Self retaining apparatus mixing fluids

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9409135-B2
Application number	US-201213673920-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2012
Priority date	Nov 9, 2012
Publication date	Aug 9, 2016
Grant date	Aug 9, 2016

Abstract

A portable, self-retaining apparatus, system and method for mixing fluids in a container is disclosed. The self-retaining, portable fluid mixing apparatus is capable of being connected to a container and retained thereon without the aid of a user during use. The self-retaining fluid mixing device, system and method of the disclosure may be used in various capacities to mix a wide variety of fluids having a wide variety of viscosities. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to any particular type of fluid or viscosity, but an example of the fluids that may be mixed include flavoring syrups and thickeners used for shaved ice confectioneries. The mixer or apparatus can be quickly attached to and detached from a container without the use of extraneous, cumbersome fasteners. The torque caused by operation of the motor causes the apparatus and system to lock in place during use, such that when the torque is released, the apparatus may be quickly and easily removed from the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-retaining apparatus for mixing fluids within a container, comprising:
a frame member comprising a saddle configured to receive a motorized device and a securing plate for connecting and retaining the frame member to a container; and
a mixing paddle comprising a plurality of blades and a drive shaft, wherein the plurality of blades are in mechanical communication with the drive shaft and wherein the drive shaft is in mechanical communication with a motor of the motorized device, such that when the motor is actuated the drive shaft rotates thereby imparting torque from the motor to the plurality of blades due to the mechanical communication between the motor, drive shaft and plurality of blades;
wherein the securing plate extends from a first end proximal to the saddle in a lateral direction away from an axis of the drive shaft and wherein the securing plate forms a slot that is configured and dimensioned to, when the frame member is rotated in a first direction around the axis of the drive shaft, interact with and contact a handle of the container to thereby connect and retain the frame member with respect to the container without requiring a user to grasp and hold the self-retaining apparatus and, when the frame member is rotated in a second direction around the axis of the drive shaft, release the securing plate from the handle.

2. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the slot comprises an open end and a closed end opposite the open end, wherein the open end faces in a direction parallel to a surface of the securing plate and at least partially perpendicular to the drive shaft.

3. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the securing plate comprises a substantially planar first portion having an end that forms a portion of the slot.

4. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the securing plate further comprises a substantially planar second portion, wherein the second portion is formed at an angle with respect to the first portion, such that the first portion and the second portion are not co-planar.

5. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the angle formed between the first portion and the second portion is within a range of about ten degrees and about thirty degrees with respect to an imaginary plane that is parallel to a surface of the first portion of the securing plate.

6. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the angle is within a range of about fifteen degrees to about twenty-five degrees.

7. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the angle is about twenty degrees.

8. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the slot is positioned between the securing plate on one side and the saddle on the other side, such that the slot is formed by the saddle and the securing plate.

9. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a ratio exists between a length L 1 of the slot to a length L 2 of the securing plate that is within a range of about 0.15 to about 0.75.

10. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the ratio is within a range of about 0.20 to about 0.50.

11. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the ratio is within a range of about 0.25 to about 0.30.

12. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a ratio exists between a length L 3 of the saddle to a length L 2 of the securing plate that is within a range of about 1 to about 1.25.

13. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the ratio is between a range of about 1.10 and about 1.20.

14. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the saddle comprises a first portion having a curved surface for engaging a housing for the motorized device, and a second portion having a tubular portion for receiving a portion of the housing for the motorized device therein, wherein the saddle is configured and dimensioned to couple the frame member to the motorized device.

15. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the frame member comprises a fastening member for securing the first portion of the saddle to the motorized device.

16. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 1 :
wherein the securing plate comprises a substantially planar first portion having an end that forms a portion of the slot;
wherein the securing plate further comprises a substantially planar second portion, wherein the second portion is formed at an angle with respect to the first portion, such that the first portion and the second portion are not co-planar;
wherein the angle formed between the first portion and the second portion is within a range of about ten degrees and about thirty degrees with respect to an imaginary plane that is parallel to a surface of the first portion of the securing plate;
wherein the slot is positioned between the securing plate on one side and the saddle on the other side, such that the slot is formed by the saddle and the securing plate;
wherein a ratio exists between a length L 1 of the slot to a length L 2 of the securing plate that is within a range of about 0.15 to about 0.75;
wherein a ratio exists between a length L 3 of the saddle to a length L 2 of the securing plate that is within a range of about 1 to about 1.25;
wherein the saddle comprises a first portion having a curved surface for engaging a housing for the motorized device, and a second portion having a tubular portion for receiving a portion of the housing for the motorized device therein, wherein the saddle is configured and dimensioned to couple the frame member to the motorized device; and
wherein the frame member comprises a fastening member for securing the first portion of the saddle to the motorized device.

17. A system for mixing fluids within a container, comprising:
a motorized device for providing torque; and
a self-retaining apparatus comprising:
a frame member that is mechanically coupled to the motorized device, wherein the frame member comprises a saddle configured to receive the motorized device therein and a securing plate for connecting and retaining the frame member to a container; and
a mixing paddle comprising a plurality of blades and a drive shaft, wherein the plurality of blades are in mechanical communication with the drive shaft and wherein the drive shaft is in mechanical communication with a motor of the motorized device, such that when the motor is actuated the drive shaft rotates thereby imparting torque from the motor to the plurality of blades due to the mechanical communication between the motor, drive shaft and plurality of blades;
wherein the securing plate extends from a first end proximal to the saddle in a lateral direction away from an axis of the drive shaft and wherein the securing plate forms a slot that is configured and dimensioned to, when the frame member is rotated in a first direction around the axis of the drive shaft, interact with and contact a handle of the container to thereby connect and retain the frame member with respect to the container without requiring a user to grasp and hold the self-retaining apparatus and, when the frame member is rotated in a second direction around the axis of the drive shaft, release the securing plate from the handle.

18. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the slot comprises an open end and a closed end opposite the open end, wherein the open end faces in a direction parallel to a surface of the securing plate and at least partially perpendicular to the drive shaft.

19. The self-retaining apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the securing plate comprises a substan

Assignees

• Snowie LLC

Inventors

• Rupp Carl A

Classifications

• B01F7/0015

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00291

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F13/003

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F15/00662

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B01F7/00116 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic