Abstract:
An embodiment of the invention provides a small bottle shaker with a housing unit that contains a variable speed motor that is attached to a rotary drive unit. The rotary drive unit is attached to a bottle holder that has a lid with a positive retention device that keeps the lid closed when a bottle is being shaken. The bottle holder also has a bottle retention assembly that holds a bottle being shaken in position and protects it from damage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims a priority to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/502,858, filed on Jun. 30, 2011. U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/502,858 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate to mixing liquids in general, and more particularly to devices for shaking small bottles of liquid mixtures to achieve a uniform composition. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    As most women are all too well aware, bottles of nail polish have a tendency to separate over time. To restore the nail polish to its intended uniformity and color, it is necessary to shake a bottle of nail polish rather vigorously and for an extended period of time. Insufficient mixing results in degraded color and polish retention. Unfortunately, shaking a bottle of nail polish to mix its content not only requires time and effort, which is irksome to the majority of women, but can be impossible to do for some because of disabilities or age. 
         [0004]    While the foregoing problem of nail polish separation is a common inconvenience for individual women, it can become a serious problem in some circumstances. For example, nail technicians may have to mix dozens of bottles of nail polish each day to service their customers. Additionally, make-up artists in fashion shows, plays, skits, movies, and other such activities may also have to mix many bottles of nail polish every day. 
         [0005]    In addition to nail polish separation, there are many other liquid mixtures that are packaged in small bottles and which tend to separate. For example, acrylic paints used by modelers for decoration, and enamel paints used by repairmen to touch-up automobiles and appliance finishes also come in small bottles and need to be shaken prior to use. Furthermore, some epoxies and plastics may also need to be thoroughly mixed prior to use, something that can be difficult to do by hand. 
         [0006]    In view of the foregoing, an apparatus that shakes bottles of liquid mixtures to achieve a uniform color, consistency, and/or composition would be beneficial. Even more beneficially would be an apparatus that shakes bottles of mixtures to achieve a uniform color, consistency, and/or composition which would be easy and safe to use. Ideally, such an apparatus would protect users in case of bottle breakage and spillage. Even more beneficially, such an apparatus would also provide a protective mount for bottles being mixed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The principles of the present invention provide for an apparatus that shakes small bottles of liquid mixtures to achieve a uniform color, consistency, and/or composition. Such an apparatus enables easy and safe shaking of small bottles and provides for a protective mount for the bottles being mixed. 
         [0008]    Briefly stated, a small bottle shaker in accord with the principles of the present invention has a housing unit that contains a variable speed motor that is attached to a rotary drive unit. The rotary drive unit is attached to a bottle holder that has a lid with a positive retention device that keeps the lid closed when a bottle is being shaken. The bottle holder also has a bottle retention assembly that holds a bottle being shaken in position and protects it from damage. 
         [0009]    In operation the variable speed motor rotates the rotary drive unit. The rotary drive unit engages the bottle holder which is mounted such that as the rotary drive unit turns, a reciprocating motion is applied to the bottle holder. A small bottle and its contents within the bottle holder is mixed by the reciprocating motion. Beneficially the bottle shaker is relatively small but has a stable and rigid frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The advantages and features of non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a small bottle shaker having a bottle receiving lid that is shown in the open position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the small bottle shaker of  FIG. 1  with its bottle receiving lid closed; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view that illustrates the small bottle shaker&#39;s bottle receiving chamber in more detail. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0014]    The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment is shown. However, it should be understood that this invention may take many different forms and thus should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. In the figures like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a small bottle shaker  10  that is accord with the principles of the present invention. The small bottle shaker  10  which includes a variable speed electric motor  12  that can either be battery powered or AC powered via a power cord  14  (as shown). The variable speed electric motor  12  is beneficially contained in a motor housing  16  that forms part of a frame  58 . An On-Off switch  26  turns the variable speed electric motor  12  on and off, while a speed control  22  varies that motor&#39;s rotational speed (and as described subsequently, the bottle shaking rate). 
         [0016]    The variable speed electric motor  12  includes a rotating armature  28  that attaches to a rotary drive unit  30 . The rotary drive unit  30  includes a round disk  32  and a connecting “L” shaped rod  34 . The “L” shaped rod attaches to the shaft  35  of an elongated bottle holder  40 . The shaft  35  passes through an opening  39  in the motor housing  16 . 
         [0017]    The bottle holder  40  is situated above a mount housing  45 . Together, the mount housing  45  and the motor housing  16  form the frame  58 . Rubber feet  60  are attached to the frame  58  to provide a gripping surface. Inside the mount housing  45  are at least two spring mounts  64 . Above the spring mounts  64  is an elongated opening  66  in the top mount housing  45 . 
         [0018]    The elongated bottle holder  40  attaches to the spring mounts  64  by at least two springs  42 . Those springs  42  and the attachment assembly to the rotary drive unit  30  retain the bottle holder  40  in a manner such that the bottle holder  40  remains disposed above the mount housing  45 , but in a manner that the bottle holder  40  can shake on the springs  42 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the bottle holder  40  includes a pivotal lid  70 .  FIGS. 1 and 3  show the pivotal lid  70  when it is open to receive a bottle  80  (see  FIG. 3 ), while  FIG. 2  shows the pivotal lid  70  closed and locked by a locking mechanism  72 . Thus to open the pivotal lid  70  the locking mechanism  72  is unlocked, while to seal the pivotal lid  70  closed the locking mechanism  72  is latched closed. The locking mechanism  72  includes a detent, spring, slide, or other mechanism to positively close so as to resist opening by vibration. 
         [0020]    Referring now primarily to  FIG. 3 , the pivotal lid  70  and the interior of the bottle holder  40  are both lined with a relatively rigid, but still compressible, foam liner  78  that is beneficially shaped something like an egg container: a plurality of protruding members and indentations. When a small bottle  80  (a nail polish bottle, an acrylic paint bottle, a container holding epoxy that must be mixed, or any other small bottle having ingredients that should be mixed) is placed inside the bottle holder  40  that small bottle  80  rests on the foam liner  78 . When the pivotal lid  70  is closed (and latched), the foam liner  78  compresses against the small bottle  80  to form a pocket. This arrangement (which includes the lid  70 , liner  78 , and bottle holder  40 , or which is included with the lid  70 , liner  78 , and bottle holder  40 ) allows various shaped small bottles to be retained inside the bottle holder  40 . 
         [0021]    In operation, the pivotal lid  70  is opened and a small bottle  80  that is to be mixed is then placed inside the bottle holder  40  and the pivotal lid  70  is closed and latched. As described above, this forms a pocket that holds the small bottle  80  in place. The power cord  14  is plugged into an AC outlet (or batteries are installed) and the On-Off switch  26  is turned on. This causes the variable speed electric motor  12  to turn. The speed of the variable speed electric motor  12  can be adjusted via the speed control  22 . Rotation of the armature  28  rotates the round disk  32  which turns the connecting “L” shaped rod  34 . Since the “L” shaped rod  34  is offset from the center of the round disk  32  the connecting “L” shaped rod  34  causes the shaft  35  to move in an offset rotational loop. This causes the front of the bottle holder  40  to begin moving. Since the bottle holder  40  is mounted on springs  42  this causes the springs  42  to interact with the moving bottle holder  40  to induce a shaking motion which shakes the ingredients in the small bottle  80 . 
         [0022]    Therefore, it is to be understood that while the figures and the above description illustrate the present invention, they are exemplary only. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Others who are skilled in the applicable arts will 
         [0023]    recognize numerous modifications and adaptations of the illustrated embodiments that remain within the principles of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.