U.S. patent number RE42,610 [Application Number 12/371,587] was granted by the patent office on 2011-08-16 for spill-proof bubble machine.
Invention is credited to Michael R. Schramm.
United States Patent |
RE42,610 |
Schramm |
August 16, 2011 |
Spill-proof bubble machine
Abstract
The spill resistant bubble machine is an invention that because
of its unique geometry and design, prevents spillage of liquid when
filled to the fill line or below, and oriented in any position. At
the same time the invention is capable of automatic and continuous
bubble generation. It is principally intended for use by young
children in the hands free automatic generation of bubbles,
especially while riding a bicycle, without spilling its liquid
contents.
Inventors: |
Schramm; Michael R. (Perry,
UT) |
Family
ID: |
26790912 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/371,587 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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07828345 |
Jan 30, 1992 |
5246046 |
|
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Reissue of: |
08086541 |
Jul 1, 1993 |
5495876 |
Mar 5, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/98; 446/20;
141/336 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H
33/28 (20130101); B65D 23/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
1/04 (20060101); B65B 3/04 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;446/15-21,74
;141/331,339,340,364,98,94,95,311A,333 ;220/731,734,719
;222/109,570,571,567,569 ;4/283,259 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
TV Guide, Lawrence Welk Bubble Machine, 1961, 1 page. cited by
examiner .
Best Sales Cat., Fisher-Price Bubble Mower, no date, p. 35. cited
by examiner .
Fisher-Price, Bubble Machine, package, 1992, 1 page. cited by
examiner .
Fisher-Price, Bubble Sax, package, no date, 1 page. cited by
examiner .
Toi, sales literature for Model 2700, 1992, 1 page. cited by
examiner .
Tyco, Bubble Firetruck, package, no date, 1 page. cited by examiner
.
Royal Contor, S.R.M. Co. Inc., Bubble Machine, package, 1992, 1
page. cited by examiner .
Remco Toys Inc., Instructions to Bubble Blowing Glider, 1992, 2
pages. cited by examiner .
Tootsietoy, Div. of Strombecker Corp., Mechanical Bubble Airplane,
Package, 1988, 1 page. cited by examiner.
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Primary Examiner: Douglas; Steven O
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schramm; Michael R.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
07/828,345 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,046 filed Jan. 30, 1992. The
benefit of the filing date of this earlier filing date is claimed
under 35 U.S.C..sctn. 120.
Claims
I claim:
1. A non-spill container for the automatic and continuous
generation of bubbles wherein said container comprises an upper
shell and a lower shell, said upper shell having an upper integral
external ridge defining a lower edge of said upper shell, and said
lower shell having a lower integral external ridge defining an
upper edge of said lower shell, and wherein said upper integral
external ridge is releasably and sealingly mounted in engagement
with said lower integral external ridge to form an inner cavity,
said container further comprising a leading edge and a trailing
edge, and wherein said container includes a rectangular opening
formed in a top surface of said upper shell and a rectangular
funnel joined to the underside of said top surface of said upper
shell depending downward into the inner cavity of said container
and terminating with a lower end, said rectangular funnel being in
alignment with said rectangular opening to provide communication
between the exterior of said container and said inner cavity, said
rectangular funnel further having a dimensional width substantially
equal to the width of said rectangular opening, and the distance
between the lower end of said funnel and any interior surface of
said container is greater than a liquid level of a predetermined
volume of liquid in said container when placed in any orientation,
said container thereby providing resistance to spillage of the
liquid contents of said container, and a circular bubble wheel
having a diameter greater than the height of said container, and
having a plurality of bubble orifices adjacent the periphery of
said bubble wheel, said bubble wheel being rotatably mounted within
said rectangular funnel.
2. The non-spill container of claim 1 wherein said upper shell and
said lower shell define an elliptically symmetrical dome shape.
3. The non-spill container of claim 1 wherein said bubble wheel is
attached to a rotating assembly to permit rotation of said bubble
orifices adjacent the periphery of said bubble wheel into and out
of said inner cavity of said container, thereby permitting bubble
solution confined in said inner cavity of said container to adhere
to said plurality of bubble orifices when said orifices are rotated
into contact with said bubble solution, said rotating assembly
further comprising a fan having a plurality of fan blades, said fan
being integrally attached to a first end of a fan axle on the
exterior of said container, and a fan gear integrally attached to a
second end of said fan axle in the interior of said container, said
fan gear being in rotating engagement with a bubble wheel gear
which is coaxially and integrally attached to said bubble
wheel.
4. The non-spill container of claim 3 wherein the lower shell of
said container comprises an integral semi-circular trough depending
from the lower surface of said lower shell in axial alignment with
said rectangular funnel such that the circular path defined by the
rotation of said bubble orifices adjacent the periphery of said
bubble wheel passes within said rectangular funnel and into said
semi-circular trough.
5. The non-spill container of claim 3 wherein the upper shell of
said container includes an opening near the leading edge of said
container said opening defining a fan axle slot which extends from
said opening near said leading edge of said container to the
depending rectangular funnel, wherein said fan axle extends through
said fan axle slot.
6. The non-spill container of claim 3 further comprising a snap-on
receptacle integrally attached to the bottom surface of the lower
shell of said container for snappingly attaching said container to
a structure exterior to said container.
7. The non-spill container of claim 3 wherein said fan gear is of
substantially less diameter than the diameter of said bubble wheel
gear.
8. The non-spill container of claim 1 wherein an opening is formed
within said upper shell on the top surface thereof, said opening
providing communication between the interior of said container and
the exterior of said container, and a cap for sealingly closing
said opening.
9. A non-spill apparatus for the automatic and continuous
generation of bubbles wherein said apparatus comprises a container
defining an inner cavity , and wherein said container includes an
opening formed in a top surface thereof and a funnel joined to the
underside of said top surface of said container depending downward
into the inner cavity of said container and terminating with a
lower end, said funnel being in alignment with said opening to
provide communication between the exterior of said container and
said inner cavity of said container and having a dimensional width
substantially equal to the width of said opening, the distance
between the lower end of said funnel and any interior surface of
said container is greater than a liquid level of a predetermined
volume of liquid in said container when placed in any orientation,
said container thereby providing resistance to spillage of the
liquid contents of said container, and a bubble wheel having a
plurality of bubble orifices adjacent the periphery of said bubble
wheel being rotatably mounted within said funnel.
10. A non-spill apparatus for the automatic and continuous
generation of bubbles wherein said apparatus comprises a container
defining an inner cavity, and wherein said container includes an
opening formed in a wall of said container and a funnel joined to
said opening of said wall of said container depending downward into
the inner cavity of said container and terminating with a lower
end, said funnel being in alignment with said opening to provide
communication between the exterior of said container and said inner
cavity of said container, and the distance between the inner end of
said funnel and any interior surface of said container is greater
than .Iadd.the depth of .Iaddend.a liquid level of a predetermined
volume of liquid in said container when placed in any orientation,
said container thereby providing resistance to spillage of the
liquid contents of said container, and a bubble device having at
least one bubble orifice adjacent the periphery of said bubble
device being movably mounted within said container.
11. A bubble making apparatus comprising a container defining an
inner cavity, and a funnel integrally formed with and extending
into the inner cavity of said container to provide communication
between said inner cavity and the exterior of said container to
inhibit spillage of the contents of said container, and a bubble
wheel rotatably mounted within said funnel.
12. A bubble making apparatus comprising a container defining an
inner cavity, and a funnel attached to and extending into the inner
cavity of said container to provide communication between said
inner cavity and the exterior of said container and a bubble device
movably mounted to said funnel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improved containers which offer
spill resistance for their liquid contents. The invention has
particular application for use with bubble solution of the type
used by children in blowing bubbles.
As is well known to any person who has blown bubbles through a
wand, the typical container for bubble solution is cylindrically
shaped. This typical container has a circular mouth at its top
through which a wand is inserted to access the bubble solution. As
is equally well known to bubble-blowers, tipping, knocking over, or
in any other fashion upsetting the vertical orientation of such
containers permits easy spilling of the bubble solution.
In the present inventor's co-pending application identified above,
a spill proof bubble solution container is disclosed. Access to the
solution in the invention of the prior application is obtained
through an elliptical mouth and a rectangular, depending funnel.
The user inserts a bubble wand into the mouth, through the funnel
where the wand comes into contact with the bubble solution. The
bubble solution is filled to a predetermined level in the
container. The predetermined level is identified as the level at
which approximately eight ounces of solution rises inside the
container. (Eight ounces is the industry standard size for typical
cylindrical bubble solution containers.) The funnel is positioned
such that the level of solution in the container, when filled at or
below the fill line, is below the funnel. Thus, the bubble solution
is prevented from entering the funnel for discharge therethrough
regardless of the orientation of the container. In this fashion, a
user can access the bubble solution with a wand without fear of
spillage.
Blowing a large stream of bubbles through use of a wand having only
one circular opening is a tedious and often difficult task,
especially for a child, requiring repeated insertions of the wand
into the container. As will be described hereinafter, the present
invention takes advantage of the spill-proof features described in
the referenced copending application and provides a method of
generating a continuous stream of bubbles when placed in an
airstream or moved through the air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spill-proof container having an
upper shell, a lower shell, a bubble wheel, a bubble wheel axle, a
bubble wheel gear, a fan, a fan axle, a fan gear and a bubble wheel
trough. The upper shell is releasably attachable along one plane of
attachment to the lower shell in symmetrical arrangement. A
rectangular opening is formed at the top surface of the upper shell
which also serves as the opening of a rectangular funnel which
depends into the interior of the container. Both the forward and
rear lower most edges of the rectangular funnel are fitted with a
snap receptacle for a bubble wheel axle described below. A bubble
wheel trough is formed in the lower shell for permitting free
rotation of the bubble wheel about the bubble wheel axle and for
optimizing bubble solution consumption efficiency. A second opening
is formed in the upper shell for receiving a fan axle. The fan axle
extends from the exterior surface of the upper shell near its
leading edge, through a fan axle slot parallel to the plane of
attachment of the upper shell and lower shell, and into the opening
defined by the depending rectangular funnel. A fan is attached to
the exterior end of the fan axle and a fan gear is attached to the
opposite or interior end of the fan axle. A circular bubble wheel
having a bubble wheel axle and a bubble gear is placed within the
rectangular funnel in rotating engagement with the bubble wheel
axle snap receptacles. When placed in this position, the bubble
wheel gear is in rotating engagement with the fan gear. A
predetermined amount of bubble solution is placed within the
container formed by the joinder of the upper and lower shells
through a capped third opening in the upper shell. When filled with
the predetermined amount of bubble solution, the level of solution
within the container is prevented from entering the rectangular
funnel for discharge therethrough in a manner described in the
co-pending application referenced above.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
spill-proof container for the automatic generation of a continuous
bubble stream by placing the present invention in an airstream. The
airstream will rotate the fan, fan axle and fan gear causing
rotation of the bubble wheel through the bubble trough. A plurality
of bubble orifices placed on the outer periphery of the bubble
wheel thus rotates into the bubble trough, picks up a thin film of
bubble solution, continues its rotation within the rectangular
funnel until the bubble orifices are protruding outside of the
container. The airstream "blows" bubbles with the bubble film
thereby vacating the bubble orifices. Continued rotation of the
bubble wheel results in a continued exposure of bubble film to the
airstream.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will be
readily appreciated and become readily apparent as the same becomes
better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings and in which like reference numerals designate like parts
throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric assembly view of the spill resistant bubble
machine (rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise to facilitated a
larger scale figure), with the front right section of the upper and
lower shells cut away.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the various parts that make up the
spill resistant bubble machine, with the front right section of the
upper and lower shells cut away, and it illustrates their
relationship to each other.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the spill resistant bubble machine, with
the front right section of the upper and lower shells cut away, in
the upright or vertical position. The bubble solution is shown
retained in the bottom of the lower shell.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the spill resistant bubble machine, with
the front right section of the upper and lower shells cut away, in
the upside down position. The bubble solution is shown retained in
the top of the upper shell.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the spill resistant bubble machine, with
the front right section of the upper and lower shells cut away, in
a sideways position. The bubble solution is shown retained in the
current lower side of the upper and lower shells.
FIG. 6 is a right side view of the spill resistant bubble machine,
with the front right section of the upper and lower shells cut
away, in the upright or vertical position. The bubble solution is
shown retained in the bottom of the lower shell.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2,
the invention is a machine that comprises an upper shell 15 and a
lower shell 68. The upper shell 15 has an upper snap seal edge 40
surrounding the upper shell at the lower edge of the upper shell.
The lower shell has a lower snap seal edge 14 which is releasably
receivable within the upper snap seal edge 40. When placed in
snapping engagement, the upper shell and lower shell comprise the
spill-proof container 10 of the present invention.
The container 10 has a forward edge 12 and a rear edge 14. Upper
shell 15 has an opening 28 at the top of the upper shell 15.
Opening 28 defines the opening of a rectangular funnel 16 which
depends into the interior of the container 10. The rectangular
funnel 16 is defined by a first vertical wall 18 facing the forward
edge 12 of the container 10, and a second vertical wall 20 facing
the rear edge 14 of the container 10. The lower edge 22 of the
funnel 16 is fitted with snap receptacles 24 and 26 for receiving
bubble wheel axle 64 of a bubble wheel 58. Upper shell 15 has an
opening 32 near forward edge 12 of the container 10 which defines
the opening of a fan axle slot 30. Fan axle slot 30 extends from
opening 32 at the forward edge 12 of container 10 to a second
opening 34 in the first vertical wall 18 of the funnel 16. A snap
receptacle 36 is positioned at or near the opening 32 of fan axle
slot 30, and a second snap receptacle 38 is positioned at or near
the second opening 34 in vertical wall 18 of funnel 16. A fan axle
50 extends through fan axle slot 30 from the exterior of the
container 10 to the opening 28 in the rectangular funnel 16. A
forward fan axle retaining flange 52 is positioned at the forward
edge of the fan axle 50. A fan gear 56 is integrally attached to
the rear edge of fan axle 50.
A bubble wheel trough 70 is formed within the lower shell 68 of
container 10. Bubble wheel axle 64 is placed at the geometric
center of bubble wheel 58 and provides an axis of rotation for
bubble wheel 58. Bubble wheel 58 also has a bubble wheel gear 62
which is coaxially mounted with bubble wheel axle 64. When secured
within the container 10 by bubble wheel axle 64 being placed in
snapping engagement with snap receptacles 24 and 26 on the lower
edge 22 of funnel 16, bubble wheel gear 62 is in cooperative
relation to fan gear 56. Bubble wheel 58 also includes a plurality
of bubble orifices 60 located at or near the periphery of bubble
wheel 58.
As is readily apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3, an airstream directed at
fan blades 48 of fan 46 will impart a rotating impulse to the fan
46 and fan axle 50. Rotation of fan axle 50 imparts a corresponding
rotation to fan gear 56. Fan gear 56 meshes with bubble wheel gear
62 causing bubble wheel 58 to counter-rotate about its axle 64 in
response to torque delivered to bubble wheel gear 62. Rotation of
the bubble wheel 58 and corresponding rotation of bubble orifices
60 causes bubble orifices 60 to enter and exit bubble wheel trough
70 at the lower portion of rotation of bubble wheel 58. When
container 10 contains sufficient bubble solution, a thin film of
bubble solution will adhere to bubble orifices 60 when passing
though bubble wheel trough 70. When bubble orifices 60 continue
their rotation through the upper portion of rotation, the bubble
orifices 60 are exposed to the air flow, resulting in production of
bubbles.
As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2, bubble wheel gear 62 has a
diameter less than the diameter of the bubble wheel 58. The bubble
wheel 58 is prevented from inadvertently becoming detached from
snap receptacles 24 and 26 by bubble wheel axle retaining flanges
66. Retaining flanges 66 also act to keep bubble wheel 58 from
rubbing against the sides of vertical walls 18 and 20 of funnel 16.
As is also apparent from FIG. 2, fan gear 56 has a diameter
substantially less than the diameter of bubble wheel gear 62. Upper
shell 15 of container 10 has a fill spout 42 and a fill spout lid
44. Bubble solution is poured into the interior of the container 10
through fill spout 42 to a predetermined level as indicated by fill
line 76. The maximum fill line 76 is placed no higher on the lower
shell than to equal the volume defined by the maximum liquid that
can be held in the machine without running out of the funnel 16
when oriented in the sideways position shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 4 illustrates the additional unique advantages of spill
resistance when fluid is filled at or below the fill line 76 in the
subject invention regardless of the various possible orientations.
As is apparent from FIGS. 3 and 6, when the invention is in the
upright position liquid will always be below the lower edge 22 of
funnel 16. When container 10 is in the upside down position as in
FIG. 4, the liquid will occupy the space immediately around the
funnel 16 but not be able to enter funnel 16 for discharge through
opening 28. When container 10 is in a sideways position as in FIG.
5, the liquid level will always be between the side of the funnel
16 and the lower side of the two shells. Furthermore, when the
container 10 is oriented in any of an infinite variations of the
above described positions, it will behave in a like manner and
prevent the spillage of the solution.
As is seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred
embodiment, the spill resistant bubble machine of the subject
invention includes a snap-on receptacle 72 for mounting the
invention to a bar or frame, such as a bicycle handle bar. However,
other embodiments of the subject invention could readily be fitted
with a variety of attachments or extensions. In an alternative
embodiment of the subject invention, a handle is provided attached
to the under side of lower shell 68 for a person (especially a
child) to hold to. The handle permits the user to either run with
or wave the spill resistant bubble machine to produce bubbles. In
yet another alternative embodiment, the subject invention is
mounted in a swivelable relation to a shaft or stake with a swivel
base and a rudder attached at one end thereof. In this embodiment,
the invention will act as a weather vane to produce bubbles in what
ever direction the wind is blowing.
In the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the container
10 defined by upper shell 15 and lower shell 68 has an elliptical
cross section to more readily take advantage of principles of
aerodynamics and to optimize bubble production. In the preferred
embodiment, the elliptical shape of shells 15 and 68 provide an
efficient bubble solution consumption ratio (as defined by the
ratio of the maximum volume of solution usable when filled to the
fill line, divided by the total volume of solution when filled to
the fill line). The elliptical shape also provides an efficient
volume ratio (defined by the volume of solution when filled to the
fill line, divided by the total internal shell halves combined
volume).
The approximate size of the upper and lower shells 15 and 68 is
defined by a vertical elliptical cross section taken through the
center of the shells having a major diameter oriented horizontally
and greater than the length of the minor diameter. The fill line 76
is located approximately half way up from the bottom of the lower
shell 68 (excluding the snap on receptacle 72) on the shell 68.
This allows for a reasonable solution capacity. In a preferred
embodiment, the solution capacity is approximately eleven cubic
inches.
The shell halves 15 and 68 could be made as one piece but are
considered to be in a preferred configuration for fabrication,
assembly, and cleaning purposes. The fan 46 and bubble wheel 58,
could have been made as one part without gearing, but it would have
compromised the volume efficiency and internal liquid flow of the
upper shell half 15. Furthermore, with gearing the fan 46 to the
bubble wheel 58, the rate of revolution of the bubble wheel 58 to
the rate of revolution of the fan 46 can be reduced such as to
assure sufficient torque to rotate the bubble wheel through the
solution for a given air speed, so that the slower rate of
revolution of the bubble wheel 58 will minimize turbulence or
cavitation in the bubble solution, and so a bubble orifice 60 will
have sufficient exposure time in both the bubble solution and the
air flow. It also allows for changing the fan 46 for one of a
greater or smaller size to compensate for greater or lesser wind
speeds without changing any other parts.
While the shape of the subject invention could vary within the
functionality requirements previously described, doing so would not
depart from the spirit of the invention. In its current
configuration, the subject invention is considered both
aerodynamically and consumption efficient as well as aesthetically
pleasing.
Lastly, the preferred method of fabrication would be injection
molding for high volume low cost production. The material used
could be any of a variety of materials such as polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyester, nylon, etc. that are compatible with the
injection molding process. The material chosen should be
transparent or translucent to reveal the content level, and it
should also be dishwasher safe. The upper and lower container
shells 15 and 68 are also designed to snap together. The four
pieces snapped together (upper shell 15, lower shell 68, bubble
wheel 58, and fan 46) and the attached cap constitute the
assembly.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific
structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of
the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the underlying inventive concept. The subject invention is not
limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except
insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *