Agitators

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11478764-B2
Application number	US-201916370075-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2018
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

An agitator may include one or more members adjustable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration. When the one or more members are in the expanded configuration, the agitator in a first set of two orthogonal dimensions is larger than an opening having a predetermined size. When the one or more members are in the compressed configuration, the agitator in a second set of two orthogonal dimensions is smaller than the opening having the predetermined size. The one or more members are biased to the expanded configuration in absence of external force applied to the one or more members. In use, the agitator may be inserted into a container through a neck of the container in the compressed configuration. The agitator may expand within the container so that the container does not fit through the neck of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agitator for mixing a beverage, the agitator comprising:
a frame structure forming a spiral with turns of different sizes,
wherein the frame structure has a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration,
wherein, in the expanded configuration, an overall width of the frame structure is less than an overall height of the frame structure and less than an overall length of the frame structure,
wherein, in the expanded configuration, from a first direction the agitator defines an overall circular shape, and from a second direction orthogonal to the first direction the agitator defines an overall ovular shape,
wherein, in the compressed configuration, the overall height of the frame structure is equal to or less than the overall width of the frame structure, and
wherein the frame structure is biased to the expanded configuration, and expands to the expanded configuration from the compressed configuration upon removal of an applied force maintaining the frame structure in the compressed configuration.

2. The agitator of claim 1 , wherein the frame is a single continuous wire formed of food-grade material.

3. The agitator of claim 1 , wherein, in the expanded configuration, two or more of the overall length of the frame structure, the overall width of the frame structure, and the overall height of the frame structure are each greater than 1 inch, and
wherein, in the compressed configuration, two or more of the overall length of the frame structure, the overall width of the frame structure, and the overall height of the frame structure are each less than 1 inch.

4. The agitator of claim 1 , wherein, in the expanded configuration, two or more of the overall length of the frame structure, the overall width of the frame structure, and the overall height of the frame structure are each greater than 1.25 inches, and
wherein, in the compressed configuration, two or more of the overall length of the frame structure, the overall width of the frame structure, and the overall height of the frame structure are each less than 1.25 inches.

5. The agitator of claim 1 , wherein the agitator comprises a retainer attached to the frame structure to maintain the agitator in the compressed configuration.

6. The agitator of claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the retainer is water-soluble.

7. A beverage mixing system comprising:
a beverage container; and
the agitator of claim 1 .

8. The beverage mixing system of claim 7 , wherein the beverage container comprises a neck having an opening therein,
wherein, in the expanded configuration, the agitator does not fit through the opening of the neck of the container in any orientation of the agitator relative to the opening, and
wherein, in the compressed configuration, the agitator fits through the opening of the neck of the container in at least one orientation of the agitator relative to the opening.

9. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , wherein, in the expanded configuration, two or more of a length dimension, a width dimension, and a height dimension of the agitator are each greater than an inner diameter of the neck of the container,
wherein, in the compressed configuration, two or more of the length dimension, the width dimension, and the height dimension are each less than the inner diameter of the neck of the container, and
wherein the length dimension, the width dimension, and the height dimension are mutually orthogonal.

10. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , wherein the beverage container is transparent, and
wherein the neck of the beverage container has external threads formed thereon.

11. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , wherein the spiral changes in size with each turn of the spiral.

12. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , wherein, in the expanded configuration, the frame structure forms one or more of: a bend, a fold, a turn, a slot, an aperture, a spoke, or a flange.

13. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , further comprising a package containing the agitator and retaining the agitator in the compressed configuration.

14. The beverage mixing system of claim 8 , wherein the agitator comprises a retainer attached to the frame structure to maintain the agitator in the compressed configuration.

15. A method for mixing a beverage, the method comprising:
inserting the agitator of claim 1 in a compressed configuration into a container through a neck of the container; and
expanding the agitator to an expanded configuration within the container,
wherein the agitator will not fit through the neck of the container in the expanded configuration.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising compressing the agitator from the expanded configuration to the compressed configuration before inserting the agitator into the container.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein compressing the agitator comprises reducing a single one of a one of a length dimension, a width dimension, and a height dimension of the agitator.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
attaching a retainer to at least a portion of the agitator to maintain the agitator in the compressed configuration; and
releasing the retainer from the agitator within the container.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
packaging the agitator in the compressed configuration; and
maintaining the agitator in the compressed configuration within the packaging.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein expanding the agitator occurs as a result of the bias of the agitator to the expanded position.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein expanding the agitator includes expanding the agitator portion by portion as the agitator advances portion by portion through the neck of the container.

22. An agitator for mixing a beverage, the agitator comprising:
a frame structure forming a spiral with turns of different sizes, the frame structure having a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration; and
a retainer attached to the frame structure to maintain the agitator in the compressed configuration,
wherein, in the expanded configuration, an overall width of the frame structure is less than an overall height of the frame structure and less than an overall length of the frame structure,
wherein, in the compressed configuration, the overall height of the frame structure is equal to or less than the overall width of the frame structure, and
wherein the frame structure is biased to the expanded configuration, and expands to the expanded configuration from the compressed configuration upon removal of an applied force maintaining the frame structure in the compressed configuration.

23. The agitator of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the retainer is water-soluble.

24. A beverage mixing system comprising:
a beverage container; and
the agitator of claim 22 .

25. A method for mixing a beverage, the method comprising:
inserting the agitator of claim 22 in a compressed configuration into a container through a neck of the container; and
expanding the agitator to an expanded configuration within the container,
wherein the agitator will not fit through the neck of the container in the expanded configuration.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising releasing the retainer from the agitator within the container.

Assignees

• Runway Blue Llc

Inventors

• Sorensen Steven M
• Sorensen Kim L
• Colby Jim Allen
• Meyers David O
• Omdahl Ii John R
• Jacobsen Joseph O
• Jensen Kurt Lewis
• Shelley Derek John
• Olsen Dennis Legrand

Classifications

• A47J43/27 Primary

  for mixing drinks; Hand-held shakers (mechanically driven A47J43/042) · CPC title

• B01F33/251

  using balls as loose mixing element · CPC title

• B01F35/32021

  Shaking by hand a portable receptacle or stirrer for mixing · CPC title

• B01F33/50111

  Small portable bottles, flasks, vials, e.g. with means for mixing ingredients or for homogenizing their content, e.g. by hand shaking · CPC title

• B01F33/254 Primary

  using springs as loose mixing element · CPC title