Amusement devices: toys – Having means for forming transitory bubble
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-27
2001-02-13
Rimell, Sam (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Having means for forming transitory bubble
C446S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186853
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to toys, and more particularly relates to toys for making bubbles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bubble making toys have captivated the interest of children for years. Such devices can be as simple as a dipstick or a wand having a ringlike structure which can be dipped into a soapy solution, and either be waved back and forth, or be blown upon to generate bubbles. More specifically, surface tension causes the soapy solution to cling to the surface of the ring, and forms a film extending across a central opening of the ring. As air is moved against that film, for example, by directing a breath of air toward the film, the film bows away from the ring, eventually escaping the ring and forming a bubble. Examples of such devices are shown in La Fata, U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,731, and Cuccio, U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,649. While such devices are functional, they are not without drawbacks, which namely manifest themselves in the form of leakage, drippage, and general messiness.
Some prior art devices have therefore attempted to distance the device from the hand of the user, to thereby avoid unpleasant drippage. For example, La Fata, U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,693, provides a bubble making toy in the form of a multiple apertured reservoir tied to a string which can be swung in a circle, and thereby utilize centrifugal force to direct the soapy solution to the apertures to form films, and the air stream generated by the swinging action to generate the actual bubbles. Such a device therefore necessarily requires a relatively large amount of space, with the user actually having relatively little control over the bubble making process.
In addition, many prior art devices have required operator input in manipulating either the wand or the bubble forming solution to create the film necessary for forming bubbles. Such manipulation often proves difficult, especially for young children, and either leads to frustration or premature play stoppage. Some devices therefore provide a somewhat automated mechanism for creating the film of soapy solution and generating bubbles. Such devices can be provided in the form of toy guns, such as that disclosed in La Fata, U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,923, DeMars U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,890, or Lei, U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,469. However, such devices are often relatively complex with parts which are prone to fatigue or failure, and are also often reliant on batteries, motors, and fans for pumping solution to a wand ring and for generating an airstream to create bubbles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a bubble maker is provided which may include a housing, a bubble forming ring and a trigger. The housing may have a substantially annular reservoir and a central opening, with the reservoir being adapted to retain bubble making solution. The bubble forming ring may be pivotally attached to the housing and be adapted to move from the reservoir to the central opening. The trigger may be operably attached to the bubble forming ring to move the bubble forming ring between the reservoir and the central opening.
In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the bubble making toy may include a spill gutter extending around an inner circumference of the housing proximate the central opening. A slot may be provided in the inner circumference of the housing to allow passage of the bubble forming ring. The bubble forming ring may include a drip string to facilitate communication of excess bubble forming solution from the ring back to the reservoir.
According to another aspect of the invention, a bubble maker is provided which may include a housing, a wand and a means for moving the wand. The housing may include a substantially annular reservoir, adapted to retain a volume of bubble making solution, and may also include a central opening. The wand may include a bubble forming ring at one end and be adapted to move from a first position in the reservoir to a second position in the central opening. The means for moving is adapted to move the wand between the first and second positions.
In another aspect, the present invention may be provided in the form of a manually operated, spill resistant bubble maker having a housing, a wand and a trigger. The housing is adapted to retain a volume of bubble making solution, while the wand includes a bubble forming end which is adapted to move from a first position in the reservoir, to a second position out of the reservoir. The trigger may be operably connected to the wand and be adapted to move the wand from the first position to the second position.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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U.S. application No. 09/219,069, Messina et al., filed Dec. 22, 1998.
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
Rimell Sam
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