US2858639A - Bubble blowing device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 4, 1958 D. K. LAWRENCE BUBBLE BLowING DEVICE Filed nec. 1o, 195e INVENTOR.

United States Patent z,sss,639 BUBBLE BLowrNG DEVICE Donald K. Lawrence, Chicago, Ill. l Application December 1o, 1956, serial No. 621,348 Yz claims. (ci. 46-7) This invention relates to the blowing of soap bubbles and, more particularly, to a childs toy for blowing such bubbles without the use of a conventional bubble pipe.

In recent years a number of devices have been marketed to replace the conventional bubble pipes .commonly used. by children for blowing bubbles.

SomeY of these prior art devices embody dipsticks whichmay be immersed in a container of liquid soap to carry lms ofthe soap therefrom so that the user may form bubbles by blowing the lms or by waving the dipstick. A primary disadvantage of such devices 'is the tendency to lose the dipstick and the frequent tipping of the container by careless handling of the dipstick.

Other prior art devices comprise rotatably mounted, perforated paddles which are generally mounted on a paddle wheel and are rotated rapidly through a container of liquid soap, as for example by a crank connected to the paddle wheel. The speed at which the paddles are rotated causes bubbles to continuously form as the paddle wheel is rotated. A primary disadvantage of such prior art devices has been the small capacity of the container through which the paddles are rotated, as well as the tendency for rapid deterioration of the bearings on which the paddle wheel rotates. Another disadvanltage of such rotatable devices is the tendency to spill the liquid soap in the container by jerking on the crank handle of the paddle wheel.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient device for blowing soap bubbles without the use of a bubble pipe.

Another object of the invention is to devise a selfcontained unit wherein the soap container and thebubble blowing device may be handled and shipped as a unit, without disassembly except to refill the container from time to time.

A further object of the invention is to minimize accidentalspilling of the liquid soap in its container by requiring for successful` operation of the bubble blower that the user grasp the container in one hand.

A more specific object of the invention is to snugly confine a stem Within guides carried by the container, to limit movement of the stem to reciprocal movement into and out of the container and to require the user to grasp the container in one hand and a stem actuator in the other hand.

4Another object of the invention is to devise a novel sleeve which may be quickly assembled and disassembled with respect to the container and which contains guide tracks for ribs on opposite edges of the stem.

Yet another object of the invention is to form the ribs on the stem as continuations from a stopper portion at the outer end of the stem, the stopper portion being receivable within a slot of the sleeve to prevent accidental spilling of liquid soap in the container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a seat at the outer end of the stopper engageable with a complementary seat of the sleeve at the outer end of the flee of liquid soap from thecontainer during handling or shipment thereof.

A further object of the invention is to positively lock the conical seat of the stem in closed position against the complementary seat of the sleeve.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanyin drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a container and bubble blower assembly embodying a preferred form of the invention; A

Figure 2 is a view ysimilar to Figure 1 with the bubble blower assembly in open position;

Figure 3 is a sectional `View through the container taken in a plane bisecting the container along its longi' tudinal axis, with the stem shown in elevational view at closed position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the container taken in another plane bisecting the container and stem along the longitudinal axis ofY the container at right angles to the sectional plane of Figure 3, with the stem or open end of the bottle is provided with a collar or;A

sleeve 4 which, as best seen in Figure 3, comprises plug 5 inside the neck 6 of the bottle.

A-The sleeve 4 also comprises a ange or web 8 sleeved'.

over the outer perimeter of the bottle neck 6 in engagement with an upwardly tapered annulus or ange 10 of the bottle neck. The sleeve 4 is preferably formed of a exible material such as rubber or flexible plastic and is provided at its lower end with a skirt or lip 12 to facilitate assembly of the sleeve 4 and bottle 2 .by pulling the sleeve 4 over the bottle neck 6 to the position shown in the drawings, whereat the large diameter of the tapered annulus 10 is embedded in the sleeve web 8 to yieldingly lock the sleeve on the bottle neck.

The plug 5 comprises an opening or slot 14 within which a stem or plate 16 of a bubble blower assembly 18 is received. The opening 14 is defined at opposite ends thereof by guide tracks or grooves 20 which, in the illustrated embodiment, are linterconnected by the opening 14 so as to define a continuous rectangular slot through the plug 5 extending from top to bottom thereof as will be understood by a comparison of Figures 3 and 5. It will be understood, however, that if desired the grooves 20 need not be part of a continuous opening such as that shown at 14 but may be formed as grooves or tracks 20 in separate members attached to the web 8 adhesively secured to the inside of the bottle neck independently of the web 8. The tracks 20 may, if desired, extend to the bottom of the bottle 2 or to any desired distance from the top thereof.

In closed position of the stopper 22 shown in Figures 1 and 3-5, the opening 14 is entirely closed by the stopper 22, to prevent accidental leakage of soap water from the bottle. The top of the stopper 22 is connected to a plat form in the form of a at annular web or base 28 having a conical seat 23 engageable with acomplementary seat of the sleeve 4 at the upper or outer end of the opening 14 to afford a positive seal against leakage of soap water when the stopper 22 is in closed position.

In open position of the stopper 22, shown in Figure 2, the stem-16 exposes a plurality of openings or holes 24 therethrough covered by a thin lm of soap water, whichr forms bubbles: when the user blows through the holes 24.

It may be noted that the stern 16 `as best seen in Figure 4 is thinner than the stopper 22 and is formed at opposite edges with guide portionsAor ribs 26 of approximately thesame thicknesses that ofthe stopper zzfand` formed as continuations sthereof.

Thus when the stopper 22 is urged to open position exposing the holes 24, thel guidegribs 26 and their engagement wit-h guide slots A20maintain--theV stern 16 inlspaced relationship to the plug 5, to prevent the latter fromwiping the soap water from-the openings -24 as the stem 16 is pulled to open position.

.Asfheretofore noted, thelstopperfseat -23 is formed on an annular web or platform 28 upon ywhich a convenient, actuator 30. may be attached or integrally formed, for pushing the stern 161intothesoap vwater and for pulling the stem therefrom so that the user may blow soap bubbles from the holes 24. `In. the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the actuator 30 is in the form of a figurine which not only affords -a convenient handle for operating the stem 16 but also is ornamentalgand attractivevto children.

The platform 28 may also, if desired, afford a4 convenient seat for a ange 32 of a locking collar 34 which may be threaded at 36 on the sleeve web 8 tolock they stopper 22 in closed*` position with its seatr 23 tightly eu` gaged .-against Vthe complementary seat of the sleeve 4 at the top of its opening, 14. The collar 34 is shown in phantom lines in Figure 3 and is primarily intended for use when the bottlev 2 and stopper assembly 18 are shipped;v however, if desired, the collar may be retained by. l.the .user to lock the stopper inclosed positionwhen the device is not in use. n

Thus it= will be'understood that the invention compreherids La novell bubbleblower wherein a perforated stem is guideably mounted for reciprocal movement within a container for soap water or other, suitableliquid for blowing bubbles. vA primary featureof the invention Cil 4 resides in the manner in which thev stem is guided, and another featurevis Vthe manner in which the stern seals the open end of the container .when the stem is in closed position. The invention also comprehends a novel sleeve for the open end of the container comprising guide means for the stem.

While the present invention has been explained and described with reference fto specific embodiments of structure, it will be understood, nevertheless, that numerous modiicationsfand"variationsy are susceptible of being incorporated without. departurefrom theessential spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended for an understanding ofthislinvention-to be limited by theforet going description nor by the illustrations in the annexed drawings, except as indicated in the hereinafter appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. 'A device Vforiblowingfsoap ybubbles comprising a container fory liquidisoap;aiclosurei for -said container,'a slotvthroughfsaid.closure;lsaid slot forming mutually facing-guide means forlan-associated stem, a flat' elongated stern extending-throughv said slot having its opposite edges in snug but slideable engagement withl said guide means to permit theifmovement'of said stem to-any desired-stationary. position linto-andwoutlofsaid-container, said stem having a-'pluralityof'openings-between its opposite edges andmeanston thee-upperend fof. said' stern for actuation thereof.

12. A. devicexin/accordance with claim l wherein said stem isl provided awith guideribs onits opposite edges, saidl ribs v'beingthickerthan' said stern.

1 Referencestfite'd intheviile of this patent UNITED' "STATESA PATENTS 2,631,404 p .C1ausen.- -a. -..g.... Mar. 17, l1953 weer

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