GB2042350A

GB2042350A - Bubble blowing gun

Info

Publication number: GB2042350A
Application number: GB7907110A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: FUNDAMENTAL IND CO Ltd
Current assignee: FUNDAMENTAL IND CO Ltd
Priority date: 1979-02-28
Filing date: 1979-02-28
Publication date: 1980-09-24

Abstract

A bubble blowing toy comprising a casing 2 in the shape of a gun or pistol, a nozzle 6 adapted to be dipped into bubble liquid and thereby retain a film of liquid across a detachable ring 20, and a bellows in gas flow connection with the nozzle. The bellows are contained inside the casing and a lever is provided, a trigger part 4 of which projects from the casing. When the trigger is pressed the lever acts on the bellows via an axial guided sliding rod and compresses them, producing a puff of air through the nozzle 6. This puff of air causes bubbles to be fired from the ring 20 on the nozzle 6 of the gun. Fins 20 on the ring retain liquid and allow for several bubbles to be blown without recharging with liquid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Toy The present invention relates to a bubbleblowing toy, and more particularly to a bubble-blowing toy constructed in the shape of a gun or pistol.

In order to retain a child's interest it is desirable for a toy to incorporate a simple mechanism, actuation of which produces a visual or audible result.

In the past, bubble-blowing toys have consisted simply of a wand which is dipped in a bubble liquid. The wand has a circular aperture in it, across which bubble liquid is held by surface tension. When a child blows on the aperture, bubbles form and are projected into the air.

The influence of television and films has meant that children are particularly attracted by toys which resemble weapons, such as guns or pistols.

In this invention we combine the concepts of a toy gun and a bubble-blowing wand to provide a new and captivating toy.

A toy gun embodying the invention is fitted with a nozzle at the front which is dipped into bubble liquid. Bubbles are fired from the gun when a trigger is squeezed to actuate a bellows inside the gun to produce the necessary puff of air.

A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying informal drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a toy bubble gun; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the gun in Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle and one half of the casing having been removed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a toy gun made of plastics materials has a body casing 2, a trigger 4 and a detachable nozzle 6. The casing 2 is formed in two similar sections which are mirror-images of one another. Each section of the casing 2 includes one half of a handle 8. The trigger 4 projects through a gap 10, which appears when the gun is assembled, and extends in front of the handle 8.

A nose 1 2 protrudes from the front of casing 2. The detachable nozzle 6 is held on the nose 1 2 by frictional engagement. A small hole 1 4 is formed in a portion 1 5 of the nozzle 6 which engages with the nose 1 2.

When the nozzle 6 is attached to the nose 1 2 the hole 1 4 is concentric with a circular opening 1 6 (shown in Fig. 3) in the casing 2.

At the end of the nozzle 6 furthest from the nose 1 2 is a detachable ring 1 8 formed with radial fins 20. The ring 1 8 frictionally engages with a ring 21 which is connected to the nozzle portion 1 5 by four webs 2 between which there are spaces 24.

The two sections of the casing 2 are held together by a screw 26.

In Fig. 3 the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The trigger 4 is formed in one piece with a lever 28 which has an elongated slot 30. The trigger 4 is pivotable about an extension 32 of the casing 2. A nut 34 secures the lever 28 to a bar 36 via a pin 38 which protrudes from the bar 36 and passes through the slot 30. The bar 36 is T-shaped in cross-section and the vertical portion of the "T" is guided in a channel 40 formed in the casing 2.

Formed in one piece with the bar 36 is a plate 42 having a slot through which a tongue 44 of a bellows 46 passes. The front end of the bellows 46 abuts a wall 48 formed in the casing 2. The wall 48 has a semicircular gap 50 through which extends a tube 52 connected to the bellows 46. The forward end of the tube 52 seats in the opening 16 of the casing 2.

When the gun is assembled, the screw 26 engages in a screwthreaded hole 54 inside a cylindrical projection 56.

The operation of the gun will now be described.

With the nozzle 6 attached to the nose 12, the nozzle 6 is dipped into a vessel containing bubble liquid (such as a solution of detergent).

The trigger 4 is then gently squeezed causing the lever 28 to be pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3). As the lever 28 moves anti-clockwise, the bar 36 slides in the channel 40 towards the front of the gun, the pin 38 being guided in the slot 30. The plate 42 moves forward with the bar 36 and compresses the bellows 46, thus expelling air through the tube 52. The stream of air then passes through the small hole 14 and is incident upon the bubble liquid held by surface tension between the fins 20 of the ring 1 8. A bubble or bubbles forms and is released into the air.

When the flow of bubbles ceases, the trigger 4 is released, thus allowing the bellows 46 to expand and fill with air. Air enters the hole 14 via the spaces 24 between the webs 22, and subsequently passes through the tube 52 into the bellows 46.

The trigger 4 is then squeezed again. This process is repeated until no more bubbles form when the trigger 4 is squeezed. The nozzle 6 is then dipped in bubble liquid once more.

1. A toy for blowing bubbles, including a casing in the form of a gun, a nozzle adapted to be dipped into bubble liquid, a bellows in gas flow connection with the nozzle, and a lever outside the casing for compressing the bellows so as to direct a puff of air through the nozzle.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Toy The present invention relates to a bubbleblowing toy, and more particularly to a bubble-blowing toy constructed in the shape of a gun or pistol. In order to retain a child's interest it is desirable for a toy to incorporate a simple mechanism, actuation of which produces a visual or audible result. In the past, bubble-blowing toys have consisted simply of a wand which is dipped in a bubble liquid. The wand has a circular aperture in it, across which bubble liquid is held by surface tension. When a child blows on the aperture, bubbles form and are projected into the air. The influence of television and films has meant that children are particularly attracted by toys which resemble weapons, such as guns or pistols. In this invention we combine the concepts of a toy gun and a bubble-blowing wand to provide a new and captivating toy. A toy gun embodying the invention is fitted with a nozzle at the front which is dipped into bubble liquid. Bubbles are fired from the gun when a trigger is squeezed to actuate a bellows inside the gun to produce the necessary puff of air. A particular embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying informal drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a toy bubble gun; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the gun in Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle and one half of the casing having been removed. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a toy gun made of plastics materials has a body casing 2, a trigger 4 and a detachable nozzle 6. The casing 2 is formed in two similar sections which are mirror-images of one another. Each section of the casing 2 includes one half of a handle 8. The trigger 4 projects through a gap 10, which appears when the gun is assembled, and extends in front of the handle 8. A nose 1 2 protrudes from the front of casing 2. The detachable nozzle 6 is held on the nose 1 2 by frictional engagement. A small hole 1 4 is formed in a portion 1 5 of the nozzle 6 which engages with the nose 1 2. When the nozzle 6 is attached to the nose 1 2 the hole 1 4 is concentric with a circular opening 1 6 (shown in Fig. 3) in the casing 2. At the end of the nozzle 6 furthest from the nose 1 2 is a detachable ring 1 8 formed with radial fins 20. The ring 1 8 frictionally engages with a ring 21 which is connected to the nozzle portion 1 5 by four webs 2 between which there are spaces 24. The two sections of the casing 2 are held together by a screw 26. In Fig. 3 the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as in Figs. 1 and 2. The trigger 4 is formed in one piece with a lever 28 which has an elongated slot 30. The trigger 4 is pivotable about an extension 32 of the casing 2. A nut 34 secures the lever 28 to a bar 36 via a pin 38 which protrudes from the bar 36 and passes through the slot 30. The bar 36 is T-shaped in cross-section and the vertical portion of the "T" is guided in a channel 40 formed in the casing 2. Formed in one piece with the bar 36 is a plate 42 having a slot through which a tongue 44 of a bellows 46 passes. The front end of the bellows 46 abuts a wall 48 formed in the casing 2. The wall 48 has a semicircular gap 50 through which extends a tube 52 connected to the bellows 46. The forward end of the tube 52 seats in the opening 16 of the casing 2. When the gun is assembled, the screw 26 engages in a screwthreaded hole 54 inside a cylindrical projection 56. The operation of the gun will now be described. With the nozzle 6 attached to the nose 12, the nozzle 6 is dipped into a vessel containing bubble liquid (such as a solution of detergent). The trigger 4 is then gently squeezed causing the lever 28 to be pivoted in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3). As the lever 28 moves anti-clockwise, the bar 36 slides in the channel 40 towards the front of the gun, the pin 38 being guided in the slot 30. The plate 42 moves forward with the bar 36 and compresses the bellows 46, thus expelling air through the tube 52. The stream of air then passes through the small hole 14 and is incident upon the bubble liquid held by surface tension between the fins 20 of the ring 1 8. A bubble or bubbles forms and is released into the air. When the flow of bubbles ceases, the trigger 4 is released, thus allowing the bellows 46 to expand and fill with air. Air enters the hole 14 via the spaces 24 between the webs 22, and subsequently passes through the tube 52 into the bellows 46. The trigger 4 is then squeezed again. This process is repeated until no more bubbles form when the trigger 4 is squeezed. The nozzle 6 is then dipped in bubble liquid once more. CLAIMS

2. A toy according to Claim 1, wherein the lever for compressing the bellows includes a trigger part.

3. A toy according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the lever acts on the bellows through an axially-guided sliding rod coupled at one end to the bellows, and linked to the lever through a stud and slot linkage, one of the stud and slot being on the lever and the other on the rod.

4. A toy constructed substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.