Toy beverage mixer and dispenser

A toy beverage mixer and dispenser includes a horizontal support and vertical support combined to support a cylindrical mixing container. A crank housing is pivotally secured to the vertical support and includes a hand crank operated drive mechanism which is coupled to a rotating mixing blade extending downwardly into the mixing container. A dispensing valve is supported at the lower portion of the mixing container and controls the dispensing of mixed beverage into a drinking cup supported upon the horizontal support beneath the dispensing valve. The mixing blade is removable from the crank mechanism for cleaning and the entire mixing container and dispensing valve is similarly removable for cleaning operation.

FILED OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to beverage mixers and dispenser and 
particular to those suitable for use by younger children. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Soda fountain treats such as sundaes, sodas and milkshakes have for many 
years proven to be extremely popular with a broad range of consumers. 
These types of treats are perhaps particularly enjoyed by younger 
children. One of the most favorite soda fountain type treats is that 
generally referred to as a milkshake or malted milk both of which are 
often referred to generically as "milkshakes" or simply "shakes". The 
creation of such milkshakes is relatively simple and involves combining 
milk, ice cream, flavoring and sometimes malted milk powder as well as 
other optional ingredients such as fruit or the like in a mixer or blender 
to produce a smooth creamy beverage. Other types of similar beverages are 
produced in mixers or blenders such as "fruit smoothies" or the like. 
Children's toys often mirror or mimic adult activities. In the case of soda 
fountains and the like, this trend has existed for some time. However, the 
concerns for safety and ease of operation raised when children's toys 
versions of such soda fountain apparatus are contemplated substantially 
limit the operation of the mixers or blenders. 
As would be expected, the popularity of such blended or mixed types of 
beverages has prompted practitioners in the art to create a wide variety 
of mixing and blending apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. Des. No. 285,892 
issued to Doyel sets forth a MIXER/POURER FOR DRINKS in which a 
cylindrical beverage container supports a pouring spout, a handle and an 
upper housing mechanism. The upper housing mechanism supports a plurality 
of downwardly extending mixer elements together with a drive mechanism for 
rotating the mixer elements within the beverage container. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,030,908 issued to Barnett, et al. sets forth a DISPENSING 
APATUS having a cylindrical mixing chamber pivotally secured to a 
generally planar base support. A latch mechanism secures the mixing 
chamber to the base and a dispensing valve is operable to dispense the 
mixing chamber contents into the base. A covering lid supports a crank 
mechanism and downwardly extending set of mixer blades operative within 
the mixing chamber. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,774,338 issued to Waak sets forth PERCOLATOR/BLENDER TOYS 
in which a blender vessel is securable to and supportable by a simulated 
blender base mechanism. The base includes a rotating drive assembly which 
engages a rotating mechanism within the beverage vessel to simulate 
percolating activity or the like within the vessel. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,580 issued to Doyel sets forth a TWO-MOTOR 
BATTERY-OPERATED MIXER-POURER having a mixing vessel and a combination 
blender and pump apparatus in which a first motor operates to drive a 
beverage pump for forcing the beverage from the mixing chamber to the 
dispensing spout and a second motor operates to rotate a set of mixing 
blades. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,375 issued to Wellhausen, et al. sets forth a TOY 
APATUS having a fluid container supporting an upper lid assembly. A 
crank handle is rotatably secured to the upper assembly and is coupled 
through a gear drive mechanism to a plurality of downwardly extending 
blender elements. As the handle is cranked, the gear drive assembly 
rotates the downwardly extending blender elements within the mixing 
chamber. 
U.S. Pat. Des. No. 101,703 issued to Cruck sets forth a COMBINED ELECTRIC 
FOOD MIXER AND FRUIT JUICER having a base member defining a container 
support surface and an upwardly extending support arm. A motor driven 
juice mechanism is supported by the upwardly extending arm and is 
operative to extract juice from a citrus fruit or the like which is 
collected in a container received upon the planar support surface. 
While the foregoing described prior art devices have enjoyed some level of 
success and effectiveness, there remains nonetheless a continuing need in 
the art for evermore improved and realistic children's toy which provide 
the benefit of child operable mixing and blending devices. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an 
improved toy beverage mixer and dispenser. It is a more particular object 
of the present invention to provide an improved toy beverage mixer and 
dispenser which is safe and easy to operate and which may readily be used 
by younger children. 
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a beverage 
mixer and dispenser comprises: a base having a vertically extending 
support; a mixing container coupled to the vertically extending support 
and defining an interior cavity; a crank housing pivotally coupled to the 
vertically extending support and positionable in a first position 
overlying the mixing container and a second position pivoted away from the 
mixing container; a crank rotatably supported upon the crank housing; a 
mixing blade; and mixing blade drive means supporting the mixing blade and 
coupled to the crank for rotating the mixing blade in response to crank 
rotation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a toy beverage mixer and dispenser 
constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally 
referenced by numeral 10. Mixer 10 includes a base 11 having a generally 
planar vertical support 12 and a horizontal support 13. Vertical support 
12 includes a horizontally extending circular cup ring 18 and a generally 
rectangular upwardly open spoon receptacle 25. Vertical support 12 further 
includes an extension 14 which as is set forth below in FIG. 2 supports a 
mixing and dispensing unit 40. A plurality of cups 21 are received and 
supported within cup ring 18 while a plurality of spoons 26 are received 
and supported within spoon receptacle 25. Horizontal support 13 includes a 
generally planar cup resting surface 19, a dish tray 15 and a straw 
dispenser 16. Dish tray 15 receives and supports a plurality of small 
dishes 22. A cup 20 is shown received upon and supported by cup resting 
surface 19. Straw dispenser 16 is constructed in accordance with 
conventional fabrication techniques and includes a supply of straws stored 
therein (not shown) which are dispensed in singular fashion by movement of 
lever 24. A straw 23 is shown resting in the dispensed position for straw 
dispenser 16. 
A mixing and beverage dispensing unit generally referenced by numeral 40 is 
pivotally secured to extension 14 of vertical support 12 by a hinge 
coupling 80 (seen in FIG. 2). Mixing and dispensing unit 40 includes a 
mixing container 41 defining an interior cavity 42 (seen in FIG. 3). 
Mixing container 41 further defines a forwardly extending spout 46 
defining an upwardly facing opening 47 therein. As is better seen in FIG. 
4, mixing container 41 and extension 14 include a removable attachment 
mechanism by which mixing container 14 is independently supported by 
extension 14 of vertical support 12 in a removable attachment. 
Mixing and dispensing unit 40 further includes a generally cylindrical 
housing 60 defining an interior cavity 64 (seen in FIG. 3). Crank housing 
60 further defines an upwardly extending knob 70 and a crank drive shaft 
63. Crank drive shaft 63 supports an elongated crank 61 having a knob 62 
at the extended end thereof. By means set forth below in greater detail, a 
mixing blade 72 is rotatably supported within crank housing 60 and extends 
downwardly into mixing container 41. To facilitate the cleaning of mixer 
10, mixing unit 40 is pivotally secured to extension 14 of vertical 
support 12 by a hinge coupling 80 (seen in FIG. 2). Thus, in accordance 
with the present invention, crank housing 60 may be pivoted in the 
direction indicated by arrow 71 to the open position shown in dashed line 
representation in FIG. 1. The pivoting of crank housing 60 to the raised 
position also raises mixing blade 72 and exposes mixing container 41. 
Thereafter, mixing container 41 together with dispensing valve 43 may be 
removed from vertical support 12 for easy cleaning. In addition, mixing 
blade 72 is removable for cleaning activities by means set forth below. 
In operation, crank housing 60 is positioned in the closed position shown 
and a cup 20 is placed upon surface 19 beneath nozzle 44. Thereafter, the 
ingredients to be mixed within mixing container 41 are introduced into 
interior cavity 42 through opening 47 of spout 46. Alternatively, crank 
housing 60 may be raised by pivoting housing 60 in the direction indicated 
by arrow 71 to better expose interior cavity 42 of mixing container 41 and 
the to-be-mixed ingredients introduced accordingly. In this method once 
the ingredients have been introduced into interior cavity 42, crank 
housing 60 is pivoted downwardly to the closed position shown. 
In either event, the mixing operation is carried forward by rotation of 
crank 61 as the child user grasps knob 62 thereof and preferably also 
holds knob 70 to maintain the position of mixer 10. Thereafter, the 
vigorous turning of crank 61 rotates mixing blade 72 within interior 
cavity 42 causing the ingredients therein to be mixed. Once the desired 
consistency is obtained in the blending operation, the user then moves 
valve lever 45 to open dispensing valve 43 and discharge a portion of the 
now blended contents within interior cavity 42 downwardly through nozzle 
44 into cup 20. Once the desired quantity is dispensed, the user then 
closes dispensing valve 43 by moving valve lever 45 to the closed position 
afterwhich cup 20 may be withdrawn and the contents consumed. While the 
structure of dispensing valve 43 and valve lever 45 may utilize virtually 
any convenient valve mechanism, it has been found particularly 
advantageous a rotationally operable dispensing valve mechanism of the 
type well known in the prior art for dispensing valve 43. As a result, the 
movement of valve level 45 back and forth in the directions indicated by 
arrows 52 provides a simple opening and closing operation for the child 
user in dispensing the blended contents within mixing container 41. 
While a wide variety of ingredients may be utilized within mixing container 
41 to provide the above-described blended operation of mixer and blender 
10, a particularly advantageous beverage is obtained by using a powdered 
pudding mix of the variety known as "instant pudding" so named because of 
the absence of any need for heating or cooking as the basic element of the 
"milkshake" to be blended. Thereafter, a quantity of milk substantially 
greater than the quantity normally utilized in the pudding recipe is 
introduced into interior cavity 42 and crank handle 61 is rotated as 
described above. With vigorous rotation, the combination of diluted 
pudding mix and milk assumes a frothy milkshake-like consistency which is 
extremely enjoyable to the child user both as to appearance and taste. 
Once the child user has completed the milkshake making play pattern 
described above, mixer and blender 10 may be cleaned easily by pivoting 
crank housing 60 upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow 71 to the 
dashed line open position which facilitates removal of mixing blade 72 and 
mixing container 41 together with dispensing valve 43. Thereafter, mixing 
blade 72 and the combination of mixing container 41 and dispensing valve 
43 may be conveniently washed in the sink or other washing facility in an 
easy and convenient process. Once cleaning is complete, the reassembly 
process is carried forward in the reverse order by simply returning mixing 
blade 72 to crank housing 60 and reinstalling mixing container 41 upon 
extension 14 of vertical support 12. 
FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective assembly view of crank housing 60 and hinge 
coupling 80 showing the attachment thereof to extension 14 of vertical 
support 12. As described above, crank housing 60 supports a crank shank 
63, a knob 70 and a rotatable crank arm 61. The latter terminates in an 
outwardly extending knob 62. Crank housing 60 further includes an 
elongated generally cylindrical hinge member 87 having a bore 88 extending 
therethrough. Correspondingly, extension 14 of vertical support 12 defines 
a pair of spaced apart hinge members 82 and 84 having a spacing 
therebetween slightly greater than the width of hinge member 87. Hinge 
members 82 and 84 define cylindrical bores 83 and 85 respectively. With 
hinge member 87 positioned between hinge members 82 and 84, an elongated 
cylindrical hinge pin 86 is placed within bores 83, 85 and 88 to complete 
the attachment of hinge coupling 80. 
FIG. 3 sets forth a partial section view of mixer and blender 10 taken 
along section lines 3--3 in FIG. 1. As described above, base 11 includes 
vertical support 12 having a cup ring 18, a spoon receptacle 25 and an 
extension 14. A mixing container 41 defines an interior cavity 42 and is 
secured to extension 14 in the manner shown in FIG. 4. Mixing container 41 
further defines a downwardly extending neck portion 54 having an aperture 
53 therethrough. A dispensing valve 43 is secured to neck 54 in accordance 
with conventional fabrication techniques and includes a nozzle 44 and a 
valve lever 45. As is also described above, a crank housing 60 defines an 
interior cavity 64 and an upwardly extending knob 70. Crank housing 60 is 
pivotally secured to extension 14 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Crank 
housing 60 further defines an aperture 65 and a shaft support 66 having an 
aperture 67 formed therein. A crank drive shaft 63 extends through 
aperture 65 of crank housing 60 and aperture 67 of support 66. A crank 61 
having a knob 62 is secured to the extending portion of crank drive shaft 
63 in accordance with conventional fabrication techniques. A bevel gear 90 
is secured to the interior end of crank drive shaft 63 in accordance with 
conventional fabrication techniques. 
Crank housing 60 further defines a bearing 74 extending downwardly from the 
center portion of crank housing 60 and an aperture 75 formed in the lower 
surface of crank housing 60 in alignment with bearing 74. A bearing 73 
surrounds aperture 75. A coupling shaft 77 extends downwardly into bearing 
73 and defines an interior socket 78. Coupling shaft 77 extends upwardly 
and is received within bearing 74. A bevel gear 91 is received upon and 
secured to coupling shaft 77 in a position of engagement with bevel gear 
90. Mixing blade 72 defines an upwardly extending lock shaft 76 which 
passes through aperture 75 and is received within socket 78 of coupling 
shaft 77. The fabrication of lock shaft 76 and socket 78 may be configured 
in accordance with design choice. However, it has been found advantageous 
to utilize a cruciform cross-sectioned shaft 76 and a corresponding 
cruciformed shaped cross-section for socket 78. The essential feature is 
that lock shaft 76 is removably insertable into socket 78 to couple mixing 
blade 72 to coupling shaft 77. 
In operation, crank 61 is rotated in the manner described above causing a 
corresponding rotation of crank drive shaft 63 which in turn rotates bevel 
gear 90. The rotation of bevel gear 90 produces a corresponding rotation 
of bevel gear 91 due to the engagement therebetween which in turn rotates 
coupling shaft 77 and mixing blade 72. In its preferred form, the gear 
ratio between bevel gear 90 and bevel gear 91 provides a speed 
multiplication such that gear 91 is substantially smaller than gear 90. 
This provides a higher speed rotation of mixing blade 72 to improve the 
blending operation. 
FIG. 4 sets forth a perspective view of the supporting attachment between 
mixing container 41 and extension 14 of vertical support 12. As described 
above, support 12 defines a pair of spaced apart hinge members 82 and 84 
having cylindrical bores 83 and 85 respectively formed therein. Extension 
14 further defines a forwardly extending generally T-shaped support tab 
48. Correspondingly, mixing container 41 defines a rearwardly extending 
tab receptor 49 having a slot 50 and a tab slot 51 formed therein. The 
attachment of mixing container 41 to extension 14 is achieved by aligning 
slot 50 and tab slot 51 with the base and transverse portions of T-shaped 
support tab 48 and thereafter lowering receptor 49 onto support tab 48. 
The removal of mixing container 41 is achieved by the reverse operation in 
which mixing container 41 is simply raised with respect to extension 14. 
What has been shown is a simple, easy to use toy beverage and mixer 
dispenser which provides substantial enjoyment and entertainment for young 
children. The system facilitates the operation of the mixing or shake 
making apparatus while protecting the child user from potential injury. 
The mixing head is tiltable to an open position permitting the mixing 
blade and mixing container together with the dispensing valve to be 
removed for easy cleaning operation. The provision of a dispensing valve 
at the bottom portion of the mixing container provides an added 
entertainment and amusement value for the child user in dispensing the 
mixed beverage into a drinking cup. 
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and 
modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its 
broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all 
such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of 
the invention.