US3775898A

US3775898A - Multiple stream bubble blower

Info

Publication number: US3775898A
Application number: US00299242A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Kalish
Original assignee: CHEMTOY CORP
Current assignee: CHEMTOY CORP
Priority date: 1972-10-20
Filing date: 1972-10-20
Publication date: 1973-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-12-04
Also published as: JPS4994442A

Abstract

A child''s bubble blowing toy having its own reservoir for bubble-forming fluid and at least one member having an aperture to acquire a film of the fluid, the member being operable between a lower position whereat the aperture in the member acquires a charge of fluid and a higher position whereat the child''s breath blows the film out as a bubble. The member is raised by the pressure of air delivered to the toy and movement thereof occurs substantially concurrently with forming of the bubble. Cessation of blowing allows the member to descend.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Kalish MULTIPLE STREAM BUBBLE BLOWER [75] Inventor: Jerome Barton Kalish, Highland Park, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Chemtoy Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,242

[52] US. Cl. 46/7 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/28 [58] Field of Search 46/6, 7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,060,626 10/1962 Panico, Jr. 46/7 2,858,639 11/1958 Lawrence 46/7 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 620,504 5/1961 Canada 46 7 5 35b 35a 755 22 j 23 Dec. 4, 1973 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant ExaminerJ. Q. Lever Att0rneyLeonard S. Knox [57 ABSTRACT A childs bubble blowing toy having its own reservoir for bubble-forming fluid and at least one member having an aperture to acquire a film of the fluid, the member being operable between a lower position whereat the aperture in the member acquires a charge of fluid and a higher position whereat the childs breath blows the film out as a bubble. The member is raised by the pressure of air delivered to the toy and movement thereof occurs substantially concurrently with forming of the bubble. Cessation of blowing allows the member to descend.

3 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures .PATENTEUUEB 4197s 3,775,898

SHEET 10? 2 PATENTEU DEC 4 I975 3,775,896

EGZZZ J5 MULTIPLE STREAM BUBBLE BLOWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Numerous bubble-blowing pipes are known wherein an apertured member is immersed in a reservoir of bubble-forming fluid, withdrawn, the bubble blown and the member returned to an idle position which may or may not be re-immersion.

However, children derive far greater pleasure from animated toys as compared with those which are relatively static. Even a simple toy, such as a monkey on a stick, will be found much more interest-provoking than say, a balloon.

The present invention combines the comparatively exciting operation of blowing bubbles with a jumping character, e.g. a cartoon figure.

Furthermore, the childs pleasure moments are prolonged and the work factor reduced if the pipe is provided with a reservoir for the bubble fluid and convenient means for refilling the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a hollow stem having a mouthpiece at one end to be held in the childs mouth by one end, the bore of the stem being in communication with the interior of a reciprocable cylinder closed at one end and to which an animal figure or other entertaining feature may be secured. Thus, air pressure applied through the bore of the stem impinging on the closed end of the cylinder will lift the cylinder to an upper position. The cylinder carries one or more depending, paddle-like members each having an aperture arranged, when air pressure is relieved, to be immersed in a supply of bubble-forming fluid contained in a reservoir whereby the aperture of each member picks up a film of the fluid. The cylinder is guided on a hollow post secured to the top of the reservoir, the hollow interior of the post receiving air blown through the stem. The post has one or more openings, one individual to each of the member apertures, to bleed some of the air delivered to the hollow post radially of the post and against the respective films of fluid, whereby bubbles are formed and blown outwardly of the toy. Means are provided to preclude rotation of the cylinder and the parts integral therewith whereby mis-register which would otherwise occur, is avoided. To avoid spilling, the reservoir, except for apertures to admit the bubble-forming members, is covered, and is provided with a filling port and lid therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a bubble-blowing pipe in accordance with the invention, as seen in idle condition;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the bubbleforming members raised;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the pipe shown with the apertured members in the lower position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but shown with the members in the upper position;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the pipe in the condition of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is cross section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2 but on a larger scale than in the preceding figures;

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partial bottom plan view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a detail, in side elevation to illustrate certain parts more clearly;

FIG. 10 is a cross section through the medial, vertical fore-and-aft plane of the toy, with the apertured members lowered;

FIG. 11 is a cross section similar to FIG. 10 but with the members raised;

FIG. 12 is a cross section taken on the line 12l2 of FIG. 10 with the members lowered; and

FIG. 13 is a cross section similar to FIG. 12 but showing the members raised.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT At the outset it is to be noted that the figure of a mouse is a purely decorative feature which is attached to the part carrying the paddle-like, bubble-forming members. Thus, each time the latter are actuated, motion is imparted to the figure whereby to add to the childs interest and pleasure. Moreover the weight added by the figure will facilitate return of the blade assembly to the lower postion.

The toy comprises a stem 10 having a bore 11 and a mouthpiece 12. The remote end of the stern carries an essentially annular hollow body 15, including a top wall 15a, an outer cylindrical shell 15b, an inner cylindrical shell 15c and an annular bottom wall 15d, together forming a reservoir 17 for bubble-blowing fluid. The bore 11 of the stem 10 terminates as a hole 18 through the top wall 15a. Surrounding the hole 18 is an annular flange 21 into which is tightly fitted a hollow, cylindrical post 22 serving as a guide for the movable blade assembly 31 and as an air passage. In order to align the blade assembly about the axis of the body 15, there is provided a plurality of ribs 23 upstanding from the top wall 15a, each of the ribs being engaged in individual slots 24 spaced correspondingly about the bottom of the post 22. Thus, the post 22 is secured to the body 15 in proper angular relation in order that the blades to be described may be raised and lowered with respect to apertures in the top wall 15a without interference.

The blade assembly 31 (FIG. 9) comprises a disk 32 to which the optional toy figure 30 is secured. A hollow cylindrical number 35 of inverted cup-shaped configuration is concentric with the cylindrical pose 22, is secured to a disk 32, and includes a lateral wall 35a and an end wall 35b. The member 35 is a sliding fit on the post 22, for example, by means of a flange 22a. Dislodgment of the blade assembly 31 from the remainder of the toy is obviated by providing an aperture 37 through the disk 32 defining a peripheral zone 37 serving as a limit stop.

Depending from the disk 32 is a plurality of blades 41, in the example, three in number, each having an aperture 42, preferably oval or circular. The blades enter the reservoir through slots 40 in the top wall of the reservoir.

At this juncture, it is pointed out that the ribs 23 do not fit completely within the respective slots 24 but are foreshortened to define small passages 44 through which air delivered under pressure through the mouthpiece 12 exits as jets in an essentially horizontal direction. However, a much larger volume of air enters the post 22 and impinges on the wall 35b to raise the blade assembly 31 to its uppermost postion (FIG. 11 and 13).

Upon rising, the blades 51, having been immersed in the fluid stored in the space 17, carry out a film of fluid spanning each of the apertures 42. Concurrently with lifting of the assembly 31, a jet of air issues from each of the openings 24 and against the several films which, in the upper position of the assembly 31 are essentially opposite the respective jets. Consequently one or more bubbles B are blown. Upon terminating air flow, the assembly 31 will drop to its lower position. It will be apparent that bubbles issue from all three blades concurrently and that, depending upon the nature of the fluid and the pressure and rate of flow of air, a stream of bubbles is possible from each aperture 42.

To replenish the supply of fluid in the reservoir there is a port 50 which may be closed off by a swinging gate 51 of accurate form pivoted at 53 on the top wall 15a of the reservoir. A projection 55 facilitates opening and closing of the gate.

I claim:

1. A bubble-blowing toy comprising a mouthpiece having an aperture, a tubular stem extending from the mouthpiece, the aperture and bore of the stem being in fluid communication, a reservoir for bubble-blowing fluid attached to the other end of the stem, said reservoir including a top wall, an opening in said wall, the bore of the stem terminating in said opening, an upstanding, first, hollow post secured at one end to said wall, said first post having a plurality of slots adjacent said one end spaced about the axis of the post, a plurality of ribs upstanding from said reservoir top wall, each rib being engaged in a slot individual thereto, the upper end of each rib defining with its respective slot a plurality of ports, the interior of the post being in fluid communication with said opening, whereby air blown into the mouthpiece will issue as a plurality of jets through said ports, a second hollow post having a top wall and a lateral wall slidingly received for vertical reciprocating movement on said first post, the top wall of the sec ond post, defining, with its lateral wall a space in fluid communication with the first post whereby air under pressure delivered to the interior of the second post will, by impinging on the top wall thereof, raise the second post relative to the first post, said reservoir top wall having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, a plurality of paddle-like members, having one end secured to the second post for joint movement therewith, each said member having an aperture through the principal plane thereof, said members being so dimensioned and positioned that, upon raising and lowering of said second post, the members exit from and re-enter the reservoir through said reservoir top wall apertures whereby, upon entering the reservoir, each member aperture is charged with a film of fluid which, upon raising of the members, each film moves into the path of a respective jet of air issuing from a respective port.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reservoir lateral wall comprises inner and outer concentric sleeve parts joined at the lower end by a first, imperforate, annular part and, at the upper end, by a circular part, said second part having the said spaced-apart apertures.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 further characterized in that the top wall of the reservoir has an opening for replenishing the reservoir.

Claims

1. A bubble-blowing toy comprising a mouthpiece having an aperture, a tubular stem extending from the mouthpiece, the aperture and bore of the stem being in fluid communication, a reservoir for bubble-blowing fluid attached to the other end of the stem, said reservoir including a top wall, an opening in said wall, the bore of the stem terminating in said opening, an upstanding, first, hollow post secured at one end to said wall, said first post having a plurality of slots adjacent said one end spaced about the axis of the post, a plurality of ribs upstanding from said reservoir top wall, each rib being engaged in a slot individual thereto, the upper end of each rib defining with its respective slot a plurality of ports, the interior of the post being in fluid communication with said opening, whereby air blown into the mouthpiece will issue as a plurality of jets through said ports, a second hollow post having a top wall and a lateral wall slidingly received for vertical reciprocating movement on said first post, the top wall of the second post, defining, with its lateral wall a space in fluid communication with the first post whereby air under pressure delivered to the interior of the second post will, by impinging on the top wall thereof, raise the second post relative to the first post, said reservoir top wall having a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, a plurality of paddle-like members, having one end secured to the second post for joint movement therewith, each said member having an aperture through the principal plane thereof, said members being so dimensioned and positioned that, upon raising and lowering of said second post, the members exit from and re-enter the reservoir through said reservoir top wall apertures whereby, upon entering the reservoir, each member aperture is charged with a film of fluid which, upon raising of the members, each film moves into the path of a respective jet of air issuing from a respective port.