US20090017713A1

US20090017713A1 - Smoke-filling-bubble generator

Info

Publication number: US20090017713A1
Application number: US11/826,063
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsi-Yao Chung
Original assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Current assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Priority date: 2007-07-12
Filing date: 2007-07-12
Publication date: 2009-01-15

Abstract

A smoke-filling-bubble generator has a smoke generator, at least one blower and a nozzle assembly. The smoke generator may contain nebulizaing liquid and is able to generate smoke. The blower generates airflow to blow the smoke generated by the smoke generator. The nozzle assembly includes a swaying arm and a nozzle mounted on the swaying arm. The swaying arm controllably dips the nozzle into suds contained in a cup and inserts the nozzle into an outlet from which the smoke is blown. With the smoke gradually blown out of the outlet, bubbles containing smoke are individually formed in the nozzle and fly into the air. In such a manner, when the bubbles burst in the air, the smoke may emerge out and mix up the bubbles to present a novel effect that is dazzling and magical. Therefore, the smoke-filling-bubble generator provides a unique entertaining effect.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bubble generator, and more particularly to a smoke-filling-bubble generator that generates bubbles containing smoke inside and provide variable entertaining and decorative effects.
2. Description of Related Art
Fogging machines and bubble generators are used in parties or on stages for providing dazzling and magical effects.
The fogging machines can generate smoke from vapor or dry ice. The bubble generators can generate bubbles that float in the air and are mixed with the smoke. Associating with a spotlight, dazzling and magical effects for entertainment or decoration are provided.
However, to arrange both a fogging machine and a bubble generator needs a large space and is troublesome. Moreover, while people gradually get used to the mentioned effect, the fogging machine and a bubble generator may become dull for the users.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a bubble generator to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a smoke-filling-bubble generator that generates bubbles with smoke filled inside and provides a unique entertaining effect.
To achieve the objective, the smoke-filling-bubble generator comprises a smoke generator, at least one blower and a nozzle assembly. The smoke generator may contain nebulizaing liquid like as mineral oil, glycol and glycerin and is able to generate smoke. The blower generates airflow to blow the smoke generated by the smoke generator. The nozzle assembly includes a swaying arm and a nozzle mounted on the swaying arm. The swaying arm controllably dips the nozzle into suds contained in a cup and inserts the nozzle into an outlet from which the smoke is blown. With the smoke gradually blown out of the outlet, bubbles containing smoke are individually formed in the nozzle and fly into the air.
In such a manner, when the bubbles burst in the air, the smoke may emerge out and mix up the bubbles to present a novel effect that is dazzling and magical. Therefore, the smoke-filling-bubble generator provides a unique entertaining effect.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a smoke-filling-bubble generator in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the smoke-filling-bubble generator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in partial section of the smoke-filling-bubble generator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an another side view in partial section of the smoke-filling-bubble generator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an operational side view in partial section of the smoke-filling-bubble generator in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is an another operational side view in partial section of the smoke-filling-bubble generator in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the smoke-filling-bubble generator comprises a base (20), a casing (10), a smoke generator (30), a nozzle assembly (40), a blower (50) and a fan (60).
The base (20) can be mounted on a plane and has a top surface.
The casing (10) is mounted securely on the top surface of the base (20) and has a top, a partition (11), an outlet (12), a slot (13), a resilient valve (14), a cup (15) and a vent (16).
The partition (11) is mounted inside the casing (10) and thereby defines a smoke chamber (17) and a mechanism compartment (18).
The outlet (12) is formed through the casing (10) near the top and communicates with the smoke chamber (17).
The slot (13) is formed through the casing (10) below the outlet (12) and communicates with the mechanism compartment (18) and has a bottom end and a top end.
The resilient valve (14) is mounted in the casing (10), corresponds to and closes the outlet (12) and can be pushed to open the outlet (12).
The cup (15) is mounted securely on the casing (10) adjacent to the bottom end of the slot (13) and contains suds.
The vent (16) is formed in the casing (10) adjacent to the bottom end of the slot (13).
The smoke generator (30) comprises a supporting bracket (31), a heater (32), a shelf (33), a container (34) and a controller (35).
The supporting bracket (31) is mounted securely on the top of the base (20). The heater (32) is mounted securely on and supported by the supporting bracket (31) and has a capillary (320) extending out from the heater (32) The shelf (33) is mounted securely on the top of the base (20) and has four legs (330) and a board (331). The legs (330) are separately mounted securely on the top of the base (20) and each leg (330) has a top end. The board (331) is mounted securely on the top ends of the legs (330) and has a top surface and a discharging hole (332) formed through the board (331).
The container (34) are mounted securely on the top surface of the board (331) of the shelf (33) and containing nebulizaing liquid like mineral oil, glycol and glycerin and has a pipe (340) equipped with a pump (341), connected to the heater (32) and communicating with the capillary (320).
The controller (35) controls the operation of the pump (341) and the heater (32) to make the nebulizaing liquid being pumped and flowing along the pipe (340), then being heated by the heater (32) and being cooled down in the capillary (320) via air or external cooling water so as to eventually become smoke flowing through the discharging hole (332) of the board (331) and filling the smoke chamber (17) of the casing (10).
The nozzle assembly (40) is mounted in the mechanism compartment (18) of the casing (10) and comprises a swaying arm (41), a nozzle (42), a gear assembly (43) and a controlling motor (44).
The swaying arm (41) extends through the slot (13) of the casing (10) and has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is pivotally mounted in the mechanism compartment (18).
The nozzle (42) has multiple slits formed radially therein, is mounted securely in the distal end of the swaying arm (41) and corresponds to and is selectively dipped into the cup (15) of the casing (10).
The gear assembly (43) includes a first gear (431) and a second gear (432). The first gear (431) is mounted rotatably in the mechanism compartment (18). The second gear (432) is mounted securely in the proximal end of the swaying arm (41) and engages with the first gear (431).
The controlling motor (44) controllably rotates the first gear (431) via a belt, and actuates the swaying arm (41) to regularly pivot between a first position and a second position through the second gear (432). With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the first position, the nozzle (42) dips in the suds in the cup (15). In the second position, the nozzle (42) pushes the resilient valve (14) away from the outlet (12) and is inserted into and communicates with the outlet (12) of the casing (10).
With further reference to FIG. 5, the blower (50) is mounted in the smoke chamber (17) of the casing (10) and generates airflow to blow the smoke through the outlet (12) and forms smoke-filling-bubbles on the nozzle (42) when the nozzle (42) is at the second position.
With further reference to FIG. 6, the fan (60) is mounted in the mechanism compartment (18) and generates airflow that flows through the vent (16) of the casing (10) and makes the smoke-fill-bubbles on the nozzle (42) flying into the air.
In such a manner, when the bubbles burst in the air, the smoke may emerge out and mix up the bubbles to present a novel effect that is much more dazzling and magical. Thus, the smoke-filling-bubble generator provides a unique entertaining effect.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A smoke-filling-bubble generator comprising

a base;

a casing being mounted securely on the base and having an outlet;

a resilient valve being mounted in the casing and corresponding to and selectively closing the outlet; and

a cup mounted on the casing for containing suds;

a smoke generator mounted inside the casing and being able to generate smoke;

at least one blower mounted inside the casing opposite to the outlet of the casing and generating airflow to blow the smoke out of the outlet of the casing; and

a nozzle assembly comprising

a swaying arm mounted rotatably in the casing;

a nozzle mounted on the swaying arm, corresponding to the cup and selectively communicating with the outlet in the casing to generate bubbles filled with smoke generated by the smoke generator.

2. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises

a gear assembly connected to the swaying arm; and

a controlling motor actuating the swaying arm to pivot between a first position where the nozzle dipping in the cup; and

a second position where the nozzle pushing the resilient valve and being inserted into the outlet of the casing.

3. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the casing further has a partition being mounted inside the casing and defining

a smoke chamber communicating with the outlet and receiving the smoke generator; and

a mechanism compartment receiving the nozzle assembly.

4. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the smoke generator comprises

a heater having a capillary extending out from the heater;

a shelf being mounted securely on the base and having

four legs being separately mounted securely on the base and each leg having a top end; and

a board being mounted securely on the top ends of the legs and having a top surface and a discharging hole formed through the board;

a container being mounted securely on the top surface of the board of the shelf, containing nebulizaing liquid and having a pipe equipped with a pump, connected to the heater and communicating with the capillary.

5. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the casing further has a slot being formed through the casing below the outlet and communicating with the mechanism compartment for the swaying arm extending through.

6. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 3 further has a blower being mounted in the smoke chamber of the casing and generating an airflow flowing through the outlet to form bubbles.

7. The smoke-filling-bubble generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the casing further has a vent; and

the smoke-filling bubble generator further has a fan being mounted in the mechanism compartment and generating an airflow that flows through the vent of the casing.