Method and apparatus for generating bubbles

A method of generating and emitting a first of a continuous stream of bubbles formed from a supply of bubble liquid, comprising the steps of:

• directing a first airstream into a supply of the bubble liquid to create a froth of bubble liquid in a chamber;
• directing a second airstream against the froth in the chamber to drive the froth from the chamber through an exit outlet in a first direction so that a film of the driven bubble liquid froth becomes attached to the exit outlet and the second airstream directed against the attached film creates from the attached film and inflates a bubble attached to the exit outlet;
• and
• directing a third airstream in the first direction and peripherally about the exit outlet to facilitate detachment from the exit chimney of the created and inflated bubble attached to the exit outlet and displacement of the detached bubble in the first direction away from the exit outlet.

Apparatus for generating and emitting a continuous stream of bubbles formed from a supply of bubble liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a reservoir in said housing for receiving a supply of bubble liquid;
• a froth chamber defined in said housing in fluid communication with said reservoir;
• a distribution chamber defined in said housing for receiving a primary airstream and for defining from the primary airstream a first air substream, a second air substream and a third air substream;
• a bubbler passage defined in said housing in fluid communication with said distribution chamber for receiving the first air substream from the distribution chamber and configured for directing the first air substream into the bubble liquid in the reservoir to create a froth of bubble liquid in said froth chamber;
• an exit outlet defined in said housing in fluid communication with said froth chamber, said exit outlet having an outer periphery;
• an updraft passage defined in said housing in fluid communication with said distribution chamber for receiving the second air substream from the distribution chamber and configured for directing the second air substream against the froth in said froth chamber so as to drive the froth into the exit outlet such that a film of the second air substream driven bubble liquid froth becomes attached to the exit outlet and the second air substream directed against the attached film creates from the attached film and inflates a bubble attached to the exit outlet;
• and
• a lift passageway defined in the housing proximate the exit outlet for directing the third air substream outwardly from the housing about the exit outlet periphery to facilitate detachment from the exit outlet of the created and inflated bubble attached to the exit outlet and displacement of the detached bubble away from the exit outlet and housing.

Apparatus for generating and emitting a continuous stream of bubbles formed from a supply of bubble liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a froth chamber defined in said housing;
• a reservoir in said froth chamber for receiving a supply of bubble liquid;
• an airstream generator in said housing operable for generating a primary airstream;
• a distribution chamber defined in said housing for receiving the primary airstream from said airstream generator and for redistributing the primary airstream as a first air substream, a second air substream and a third air substream;
• a bubbler conduit defined in said housing in fluid communication with said distribution chamber for receiving the first air substream from the distribution chamber and configured for directing the first air substream into the bubble liquid in the reservoir so that the first air substream bubbles through the bubble liquid in the reservoir to create a froth of bubble liquid in said froth chamber;
• an exit conduit defined in said housing in fluid communication with said froth chamber, said exit conduit having an outer periphery;
• an updraft chimney in said froth chamber in fluid communication with said distribution chamber for receiving the second air substream from the distribution chamber and configured for directing the second air substream against the froth in said froth chamber so as to drive the froth into the exit conduit such that a film of the second air substream driven bubble liquid froth becomes attached to the exit conduit and the second air substream directed against the attached film creates from the attached film and inflates a bubble attached to the exit conduit;
• and
• a lift conduit concentrically spaced about the exit conduit for directing the third air substream outwardly from the housing about the exit conduit periphery to facilitate detachment from the exit conduit of the created and inflated bubble attached to the exit conduit and displacement of the detached bubble away from the exit conduit and housing.