US20080299866A1

US20080299866A1 - Bubble generating tool and bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool

Info

Publication number: US20080299866A1
Application number: US11/945,357
Authority: US
Inventors: Kyoko Obase; Michio Tanabe; Naotake Matsuda
Original assignee: K2N Inc
Current assignee: K2N Inc
Priority date: 2007-05-28
Filing date: 2007-11-27
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: JP2008289784A

Abstract

The invention provides a bubble generating tool to generate bubbles continuously and a bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool which generates bubbles continuously and can produce new entertaining effect. The bubble generating tool is comprised of a liquid container for filling a soap solution and a film forming part for forming a bubble film, wherein a pinhole which is small enough so that the soap solution does not flow out is formed on the wall part of the liquid container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a bubble generating tool to generate soap bubbles continuously by a centrifugal force and a bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool.
2. Description of Prior Art
The general ways of generating bubbles from a soap solution are to use a pipe such as a straw, where bubble films of soap solution which are formed on one end of the pipe are blown out by blowing the air from another end, and to use a ring-shaped frame, where bubbles are generated by blowing or moving the frame where the bubble films are formed.
In the way of generating bubbles by using a pipe such as a straw, there is a risk that children drink the soap solution by mistake. Consequently, various bubble toys that can generate bubbles without blowing the air with a mouth are offered. For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laying-open No. 6-36696 discloses a stick toy having a soap solution container which is provided on one end of a grip rod and a bubble generating body having holes which is attached to the soap solution container so that the soap solutions is enable to flow into, whereby bubbles are continuously generated when the stick is swung.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Children quickly lose interest in the above monotonous play which bubbles are blown out using the pipe such as a straw with the soap solution. In addition, children are easy to lose interest even in playing with the forementioned bubble generating toys which continuously generate bubbles after a while.
The objective of the present invention is to provide a bubble generating tool to generate bubbles continuously and to provide a bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool which can not only to generate bubbles but also to provide new entertaining effect.
The present invention relates to a bubble generating tool which is comprised of a liquid container for filling a soap solution and a film forming part for forming a bubble film, wherein a pinhole which is small enough so that the soap solution does not flow out is formed on the wall part of the liquid container.
It is preferable that the liquid container has an opening part for filling the soap solution and the film forming part is connected to the opening part. Moreover, it is preferable that the film forming part has an annular member with which grooves are formed.
The bubble generating tool further has a hollow connecting part which connects the liquid container and the film forming part, one end of the connecting part is connected detachably to the opening part of the liquid container and another end thereof is connected to the annular member of the film forming part. Furthermore, it is preferable that the annular member is integrally formed with the connecting part.
Moreover, the present invention relates to a bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.
In the invention, it is preferable that the toy main body is a rotary flying body.
Additionally, it is preferable that the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.
Furthermore, the bubble generating toy of the invention can have several bubble generating tools.
Since the bubble generating tool of the invention has the pinhole which is small enough so that the soap solution does not flow out on the wall part of the liquid container which the soap solution are filled, the soap solution flows to the film forming part by a centrifugal force and then the bubble film is formed in the film forming part when the bubble generating tool is rotated centering on the rear end side of the liquid container.
Accordingly, the bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool can generate bubbles continuously by rotating itself, therefore, bubble generating toys which are fun and eye-catching can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a bubble generating tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a bubble generating toy of the first embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bubble generating toy of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the second embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the third embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the fourth embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the fifth embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the sixth embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the seventh embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a bubble generating toy of the eighth embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A bubble generating tool of the invention includes a liquid container for filling a soap solution, a film forming part for forming a bubble film of soap solution and a connecting part which connects the liquid container and the film forming part, a pinhole which is small enough so that the soap solution does not flow out is formed on the wall part of the liquid container.
The liquid container has an opening part for filling the soap solution, one end of the connecting part is connected detachably to the opening part. Meanwhile, the film forming part has an annular member on which groves are formed and the annular member is connected to another end of the connecting part.
Additionally, a bubble generating toy of the invention is made up of the bubble generating tool and a toy main body, the liquid container of the bubble generating tool is fixed on the toy main body so that the annular member of the film forming part is protruded outward.
A preferred embodiment of the bubble generating tool and the bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of the invention shall be explained below with reference to the drawings. Note that it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a bubble generating tool of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a bubble generating toy of the first embodiment which has a bubble generating tool of the invention and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the bubble generating toy of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 to FIG. 10 are perspective views of a bubble generating toy of another embodiments which has a bubble generating tool of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, a bubble generating tool 1 of the invention includes a liquid container 2 for filling bubble solution, a film forming part 4 for forming a bubble film of soap solution and a connecting part 7 which connects the liquid container 2 and the film forming part 4.
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the liquid container 2 is made of a synthetic resin to have a thin wall, the wall part is formed with a bottom part 2 a and a side wall part 2 b which surrounds the bottom part 2 a so as to form a housing part 2 c, and the upper part of the liquid container 2 is opened. The opening part 8 is contracted compared with the diameter of the liquid container 2 and a male screw part 8 a is formed on the opening part 8. In addition, a pinhole 3 which is small enough so that a soap solution 9 which is filled in the housing part 2 c does not flow out is formed on the bottom part 2 a.
The film forming part 4 is comprised of an annular member 5 and a fixing member 6 which holds the annular member 5 and fits the film forming part 4 to a connecting part 7 which will be described later on. The annular member 5 is made of a synthetic resin and is formed in ring shape so as to have a generating hole 5 b. In addition, grooves 5 a are radially formed on the whole annular member 5. The grooves 5 a keep the soap solution 9 on themselves and supply the soap solution 9 to the generating hole 5 b sequentially to form bubble films.
The fixing member 6 is formed by forming a thin stick into a spiral shape, both ends of the thin stick are attached to the peripheral surface of the annular member 5 so as to hold the annular member 5 with each ends. The fixing member 6 is made from a synthetic resin thin stick or a long and thin metal stick which is covered with a synthetic resin. The fixing member 6 is a mounting member which is used for mounting the film forming part 4 to the connecting part 7, and the fixing member 6 adjusts flow rate of soap solution 9 which flows into the connecting part 7 and also adjusts the amount of soap solution 9 so as not to attach too much soap solution 9 to the annular member 5. The shape of the fixing member 6 is not limited to the spiral shape described above as long as the annular member 5 is stably connected to the connecting part 7, for example, bundled thin sticks can be used by holding the annular member 5.
The connecting part 7 is a hollow tubular member which both ends are opened and is made of a flexible material. Thermoplastic resins are preferably used as the flexible material, including a vinyl chloride resin, a polypropylene resin, a polyethylene resin, and an ABC (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin etc. In the invention, flexible vinyl chloride resin and flexible polypropylene resin are preferably used.
A female screw part 7 a which is screwed onto the male screw part 8 a of the liquid container 2 is formed on the inside of one end of the connecting part 7, the connecting part 7 is detachably fit to the liquid container 2 by screwing the female screw part 7 a onto the male screw part 8 a of the liquid container 2. The fixed member 6 of the film forming part 4 is inserted to the other end of the connecting part 7, whereby the annular member 5 of the film forming part 4 is fixed so as to protrude from the connecting part 7. In this way, the soap solution 9 within the liquid container 2 can flow to the annular member 5 of the film forming part 4 through the interior of connecting part 7.
Since the bubble generating tool 1 of the invention has the pinhole 3 which is small enough so that the soap solution 9 does not flow out on the bottom part 2 a of the liquid container 2 which the soap solution 9 is filled, the bubble generating tool 1 is rotated centering on the liquid container 2, the soap solution 9 flow little by little to the film forming part 4 by a centrifugal force and then the bubble film is formed in the generating hole 5 b of the film forming part 4.
In the invention, the film forming part 4 and the connecting part 7 can be integrally formed each other. In this instance, the film forming part 4 can be formed only with the annular member 5 and the annular member 5 is integrally formed at the distal end of the connecting part 7. By arranging the annular member 5 on the connecting part 7 so as to orthogonalize to the inner diameter of the connecting part 7, the soap solution 9 which flows through the connecting part 7 can be surly flown to the annular member 5 and the bubble film of the soap solution 9 can be formed in the generating hole 5 b. In this instance, by integrally forming the film forming part 4 and the connecting part 7 without the fixing member 6, the processes of manufacturing can be reduced and therefore the cost of manufacturing can be reduced.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the liquid container 2 of the bubble generating tool 1 is held with two plate materials 13 by fixing with bands 14, a rotating shaft part 11 is penetrated and fixed to these plate materials 13 at the rear side of the liquid container 2, the rotating shaft 11 can be extended in a desired length so that one side of the rotating shaft 11 can be held in one hand and have a flange-shaped stopper part 11 a on its end thereof, and the tubular shaft cover 12 covers the extended part of the rotating shaft 11 leaving a space. Therefore, the rotating shaft 11 can rotate inside of the tubular shaft cover 12.
When the bubble generating toy 10 of the first embodiment is rotated so as to draw a circle with holding the shaft cover 12, the rotating shaft part 11 rotates inside the shaft cover 12 and the bubble generating tool 1 which is held with plate materials 13 rotates centering on the rear end side. Then, the soap solution 9 within the liquid container 2 flows to the annular member 5 of the film forming part 4 through the connecting part 7 by a centrifugal force, and the bubble film is formed on the generating hole 5 b of the annular member 5. While keeping to rotate the bubble generating toy 10, bubbles continuously generate from the bubble film which is formed on the generating hole 5 b by the wind pressure occurred by rotations.
When the bubble generating toy 10 is rotated centering on the rear end side of the liquid container 2 as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the soap solution 9 within the housing part 2 c of the liquid container 2 is removed from the bottom part 2 a of the liquid container 2 so as to block the opening part 8. Although the soap solution 9 is prevented from easily flowing in the connecting part 7 according to the reduction of the air pressure of the liquid container 2, the air slightly flows in from the pinhole 3 since the pinhole 3 is formed on the bottom part 2 a of the liquid container 2, therefore, a proper amount of the soap solution 9 can be flown in the connecting part 7.
Furthermore, the bubble generating tool 1 can be used in various embodiments by fixing itself to the toy main body which is rotatable. For example, referring to the bubble generating toy 20 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bubble generating toy 20 can be constituted so as to generate bubbles B from the magic lamp by covering the bubble generating tool 1 with a lamp-shaped decorative body part 21.
As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid container 2 and the connecting part 7 of the bubble generating tool 1 are covered with the lamp-shaped decorative body part 21 and the rotating shaft part is fixed to the decorative body part 21. The annular member 5 is protruded from the spout of the lamp-shaped decorative body part 21, the rotating shaft part is mounted on the rear side of the liquid container 2. Furthermore, the shaft cover 22 which is made of same color and same material as the decorative body part 21 is rotatably covered upon the rotating shaft part. When the decorative body part 21 is rotated so as to draw a circle by holding the shaft cover 22 of the bubble generating toy 20, bubbles B are continuously generated from the annular member 5 which is protruded from the end of the spout.
The bubble generating toy 30 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is constituted to give appearance of a fairy which stands on the top of a stick makes bubbles generate with a magic. The bubble generating tool 1 is covered with the decorative body 31 comprised of circular plates which hold the upper and lower of the side wall part of the liquid container 2 of the bubble generating tool 1, a plant part, which is imaging a forest where fairies live, which covers the connecting part 7, and a fairy doll 33 which is mounted on the upper circular plate; and the annular member 5 is protruded from the plant part. A rotating shaft part is provided at the approximate center of the lower circular plate, where the rotating shaft part 35 is mounted on the rear side of the liquid container 2. The shaft cover 32 is rotatably covered upon the rotating shaft part 35. When the decorative body part 31 is rotated so as to draw a circle by holding the shaft cover 32, bubbles B are continuously generated from the annular member 5.
The bubble generating toy 40 of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is constituted so that four liquid containers 2 of bubble generating tool 1 are continuously vertically provided by holding with plate materials 43 so as to fix to one rotating shaft part 45. Then, each bubble generating tools 1 is fixed to the rotating shaft part 45 at the rear end side of the bottom part.
The shaft cover 42 is rotatably covered upon the rotating shaft 45. When the bubble generating tools 1 are rotated so as to draw a circle by holding the shaft cover 42, more bubbles can be generated.
As shown in FIG. 6, in case that several bubble generating tools 1 are provided, it is preferable that each bubble generating tools 1 are attached so that each annular members 5 are positioned in a prescribed angle range, thus the center of gravity is out of the rotating shaft part 45. The bubble generating toy that several bubble generating tools 1 are provided can be easily rotated by having its gravity center shifting to the rotating shaft.
The bubble generating toy 50 of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is constituted so that the bubble generating tool 1 is provided to a airplane-shaped decorative body part 51. The liquid container 2 of the bubble generating tool 1 is fixed to the decorative body part 51, the annular member 5 is protruded from lower part of the airframe. Furthermore, one end of the rotating shaft part 55 is fixed to the decorative body part 51, where is adjacent to the liquid container 2, in the fifth embodiment, the rotating shaft part 55 is formed in a string. When the decorative body part 51 is rotated so as to draw a circle by holding another end side of the string, the airplane can be pivoted in the air and bubbles B are continuously generated from the airframe.
Moreover, in the invention, the bubble generating tool 1 can be mounted on the rotary flying bodies such as a boomerang and flying disc.
The bubble generating toy 60 of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is constituted so that the bubble generating tool 1 is mounted on a disc-shaped decorative body part 61. The disc-shaped decorative body part 61 can rotate while flying throwing itself with rotation so as to generate lift force, the bubble generating tool 1 is fixed to the decorative body part 61 so that the rear end side of the liquid container 2 is positioned at the approximate center of the upper surface of the decorative body part 61 and the annular member 5 is protruded outward from the decorative body part 61. When the bubble generating toy 60 is thrown in the air while rotating, the decorative body part 61 flies while rotating and bubbles are continuously generated by the centrifugal force of the rotation.
The bubble generating toy 70 of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is constituted so that the bubble generating tool 1 is mounted on a L-shaped boomerang decorative body part 71. The boomerang has a characteristic of traveling in a curved path and returning to its point of origin after a certain distance of flight when it was thrown. A rotating shaft 75 is provided at the approximate center of the under surface of the decorative body part 71, wherein the bubble generating tool 1 is fixed to the rotating shaft 75 so as to place the rear end side of the liquid container 2 to the rotating shaft 75. When the bubble generating toy 70 is thrown in the air while rotating, the decorative body part 71 flies while rotating and bubbles are continuously generated by the centrifugal force of the rotation, and then the decorative body part 71 is returned to one's hand.
The bubble generating toy 80 of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 10 operates similarly to the seventh embodiment, it is constituted so that the bubble generating tool 1 is mounted on a cross-shaped boomerang decorative body part 81. A rotating shaft 85 is provided at the approximate center of the under surface of the decorative body part 81, wherein the bubble generating tool 1 is fixed to the rotating shaft 85 so as to place the rear end side of the liquid container 2 to the rotating shaft 85. Therefore, when the decorative body part 81 is thrown in the air while rotating, the decorative body part 81 flies while rotating and bubbles are continuously generated.
In the present invention, the faster the bubble generating toy rotates, the steps of flowing soap solution, forming bubble films in the generating hole and generating bubbles are done without interruption, therefore, the more number of bubbles can be generated from the bubble generating tool.
As described in above first embodiment to eighth embodiment, many bubbles can be generated continuously by rotating the decorative body part on which the bubble generating tool 1 of the invention is mounted, thus, the bubble generating toys which is fun and eye-catching can be provided. The invention is not limited to these embodiments, various patterns can be accepted.

Claims

1. A bubble generating tool comprising a liquid container for filling a soap solution and a film forming part for forming a bubble film, wherein a pinhole which is small enough so that the soap solution does not flow out is formed on the wall part of the liquid container.

2. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid container has an opening part for filling the soap solution and the film forming part is connected to the opening part.

3. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein the film forming part has an annular member with which grooves are formed.

4. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 2, wherein the film forming part has an annular member with which grooves are formed.

5. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein further comprising a hollow connecting part which connects the liquid container and the film forming part, one end of the connecting part is connected detachably to the opening part of the liquid container and another end thereof is connected to the annular member of the film forming part.

6. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 4, wherein further comprising a hollow connecting part which connects the liquid container and the film forming part, one end of the connecting part is connected detachably to the opening part of the liquid container and another end thereof is connected to the annular member of the film forming part.

7. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 5, wherein the annular member is integrally formed with the connecting part.

8. A bubble generating tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein the annular member is integrally formed with the connecting part.

9. A bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of claim 1, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.

10. A bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of claim 2, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.

11. A bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of claim 3, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.

12. A bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of claim 4, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.

13. A bubble generating toy having the bubble generating tool of claim 5, wherein the liquid container is fixed on the toy main body and the film forming part is protruded outward.

14. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 9, wherein the toy main body is a rotary flying body.

15. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 10, wherein the toy main body is a rotary flying body.

16. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 11, wherein the toy main body is a rotary flying body.

17. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 12, wherein the toy main body is a rotary flying body.

18. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 13, wherein the toy main body is a rotary flying body.

19. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 9, wherein the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.

20. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 10, wherein the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.

21. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 11, wherein the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.

22. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 12, wherein the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.

23. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 13, wherein the toy main body has a decorative body part and a rotating shaft part, the rotating shaft part is fixed to the rear end side of the liquid container of the bubble generating tool and the decorative body covers the liquid container.

24. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 9, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

25. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 10, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

26. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 11, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

27. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 14, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

28. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 15, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

29. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 16, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

30. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 19, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

31. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 20, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.

32. A bubble generating toy as set forth in claim 21, wherein several bubble generating tools are provided.