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.
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0. 26. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device having at least one bubble orifice of a predetermined length and a container having an inner cavity and an open funnel of a predetermined length extending lengthwise into said cavity and wherein said length of said funnel exceeds said length of said orifice.
0. 23. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device and a container defining an inner cavity having a first opening wherein said first opening includes a open funnel connected to said first opening and extending into said cavity and wherein said container includes a second opening having an opening cover removeably connected to said second opening and wherein said bubble creation device is mechanically actuateable into and out of said container.
0. 25. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device and a container having an inner cavity and an open funnel extending into said cavity wherein said container resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position and wherein said bubble creation device is movably connected to said container and wherein said bubble creation device is mechanically actuateable into and out of said container.
0. 24. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device and a container having an inner cavity and an open funnel extending into said cavity wherein said container resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position and wherein said bubble creation device defines a bubble creation device having at least one substantially planar bubble orifice defining a plane and wherein said bubble creation device is moveable into and out of said container by moving along a path through said funnel, and wherein said path through said funnel defines an axis, and wherein said axis lies substantially within said orifice plane when said bubble orifice moves through said funnel.
0. 22. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device and a container having an inner cavity and an open funnel extending into said cavity wherein said container resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position and wherein said bubble creation device defines at least one bubble creation device of the following group of bubble creation devices comprising a bubble creation device having a plurality of bubble orifices, a bubble creation device defining a bubble wheel having at least one bubble orifice, and a bubble creation device having a first portion and a second portion and wherein said first portion includes at least one bubble orifice and wherein said second potion defines a portion that remains within said funnel when a bubble is created.
14. An automatic non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble producing device connected to a pressurized water container wherein said apparatus includes at least one container of the following group of containers comprising a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as said container, a container defining an inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant container defining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access to said cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position.
0. 21. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a bubble creation device and a container wherein said container defines at least one container of the following group of containers comprising a container defining an inner cavity of a predetermined length and having an open funnel extending into said cavity and wherein said funnel is at least half as long as said length of said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a open funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrally located within said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped open funnel and wherein said container resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position, and a container defining an inner cavity having an open non-cylindrical/non-conical funnel and wherein said container resists spillage of a predetermined amount of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position.
8. A non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a hydraulic motor and a bubble creation device wherein said hydraulic motor is adapted to actuate said bubble creation device, said apparatus further including at least one exit port for the emission of hydraulic fluid and wherein said apparatus includes at least one container of the following group of containers comprising a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as said container, a container defining an inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant container defining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access to said cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position.
1. A mechanical toy wherein said toy comprises an automated non-cavitation bubble producing device connected to a non-bubble liquid emitting device, said bubble producing device and said liquid emitting device are adapted to be selectively operated either together or independently of each other and wherein said toy includes at least one container of the following group of containers comprising a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as said container, a container defining an inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant container defining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access to said cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position.
20. A mechanical toy defining an automated non-cavitation bubble creation apparatus comprising a hydraulic motor and a non-cavitation bubble creation device wherein said hydraulic motor is adapted to actuate said non-cavitation bubble creation device, said apparatus further including at least one exit port for the emission of hydraulic fluid, and said apparatus being connected to a pressurized water container and wherein said toy includes at least one container of the following group of containers comprising a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity wherein said funnel is substantially half as long as said container, a container defining an inner cavity and having a substantially rectangular shaped funnel, a container defining an inner cavity and having a funnel extending into said cavity said funnel having an inner opening and wherein said inner opening is substantially centrally located within said cavity and a spill resistant container defining an inner cavity wherein said container provides open access to said cavity and wherein said container resists spillage of liquid contents of said container when said container is oriented in any position.
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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.
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'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.
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.
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:
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
As can be seen from
As can be seen from
As can also be seen from
As shown in
Also shown in
As is also shown in
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
As is seen by reference to
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.
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