allow the resilience of the material to return the toy to the configuration depicted in FIGS.  11 (A) and  11 (B) and the squeaker  17  might sound again depending upon it&#39;s design (one-way or two-way sounding).  
         [0052]     It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, two or more small chambers  23  might be provided in addition to the large chamber, each having an area of reduced thickness. For example the frog&#39;s eyes might have individual small chambers and areas of reduced thickness. Of course shapes other than frogs are envisaged.