BUBBLE TOY WITH A SPINNER

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of provisional application no. 63/721,671 filed on November 18, 2024 (which is pending). All publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to an interactive bubble toy. More specifically, a bubble wand that includes a spinning portion with illuminating objects tethered thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bubble toys, such as bubble wands exist. Furthermore, toys that include spinning elements also exist. However, these toys are typically not combined as the spinning portion interferes with the bubble solution channels required for bubble production. The bubble solution channel and recirculation channel must extend from a bubble solution container through the length of the toy and through a nozzle located on the opposite end of the toy. When a spinning portion of the toy is included, the solution channels become tangled and nonfunctional. What is needed is a bubble toy that includes a spinning portion that does not interfere or interact with the bubble solution channels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An interactive bubble wand with a spinner, which includes a topper with a first and second unit that secure together to form a hollow interior. The first unit comprises a first extending segment with a first spring-loaded pin secured in a wall thereof and the second unit comprises a second extending segment with a second spring-loaded pin secured in a wall thereof. The first and second extending segments form a tube when secured together with the first and second spring-loaded pins positioned facing outward. The interior of the topper contains a motor driven gear transmission and a bubble engine comprising a nozzle that is secured in an outer surface of the first and second unit when secured together. Further secured within the outer surface of the first and second unit is a transmitter and a receiver for remote activation of the toy and the spinner. A handle secures around the tube on a first end and a bubble solution container is affixable to the second end of the handle. The spinner secures around the tube between the topper and the handle and includes a gear forming part of a top surface of the spinner which interlocks with gears of the motor driven gear transmission. A molded case secures around the hollow tube within the spinner and contains a first and second copper ring secured adjacent to the respective first and second spring-loaded pins. A plate secures around the molded case within the spinner and contains four tethers secured thereto on a first end. The second end of the four tethers extends outside of the spinner and each tether contains an object containing an LED. A bubble solution channel is submerged within the solution container and the second end connects to the nozzle. By passing through the tube, the channel avoids tangling from the spinning components of the toy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of a bubble toy with a spinner.

FIG. 2 shows a back perspective view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a back view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a left side view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a right side view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 shows a front cross-section view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 shows a right side cross-section view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 shows a front, cross-section view of the spinner of the toy shown in FIG. 1 with a motor-driven internal gear transmission for driving the spinner.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the bubble toy with spinner shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-12 show several views of a first embodiment of a bubble toy 13 with a spinner 40 that is affixed between a topper 14 and a handle 60. The toy is, for example, a bubble wand, which produces bubbles through a nozzle 35 that is secured within an upper surface of the topper when a first unit 16 and second unit 18 of the topper are secured together. The bubbles are produced via a bubble solution channel 72, which as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is fully submerged within a solution container 76 that is securable to a lower surface of the handle. In this embodiment, the topper is shaped like a stop light and includes four signal heads 20a-d, each of which includes an LED 22a-d, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12. As shown in FIGS. 1-10 and 12, four tethers 48a-d are secured to a plate 44 that is secured within the spinner. Each tether includes an object 46a-d affixable thereto on an opposite end. The objects are easily removeable and can be replaced with a variety of different objects. The end of each tether includes a twistable head with a light emitting diode (“LED”) around which the objects are secured. In this embodiment, the objects are cars, which match the theme of the stop light topper. The shape of the topper and spinning objects, number and length of tethers should not be construed as limiting as it is customizable depending on user specification.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, 9-10 and 12, when the first 16 and second unit 18 of the topper 14 are secured together, for instance via screws, it forms an interior cavity into which various components are secured. Further, it wedges a nozzle 35, a receiver 28, a transmitter 30 and a nozzle LED 29 within an upper surface of the topper. Advantageously, these protrude from the topper and are easily detectable from a long distance to send and receive signals. Further, the nozzle LED illuminates the bubbles that are emitted from the nozzle in a unique way, so they are visible even in the dark. The transmitter and receiver are, for example, infrared (“IR”), which should not be construed as limiting, as other types of wireless and remote communication are utilizable. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the receiver, transmitter and nozzle light emitting diode are all electrically connected to a main printed circuit board assembly 24 (“PCBA”), which is secured within the topper. The main PCBA is programmable to control and activate various features of the toy 13 via manual or remote activation. The transmitter utilizes IR to send signals from the toy to other nearby toys and/or fixtures to activate bubbles, lights and sounds from those devices. Similarly, the receiver utilizes IR to receive signals from nearby toys and/or fixtures, which activate various features of the toy, such as lights, sounds, bubbles, and/or the spinner simultaneously or independently. The LEDs 22a-d that are secured within each signal head 20a-d are also electrically connected to the PCBA via the tethers and are activated when the toy is manually or wirelessly turned on and/or when a signal is received.

As shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 12 further secured within the topper 14 is a bubble engine 34, which includes a pump 21, such as a peristaltic pump with, various gears, a fan 17 and a motor 15, which drives these components. The bubble engine components are secured together in an outer enclosure 23, which keeps the components safely in one compact space within the topper. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a solution channel 72 passes through the peristaltic pump within the engine and attaches to a side of the nozzle. When the toy is activated, the peristaltic pump begins pumping solution from the solution reservoir 76 and through the solution channel at a precise rate to produce the ideal number of bubbles from the nozzle. When the solution is pumped into the nozzle, it is met with a wiper 33, that is continuously rotating 360 degrees via a drive shaft 31 that is activated by the motor. When the wiper rotates around the bubble solution, it forms a film over the circumference of the nozzle, which film is blown into bubbles via air blowing upwards from the fan.

As shown in FIGS. 9-12, forming a lower part of the first 16 and second unit 18 of the topper 14 includes a front 32 and back 45 extending segment which secure through an internal circumference of the spinner 40 and into the handle 60. When the topper and correlating extending segments are secured together, they form a hollow tube which passes through an internal circumference of the spinner and connects to an interior surface of the handle. More specifically, the spinner is made of a bottom shell 42 and a top shell 43, which secure together via screws 51, as shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, secured between the top and bottom shell and around the hollow tube is a molded case 50 around which a spinning plate 44 is secured. The spinning plate includes four connection points to which the tethers 48a-d are secured. As shown in FIGS. 9-12, most particularly FIG. 11, a motor-driven gear transmission is secured within a lower portion of the topper, preferably to the back unit 18. This transmission includes a motor 36, which drives a worm gear 37 attached to a lower surface thereof. This worm gear interlocks with a first gear 38 that is centrally located within the topper. This first gear interlocks with a second gear 39, via a drive shaft 47 that is secured within the hollow tube and interlocks with a spinner gear 41, that surrounds the entire internal circumference of the top shell of the spinner. When the spinner motor is activated, it turns the worm gear and the interlocked first gear, second gear and spinner gear to rotate the spinner via the motor. As the spinner gear surrounds the entire circumference of an upper surface of the spinner, the spinner begins rotating. The gears that form the motor-driven gear transmission, specifically the second gear, are specifically secured within a a back surface of the second unit of the topper, so the gears do not interfere with the hollow tube. Advantageously, the solution channel 72 and recirculation channel 74 that pass through the hollow tube remain undisturbed by the spinning components of the toy 13 and avoid becoming tangled and therefore inoperable. The molded case, and plate secured therearound rotate via the rotation of the spinner gear, so the tethered cars spin in a circular position at a raised height. Advantageously, when spinning, the car LEDs form a unique light show pattern due to the speed of rotation and/or changing colors of the LEDs giving the cars a disc-like or saucer like appearance.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11-12, the molded case 50 is designed to include a first 53 and second notch 55 in a surface thereof into which a first 52 and second spring-loaded pin 54 are secured, see FIG. 12. These springs face outwards from the hollow tube and are responsible for the conductivity necessary to supply power from the main PCBA 24 to the LEDs that are secured within the four tethered cars 46a-d. The conductivity is achieved via a first 56 and second copper ring 58, which are secured within the molded case and which are in contact with the respective first and second spring-loaded pins. The loaded pins are secured to an outside surface of the hollow tube and face outwards towards the copper rings. These two rings are secured within the molded case at differing heights to align with the respective spring-loaded pins, which are also at differing heights. When the spinner rotates, the positive and negative spring-loaded pins contact the two spinning copper rings to provide constant power to the LEDs within the tethered cars so they are continuously illuminated even when the spinner is rotating. The car LEDs are supplied with power due to the contact of these pins and copper rings when the spinner is and is not spinning. In use, when the spinner is rotating, the components secured within the spinner other than the hollow tube and pins formed by the extending segments of the topper are also rotating. The spinner rotates at a specific velocity to ensure that the cars are spinning at an optimal height so that the spinning cars do not interact with the user’s hand when holding the handle of the toy and create a unique light effect. This allows the bubble solution channel 72 and the recirculation channel 74 to pass through the spinner and topper without being affected by the spinner. The recirculation channel connects to the nozzle and travels through the hollow tube back through the handle and deposits excess bubble solution into the container 76. This solves issues with prior bubble toys with spinners as the bubble solution channels would get tangled thereby rendering them nonfunctional.

As shown in FIGS. 9-10 and 12, secured within the handle is a battery 62, which is easily accessible for replacement via a battery compartment door 63. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the battery is electrically connected to a slide switch 68 and a push button lever 64, which are programmed to activate various features of the toy. The slide switch is secured to and electrically connected to a slide switch PCBA 70 and the push button lever is secured to and electrically connected to a slide switch PCBA 66. In use, when the slide switch is up, the bubble engine motor 15 is automatically activated and the pump 21 begins pumping solution through the solution channel 72 from the solution reservoir 76. Simultaneously, the fan 17 is activated and begins blowing air through an air duct that is adjacent to the fan and formed by the enclosure 23 and merges into the nozzle 35. Simultaneously, the bubble engine activates the wiper 33 to begin rotating 360 degrees around the nozzle to produce bubbles from the nozzle. Further, when the slide switch is pushed up, the traffic light LEDs 22a-d are activated and illuminated in a preprogrammed sequence. Furthermore, the LEDs secured within each of the cars 46a-d are illuminated continuously and/or fluctuate in a sequence. To activate the spinner, a user pulls the lever, which activates the motor 36 for the spinner and the rotation of the interlocking gears (37, 38, 39, 41). The spinner will rotate for as long as the user holds down the lever and the LEDs within the car remain illuminated when rotating. When the slide switch is in the middle position, the toy 13 is turned off. When the slide switch is in a down position, the toy enters an interactive mode and the receiver 28 and transmitter 30 are in standby mode. Moreover, in this mode, if a user pulls the lever, it activates the spinner but also sends an IR signal via the transmitter. When the toy receives an IR signal, any combination of effects is possible from the toy. The LEDs in the cars and the lights illuminate in a unique sequence and color. Further, the spinner begins rotating for a set period of time and/or bubbles are produced. Furthermore, sound is played through the speaker 26, which is secured within the topper. The features of the toy including, but not limited to sound, lights, bubbles and spinning are all activatable together simultaneously.

It is well recognized by persons skilled in the art that alternative embodiments to those disclosed herein, which are foreseeable alternatives, are also covered by this disclosure. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the embodiments or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements.