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US 2018/0001223 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for generating bubbles
AssigneeHonor Metro Limited
InventorAdam Hing Ping Chan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bubble generating device and a method for producing bubbles. In one aspect, the invention can be an apparatus for generating bubbles comprising: a housing; a motor; an air flow generator operably coupled to the motor; a trough containing a bubble solution; a cam; a follower member comprising a bubble generating device, the follower member in operable cooperation with the cam surface, and the motor operably coupled to the follower member to drive the follower member along the cam.
Claims20
An apparatus for generating bubbles, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing extending from a bottom end to a top end;
- a motor positioned in the housing;
- a fan device positioned in the housing, the fan device operably coupled to the motor to generate an upward air stream;
- a bubble generating assembly positioned in the housing, the motor operably coupled to the bubble generating assembly to rotate the bubble generating assembly about a first axis, the bubble generating assembly comprising:
- a body comprising:
- a plurality of follower members extending from the body, each of the follower members comprising:
- an arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the body so as to be pivotable about a second axis;
- and
- a bubble generating device coupled to a second end of the arm;
- a basin member comprising:
- a trough for containing bubble solution, the trough positioned within the housing, the trough comprising a floor that is inclined downwardly with distance from the first axis;
- a feed reservoir protruding from the housing, the feed reservoir configured such that bubble solution fed into the feed reservoir flows into the trough;
- and
- a cam wall having a raised portion and a recess that forms a valley portion;
- and
- wherein upon the bubble generating assembly being rotated about the first rotational axis by the motor, each of the follower members ride along the cam wall and repetitively transition between:
- (1) a lowered position in which the follower member is located in the valley portion and the bubble generating device is positioned within the trough to become loaded with bubble solution in the trough;
- and (2) a raised position in which the follower member is located along the raised portion and the bubble generating device is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device;
- and
- wherein each of the follower members transition from the raised position and the lowered position by rotating, about the second axis and falling downwardly from the raised portion of the cam wall into the valley portion due solely to gravity.
17 more elements
An apparatus for generating bubbles, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing extending from a bottom end to a top end, the housing comprising an inner surface that defines an air flow passageway;
- a motor positioned in the housing;
- a fan device positioned in the air flow passageway, the fan device operably coupled to the motor to generate an upward air stream within the air flow passageway;
- a bubble generating assembly positioned in the housing above the fan device, the motor operably coupled to the bubble generating assembly to rotate the bubble generating assembly about a first axis, the bubble generating assembly comprising a plurality of follower members, each of the follower members comprising an arm and a bubble generating device;
- a trough for containing bubble solution;
- a cam structure configured to transition, during rotation of the bubble generating assembly, each of the follower members from:
- (1) a lowered position in which the bubble generating device is positioned within the trough;
- to (2) a raised position in which the bubble generating device of the follower member is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device;
- a plurality of air inlet openings extending though the housing, the air inlet openings arranged about a circumference of the housing in a spaced-apart manner and configured to permit air to flow into the air flow passageway;
- and
- the air flow passageway comprising, a narrowed section having a first transverse cross-sectional area and a widened section having a second transverse cross-sectional area that is greater than the first transverse cross-sectional area;
- and
- the fan device positioned within the widened section of the air flow passageway, the narrowed section of the air flow passageway located between the air inlet openings and the widened section of the air flow passageway.
10 more elements
An apparatus for generating bubbles comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor;
- a fan device operably coupled to the motor to generate an air stream;
- a bubble generating assembly comprising a body and a follower member having a bubble generating device, the motor operably coupled to the bubble generating assembly to rotate the bubble generating assembly about a first rotational axis, the follower member pivotably coupled to the body so as to be pivotable about a second rotational axis;
- a trough containing bubble solution;
- a cam comprising a raised portion and a recess;
- wherein upon the bubble generating assembly being rotated about the first rotational axis by the motor, the follower member repetitively transitions between:
- (1) a lowered position in which the follower member is located in the recess of the cam and the bubble generating device becomes loaded with the bubble solution in the trough;
- and (2) a raised position in which the follower member rides along the raised portion of the cam and the bubble generating device is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device, the follower member being retained in continuous surface contact with the cant surface when in the raised position by gravity;
- and
- wherein the follower member transitions from the raised position to the lowered position by falling downwardly, via gravity, during rotation of the bubble generating assembly about the first rotational axis.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.