Pour Bucket Play Figure

Abstract

A pour bucket play figure, including: a play figure having an ornamental design, which simulates appearance and characteristics of a living being having: a torso having a torso frontally mounted latch, a base integral with the torso, the base having upwardly directed nubs and an upwardly directed alignment pin, feet integral with the base, a head interchangeably, removably, and releasably fastened to the torso; a pour bucket removably and releasably mounted to the torso and the base, the pour bucket having: a wall having a wall upper lip, nub receiving receptacles adapted to matingly and removably receive the upwardly directed nubs therein, an alignment pin receiving receptacle adapted to matingly and removably receive the upwardly directed alignment pin therein; the frontally mounted latch adapted to matingly and removably receive the wall upper lip therein, and may have optional bubble blowing apparatus, fluid squirting apparatus, camera, microphone, and remote control device.

Claims

1. A pour bucket play figure, comprising: a caricature shaped pelican play figure having: a caricature shaped head and beak, a caricature shaped body having caricature shaped wings and feathers, caricature shaped legs and feet; a base integral with said caricature shaped body; a frontally disposed pour bucket removably attached to said caricature shaped body and said base; a handle fastened to said pour bucket play figure.

2. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 1, further comprising: a fluid discharge apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, a fluid discharge outlet, a fluid pump, which: withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and discharges said withdrawn portion of said fluid from said fluid discharge outlet.

3. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 1, further comprising: a bubble blower apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, an air blower, a bubble aperture, and a fluid pump, which withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and pumps said withdrawn portion of said fluid past said air blower, which entrains air with said withdrawn portion of said fluid to create bubbles and blow said bubbles from said bubble aperture.

4. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 3, further comprising: a controller, which controls said bubble blowing apparatus, and a remote control device, which remotely and wirelessly controls said controller.

5. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 1, wherein: said frontally disposed pour bucket has an internal heater, an external surface, and a thermometer, which displays temperature on said external surface.

6. A pour bucket play figure, comprising: a caricature shaped play figure of a being having: a caricature shaped head of said being, a caricature shaped body of said being, caricature shaped legs and feet of said being; a base integral with said caricature shaped body; a frontally disposed pour bucket removably attached to said caricature shaped body and said base; a handle fastened to said pour bucket play figure.

7. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 6, further comprising: a fluid discharge apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, a fluid discharge outlet, a fluid pump, which: withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and discharges said withdrawn portion of said fluid from said fluid discharge outlet.

8. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 6, further comprising: a bubble blower apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, an air blower, a bubble aperture, and a fluid pump, which withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and pumps said withdrawn portion of said fluid past said air blower, which entrains air with said withdrawn portion of said fluid to create bubbles and blow said bubbles from said bubble aperture.

9. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 8, further comprising: a controller, which controls said bubble blowing apparatus, and a remote control device, which remotely and wirelessly controls said controller.

10. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 6, wherein: said frontally disposed pour bucket has an internal heater, an external surface, and a thermometer, which displays temperature on said external surface.

11. A pour bucket play figure, comprising: a play figure having an ornamental design, which simulates appearance and characteristics of a being, having: a simulated shaped head of said being, a simulated body of said being, simulated legs and feet of said being; a base integral with said simulated body; a frontally disposed pour bucket removably attached to said simulated body and said base; a handle fastened to said pour bucket play figure.

12. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 11, further comprising: a fluid discharge apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, a fluid discharge outlet, a fluid pump, which: withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and discharges said withdrawn portion of said fluid from said fluid discharge outlet.

13. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 11, further comprising: a bubble blower apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, an air blower, a bubble aperture, and a fluid pump, which withdraws a portion of fluid in said fluid reservoir and pumps said withdrawn portion of said fluid past said air blower, which entrains air with said withdrawn portion of said fluid to create bubbles and blow said bubbles from said bubble aperture.

14. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 13, further comprising: a controller, which controls said bubble blowing apparatus, and a remote control device, which remotely and wirelessly controls said controller.

15. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 11, wherein: said frontally disposed pour bucket has an internal heater, an external surface, and a thermometer, which displays temperature on said external surface.

16. A pour bucket play figure, comprising: a play figure having: a torso having a torso frontally mounted latch, a base integral with said torso, said base having upwardly directed nubs and an upwardly directed alignment pin, feet integral with said base, a head removably and releasably fastened to said torso; a pour bucket removably and releasably mounted to said torso and said base, said pour bucket having: a wall having a wall upper lip, nub receiving receptacles matingly and removably receiving said upwardly directed nubs therein, an alignment pin receiving receptacle matingly and removably receiving said upwardly directed alignment pin therein; said frontally mounted latch matingly and removably receiving said wall upper lip therein.

17. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 16, further comprising: a fluid discharge apparatus having: a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump, a fluid discharge outlet, said fluid reservoir having fluid therein, said fluid pump withdrawing a portion of said fluid from said fluid reservoir and discharging said withdrawn portion of said fluid from said fluid discharge outlet.

18. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 16, further comprising: a bubble blowing apparatus having: a soapy water reservoir, at least one bubble blower aperture, a soapy water pump, an air blower, said soapy water reservoir having soapy water therein, a bubble discharge outlet adjacent said at least one bubble blower aperture and an air inlet adjacent said air blower, said soapy water pump withdrawing a portion of said soapy water from said soapy water reservoir and discharging said withdrawn portion of said soapy water above said at least one bubble blower aperture, which allows said withdrawn portion of said discharged soapy water to drip through and entrain said withdrawn portion of said soapy water in said bubble aperture, said air blower drawing air from said air inlet and blowing said drawn air and said entrained soapy water through said bubble aperture and out of said bubble discharge outlet as bubbles.

19. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 18, further comprising: a controller, which controls said bubble blowing apparatus, and a remote control device, which remotely and wirelessly controls said controller.

20. The pour bucket play figure according to claim 16, wherein: said pour bucket has an internal heater, an external surface, and a thermometer, which displays temperature on said external surface.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0056] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0057] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pour bucket play figure, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pour bucket play figure of FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a side view of the pour bucket play figure of FIG. 1, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0060] FIG. 4 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0061] FIG. 5 is a side view of another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0062] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure;

[0063] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure;

[0064] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure;

[0065] FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0066] FIG. 10 is a side view of another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0067] FIG. 11 is a side view of another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0068] FIG. 12 is a side view of yet another alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure, showing internal components of the pour bucket play figure;

[0069] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of a pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus of the pour bucket play figure of FIG. 9; and

[0070] FIG. 14 is an alternate schematic representation of a pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus of an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure.

DESCRIPTION

[0071] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1-14 of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numbers.

[0072] FIGS. 1-3 show a pour bucket play FIG. 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention, having a play FIG. 12, comprising an ornamental design, caricature shape, or simulated shape of a being or creature, in this case a pelican, and a pour bucket 14 removably mounted to the play FIG. 12.

[0073] The play FIG. 12 has a body or torso 16, a base 18 or platform integral with the body 16, and legs and feet 20 integral with the base 18, and an interchangeable head 22 removably fastened to the body 16. The body 16 also has arms or wings or feathers 24, in this case, integral with the body 16. The pour bucket play FIG. 10 has a handle 26 fastened to the interchangeable head 22 to facilitate carrying the pour bucket play FIG. 10, maneuvering, or tipping the pour bucket play FIG. 10 in a desired direction and discharging contents of the pour bucket 14 therefrom. The handle 26 may alternatively be fastened to the body 16. The interchangeable head 22 is removably fastened to the body 16. The interchangeable head 22 has a head threaded fastener 28, and the body 16 has a body threaded fastener 30, the head threaded fastener 28 and the body threaded fastener 30 matingly and removably fastened one to the other, each of which may be a mating half turn threaded fastener.

[0074] The pour bucket play FIG. 10 of FIGS. 1-3, then, shows a caricature shaped pelican play FIG. 10 having: a caricature shaped head 22 and beak, a caricature shaped body 16 having caricature shaped wings 24 and feathers, caricature shaped legs and feet 20, a frontally disposed pour bucket 14 removably attached to the caricature shaped body 16, and a handle 26 fastened to the pour bucket play FIG. 10.

[0075] The base 18 has a base mount 32 or platform mount, for removably mounting the pour bucket 14 thereto, having upwardly directed lugs or nubs 34 extending upward from the base mount 32, and centrally disposed upwardly directed guide tube 35 and rim 36 for guiding the pour bucket 14 onto the base mount 32.

[0076] The pour bucket 14 has receptacles 38 adapted to removably and matingly receive the lugs or nubs 34 therein and allow the pour bucket 14 to be matingly and removably mounted to the base mount 32. The body 16 has a latch 40, which is used to releasably fasten the pour bucket 14 to the body 16 at lip 42 of the pour bucket 14. The pour bucket 14 has a pour bucket spout 44 for pouring contents, such as water 46, sand, or other suitable liquids, solids, or mixtures thereof therefrom. The base mount 32 may be substantially flat, as shown in FIG. 2 or arcuate shaped, as shown in FIG. 3, or have another suitable shape.

[0077] The pour bucket play FIG. 10 may have optional mouth spout 48 and/or beak spout 50, pump 52, and trigger 54. The trigger 54 may be used to control the pump 52, which is used to pump or draw the water 46 or fluid from cavity 55 of the body 16 or reservoir 56 of the pour bucket 14 and squirt the water 46 or fluid from the mouth spout 48 and/or the beak spout 50 under pressure.

[0078] Water levels 57 and 58 of the water 46 or fluid in the cavity 55 of the body 16 and the reservoir 56 of the pour bucket 14, respectively, typically remain at approximately the same height other than during times when the water 46 or fluid is being instantaneously withdrawn from the cavity 55 of the body 16 or the reservoir 56 of the pour bucket 14.

[0079] The pump 52 is activated by the trigger 54, at which time the water 46 or fluid is withdrawn from the cavity 55 or the reservoir 56 via body tube 59 and the water 46 or fluid is squirted from the mouth spout 48 via mouth spout tube 49 and/or the beak spout 50 via beak spout tube 51 under pressure.

[0080] When the water 46 or fluid is withdrawn from the cavity 55 or the reservoir 56, one way valve 60 at the bottom of the pour bucket 14 opens and the water 46 or fluid in the reservoir 56 flows into the cavity 55 via base drain 61 and base tubing 62, thus maintaining approximately the water levels 57 and 58 at the same height, or the same head, in both the cavity 55 and the reservoir 56.

[0081] The pour bucket 14 may have optional temperature display 64 and/or optional thermometer or temperature indicator 66 to display temperature of the water 46 and/or liquid in the reservoir 56 of the pour bucket 14 and/or ambient air temperature.

[0082] The interchangeable head 22 has eyes 68, a beak 70, which has the beak spout 50 and a mouth 72, which has the mouth spout 48. The beak spout 50 and/or the mouth spout 48 may optionally be outwardly directed or downwardly directed.

[0083] The pump 52 is preferably inside the interchangeable head 22, but the pump 52 may alternately be inside the body 16.

[0084] An alternate embodiment of the pour bucket play FIG. 10 may be constructed in which the one way valve 60 at the bottom of the pour bucket 14 is plugged or replaced with a plug to prevent the water 46 or liquid from draining or exiting the pour bucket 14. Alternately, bottom wall 74 of the pour bucket 14 adjacent the base 18 of the pour bucket play FIG. 10 may be solid to prevent the water 46 or liquid from draining or exiting the pour bucket 14.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 80, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 10 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 80 comprises a battery operated pump 82. Battery or power source 84 is used to power the battery operated pump 82, and switch 86 is used to control the battery operated pump 82. An optional controller may be included in the pour bucket play FIG. 80 to further control the intensity and type of discharge such as, for example, intensity and shape of the discharge, which may include squirt, spray, width of spray, or other suitable discharge intensities and patterns.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 90, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 10 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 90 has a heater 92 or bottle warmer, such as a baby bottle warmer or other suitable bottle warmer, powered by power source or battery 94 to warm bottle 96 or container in pour bucket 98 and/or the water 99 or liquid in the pour bucket 98.

[0087] FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 100, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 10 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 100 has an optional body mounted camera 102 and/or an optional head mounted camera 104, each of which may be a video camera or other suitable camera. The pour bucket play FIG. 100 may have optional communications apparatus to communicate with a cell phone, smart phone, and or other device, which may be used communicate videos, photos, and/or audio from the pour bucket play FIG. 100 to another device or location.

[0088] FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 110, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 10 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 110 has an optional foam applicator 112 that may be used to generate and dispense foam, such as from shampoo or another suitable foam generating water or liquid based product. Optional housing 114 may be used to cover the pour bucket play FIG. 110. Alternatively, an exterior pour bucket may not be used for compactness and a sleek design.

[0089] FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 120, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 100 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 120 has optional eye mounted cameras 122 for video and microphone 124 for audio. Again, the pour bucket play FIG. 120 may have optional communications apparatus to communicate with a cell phone, smart phone, and/or other suitable device, which may be used to communicate videos, photos, and/or audio from the pour bucket play FIG. 120 to another device or location. The pour bucket play FIG. 120 may have an optional loudspeaker.

[0090] FIG. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 130, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 10 except that the pour bucket play FIG. 130 comprises a bubble blowing apparatus 132, which may be used to blow bubbles 133. The bubble blowing apparatus 132 has a battery powered pump 134, a battery or suitable power source 136 to power the battery powered pump 134, and a bubble aperture 138 to form the bubbles 133, as soapy water 142 is entrained and blown through the bubble aperture 138.

[0091] Trigger 144 activates contact switch 146, which activates the battery powered pump 134 and air blower 148, which when activated draws air 150 into air intake 152, forcing the air 150 through air discharge pipe 154, out of air outlet 156, and through the bubble aperture 138. Simultaneously, the soapy water 142 is withdrawn by the battery operated pump 134 from cavity 158 and/or optionally reservoir 159 through body pipe 160 or tube and discharged by the battery operated pump 134 into and through soapy water discharge pipe 162, and out of soapy water outlet 164. As the soapy water 142 drips onto the bubble aperture 138, the air 150 is blown through the bubble aperture 138. The bubbles 133 are formed as the air 150 contacts the dripping soapy water 142 and is blown through the bubble aperture 138.

[0092] Excess soapy water 165 drips from the bubble aperture 138 onto guide 166 or excess soapy water return, which guides the excess soapy water 165 back into the cavity 158 and/or optionally the reservoir 159.

[0093] The bubble blowing apparatus 132 having the battery powered pump 134, the air blower 148, and the bubble aperture 138 is preferably inside interchangeable head 167. The bubble blowing apparatus 132 or portions of the bubble blowing apparatus 132 may alternately be inside body 168.

[0094] FIG. 10 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 170, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 130, except that the pour bucket play FIG. 170 has a pour bucket 172, which has a one way valve 174 for allowing water 176, fluid, or soapy water to be drawn from the pour bucket 172 through base tubing 178 or pipe by pump 179 into cavity 180 from reservoir 181. The pour bucket play FIG. 170 may be used to form and blow more bubbles 182, owing to the combined or larger storage capacity of both the cavity 180 and the reservoir 181.

[0095] FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play FIG. 190, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 170, except that the pour bucket play FIG. 190 has one way drain valve 192 at bottom 194 of pour bucket 196 and tubing 197 or piping within body 198, which is connected directly from the one way drain valve 192 to pump 200. Soapy water 202 in reservoir 203 of the pour bucket 196 is withdrawn from the reservoir 203 via the one way drain valve 192 through the tubing 197 or piping by the pump 200 and discharged through soapy water discharge pipe 206. Bubbles 208 are generated and formed by the pour bucket play FIG. 190 as in the pour bucket play FIG. 170. The pour bucket play FIG. 190 also has guide 210 or excess soapy water return, which guides excess soapy water 212 back into the reservoir 203 of the pour bucket 196.

[0096] FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of a bubble generating play FIG. 220, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. 190, except that the pour bucket play FIG. 220 has a housing 222 similar to the housing 114 of the pour bucket play FIG. 110 and soapy water 224 is contained in cavity 226. An exterior pour bucket is not used in the bubble generating play FIG. 220 for compactness and a sleek design.

[0097] FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of the pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 132 of the pour bucket play FIG. 130.

[0098] Again, the pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 130 has the battery powered pump 134, the battery or suitable power source 136 to power the battery powered pump 134, and the bubble aperture 138 to form the bubbles 133, as the soapy water 142 is blown through the bubble aperture 138.

[0099] The trigger 144 activates the contact switch 146, which activates the battery powered pump 134 and the air blower 148, which when activated draws air 150 into the air intake 152, through the air discharge pipe 154, and out of the air outlet 156. Simultaneously, the soapy water 142 is withdrawn by the battery operated pump 134 from the soap container 158, cavity, or reservoir through the body pipe 160 or tube and discharged by the battery operated pump 134 into and through the soapy water discharge pipe 162, and out of the soapy water outlet 164. As the soapy water 142 drips onto the bubble aperture 138, the air 150 is blown through the bubble aperture 138. The bubbles 133 are formed as the air 150 contacts the dripping soapy water 142 and is blown through the bubble aperture 138.

[0100] The excess soapy water 165 drips from the bubble aperture 138 onto the guide 166 or excess soapy water return, which guides the excess soapy water 165 back into the soap container 158, cavity, or reservoir.

[0101] Alternate bubble apertures 234 and 236 are shown in FIG. 13 although other suitable bubble apertures may be used. The bubble aperture 234 has a plurality of fluted edges 237 about the internal circumference of the bubble aperture 234. The bubble aperture 236 has four quadrant bubble apertures 238, although other suitable combinations of apertures may be used.

[0102] FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of a pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 of an alternate embodiment of a pour bucket play figure for forming and generating bubbles 241, which is substantially the same as the pour bucket play FIG. bubble blowing apparatus 132, except that the pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 has a controller 242 and an optional remote control 243. The controller 242 controls pump 246 and air blower 248. The pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 also has contact switch 250, trigger 251, and alternate bubble apertures 252 and 254 and is powered by battery 255 or other suitable power source.

[0103] The pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 has the remote control 243, which communicates with the controller 242, which may be used to control formation and generation of the bubbles 241, by controlling the pump 246 and the air blower 248 and optionally controlling the switch 250 and selection of which of the alternate bubble apertures 252 and 254 to use.

[0104] The remote control 243 has a touch screen 256, and the remote control 243 and the controller 242 each have wireless communication subsystems, which allow the remote control 243 and the controller 242 to communicate with each other wirelessly. The wireless communications subsystems may use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RF, infrared, or other suitable wireless communications media. The pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 may be voice activated and controlled, using the remote control 243 or may be controlled by entering commands into the remote control 243 via the touch screen 256. Information, operation, and data associated with the pour bucket play figure bubble blowing apparatus 240 is displayed on the touch screen 256. The remote control 243 may be a cell phone or other suitable wireless device.

[0105] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.