Improvements in Devices for use in Blowing Soap-bubbles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for use in Blowing Soap-bubbles.
I, RICHARD SAMSON THAIN, of Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, United States of
America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a device for blowing soap-bubbles; and it has for its object
to provide a bubble blower with which one complete bubble may be formed within
another; also, whereby two bubbles may be simultaneously produced, one of which
will, by the continuation of biowing, be detached from the blower and caused to move
down the outside of the first by gravity until it assumes a position directly beneath
the bubble adhering to the blower, and remains suspended therefrom, and, also,
whereby composite bubbles-i.e., consisting of a larger number of small bubbles-may
be made. The production of one bubble within another enhances the prismatic effect
many fold, and the device, when skilfully handled, can be made to afford amusement,
pleasure and instruction.
The blower comprises in the preferred form two tubes concentrically arranged, the
walls of the tubes, preferably, converging from the outer end of the blower toward
the mouth end. Their length and relative diameter are largely a matter of judgment;
but the best results are secured, according to my experiments, when the inner tube is,
say, two-thirds the diameter of the outer one, and of such length as to project, say, a
fraction of an inch beyond the outer tube at the end where the bubble is formed and
at the mouth end a slightly greater distance, so as to adapt said end to be covered by
the tongue in the act of blowing through the outer tube. As a means of securing
these tubes together, I have shown in the drawings, and prefer to employ, a cap or
collar whose flange is adapted to embrace the mouth end of the outer tube and
centrally apertured for the passage therethrough of the inner tube, and also apertured
through its substance between the walls of the two tubes for the passage of air expelled
from the mouth to the interior of the outer tube. I prefer to make the outer tube in
two transverse sections, the lower end bell-shaped and its contracted portion or neck
adapted to pass on the outside of the lower end of the outer tube, and a suitable stop-
such as a circumferential head-is provided in the upper section against which the
upper end of the contracted portion abuts. The lower end of the upper section will
also, preferably, he projected below the contracted portion of the lower section
interiorly thereof and flared out against the enlarged portion of the lower section, so
that the two sections are locked together. To properly space the lower end of the
inner tube, a disc having a central aperture and a series of perforations may be
slipped over it from its upper end, and then the inner tube being inserted through the
large end of the outer one, the smaller end passing through the collar, and preferably
locked or soldered thereto, the various parts are securely locked together and will stand
considerable hard usage without injury. The perforated disc has an additional function
I also provide an attachment, cup-shaped in form, and having perforations in
its bottom, its walls being adapted to be secured to the lower end of the inner tube,
so that a large number of small bubbles may be formed by expelling the air through
the perforations in the bottom of the cup inside of a large bubble formed by blowing
through the outer tube. All of the parts may be constructed from light thin sheet
metal and are readily assembled.
in use.
In the accompanying drawings :-
Figure 1 is an elevation of the device,

page_text: Figure 4 is a plan view looking into the device from the outer end.
Figure 5 is a view of the cup-shaped attachment.
Figures 6 and 7 are views showing forms of bubbles which may be produced by the
device.
In the drawings, A represents a tube-say of metal-tapering froin end to end and
preferably made in two sections, the lower one of which is marked A'. The lower
end of the upper section has a circumferential bead a, to form a shoulder or stop, and
its lower end receives the contracted portion of the section A', which is bell-shaped
by preference, and after the two parts are slipped into position the lower edge of the
upper section is turned out under the shoulder of the lower section, so that the two are
firmly locked together. It is not necessary that the outer tube should have this bell-
shaped end, but it may be cylindrical or in the form of a frustum of a cone-that is,
having straight sides-or when in sections the sections may be secured together in
different ways.
Concentrically arranged within the tube A is the tube B, which will preferably be
of the same configuration as the upper section of the outer tube and of slightly greater
length, projecting at its lower end a fraction of an inch below the lower end of the
outer tube and at its outer end a greater distance, so as to adapt it to be conveniently
covered by the tip of the tongue while blowing into the outer tube.
In order to secure the two tubes in proper relation to each other, I employ for the
end of the device to which the mouth is applied a cap C, having a central aperture e
of such size as to permit the passage of the end of the tube B therethrough, and
having also the apertures c¹ to permit the air expelled from the mouth to pass to the
space between the tubes. The flange of this cap encircles the upper end of the outer
tube and the inner tube will preferably be provided below its end with a projecting
lug b, adapted, when the parts are assembled, to rest upon the upper side of the
cap C.
To space the lower end of the tubes, I employ a disc D having apertures d, and
secure it over the inner tube by passing the small end through a central aperture d'
in the disc, while the edge of the disc will engage the walls of the outer tube, and,
when the parts are assembled, will rest beneath the shoulder or offset of the bell-
shaped section A', all as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. This
perforated disc also enables the production of a large number of bubbles by immersing
the blower in the water, so that the disc is below its surface. Bubbles will then be
generated at each of the apertures d in succession.
In assembling the parts the sections A A¹, when separately made, will first be
secured together. Next the perforated disc will be slipped over the smaller end of the
inner tube B, and its aperture will be of such size that it cannot be forced off the large
end of said tube. The inner tube will then have its small end inserted through the
outer end of the large one and passed up until the disc D comes to rest against the
shoulder or stop formed by the section A'. The cap c may then be slipped over
the small end of the inner tube, which projects beyond the outer one and forced to its
place, the lug b being forced through the metal of the cap or passed through a suitable
aperture therein, and then the cap turned to lock the parts together, or it may be
fastened by solder or in any other convenient manner.
In Figure 5 I have shown an attachment for forming a large number of small
bubbles inside a large one. This attachment comprises a cup E, having perforations e
in its bottom, and it is adapted to telescope with the inner tube. By first forming the
large bubble by blowing through the outer tube, and then by blowing through the
inner tube, small bubbles will be formed at each of the perforations and inside of
the larger one.
In Figure 6 the "double-bubble" is seen. This produced by first immersing the
hell-shaped end of the blower in soapy water and then by covering the opening in
the projecting end of the inner tube by the point of the tongue and expelling the air
from the mouth, (covering meanwhile the upper end of the tube with the lips) a
bubble will be formed at the bell-shaped end of the outer tube, and when distended

page_text: to considerable size, if the tongue be removed from the open end of the inner tube
and the air be expelled, gently at first, through the inner or both tubes simultaneously,
a second bubble is produced at the outer end of the inner tube and inside of the
bubble first formed; and then by continuing the blowing through both tubes simul-
taneously the size of the bubbles may be enlarged, or by blowing through first one
and then the other the relative sizes of the bubbles may be changed, and by a puff of
air through the inner tube the inner bubble may be detached, so as to float inside
the outer one, which may also be detached by a puff or by shaking or moving the
device.
In Figure 7 a composite bubble is shown. This is produced by blowing through
both tubes simultaneously, and in so doing two or more bubbles will be produced, each
forming complete from one of the tubes, and then by the continned blowing a second
or several bubbles will be formed having their initial point of formation at the edge
of the outer tube and adhering to the bubble first formed and gradually passing down
by gravity, clinging to the wall of the first until suspended in the fashion of a basket
to a balloon, or a chain of bubbles. The prismatic effect, of course, is heightened by
the formation of two or more bubbles adhering to each other, and the number of
bubbles which may be produced will depend to some extent upon the depth to which
the blower is immersed in the water. I have found that by immersing the end of the
blower so that the water shall stand above the level of the disc D a very large number
of bubbles can be formed, which, I presume, are formed by expelling the water
through the apertures d.
I do not of course intend to limit my invention to the details of construction, as it
is obvious that variations may be made in the structural features without departing
from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. A bubble-blower comprising, in combination, two tubes, one within the
other, to provide concentric month-pieces, and the inner one projecting beyond the
outer one at their ends opposite the mouth-pieces, substantially as described.
Second. A bubble-blower comprising, in combination, two tubes having concentric
mouth-pieces, the inner mouth-piece projected beyond the outer and the inner tube
also projected beyond the outer at its end opposite the mouth-pieces, whereby the
inner bubble in forming is kept from contact with the outer, substantially as
described.
Third. A bubble-blower comprising, in combination, an inner and outer tube con-
centrically arranged, the inner tube projecting beyond the ends of the outer, and a
perforated diaphragm secured in the annular chamber between the inner and outer
disc toward the end thereof opposite to that at which the mouth is applied, substantially
as described.
Fourth. A bubble-blower comprising, in combination, an inner and outer tube, the
inner tube projecting beyond the ends of the outer tube and secured thereto by a cap
apertured for the passage of one of the projecting ends of the inner tube and having
a flange adapted to fit over the end of the outer tube, and a perforated diaphragm
apertured for the passage of the inner tube and having a serrated edge to provide
points to engage the inner wall of the outer tube, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a bubble-blower, the combination, of an inner and outer shell concen-
trically arranged, the outer shell consisting of an upper tapered section and a lower
flared section having a contracted neck, the lower end of the upper section projecting
below the plane of the opening of said neck and secured thereto by being burred
or flanged out against the wall of the lower section, substantially as described.
Sixth. A bubble-blower comprising, in combination, an inner and outer tube con-
centrically arranged, a cup having its side walls adapted for telescopic connection with
the lower end of the inner tube, and perforations in the bottom of said cup, whereby a

page_text: number of small bubbles may he formed by blowing through the inner tube and
expelling the air through said perforations, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of September 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.