Article and packaging for generating bubbles

Abstract

An article for soap bubble generation is provided as a liquid-resistant wearable article. A web is provided integrally with the article having at least one hole adapted to form soap bubbles when the web is dipped in bubble solution and air is moved through the at least one hole. Preferably, the article has films of liquid-resistant material sealed at a common edge and a pocket therebetween. The pocket may be shaped to receive a body part such as a hand (e.g., the article is glove/mitten-shaped). The article substantially prevents a body part inside the pocket from touching the bubble solution when the web is dipped in the bubble solution while the article is being worn. Different sizes of holes may be provided in the web to generate different sizes of bubbles.

Claims

1. An article for soap bubble generation, comprising: an article having at least two flexible and planar films of liquid-resistant material sealed on at least one common edge and forming a liquid resistant pocket between said films; and a distal planar web provided integrally with said article and extending distally from said sealed common edge, said distal web having at least one hole adapted to form soap bubbles when said web is dipped in bubble solution and air is moved through said at least one hole, wherein respective distal ends of said at least two films are fused together as said distal planar web, and wherein substantially all of said distal web is more rigid than individual of said at least two films.

2. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein said article is a glove or mitten and said pocket is shaped to receive a hand.

3. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein said article is sock-like and said pocket is shaped to receive a foot.

4. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, a proximal end of said article further comprising a removable edge portion sealing said pocket closed and being manually removable.

5. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 4, said removable edge portion being attached to said article via a manually tearable region.

6. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 5, wherein said manually tearable region is scored or perforated.

7. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein said at least one hole in said distal web further comprises a plurality of holes.

8. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of holes in said distal web are formed in a plurality of different sizes.

9. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 4, further comprising a secondary article provided inside said pocket, wherein said article functions as packaging for said secondary article.

10. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 9, wherein said secondary article comprises at least one of a container of bubble solution or a packet of soap powder to be made into bubble solution.

11. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 9, wherein said secondary article comprises at least one of a toy or collectible.

12. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein said at least two films are comprised of plastic and are heat welded together at said at least one common edge.

13. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein each of said films comprises at least one layer of polyethylene terephthalate and at least one layer of copolymer polypropylene.

14. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 1, wherein each of said films comprises at least one layer of polyethylene.

15. An article for soap bubble generation, comprising: an article having at least one flexible and planar film of liquid-resistant material and a liquid resistant pocket formed in said film; and a distal planar web provided integrally with and extending distally from said article, said web having at least one hole adapted to form soap bubbles when said web is dipped in bubble solution and air is moved through said at least one hole, wherein at least two portions of said at least one film are fused together as said distal planar web, and wherein substantially all of said distal web is more rigid than individual of said at least two portions of at least one film.

16. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 15, wherein said article is substantially tubular and said pocket is shaped to be placeable on a limb.

17. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 15, wherein said at least one hole in said distal web further comprises a plurality of holes.

18. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of holes in said distal web are formed in a plurality of different sizes.

19. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 15, wherein said article comprises at least one layer of polyethylene terephthalate and at least one layer of copolymer polypropylene.

20. An article for soap bubble generation according to claim 15, wherein said article comprises at least one layer of polyethylene.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of an article for generating bubbles in accordance with the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the article for generating bubbles of FIG. 1 shown with a user's hand.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of an article for generating bubbles having a removable header card and tearoff strip in accordance with the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of an article for generating bubbles in accordance with the invention being displayed in a commercial setting.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of an article for generating bubbles of FIG. 4 in accordance with the invention removed from the commercial setting.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the embodiment of an article for generating bubbles of FIG. 4 in accordance with the invention with the proximal tearoff strip being removed.

(7) FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of an article for generating bubbles of FIG. 4 in accordance with the invention with the proximal tearoff strip removed and an item emerging therefrom.

(8) FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are schematic illustrations of the operation of an article for generating bubbles in accordance with the invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a series of schematic illustrations of other shapes of articles for generating bubbles in accordance with the invention.

(10) FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of a modification of the article for generating bubbles in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND DRAWINGS

(11) Description will now be given with reference to the attached FIGS. 1-10. It should be understood that these figures are exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow.

(12) An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-7 as bubble glove 8 in several versions 8, 108, 208. In each version, the bubble glove has a proximal glove portion 10 and a distal web portion 20. Glove portion 10 is formed from two films 11 and 13 of a material, typically a plastic, secured together substantially in the shape of a hand/glove. Films 11 and 13 are not secured all the way around so as to leave an opening 12 and form a pocket so that a user can insert his/her hand H (FIG. 2) inside. In one version, glove portion 10 has finger tubes 14 at its distal end to receive the individual fingers of hand H. In another version, glove portion 10 does not have individual finger tubes and is more mitten-like than glove-like.

(13) Formed secured to the distal end of glove portion 10 is web portion 20, which is the portion of the device that actually generates bubbles. Web portion 20 includes web 22 through which are formed a plurality of holes 24. In the embodiment shown, holes 24 come in three different sizes: large holes 24A, medium holes 24B, and small holes 24C. More or fewer holes and sizes of holes are also contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. Web 22 is preferably formed from the two films 11 and 13 being completely fused together so that web 22 is thicker and more rigid/stiff than either film 11 or 13 is separately.

(14) FIGS. 4-7 depict a slightly modified bubble glove 108, in which the glove portion includes a tearoff strip 112 that is removably attached to the proximal end of the glove via a scored or perforated (or the like) region 115. That is, glove 108 is made and purchased entirely sealed, and prior to use, the user rips off tearoff strip 112, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(15) In FIG. 7, item 130 is shown emerging from the interior of glove 108. Item 130 can be a packet of soapy material (e.g., either liquid, gel, powder, or the like) to be added to water to form the bubble solution required to make bubbles as described below. In addition or in the alternative, item 130 can be a bar of soap for a child (or adult) to use in the bath. The interior of glove 108 could also contain loose soapy material not in packet form. It is envisioned that loose soapy material would preferably be in powder form, since one of the advantages of the invention is not to get sticky soap on one's hands, and providing liquid or gel soapy material inside the glove one will be placing one's hand tends to defeat that advantage. Any other reasonably sized items can also be placed inside the glove, e.g., small toys, pens, assorted collectibles or tchotchkes, and the like.

(16) As shown in FIG. 4, a number of bubble gloves 108 are being displayed in a commercial setting, i.e., being hung on peg P of a pegboard (not shown). In this way, bubble glove 108 is not only the article being used to make bubbles, but it also serves as its own packaging, not requiring any additional outer wrapping or the like. As shown in FIG. 4, peg P is passed through one of the holes 24 of bubble glove 108.

(17) A slightly modified bubble glove 208 is shown in FIG. 3. Glove 208 is similar to glove 108 but also includes a distal header card 226 for hanging in a commercial setting.

(18) FIGS. 8A-C depict the use of the bubble glove. In operation, in FIG. 8A, the user first mixes the soap concentrate with water in step 1 to form a bubble solution known conventionally. Next, in step 2, the user puts the glove 8, 108, 208 on his/her hand and dips the distal web 22 into the solution, as shown in FIG. 8B. Finally, in step 3, the user waves his/her arm around to generate bubbles as shown in FIG. 8C. Alternatively, the user could blow on the distal web 22 in the manner of using a conventional bubble wand.

(19) The invention is not limited to the above description. For example, other shapes are contemplated. FIG. 10 depicts a modification to the bubble glovethe bubble sleeve or gauntlet 308. Here, the device is tubular/cylindrical and is secured to a person's arm via sleeve 310. Alternatively, it could be secured to a person's ankle or leg in the same manner. Instead of a distal web, sleeve 308 has a lateral web 320 with holes as above. It is used in the same manner as above.

(20) FIG. 9 depicts other wearable bubble generating items, such as a flippers, wings, or leggings.

(21) Preferably, the invention is made from one or more forms of plastic films. In one embodiment, each film is made from one layer of polyethylene terephthalate such as Mylar sold by DuPont, and another layer made from copolymer polypropylene. In one embodiment, the outer layer has artwork printed on its inner surface. The outer layer (e.g., a Mylar layer) is laminated to the inner layer via, for example, heat welding. The two films are then heat welded together in the glove or other desired shape. The welded together films are then die cut to form the hole pattern in the web. Preferred thicknesses of the films depend on the materials being used; in the Mylar/copolymer polypropylene embodiment, preferred thicknesses are approximately 0.003-0.010 inches thick. Other suitable films can be made from polyethylene, for example, among other plastic films capable of some rigidity to avoid bending too much when waved around.

(22) Having described certain embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above description or the attached exemplary drawings. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appearing hereinbelow and includes any equivalents thereof as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.