Bubble generating assembly

Abstract

A bubble generating assembly has a housing, a trigger mechanism, a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent a front opening of the housing, and a lid assembly positioned adjacent the front opening. The lid assembly has a lid that is movable between a first position where it completely covers and contacts a front surface of the ring, and a second position where it is spaced apart from the front surface of the ring. The bubble generating assembly also includes a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the lid to be moved from the first position to the second position.

1 . A bubble generating assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a front opening;    a trigger mechanism;    a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent the front opening, the ring having a front surface;    a lid assembly positioned adjacent the front opening, the lid assembly having a lid that is movable between a first position where it completely covers and contacts the front surface of the ring, and a second position where it is spaced apart from the front surface of the ring; and    a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the lid to be moved from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, the container having an interior; and    a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the ring.    
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a motor operatively coupled to the trigger mechanism;    an air generator coupled to the motor and directing air towards the ring; and    a gear system coupled to the motor and applying pressure to the tubing to cause bubble solution to be delivered from the container to the ring.    
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism simultaneously causes (i) the air generator to direct air towards the ring, (ii) the gear system to deliver bubble solution from the container to the ring, and (iii) the lid to move from the first position to the second position.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein release of the trigger will cause the lid to move from the second position to the first position.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further including means for drawing bubble solution from the container, and to deliver the bubble solution to the ring.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein actuation of the trigger mechanism simultaneously causes (i) the drawing means to deliver bubble solution from the container to the ring, and (ii) the lid to move from the first position to the second position.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the container is removably coupled to the housing.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring is positioned inside the housing.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the air generator includes a fan, and a wind tunnel that extends from the fan to adjacent the front opening.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further including a collection dish positioned below the ring, with the container being removably coupled to the collection dish so that droplets received on the collection dish can flow into the container.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has an interior chamber and an opening communicating with the interior chamber and through which the tubing extends, and a plurality of outlets on the front surface through which bubble solution can flow out.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism has an electrical contact that removably couples the motor to actuate the motor, and a resilient member that normally biases the electrical contact away from the motor.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the link assembly includes: 
 a structure attached to the trigger; and    a reciprocating link rod having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the lid, and a second end that is pivotally coupled to the structure;    wherein rearward movement of the structure pulls the link rod rearwardly, which in turn pulls the lid to pivot the lid away from the front surface of the ring.    
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the structure includes a horizontal platform attached to the trigger, a vertical wall extending from the horizontal platform, and a shelf extending from the vertical wall, with the first end of the link rod pivotally coupled to the shelf.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivoted upwardly from the first position to the second position.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is pivoted downwardly from the second position to the first position.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is positioned away from the longitudinal path of air through the ring when the lid is in the second position.  
     
     
         19 . A bubble generating assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a front opening;    a container coupled to the housing and retaining bubble solution, the container having an interior;    a trigger mechanism;    a bubble generating ring positioned adjacent the front opening, the ring having a front surface;    a tubing that couples the interior of the container with the ring;    a lid pivotally coupled to the front opening, the lid being pivotable upwardly from a first position where it completely covers and contacts the front surface of the ring, to a second position where it is spaced apart from the front surface of the ring; and    a link assembly that couples the trigger mechanism and the ring in a manner in which actuation of the trigger mechanism causes the lid to be moved from the first position to the second position.    
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the lid is positioned away from the longitudinal path of air through the ring when the lid is in the second position.