Abstract:
A mixing hoe including an elongated handle and a hoe blade attached to the handle is adapted for mixing material in a walled container. The blade forms a bottom edge, opposing upper edge, and first and second opposing side edges. The upper edge has adjacent edge sections extending outwardly and downwardly, from a central recess or opening in the blade upper edge, to respective first and second side edges. The upper edges are bent backward for creating flow patterns. The first and second side edges extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge sections outer extremes to the bottom edge. The edges are sloped and the edge corners are rounded to closely resemble container corner and wall characteristics. The blade is manipulated by a user grasping the handle to position at least one of the five scraping edges (two top, two side and bottom) against the base and walls of the container to scrape away material adhering to the base and walls of the container during mixing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/633,972, filed Aug. 8, 2000 that is now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A mixing hoe, for mortar and other construction material in a container such as a wheel barrow or open mixing container, is provided with rounded comers and angled or contoured sides and is provided with openings in it to efficiently mix construction material without damaging the container or leaving volumes of construction material unmixed. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     It is generally common practice in the construction industry and for do-it-yourself handymen to mix mortar in a wheel barrow or open container. While some users have found the standard garden hoe to be a convenient and adequate tool for mixing, these hoes suffer from many drawbacks and limitations. As the basic structure of the mixing hoe has gone through little change over the past 100 years, due consideration must be given to the progressive design of the wheel barrow and its material construction. 
     It is common to form a pile or heap of powder material such as a concrete, sand, etc., mix from a packet or bag in a container, pour in a liquid, usually water, and mix in the water with the powder. This process is repeated until the proper liquid mix proportion is reached. Less liquid or too little will not form a uniform pasty mix and too much will weaken and make the mix too fluid. The usual problem encountered is in getting the last powder remnants from the corners, sides, end and bottom of the receptacle where it tends to adhere and coagulate without properly mixing with the liquid. Without proper mixing of all the material there will be some areas where there is too much liquid and others where there is too little. Both result in a weakened structure. 
     Prior art mortar mixing hoes, such as those described by W. Wickson, in U.S. Pat. No. 565,379, issued Aug. 4, 1896 and N. Anderson, U.S. Pat. No. 858,150, issued Sep. 3, 1907 have sharp pointed corners and distinctly angled edges. For the early wooden and metal wheel barrows with generally perpendicular side walls, these hoes were used quite effectively for mixing construction materials. However, primarily through the use of synthetic materials such as plastic, fiberglass, and acrylics, the overall design of the wheel barrow has changed to include integrally-molded, contoured side walls with relatively soft surfaces. The use of conventional prior art mortar mixing hoes in these modern wheel barrows, has proven to be awkward and even destructive. The conventional mixing hoe is generally difficult to manipulate to effectively scrape away mortar adhering to the corners and contoured walls of the wheel barrow or open container during mixing. Moreover, sharp corners of mixing blades tend to gouge, rip, cut, and sometimes puncture the relatively soft surfaces of the wheel barrow and open mixing containers now in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A mixing hoe is designed to be used with weaker, softer modern material containers, such as open top mixing containers and wheel barrows, having rounded comers and sloping side walls. The hoe has a top recessed opening for attachment or placement of a handle to the front or back side of the blade centrally of the hoe blade so as to center or balance the center of gravity and forces exerted during use and to provide equal access to both top edges of the blade, for independent use, as well as the bottom and side edges. The handle intersects the blade at an angle of 70 to 85 degrees with the top side of the blade for flat side horizontal movement through construction material. The edges are blunt and outer comers are all rounded to prevent the mixing hoe from gouging, ripping, cutting and punching the inside surfaces of the container or wheel barrow during mixing. 
     Different angles between the blade bottom edge and side edges and between the top and sides and between the top edges and recess allows the mixing hoe to engage the bottom and sides of the different containers to scrape off material adhering to these surfaces and comers by a simple rotation of the mixing hoe handle, regardless of the configuration and angles of the container walls. The blade edges are angled so that the flat bottom edge extended intersects the flat side edges extended at an angle in excess of 90 degrees and the side edges extended intersect the top edges extended at an angle of essentially 90 degrees. The opposing top and bottom edges and opposing side edges give ready access to the left and right sides of container walls with little movement by the user necessary. One or more flow ports are provided within the blade to allow limited flow passage therethrough, and flow deflectors are provided adjacent the flow ports to direct and agitate material passing through the flow ports. The top edge of the blade is curved in the direction of the handle to direct material, and in particular liquid, flow during mixing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mixing hoe according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary front perspective view of the mixing hoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary rear perspective view of the mixing hoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevation view of the nixing hoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the mixing hoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 6A,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D are views depicting use of the mixing hoe in a wheel barrow or open top mixing container. 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front perspective view of a mixing hoe according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of the mixing hoe shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mixing hoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the mixing hoe blade of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings, a mixing hoe  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  1 . The mixing hoe  10  is especially applicable for mixing construction material, such as mortar, in a container having a bottom with contoured side walls, such as a conventional wheel barrow. With the present mixing hoe, a user can effectively and thoroughly mix material in any of the presently used containers with reduced effort in less time and without damaging the bottom and side walls of the container. It is ideal for homeowners and craftsmen requiring limited amounts of material and for complimenting other mixing methods such as reworking drum mixed mortar, that has become too stiff, or mixing quick-set cement that sets rapidly and must often be reworked before use. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the mixing hoe  10  includes a standard elongate handle  11  having a free end, for being grasped by a user, and a proximal end including a metal ferrule  12  and mounting hook  14 , for attaching a hoe blade  15  to the handle. The hoe blade  15  and handle  11  are attached together using any suitable means, such as welding. The handle preferably intersects the plane of the hoe blade at an angle of 90 degrees plus or minus 20 degrees within the confines of the bottom, top, and side edges of the blade. The hoe blade  15  needs to be stable enough to withstand the pressures and stresses of working construction material such as concrete. The hoe blade has opposing top  21  and bottom  22  edges, and opposing side edges  23 ,  24 . The top edge  21  is provided with a centrally-disposed top edge recess or opening  25  for accommodating the mounting hook  14  in order to attach the blade  15  to the handle  11  at a more centrally located point below the top edge  21 . This enables the top edge  21  of the blade  15  to fully engage the bottom or walls of the container during mixing without interference by the mounting hook  14 . Preferably, the top edge  21  is divided into adjacent upper left edge section  21 A and upper right edge section  21 B which extend outwardly and downwardly from the top edge opening  25  to respective side edges  23 ,  24  of the blade  15 . The side edges  23 ,  24  extend downwardly and inwardly towards the bottom edge  22  of the blade  15  such that the overall shape of the blade  15  is essentially pentagonal. 
     According to one embodiment, the bottom edge  22  of the hoe blade  15  is relatively flat or straight for a length of between about 10 and 15 cm. The side edges  23 ,  24  extend upwardly and outwardly at an angle of between about 100 and 120 degrees relative to the bottom edge  22 , and like the bottom straight edge has a flat or straight length extend between about 10 and 15 cm in length. The top edge sections  21 A,  21 B of the top edge  21  each have a flat or straight edged extending between about 5 and 10 cm in length, and each extends outwardly and downwardly at respective angles of between about 10 and 30 degrees relative to the bottom straight edge  22 . The comers  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34 , formed at the junction of the top edge  21  and side edges  23 ,  24  of the blade  15 , and at the junction of the side edges  23 ,  24  and bottom edge  22  of the blade  15 , are rounded to protect the walls of the container against scrapes, cuts, rips, puncture, and other damage which typically occurs when mixing using conventional-type sharp corner hoes. The radius defined by each of the top comers  31 ,  34  of the hoe blade  15  is approximately 0.9 to 2.0 cm, whereas the radius defined by each of the bottom comers  32 ,  33  of the hoe blade  15  is approximately 2.0 to 3.5 cm. As best indicated in FIG. 4, the top edges  21 A,  21 B of the blade  15  are each preferably curved backward  35  towards the handle  11  of the mixing hoe  10 . This structure creates multiple flow patterns as the mixing hoe  10  is moved back and forth through the material in the container and conducts liquid over or past the blade. The preferred radius of the backward curve  35  is from 1.0 to 2.5 cm. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2,  8 ,  9  and  10 , the face of the hoe blade includes a pair of spaced-apart flow ports  36 ,  37  and  66 ,  67  and  96 ,  97  respectively adapted for allowing passage of material through the blades  15 ,  55 ,  85  during mixing. Flow deflectors  38 ,  39  and  68 ,  69  are located adjacent respective flow ports  36 ,  37  and  66 ,  67  and extend outwardly at an angle towards the handle  11  to further agitate material passing through the flow ports  36 ,  37  and  66 ,  67  during mixing. The flow deflectors  38 ,  39  cooperate to direct the flow of material towards the side edges  23 ,  24  and flow deflectors  66 ,  67  direct the flow toward the top edge  21  of the hoe blades  15  and  55  respectively as the mixing hoe  10  is moved in a reverse raking motion through the material. The open surface areas of each flow port  36 ,  37  and  66 ,  67  are approximately 15 square cm. 
     FIGS. 6A,  6 B,  6 C, and  6 D demonstrate use of the mixing hoe. Using the handle  11 , the user manipulates the hoe blade  15  to locate one or more of the five top, bottom, and side edges  21 A,  21 B,  22 ,  23 ,  24  against the base “W” and walls “W” of the container “C” to scrape away any material adhering to the base, walls and comers during mixing. The user mixes the material in the container using primarily an alternating forward raking and reverse raking movement and using a stirring motion, and/or using a side to side movement. In FIG. 6A, the hoe blade  15  is rotated from a position “P 1 ” where the bottom edge  22  engages the base “W” of the container “C” to a position “P 2 ” where the side edge  24  engages a side wall “W” of the container “C”. In FIG. 6B, the hoe blade  15  is rotated from a position “P 3 ” where the edge section  21 B of the top edge  21  engages the side wall “W” of the container “C” to a position “P 4 ” where the side edge  24  engages the base “W” of the container “C”. FIG. 6C shows rotation of the hoe blade  15  from a position “P 5 ” where the side edge  23  engages the base “W” of the container “C” to a position “P 6 ” where the bottom edge  22  engages the side wall “W” of the container “C”. FIG. 6D shows rotation of the hoe blade  15  to a position “P 7 ” such that the side edge engages the base “W” of the container “C” with the adjacent top edge section extending generally perpendicular to the base “W”. In this position “P 7 ”, the hoe blade  15  is especially useful in more traditional mixing containers which have a base or one or more side walls extending generally perpendicular to another wall. As a result of its rounded comers  31 ,  32 ,  33 , and  34  and multiple-angled edges  21 A,  21 B,  22 ,  23 , and  24 , the hoe blade  15  can effectively reach the entire surface area of the base and contoured walls “W” and “W” of the container “C” with little effort by the user, and without damaging the base or walls of the container. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified mixing hoe according to the present invention. As previously described, the mixing hoe  50  includes a standard elongate handle  51  having a free end for being grasped by a user, and a proximal end including a metal ferrule  52  and mounting hook  54  for attaching a hoe blade  55  to the handle  51 . The hoe blade  55  has opposing top and bottom edges  61 ,  62 , and opposing side edges  63 ,  64 . The top edge  61  defines a centrally-disposed top edge recess or opening  65  for accommodating the mounting hook  54  in order to attach the blade  55  to the handle  51  at a point below the top edge  61  of the blade  55  and within the confines of the bottom and side edges. The top edge  61  is preferably curved backward towards the handle  51 , and is divided into adjacent edge sections  61 A and  61 B which extend downwardly and outwardly from the top edge opening  65  to respective side edges  63 ,  64  of the blade  65 . The side edges  63 ,  64  extend downwardly and inwardly towards the bottom edge  62  of the blade  55  such that the overall shape of the blade  55  is essentially pentagonal. 
     The hoe blade  55  includes a pair of spaced-apart flow ports  66 ,  67  adapted for passage of material through the blade  55  during mixing. Flow deflectors  68 ,  69  extend outwardly from the bottom of each flow port  66 ,  67  towards the handle  51  to further agitate material passing through the flow ports  66 ,  67  during mixing. The bottom of each flow port  66 ,  67  is preferably formed parallel to corresponding top edge sections  61 A,  61 B of the top edge  61  of the hoe blade  55 . The flow deflectors  68 ,  69  direct the flow of material upwardly towards the top edge  61  of the hoe blade  55  as the mixing hoe  50  is moved forward in a reverse raking motion through the material. 
     A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  9 . The mixing hoe  80  includes a standard elongate handle  81  having a free end for being grasped by a user, and a proximal end including a metal ferrule  82  and mounting hook  84  for attaching a hoe blade  85  to the handle  81 . The hoe blade  85  has opposing top and bottom edges  91 ,  92 , and opposing side edges  93 ,  94 . The top edge  91  includes a centrally-disposed top edge opening or recess  95  for accommodating the mounting hook  84  in order to attach the blade  85  to the handle  81  at a point below the top edge  91  of the blade  85 . The top edges  91 A,  91 B are preferably curved backward towards the handle  81 . The adjacent top edge sections  91 A,  91 B which extend outwardly and downwardly from the top edge opening  95  to respective side edges  93 ,  94  of the blade  85 . The side edges  93 ,  94  extend downwardly and inwardly towards bottom edge  92  of the blade  85  such that the overall shape of the blade  85  is essentially pentagonal. 
     The face of the hoe blade defines a pair of spaced-apart flow ports  96 ,  97  for passage of material through the blade  85  during mixing. In this embodiment, the angles defining each flow port  96 ,  97  correspond to those of the top, side and bottom edges  91 A,  91 B,  92 ,  93 , and  94  of the hoe blade  85 . The respective walls of the flow ports can be parallel to edges of the hoe blade. Unlike mixing hoes  10  and  50  the mixing hoe  80  does not include flow deflectors. 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the preferred mixing hoe blade  15 , essentially drawn to scale. The blade is preferably made from {fraction (3/32)} to {fraction (5/32)} inch plate gauge steel with a 6½ to 8½ inch width and 4½ to 6 inch height. A slot  25 , from ⅜ to ½ inch wide is formed along the width center line of the blade and extends from 1½ to 2½ inches into the top of the blade along the center line. The slot intersects the top edges in a radius  18  of about ¼ to ½ inch. The top edge  21 A is angled outwardly and downwardly from the center line at from 10 to 30 degrees with a 20 degree angle preferred. The top edges  21 A,  21 B are bent arcuately backward so that the edges extend backward at an essentially right angle to the plane of the hoe blade back face. This configuration diverts the flow of liquid downward at opposing angles toward the dry unmixed material to accelerate mixing, particularly at the start. The top edge intersects the left edge  23  of the blade at preferably a 90 degree angle. This will enable the top edge  21 A and side edge  23  to scrape containers that have bottoms and walls that intersect at 90 degree angles. The same structure is provided with the top right edge  21 B and right edge  24 . The juncture of the sides and tops  31 ,  34  are formed by a radius of from ¼ to ½ inch. The base of lower edge  22  intersects the side edges  23 ,  24  at an angle of from 100 to 120 degrees. The base  22  meets the sides  23 ,  24  in a radius of ¾ to 1¼ inch to accommodate container angular and arcuate intersecting walls and base. The blade is provided with flow ports  36 ,  37  and flow deflectors  38 ,  39 . The flow ports are preferably formed with side walls parallel to side edges  23 ,  24  and with top  29  and bottom  16  walls parallel to the bottom blade edge  22 . The side walls  36 ,  37  meet the top  29  and bottom  16  walls at a radius  28  of from ¼ to ½ inch. The flow ports are preferably formed beginning from ⅞ to 1½ inches in from the side edges. The ports have a width of ⅝ to 1 inch and a height of from 1¼ to 2 inches. The material from the ports has one inner side remaining attached after the other three sides are cut, are bent backwardly toward the handle at an angle of 15 to 35 degrees to form flow deflectors  38 ,  39  that open toward the sides of the blade. The flow deflectors provide a pressure relief, reduce sloshing of liquid as the blade is drawn along the mixing container in close proximity to the sides, and provide maximum surface area for the mixing blade while deflecting or breaking up clots to keep them from blocking the flow ports. The passage opening to the outer sides increases efficiency and back flow. The blade edges  21 A,  21 B,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are blunt so as to not scrape or cut into the container material. The edges can be beveled or rounded slightly to remove burrs or sharp comers. The flat edges are all formed around the handle point of attachment to balance the forces no matter which side of the blade is being used for mixing. 
     It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is illustrative only and that changes, variations, substitutions, modifications and equivalents will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art and that such may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.