US20060116048A1

US20060116048A1 - Generator for encapsulating a fluid within a bubble

Info

Publication number: US20060116048A1
Application number: US10/998,100
Authority: US
Inventors: Kei Choi
Original assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Ltd
Current assignee: Silverlit Toys Manufactory Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-26
Filing date: 2004-11-26
Publication date: 2006-06-01

Abstract

A generator for smoke and bubbles in combination includes a storage chamber for a smoke forming fluid and a smoke generator for creating smoke in a chimney. There is a bubble generator with a nozzle for forming a fluid over the nozzle and smoke from the chimney enters the bubble-forming fluid and exits the device such that the smoke-filled bubbles are formed. Excess fluid and condensed fluid, which would otherwise form smoke, is returned to the storage chamber where heating of the fluid for forming the smoke is effected in a tube where capillary action causes smoke-generating fluid to be heated.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a system for generating a gas and bubbles and having bubbles encapsulating gas is formed and expelled from the device. In particular the gas is a smoke.
Different devices are known for generating smoke in a toy. Also, different devices are known for generating bubbles in a toy. In some cases, it is known to have toys where smoke is encapsulated in the bubbles and this is expelled from the toy. The features of such a toy, however, are not as versatile and satisfactory as would otherwise be possible.
It is accordingly an object of the present disclosure to provide a system, device and method for creating smoke, creating bubbles, and selectively having the smoke encapsulated in the bubbles and expelled by the toy, which toy has improvements over previously existing devices.

SUMMARY

A system, device and method for forming a gaseous substance such as smoke from a gaseous-forming fluid. There is a storage chamber for the gas creating fluid. A pump directs fluid through a valve to a gas generator. The generator may include a tube for generating capillary flow action of the gas creating fluid. A heater associated with the tube causes vaporization and formation of the gas in a chimney. Excess fluid from the generator and condensed fluid from the chimney are directed through a return chamber and a valve to the storage chamber.
A bubble generator which forms bubbles through a fluid at the nozzle end at the outlet from the chimney is arranged so that the gas formed in the chimney enters the bubble prior to formation and the bubbles containing the gas are in turn expelled from the front leading end or upstream side of the device.

DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned features and objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toy as viewed from the rear portion.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the toy in its upstanding position and preferred mode of operation.
FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the toy showing the different features for making smoke and bubbles.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operational characteristics of the toy.
FIG. 5 is a different figurative representation of the toy.
FIG. 6 is a representation of the nozzle with fins of the toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The device is now described with reference to an example which is not to be considered as limiting. This is purely an illustration of the device, and it relates to the formation of smoke or a or a colored gaseous material .
A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprises a chamber for a substance capable of forming smoke when the substance is heated. There is a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator, and a heater heats the fluid in the smoke generator. An outlet from the smoke generator direct smoke towards a chimney and towards expulsion from the body via the chimney.
A bubble generator forms bubbles, and the chimney directs smoke from the chimney to join with the bubbles being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubbles and releases the bubbles containing smoke from the body.
The smoke generator includes a tube through which the substance capable of forming smoke passes. The tube is heated so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube and permit the forming of smoke through vaporization of the substance.
There is a fluid path between the smoke generator and the chamber for returning at least one of non-vaporized or condensed fluid substance to the chamber.
The chamber includes two chamber sections, a storage chamber and a return chamber connected with the storage chamber for the fluid. There is a valve between the chambers, the valve being a one-way valve permitting fluid to flow from the return chamber to the storage chamber at a selected time. The return chamber receives excess fluid from the smoke generator and condensed fluid from the chimney.
An outlet valve is located between the chamber and the smoke generator, the outlet valve being open during formation of smoke in the smoke generator and being closed at selected other stages.
There is a pump for causing the smoke generating fluid to be pumped from the storage chamber as a pressurized fluid to the smoke generator. The pumping is effected through an outlet valve between the storage chamber and the smoke generator. In that stage the one-way valve between the return chamber and the storage chamber is closed.
A device wherein the smoke generator includes a cylindrical tube, and including a pin inside the tube thereby to affect a capillary flow through the tube and regulate the amount of fluid flow through the tube.
An electrical wire filament is located about the tube, and the filament is for generating heat in the region of the tube when power is applied to the electrical filament and wherein when the temperature of the filament rises above a boiling point of fluid passing through the tube the fluid inside vaporizes to generate smoke.
There is a tube in the smoke generator, and a pin inside the tube thereby to affect a capillary flow through the tube and regulate the amount of fluid flow through the tube.
The bubble generator is located towards the downstream end of the body, the downstream end being the downstream end of the chimney. The bubble generator includes an aperture across which a film of bubble-forming material is spread and wherein smoke from the chimney is forced into engagement with the bubble-forming material and the smoke from the chimney. This causes the bubble to form with smoke therein and then be released with the bubble of the film forming material from the body.
A fan urges the bubble-making film from a periphery about the aperture and wherein the fan further urges smoke to enter the bubble prior to forming the bubble, and the bubble leaving the periphery. There is a tray located peripherally towards a forward end of the body, and the tray is for receiving condensed fluid at the forward end of the chimney. A fluid connector is placed between the tray and the return chamber.
The bubble generator includes an element with fins splayed radially about a central axis, there being spaces between adjacent the fins for receiving bubble-forming material. The element with fins is located in a nozzle area at the downstream end of the body. The nozzle is mounted for articulation thereby to be dipped into a container holding a bubbling forming solution and so as to permit the spaces between the fins to receive the bubble-forming solution.
A further description of the system is as follows
The smoke bubble generation system is a device that can generate and blow out many smoke bubbles with different sizes. To get more fun, bubbles can be kept on floating by blowing the bottom of the bubbles through the nozzle of the device. When bubbles burst, smoke comes out gradually.
The fluid chamber is used to store fog fluid. It includes a chamber opening. Users can fill the fog fluid to storage chamber through this opening. A pump inlet is connect to a gas or air pump . There are two adjacent chambers-the storage chamber and the return chamber with a one-way valve is located in between these two chambers. The valve functions to prevent the fluid flowing from the storage chamber to the return chamber.
A fluid inlet permits excess or condensed fluid at smoke generator to flow back to the return chamber. A fluid outlet permits the injection of the fluid to the smoke generator through the outlet valve
The system for encapsulating a first fluid within a bubble is disclosed. The system generates smoke and bubbles, and is in the nature of a handheld toy, which includes a body 10. There is a handholding area 11 at the downstream end of the toy, and there is a leading or forward area 12 with an intermediate area 13 between the portions 11 and 12. In one preferred form, the toy is intended to be used in a more vertical orientation, although different orientations are possible. On the outside of the body there is a heater switch 14.
There is also a pair of depressible buttons 15 and 16. The button 15 is a fan speed control to permit for the creation of larger bubbles and the button 16 is a fan speed control to permit for the creation of smaller bubbles. In the rear area 17 of the rear hand holding area 11 of the body 10, there is a battery compartment 18 for housing batteries 19, 20 and 21. The batteries are wired through wires 22 with an air pump 23. The air pump 23 is itself controlled by the trigger buttons 15 and 16 so that, when depressed, a circuit can close to regulate the particular speed of the air pump 23. The circuit with the batteries in the battery compartment is effectively closed electrically in a conventional manner.
There is also wiring 24 which is directed past the mid intermediate area 13 to a heated smoke generator 25. There is a printed circuit board 26 which operates a system with the heater in a manner that is more fully described below.
In the midsection 13 of the device, there is a chamber configuration which has a first storage chamber 28 for storing a first fluid substance which is capable of forming smoke. There is a return chamber 29 for receiving fluid returned from a chimney area 30 in the leading portion 12 of the toy.
The wiring 31 is also directed to a motor 32 for a fan 33 which is located at the leading end of the forward portion 12. At the leading end 34 a saucer, plate or tray 35 is mounted below a nozzle 36 which is spaced above the tray 35. The nozzle 36 may be moveable in a hinged or articulated manner about the mounting 37 to adopt a substantially right angular position relative to the longitudinal access running through the device. In this manner, the nozzle 36 can dip into a bubble-making solution in a manner to be described in further detail below.
Between the storage chamber 28 and the return chamber 29 there is a one-way valve. Operation of the air pump 23 acts to apply pressure in chamber 28 which then causes fluid in the storage chamber 28 to exit from the chamber along the outlet line or tube 37. In the outlet line or tube 37 there is a metal pin 38 which is located in the line or tube 37. The line or tube is essentially formed by a glass tube. Around the glass tube 39, and connected with a circuit board 26, there is a spiral wired heater which acts to heat liquid or the first substance passing through the aperture 40 under capillary action. The exit 41 from the glass tube 39 causes vaporized fluid to enter the chimney area 30 of the device.
The vaporized fluid is in the form of smoke and this can be visualized through a window 42 in the body 10 of the leading portion 12 of the device. Excess fluid from the smoke generator returns to the return chamber 29 as figuratively indicated by arrow 43. Further condensed fluid from the chimney area 30 returns to the return chamber 29 as figuratively indicated by arrow 44. When the air pump 23 is switched off, fluid from the return chamber 29 can pass through a valve 45 from the return chamber as indicated by arrow 45 back to the storage chamber 28. At that stage, a valve 46 at the outlet of the storage chamber is closed.
At the forward end, nozzle 36 can be dipped into a bubble-forming solution 47 as indicated by the dotted lines 48. The nozzle 36 is then returned to its position in alignment with the chimney.
Smoke from the chimney 30 is drawn to the exit 34 when the fan 33 operates. At the same time, the fan 33 causes a film on the nozzle 36 to expand to form a bubble. In this process, the smoke from the chimney is encapsulated in the bubble 49.
The nozzle 36 includes a series of radial fins 50 mounted on a plate 51. The fins 50 have spaces 52 between them to permit for a bubble-forming solution to be located between the fins. The fins 50 are directed outwardly from the end and also inwardly towards the end as two separate sets so that sufficient fluid is located around the nozzle 36. This permits for the bubble-making solution to be effectively disbursed around the periphery and over a central orifice 53 around the nozzle. In the chimney there is located a heater light 50 which operates when the heater is working as powered through the circuit board and the battery pack.
The operation of the device is as follows.
By pressing the fluid pump manually, pressure is exerted to the chamber. The positive air pressure opens the outlet valve and closes the one-way valve essentially at the same time. With the flow rate control mechanism, a small amount of pressurized fog fluid passes through the outlet valve and is injected to the smoke generator. The capillary effect inside the tube permits the fluid to flow continuously.
When releasing the pump, the negative air pressure closes the outlet valve and the one-way valve allows a little excess fluid flowing from return chamber back to storage chamber for re-use purpose.
The smoke generator includes a cylindrical glass tube with a metal pin inside the tube and wound wire filament outside the tube. This generator is mounted directly on the fluid chamber's outlet.
After turning on the ‘Heat’ switch, an electric current passes through the wire filament and generates heat. A LED lights up to indicate this generator is in operation. Since the space between the metal pin and glass tube is small, only a limited amount of fluid can flow through it. To produce high temperature zone, this is effected by applying high heating power in this region.
Once the temperature of filament rises over the boiling point of fluid, the fluid inside the high temperature zone vaporizes immediately and generate a lot of smoke. The chimney becomes smoke-filled. Excess non-vaporized or condensed fluid will be collected and return to chamber through the fluid inlet.
Formation of bubbles is achieved by a bubble generator that can generate soap bubble. After dipping the open aperture of chimney to a soap solution, liquid film is formed on its surface. There is a small electric fan near the open aperture. Pressing the Hi/Lo speed control to adjust speed of fan and hence product different sizes of bubble. If the chimney is full of smoke, smoked bubble is blown.
Generating a smoke containing bubble is achieved by operating the bubble generator and smoke generator at the same time. Furthermore, by switching on the fan and turning off the smoke generator, a user is able to hold the bubble floating on air.
Should a user forget to switch off the smoke generator after playing, and if there is no fluid inject to it, over-boiled may result. A built-in electronic timer cut-offs the power of smoke generator automatically if no pumping fluid action take place within certain period of time.
While the apparatus and method has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
In different variations of the disclosure the bubble can be formed of a fluid other than soap. Also the smoke may be formed by different fluids other than oil so that the smoke color is not a pale grey color. There could be more than one fluid and more than one storage chamber provided so that the colors of the smoke can be different. Furthermore instead of the stick type shape there can be different shapes and sizes for the device Moreover the device can be operated with power adaptor instead of being battery-operated. The bubble generator can be operated manually instead of by electric fan. Instead of heated smoke there can be a mist, water vapor, or colored liquid vapor, gas other than smoke particle. The gas may be relatively lighter than the surrounding air and this can cause the bubble encapsulating the gas to effectively float or rise above gravity.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but includes any and all embodiments of the following claims.

Claims

1. A generator for encapsulating a first fluid inside bubbles in combination comprising:

a chamber for a substance capable of forming a gaseous form of the first fluid;

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a gaseous forming generator;

an outlet from the generator to direct gaseous form towards a chimney and towards expulsion from the body via the chimney;

a bubble generator being for forming bubbles, and the chimney directing the gaseous form from the chimney to join with the bubble being formed and thereby encapsulating the gas in the bubble and releasing the bubble containing the gas from the body; and

the generator including a tube through which the substance capable of forming the gas passes, the contents of the substance passing through the tube and permit the forming of gas of the substance.

2. A generator for encapsulating a first fluid inside bubbles in combination comprising:

a chamber for a substance capable of forming a gaseous form of the first fluid;

the generator including a tube through which the substance capable of forming the gas passes, the tube being heated so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube and permit the forming of gas through vaporization of the substance.

3. A generator for encapsulating a first fluid inside bubbles in combination comprising:

a chamber for a substance capable of forming a gaseous form of the first fluid;

the gas being colored whereby a floatable colored gas bubble is generated

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 including a fluid path between the generator and the chamber for returning at least one of non-vaporized or condensed fluid substance to the chamber.

5. A generator for encapsulating a first fluid inside bubbles in combination comprising:

a chamber for a substance capable of forming a gaseous form of the first fluid;

the gas being relatively lighter than the surrounding air whereby a floatable gas bubble is generated

6. A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprising:

a chamber for a substance capable of forming smoke when the substance is heated;

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

a heater for heating the smoke generator;

an outlet from the smoke generator to direct smoke towards a chimney and towards expulsion from the body via the chimney;

a bubble generator being for forming bubbles, and the chimney directing smoke from the chimney to join with the bubble being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubble and releasing the bubble containing smoke from the body; and

the smoke generator including a tube through which the substance capable of forming smoke passes, the tube being heated so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube and permit the forming of smoke through vaporization of the substance.

7. A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprising:

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

a valve between the chamber and the smoke generator;

a heater for heating the smoke generator;

an outlet from the smoke generator to direct smoke towards a chimney and for expulsion from the body via the chimney;

a bubble generator being for forming bubbles;

smoke from the chimney being to join with the bubble being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubble and releasing the bubble containing smoke from the body; and

there being a fluid path between the smoke generator and the chamber for returning at least one of non-vaporized or condensed fluid substance to the chamber.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the chamber includes two chamber sections, a storage chamber and a return chamber connected with the storage chamber for the fluid, and including a valve between the chambers, the valve being a one-way valve permitting fluid to flow from the return chamber to the storage chamber at a selected time.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the return chamber receives excess fluid from the smoke generator and condensed fluid from the chimney.

10. A device as claimed in claim 6, including an outlet valve between the chamber and the smoke generator, the outlet valve being open during formation of smoke in the smoke generator and being closed at selected other stages.

11. A device as claimed in claim 6, including a pump for causing the smoke generating fluid to be pumped from the storage chamber as a pressurized fluid to the smoke generator, the pumping being effected through an outlet valve between the storage chamber and the smoke generator, and wherein in that stage the one-way valve between the return chamber and the storage chamber is closed.

12. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the smoke generator includes a cylindrical tube, and including a pin inside the tube thereby to affect a capillary flow through the tube and regulate the amount of fluid flow through the tube.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, including an electrical wire filament about the tube, the filament being for generating heat in the region of the tube when power is applied to the electrical filament and wherein when the temperature of the filament rises above a boiling point of fluid passing through the tube the fluid inside vaporizes to generate smoke.

14. A device as claimed in claim 7, including a tube in the smoke generator, and including a pin inside the tube thereby to affect a capillary flow through the tube and regulate the amount of fluid flow through the tube.

15. A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprising:

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

a valve between the chamber and the smoke generator;

a heater for heating the smoke generator;

a bubble generator being for forming bubbles;

smoke from the chimney being directed to join with the bubbles being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubbles and releasing the bubbles containing smoke from the body;

the smoke generator including a tube through which the substance capable of forming smoke passes, the tube being heated on the outside so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube to be heated and form smoke through vaporization of the substance; and

a path for returning excess fluid from the smoke generator to a return chamber and condensed fluid from the chimney to a return chamber, the return chamber being connected through a valve with the storage chamber, whereby fluid can selectively be returned from the return chamber to the storage chamber.

16. A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprising:

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

a valve between the chamber and the smoke generator;

a heater for heating the smoke generator;

a bubble generator being for forming bubbles;

directing smoke from the chimney to join with the bubbles being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubbles and releasing the bubbles containing smoke from the body; and

a bubble generator being located towards the downstream end of the body, the downstream end being the downstream end of the chimney, and the bubble generator including an aperture across which a film of bubble-forming material is spread and wherein smoke from the chimney is forced into engagement with the bubble-forming material and the smoke from the chimney causes the bubble to form with smoke therein and then be released with the bubble of the film forming material from the body.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, including a fan for urging the bubble-making film from a periphery about the aperture and wherein the fan further urges smoke to enter the bubble prior to forming the bubble, and the bubble leaving the periphery.

18. A device as claimed in claim 6, including a tray located peripherally towards a forward end of the body, the tray being for receiving condensed fluid at the forward end of the chimney, and a fluid connector between the tray and the return chamber.

19. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bubble generator includes an element with fins splayed radially about a central axis, there being spaces between adjacent the fins for receiving bubble-forming material, the element with fins being located in a nozzle area at the downstream end of the body.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nozzle is mounted for articulation thereby to be dipped into a container holding a bubbling forming solution and so as to permit the spaces between the fins to receive the bubble-forming solution.

21. A generator for producing smoke and bubbles in combination comprising:

a pump for moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

a valve between the chamber and the smoke generator;

a heater for heating the smoke generator;

a bubble generator connected with the chimney, the bubble generator being for forming bubbles, directing smoke from the chimney to join with the bubble being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubble and releasing the bubble containing smoke from the body; and

the smoke generator including a cylindrical tube through which the substance capable of forming smoke passes, the tube being heated from the outside so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube and permit the forming of smoke through vaporization of the substance.

22. A method for generating smoke and a bubble, including the steps of:

locating in a chamber a substance capable of forming smoke when the substance is heated;

moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

passing the smoke forming substance through a tube, the tube being heated on the outside so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube to be heated and form smoke through vaporization of the substance directing smoke towards a chimney and for expulsion from the body via the chimney;

forming bubbles, and

directing smoke from the chimney to join with the bubble being formed and thereby encapsulating smoke in the bubble and releasing the bubble containing smoke from the body.

23. A method for generating smoke and a bubble, including the steps of:

moving the substance from the chamber to a smoke generator;

passing the smoke forming substance through a tube, the tube being heated on the outside so as to heat the contents of the substance passing through the tube to be heated and form smoke through vaporization of the substance;

forming bubbles,

directing smoke towards a chimney and for expulsion from the body via the chimney; and

the smoke from the chimney being in the formed bubble; and

an outlet from the smoke generator directing smoke towards a chimney and for expulsion from the body via the chimney.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein a return chamber receives excess fluid from the smoke generator and condensed fluid from the chimney.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, including pumping air to cause the smoke generating fluid to be pumped as a pressurized fluid to the smoke generator, the pumping being effected through an outlet valve between a storage chamber and the smoke generator, and wherein in that stage a one-way valve between a return chamber and the storage chamber is closed.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22, including effecting a capillary flow through of the heated smoke generating fluid to regulate the amount of fluid flow from a storage chamber and in the smoke-generating phase.

27. A method as claimed in claim 22, including generating heat in the region of the tube when power is applied to an electrical filament and wherein when the temperature of the filament rises above a boiling point of fluid passing through the tube the fluid inside vaporizes to generate smoke.

28. A method as claimed in claim 22, including blowing a bubble-making film from the film forming periphery and urging smoke to enter the bubble prior to the bubble forming and leaving the periphery.