Abstract:
The Improved light emitting bubble creation device is an invention that because of it&#39;s ability to emit light throughout a bubble creation ring and bubble wand rather than a single point light emission and because of it&#39;s unique incorporation of electroluminescent fibers, causes a created bubble to take on a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance, especially when a bubble is in contact with a bubble creation orifice. The invention is further enhanced by providing a bubble solution container or reservoir that contains lighted bubble solution. Such lighted bubble solution not only creates an appealing appearance, but facilitates the process of bubble creation and play in low light conditions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to light emitting bubble creation devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to bubble creation devices having bubble creation rings that emit light by means of an integrated electroluminescent fiber.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is light emitting bubble creation apparatus. The invention, having a bubble creation orifice which includes a colored light emitting electroluminescent fiber incorporated therein, has particular application for use in creating bubbles wherein the bubbles radiate or reflect light from the bubble orifice, especially while the bubble is in contact with the bubble creation orifice. The invention may also include a light emitting device adjacent to a bubble solution reservoir, such as a substantially clear bottle of bubble solution liquid type reservoir, so as to cause the bubble liquid solution to glow and reflect preferably colored light.  
         [0003]     It is well known that liquid soap bubble type bubble creation devices, in a variety of embodiments, have long existed, and have had significant commercial success. It is also well known that light emitting electroluminescent fibers commonly referred to as “EL wire”, has existed for some time and has enjoyed considerable commercial success. A definition of such EL wire is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930. U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. It is also know that some toys or related playthings have had EL wire incorporated therein. An example of such EL wire light toy related device is disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/326,716. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/326,716 is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Recently, some attempts to illuminate a liquid soap bubble type bubble have been attempted. An example of a lighted bubble creation device is the “motorized bubble light” by Little Kids, Inc. The “motorized bubble light” functions much light the combination of a conventional flashlight and a bubble creation device by providing for the user to create bubbles and cast or shine a light beam on the created bubbles. While the “motorized bubble light” is effective in illuminating bubbles, due to the significant light beam that is projected onto the bubbles, the “motorized bubble light” fails to cause the created bubble to glow or cause the bubble to take on the effect of the bubble itself emanating light. Another example of a lighted bubble creation device is the “bubble light fest” by Maui Toys. The “bubble light fest” is a bubble creation machine that includes a plurality of various colored light emitting diodes or LEDs surrounding a bubble creation orifice. As bubbles are created by means of the battery powered electric motor driven bubble creation apparatus, the LEDs flash in seemingly various random patterns. While the “bubble light fest”, like the “motorized bubble light”, is effective in projecting light onto bubbles, and the “bubble light fest” adds the dimension of various colored light, due to the light being projected onto the bubbles, the “bubble light fest” fails to cause the created bubble to glow or cause the bubble to take on the effect of the bubble itself emanating light. Yet another example of a lighted bubble creation device is the “flash bubbles” by Maui Toys. The “flash bubbles” device is a bubble creation device that defines a bubble creation wand having a wand stem and a light switch on a first stem end, a bubble creation ring on a second stem end, and a single LED located in the center of the wand stem. In practice, when the light switch is activated, the LED is illuminated and some reflected refracted or reflected light is transmitted through the wand. While the “flash bubbles” device does emit light at a single point in the center of the bubble wand, the “flash bubbles” device does not include a light emitting device within or on the bubble ring itself, does not include an electroluminescent fiber, and fails to cause the created bubble to significantly glow or cause the bubble to take on the effect of the bubble itself emanating light.  
         [0004]     Because the subject invention provides a bubble creation wand having a bubble creation orifice that includes EL wire encircling an inner diametrical opening of the bubble creation device, the subject invention cause a created bubble to significantly glow and causes a created bubble to take on a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance. Further, when used in combination with a preferably clear container of bubble solution having a light emitting device connected to the bottle of bubble solution, the subject invention provides added play value for the user of the invention, especially in low light conditions. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     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:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a substantially isometric view of the light emitting bubble creation device.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded substantially isometric view of the light emitting bubble creation device.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a substantially orthographic cross-sectional view of the light emitting bubble creation device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the section view being taken through the stem of the bubble wand as indicated by the cross-section arrows shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is shown at a larger scale than  FIG. 1  and  2 . No cross-hatching is shown in the EL wire for clarity.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a substantially orthographic cross-sectional view of a lighted container of liquid bubble solution.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the electrical components of the light emitting bubble creation device.  FIG. 5  is also representative of the electrical components of the lighted bubble solution container assembly. Cross-hatching has been omitted for clarity. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     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.  
         [0012]     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.  
         [0013]     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.  
                                         FEATURE TABLE            #   Feature               10   Light emitting bubble creation device       12   Bubble wand assembly       14   Handle assembly       16   Handle assembly retention receptacle       20   First bubble wand member       21   Wand stem       22   Wand attach end       23   Bubble creation orifice       24   Bubble creation fin       25   Bubble orifice inner opening       26   Bubble wand channel       30   Second bubble wand member       31   Wand stem       32   Wand attach end       33   Bubble orifice       34   Bubble creation fin       35   Bubble creation orifice inner opening       36   Bubble wand channel       40   Electroluminescent fiber       50   First handle member       51   Second handle member       53   Electrical switch       54   Power indication light       55   Inverter       56   Battery       60   Lighted bubble solution container assembly       70   Container       72   Container open end       74   Container closed end       76   Bubble solution       80   Base assembly       81   Base       82   Container reception well       84   Electroluminescent fiber       86   Inverter       88   Battery       89   Electrical switch       90   Schematic diagram in general       91   Battery       92   Electrical power inverter       93   Electrical switch       94   Electrically activated light       95   Power indication light       96   Electrical line                  
 
         [0014]     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the invention is improved light emitting bubble creation device  10  comprising a bubble wand assembly  12  and a handle assembly  14 . Bubble wand assembly  12  comprises a first bubble wand member  20 , a second bubble wand member  30 , and at least one electroluminescent fiber  40  of the type of electroluminescent fiber taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,869,930. Electroluminescent fiber  40  preferably defines a plurality of various colored electroluminescent fibers.  
         [0015]     Bubble wand member  20  defines a preferably substantially transparent plastic bubble wand member having a wand stem  21 , a wand attach end  22 , a bubble creation orifice  23 , at least one bubble solution retaining bubble creation fin  24 , bubble orifice inner opening  25 , and at least one bubble wand channel  26 . Bubble wand member  30  defines a preferably substantially transparent plastic bubble wand member having a wand stem  31 , a wand attach end  32 , a bubble creation orifice  33 , at least one bubble solution retaining bubble creation fin  34 , bubble orifice inner opening  35 , and at least one bubble wand channel  36 . Bubble wand assembly  12  is assembled such that bubble wand member  20  and bubble wand member  30  are sealingly connected together to form a bubble wand and such that electroluminescent fiber  40  is contained in the channels  26  and  36  formed in wand members  20  and  30  respectively. Channels  26  and  36  and electroluminescent fiber  40  preferably extend the entire length of bubble wand assembly  12  and electroluminescent fiber  40  preferably forms a lightable loop in bubble creation orifices  23  and  33 .  
         [0016]     Handle assembly  14  comprises a first preferably plastic handle member  50  forming a structural substantially shell shaped member, a second preferably plastic handle member  51  forming a structural substantially shell shaped member, an electrical switch  53 , a power indication light  54 , an electrical inverter  55 , and a battery  56 . Handle assembly  14  is assembled such that handle member  50  and handle member  51  are sealingly connected together to form a substantially hollow structural handle assembly. Handle assembly  14  further includes a first end having a retention receptacle  16 . Handle assembly  14  also includes electrical switch  53 , power indication light  54 , electrical inverter  55 , and battery  56  mounted to handle assembly  14 . Electrical switch  53 , power indication light  54 , electrical inverter  55 , and battery  56  are electrically connected and form a portion of an electrical circuit such as that circuit depicted in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0017]     Light emitting bubble creation device  10  is assembled such that wand attach ends  22  and  32  of bubble wand assembly  12 , are retentatively connected to retention receptacle  16  of handle assembly  14 , and such that at least one electroluminescent fiber  40  is electrically connected to electrical switch  53 . In practice, light emitting bubble creation device  10  functions similar to a conventional bubble wand in that when light emitting bubble creation device  10  is first dipped into bubble creation solution and then exposed to an air stream, bubbles are created. However, when electrical switch  53  is in an on position, light emitting bubble creation device  10  emits light from throughout wand members  20  and  30  and throughout bubble creation orifices  23  and  33 . Being thus lighted, light emitting bubble creation device  10  emits light even while immersed or partially immersed in bubble solution and while creating a bubble. Further when lighted, light emitting bubble creation device  10  imparts a significant glow, not merely at a single point but throughout wand members  20  and  30 , and causes a created bubble to take on a unique and appealing self illuminating appearance. In contrast to prior art devices which may merely reflect light through a bubble creation orifice, bubble creation orifices  23  and  33  of light emitting bubble creation device  10 , originate light and are the source of light. The consequent unique and appealing self illuminating appearance imparted to the bubble is especially observable when a created bubble is in contact with bubble creation orifices  23  and  33  under low light conditions. It is also noted that in larger versions of the disclosed embodiment, electroluminescent fiber  40  may be formed so as to outline a particular shape such as the shape of a cartoon character.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is provided to display a sample electrical schematic diagram of the disclosed embodiment. In  FIG. 5 , diagram  90  symbolically displays battery  91 , electrical power inverter  92 , electrical switch  93 , electrically activated light  94 , a power indication light  95 , and an electrical line  96 . The components of the described embodiment are electrically connected in the order depicted in diagram  90  of  FIG. 5 , such that the disclosed embodiment functions as described above.  
         [0019]     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment of the invention defines a lighted bubble solution container assembly  60  for use in combination with the improved light emitting bubble creation device  10 . Lighted bubble solution container assembly  60  comprises container  70  and base assembly  80 .  
         [0020]     Container  70  preferably defines a substantially transparent plastic container having a container open end  72 , a container closed end  74 , and bubble solution  76  contained within container  70 . Container  70  may be adapted to contain a predetermined amount of bubble solution for instance 0.30, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 8.0, 12.0 16.0, or 32.0 ounces of bubble solution or container  70  may be adapted to contain more or less than the listed amounts of bubble solution. Base assembly  80  comprises a substantially hollow generally cylindrically shaped transparent plastic base  81  having a container reception well  82 . Base assembly  80  further includes at least one electroluminescent fiber  84 , electrical power inverter  86 , battery  88 , and pressure sensitive electrical switch  89  mounted to base  81 . At least one electroluminescent fiber  84 , electrical power inverter  86 , battery  88 , pressure sensitive electrical switch  89 , and optionally an electrical power indication light are electrically connected and form an electrical circuit such as that circuit depicted in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0021]     In practice, when container  70  is rested in base assembly  80 , container closed end  74  comes into contact with pressure sensitive electrical switch  89 , causing an electrical circuit to be closed and in turn causing at least one electroluminescent fiber  84  to emit light. The light emitted from at least one electroluminescent fiber  84 , passes through transparent container  70  and causes bubble solution  76  to glow and emit light. The glowing of bubble solution  76  not only creates an appealing lighting effect, it causes the bubble solution to be more readily location by a user when using lighted bubble solution container assembly  60  in low light conditions. Further when light emitting bubble creation device  10  is used in combination with lighted bubble solution container assembly  60 , unique and multi-colored lighting effects are created. Lighted bubble solution container assembly  60  may optionally be provided such that container  70  is permanently affixed to base assembly  80 , in which case pressure sensitive electrical switch  89  is adapted to be actuated manually rather than by the causing of container closed end  74  to come into contact with pressure sensitive electrical switch  89 . Lighted bubble solution container assembly  60  may optionally have electroluminescent fibers  84  rearranged in a variety of locations and color combinations. For instance, electroluminescent fibers  84  may outline container open end  72  so as to make container open end  72  more readily visible in low light conditions. Furthermore, light emitting bubble creation device  10  may be adapted to incorporate a variety of electroluminescent fibers  84  in a plurality of locations in addition to or in place of a bubble wand or bubble creation orifice location.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is provided to display a sample electrical schematic diagram of the disclosed alternated embodiment. In  FIG. 5 , diagram  90  symbolically displays battery  91 , electrical power inverter  92 , electrical switch  93 , electrically activated light  94 , a power indication light  95 , and an electrical line  96 . The components of the described alternate embodiment are electrically connected in the order depicted in diagram  90  of  FIG. 5 , such that the invention functions as described above.  
         [0023]     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.