Bubble Blowing Device

Abstract

A compact bubble blowing device wherein a film-forming bubble solution and the member from which the bubbles are blown, are contained in one unit. The member is projected out of, and retracted into, the solution through a singlehanded operation of the device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bubble blowing device.

In known bubble blowing devices, for example, in the device disclosed in German Pat. No. 1,137,367, a film-supporting member is shown attached to the cover of the housing. With one hand the operator has to remove the cover before he can use the device, while he has to steady the housing with the other hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantage of bimanual operation, and to provide a liquid withdrawing device, preferably a bubble blowing device, which can be manipulated with one hand.

Another object is to provide a spillproof bubble blowing device.

Yet another object is to provide a dripproof of bubble blowing device.

The improved device comprises a piston-cylinder arrangement which contains a supply of liquid, preferably a film-forming bubble solution. A liquid withdrawing member is fixedly attached to the piston in the cylinder, and is retained with the latter in the interior of the cylinder when the device is not in use. The cylinder is enclosed in a housing made from a preferably elastic deformable material. In a presently preferred embodiment, the outer rims of the cylinder and of the housing are contiguous and are connected to one another by a leakproof seal.

A reservoir for the solution is formed in a widened section of the cylinder surrounding its open end. At the opposite cylinder end a passageway is provided permitting flow of the solution between the housing and the cylinder. The cylinder also has an inlet port through which solution is admitted, and a screw to close the inlet. At about the halfway point of its length the cylinder is provided with stop means attached to its inner wall and adapted to restrict the piston stroke in the outward direction. A narrow interspace between the inner cylinder wall and the circumferential surface of the piston permits percolation of a preselected limited amount of the bubble solution.

In a presently preferred embodiment the cylinder and the associated piston have a rectangular cross section; the film-supporting member is attached to that end of the piston which is spaced from the cylinder base and has an annular shape; this member may be provided with capillary grooves around its periphery.

When the bubble blowing device is not being operated the housing may be closed off by a cover.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the bubble blowing device which embodies one form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a part shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device with the carrier in extended position; and

FIG. 7 shows a different film-supporting member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

in FIG. 1 there is shown a housing 1, preferably made from an elastic plastic material, for example, polyethylene, and having a circular cylindrical shape. The exterior of the housing is provided with a number of circumferential ribs and grooves 2 and 3 respectively, for a firm grip. Housing 1 contains a supply of film-forming bubble solution 24 and has a cover 4 which can be removably attached by threads or otherwise separably secured to the open end of the housing when the device is not in use. A cylinder 5, made from a synthetic material, is located centrally in the interior of the housing. The cylinder 5 has a passage 11 spaced from its open upper end, for communication of the solution 24 between the housing 1 and the interior of the cylinder.

In a presently preferred embodiment, the major part of the cylinder 5 has a flat rectangular cross section and a cylindrical upper end portion 23, having a bottom wall 7 with an opening 6. The chamber 23 with a circumferential wall 8 forms a reservoir for the bubble solution 24. The wall 8 is contiguous with the adjoining portion 9 of the housing 1. At their outer rims facing the exterior the parts 8 and 9 are glued or welded together to form a leak-proof joint.

A carrier 12, here shown as a piston, is reciprocable inside the cylinder 5. Its rectangular cross section corresponds to that of the cylinder, with an interspace 13, approximately 0.1 mm. wide, provided between the outer piston surface and the inner cylinder surface. A stop pin 15 attached to the wall of cylinder 6 at approximately the halfway point of its length, passes through an axial slit 14 in the piston 12 and limits the advance of the piston beyond a preselected distance in the outward direction.

An annular film-supporting member 16 with a central blow-hole 17 is fixedly attached to the upper end of the piston 12 and can be moved by the piston outside of, and retracted into, the cylinder 5. On its periphery, opposite the connection with the piston 12, the member 16 is provided with an extension 18 abutting against the inner surface of the cover 4 when the device is closed, to prevent a dislocation of the piston 12 and the member 16 with respect to the cylinder.

The surface of the member 16 includes a plurality of capillary notches and grooves 19, respectively 26, whose shape is shown, for example, in FIGS. 4 and 5, for adhesion of the solution when the device is in operation. Another method of causing the solution 24 to adhere to the member 16 is by providing a layer thereon, made of granular or spongelike synthetic, or by securing gudgeons and other protuberances on the inner periphery of the member 16 facing the blow hole 17. FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the member 16 in the shape of a stylized animal, that is, a bear. The bear's ears 20 have the same function as extension 18 above.

To operate the device a supply of the film-forming bubble solution 24 (e.g., a soap solution) is poured into the housing 1 through an opening 21 in the bottom wall 7 of the reservoir 23. When a sufficient quantity has been admitted the opening 21 is closed by a screw or plug 22. In another embodiment the solution may be poured into the reservoir 23, to percolate through the interspace 13 between the piston 12 and the cylinder 5, and the passageway 11, into the housing 1. In such embodiment the opening 21 and the screw 22 form respectively a vent and a venting screw.

When the required amount of fluid has been admitted into the device, the housing 1 is manually compressed around its circumference (arrows P) the latter being of a dimension which is comfortably encircleable by the average sized hand of the operator. The force exerted on the fluid 24 inside the housing 1 forces the solution through the interspace 13 into the reservoir 23 and simultaneously drives the upper portion of the piston 12 upward and out through a distance which is limited by the force of the compression and, mechanically, by the arrest of the piston, respectively its axial slit 14, through the stop pin 15 in the interior of the cylinder 5. Concurrently with the projection of the piston 12 the attached film-supporting member 16 emerges outside of the cylinder 5, so that the film extending across its blow-hole 16 may be blown into bubbles in the usual way. When the grip on the housing 1 is relaxed and the compression ceases the housing reassumes its original shape, and the piston 12, together with the member 16, is withdrawn into the housing. The process can be repeated as often as desired for refill of the member 16.

The advantages of the described device are not only that the device is operable singlehandedly but that even in the open position practically none of the bubble solution is spilled when the housing is accidentally knocked over, since the bottom wall 7 of the reservoir 23 is a barrier for leaks from the interior. Also, any excess solution dripping off the member 16 during the operation is automatically collected in the reservoir 23 and returned to the interior of the housing 1.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bubble blowing device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

The device described above can also serve, for example, as a means for wetting a brush or the like, such as a brush for application of nail polish. Such brush then replaces the member 16.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A bubble blowing device comprising a housing having a wall defining an open and an opposite closed end of said housing, at least a portion of said wall being deformable, said housing being adapted to contain a bubble-forming liquid; a cylinder having an open end fluid-tightly joined to said open end of said housing and extending from said open end into said housing spaced at least from said deformable wall portion; a passage providing communication between the interior of said housing and that of said cylinder and being arranged in the region opposite the open end of said cylinder so that liquid contained in said housing may pass into said cylinder; a piston reciprocably arranged in said cylinder between a retracted and an extended position, said piston having one end facing said open end of said cylinder; an annular liquid-withdrawing member fixed to said one end of said piston and movable with the latter between said retracted position in which said annular member dips into the liquid and said extended position in which said member projects beyond the open ends of the cylinder and the housing and the withdrawn liquid forms a film extending across said annular member so that the film can be formed into a bubble, whereby upon compression of said deformable wall portion of said housing liquid in the latter will be forced to pass into the cylinder to thereby move said piston from said retracted to said extended position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein a portion of said cylinder which is remote from said passage means is of enlarged cross section and provides a reservoir for the liquid.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said portion of said cylinder comprises an annular wall sealingly secured to the adjoining portion of said housing.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has an inlet port and further comprising closure means for said port.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising stop means for preventing movement of said piston beyond said extended position.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said piston and said cylinder are separated by a clearance.

7. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylinder is of rectangular cross section and said piston is of corresponding rectangular cross section.

8. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a cover for said housing, said cover being movable between an operative position in which it conceals said piston, and an open position in which it permits movement of said piston and said member to the extended position.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said cover and said member comprise portions which abut against each other in operative position of said cover.

10. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is provided with capillary grooves for retention of liquid.