Vol. CXLVI...No. 50,755 copyright The New York Times  

New York, Monday, April 7, 1997 

PATENTS Sabra Chartered Chemical Glow Lights Up Bubbles

All children - and many adults - like to blow bubbles. Little plastic bottles full of soapy liquid holding a plastic ring, have been a staple toy for decades. Now two inventors have patented a new twist on the old favorite. Mary and Linda Halbritter have created a blowing solution that makes glow-in-the-dark bubbles.

"We've developed an item that does for bubbles what the French have done for the kiss", they boast on a new web-site set up to publicize their new toy. The Halbritter's light up their bubble formula by adding a chemiluminescent agent called oxalate diester to conventional bubble blowing liquids. Liquid dishwashing soap is a particularly good bubble maker, and when the inventors were fine tuning their innovation, they used Liquid Joy, a Procter & Gamble product, for their prototypes.

The illuminating agent emits light when it reacts with peroxide and a fluorescer. Once the ingredients come into contact with one another, the illuminating can last minutes or hours. The Halbritter's bubble toy will come with the liquid solution and illuminating agents packaged separately. It will include instructions for how and when to mix the two to achieve the best glow. After mixing, the bubbles will glow in the dark from the moment they are blown until they pop.

The Halbritter's say the illuminating agents are nontoxic and nonstaining. The inventor's, who live in Kapaau, HI, are hoping to license their invention. They received patent 5,246,631.

The Halbritter Family (Jeff, Linda, Jolin, Marty and Rob) had much to cheer about after their visit to Atlanta's IAAPA trade show November 17 - 22, where five of 1,247 exhibitors targeting products for amusement parks world-wide. They were demonstrating their Glow-in-the-Dark GALAXY BUBBLES®, which caught on. Courted by major industry giants such as Walt Disney Productions, the project required hiring five lawyers on their return to protect their patent and negotiate contracts. " It was the biggest mind-blower we've ever been through in our lives," Marty said. This could be the big one, folks!