Patent Publication Number: US-2009227173-A1

Title: Bubble generating assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bubble toys, and in particular, to a bubble generating assembly which automatically forms a bubble film over a bubble ring without the need to dip the bubble ring into a container or a dish of bubble solution. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Bubble producing toys are very popular among children who enjoy producing bubbles of different shapes and sizes. Many bubble producing toys have previously been provided. Perhaps the simplest example has a stick with a circular opening or ring at one end, resembling a wand. A bubble solution film is produced when the ring is dipped into a dish that holds bubble solution or bubble producing fluid (such as soap) and then removed therefrom. Bubbles are then formed by blowing carefully against the film. Such a toy requires dipping every time a bubble is to created, and the bubble solution must accompany the wand from one location to another. 
     Recently, the market has provided a number of different bubble generating assemblies that are capable of producing a plurality of bubbles. Examples of such assemblies are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,486 (Thai), 6,331,130 (Thai) and 6,200,184 (Rich et al.). The bubble rings in the bubble generating assemblies in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,486 (Thai), 6,331,130 (Thai) and 6,200,184 (Rich et al.) need to be dipped into a dish that holds bubble solution to produce films of bubble solution across the rings. The motors in these assemblies are then actuated to generate air against the films to produce bubbles. 
     All of these aforementioned bubble generating assemblies require that one or more bubble rings be dipped into a dish of bubble solution. In particular, the child must initially pour bubble solution into the dish, then replenish the solution in the dish as the solution is being used up. After play has been completed, the child must then pour the remaining solution from the dish back into the original bubble solution container. Unfortunately, this continuous pouring and re-pouring of bubble solution from the bottle to the dish, and from the dish back to the bottle, often results in unintended spillage, which can be messy, dirty, and a waste of bubble solution. 
     Another bubble generating assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,890 (DeMars). DeMars uses a battery-operated machine to control a wiper bar to apply bubble solution onto a stationary bubble ring to form the film of bubble solution across the face of the bubble ring. Although such a design avoids some of the spillage problems described above, the construction of the bubble generating assembly in DeMars is quite complex, which increases the overall cost of the bubble generating assembly. More importantly, the complex construction has many different moving and interengaging parts that increase the likelihood of defects. Sadly, any defect with any part could mean that the entire assembly is not operational. In addition, DeMars uses a single motor which powers two operations: (1) to pump the bubble solution to the wiper bar, and (2) to cause the fan to blow air at the bubble ring. Depending on the size and quality of the motor, the single motor may not be able to simultaneously perform both tasks effectively, which may negatively affect the quality of the bubbles produced by the bubble generating assembly. 
     Thus, there remains a need to provide an apparatus and method for forming a film of bubble solution across a bubble ring while avoiding the problems described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for effectively forming a film of bubble solution across a bubble ring. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for effectively forming a film of bubble solution across a bubble ring in a manner which minimizes spillage of the bubble solution. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus having a simple construction that effectively forms a film of bubble solution across a bubble ring. 
     The objectives of the present invention are accomplished by providing a bubble generating assembly having a housing, a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, a trigger mechanism, a bubble generating device, a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the bubble generating device, a stationary wiping bar that is fixed to the housing, and a link assembly housed inside the housing that couples the trigger mechanism and the bubble generating device in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the bubble generating device to move past the wiping bar and to contact the wiping bar, so as to create a film of bubble solution across the bubble generating device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bubble generating assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the bubble ring in its normal rest position. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the assembly of  FIG. 1  shown with the bubble ring positioned after the bubble ring has moved passed the wiping bar. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the pump system of the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the barrel section of the assembly of  FIG. 1  showing the bubble ring in its normal rest position. 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the barrel section of  FIG. 5  showing the bubble ring positioned after the bubble ring has moved passed the wiping bar. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged isolated view of the link assembly of the bubble generating assembly of  FIG. 2  with the bubble ring in its normal rest position. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged isolated view of the link assembly of the bubble generating assembly of  FIG. 2  after the bubble ring has moved passed the wiping bar. 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the barrel section of the assembly of  FIG. 1  illustrating another embodiment of the present invention, and showing the bubble ring in its normal rest position. 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the barrel section of  FIG. 9  showing the bubble ring positioned after the bubble ring has moved passed the wiping bar. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged isolated view of the link assembly of the bubble generating assembly of  FIG. 9  with the bubble ring in its normal rest position. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged isolated view of the link assembly of the bubble generating assembly of  FIG. 9  after the bubble ring has moved passed the wiping bar. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate one embodiment of a bubble generating assembly  20  according to the present invention. The assembly  20  has a housing  22  that includes a handle section  26  and a barrel section  24 . The housing  22  can be provided in the form of two symmetrical outer shells that are connected together by, for example, screws or welding or glue. These outer shells together define a hollow interior for housing the internal components of the assembly  20 , as described below. A bubble generating device is provided inside the barrel section  24 , and a bubble solution container  28  is releasably secured to a portion of the barrel section  24 . The bubble solution container  28  can be provided in the form of any of the conventional bubble solution containers that are currently available in the marketplace. The housing  22  also includes a container shield  30  that extends from the bottom of the handle section  26  to a connecting portion  32  adjacent the bottom of the barrel section  24 . The handle section  26  and the container shield  30  together define a trigger space  27  through which a user can extend his or her fingers to grip the handle section  26 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connecting portion  32  of the container shield  30  has an opening  34  that opens into the hollow interior of the barrel section  24 , with internal threads  36  adjacent the opening  34  to releasably engage the external threads  38  provided on the neck  40  of the container  28 . An opening  42  is provided at the front of the barrel section  24 . 
     The handle section  26  houses a power source  48  which can include at least one conventional battery. The barrel section  24  has a motor and blower housing  124  that houses a motor  50  that is electrically coupled to the power source  48  via a first wire  52  and a first electrical contact  54 . A second wire  56  couples the motor  50  to a first end  58  of a second electrical contact  60 , whose second curved end  62  is adapted to releasably contact a third electrical contact  64  that is coupled to the power supply  48 . The second contact  60  is attached to the rear end of a trigger block  66 . The trigger block  66  is normally biased in a forward direction towards the barrel section  24  by a resilient element  68  (e.g., a spring). As a result, the forward bias of the trigger block  66  means that the second contact  60  carried on the trigger block  66  is also normally biased away from the third contact  64 . The resilient element  68  is supported by an elongated support block  80  that is secured to the housing  22  and which is normally spaced-apart from the rear end of the trigger block  66  by the resilient element  68 . The support block  80  acts as a stop member to prevent the trigger block  66  from being pressed too far in the rearward direction, since the trigger block  66  will contact the front end of the support block  80  when the trigger block  66  is pressed to its rear-most position. 
       FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  7  and  8  illustrate the link assembly that couples the trigger block  66  to the bubble generating device, which can be embodied in the form of a bubble ring  100 . The trigger block  66  has a configuration that resembles a gun, or an L-shape, with a leg portion  72  that is perpendicular to a shaft portion  74 . The trigger block  66  is partially retained inside the interior of the housing  22 , with a trigger grip portion  70  extending through the housing  22  into the trigger space  27 . The trigger grip portion  70  represents a front part of the leg portion  72 . A generally U-shaped bar  78  extends from the front of the shaft portion  74 . The front leg  82  of the U-shaped bar  78  has an opening through which a first hooked end  84  of an axle bar  86  extends for pivoting movement therewith. The center of the axle bar  86  has an opening through which one end of a fixed bar  88  extends. The fixed bar  88  is fixed at a location and acts as a fixed pivot about which the axle bar  86  can pivot. The second end of the axle bar  86  has another opening through which a coupling pin  90  extends. The coupling pin  90  couples the axle bar  86  to an extension  92  of a horizontal slide plate  94  for pivoting movement between the axle bar  86  and the slide plate  94 . Thus, the front leg  82 , the axle bar  86  and the slide plate  94  are coupled to experience pivoting movement with respect to each other when the trigger block  66  is pressed and released. 
     An angled slot  95  is provided adjacent an angled front edge  96  of the slide plate  94 , and is positioned to receive a vertical support shaft  98  of the bubble ring  100 . The support shaft  98  is adapted to experience horizontal (e.g., left and right) movement along a horizontal rail  102  that is secured to the interior of the barrel section  24  adjacent the opening  42  of the housing  22 . The angled nature of the slot  95  allows for the reciprocating front-rear movement of the slide plate  94  to cause the support shaft  98  to move left and right along the rail  102  as the support shaft  98  travels within the angled slot  96 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a stationary vertical wiping bar  106  is fixedly attached to the interior of the barrel section  24  adjacent the opening  42  of the housing  22 . The wiping bar  106  is positioned adjacent the bubble ring  100  so that the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100  wipes against the wiping bar  106  as the bubble ring  100  moves left and right along the rail  102 . The bubble ring  100  has a through-hole  112  through which air can pass. The body of the bubble ring  100  has a hollow interior which communicates via an opening  114  with a tubing  116 . The front face  108  of the bubble ring  100  has a plurality of spaced-apart fluid outlets  118  that communicate with the hollow interior of the bubble ring  100 . In operation, as explained in greater detail below, bubble solution is pumped from the solution container  28  through the tubing  116  into the hollow interior of the bubble ring  100 , where the bubble solution then leaks out through the outlets  118  to the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , a blower  120  (such as a fan) is secured inside the motor and blower housing  124  inside the barrel section  24 , and is operatively connected to the motor  50  so that the blower  120  is actuated when the motor  50  is turned on. The blower  120  blows a stream of air that is directed by an air channel  122  towards the bubble ring  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the assembly  20  includes a pump system that functions to pump the bubble solution from the solution container  28  to the bubble ring  100 . The pump system includes the motor  50 , the tubing  116  and a gear system that functions to draw bubble solution through the tubing  116 . The motor  50  has a top gear  130  having teeth that are engaged with the teeth of a first gear  132 . The first gear  132  carries a second gear  134  having teeth that are engaged with the teeth of a third gear  136 . Two rollers  138  and  140  are carried on the side surface of the third gear  136 . A guide wall  142  is provided adjacent the edge of the third gear  136 . A space is defined between the guide wall  142  and the rollers  138  and  140 , and the tubing  116  is positioned in a tight-fit in this space between the guide wall  142  and the rollers  138  and  140  in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 . The tubing  116  has a first end that is normally positioned inside the solution container  28 , and extends through the housing  22  to a second end that terminates at the opening  114  of the bubble ring  100 . Thus, when the motor  50  is turned on, the top gear  130  rotates, which causes the other gears  132 ,  134  and  136  in the gear system to rotate. As the third gear rotates  136 , the rollers  138 ,  140  are turned in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 4 ). The rollers  138 ,  140  press on the tubing  116 , so that the counter-clockwise rotation of the rollers  138 ,  140  will create a suction force that draws bubble solution from the solution container  28 , through the tubing  116 , and into the hollow interior of the bubble ring  100 . 
     The assembly  20  operates in the following manner. To begin, the user attaches the solution container  28  to the connecting portion  32  by engaging the threads  36  and  38 . See  FIG. 2 . Then, the user presses the trigger grip portion  70  in a rearward direction R, which causes two events to occur: (1) causing the curved end  62  of the contact  60  to couple the contact  64  which creates a closed electrical circuit, and (2) causing the bubble ring  100  to move along the rail  102 . 
     First, the closed electrical circuit provides power to turn on and drive the motor  50 . The motor  50  will cause the blower  120  to blow a stream of air through the channel  122  towards the bubble ring  100 . In addition, the motor  50  will cause the pump system described above in connection with  FIG. 4  to draw bubble solution from the solution container  28  to the hollow interior of the bubble ring  100 , where the bubble solution will bleed out through the outlets  118  on to the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100 . 
     Second, pressing the trigger grip portion  70  in the rearward direction R will pull the entire trigger block  66  rearwardly, thereby causing the axle bar  86  to pivot in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ) about the fixed pivot point defined by fixed bar  88 . The clockwise pivot will cause the hooked end  84  of the axle bar  86  to move from front to rear in the direction R (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ), thereby pushing the bottom end of the axle bar  86  (i.e., where the coupling pin  90  is inserted) from rear to front in the direction F (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ). The rear to front pushing motion of the coupling pin  90  will push the slide plate  94  from rear to front in the direction, causing the support shaft  98  to slide within the slot  95 , from one end to another end of the slot  95 . As the support shaft  98  slides within the slot  95 , the support shaft  98  (and its bubble ring  100 ) also moves along the rail  102 .  FIGS. 2 ,  5  and  7  illustrate the position of the support shaft  98  in the slot  95  and in the rail  102  when in the rest position (i.e., before the trigger block  66  is pulled rearwardly), and  FIGS. 3 ,  6  and  8  illustrate the position of the support shaft  98  in the slot  95  and in the rail  102  after the trigger block  66  has been completely pressed. As the bubble ring  100  moves along the rail  102 , the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100  is contacted by the stationary wiping bar  106 , which wipes or spreads the bubble solution from the outlets  118  so as to create a film of bubble solution across the opening  112  of the bubble ring  100 . The stream of air generated by the blower  120  will then travel through the film, thereby creating bubbles. 
     When the user releases his or her pressing grip on the trigger grip portion  70 , the resilient element  68  will naturally bias the trigger block  66  in the forward direction F, leading to two events. First, the electrical connection between the contacts  60  and  64  is disengaged, causing the motor  50  to turn off so that the blower  120  stops blowing air and the pump system stops drawing bubble solution from the solution container  28 . Second, the axle bar  86  is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ) to pull the slide plate  94  in the rearward direction R, thereby causing the support shaft  98  to move in the opposite direction inside the slot  95  and along the rail  102 , so that the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100  passes the wiping bar  106  again to be wiped again by the wiping bar  106 . In this regard, the fact the support shaft  98  is seated inside the slot  95  means that the slide plate  94  will automatically push the support shaft  98  along the rail  102  during this retraction motion. The user can intermittently press and release the trigger grip portion  70  to actuate the motor  50  and to cause the front face  108  of the bubble ring  100  to repeatedly contact the wiping bar  106 , so as to create more bubbles. 
     Instead of arranging the bubble ring  100  to move in a left-right orientation across a vertical wiping bar, it is also possible to arrange the bubble ring  100  to move in a top-down orientation across a vertical wiping bar, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9-12 . Thus, the same numeral designations will be used for all the elements in the embodiment of  FIGS. 9-12  which are identical to the elements in the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-8 , except that an “a” will be added to the designations in  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-12 , the bubble ring  100   a , the tubing  116   a , the trigger block  66   a , the resilient element  68   a , the axle bar  86   a  and the support block  80   a  can be identical to the bubble ring  100 , the tubing  116 , the trigger block  66 , the resilient element  68 , the axle bar  86  and the support block  80 , respectively, in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  7  and  8 . In addition, the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-12  can utilize the same elements as those illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 , such as the motor  50 , the blower  120 , the pump system shown in  FIG. 4 , the electrical connections shown in  FIG. 2 , the solution container  28 , and the connecting portion  32 , so no further description of these elements will be furnished in connection with the embodiment in  FIGS. 9-12 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 9-12 , the center of the axle bar  86   a  also has an opening through which one end of a fixed bar  88   a  extends. The fixed bar  88   a  is fixed at a location and acts as a fixed pivot about which the axle bar  86   a  can pivot. The second end of the axle bar  86   a  has another opening through which a coupling shaft  90   a  extends. The coupling shaft  90   a  couples the axle bar  86   a  to a portion of a vertical slide plate  94   a  for pivoting movement between the axle bar  86   a  and the slide plate  94   a . Thus, the front leg  82   a , the axle bar  86   a  and the slide plate  94   a  are coupled to experience pivoting movement with respect to each other when the trigger block  66   a  is pressed and released. 
     An angled slot  95   a  is provided adjacent an angled front edge  96   a  of the slide plate  94   a , and is positioned to receive a horizontal support shaft  98   a  of the bubble ring  100   a . The support shaft  98   a  is adapted to experience vertical (e.g., up and down) movement along a vertical rail  102   a  that is secured to the interior of the barrel section  24   a  adjacent the opening  42   a . The angled nature of the slot  95   a  allows for reciprocating up-down movement of the slide plate  94   a  to cause the support shaft  98   a  to move up and down along the rail  102   a  as the support shaft  98   a  travels within the angled slot  95   a.    
     A stationary horizontal wiping bar  106   a  is fixedly attached to the interior of the barrel section  24   a  adjacent the opening  42   a . The wiping bar  106   a  is positioned adjacent the bubble ring  100   a  so that the front face  108   a  of the bubble ring  100   a  wipes against the wiping bar  106   a  as the bubble ring  100   a  moves up and down along the rail  102   a.    
     The assembly  20  that uses the embodiment of  FIGS. 9-12  operates in the following manner. To begin, the user attaches the solution container  28  to the connecting portion  32  by engaging the threads  36  and  38 . See  FIG. 2 . Then, the user presses the trigger grip portion  70  in a rearward direction R, which causes two events to occur: (1) causing the curved end  62  of the contact  60  to couple the contact  64  which creates a closed electrical circuit, and (2) causing the bubble ring  110   a  to move along the rail  102   a.    
     First, the closed electrical circuit provides power to turn on and drive the motor  50 . The motor  50  will cause the blower  120  to blow a stream of air through the channel  122  towards the bubble ring  100   a . In addition, the motor  50  will cause the pump system described above in connection with  FIG. 4  to draw bubble solution from the solution container  28  to the hollow interior of the bubble ring  100   a , where the bubble solution will bleed out through the outlets  118   a  on to the front face  108   a  of the bubble ring  100   a.    
     Second, pressing the trigger grip portion  70   a  in the rearward direction R will pull the entire trigger block  66   a  rearwardly, thereby causing the axle bar  86   a  to pivot in a clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ) about the fixed pivot point defined by the fixed bar  88   a . The clockwise pivot will cause the hooked end  84   a  of the axle bar  86   a  to move from front to rear in the direction R (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ), thereby pushing the bottom end of the axle bar  86   a  (i.e., where the coupling shaft  90   a  is inserted) from rear to front in the direction F (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ). The rear to front pushing motion of the coupling shaft  90   a  will push the slide plate  94   a  from rear to front in the direction F, causing the support shaft  98   a  to slide within the slot  95   a , from one end to another end of the slot  95   a . As the support shaft  98   a  slides within the slot  95   a , the support shaft  98   a  (and its bubble ring  100   a ) also moves along the rail  102   a .  FIGS. 9 and 11  illustrate the position of the support shaft  98   a  in the slot  95   a  and in the rail  102   a  when in the rest position (i.e., before the trigger block  66   a  is pulled rearwardly), and  FIGS. 10 and 12  illustrate the position of the support shaft  98   a  in the slot  95   a  and in the rail  102   a  after the trigger block  66   a  has been completely pressed. As the bubble ring  100   a  moves along the rail  102   a , the front face  108   a  of the bubble ring  100   a  is contacted by the stationary wiping bar  106   a , which wipes or spreads the bubble solution from the outlets  118   a  so as to create a film of bubble solution across the opening  112   a  of the bubble ring  100   a . The stream of air generated by blower  120  will then travel through the film, thereby creating bubbles. 
     When the user releases his or her pressing grip on the trigger grip portion  70   a , the resilient element  68   a  will naturally bias the trigger block  66   a  in the direction F, leading to two events. First, the electrical connection between the contacts  60  and  64  is disengaged, causing the motor  50  to turn off so that the blower  120  stops blowing air and the pump system stops drawing bubble solution from the solution container  28 . Second, the axle bar  86   a  is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed from the orientation of  FIG. 2 ) to pull the slide plate  94   a  in the rearward direction R, thereby ca using the support shaft  98   a  to move in the opposite direction inside the slot  95   a  and along the rail  102   a , so that the front face  108   a  of the bubble ring  100   a  passes the wiping bar  106   a  again to be wiped again by the wiping bar  106   a . In this regard, the fact the support shaft  98   a  is seated inside the slot  95   a  means that the slide plate  94   a  will automatically push the support shaft  98   a  along the rail  102   a  during this retraction motion. The user can intermittently press and release the trigger grip portion  70   a  to actuate the motor  50   a  and to cause the front face  108   a  of the bubble ring  100   a  to repeatedly contact the wiping bar  106   a , so as to create more bubbles. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.