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US 5,664,947 AGranted
Method, apparatus, and kit for marking a surface with colored bubbles
AssigneeBinney & Smith Inc.
InventorsCharles W. Dietterich, Kalvin K. Klundt, Gordon R. Perry, Jude C. Tan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for marking a surface with colored bubbles is disclosed. According to the method, bubbles carrying one or more colorants are generated and are applied to a surface to create designs. The disclosed apparatus for marking a surface in this manner can be optionally equipped with a shield defining a volume to maintain the colorant carrying bubbles within a confined area. The apparatus can be further provided with a template having one or more apertures to provide access to predetermined areas of the surface to be marked such that the colored bubbles create predetermined shapes when they burst or are applied.
Claims63
An apparatus for creating a design on a surface comprising:
- a supply of bubble forming solution;
- a film supporting structure to support a film of the bubble forming solution from the supply of bubble forming solution;
- a housing coupled to the film supporting structure and including an air flow opening, the film supporting structure comprising a ring and at least one support arm positioned between the housing and the ring to separate the ring a distance from the housing;
- a blower positioned within the housing to blow air through the air flow opening to displace the film supported by the film supporting structure such that at least a portion of the film forms a bubble;
- and,
- at least one coloring material coupled to the film such that, when the at least one portion of the film forms a bubble and the bubble bursts, the bubble transfers the at least one coloring material to the surface.
3 more elements
An apparatus for marking a surface comprising, in combination:
- a bubble generating device for blowing a bubble;
- and,
- a shield defining a volume for confining the bubble generated by the bubble generating device, the shield including a first and a second opening, the first opening being dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the bubble generating device to permit introduction of the bubble into the volume, and the second opening being dimensioned to expose a surface to the bubble generated by the bubble generating device;
- wherein the bubble generating device comprises:
- a housing defining a third opening;
- a blower positioned within the housing for blowing a stream of air through the third opening;
- and,
- a solution support structure coupled to the housing and including a ring for supporting a solution of bubble forming material, the ring defining a fourth opening in substantial alignment with the third opening for positioning at least a portion of the solution of bubble forming material in the stream of air blowing out of the housing through the third opening to form the bubble.
5 more elements
An apparatus for marking a surface comprising:
- a central flow tube defining a central flow cavity and having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first port in communication with the central flow cavity for receiving bubble forming solution, the second end defining a bubble forming opening in communication with the central flow cavity, the central flow cavity including a second port;
- a housing defining first and second openings disposed in substantial alignment for slidably receiving the central flow tube such that the first end of the central flow tube extends beyond the first opening of the housing and the second end of the central flow tube extends beyond the second opening of the housing, the housing including a blower positioned for blowing a stream of air through the second port into the central flow cavity and through the bubble forming opening to form the bubble forming solution into a bubble;
- a colorant supplying structure coupled to the housing, the colorant supplying structure including a colorant storage cavity and further including at least one colorant port communicating with the colorant storage cavity for receiving and selectively applying a colorant to the bubble formed at the second end of the central flow tube to thereby form a colored bubble;
- and,
- a spring operatively engaging the central flow tube to bias the second end of the central flow tube against the colorant supplying structure to form a seal therebetween.
2 more elements
An apparatus for marking a surface comprising:
- a housing including a first opening and including an internal cavity in communication with the first opening;
- a blower positioned within the housing in communication with the internal cavity for blowing a stream of air through the internal cavity and the first opening;
- a solution support structure coupled to the housing and including a ring for supporting a solution of bubble forming material, the ring defining a second opening in substantial alignment with the first opening for positioning at least a portion of the solution of bubble forming material in the stream of air to form a bubble;
- and,
- an applicator to apply one or more colorants to the solution of bubble forming material to thereby form a colored bubble.
2 more elements
A method for creating a design on a surface comprising the steps of:
- mixing at least one coloring material with a bubble making solution to form a coloring fluid;
- applying the coloring fluid to a ring defining an opening such that the coloring fluid forms a coloring film substantially covering the opening;
- placing the ring in the proximity of a surface;
- forcing air through the opening to form at least a portion of the coloring film into at least one coloring bubble;
- and,
- applying the at least one coloring bubble to the surface to transfer the at least one coloring material thereto.
3 more elements
A method for creating a design on a surface comprising the steps of:
- applying a bubble making solution to a ring defining an opening such that the bubble making solution forms a film substantially covering the opening;
- placing the ring in the proximity of a surface;
- forcing air through the opening to form at least a portion of the film into at least one bubble;
- applying at least one colorant to one of the group consisting of:
- the ring, the film, and the bubble to form at least one colored bubble;
- and,
- bursting the at least one colored bubble in the proximity of the surface to be marked to transfer the at least one colorant to the surface to form a design.
4 more elements
A kit for marking a surface with colored bubbles comprising:
- bubble forming solution;
- a bubble generating device for forming the bubble forming solution into a bubble;
- a shield for positioning on the surface to be marked to confine the bubble generated by the bubble generating device to a predetermined volume, the shield having a first opening to receive at least a portion of the bubble generating device and a second opening to expose the volume to the surface to be marked;
- and,
- at least one colorant which can be transferred to a surface by the bubble formed by the bubble generating device.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.