Patent Publication Number: US-2022226744-A1

Title: Water toy powered by replaceable, dissolving, gas emitting powder agent

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a water toy that is powered by a powder agent or a bath salt. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Parents often struggle to get their children to bathe. In order to encourage children to bathe, numerous bath toys have been created in order to stimulate children&#39;s imaginations while not depriving them of playing with their toys while they are bathing. 
     More specifically, such bath toys range from water guns, flotation devices, motorized boats that are specifically designed for use in a bathtub. These toys are often used to not only coax children to get into the bathtub, but to also induce children to regularly take baths. Such toys must not only be resilient to breaking and easy to clean, but they must also be fun and engaging to children. However, the problem with such bath toys is that they are so engaging that they distract children from washing themselves or preoccupy their attention so much that they refuse to permit their parents to wash them while they are playing with their bath toys. 
     To address this problem, “toy” shaped soaps and bath toys having integral soap dispensers have been created, so as to encourage children to not only play with their toys while in the bath, but to also wash themselves with the soap dispensed as they bathe. However, many of these toy shaped soaps and bath toy soap dispensers are one dimensional, in that the only function they serve is that of a soap dispensing apparatus. 
     Therefore, there is a need to provide fun engaging toys that can be used in the bath tub (or in any body of water), that not only encourage children to regularly bathe, but also encourage children to wash themselves while in the bath tub. The present invention provides a novel floating toy for use in water having a replaceable propulsion capsule attached to the bottom of the toy for propelling the toy through water using the replaceable, dissolving fizzing powder, e.g., bath salts tablets, that impart cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding water, including children&#39;s bath water. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     There are prior art bath toys having internal compartments containing replaceable, effervescent tablets that produce a gas propulsive force for propelling the toy on the surface of the bath water as the tablets dissolving in the water. 
     For instance, prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,612,794 to Frederick C. Bender discloses a children&#39;s toy, having an interior compartment therein containing a replaceable effervescent source, and a discharge port. The discharge port is in fluid communication with the interior compartment such that as the effervescent source dissolves when it comes into contact with water it generates a propelling gas. The gas is expelled through the discharge port which in turn generates a force that propels the toy on the surface of the water in a desired direction. 
     Prior art U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2019/0314734 to Brenda P. Cayton, et al. discloses a bath toy that is capable of moving across the water through the production of bubbles. The disclosed bath toy includes an interior compartment housing an effervescent source that generates a gas upon contact with a fluid, such as water. The bath toy further includes a discharge port connected with the interior compartment such that the effervescent source generates a gas (e.g., bubbles) that exits through the discharge port and propels the bath toy through the water. 
     Also, prior art U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,305 to Toyohiro Matsuda discloses a bath toy having a suction port that dissolves a bath additive that causes the bath toy to move forward. 
     However, the aforementioned existing bath toys fail to disclose a toy for use in water, having an upper toy removably connected to a lower hollow capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent. The toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent. The lower hollow capsule is removably connected to the upper toy by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water, including through bath water. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that is fun and captures children&#39;s imagination, such that the toy encourages children to get into the bathtub and to bathe regularly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy that is removably connected to a lower hollow capsule by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent, wherein the toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent for use in a bath tub that imparts cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding bath tub water which helps cleanse and detoxify the bather&#39;s body. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials and labor, and has a low cost to the consumer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy for floating on the surface of water and a lower hollow capsule removably connected to the upper toy for submerging the capsule in a body of water. The capsule has an interior section for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent that dissolves in water, and a removable cover for opening and closing the capsule. The capsule also has first and second openings located at the two ends of the capsule for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of the two openings for propelling the upper toy on the surface of the body of water. The lower hollow capsule is removably connected to the upper toy by a rotatable connecter for attaching the capsule to the toy. The powder agent is a tablet that dissolves in water and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through the openings of the capsule for propelling the toy through the body of water. The toy has the configuration of a duck, boat, car, or any other toy. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the power driven toy having the configuration of a duck, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the power driven toy having the configuration of a ship, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the power driven toy, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy, showing the powder agent inside the capsule; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial, enlarged, front perspective view of the capsule, showing the powder agent inside the capsule; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial, enlarged, rear perspective view of the capsule; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the bottom of the toy for connection to the capsule, and showing the capsule disconnected from the toy; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the toy connected to the capsule. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the invention discloses a power driven toy  10  for propelling the toy through a body of water, such as in a bath tub. The power driven toy  10  has an upper toy  12  for floating on the surface of water and a lower hollow capsule  14 , shown in  FIGS. 4 through 7 , that is removably connected to the upper toy for submerging capsule  14  in a body of water.  FIGS. 1 and 2 , also show powder agent  22  removed from capsule  14 . 
     The upper toy  12 , a shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is designed to float on water and can have the configuration of any type of toy that is capable of moving through or across a body of water, such as a vehicle, including a boat, a ship, a canoe, a car, a train, a plane, an animal, a duck, a fish, a dolphin, a cat, a dog, or other toys. In addition, the upper toy  12  is capable of functioning as a toy and floating independently of the lower hollow capsule  14 . The upper toy  12  is preferably made of expanded polystyrene or hollow plastic to maintain a desired buoyancy. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the lower hollow capsule  14  is removably connected to the upper toy  12  by a circular rotatable connecter  16  for attaching capsule  14  to toy  12 . The rotatable connector  16  further includes a female cylindrical upper connector section  16   a  attached to the lower surface  12   a  of the upper toy  12 , and a male cylindrical lower connector section  16   b  attached to the upper periphery of the lower hollow capsule  14 . The upper and lower connector sections  16   a  and  16   b  of the rotatable connector  16 , also include locking pins  18  that facilitate the mateable engagement of the lower connector section  16   b  of the lower hollow capsule  14  into the upper connector section  16   a  of the upper toy  12 . 
     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower hollow capsule  14  is connected to the male cylindrical lower connector section  16   b  by a vertical connecting member  15 , such that the shape of the connected lower hollow capsule  14 , vertical connecting member  15 , and the male cylindrical lower connector section  16   b  collectively have a “T shaped” configuration. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the upper toy  12  needs to be connected to the lower hollow capsule  14 , the user simply rotatably inserts the lower connector section  16   b  of the lower hollow capsule  14  into the upper connector section  16   a  of the upper toy  12  in a clockwise movement. The user then twists the lower hollow capsule  14  relative to the upper toy  12  in a clockwise movement, until the locking pins  18  of the upper and lower connector sections  16   a  and  16   b  lock in place and secure the lower hollow capsule  14  to the upper toy  12 . 
     In order to disconnect the lower hollow capsule  14  from the upper toy  12 , for cleaning purposes, for example, the user simply rotates the lower connector section  16   b  of the lower hollow capsule  14  relative to the upper connector section  16   a  of the upper toy  12  for cleaning in a counterclockwise direction. The user then continues to twist the lower hollow capsule  14  relative to the upper toy  12  in a counterclockwise direction until the locking pins  18  of the upper and lower connector sections  16   a  and  16   b  disengage so as to separate the lower hollow capsule  14  from the upper toy  12 . 
     The lower hollow capsule  14 , shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , is designed to be submerged under water and is preferably constructed of solid plastic. It further contains an interior compartment  20  for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent  22  that dissolves in water and produces a fizzing gas e.g., carbon dioxide gas (CO2). 
     Preferably, the capsule  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , has a cylindrical shape, having a front end  24  and a rear end  26 . Further, the front end of the capsule has a first opening  28  while the rear end of the capsule  26  has a second opening  30 . When water comes into contact with the powder agent  22  in the submerged capsule  14  through the first and second openings  28  and  30 , the powder agent dissolves and emits carbon dioxide gas (CO2), in the form of fizzing bubbles through the first and second openings  28  and  30 . The emission of the carbon dioxide gas (CO2), in the form of streams of fizzing bubbles through the first and second openings  28  and  30  produces a force that propels the upper toy on the surface of the body of water. 
     The powder agent  22 , shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , is preferably in the form of a dissolvable tablet form and may include any chemical substance that produces sufficient gas, such as carbon dioxide gas (CO2), when in contact with water. Preferably, the powder agent  22  is a “bath bomb” generally made from three ingredients: baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch. Bath bombs may also include additional ingredients such as dyes, perfumes, soaps, or Epsom salt. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the hollow capsule  14  has a removable cover  24  for opening and closing capsule  14 . The capsule  14  also has first and second openings  30  and  32  located at the two ends of the capsule  14  for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of the two openings  30  and  32  for propelling the upper toy  12  on the surface of the body of water. The powder agent  22  is a tablet that dissolves in water that flows into the capsule  14  and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through the openings  30  and  32  of the capsule  14  for propelling the toy through the body of water. As stated, the toy may have the configuration of a duck, a boat, a car, or any other toy. 
     The fizziness of the bath bomb, the preferable form of the powder agent  22 , occurs as a result of the chemical reactions of baking soda (NaHCO 3 ) and citric acid coming into contact with water in capsule  14 . Baking soda quickly dissolves in water, and the positively charged sodium (Na+) breaks apart from negatively charged bicarbonate (HCO3−) to produce the “fizz” or gas. The citric acid also dissolves, with a single hydrogen ion (H+) separating from the rest of the molecule. Then, that positively charged hydrogen from the citric acid and the negatively charged bicarbonate from the baking soda mingle, very quickly undergoing a series of reactions. One of the end products is carbon dioxide (CO2) for propelling the toy  12 . Because carbon dioxide is a gas, it forms small bubbles in the bath water, creating a fizz. 
     While various embodiments of the power driven toy  10  for propelling the toy through a body of water have been described, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. For example, the shape, materials of construction, and design of the power driven toy  10  for propelling the toy through a body of water as illustrated and described are not intended to be limiting. 
     Advantages of the Present Invention 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water, including through bath water. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that is fun and captures children&#39;s imagination, such that the toy encourages children to get into the bathtub and to bathe regularly. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy that is removably connected to a lower hollow capsule by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent, wherein the toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent for use in a bath tub that imparts cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding bath tub water which helps cleanse and detoxify the bather&#39;s body. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials and labor, and has a low cost to the consumer. 
     A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.