Apparatus for generating bubbles

Abstract

A bubble generating device and a method for producing bubbles. The bubble generating apparatus may include a housing, a motor, an air flow generator operably coupled to the motor, a trough containing a bubble solution, a cam, and a follower member having a bubble generating device. The follower member may be in operable cooperation with the cam, and the motor may be operably coupled to the follower member to drive the follower member along the cam. The follower member may be altered between a lowered position whereby the bubble generating device becomes loaded with bubble solution and a raised position wherein the bubble generating devices becomes aligned with an air stream generated by the air flow generator. The follower member may be altered from the raised position to the lowered position solely by gravity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for generating bubbles, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   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 operably coupled to the motor to rotate the bubble generating assembly about a first axis, the bubble generating assembly comprising:
 a body; 
 a plurality of follower members extending from the body, each of the follower members comprising:
 an arm extending from a first end to a second end along a linear arm axis, the first end pivotably coupled to the body so as to be pivotable about a second axis; and 
 a bubble generating device coupled to the second end of the arm and being intersected by the linear arm axis; 
 
   a basin member comprising:
 a trough for containing bubble solution, the trough comprising a floor that is inclined downwardly with distance from the first axis; 
 a spout protruding from the housing and configured such that bubble solution fed into the spout flows into the trough; and 
 a cam wall; 
   wherein upon the bubble generating assembly being rotated about the first rotational axis by the motor, each of the follower members rides along the cam wall and repetitively transitions between: (1) a lowered position in which the bubble generating device is positioned within the trough with the linear arm axis parallel to the floor of the trough to load the bubble generating device with bubble solution; and (2) a raised position in which the bubble generating device is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device; and   wherein each of the follower members transitions from the raised position to the lowered position by rotating about the second axis and falling downwardly due solely to gravity.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the basin member further comprises a connection section to which the bubble generating assembly is rotatably coupled. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the connection section comprises a platform and at least one annular upstanding wall that circumscribes the first axis; and wherein the annular upstanding wall facilitates coupling of the bubble generating assembly to the connection section of the basin member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the cam wall is concentric with the annular upstanding wall. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the basin member is an integrally formed single component. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spout protrudes radially from the housing 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an air outlet through which the upward air stream flows into an ambient environment, and wherein the trough and the air outlet are aligned along a reference ring, the air outlet occupying a greater percentage of a circumference of the reference ring than the trough. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the basin member further comprises an upstanding wall, and wherein a channel is defined between the cam wall and the upstanding wall, the channel being fluidly coupled to the trough. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the follower members extend over the channel during rotation of the bubble generating assembly about the first axis. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the follower members remain in an unbent state when transitioned between the lowered and raised positions. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein, for each of the follower members, the arm extends along the linear arm axis in both the lowered and raised positions, wherein in the lowered position the linear arm axis is parallel to the floor of the trough and in the raised position the linear arm axis is oblique relative to the floor of the trough. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for generating bubbles, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   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 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, each of the follower members extending from a first end to a second end along a linear axis;   a trough for containing bubble solution, the trough comprising a floor having a first portion that is inclined downwardly with distance from the first axis and a second portion that is inclined upwardly with distance from the first axis, the first portion being located closer to the first axis than the second portion;   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 is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device; and   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.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each of the follower members transition from the raised position to the lowered position by rotating about the second axis and falling downwardly due solely to gravity. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each of the follower members remain in an unbent state when transitioned between the lowered and raised positions. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein each of the follower members extends along the linear axis in both the lowered and raised positions, wherein in the lowered position the linear axis is parallel to the first portion of the floor of the trough and in the raised position the linear axis is oriented at an acute angle relative to the first portion of the floor of the trough. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cam structure comprises a first upstanding wall and a second upstanding wall that are spaced apart from one another so that an annular channel is formed between the first and second upstanding walls, the annular channel being fluidly coupled to the trough, and wherein the follower members extend over the annular channel during rotation of the bubble generating assembly about the first axis. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the cam structure comprises a raised portion that forms an annular structure concentric about the first axis and having a gap formed by a recess; and wherein, for each of the follower members, the follower member is in the lowered position when radially aligned with the recess and is in the raised position when radially aligned with the raised portion. 
     
     
         18 . 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 structure;   wherein upon the bubble generating assembly being rotated about the first rotational axis by the motor, the follower member moves along the cam structure and repetitively transitions between: (1) a lowered position in which the bubble generating device becomes loaded with the bubble solution in the trough; and (2) a raised position in which the bubble generating device is aligned with the air stream generated by the fan device, the follower member being retained in contact with the cam structure by gravity when in the raised position; 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.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the follow member extends from a first end to a second end along a linear axis, and wherein the trough comprises a floor that is inclined downwardly with distance from the first axis, the linear axis being parallel to the floor when the follower member is in the lowered position. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising a spout protruding from the housing and configured such that bubble solution fed into the spout flows into the trough.