United States Patent [191
`Neilson
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR MIXING INGREDIENTS
`
`USOO5439289A
`Patent Number:
`Date of Patent:
`
`[11]
`[45]
`
`5,439,289
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`
`
`IN A RECEPTACLE [76] Inventor: Jim L. Neilson, 9205 Lime Crest CL, .
`
`
`
`Elk Grove, Calif. 95624
`[21] App1.No.: 267,452
`[22] Filed:
`Jun. 28, 1994
`
`[63]
`
`
`H.121 .610,
`55 5
`
`[56]
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 42,519, Apr. 5, 1993,
`Pat. No. 5,328,263.
`
`LS. M3
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`mm “2
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`3 6,7,5,
`67 5
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`mail
`
`Bmmmwm man/222
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`32/22
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`
`
`53,952 4/1866 Cox 1,691,843 11/1928 Dehuff 2,324,179 7/ 1943 Srob
`
`366/347
`366/203
`366/206
`
`3 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2,431,29811/1947 4,547,076 10/1985 Maurer 4,671,172 6/1987 Stiglich 4,812,175 4/1989 Barnard ..
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`366/197
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`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-Thomas R. Lampe
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`shaft is movable relative to both the lid and to the recep
`tacle to permit a mixer head connected to the shaft to
`move downwardly and upwardly within the receptacle
`after the lid has engaged the receptacle.
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 001
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. s, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
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`58
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 002
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
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`Hamilton Beach,
`
`1002, p. 003
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 003
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
`72 74
`76
`
`12
`
`FIG._3A
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 004
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 4 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
`66
`64
`
`FIG._3B
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 005
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 006
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. s, 1995
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`5,439,289
`
`18\| '
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`|
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`24 /
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`/10
`
`FIG._6E
`
`FIG._6F
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 007
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 7 0f 11
`
`5,439,289
`
`LOWER LID
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`START BEATER
`LOWERING AND
`ROTATION
`
`I
`
`ONE SECOND
`DELAY AT LOWEST
`POSITION OF BEATER
`
`I
`
`START RAISING
`BEATER
`
`TURN OFF SHAFT AND
`UP/ DOWN MOTOR
`
`STOPPED
`ROTATING
`YES
`
`RAISE LID
`
`FIG._ 7
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 008
`
`

`
`U.S. Pateqt
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
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`5,439,289
`
`mm
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`
`Hamilton Beach,
`
`1002, p. 009
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 009
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
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`5,439,289
`
`I1
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`FIG._9E
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`
`Hamilton Beach,
`
`1002, p. 010
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 010
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
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`5,439,289
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`205 203
`
`FIG._ 10
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 011
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Aug. 8, 1995
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
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`5,439,289
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`/ //// ///////// //// ////// /// //// ///// // /// ll’ // / /|
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`
`12
`
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 012
`
`

`
`1
`
`APPARATUS FOR MIXING INGREDIENTS IN A
`RECEPTACLE
`
`This invention is a continuation-in-part of US. patent
`application Ser. No. 08/042,519, ?led Apr. 5, 1993, now
`US. Pat. No. 5,328,263, issued Jul. 12, 1994.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`This invention relates to apparatus for mixing ingre
`dients in a receptacle. The invention has particular ap
`plication to the blending of ice cream into milk shakes
`and malts.
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`US. Pat. No. 5,150,967, issued Sep. 29, 1992, dis
`closes a milk shake machine for mixing thick, hard ice
`cream shakes. The machine incorporates a housing to
`which a container is locked and sealed, the container
`being in a suspended, elevated condition. Two gear
`motors are disposed within the housing, one employed
`to rotate a shaft and mixing head and the other to move
`the mixing head vertically within the container.
`Also known in the prior art are conventional milk
`shake machines consisting of an electric motor, shaft,
`and mixing disc. The device is supported on a stand or
`hangs from a wall bracket. When one wishes to make a
`hard ice cream milk shake, a metal cup is manually held
`under the revolving shaft and disc while the cup is
`manually manipulated vertically and in a stirring mo
`tion. This method is time consuming and inef?cient and
`may even introduce foreign matter into the mixture as a
`result of the mixing head coming into contact with the
`sides of the metal cup.
`While the milk shake machine disclosed in US. Pat.
`No. 5,150,967 has a number of advantages over the
`conventional prior art milk shake machines, it too has
`certain de?ciencies, not the least of which is the fact
`that the cup or receptacle is not positively supported on
`its bottom, but rather is suspended from its upper end in
`40
`mid air. This approach can result in spillage if the user
`does not properly connect the receptacle to the hous
`ing. Some difficulties may also arise with respect to
`cleaning of the housing structure at the point of attach
`ment of the container or receptacle to the housing.
`
`20
`
`5,439,289
`2
`A mixer shaft is supported by the support and extends
`through the lid aperture. The mixer shaft is movable
`relative to the lid and to the receptacle and has a lower
`end. A mixer head is connected to the shaft lower end
`under the lid.
`Transport means is connected to the support for
`transporting the mixer shaft and mixer head down
`wardly within the receptacle after the lid has been en
`gaged by the receptacle. Rotating means is provided for
`rotating the mixer shaft and mixer head within the re
`ceptacle.
`Other features, advantages, and objects of the present
`invention will become apparent with reference to the
`following description and accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with housing shown
`in cross section, of a milk shake machine constructed in
`accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
`FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views taken,
`respectively, along the lines 2A-2A and 2B—2B in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
`3A—3A in FIG. 1 and illustrating selected components
`of the machine in the relative positions assumed thereby
`during one phase of operation of the machine;
`FIG. 3B is a view similar to FIG. 3A but illustrating
`the selected components of the machine in the relative
`positions assumed thereby during another phase of the
`operation of the machine;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged bottom view of the receptacle
`employed with the. apparatus;
`FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged top perspective view of
`the mixer head of the apparatus and mixer shaft;
`FIGS. 6A through 6F are schematic diagrams illus
`trating the sequential stages of operation of the appara
`tus with respect to selected components thereof;
`FIG. 7 is a ?ow diagram illustrating the operational
`sequence of the apparatus;
`FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram employed to operate the
`apparatus;
`FIGS. 9A through 9F are schematic diagrams illus
`trating the sequential stages of operation of selected
`components of an alternative embodiment of the inven
`tion;
`FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the alternative
`embodiment, with housing shown in cross section; and
`FIG. 10A is a view similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating
`a receptacle supported by a support portion raised and
`in engagement with a lid.
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`The present invention relates to apparatus for mixing
`ingredients in a receptacle, such as hard ice cream in a
`milk shake, wherein the receptacle is positively sup
`ported on its bottom during the mixing operation. Fur
`thermore, the apparatus is easy to clean and maintain
`and does not require the services of an attendant during
`operation thereof.
`The apparatus is for mixing ingredients in a recepta
`cle having a receptacle bottom and side wall de?ning an
`interior and an opening communicating with said inte
`nor.
`The apparatus includes a support and also a lid hav
`ing a top wall de?ning an aperture, the lid being posi
`tioned over the receptacle. The support includes a sup
`port portion for supporting the receptacle and moving
`the receptacle.
`Support portion placement means moves the recepta
`cle relative to the lid between a lower position wherein
`the lid is not in engagement with the receptacle to an
`upper position wherein the lid is positively engaged by
`the receptacle to close the receptacle opening.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`Referring now to the drawings, a preferred form of
`apparatus constructed in accordance with the teachings
`of the present invention includes a support comprising a
`housing 10. The form of apparatus illustrated is a milk
`shake mixing machine; however, it will be understood
`that the teachings of the invention are applicable to any
`type of apparatus for mixing ingredients in a receptacle,
`for example a food blender.
`The support or housing 10 has a platform 12 for sup
`porting a receptacle in the form of a cup or container
`14, it being understood that the receptacle is manually
`positioned on and removed from the platform. Recepta
`cle 14, as is conventional, has a bottom and side wall
`de?ning an interior and an opening at the upper end
`thereof communicating with the interior.
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 013
`
`

`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`5,439,289
`3
`Receptacle 14, when positioned on platform 12, is
`disposed under a lid 16 having a top wall 18. A tapered
`wall having a circular cross section extends down
`wardly from top’ wall 18 and is designated by reference
`numeral 20. Tapered wall 20 has a lower rim 22 which
`is of a size and con?guration corresponding to the top
`of the receptacle 14. That is, the rim 22 of lid 16 will
`engage the receptacle side wall when the lid and recep
`tacle are axially aligned and brought into engagement.
`A recess 24 is de?ned by the top wall and tapered wall
`of the lid.
`Lid 16 is connected to and supported by a cylindrical
`ly-shaped lid support element 26 which is mounted for
`reciprocal up and down movement within an enlarge
`ment 28 comprising part of the housing 10. Up and
`down movement of the lid support element 26 and the
`lid 16 is effected by a crank arm 30 af?xed to a cap 32
`which in turn is affixed to lid support element 26. The
`upper end of crank arm 30 is connected to a stub shaft
`34 on a rotatable gear or drive element 36 driven by a
`gear mounted on the drive shaft of electric motor 38
`through an intermediate gear. It will be appreciated that
`the aforedescribed mechanism operates as an eccentric
`drive which will move the lid 16 relative to the support
`from an elevated position (shown in FIGS. 1, 6A, and
`25
`6F) wherein the lid is not in engagement with recepta
`cle 14 to a lower position (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,
`for example) wherein the lid engages the receptacle to
`close the receptacle opening at the top of the receptacle.
`Lid top wall 18 de?nes an aperture 40 therein which
`communicates with the lid recess 24. A mixer shaft 42 is
`disposed within aperture 40. A mixer head 44, which
`will be described in greater detail below, is connected to
`the shaft lower end under the lid top wall. The shaft 42
`is freely rotatable within aperture 40 of the lid.
`Mixer shaft 42 passes upwardly through and is rota
`tionally movable relative to a pair of bushings 46, 48
`which are connected together in axial alignment with
`the throughbores thereof also in axial alignment. It will
`be noted that bushing 48 accommodates an O-ring 50 of
`40
`rubber, plastic or other suitable resilient material which
`will serve to wipe the shaft 42 when it is moved axially
`relative to the bushings 46, 48. Preferably, bushing 48 is
`removable, so that the O-ring can be replaced and
`cleaning facilitated.
`45
`The upper end of mixer shaft 42 is supported by and
`rotatably journaled in a circular ball bearing 56 within a
`support housing 54. Support housing 54 has two bear
`ings 58 which slidably receive guide posts 60. A bolt
`extends outwardly from housing 54 and projects
`through a slot 62 de?ned by a link arm 64 pivoted about
`pivot shaft 66 connected to mounting plate 68.
`Link arm 64 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 70 to
`a second link arm 72. The other end of second link arm
`72 is pivotally connected by pivot pin 74 to a crank arm
`76. Crank arm 76 is ?xedly connected to the output
`shaft of a gear motor 78 attached to mounting plate 68.
`It will be appreciated that rotation of crank arm 76 by
`gear motor 78 will result in movement of link arm 64 to
`reciprocally pivot the link arm 64 between the upper
`position shown in FIG. 3A and the lower position
`shown in FIG. 3B. Movement of the link arm 64 from
`its upper position to its lower position will cause sup
`port housing 54 to move downwardly, the path of
`movement being linear due to the cooperation between
`65
`bearings 58 and guide posts 60. Return of the link arm
`64 to its upper or elevated position will cause the sup
`port housing 54 to move to its upper position shown in
`
`4
`FIG. 3A. Since the mixer shaft 42 is supported by sup
`port housing 54, the mixer shaft and mixer head will
`move up and down correspondingly.
`At the upper end thereof, mixer shaft 42 has a ?at side
`80 (FIG. 2B). The top portion of the mixer shaft extends
`downwardly through a spline bearing 82. Spline bearing
`82 permits free up or down motion of the mixer shaft
`but is operable to transmit rotational torque to the mixer
`shaft. Such rotation is effected by a drive belt 84 posi
`tioned about the rotatable spline bearing 82 and also
`about the output shaft of an electrical motor 86. When
`motor 86 is actuated, the belt will rotate with the output
`shaft of the motor and rotate spline bearing 82, in turn
`rotating mixer shaft 42 and mixer head 44.
`Having described operative components of the appa
`ratus, the operation thereof will now be set forth. First,
`the operator places a receptacle 14 under the lid 16
`when the lid is in the raised position as shown in FIGS.
`1 and 6A. The operator then initiates operation by ener
`gizing electric motor 38 to lower the lid 16 and bring it
`into engagement with the side wall of the receptacle 114
`as shown in FIGS. 3A and 6B. It should be noted that
`downward movement of the lid 16 is also relative to the
`stationary mixer shaft 42. Thus, the mixer head 44 is
`disposed at the lower end of the lid recess prior to
`downward movement of the lid so that the mixer head
`will not interfere with such downward movement and
`will end up being closely adjacent to the top wall 18 of
`the lid when the lid rim engages the receptacle.
`Next, the electric motor 86 is actuated to rotate the
`mixer shaft and mixer head and the gear motor 78 is
`energized to move the mixer shaft and mixer head
`downwardly as shown in FIGS. 3B and 6C to bring the
`rotating mixer head closely adjacent to the bottom of
`the receptacle. Rotation is continued as shown in FIG.
`6D to thoroughly mix the contents of the receptacle.
`Next, the mixer shaft and mixer head are moved up
`wardly under the continuing action of gear motor 78 to
`move the mixer head up to the top of the lid recess as
`shown in FIG. 6E. The electric motor 86 is then de
`energized to stop rotation of the mixer shaft and mixer
`head.
`It will be noted that the mixer head is closely adjacent
`to both the top wall and tapered wall of the lid when the
`mixer head is at its uppermost position and the lid is still
`in engagement with the receptacle. This promotes the
`removal of excess material from the mixer head and
`allows such material to drip down into the receptacle.
`As mentioned above, the O-ring 50 also contributes to
`the cleaning of the apparatus and more particularly of
`the mixer shaft since it exerts a wiping action on the
`shaft as the shaft is drawn upwardly.
`Finally, the lid placement means including motor 38
`and crank arm 30 pulls the lid 16 to its elevated position
`shown in FIG. 6F.
`It is anticipated that the foregoing sequence of opera
`tions is carried out automatically upon initial actuation
`of the device by the operator, as by means of a push
`button or switch, such as that designated by reference
`numeral 87. Such sequence is illustrated diagrammati
`cally in FIG. 7. A circuit diagram of a circuit which
`may be employed for such purpose is illustrated in FIG.
`8. It will be noted that the circuit incorporates a timer
`88 to run the machine through as many cycles as
`deemed appropriate by the operator. However, in the
`case of milk shakes, one cycle of approximately 10 sec
`onds duration will prepare a high quality shake, even
`when employing hard ice cream.
`
`50
`
`60
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 014
`
`

`
`5
`Means is provided to prevent rotation of cup or re
`ceptacle 14 during the mixing operation so that the
`operator need not manually hold and maintain the re
`ceptacle in place'and against such rotation. More specif
`ically, in the arrangement illustrated, the bottom of the
`receptacle has indents 90 formed at the bottom thereof
`at spaced locations about the bottom. These indents 90
`receive corresponding detents or projections 92 located
`on and projecting upwardly from platform 12 of the
`support. In addition to preventing rotation of the recep
`tacle, the indents and detents cooperate to ensure that
`the receptacle is properly placed relative to the plat
`form and thus relative to the lid and mixer head.
`FIG. 5 shows details of the mixer head 44. The mixer
`head includes a cylindrical portion 94 which receives
`the lower end of the mixer shaft 42. A quick release
`mechanism such as the pin and slot arrangement illus
`trated may be employed to removably secure the cylin
`drical portion to the shaft end. Two bands 96, 98 of
`stainless steel or the like are secured to the cylindrical
`20
`portion 94. Each band includes an upper band wall 100,
`a lower band wall 102, and spaced side band walls 104
`connected to the upper and lower band walls. The walls
`of each band de?ne a loop of generally rectangular,
`cross-sectional con?guration. Each band is elongated
`and has a primary axis, the bands being affixed to each
`other at the centers of the upper and lower band walls
`with the primary axes of the bands disposed at right
`angles. It has been found that a mixer head construction
`of the type shown provides for highly ef?cient and
`effective mixing of ingredients and readily lends itself to
`cleaning.
`FIGS. 9A through 10A illustrate an alternative ar
`rangement wherein the lid 16 is ?xed in position on the
`support 10. In this particular embodiment, the recepta
`cle 14, rather than the lid, moves to bring the receptacle
`and lid into positive, sealed engagement. FIGS. 9A and
`10 show the receptacle 14 in lowered condition prior to
`engagement between the lid 16 and the receptacle 14.
`Receptacle 14 is on a support portion 201 which is
`moveable relative to the rest of the support from the
`lower position of FIGS. 9A and 10 to the elevated
`position of FIGS. 9B and 10A.
`Support portion 201 is in engagement with a crank
`arm 203 pivoted about pivot 205. The end of the arm
`45
`203 remote from support portion 201 is connected to a
`link 207 connected to a rotor 209 on the output shaft of
`a step motor 211. Activation of motor 211 and 180 de
`gree movement of rotor 209 will serve to move the
`support portion 201 and receptacle 14 between elevated
`and lowered positions.
`FIGS. 9C through 9F show the sequence of events
`occurring after engagement between the receptacle and
`lid. In FIGS. 9C through 9E, the mixer shaft is lowered,
`rotated and raised relative to the lid and receptacle in
`the manner discussed with respect to the ?rst embodi
`ment of the invention. The same mechanism for axially
`moving and rotating the mixer shaft may be employed
`in this embodiment and will not be described. In FIG.
`9F, the support portion and receptacle have been low
`ered after mixing of the receptacle contents.
`As noted, in this embodiment of the invention the lid
`16 does not move during operation of the device, being
`secured in position relative to support 10 by the support
`element including member 26. Preferably, the lid is
`65
`readily detachable for cleaning, and any suitable means
`may be utilized for this purpose. For example, in the
`alternative embodiment a boss 220 is ?xedly secured to
`
`5,439,289
`6
`lid 16 and held in place by a set screw 222 threadably
`engaged with member 26. A conventional bayonet con
`nector arrangement could also be employed.
`Lid 16 of the alternative embodiment also includes an
`air hole 224 in the lid providing communication be
`tween the lid recess and the ambient atmosphere. This
`will not only accommodate overrun during mixing but
`prevent a vacuum from developing between the lid and
`receptacle and consequent dif?culties in removing the
`receptacle.
`I claim:
`1. Apparatus for mixing consumable ingredients, said
`apparatus comprising, in combination:
`a support including a support portion for selectively
`releasably supporting a receptacle at a support
`location on said support portion, said receptacle
`including a receptacle bottom and a receptacle side
`wall having a rim, said receptacle bottom and said
`receptacle side wall de?ning an interior for con
`taining consumable ingredients to be mixed by said
`apparatus and said rim de?ning an opening commu
`nicating with said interior;
`a lid supported by said support over said support
`location of said support portion having a lid top
`wall de?ning an aperture and de?ning a lid recess
`extending downwardly from and communicating
`with said aperture, said lid recess terminating at a
`lower lid opening spaced from and larger than said
`aperture, and de?ned by said lid at the bottom of
`said lid, said lid top wall positioned over a recepta
`cle when a receptacle is supported by said support
`portion at said support location;
`support portion placement means for moving said
`support portion relative to said lid from a lower
`position wherein said lid is not in engagement with
`a receptacle supported by said support portion to
`an elevated position wherein the receptacle sup
`ported by said support portion is ?xedly disposed
`between and in engagement with both said support
`portion and said lid and wherein said lid is posi
`tively engaged with and seals said receptacle to
`substantially close said receptacle opening and said
`lid opening and wherein said lid top wall is located
`above the rim of the receptacle and said recess is
`disposed above the receptacle interior and in com
`munication therein;
`an elongated mixer shaft supported by said support
`and extending through the lid aperture, said mixer
`shaft axially and rotatably movable relative to said
`lid and relative to the receptacle and having a
`lower end;
`a mixer head connected to said shaft lower end under
`said lid top wall;
`transport means connected to said support for trans
`porting said mixer shaft and mixer head down
`wardly and then upwardly within said receptacle
`after said lid has been positively engaged by and
`forms a seal with the receptacle supported by said
`support portion caused by movement of said sup
`port portion from said lower position to said ele
`vated position, said mixer head being closely adja
`cent to said lid top wall and spaced upwardly from
`the rim of the receptacle both prior to downward
`transport of said mixer shaft and said mixer head by
`said transport means and after upward transport of
`said mixer shaft and said mixer head by said trans
`port means; and
`
`35
`
`55
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 015
`
`

`
`7
`rotating means for rotating said mixer shaft and mixer
`head within the receptacle, said support portion
`placement means operable to move said support
`portion from said elevated position to said lower
`position to disengage the receptacle from said lid,
`break the seal between the receptacle and said lid,
`and lower the receptacle away from said lid after
`
`8
`termination of rotation of said mixer shaft and
`mixer head by said rotating means.
`2. The apparatus according to claim 1 additionally
`comprising releasable connector means for releasably
`connecting said lid to said support.
`3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said
`lid de?nes an air hole providing communication be
`tween said recess and the ambient atmosphere.
`* * * * *
`
`5,439,289
`
`5
`
`1O
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1002, p. 016