US3069144A - Agitator means for drink mixers - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18, 1962 M. PATTEN AGITATOR MEANS FOR DRINK MIXERS Filed Feb. 6, 1959 FIG.2

FIG.I

INVENTOR. LEIGH M. PATTEN BY ATTORN EYS United States Patent Ofiiice 3,059,144 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,669,144 AGITATOR MEANS FOR DRINK MIXERS Leigh M. Patten, Seattle, Wash, assignor to Sweden Freezer Manufacturing Co., Seattle, Wasln, a corporation of Washington Filed Feb. 6, 195%, Ser. No. 791,662 3 Claims. (Cl. 259-134) The present invention relates to an improved agitator for drink mixers of the type provided with a relatively long slender mixer shaft adapted to depend from a drive motor into the material to be mixed and. having one or more rigid agitator discs or blades secured thereto.

My invention is particularly concerned with the blending of frozen milkshake product with flavoring syrup and aims to provide an effective agitator of simple and economical construction which has substantially no tendency to splash even if the finished milkshake is lowered away from the agitator or product is added while the mixer is operating.

Another object of the invention is to provide an agitator which is unusually safe to use.

.A further object is to provide an agitator which will thoroughly mix a drink from top to bottom.

Other and more particular objects and advantages will, with the foregoing, appear and be understood in the course of the following description and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in vertical section of my agitator.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the agitator taken as indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in vertical section of the lower endportion of a modified agitator construction,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating my agitator in operation in a drink shown in vertical section, and

FIG. 5 is a detail fragmentary view showing generally the operation of the agitator as a drink is lowered away therefrom.

Referring now particularly to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral designates a rotatable mixer shaft of the type here under consideration, and namely one depending from a drive relation with an electric motor. This shaft 10 is centrally tapped at its lower end to receive a shaft extension, and more particularly the threaded upper end portion 11a of a steel insert 11. It will be noted that the lower end portion 11b of this insert is spirally knurled to snugly interfit with the inner wall of a hollow plastic sleeve 12 forced thereover. This sleeve has a terminal agitator button 13 at its lower end formed as an integral part thereof. A11 intermediate agitator button 14 is positioned at the upper end of the sleeve and may be integral therewith or be a separate part as shown which is sleeved by a central opennig onto the portion 11a of the insert so as to be locked between the lower end of the shaft 10 and the upper end of the sleeve 12.

Other than for the center portion of button 14, both of the agitator buttons 1314 are identical concavo-convex discs of a general unbrella shape having constant thickness. Each is curved gently downward through most of its radial span by a radius of curvature which may be equal to approximately three times the rim diameter of the disc, and then bends on a relatively short radius for nearly ninety degrees to form down turned rim skirts 13a14a. The rim edges are intentionally rounded so that no potentially dangerous sharp edges will be present.

It will be noted that the concave face of the lower agitator button 14 is modified by a generally cylindrical center knob 15 formed integrally therewith. This knob is rounded slightly at its lower edge and does not extend downwardly as far as the level of the rim edge of the button. Its diameter is approximately equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve 12.

The agitator buttons 1314 are also formed with vent holes 16 which are preferably located closely adjacent the sleeve 12 and knob 15, respectively. Before discussing the function of these vent holes, attention is directed to FIGURE 4 which is intended to illustrate that the upper convex face of the agitator buttons causes the material 17 being mixed in the cup 18 to have a downward component as it spins thereofi. This assures that there will be adequate up and down circulation of the material. Also, it means that the cup can be filled while the mixer is operating therein without danger of splashing the added material out of the cup should it contact the upper agitator button. For example, to be more specific, frozen milkshake product can be dispensed into the cup for mixing with flavoring therein while the mixer is operating. This results in the saving of time for the operator and more thorough blending.

Continuing to the functions of the vent holes 16 and knob 15, attention is directed to FIG. 5 which is intended to illustrate the cup 18 being withdrawn from the mixer while it is still operating and in an oifcenter position, the illustrated critical point being just as the bottom agitator button is breaking clear of the mixed material 17. This is the point at which conventional drink mixing agitators would normally splash and throw material out of the cup. In the case of my agitator, although the convex upper face of the buttons deters splashing I have noted that the rapid speed of the mixer creates a suction beneath the buttons which, were it not for the vent holes, would draw material from the cup if the but-tons were to leave the normal upper level of the material while the mixer was running. This material under suction would then spin free from the underside of the related agitator button and likely be thrown out of the cup. However, the vent holes break the suction before the corresponding button leaves the mixed material proper. In this regard, I have also found that the vent holes in the bottom agitator button will not necessarily insure that the suction will be broken. For this reason I provide the knob 15 which insures a material free zone 20 surrounding the upper end of the knob so that air is free to pass in through the vent holes and break the suction beneath the button. Experiments have shown that this result is not always attained if the knob 15 is substantially rounded in vertical cross-section.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the shaft extension is made by a one-piece metal rod 21 instead of the two-piece plastic and metal construction hereinbefore described. 'This rod 21 is tapped at its lower end to receive a screw 22 which has a head of the same general shape as the knob 15. With this arrangement the agitator button 13 can also perform as a bottom button, the function of the knob 15 being assumed by the head of the screw 22 used to hold the button on the rod 21.

The advantages of the invention, it is thought, will have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description of the illustrated preferred embodiment. Minor changes will suggest themselves and may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, wherefore it is my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language admits.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a depending mixer shaft having a knob at the lower end thereof, and an umbrella-like circular agitator button having a concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration concentrically secured to said shaft above said knob and skirting the latter, the portion of said button lying immediately adjacent the knob being pierced by circumferentially spaced apart vent openings, the upper surface of the agitator button sloping downwardly throughout its entire radial extent.

2. In combination, a depending mixer shaft having a knob at the lower end thereof, and an umbrella-like circular agitator button having a concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration concentrically secured to said shaft above said knob and skirting the latter, the portion of said button lying immediately adjacent the knob being pierced by circumferentially spaced apart vent openings, the skirting rim of said button occupying a horizontal plane spaced below the underside of the knob so that, as the mixer and an open-top container for a body of liquid being mixed are moved vertically relative to one another in course of Withdrawing the mixer from the liquid, the knob will clear the liquid in advance of said rim. 1

3. In combination, a depending mixer shaft having a knob at the lower end thereof, and an umbrella-like circular agitator button having a concavo-convex cross-sectional configuration concentrically secured to said shaft above said knob and skirting the latter, the portion of said button lying immediately adjacent the knob being pierced by circumferentially spaced apart vent openings, said knob being circular and concentrically placed, the knob and the underside of the button being so formed as to produce a substantially material-free zone surrounding the knob at its juncture with the .button, the vent holes being placed so as to occur within this zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,621 Cooper Feb. 23, 1909 1,650,256 Beach Nov. 22, 1927 1,655,447 Wait Jan. 10, 1928 1,698,363 Gilbert Jan. 8, 1929 2,190,896 Underwood Feb. 20, 1940 2,222,601 Blish et al Nov. 26, 1940 2,548,442 Myers Apr. 10, 1951 2,637,537 Ernest May 5, 1953 2,964,301 Bosse Dec. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 277,605 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1951

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