Patent Publication Number: US-11648487-B2

Title: Wearable inflatable headpiece with automated soap bubble production mechanism

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on and claims priority to provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/068,979 filed Aug. 21, 2020 by the same inventors and having the title “Wearable headpiece with automated soap bubble producer.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to party clothes and costumes and festivity accoutrements, and particularly to head adornments and party hats. The present invention also relates to bubble blowing toys and inflatables. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is an extremely wide variety of party clothes, party costumes, festivity and entertainment accoutrements, etc. available on the market, including a wide variety of party hats. Some such clothes and accoutrements are made for particular types of parties and celebrations and some are more generic. Furthermore, a wide variety of bubble blowing toys and devices have been developed and marketed. However, it is believed that never before has a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism, and particularly an automated soap bubble production mechanism, been developed. Furthermore, it is believed that never before has such a wearable headpiece been developed where the headpiece has an inflatable character or themed component which presents the playful or festive appearance. The development of such has involved surmounting various design challenges as will be described or suggested below. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism. 
     More particularly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with an automated soap bubble production mechanism. 
     Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which incorporates character and festive themed inflatable components. 
     Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which incorporates a non-tooled decorative component. 
     Furthermore, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a soap bubble production mechanism which allows for hands-free production of soap bubbles. 
     Furthermore, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which is easy to wear. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which is easy to operate. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an armature for a wearable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which may seat a variety of decorative “skins.” 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an armature for a wearable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which may seat a variety of decorative, inflatable skins. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an armature for a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism which minimizes or prevents spillage of bubble solution. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A wearable inflatable amusement apparatus having an automatic bubble blowing apparatus, a chassis worn on the head of a wearer, the chassis seating the automatic bubble blowing apparatus, straps for attachment of the chassis of the head of the wearer; and an ornamental skin mounted on said chassis. The bubble blowing apparatus includes a power source, a surfactant solution reservoir, a fan for creating an air stream, and a mechanism for repeatedly creating a surfactant film in the path of the air stream. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG.  1 A  shows a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism according to the present invention, the headpiece having a skin of a cartoon octopus and being worn as a headpiece. 
         FIG.  1 B  shows a wearable inflatable headpiece with a soap bubble production mechanism of  FIG.  1 A , the headpiece being used as a centerpiece on a table. 
         FIG.  1 C  shows a cut-away view of the wearable inflatable headpiece of  FIG.  1 A  revealing the bubble blowing mechanism and its components. 
         FIG.  2 A  shows the chassis of the wearable inflatable headpiece in perspective view. 
         FIG.  2 B  shows the chassis of the wearable inflatable headpiece in a vertical plane cross-sectional view through an arm of the chassis. 
         FIG.  2 C  shows the chassis of the wearable inflatable headpiece in a vertical plane cross-sectional view between arms of the chassis. 
         FIG.  3 A  is a perspective cut-away view of the inflatable headpiece with the components of the bubble blowing mechanism exposed. 
         FIG.  3 B  is an isolated view showing the solution reservoir, refill tube, foaming bubble tube, and catch and return PVC tube of the bubble blowing mechanism. 
         FIG.  3 C  is an isolated view showing the motor and gear layout of the bubble blowing mechanism. 
         FIG.  3 D  is an isolated view to the pop top in an open configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1 A  shows a wearable inflatable headpiece ( 100 ) with a soap bubble production mechanism according to the present invention worn on the head of a wearer ( 99 ) in perspective view.  FIG.  1 B  shows the wearable inflatable headpiece ( 100 ) with a soap bubble production mechanism according to the present invention being used as a centerpiece on a table.  FIG.  1 C  shows a cut-away view of the headpiece ( 100 ) exposing internal components. The headpiece ( 100 ) includes an inflatable ornamental skin ( 110 ), which in the particular preferred embodiment depicted is in the form of a cartoon octopus. The ornamental skin ( 110 ) is an inflatable bladder ( 111 ) made of vinyl or a vinyl-like material, such as nylon, which has an exterior ornamental surface ( 112 ) and an inside cavity ( 115 ) with access ( 116 ) from the bottom surface ( 117 ) thereof. Making the inflatable ornamental skin ( 110 ) of vinyl provides the advantage that the inflatable ornamental skin ( 110 ) is a non-tooled component. This allows inflatable ornamental skin ( 110 ) to have a wide variety of appearances to be made relatively inexpensively. 
     A vent channel ( 125 ) runs from the top of the inside cavity ( 115 ) to the top of the ornamental skin ( 110 ). The headpiece ( 100 ) is secured to the wearer ( 99 ) by left and right head straps ( 190   a ) and ( 190   b ) (referred to generically or collectively with reference numeral “ 190 ”), the attachment straps ( 190   a ) and ( 190   b ) having male- and female-part removably attachable buckles ( 191   a ) and ( 191   b ) at ends of the straps ( 190 ) distal from the ends attached to the inflatable ornamental skin ( 110 ). The male-part and female-part buckles ( 191   a ) and ( 191   b ) are positionable on the straps ( 190   a ) and ( 190   b ) via positionable sliding clasps ( 192   a ) and ( 192   b ). As shown in  FIG.  1 A , the straps ( 190 ) can be used to secure the headpiece ( 100 ) to the head of a wearer ( 99 ). And if used while not being worn, such as for a centerpiece on a table as is shown in  FIG.  1 B , the straps ( 190 ) can be tucked under the inflatable headpiece ( 100 ) so as not to be visible. 
     The exterior inflatable ornamental surface ( 112 ) will commonly have a festive appearance, such as by having the appearance of a cartoon character or an animal, such as an octopus, elephant, dinosaur, shark, unicorn, or bulldog. Exterior ornamental surfaces ( 112 ) may be themed for various holidays, sports teamed, events, regions, etc. Such events may be for children or adults. For instance, the exterior inflatable ornamental surface ( 112 ) may have the form of a birthday cake, wedding cake, New Year&#39;s tiara, graduation cap, jack-o-lantern, political figure, mascot, etc. 
     The inflatable bladder ( 111 ) has an oral inflation valve ( 119 ). The inflatable bladder ( 111 ) may be inflatable by air pressure from the mouth applied at the oral inflation valve ( 119 ). The oral inflation valve ( 119 ) is pluggable with a spigot plug ( 118 ) which is attached to the oral inflation valve ( 119 ) via a flexible attachment strap ( 109 ). 
     The outside bottom of the inflatable bladder ( 111 ) has a pair of lower perimeter downwards slanting flanges ( 122   a ) and ( 122   b ) which present the form of a conical section. The upper downwards slanting flange ( 122   a ) extends from the bottom edge of the exterior ornamental surface ( 112 ) and the lower downwards slanting flange ( 122   b ) extends from the bottom edge of the inside cavity ( 115 ). A support ring ( 120 ), which may for instance be made of polyvinyl chloride or polypropylene, has an upwards facing top surface which may squarely abut the lower surface of the lower downwards slanting flange ( 122   b ). The downwards slanting flanges ( 122   a ) and ( 122   b ) are bonded via spot or continuous tracking welds using high-frequency welding to the stiff support ring ( 120 ). The bonding of the support ring ( 120 ) to the upper and lower downwards slanting flanges ( 122   a ) and ( 122   b ) (when the oral inflation valve ( 119 ) is plugged with the spigot plug ( 118 )), seals the bladder ( 111 ) with an air-tight seal. 
     A chassis ( 200 ) and proximal portions of the straps ( 190 ) are shown in perspective view in  FIG.  2 A , in a vertical plane cross-sectional view through an arm of the chassis ( 200 ) and strap bays ( 210   a ) and ( 210   b ) in  FIG.  2 B , and in a vertical plane cross-sectional view between arms of the chassis ( 200 ) in  FIG.  2 C . The ornamental skin ( 110 ) is attached to a chassis ( 200 ) via a mating of the support ring ( 120 ) to an attachment recess ( 220 ) in the chassis ( 200 ). The chassis ( 200 ) has a base ( 210 ), a mount platform ( 220 ) which includes a mechanism mount structure ( 230 ), and six arching arms ( 215 ) which extend from the base ( 210 ) to the mount platform ( 220 ). Strap bays ( 210   a ) and ( 210   b ) protrude from diametrically-separated sides of the base ( 210 ) of the chassis ( 200 ), and the head straps ( 190   a ) and ( 190   b ) attach to the chassis ( 200 ) at strap bays ( 210   a ) and ( 210   b ). 
     As is shown in the cut-away view of  FIG.  3 A , mounted on the chassis ( 200 ) and seatable within the inside cavity ( 115 ) of the ornamental skin ( 110 ) is a bubble blowing mechanism ( 300 ) designed for easy, intuitive operation for the hands-free blowing of soap bubbles. Hands-free blowing of soap bubbles allows the user to be simultaneously playing, cheering, dancing, running, singing, eating or drinking. 
     As is shown in  FIG.  3 A  and the isolated view of  FIGS.  3 B,  3 C, and  3 D , the bubble blowing mechanism ( 300 ) includes a bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ) which has a reservoir lid ( 311 ), and through the lid ( 311 ) pass a refill tube ( 315 ), a foaming bubble tube ( 320 ) and a catch and return tube ( 325 ). The bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ) holds bubble solution ( 301 ), which may for instance simply be dish soap and water. The refill tube ( 315 ), foaming bubble tube ( 320 ) and catch and return tube ( 325 ) are preferably made of PVC. Within both the refill tube ( 315 ) and the catch and return tube ( 325 ) is a one-way duck bill valve ( 326 ). The catch and return tube ( 325 ) is connected to a catch and return basin ( 327 ) designed to catch excess, spilled or leaked bubble solution ( 301 ) and return it to the bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ). Both one-way duck bill valves ( 326 ) make spillage minimal even when the apparatus ( 100 ) is turned upside down. The end of the foaming bubble tube ( 320 ) distal from the bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ) is connected to an exit aperture ( 322 ) which is adjacent to the bubble exit platform ( 323 ). An air stream created by a fan ( 380 ) exits the apparatus ( 100 ) via bubble exit platform ( 323 ). At the perimeter of the exit aperture ( 322 ) is a catch and return basin ( 327 ). Rotation of a gear ( 391   b ) and two drive wheels ( 371 ) and ( 372 ) forces bubble solution ( 301 ) from the bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ) to the exit aperture ( 322 ) and bubble exit platform ( 323 ) at the bottom of the pop top ( 360 ). The bubble exit platform ( 323 ) is ribbed to increase surface area so as to increase the amount of bubble solution ( 301 ) which may be retained on the bubble exit platform ( 323 ). The motor ( 390 ) is a 9 volt direct current motor which interfaces with two gears ( 391   a ) and  391   b ), and two plastic wheels ( 371 ) and ( 372 ). The motor ( 390 ) and one gear ( 391   a ) power the fan ( 380 ). The other gear ( 391   b ) and two wheels ( 371 ) and ( 372 ) compress the PVC foaming bubble tube ( 320 ) to produce foaming of the bubble solution ( 301 ). 
     Operation of the bubble blowing mechanism ( 300 ) is controlled by a pressure switch ( 324 ) which functions to both control power from the batteries ( 306 ) to a fan ( 380 ) and sealing and unsealing of the exit aperture ( 322 ) via contact with a pressure switch ( 324 ) on the bubble exit platform ( 323 ). Sealing of the exit aperture ( 322 ) also prevents evaporation of the bubble solution ( 301 ) when the apparatus ( 100 ) is not in use. The pressure switch ( 324 ) is compressed when the pop top ( 360 ) is closed. The pop top ( 360 ) is easily opened by upwards pressure applied to a thumb tab ( 369 ) on the top portion ( 368 ) of the pop top ( 360 ). When pressure is reduced on the pressure switch ( 324 ) the pressure switch ( 324 ) is put into its on polarity, and power from the batteries ( 306 ) is directed to the fan ( 380 ) and LED ( 390 ). When the pop top ( 360 ) is closed and pressure on the pressure switch ( 324 ) is raised, the pressure switch ( 324 ) is put into its off polarity, and the batteries ( 306 ) are disconnected from the fan ( 380 ) and LED ( 390 ). 
     The end of the refill tube ( 315 ) distal from the bubble solution reservoir ( 310 ) has a tethered cap ( 316 ) and is adapted to receive input of bubble solution ( 301 ) from a universal funnel ( 303 ). It is anticipated that the apparatus ( 100 ) is sold with a three ounce bottle of bubble solution ( 302 ) which has an output which has the form of the universal funnel ( 303 ). It is anticipated that the bubble reservoir ( 310 ) will have a capacity of at least one ounce of bubble solution ( 301 ) and that will provide bubble production estimated for 40 to 60 minutes before needing to be refilled. 
     At the bottom of the bubble blowing mechanism ( 300 ) is a battery door hatch ( 305 ) which allows access to a battery compartment ( 306 ). Wiring ( 323 ) from the pressure switch ( 324 ) to the batteries ( 306 ) passes behind the main funnel cavity ( 125 ). 
     The apparatus ( 100 ) may include an LED bulb ( 390 ) to illuminate the inflatable and/or bubbles stream. Use of an LED has several advantages in that LEDs are very energy efficient, offer bright directional light, and are cool. The apparatus ( 100 ) may also include a small speaker (not shown) and a sound card and may play voices, music, etc. when the electrical system is on. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention is presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Many other variations are possible. For example: the inflatable ornamental surface may take other forms; the chassis may have a form other than what is described; the ornamental surface may or may not be permanently bonded to the chassis; the ornamental skin may not be inflatable; the bubble blowing mechanism may not be automated; the device may include a sound card and speaker to play music, comical speech, and so on; the chassis may have more or less than six arms; etc. Furthermore, the description of the physical principles underlying the operation and performance of the present invention are also presented for purposes of illustration and description, and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. It should be understood that these descriptions include many approximations, simplifications and assumptions to present the basic concepts and effects which influence the operation and performance may have been neglected for ease of presentation. 
     Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated or the physical analyses motivating the illustrated embodiments, but rather by the appended Claims and their legal equivalents.