Abstract:
An apparatus for producing both bubbles and streams of water that because of its unique geometry and design, will when oriented in any position prevent spillage of its bubble solution when filled to the fill line or below, and is capable of automatic and continuous bubble generation while simultaneously generating amusing water streams. It is principally intended for use by young children as a lawn water toy as well as a bubble creating device.

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/608,854 filed Feb.  29, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,969  which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/086,541 filed Jul. 1, 1993 and since issued Mar. 5, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,876 which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/828,345 filed Jan. 30, 1992 and since issued Sep. 21, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,046. The benefit of the filing date of this earlier filed application is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 120. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improved machines for blowing bubbles as well as to improved machines for providing water spray for amusement. The invention has particular application for use with bubble solution of the type used by children in blowing bubbles. 
     It is well known that bubble machines have existed for some time and are commercially available in a variety of embodiments. Prior to applicant&#39;s co-pending application, and other applications by applicant which have matured into U.S. patents, these bubble machines have been of a type and geometry which provided no resistance to spillage of liquid contents of the machine. In addition, a variety of water toys have long existed that provide an amusing spray of water as well actuate movement of cartoon characters or cause the cartoon characters to spray water. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved fluid powered bubble machine having various impellers, fans, axles and gear working in combination and wherein water from a source such as a garden hose activates the bubble machine to generate a continuous stream of bubbles. The machine can be used in combination with a sprinkler to generate both a stream of bubbles from one end on the machine, and a stream of water from the other end. In different embodiments of the present invention, selective channeling of the sprinkler portion of the bubble machine creates amusing and intermittent streams of water. In some instances, only the bubble portion of the machine is in use and the sole result is a pleasing, continuous stream of bubbles. In other instances, only the sprinkler portion of the machine is in use and the sole result is the generation of streams of water useful for either water play or for watering the lawn or other vegetation. In yet another embodiment, the water sprinkling portion of the apparatus has a non-fluid powered bubble machine, such as a battery powered bubble machine mounted on top. In its ideal use, both the sprinkler and bubble portion of the bubble machine are in use resulting in both a continuous stream of bubbles and streams of water, thereby maximizing the pleasure potential and utility of the invention. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid powered bubble machine comprises an impeller housing which encloses an impeller and which has a threaded opening for connection to a standard garden hose. On one side wall of the housing is another opening that forms a channel for providing fluid communication between the inner cavity of the housing and a fluid tank. Water flowing into the bubble machine from the garden hose or other water source flows past the impeller causing the impeller to act as a hydraulic motor which powers other portions of the bubble machine which are described below. In the preferred embodiment, a hollow cylinder is provided for rotation within the fluid tank. The hollow cylinder rotates in response to torque from the hydraulic motor and causes a constantly changing portion of ports to be alternately open and closed. This, in turn, causes the water streams to be intermittent. Throughout the rotation cycle of the hollow cylinder, there are always one or more ports in the open position, so as to allow the water to flow continuously. After flowing past the impeller, the water flows into the hollow cylinder within the fluid tank and is ported out via a plurality of channels that guide the water into streams emanating radially outward and upward from the fluid tank. 
     On a second side wall of the impeller housing is a sealed, second opening for a geared axle. The axle is attached to the impeller at one end thereof, and is rotatably connected to a second impeller or fan. While the second impeller is not hydraulically ported to the hydraulic motor, torque from the hydraulic motor rotates the geared axle causing the second impeller to turn. Rotation of the second impeller generates an air stream. A bubble solution container is attached to the upper end of the bubble machine. The bubble solution container has an opening in the top surface and a funnel depending from the top surface into the inner cavity of the container. A bubble wheel, having bubble openings at the periphery of the bubble wheel, is positioned within the funnel and is rotatably connected to an extension of the geared axle. Rotation of the geared axle thus synchronously rotates both the second impeller and the bubble wheel. The diameter of the bubble wheel is sufficiently large such that an upper portion of the bubble wheel is continuously outside of the bubble container and is thereby exposed to the continuous air stream generated by the rotation of the second impeller. When a thin film of bubble solution adheres to the bubble openings at the periphery of the bubble wheel, the continuous air stream generated by the second impeller creates a continuous stream of bubbles. 
     Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein both the bubble machine and the sprinkler portion are in operation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid powered bubble machine with spill-proof capability by connecting the lower impeller housing spout to a pressurized fluid or water source. The water will turn the impeller, exit the impeller housing through the upper impeller housing spout, enter the fluid tank through the fluid tank attach spout, fill and pressurize the fluid tank, exit through one or more aligned fluid passage holes and fluid passage slots, and create amusing streams of water. In response to the rotation of the impeller, the impeller forward gear will turn the fluid drum gear. Turning of the fluid drum gear will cause various fluid passage holes and fluid passage slots to constantly align and misalign in a predetermined or random pattern. The rotating rearward impeller gear will cause the coupled female fan gear and fan to rotate. Rotation of the fan creates an air stream directed at the bubble wheel. Rotation of the fan, fan axle, and male fan gear also causes rotation of the bubble wheel through the bubble trough. A plurality of bubble orifices placed on the outer periphery of the bubble wheel thus rotates into the bubble trough, picks up a thin film of bubble solution, continues its rotation within the rectangular funnel until the bubble orifices are protruding outside of the container. The air stream “blows” bubbles with the bubble film thereby vacating the bubble orifices. Continued rotation of the bubble wheel results in a continued exposure of bubble film to the air stream. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated and become readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric assembly view of the bubble machine (rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise to facilitate a larger scale figure). The front right portion of the solution container shells, lower impeller housing, and fluid tank are shown cut away. The right portion of the upper impeller housing and fluid drum (except for part of the fluid drum gear) are also shown cut away. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exploded isometric view of the various parts that make up the bubble machine and illustrates their relationship to each other. The portions shown cut away, are identical to that shown in FIG.  1 . 
         FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of the bubble machine base shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 2C  is an enlarged view of the fluid tank shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 2D  is an enlarged view of the fluid drum shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 2E  is an enlarged view of the impeller housings and impeller shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 2F  is an enlarged view of the fan and bubble wheel shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 2G  is an enlarged view of the solution container shells shown in FIG.  2 A. 
         FIG. 3  is an orthographic side view of the bubble machine. The portions shown cut away are the same as in  FIG. 1  except that the bubble drum gear is not cut away. The bubble solution is shown retained in the bottom of the lower shell. 
         FIG. 4  is a sideways oriented enlargement of the bubble solution container portion of the bubble machine of FIG.  3 . The bubble solution is shown retained in the top of the upper shell. 
         FIG. 5  is an inverted enlargement of the bubble solution container portion of the bubble machine of FIG.  3 . The bubble solution is shown retained in the front portions of the upper and lower container shells. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Number 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 Bubble machine assembly 
               
               
                 12 
                 Forward end of assembly 
               
               
                 14 
                 Rearward end of assembly 
               
               
                 20 
                 Bubble machine base 
               
               
                 22 
                 Attach pin - machine base 
               
               
                 24 
                 Attach pin - machine base 
               
               
                 26 
                 Attach pin - machine base 
               
               
                 30 
                 Fluid tank 
               
               
                 32 
                 Fluid passage hole - fluid tank 
               
               
                 34 
                 Attach receptacle - fluid tank 
               
               
                 35 
                 Attach spout - fluid tank 
               
               
                 36 
                 Attach spout rearward edge - fluid tank 
               
               
                 38 
                 Attach spout inner surface - fluid tank 
               
               
                 40 
                 Fluid drum 
               
               
                 41 
                 Fluid drum open end 
               
               
                 42 
                 Fluid drum gate 
               
               
                 44 
                 Inner gear surface - fluid drum 
               
               
                 46 
                 Fluid passage slot - drum fluid 
               
               
                 50 
                 Lower impeller housing 
               
               
                 52 
                 Attach receptacle - lower impeller housing 
               
               
                 54 
                 Spout - lower impeller housing 
               
               
                 56 
                 Axle retaining slot - lower impeller housing 
               
               
                 58 
                 Stop - lower impeller housing 
               
               
                 60 
                 Upper impeller housing 
               
               
                 61 
                 Upper impeller housing spout 
               
               
                 62 
                 Stepped spout edge - upper impeller housing 
               
               
                 64 
                 Outer spout surface - upper impeller housing 
               
               
                 66 
                 Axle retaining slot - upper impeller housing 
               
               
                 68 
                 Stop - upper impeller housing 
               
               
                 70 
                 Impeller 
               
               
                 71 
                 Impeller forward gear 
               
               
                 72 
                 Impeller rearward gear 
               
               
                 74 
                 Impeller forward axle 
               
               
                 76 
                 Impeller rearward axle 
               
               
                 78 
                 Impeller blade 
               
               
                 80 
                 Fan 
               
               
                 82 
                 Fan axle 
               
               
                 83 
                 Rearward retaining flange -  fan axle 
               
               
                 84 
                 Forward retaining flange - fan axle 
               
               
                 86 
                 Male fan gear 
               
               
                 87 
                 Female fan gear 
               
               
                 88 
                 Fan blade 
               
               
                 90 
                 Bubble Wheel 
               
               
                 92 
                 Bubble orifice 
               
               
                 94 
                 Bubble wheel axle 
               
               
                 96 
                 Retaining flange - bubble wheel 
               
               
                 98 
                 Bubble wheel gear 
               
               
                 100 
                 Lower solution container shell 
               
               
                 102 
                 Bubble solution trough - lower shell 
               
               
                 104 
                 Connecting flange - lower shell 
               
               
                 106 
                 Attach receptacle - lower shell 
               
               
                 108 
                 Fill line 
               
               
                 110 
                 Upper solution container shell 
               
               
                 112 
                 Funnel - upper shell 
               
               
                 114 
                 Funnel upper opening - upper shell 
               
               
                 116 
                 Funnel lower opening - upper shell 
               
               
                 118 
                 Axle retaining slot - funnel 
               
               
                 120 
                 Connecting flange - upper shell 
               
               
                 122 
                 Fan axle trough - upper shell 
               
               
                 124 
                 Forward fan axle retaining flange - upper shell 
               
               
                 125 
                 Rearward fan axle retaining flange - upper shell 
               
               
                 126 
                 Upper shell fill spout 
               
               
                 130 
                 Cap 
               
               
                 140 
                 Bubble solution level 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention is a machine  10  that comprises a base  20 , a fluid tank  30 , a fluid drum  40 , a lower impeller housing  50 , an upper impeller housing  60 , an impeller  70 , a fan  80 , a bubble wheel, a lower solution container shell  100 , an upper solution container shell  110 , and a cap  130 . The machine  10  has a forward end  12  and a rearward end  14 . Base  20  comprises a support base with a plurality of attach pins  22 ,  24 , and  26 . The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by further reference to the figures. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2C , fluid tank  30  contains a plurality of fluid passage holes  32 , an attach receptacle  34 , and an attach spout  35 . Attach receptacle  34  is adapted to snappingly attach to and be supported by attach pin  22 . Rearward edge  36  of attach spout  35  bears against the impeller housing stepped edge  62 , and the inner surface  38  of attach spout  35  connects with outer surface  64  of upper impeller housing spout  61 . 
       FIG. 2D  shows fluid drum  40  having an open end  41 , a gear  42 , an inner gear surface  44 , and a plurality of fluid passage slots  46 . Fluid drum  40  is adapted to reside on and rotate about fluid tank  30 . The inner gear surface  44  is adapted to allow attach spout  35  and attach spout  61  to be in coupling engagement within and to pass through the inner gear surface  44 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 2E , an impeller housing is defined by a lower impeller housing  50  and an upper impeller housing  60 . Lower impeller housing  50  is further defined as having an attach receptacle  52 , a spout  54 , an impeller axle retaining slot  56 , and a stop  58 . The attach receptacle  52  is adapted to snappingly attach to and supported by attach pin  24 . Upper impeller housing  60  is further defined as having a spout  61 , a stepped spout edge  62 , a spout outer surface  64 , an axle retaining slot  66 , and a stop  68 . The lower impeller housing  50  and the upper impeller housing  60  are adapted to snappingly engage one to another to form a complete impeller housing. 
     As can also be seen from  FIG. 2E , an impeller  70  has a forward gear  71 , a rearward gear  72 , a forward axle  74 , a rearward axle  76 , and a plurality of impeller blades  78 . Impeller  70  is adapted to be retained by and be rotatable within lower impeller housing  50  and upper impeller housing  60  when the impeller housings are in coupling engagement with one another by means of the impeller axles  74  and  76  being retained by axle retaining slots  56  and  66 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2F , a fan  80  is provided having fan axle  82 , a rearward fan axle retaining flange  83 , a forward fan axle retaining flange  84 , a male fan gear  86 , a female fan gear  87 , and a plurality of fan blades  88 . 
     Also shown in  FIG. 2F , a bubble wheel  90  has a plurality of bubble orifices  92  about the outer periphery, a bubble wheel axle  94  at the center, at least one bubble retaining flange  96  on the end of the bubble wheel axle  94 , and a bubble wheel gear  98 . The male fan axle  86  is adapted to mesh with and provide torque to bubble wheel gear  98 . 
       FIG. 2G  shows a bubble solution container having a lower solution container shell  100  and an upper solution container shell  110 . The lower solution container shell  100  is further defined as a shell having a bubble solution trough  102 , a connecting flange  104 , an attach receptacle  106 , and a fill line  108 . The attach receptacle  106  is adapted to snappingly attach to and supported by base attach pin  26 . 
     As is also shown in  FIG. 2G , the upper solution container shell  110  is further defined as a shell having a funnel  112 , a upper funnel opening  114 , a lower funnel opening  116 , bubble wheel axle retaining slots  118 , a connecting flange  120 , a fan axle trough  122 , fan axle retaining flanges  124  and  125 , and a filling spout  126 . The lower solution container shell  100  and upper solution container shell  110  are adapted snappingly attach together by connecting flanges  104  and  120 . The fill spout  126  is adapted to threadingly attach to a cap  130 . The bubble wheel axle retaining flange  118  is adapted to snappingly attach to and support rotation of the bubble wheel axle  94 . The fan axle retaining slots  124  and  125  are adapted to snappingly attach to and support rotation of fan axle  82 . 
     The operation of the present invention can be seen by reference to FIG.  1 . When a pressurized fluid source is connected to the lower impeller housing spout  54 , the fluid will cause the impeller  70  to rotate by creating a pressure differential on the impeller blades. As impeller  70  rotates, male impeller gear  72  that is coupled to female fan gear  87  causes the fan  80  to rotate. The rotation of impeller  70  also causes impeller forward gear  71  which is meshed with fluid drum gear  42  to rotate the fluid drum. The rotation of fan  80  causes fan blades  88  to generate an air flow in the direction of bubble wheel  90 . As fan  80  rotates, male fan gear  86  that is meshed with bubble wheel gear  98  causes bubble wheel  90  to rotate. The rotation of bubble wheel  90  causes bubble orifice  92  to continuously travel through and be immersed in bubble solution in bubble solution trough  102 , to travel above funnel upper opening  114 , and to expose refreshed bubble orifice  92  to the air stream, thus creating bubbles. After entering through lower impeller housing spout  54  and rotating impeller  70 , the pressurized fluid exits upper impeller housing  60  through upper impeller housing spout  61  and simultaneously enters fluid drum  30  through fluid drum attach spout  35 . 
     After entering and pressurizing fluid tank  30 , the fluid exits the fluid tank through one or more fluid passage holes  32  and through one or more fluid passage slots  46  and sprays outward. Fluid tank  30  and fluid drum  40  are adapted such that at any given point in the bubble creation cycle and the fluid flow and spray cycle, at least one fluid passage hole  32  and at least one fluid passage slot  46 , will always be lined up with one another so to create a constant fluid flow path. 
     As can be seen by reference to  FIG. 2 , bubble wheel gear  98  has a diameter less than the diameter of the bubble wheel  90 . The bubble wheel  90  is prevented from inadvertently becoming detached from bubble wheel axle retaining slots  118  by bubble wheel axle retaining flanges  96 . Retaining flanges  96  also act to keep bubble wheel  90  from rubbing against the sides of funnel  112 . Bubble solution is poured into the interior of upper container shell  110  through fill spout  126  to a predetermined level as indicated by fill line  108 . The maximum fill line  108  is placed no higher on lower shell  100  than to equal the volume defined by the maximum liquid that can be held in the machine without running out of funnel  112  when oriented in any position. 
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the additional unique advantages of spill resistance when fluid is filled at or below the fill line  108  in the subject invention regardless of the various possible orientations. As is apparent from  FIG. 3 , when the invention is in the upright position liquid will always be below the lower edge  116  of funnel  112 . When machine  10  is in the upside down position as in  FIG. 4 , the liquid will occupy the space immediately around funnel  112  but not be able to enter funnel  112  for discharge through opening  114 . When machine  10  is in a sideways position as in  FIG. 5 , the liquid level will always be between the side of the funnel  112  and the lower side of the two container shells  100  and  110 . Furthermore, when the machine  10  is oriented in any of an infinite variations of the above described positions, it will behave in a like manner and prevent the spillage of the solution. 
     As is seen by reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the preferred embodiment, the fluid powered bubble machine of the subject invention is mounted on a base with bubbles being blown from one end and fluid emanating from the other. However, other embodiments of the subject invention could readily be adapted to have the fluid emanate from a vertical fluid tank and the bubble blowing portion of the machine could be mounted above the fluid tank so as to increase the elevation of the bubbles being blow. The entire machine could also be readily adapted to take the from of a fire hydrant, a cartoon character, or other aesthetically pleasing shape. 
     Lastly, the preferred method of fabrication would be injection molding for high volume low cost production. The material used could be any of a variety of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, etc. that are compatible with the injection molding process. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. The subject invention is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.