Abstract:
Mixing assembly for providing a cold work surface for mixing ice cream and toppings includes a base including a material capable of forming a cold reservoir after placement in a freezer and a mixing stone having a flat upper surface and retained on the base. The cold reservoir maintains the mixing stone at a low temperature and allows ice cream and toppings to be mixed thereon without the ice cream melting. The base includes a frame defining an interior compartment which includes or is receivable of the material and a depression into which the mixing stone is placed. The material in the compartment may be water which freezes when placed into a freezer for a sufficient amount of time, or any type of known freeze gel contained in a gel pack which, when placed into a freezer for a sufficient amount of time, is able to form a cold reservoir.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/837,843 filed Aug. 15, 2006, incorporated by reference herein. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a mixing stone assembly including a mixing stone which enables ice cream and similar frozen desserts to be mixed with toppings and other additives and is designed for home use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is now quite common to add toppings to ice cream or other frozen desserts to suit the consumer&#39;s desires and create unique and personal flavors. Such toppings include various flavored syrups, fruit, candy and confections such as chocolate chips and other chocolate products. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, ice cream shops typically have a number of toppings available which can be added to the ice cream in a cup or cone upon request by the consumer, and specifically placed on top of the ice cream. One issue with this placement of toppings is that the consumer inherently first eats the ice cream at the top having the toppings thereon so that the remainder of the ice cream is eaten without the toppings, i.e., plain. 
         [0005]    To address this issue, some ice cream shops mix toppings into the ice cream before it is served in a cup or cone so that the toppings are distributed throughout the ice cream. To allow for such mixing without the ice cream melting during the mixing process, the mixing is performed on a table having a stone top and which is maintained at a relatively cold temperature to inhibit melting of the ice cream. In use, a quantity of ice cream in one or more flavors selected by the consumer are placed onto the stone, along with the selected topping or toppings, and the ice cream and toppings are mixed together. Once a thorough mixing is achieved, the ice cream is removed from the stone and placed into a cup or cone and served to the consumer. 
         [0006]    Unfortunately, the table having the stone top used in such ice cream shops is quite large and heavy and thus prohibitive for home use. A consumer is therefore unable to mix ice cream with toppings in a home setting without the ice cream melting during the mixing process. 
         [0007]    It would be desirable to provide a mixing stone which enables ice cream and other frozen desserts to be mixed with toppings thereon and can be used in a home setting. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mixing assembly which can be used in a home setting to mix ice cream, or other frozen desserts, and toppings while inhibiting the ice cream or other frozen desserts from melting during the mixing process. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved mixing assembly having a mixing stone which is integrated with a portable base which maintains the mixing stone at a relatively cold temperature to enable ice cream, or other frozen desserts, and toppings to be mixed thereon. 
         [0010]    In order to achieve at least one of these objects and possibly others, one embodiment of a mixing assembly capable of providing a cold work surface for mixing ice cream, or other frozen desserts, and toppings in accordance with the invention includes a base including or receivable of a material capable of forming a cold reservoir after placement in a freezer and a mixing stone having a substantially flat upper surface and being retained on the base. The cold reservoir provided by the material maintains the mixing stone at a low temperature and thereby allows ice cream and toppings to be mixed thereon without the ice cream melting. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the base defines an interior compartment receivable of the material. The base may include a depression formed or surrounded by a peripheral or upwardly projecting wall, and the mixing stone is arranged in the depression. The base, peripheral wall, depression and mixing stone may be substantially rectangular. 
         [0012]    To aid removal of the mixing stone from engagement with the base, the mixing stone may include at least one inwardly oriented indentation and the peripheral wall may include at least one notch aligning with a respective indentation. 
         [0013]    Further, in one embodiment, a locking frame secures the mixing stone in engagement with the base and includes at least one inwardly oriented, arcuate projection arranged to substantially cover a respective indentation in the mixing stone. The locking frame seal spaces between edges of the mixing stone and the peripheral wall, and its projection enables its easy removal. Instead of the locking frame, other sealing and/or locking mechanisms may be used to achieve the same functions as locking frame. 
         [0014]    The material in the compartment may be water which freezes when placed into a freezer for a sufficient amount of time to thereby form a cold reservoir. Alternatively, the material may be any type of known freeze gel contained in a gel pack which, when placed into a freezer for a sufficient amount of time, is able to form a cold reservoir. Such a gel pack is provided with a form complementary to the form of the compartment. The frozen water or gel pack in the compartment chill the mixing stone in view of the close positioning of the mixing stone to the compartment. 
         [0015]    The mixing stone may be marble or granite and is preferably attached or sealed to the base. The mixing stone may alternatively be referred to as a mixing slab or mixing board. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and wherein: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a mixing assembly in accordance with the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the mixing assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the mixing assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along the line  3 - 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a mixing assembly in accordance with the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the mixing assembly of  FIG. 4  taken along the line  5 - 5 ; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the section designated  6  in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Referring the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements, a first embodiment of a mixing stone assembly in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and designated generally as  10  and comprises a base  12 , a mixing stone  14  and a locking frame  16 . 
         [0024]    Base  12  defines an interior compartment  18  receivable of a fluid or other medium  20  and an upwardly projecting peripheral wall  22  defining a depression  24  into which the mixing stone  14  is placed. 
         [0025]    Base  12  has a form which enables it to rest securely on a flat surface, e.g., either the bottom of the base  12  is substantially flat as shown or supports or pads or legs  26  extend downward from the bottom surface of the base  12 . Notches  28  are formed in the peripheral wall  22 , one along each shorter side thereof, to enable easy removal of the mixing stone  14 . 
         [0026]    In the illustrated embodiment, the base  12  is substantially rectangular and has rounded edges and corners. Approximate dimensions of the base  12  are a length of about 12 inches, a width of about 10 inches and a height of about 1 to about 1.5 inches. The depression  24  has a depth of about 0.5 inches so that the peripheral or perimeter wall  22  of the base  12  has a height of about 0.5 inches. The length of the depression  24  is about 11 inches and its width is about 9 inches. 
         [0027]    Other shapes and sizes of the base  12  are envisioned and the rounding of the edges and corners of the base  12  is primarily for aesthetic purposes only and may be eliminated or altered as desired. Variations in the size, shape and rounding of the edges and corners may be necessitated by the manufacturing process and/or to accommodate existing packs of fluids. 
         [0028]    The fluid  20  may be any fluid which freezes when placed into a freezer or is otherwise capable of forming a cold reservoir when placed into a freezer and exchanging thermal energy with a surrounding object when removed from the freezer (to draw thermal energy from the object and thereby cool the object). Thus, fluid  20  may be simply water placed into the compartment  18  or possibly a pack of a gel commonly used in ice packs. In the former case, to allow for expansion upon freezing, the compartment  18  is only partially filled with water. In the latter case, the gel pack is advantageously provided with a complementary form to part or all of the compartment  18 . 
         [0029]    To reduce manufacturing expenses, it would be advantageous to construct the base  12  with a compartment  18  having a particular size and shape to accommodate an existing gel pack. In this manner, an existing gel pack could be slid into the compartment  18  during manufacture of the base  12  and sealed therein. 
         [0030]    Mixing stone  14  may be any substrate having a substantially flat, non-porous upper surface which is capable of being a work surface. The non-porosity or impermeability of the surface may be a function or property of the substrate itself or the result of a coating applied to a more porous substrate. Examples of substrates include various natural stones such as marble and granite. 
         [0031]    Mixing stone  14  may have substantially the same size and dimensions as depression  24 , or slightly less. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, mixing stone  14  is substantially rectangular and may have a length of about 11 inches, a width of about 9 inches and a height no greater than 0.5 inches. In some embodiments, mixing stone  14  will have a height of about 0.25 inches. 
         [0032]    Further, mixing stone  14  is provided with inwardly oriented indentations  30 , one along each along the shorter sides, to enable the mixing stone  14  to be removed from the depression  24 . Indentations  30  are formed so that they align with the notches  28  in the peripheral wall  22 . Although the illustrated embodiment shows two notches  28  and two indentations  30 , there may be only a single notch  28  and indentation  30 , or more than two notches and respective indentations  30 . 
         [0033]    It is contemplated that different sizes and shapes of mixing stones  14  can be used in the invention, e.g., circular, square, oval, in which case, the peripheral wall would be formed with the same shape but slightly larger dimensions, and the depression  24  would be formed with substantially the same size and shape. Moreover, the mixing stone  14 , peripheral wall  22  and depression  24  may have a different shape than the base  12 , e.g., an oval depression  24  and oval mixing stone  14  for a rectangular base  12 . 
         [0034]    The locking frame  16  secures mixing stone  14  in depression  24  and thus in connection with the base  12 . Locking frame  16  is substantially rectangular, or otherwise has the same shape as the mixing stone  14  and is the same size as or slightly larger than the mixing stone  14 . Thus, locking frame  16  has a pair of opposed longer sides  32  and a pair of opposed shorter sides  34 . On each shorter side, at an approximate central region, an inwardly oriented, arcuate projection  36  is formed. If the mixing stone includes only a single indentation  30 , then there could only be a single projection  36  formed on the locking frame  16 . 
         [0035]    Projections  36  are dimensioned to substantially cover the indentations  30  in the mixing stone  14  (see  FIG. 1 ), while also substantially sealing any spaces between the edges of the mixing stone  16  and the peripheral wall  22 . Locking frame  16  may thereby secure the mixing stone  14  to the base  12  while ice cream and toppings, or other materials being mixed on mixing stone  14 , are prevented from passing between the mixing stone  14  and the peripheral wall  22  into the depression  24 . 
         [0036]    To assemble the mixing assembly  10 , the base  12  is first manufactured, and then the mixing stone  14  is inserted into the depression  24  and sealed or locked thereto. If locking frame  16  is the sealing or locking mechanism, the sides  32 ,  34  of the locking frame  16  are pressed into the spaces between the mixing stone  14  and the peripheral wall  22 . 
         [0037]    Manufacture of base  12  depends on the type and form of fluid used. Generally, base  12  is made of plastic and can be manufactured by any known plastic manufacturing technique. If the fluid is water, a quantity of water is introduced into the plastic base  12  prior to sealing of the compartment  18 . If the fluid is contained in a gel pack, then the gel pack is first manufactured and then inserted into compartment  18  prior to sealing of the compartment  18 . The thickness of the plastic of the base  12  is selected to ensure that the water can freeze or gel pack can transfer thermal energy through the plastic when in a freezer and thereby form a cold reservoir. 
         [0038]    In use, the consumer would have to place the mixing assembly  10  into a freezer until the fluid or gel pack in the compartment  18  freezes. The exact time can be indicated on the packaging or with instructions on how to use the mixing assembly  10 . The consumer would remove the mixing assembly  10  from the freezer and place ice cream and toppings onto the mixing stone  14 . The ice cream and toppings would be mixed while on the mixing stone  14  without the ice cream melting since the mixing stone  14  is maintained at a temperature low enough to inhibit the ice cream from melting. Specifically, the frozen fluid or gel pack in close proximity to the mixing stone  14  ensures that the mixing stone is cold enough to prevent the ice cream from melting during the mixing process. When the mixing stone  14  is no longer cold enough to inhibit the ice cream from melting or the consumer is finished mixing ice cream and toppings together, the mixing assembly  10  can be placed back into the freezer to prepare it for the next use. 
         [0039]    To clean the mixing assembly  10 , the locking frame  16  is first removed by grasping the projections  36  and lifting the locking frame  16  out of engagement with the mixing stone  14 . This is facilitated by the notches  28  in the peripheral wall  22  of the base  12 , which align with the projections  36 . The mixing stone  14  is then grasped by the indentations  30  and lifted out of engagement with the base  12 , again facilitated by the presence of the notches  28  in the peripheral wall  22  which align with the indentations  30 . The base  12 , mixing stone  14  and locking frame  16  can be separately cleaned and then replaced in the reverse order. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , a second embodiment of a mixing stone assembly in accordance with the invention is designated generally as  40  and comprises a base  42  and a mixing stone  44 . 
         [0041]    Base  42  has a frame  46  defining an interior compartment  48  receivable of a fluid or other medium  50  and a depression  52  in an upper surface into which the mixing stone  44  is placed. 
         [0042]    Frame  46  has a form which enables it to rest securely on a flat surface, e.g., either the bottom of the frame is substantially flat as shown or supports or legs extend downward from the bottom surface of the frame  46  (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  46  is substantially rectangular and has rounded edges and corners. Approximate dimensions of the frame  46  are a length of about 12 inches, a width of about 10 inches and a height of about 1.5 inches. The depression  52  has a depth of about 0.5 inches so that a perimeter wall  54  is formed by the frame  46  having a height of about 0.5 inches and the height of the compartment  48  is generally about 1.0 inches. The length of the depression  52  is about 11 inches and its width is about 9 inches so that the perimeter wall  54  has a thickness of about 0.5 inches along the upper, lower and sides edges of the frame  46 . Perimeter wall  54  has rounded top edges and is preferably solid as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Perimeter wall  54  serves as a buffer to prevent a knife or other sharp object from puncturing the frame  46  to destroy the seal of the compartment  48  and cause a leak of the fluid  50  from the compartment  48 . 
         [0043]    Other shapes and sizes of the frame  46  are envisioned for the frame  46  and the rounding of the edges and corners of the frame  46  is primarily for aesthetic purposes only and may be eliminated or altered as desired. Variations in the size, shape and rounding of the edges and corners may be necessitated by the manufacturing process and/or to accommodate existing packs of fluids. 
         [0044]    To prevent the base  42  from sliding during use, a rubberized coating may be applied to or integrated into the bottom surface of the frame  46 . 
         [0045]    The fluid  50  may be any fluid which freezes when placed into a freezer or is otherwise capable of forming a cold reservoir when placed into a freezer and exchanging thermal energy with a surrounding object when removed from the freezer (to draw thermal energy from the object and thereby cool the object). Thus, fluid  50  may be simply water placed into the compartment  48  or possibly a pack of a gel commonly used in ice packs. In the former case, to allow for expansion upon freezing, the compartment  48  is only partially filled with water. In the latter case, the gel pack is advantageously provided with a complementary form to part or all of the compartment  48 . 
         [0046]    To reduce manufacturing expenses, it would be advantageous to construct the frame  46  with a compartment  48  having a particular size and shape to accommodate an existing gel pack. In this manner, an existing gel pack could be slid into the compartment  48  during manufacture of the frame  46  and sealed therein. 
         [0047]    Mixing stone  44  may be any substrate having a substantially flat, non-porous upper surface which is capable of being a work surface. The non-porosity or impermeability of the surface may be a function or property of the substrate itself or the result of a coating applied to a more porous substrate. Examples of substrates include various natural stones such as marble and granite. 
         [0048]    Mixing stone  44  may have substantially the same dimensions as depression  52 , or slightly less. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, mixing stone  44  may have a length of about 11 inches, a width of about 9 inches and a height no greater than 0.5 inches. In some embodiments, mixing stone  44  will have a height of about 0.25 inches. 
         [0049]    It is contemplated that different sizes and shapes of mixing stones  14  can be used in the invention, e.g., circular, square, oval, in which case, the depression  52  would be formed with substantially the same size and shape. Moreover, the mixing stone  44  and depression  52  may have a different shape than the frame  46 , e.g., an oval depression  52  and oval mixing stone  44  for a rectangular frame  46 . 
         [0050]    To secure mixing stone  44  in depression  52  and thus in connection with the frame  46 , the base  42  includes a sealing system. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing system comprises edge members  56  which are placed along the edges of the mixing stone  44  and fixed to the frame  46 , and specifically the perimeter wall  54  thereof. Mixing stone  44  is thereby secured to the base  42  while ice cream and toppings are prevented from passing between the mixing stone  44  and the edge members  54  into the depression  52 . 
         [0051]    To assemble the mixing assembly  40 , the base  42  is first manufactured, and then the mixing stone  44  is inserted into the depression  52  and sealed thereto. If edge members  56  are the sealing mechanism, the edge members  56  are attached to the base  42 . 
         [0052]    Manufacture of base  42  depends on the type and form of fluid used. Generally, frame  46  is made of plastic and can be manufactured by any known plastic manufacturing technique. If the fluid is water, a quantity of water is introduced into the plastic frame  46  prior to sealing of the compartment  48 . If the fluid is contained in a gel pack, then the gel pack is first manufactured and then inserted into compartment  48  prior to sealing of the compartment  48 . The thickness of the plastic of the frame  46  is selected to ensure that the water can freeze or gel pack can transfer thermal energy through the plastic when in a freezer and thereby form a cold reservoir. 
         [0053]    In use, the consumer would have to place the mixing assembly  40  into a freezer until the fluid or gel pack in the compartment  48  freezes. The exact time can be indicated on the packaging or with instructions on how to use the mixing assembly  40 . The consumer would remove the mixing assembly  40  from the freezer and place ice cream and toppings onto the mixing stone  44 . The ice cream and toppings would be mixed while on the mixing stone  44  without the ice cream melting since the mixing stone  44  is maintained at a temperature low enough to inhibit the ice cream from melting. Specifically, the frozen fluid or gel pack in close proximity to the mixing stone  44  ensures that the mixing stone is cold enough to prevent the ice cream from melting during the mixing process. When the mixing stone  44  is no longer cold enough to inhibit the ice cream from melting or the consumer is finished mixing ice cream and toppings together, the mixing assembly  40  can be placed back into the freezer to prepare it for the next use. 
         [0054]    Mixing assembly  10 ,  40  can be packaged together with one or more mixing utensils and optionally with one or more toppings. Alternatively, the mixing assembly  10 ,  40  can be packaged with only one or more toppings without any mixing utensils. Mixing utensils would be packaged separately. 
         [0055]    While particular embodiments of the invention has 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, and, therefore, the aim of this application is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the mixing stone may be sealed to the base so that the mixing assembly in its entirety is placed into the freezer, or alternatively, a mixing stone can be used which is removable from the base so that only the base is placed into the freezer and the mixing stone inserted or otherwise placed into connection with the base prior to use. Another variation is where the base is designed to accommodate a removal cold reservoir, e.g., a removal gel pack. In this case, only the gel pack is placed into the freezer and is inserted into the base prior to use. Another variation is to arrange an electrically activated cooling coil in the base, in proximity to the mixing stone, and for use, plug in an electric cord connected to the cooling coil. This activates the cooling coil which provides for continuous cooling of the mixing stone. The cooling coil could also simply be placed underneath and/or around the mixing stone. In another alternative embodiment, the base includes or is receivable of a material which is capable of forming a cold reservoir without having been previously placed into a freezer, e.g., dry ice or a similar compound.