Bubble Blowing Toy Liquid Return System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bubble blowing machines face issues such as excessive waste of bubble solution, user fatigue due to manual operation, lack of mobility, and inefficiency in producing a continuous stream of bubbles, leading to user exhaustion and messiness during use and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered bubble blowing apparatus with a motor, fan, pump mechanism, and a bubble wand that cycles between closed and open positions to form and blow bubbles continuously, featuring a liquid supply and return system to conserve solution and a handle for easy operation, along with decorative elements to enhance user engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple wands are used for bubble blowing, then the device is simple and inexpensive, but bubble solution is wasted when excess solution drips off the wand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a liquid return system that collects excess bubble solution from the bubble wand and returns it to the solution reservoir. This recovery mechanism prevents waste by reusing solution that would otherwise be discarded, directly addressing the contradiction between simple device design and solution conservation.
2Ease of operation
If stand-alone bubble blowing units are used, then activation is simple (just fill and turn on), but children become unengaged once activated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static stand-alone bubble blower into a dynamic, interactive device by adding a movable handle that children can push and pull. This mechanical interaction requires active participation, maintaining engagement while preserving the simple activation process of merely adding solution and turning on the motor.
3Productivity
If push/pull-type bubble blowers are used, then they can create bubbles with physical force, but they require continuous substantial effort to maintain steady output
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical push/pull system with a hybrid system that uses an electric motor to power the bubble generation mechanism. The handle remains mechanically operated for engagement, but the motor provides the sustained power needed for continuous bubble production, reducing the substantial physical effort previously required while maintaining steady output.
4Ease of operation
If mechanically activated blowers are used, then they can produce bubbles through user action, but they are not mobile or as mobile as other types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the bubble blower as a handheld device with a compact structure segmented into functional components (reservoir, motor, wand, handle). This segmentation enables portability and mobility while maintaining the interactive mechanical handle operation, allowing the device to be easily moved and carried unlike larger stationary models.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus efficiently conserves bubble solution, reduces user fatigue, and provides a continuous stream of bubbles, enhancing user experience and engagement while being more mobile and less messy compared to traditional machines.
Implementation Method 1
a bubble wand, a trigger located on the handle that is operable to activate the motor... the bubble wand may comprise two bubble blade members... configured to repetitively cycle between (1) a closed starting position in which the bubble wand amasses bubble solution, and (2) an open position in which the amassed bubble solution contacts the outwardly blown stream of air and forms a bubble
Implementation Method 2
the fan can be positioned to blow a stream of air outward from a front portion of the main body housing... the amassed bubble solution contacts the outwardly blown stream of air and forms a bubble
Implementation Method 3
a pump mechanism, a bubble wand, a trigger located on the handle that is operable to activate the motor... a liquid supply tube that supplies a liquid from the bubble solution container to the bubble wand
Implementation Method 4
a liquid return tube that returns excess unused liquid from the bubble wand back into the bubble solution container... a liquid catch basin may additionally be provided underneath the bubble wand in order to aide in the capture and return of excess and/or unused bubble solution to the bubble solution container
Data Source
AI summary
A bubble blowing apparatus comprising a main body housing, a handle integral to a lower portion of the main body housing, a motor, a fan operably coupled to the motor, the fan being positioned to blow a stream of air outward from a front portion of the main body housing, a pump mechanism operably coupled to the motor, a bubble wand operably coupled to the motor, a trigger that is operable to activate the motor, a bubble solution container, a liquid supply tube operably coupled to the pump mechanism and configured to supply liquid from the bubble solution container to the bubble wand, and a liquid return tube configured to return excess liquid from the bubble wand to the bubble solution container. The bubble wand may further comprise a pair of independent arcuate bubble blade members.