Abstract:
A motorized beverage mixing device having a housing adapted to accommodate a beverage mixing container. The housing is adapted to removably-retain the mixing container while the housing is rotated in an oscillating motion. The housing is preferably adapted to rotate the mixing container to or past a horizontal orientation in at least one rotational direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    A martini is a popular traditional alcoholic drink that has experienced a revival in recent years. A martini is traditionally prepared by combining the desired liquids and ice in a container (typically vermouth and gin or vodka, but more recently have branched out to a whole variety of mixed “martini” style drinks, such as Cosmopolitans, Lemon Drops, etc.), then shaking the container until the liquids and ice have fully mixed and the liquids have been thoroughly chilled. The mixed and chilled drink mixture is then poured into a glass. Many martini aficionados prefer that a martini be shaken 30-40 times. In addition, the making of a martini can be an entertaining process for the consumer most martini drinkers instantly recognize a traditional stainless steel cocktail shaker. 
         [0002]    Due to the fact that making a high-quality martini is a somewhat labor-intensive process, it can be difficult for a host (or bartender) to prepare a significant numbers of martinis in a short period of time. In addition, repeated shaking of martinis could be a source of repetitive stress injuries for bartenders. 
         [0003]    The present invention allows for the automatic shaking of martini, using a shaking container that closely resembles a traditional cocktail shaker and allows for the shaking process to be easily observed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a right front perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a left front perspective view thereof, shown with the container removed; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view thereof; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view thereof; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view from the rear with the rear housing and support bulkhead removed; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a left front perspective view of the support bulkhead and oscillating drive mechanism. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a cocktail shaker  10 . Rear housing  14  and front housing  16  combine to provide the overall shape and provide structure for configuring other necessary components. A button  12  provides the means of actuation. A retainer  18  holds the container  20  in place when it is positioned in the shaker  10 . The front cover  22 , which preferably has a chromed finish but could certainly contain a variety of different astatically appealing materials, provides a finished look to the front housing  16 . The housings  14  and  16 , button  12 , retainer  18  and front cover  22  are preferably injection molded out of appropriate polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene to achieve the part precision, structure and styling desired. 
         [0012]    The container  20  has a removable top  21  and both would preferably be precision fabricated from a food grade material such as stainless steel to allow easy removal of the top  21  and provide a liquid tight seal between the top  21  and container  20 . The container  20  preferably has an overall appearance that closely resembles a traditional stainless steel cocktail shaker. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2  left and right side LEDs  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  &amp;  38  are shown. In this embodiment the LEDs  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  &amp;  38  provide illumination of the container  20  during operation of shaker  10 . In other embodiments of the shaker  10  the LEDs  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  &amp;  38  could indicate shaking cycle status by changing color or intermittently operating at a selected time in the shaking cycle. 
         [0014]    In  FIG. 2  the container  20  is removed to show an oscillating housing  54  that provides the structure for mounting the container  20  and has features that enable rotation within the front and rear housings  14  &amp;  16 . The oscillating housing  54  preferably would be injection molded of the material previously mentioned. 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the rear of the shaker  10  and locates the potentiometer  40  shaft and power jack  42  in the rear housing  14 . In this embodiment of the shaker  10 , the potentiometer  40  provides for variable speed adjustment of the movement of the oscillating housing  54 . This will be described in more detail in the discussion of subsequent figures. 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  shows the major components of the shaker  10  and their relationship to each other. Rear housing  14  and front housing  16  form the primary protective housing of shaker  10 . Front housing  16  and front cover  22  are molded such that cover  22  snaps into position on the housing  16 . Container  20  is held in position when inserted into oscillating housing  54  by the fit of the shape of its top  21  (spherical in shape in this embodiment) into a corresponding shaped pocket  55  in the oscillating housing  54  and by the edge of a retainer  18  that catches its lower portion. 
         [0017]    Retainer  18  is moveably held in its functional position by a leaf spring  58 . Retainer  18  moves vertically down, as the container is positioned, to allow it to be placed in oscillating housing  54  and is returned to its normal position by the leaf spring  58 . At the end of a shaker cycle or at any other time desired the container  20  is removed by pulling it past retainer  18 . The retainer  18  shape is such that pulling the container against it moves the retainer  18  down against spring  58  force. The spring  58  returns the retainer to its normal position after removal of the container  20 . Retainer  18  is preferably injection molded from a suitable polymer such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Spring  58  could be fabricated from common spring steel and mechanically attached to housing  54 . 
         [0018]    Continuing to refer to  FIG. 4 , the main function of oscillating housing  54  is to provide a shaking motion to container  20  during a shaker cycle. In order to fulfill this function the housing must rotate. The rotating motion is enabled and stabilized by a rib  68 , roller  56  and support shaft assembly  52 . Rib  68  is a molded into oscillating housing  54  and it provides a track to run in roller  56 . A corresponding rib and roller exist on the opposite side, but are not shown. In the center of the rear surface of oscillating housing  54  is a circular recess  57  (see  FIG. 5 ) which provides a mounting for one end of a support shaft assembly  52 . In this way, rotation of housing  54  is supported by roller  56 , the corresponding opposite roller (not shown) and support shaft assembly  52 . 
         [0019]    A support bulkhead  50  mounts between rear housing  14  and front housing  16  providing mounting for the rear portion of support shaft assembly  52 . Bulkhead  50 , for mass production, would preferably be an injection molded polymer component in order to provide the detail and structure required. A recess  51  provides the second mounting point for support shaft assembly  52 . A similar recess is molded into the rear of oscillating housing  54 , but is not shown. Support shaft assembly  52  can be configured in a number of ways with differing shafts and bushing combinations to provide the ability to carry a portion of the weight of oscillating housing  54  and container  20  and allow up to 45 degrees of rotation each direction for housing  54 . 
         [0020]    Rotational motion is provided by a motor  62 , a gear reduction assembly  64  and a gear  66  mounted off of bulkhead  50 . Motor  62  is either A/C and/or battery-powered and, when actuated, drives gear reduction assembly  64  which meshes with gear  66 . The gear reduction assembly reduces the speed of motor  62  appropriately and drives gear  66 . A link  60  connects to gear  66  eccentrically and is attached pivotally to gear  66  and oscillating housing  54 . When motor  62  is actuated, it provides rotary motion to gear reduction assembly  64  and thereby gear  66 . As gear  66  rotates link  60  moves with a motion that causes oscillating housing  54  to rotate, depending upon link  60  length and eccentricity as much as 90 degrees in one direction and then the opposite. This oscillating rotation continues as long as motor  62  is actuated. This oscillating motion provides shaking of the contents of container  20  when the container  20  is placed in oscillating housing  54  of shaker  10 . 
         [0021]    In order to achieve optimal mixing performance, it is preferably that the oscillating housing  54  rotate the shaker  10  to (or beyond) a horizontal position (i.e., rotated 90 degrees from the position shown in  FIG. 1 ) in at least one rotational direction (i.e. at either the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotational extreme). This could be accomplished by rotating the container  20  about 180 degrees (i.e., about 90 degrees in each direction from a rest position in which the container  20  is vertical). If the container  20  is rotated 180 degrees or more by the oscillating housing  54 , the center of the rotational range of the oscillating housing  54  could correspond to the vertical position of the container  20  (the position shown in  FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, the range of rotation of the oscillating housing  55  could be as little as 90 degrees and the vertical position of the container  20  could be located at one of the ends of the range of rotation of the oscillating housing  55 . For example, the oscillating housing  55  could be adapted to have a 90 degree range of rotation, with the counterclockwise end of the rotational range corresponding to the vertical position of the container  20 . In such an embodiment, the container  20  would clockwise from a vertical position to a 90 degree (horizontal) position, then return to the vertical position. Obviously, greater or lesser degrees of rotation could be provided, as well as different rotational center locations, depending upon the specific application. 
         [0022]    In this embodiment an external electrical power source connects at jack  42  to provide power to run motor  62 . A potentiometer  40  is interconnected between the powerjack  42 , motor  62  and a switch  46  to provide actuation and variable speed operation of motor  62  and thereby provide a variable oscillation rate for oscillating housing  54 . In this embodiment, potentiometer  40  is mounted with its shaft protruding through the rear housing  14  such as to allow external adjustment. The connection for powerjack  42  is also accessible through the rear housing  14 . No wiring is shown to avoid confusion, but it is should be understood that LEDs  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  &amp;  38 , potentiometer  40 , power jack  42 , switch  46  and motor  62  are interconnected and that when the power jack  42  is connected to an outside power source and switch  46  is actuated motor  62  will be energized causing motion of oscillating housing  54  and the LEDs will be turned on to illuminate the container  20 . 
         [0023]    An actuation button  12  and a switch housing  48  are shown. Both could be injection molded polymer to provide economical, volume production of parts with the required functional details. Switch  46  is affixed to switch housing  48  by conventional mechanical or adhesive means. Switch housing  48  assembles into molded details of rear housing  14  and front housing  16  and is retained by the housings. In this embodiment, switch  46  is momentary and returns to off when not actuated. The actuation button  12  slidably assembles into details molded into housings  14  and  16  and when so assembled has vertical movement. 
         [0024]    To operate this embodiment of shaker  10  the actuation button  12  is pushed down to move switch  46  to the on position and held. When released switch  46  moves to the off position and returns actuation button  12  to its initial position. Thus shaker  10  operates as long as button  12  is actuated. Alternatively, the switch  46  could be a two-way switch that would turn on when button  12  is pressed and stays on until button  12  is pressed again. As a further alternative, the shaker  10  could be configured to provide timed mixing cycles. For example, pressing the button  12  could activate 30 second, 60 second, 90 second cycles by pressing the button  12  once, twice or three times, respectively. Pressing the button  12  four times could operate the shaker  10  until the button  12  pressed again (i.e., an untimed mode). 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows component part orientation from a section view through the center of shaker  10 . Rear and front housings  14 ,  16  come together to form the structural shell. They support and position actuator button  12 , switch housing  48 , support bulkhead  50  and indirectly oscillating housing  54 . These parts may be assembled by snapping together using detail features in the precision molded parts, adhered using common, appropriate adhesives or mechanically attached using simple screw fasteners. Support bulkhead  50  attaches to rear housing  14  and provides mounting for motor  62  and gear reduction assembly  64  which are not individually delineated in this view. Recess  51  on bulkhead  50  and the mirrored recess  53  on the opposite side are circular and provide support and retention for one end of the oscillating housing support shaft assembly  52 . The opposite end of support shaft assembly  52  rests in recess  57  on oscillating housing  54 . 
         [0026]    Container  20  is shown in position for shaking. It is placed by positioning top  21  in the pocket  55  of the oscillating housing  54  and pushing its bottom portion past spring loaded retainer  18 . Spring  58  allows retainer  18  to move vertically as container  20  moves over it and causes retainer  18  to be in position to hold the container  20  in place. Two of the illuminating LEDs  24 ,  30  are shown. Front cover  22 , which can snap on or be adhered to front housing  16 , completes the assembly. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 6  the functional relationship between oscillating housing  54 , rib  68  and roller and roller  56  can be seen. Roller  56  is mounted off of front housing  16 , rotates freely and supports oscillating housing  54  as the housing rotates about its center supported by shaft assembly  52 . A corresponding rib and roller exist on the opposite side, but are not shown. Motor  62  and gear reduction assembly  64  are shown in assembled location. When actuated, motor  62  operates through gear reduction assembly  64  and finally gear  66 . The gear reduction assembly  64  and gear  66  reduce the rotational input speed from motor  62  to an appropriate level based on the number of gear teeth, the attachment location of link  60  on gear  66 , the length of link  60  and its attachment location on oscillating housing  54 . Rotation of gear  66  forces link  60 , as attached to oscillating housing  54 , through a reciprocating motion that causes oscillating rotation of the oscillating housing  54 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows the front of support bulkhead  50  and is included primarily to illustrate the eccentric attachment of link  60  to gear  66  that produces the reciprocating motion of link  60 . As previously discussed, gear  66  is driven by motor  62  through gear reduction assembly  64 . The rotational speed of gear  66  is determined by the speed of motor  62  and the gear sizes selected. The motion length of link  60  is determined by its attachment point on gear  66 . For this embodiment, component selection was made to result in an oscillation angle of about 45 degrees from vertical (i.e., a total rotation of 90 degrees). As described above, oscillation angles of about 90 degrees from vertical in each direction (a total rotation of about 180 degrees) would be preferable in commercial embodiments. The speed of oscillation is controlled by potentiometer  40  previously discussed and shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  &amp;  6 . 
         [0029]    In other embodiments of the present invention, more complex shaking cycles, controls and/or LED patterns could be used. For example, a simple electronic control circuit could be used to enable predetermination/selection of the number of cycles or shake time and thus allow the cocktail shaker  10  to be actuated and left unattended during the shaking cycle. The operator or bartender could return at the end of the cycle or the shaker  10  could be placed before the customer until the cycle is complete for consumption as desired. Optionally, a visual and/or audible signal could be provided at the end of the shaking cycle. The LEDs could be turned on, off or change color at specific times during the shake cycle for entertainment or information. The variable speed adjustment enabled by potentiometer  40  would allow adaptation of the shaker  10  for preparation of various liquid products. 
         [0030]    In addition, the shaker  10  could include a “show” or “demo” mode cycle intended to provide entertainment or draw people&#39;s attention to the device. During a show mode, the oscillating housing  54  could rotate more slowly than during a shaking cycle and the LEDs  24 , 26 , 28 , 30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  &amp;  38  could illuminate the container  20 . In addition, the shaker  10  could include a timer that causes the show mode to cycle on and off at predetermined intervals. The shaker  10  could also be programmed to slow to show mode after a shaking cycle is complete. 
         [0031]    For higher volume production of mixed liquids, another embodiment of the shaker  10  could include multiple oscillating housings  54  and containers  20  in a single device. Alternatively, the container  20  could be sized to accommodate larger volumes. Also, the shakers  10  could be modular, so that multiple shakers  10  could be connected and, optionally, be centrally controlled. In addition, it should be understood that the rotational motion of the present invention could be accomplished using other structures and components. 
         [0032]    It is recognized by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but is intended to cover all modifications which are in the spirit and scope of the invention.