WO1992002281A1

WO1992002281A1 - Device and method for blowing bubbles

Info

Publication number: WO1992002281A1
Application number: PCT/FI1991/000228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aimo Johannes Puhakka
Original assignee: Aimo Johannes Puhakka
Priority date: 1990-07-27
Filing date: 1991-07-26
Publication date: 1992-02-20
Also published as: AU8100191A; EP0541590A1; CA2086005A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a device and a method for bubble blowing, comprising a tubular member (3) and, inside it, a surface (4) or several surfaces (11). The former widens in the direction of air flow, and the latter causes the airstream to narrow. The device in accordance with this invention is used to blow a large bubble and smaller bubbles inside the same and/or onto its side.

Description

Device and method for blowing bubbles

This invention relates to a device and a method for blowing bubbles. The device and the method are of the type given in the introductory part of the corresponding claim.

No doubt everybody has practised the art of blowing soap bubbles as a child. The conventional bubble-producing device consists, for example, of a piece of metal wire with one end bent around to form a loop. The loop is dipped in a solution of water and soap or detergent and the film which is retained across the wire loop is inflated by blowing air onto it from the flat side. The bubble then floats off after having increased somewhat in size. This is a primitive device and is never sure to perform properly; even if it does, it will only form one bubble at a time.

A bubble-blowing apparatus familiar from US-Patent 3,323,250 consists of two short tubular members, one within the other, the inner member narrowing conically in the direction of the air flow. The front portion of the outer member is cylindrical and its rear portion is similarly conical where it overlaps with said inner tube. Blowing is accomplished as an unobstructed breath of air directed into the device at some distance. The device in question allows the simultaneous formation of two bubbles, one within the other.

An obvious drawback of said device is the incertainty of its function as it no doubt calls for very skillful blowing to achieve the desired result. The device has a rather complicated channel system, which in itself is rather difficult and expensive to fabricate and with which no bubbles are formed at all unless the air -flow is directed accurately. On the other hand, directing the air flow from the lips to the somewhat distant center of the device is so imprecise that there is little hope of any fine control.

In the bubble-blowing device known from US Patent 3,473,253, the air is blown through an aperture in a diagonal wall which remains submerged in soapy water. The air forced out through the aperture will therefore flow up, forming a bubble which in turn exits into the ambient air through the opening provided in the device.

The function of the device is thus limited to producing a continuous row of bubbles and its operation is probably monotonous and hardly entertaining to the user for any longer periods due to the lack of variety. Furthermore, many of the bubbles produced when air emerges from the soapy water are likely to burst when they strike the edge of the device or at least when the bubbles are squeezed through the exit passageway with the outflowing air, whereupon -- concluding from the description given -- they are forced to assume a new form.

Other devices than those referred to above have been developed for bubble-blowing. For example, US Patent 2,628,449 presents an apparatus in which a "flywheel" comprising a number of rings rotates in a bowl holding soapy liquid. A narrow jet of air directed from a special blowing part inflates and releases a bubble from each ring quite analogous to the preceding one. At the same time, the air flow keeps the "flywheel" rotating. The result is thus a sequence of isolated bubbles. The apparatus produces single soap bubbles of the conventional type and not of the bubble-within-bubble type. It also features clumsy construction and a high cost of fabrication.

Yet another apparatus is known for the blowing of bubbles, a device that justifiably could be referred to as the very machine for the purpose. Such an apparatus is introduced in

US Patent 4,867,724. It makes use of the phenomen in which an air flow lifts up a piston, attached to which is a ring submerged in soapy liquid. As the piston moves up, the ring emerges from the solution carrying a liquid film across its eye. However, simultaneously with the upward movement of the piston, air gains free passage into the nozzle, from where it passes on to said film, inflating it. As soon as the air passageway opens, the piston returns to its original position, starting a new cycle of the aforraentioned function. In this way one gets an endless row of bubbles.

The said apparatus no doubt functions excellently to the given end, but even so, it is limited to producing only rows of isolated bubbles. On the other hand, the kind of satisfaction that is sought in blowing soap bubbles is hardly to be found in just blowing a row of bubbles from an automatic apparatus. The apparatus also lacks any means of creating variety in blow_ng bubbles.

It is the object of the present invention to present such a device and such a method for bubble-blowing wherein the drawbacks encumbering prior art can be avoided. A convenient device is of simple construction, inexpensive to fabricate and allows a variation of bubble sizes and a variation of the location of the bubbles in respect of each other. The advantages of the device and the method according to the invention are achieved in a way the characteristics of which are rendered in the enclosed patent claims.

The device in accordance with the invention is now described in more detail with reference to the enclosed patent drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the device according to Figure 1 seen into the left end of the device;

Figure 3, in turn, is an longitudinal section of the left end portion of the same device;

Figure 4 shows examples of bubbles produced by a device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 shows a side view of a device of another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is the section A-A of the device in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is the section B-B of the device in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is the section C-C of the same device;

Figure 9 is a side view of a device of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 shows a device of the third embodiment of the invention as viewed directly into the left end of the device in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 shows examples of bubbles produced with a device of the second and third embodiments of the invention.

The device is explained in reference to the aforementioned figures. The direction of the air flow producing the bubbles is indicated by the arrow 1. The method according to the invention comes clear in connection of the description of the device.

Hence, Figure 1 is a simplified illustration of the principle of a bubble-blowing device in accordance with the present invention as its first alternative embodiment. It consists of two generally tubular members, a relatively long tube 3 and a relatively short tube 4 which is inside the longer tube wholly or of a great part of it.

Naturally, inner tube 4 is fixed to or suspended from outer tube 3 in one way or another. This is illustarted by a supporting arm marked with the numeral 7. Although, as seen in Figure 2, it is proposed here the supporting arras 7 be four in number, it is obvious that even a single supporting arm 7 would be sufficient to fix a light-weight and almost non-load bearing boby 4 in position. The configuration or position of supporting arm 7 is not critical.

Figure 3 shows an exemplary device of this embodiment of the invention as a cross-section of the left portion of Figure 1. The reference numbers are the same as in Figure 1.

The general idea of a device in accordance with the invention is that the blower of soap bubbles places inlet opening 2 of tube 3 to his/her lips after having first dipped the outer tube end, in the direction of air flow, into the bubble-forming solution and starts blowing. A mother bubble 8 begins to take form at exit opening 5 of tube 3. When the desired size is reached, the intensity of blowing is increased, starting the formation of a smaller bubble at exit opening 6 of the inner tube 4. The smaller bubble is then released into the larger bubble. It is even possible to produce several smaller bubbles 9 (Figure 4) within the larger bubble (the mother bubble) 8 by maintaining for a while the blowing force which releases the smaller bubbles from the exit opening 6. The larger bubble is made to float off by a sideways movement of tube 3.

It should be noted that, with the device in accordance with the present invention, the inflating process can be discontinued at any desired point, for example, by shutting off the opening of tube 3 with the tongue or simply by holding the breath. This enables, for example, the refilling of the lungs with air through the nose for continued blowing.

As can be clearly seen in the figures, outer tube 3 is a truncated cone which widens, at least to some degree, in the direction of air flow and inner tube 4 respectively is a truncated cone which narrows, at least slightly, in the direction of air flow.

By way of an example, both the outer tube and inner tube are shown in the drawings as having a round section. This is not essential at all, however, as any desired cross- section can be used, the choice being based on esthetic rather than technical values. Thus a square or hexagon cross-section is quite applicable and an indefinite cross- section can be used where needed.

The position of tube 4 within tube 3 is not critical. It is likely that a good functional configuration is achieved at least with inner tube 4 positioned within outer tube 3 in such a way that the outlet ends of the tubes are in the same plane or near the same plane. There is no reason to believe that the device would not operate properly even if inner tube 4 were moved axially within tube 3.

Inner tube 4 is generally coaxial with outer tube 3 but this, too, is hardly critical, as it can be assumed that, even if inner tube 4 were positioned diagonally, it would introduce a smaller bubble into the mother bubble, although the direction would deviate a little from that achieved by concentric tubes.

The relationship between the exit openings of tubes 3 and 4 can be varied as desired whereby one receives mother bubbles and inner bubbles of different sizes without the need to change the blowing force or time. Thus it is natural that the inner tube 4 with supporting arms 7 would be interchangeable, i.e. a separate element. In addition, the relationship of the cross-section area of upstream end 10 of inner tube 4 to the cross-section area of the outer tube at the corresponding level can be varied.

Instead that tube 4 would form only one outlet opening 6, it is possible to divide the outlet opening, in the direction of air flow, into several openings, for example by providing the outer end of tube 4 with a plate like stopper and by providing the same with openings of suitable size and number. The bubbles forming from these openings remain inside mother bubble 8 as described before.

Figure 5 outlines the principle of an exemplary bubble- blowing device according to the second embodiment of the invention. It basically consists of two relatively long tubular members 3. In this embodiment, part 3 contains a surface 11 to split the air flow in tube 3 into two or more streams so that bubbles are produced at a minimum of two different openings. Surface 11 corresponds to the inner cone 4 of the preceding embodiment.

In this embodiment, the bubble blower, in a mode analogous to the principle of the preceding embodiment, places the inlet opening 2 of tube 3 on his or her lips, having first dipped the outer end, in the direction of air flow, of the tube in a solution of water and soap or detergent, and starts blowing. The air flow reaches surface 11, from where it is divided and led, through hole 12 in surface 11, into upper compartment 13 and when hitting surface 11, it is partially guided also into lower compartment 14. The formation of the larger bubble, the so-called mother bubble, is initiated at opening 5 of upper compartment 13, and the holes 16 of lower compartment 14, which are essentially smaller than opening 5, start producing bubbles which attach themselves onto the side of the mother bubble. Because the area on the mother bubble where the side- bubbles are attached is indeed on the side of the mother bubble, air flow is accelerated by increasing the blowing force and because of the conical shape of the lower compartment 14 and the mother bubble begins to rotate, offering more surface area for the formation of new side- bubbles.

It should be noted, that also in a device according to this embodiment, it is possible to discontinue the inflating of the bubble at any point, as in the preceding embodiment.

Openings 16, from which the side-bubbles are sent off onto the side of the mother bubble, are at least one but preferably several in number and they can be of different sizes to enable the formation of side-bubbles varying in size.

Surface 11 and opening 12 are quite general terms for the configurations which can be used in accordance with the invention. The surface shown as an example in the cross- section Figures 6 and 7 features a cut at its upper edge, the cut representing the opening 12. However, it is possible that opening 12, in fact, has been made so that surface 11 partially fails to meet the upper edge of tube 3 and is thus left incomplete. In other words, opening 12 no more has the shape seen in figures 6 and 7, but is shaped to remind, for example, the segment of a circle.

The shape of surface 11 is not essential. It can be flat or curved in any direction, or it can also be given a wavy or any other configuration. The surface design can be based on esthetic considerations rather than any given preconditions for its proper function. The opening can be of any shape and it can be located, as seen in figures 6 and 7, at the edge of surface 11 but can also pierce it at any spot other than at the edge. Actually, it is just a matter of splitting the air flow, so there are other ways than making an opening of accomplishing this, as will be explained later.

Instead of using a single surface 11 for air flow control, it is possible to use separate segmental surfaces, each of which guides its share of the air flow into its own aperture 16. This enables a more accurate control of the partly streams of the air flow, although this, on the other hand, naturally involves a somewhat more complicated construction than that seen in Figure 5.

The third embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 9 as a side view corresponding to that in Figure 5 and, respectively, in Figure 10, as viewed directly inwards from the outer end of tube 3.

In the configurations in figures 9 and 10, three separate conical surfaces, 11a, lib and lie, have been used to collect air with their upstream ends 15 into the individual outlet openings 16, at each of which a side-bubble is prodr ed. In this case, side-bubbles are produced from three openings 16, yet their number is not critical in any respect. Similarly, although in this particular case the truncated narrowing cones that direct air into the side- bubbles are disposed symmetrically across the cross-section of tube 3, an asymmetrical disposition will function just as well. As a matter of fact the disposition can be chosen completely freely and is an esthetic rather than a technical consideration. It is also possible to alter the longitudinal disposition between tube 3 and surfaces 11a, lib lie when needed. It is possible to make such an embodiment of the disposition where part of the surfaces 11a, lib, lie direct air approximately into the centrum of the outlet of tube 3. Hereby smaller separate bubbles are blown inside the mother bubble. This embodiment is thus a combination of the embodiment described first and the one described just above.

As shown, on the basis of the above embodiment, surface 11 may appear in many different ways and even consist of several entirely separated surfaces. The basic idea is that the surfaces serve to split the air flow into one stream to inflate the mother bubble and into another one or more streams to inflate side-bubbles. It is a further principle, that the side-bubbles are produced by narrowing airstreams.

The large bubble, so-called mother bubble, is thus produced from opening 5 at the exit end of tube 3. Side-bubbles are inflated at the smaller openings 16 and adhere to the sides of the mother-bubble. The output is illustrated in Figure 11, showing a mother-bubble 17 and a great number of side- bubbles 18. As soon as the desired end result has been achieved, the group of bubbles is put afloat by a sideways movement of tube 3.

As is clearly seen in the figures, tube 3 is at least slightly widening in the downstream direction. The tubular member 3 is- conveniently provided as a truncated cone. On the other hand, the air channels through which the side- bubbles are inflated are slightly narrowing and they, too, for example, can be truncated cones in configuration.

Although in this embodiment, by way of an example, tube 3 has been shown to have a round cross-section, even here this is in no way essential, but any desired form can be used. Thus, a square or hexagon cross-section is convenient. Where needed, an indefinite cross-section can also be used.

As stated, the members to fit inside tube 3 can also be, when necessary, removeable and interchangeable. This enables a construction that allows a very wide variety of different soap-bubble formations to be produced simply by changing the tube's interior fittings for other ones, whereby the size of the diameters of opening 12, the upstream end 15 of conical surfaces 11a, lib, lie and outlet openings 16 can be freely changed. Hereby it is possible to blow a great variety of bubbles, even so that it is obtained a bubble construction, containing a mother bubble and inside the same there floats freely separate bubbles 9 and a group of bubbles formed of inner bubbles 18. With the form of tube 3 and by choosing a suitable combination solution from the above matters it is possible to obtain excellent reliability of the device as the personal skill and blowing force of the user can be exploited.

It is to be mentioned furter that even though it has been talking above about a soap-bubble, it is to be understood that any solution corresponding to a soap solution is useful for the purposes of this invention. So, one suitable solution is formed by adding to water detergent used for making dishes by hand.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A device for blowing bubbles, enabling groups of at least two bubbles to be produced, comprising a relatively long tubular member (3), and within it, an air directing surface (4, 11) or surfaces^' (e.g. 11a, lib, lie), characterized in that the tubular member (3) widens in the direction of the blown air flow (1), while the surface or surfaces (4, 11) produce a narrowing airstream.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular member (3) is a widening truncated cone and the surface or surfaces (4, 11) are narrowing truncated cones.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular member (3) is a widening truncated cone and the surface (4, 11) is a surface (11) that divides the cone (3) interior into two compartments, causing a narrowing airstream.

4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge opening/ openings (6, 16) for the airstream guided by the surfaces (4, 11) are located in the direction (1) of flow in the tubular member (3) at the edge region of the cross-section of the exit end (5) or at its middle region.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular member (3) and the surfaces (4, 11) are identical or non-identical in cross-section.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the tubular member (3) and the surfaces (4, 11, 11a, lib, lie) are identical and circular in cross-section.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the airstream guided by the tubular member (3) has one discharge opening (5) , while there is at least one discharge opening (6, 16) for the airstream guided by the surface (4, 11) .

8. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the members which are aimed inside the tubular member (3), such as the surfaces (4, 11) possibly with their discharge openings (6, 16), are interchangeable.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the part forming the surface (4) is suspended from the tubular member (3) by at least one supporting arm (7) .

10. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the discharge openings (6, 16) of the surfaces (4, 11) are located near the outlet opening (5) of the tube (3) .

11. A method for blowing bubbles, enabling groups of at least two bubbles to be produced, characterized in that part of the air flow is directed to narrow to form smaller bubble(s) and part of the air flow is directed to widen to form bigger bubble(s).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the air flow is directed to widen by the aid of a widening closed surface (3) and to narrow either by the aid of separate narrowing surface(s) (4, 11) or by the aid of a combination of the surface(s) (4, 11) and the surface (3).

13. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the air flow is directed to widen by the aid of a widening tubular member (3) and to narrow by the aid of narrowing tubular surface(s) (4, 11).