Patent Publication Number: US-6210032-B1

Title: Stirring pitcher having pivoting stirring handle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/354,678, filed on Jul. 16, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,240. 
     This invention is related to the design disclosed, illustrated and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/104,142, filed on Apr. 29, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to pitchers having a manually operated stirring apparatus, and more particularly relates to such pitchers providing a stirring apparatus which is completely enclosed within the pitcher by a cover and is manually operated by means of a handle that extends through the cover. 
     2. Background Art 
     Beverage pitchers having manually operated means for mixing together fluid contents within the pitcher are well known. Recent improvements for such pitchers include covers for the pitchers that provide an essentially fluid tight container, but which nevertheless permit the user to stir up the contents of the container without removing the cover. Examples of such stirring or mixing pitchers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,695,282, 5,407,270, 5,094,543, 4,893,940, 4,460,279, 4,197,018 and 3,704,007. 
     Typical problems are encountered in providing a fluid tight cover, including the need for spouts for pouring out the liquid during use. More significantly, a manual stirrer must extend through an aperture, usually extending through the pitcher cover, creating a path of egress from the ambient environment into the pitcher container. Spillage of the fluid within the pitcher resulted. It is also often desired to maintain liquid within the pitcher container cold, and air circulation through an aperture that is not fluid-tight produces undesirable heat transfer which heats up the contained liquid.b 
     The prior art manual mixing mechanisms are often inefficient and/or require substantial manual effort to achieve maximum agitation of the contained liquid and/or entrained solids to achieve total mixing dissolution of the solids within the liquid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     What is considered necessary is a stirring pitcher that agitates substantially all the liquid within a pitcher container and is capable of dissolving solids within the pitcher container without leaving undisturbed solids in inaccessible corners of the container. It is further desirable to provide a stirring mechanism within a cover that is easily utilizable, easily cleaned and that can provide a substantially complete, fluid-tight seal in the cover to avoid spillage. 
     The pitcher container including a pivotable stirring handle combination described herein provides for a new and improved combination of beverage pitcher and coacting manually operated mixing apparatus. 
     The combination of the inventive elements enables one to accomplish a mixing of the liquid contents of a pitcher in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort but with maximum effectiveness. 
     The combination can be used so as to cause no spillage during use of the mixing apparatus or when the beverage is dispensed after completion of a mixing operation. 
     The combination is easily assembled, used and disassembled. The components of the combination are readily and conventionally made from various materials, as the fabricator or user may desire. However, it is presently preferred to construct all components of molded plastic. The combination can be easily and thoroughly cleaned and is durable for extended reuse. 
     Furthermore, herein is described and claimed a stirring pitcher comprising a container having an upwardly facing container opening; a container cover for covering the upwardly facing container opening, the container cover being removable and replaceable over the container opening to open and close the container opening, the container cover further including a pivot mount; and a pivotable stirrer attachable to the container cover and adapted for extending through a stirrer aperture in the container cover, the stirrer comprising a spoon end, a stirrer handle attachment end oppositely disposed along a longitudinal axis from said spoon end, and a central shaft extending between said spoon end and said stirrer handle attachment end, the central shaft including a pivot pin oriented transversely to the shaft longitudinal axis, whereby the shaft is attachable to the cover at the stirrer aperture such that the pivot engages the pivot mount on the cover, causing the handle attachment end of the stirrer to extend outside the cover and the spoon end of the stirrer to extend within the container when the container cover engages the container to cover the container opening. 
     In a second embodiment, the container further comprises a shape having at least two side walls, and a bottom wall, the container resembling an elongated trench-like bottom, the container bottom and side walls having a cross-sectional shape following a contour which matches the contour of at least the bottom portion of the spoon end, and the bottom wall of the container defining an arc having a radius located approximately at the pivot pin end of the stirrer central shaft. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stirring pitcher according to this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational end view of the embodiment of the inventive pitchers shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the inventive pitcher, the cross-section being taken approximately along the line  3 — 3  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional detail view of an ovoid container bottom, an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional detail view of a circular container bottom, a second alternative embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the inventive cover of the stirring pitcher of FIG. 1, shown without the attachable elements. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the inventive cover assembly shown with the attachable elements. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive cover assembly, taken approximately along the cross-section line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5, shown with the attachable elements also in cross-section. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates one of the attachable elements of the cover assembly shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a cooling element for optional insertion into the inventive stirring pitcher; and 
     FIG. 9 is a top view of the cooling element shown in FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A stirring pitcher  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in a perspective view in FIG. 1, and in elevation view in FIG.  2 . The pitcher  10  comprises a container member  12 , having a base  13 , a handle  14 , a spout  16  and plural walls defining a container for liquid materials. Four such walls are preferred. As shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, these comprise longitudinal walls  18 , a spout wall  20  and a handle wall  22 . Of course, other configurations may be contemplated by persons having skill in designing such pitchers. For example, the pitcher  12  container is shown having somewhat rounded sides which flare outwardly to a small degree (as viewed best in the cross-sectional view of FIG.  3 ). The upper rim of the pitcher is also in the shape of an oval at the top. 
     In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the sides may be vertical, and the container upper rim may be in the shape of a lengthened quadrilateral such as a rectangle or even a square, as long as the sweep of the stirring or mixing assembly can reach the corners of the bottom of the container  12 , as is described below. Another alternative configuration (not shown) may include a rounded bottom and rounded end walls so that the shape of the container may resemble a truncated toroidal volume. 
     The container  12  preferably defines a container volume having the attributes of both a rectangular box, including vertical corners  24 , 26 , and an oval cylindrical top or upper container rim  30  (FIG.  3 ). The shape of container  12  resembles an inverted frustoconical volume which at the top has a much larger oval area, when taken cross-sectionally along a horizontal plane, than when a cross-section is taken at a lower point on the container body. Around the periphery of the top of all walls  18 , 20 , 22 , almost to the upper rim  30 , is a flange or lip  28 . The flange  28  can provide a rib for strengthening the container shape and also provides a stop for the cover assembly when it is joined to the container  12 . 
     The inside surfaces of the container  12  essentially follow the outside surfaces except that the base  13  is open toward the bottom. The bottom inner surface  32  or floor of the container  12  is preferably straight in the lateral direction but sweeps a circular arc in the longitudinal direction, as best seen in FIG.  2 . As described above, however, alternatively the bottom surface may be curved in the lateral direction (not shown). The locus of the arc for bottom surface  32  is approximately at the upper rim and the radius is approximately the depth or height dimension of the container  12 . 
     The container  12  further comprises a spout  16  on spout wall  20  at the intersection with upper rim  30 . Spout  16  protrudes outwardly from spout wall  20 , to permit easy pourability of liquids from the container  12 . Handle  14 , disposed on handle wall  22 , can take any number of forms consistent with providing easy handling of the stirring pitcher assembly  10 . For example, it is preferable that the handle  14  be large enough to comfortably receive the fingers of most hands. The handle  14  should be disposed on the surface of handle wall  22  closer to the rim  30  than to the base  13 . 
     Attached to the container  12  along upper rim  30  is a cover assembly  40 , which has an attachment mechanism that sealingly attaches the cover assembly  40  to the rim  30  so that fluid leakage out of the container  12  is prevented from other than through the spout  16 . Cover assembly  40  comprises a cover  42 , having a downwardly extending rim wall  43  and including a snap groove  45  (FIG.  6 ). Rim wall  43  preferably describes an oval shape around the edge of cover  42 , but other shapes (not shown) are also possible. The cover  42  includes at least two apertures, a handle aperture  44  and a spout aperture  46 . Optionally, a third aperture, a cooling stick aperture,  48 , is disposed in the cover  42 . 
     Each of the apertures  44 ,  46  and  48  includes a means for receiving elements which, at least to some extent, block the apertures to maintain a seal for each of the apertures, as will be explained below. For example, the cover assembly  40  includes a spout closure member  50  for covering and sealingly enclosing the spout aperture  46 . Spout closure member  50  includes downwardly disposed walls  52 , (FIG. 6) which sealingly attach to corresponding walls  54  extending upwardly from the cover  42 , and also include a cantilevered spout closure attachment  56  which attaches to the cover assembly  40  at a pivot point  58  disposed toward the central portion of cover assembly  40  between spout  16  and the handle aperture  44 . The spout closure attachment  56  may take any number of forms, including a molded unitary connection of the spout closure attachment, such as a strap (not shown) attached directly to cover  40 . More preferably, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the spout closure attachment  56  further comprises a conventional cantilevered pivotable attachment strap  60  having a pivot pin  62  attached at the pivot retainer or mount  58 . A spout opening tab  64 , preferably being integral with the spout closure member  50 , provides an extension handle for removing and replacing the spout closure member in the direction of the arrows  56  from the spout aperture  46 . 
     Removal of the closure member  50  from the spout  16 , by pivoting the member  50  about the pivot point provided by pivot retainers  58 , opens spout aperture  46  and permits pouring out the liquid in container  12 . Conversely, replacement of spout closure member onto the spout  16  sealingly closes spout aperture  46  so as to impede any liquid or air from passing through the spout  16 . Of course, the length of the strap  60  or other spout closure member attachment must have a dimension sufficient to extend from the pivot point  58  to the spout aperture  46 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, the stirrer aperture  44  is attached to cover  42  to a plurality of pivot mounts  66 , about which the stirring handle and spoon combination can rotate. Preferably, the pivot mounts  66  provide a rounded trough  68 , (FIG.  4 ), for receiving the stirring handle/stirring spoon subassembly, as is described below. 
     The optional cooling stick aperture  48  provides the capability of performing multiple functions. The cooling stick aperture is structurally similar to the spout aperture  46 , that is, it also comprises an upwardly extending cover wall  74 . However, preferably aperture  48  is in the shape of an oval, rather than circular, like spout aperture  46 . A cooling stick closure member  70  (FIG. 6) includes a downwardly extending closure member wall  72  which is shaped and dimensioned to sealingly fit by interference fit within the oval cover wall  74  so as to provide an airtight closure over cooling stick aperture  48 . Pivot pin retainers  75  (FIGS. 4 and 5) are disposed between the cooling stick aperture  48  and the stirring assembly aperture  44 , for mounting the closure member  70 . 
     The cooling stick aperture  48 , however, has one additional feature, most clearly seen in the cross-sectional view of cover assembly  40  in FIG. 6, which preferably is not included the spout aperture  42 . Immediately below the cover wall  74  is an inwardly extending flanged lip  76  which includes secondary downwardly extending lip walls  78 . The lip  76  provides a mount for the optional cooling stick feature, described below. 
     The optional cooling stick aperture  48  may also be used to provide access to the volume within container  12 . Similar to the spout closure member  50 , a closure member attachment  79 , such as a strap  80 , includes a pivot shaft  82  on one end, which can snap into the pivot retainers  75 . The other end of strap  80  is attached to the closure member  70 . An extending tab  84  provides an easy to operate handle for opening and closing the cooling stick aperture  48 . 
     Pivoting of the closure member  70  about the pivot shaft  82  within pivot retainers  75  will insert the closure member  70  into the cooling stick aperture  48 , so that walls  72  and  74  will, through an interference fit, provide a seal. Pivoting the closure member  70  in the opposite direction permits opening of the cooling stick aperture and provides access for insertion of the cooling stick, described below, or for depositing therethrough solids or liquids to be mixed within the container  12 . Preferably, the oval shape of aperture  48  is significantly larger than that of the spout aperture  46  in order to provide readier access to the container  12  for pouring in liquids or depositing solids or powder therein. 
     The stirring handle/spoon assembly  90  is fully illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and in a blown-up view in FIG.  7 . The subassembly of FIG. 7 illustrates and provides the best view for a description of the quick assembly feature of the assembly  90 , which provides one unique feature of this invention. The assembly  90  comprises a handle  92  having an optional grip  94 , a transverse pivot pin  96  and an insertion post  98 , having a post channel  99 . 
     The assembly  90  further comprises a stirring spoon portion  100 , which preferably includes a spoon end  102 , a central spoon shaft  104  and an insertion end  106 , including a channel  108  for receiving the handle insertion post  98 . Preferably, one or more retaining or tightening bands  110  provide a more durable interference fit between the post and the channel  108 . Alternatively, or in conjunction with the bands  110 , as shown, the channel  108  may include one or more channel inserts  112 , which cooperate with the corresponding post channel  99  of similar shape extending longitudinally along the post  98 , so as to further increase the retention capability of the channel  108  to hold post  98  by interference fit. The post  98  will be inserted and removed from channel  108  numerous times during long term use of the pitcher  10  for purposes of cleaning. Thus, the more durable the connection between the post  98  and shaft channel  108 , the longer the assembly  90  can be utilized for its intended purpose. As explained below, the construction of the post  98  and channel  108  provides a convenient and simple connection between the handle  94  and spoon shaft  104 , so that a second installation of the assembly  90  within the pitcher  10  is facilitated. 
     The handle/spoon assembly  90  is preferably capable of multiple disassembly and reassembly operations. During use of the stirring pitcher  10 , the handle  92  extends above the cover assembly  40  and the stirring spoon is disposed below the cover  40  within the container  12 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The post  98  extends through the stirrer aperture  44 , and the transverse stirrer pivot pin  96  snaps into place between the pivot mounts  66  adjacent aperture  46 . The structure of the pivot mounts  66  provides a retention capability to retain the stirrer pivot pin  96  releasably attached to the cover  44 . However, the pivot pin  96  itself rotates within the transverse rounded channel or trough  68 , which has an opposed mating structure that matches the structure of the pivot pin  96 . Thus, engagement of the pivot pin  96  by pin mounts  66  within the trough  68  for the most part essentially seals off leakage paths through aperture  44 , so that spillage is contained even when the pitcher  10 , full of liquid, is laid down on its sidewall  18 . 
     After assembly, stirrer assembly  90  is disposed on either side of cover  42  and is pivotable about the shaft pivot  96  in the direction shown by the arrows (FIG.  2 ). Pivoting rotational motion of the handle  92 , of course, causes the stirring spoon  100  to describe an arc within the container  12  in the opposite direction. 
     The unique construction of aperture  44 , and of the other apertures  46  and  48 , provides for a cover which allows only a minimum amount of air to circulate within the container  12 , and almost no fluid leakage from pitcher  10 , even if the pitcher  10  ends up on its side. The fluid-tight sealing of the spout aperture  46  and of the cooling stick aperture  48  is described above. The structure of pivot pin  96  and the handle post  98  within the pivot mounts  66  within the trough to a great extent closes off any openings for fluid circulation. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2,  3  and  6 , assembly of the spoon/handle subassembly first requires insertion of the handle post  98  through stirrer aperture  44  and engaging the pivot pin  96  within the pivot mounts  66 . Thus, the handle  92  may pivot about the pin  96 , in the direction of the arrows as shown (FIG.  2 ). The spoon shaft  104  may then be brought up from below cover  42  and the shaft post  98  is inserted into channel  108  until the end of post  98  meets the end of channel  108 . Following insertion of post  98 , sufficient clearance is provided between the end of insertion end  106  and the underside of the cover  42  to permit the spoon/handle assembly  90  to pivot about pin  96 . 
     The cover subassembly  40  is then snapped into place around rim  30 , making sure that rim  30  provides a snug interference fit within the snap groove  45  all around the rim  30 . The shape of rim  30  and of the corresponding snap groove  45  coact to provide a fluid-tight seal between the rim wall  43  and the rim  30  of container  12 . 
     With cover assembly  40  in place, the spoon end  102  of the stirrer is free to rotate around the container  12  within the sidewalls  18 . If the stirring pitcher has been correctly assembled, the spoon end  102  is disposed along the bottom wall  32  of container  12 , leaving a slight clearance between them. Thus, the spoon end  102  is free to describe an arc which follows the contour of the arc of bottom wall  32  from one end wall  20  to the other end wall  22 . Moreover, as is clearly seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, there is also a slight clearance between the spoon end  102  and the sidewalls  18 , especially at the distal end of the spoon  100 . The facing outline or contour of the spoon end follows the contour of the junction of walls  18  with the bottom wall  32  along the complete arc described by bottom wall  32 . Thus, rotation of the spoon  100  along the trough formed by walls  18 ,  32  causes the spoon end  102  to follow very closely adjacent the corners of the trough and to sweep the liquid and solid materials along the bottom wall  32 . Liquids and possible entrained solids or powders are then agitated sufficiently to cause all the solids to dissolve, including agitation of all solids which may normally gather at the corners  33  of the trough. 
     Alternative bottom wall structures are possible. For example, in FIG. 3A, an ovoid container bottom wall  32 ′ having rounded corners  33 ′ is matched by a spoon end  102 ′ which is also ovoid in shape. Similarly, in FIG. 3B, circular spoon end  102 ″ follows exactly the contour of a circular container bottom wall  32 ″. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an optional cooling stick  120  is shown inserted into the cooling stick aperture  48  and extends into the container  12 . The cooling stick comprises a separate container insert  122  which is intended to hold ice cubes or other frozen, freezable or cool material. The material is preferably kept separate from the liquid contained within the pitcher container. The frozen or freezable material may comprise any of the following or similar materials known to the industry: ice, ice cubes, blue ice, THERMAL CERAMICS, or a thermofor. 
     Preferably, the shape of the separate container insert  122  is an elongated tube which has an oval cross-section matching the oval shape of the cooling stick aperture  48 . The length of tubular insert  122  should not exceed the length of the wall  20  of the container  12 , so that inserting the tubular insert into the aperture  48  of cover  47  will cause insert  122  to fit within the container  12  without protruding above the cover  42 . 
     Referring now also to FIG. 7, a detailed view of the cooling stick  120  shows the opening  124  at one end. A stopper  126  may be used to enclose or sealingly cover opening  124 . The stopper  126  includes a protruding handle portion  128  which extends away from the container  122  and which can be used as a handle for removing the stopper  126  from the container insert  122 . A flange  130  extends laterally beyond the edges of opening  124  to hold the tubular insert  170  within the aperture  48 . 
     As illustrated in the drawing Figures, the material of container walls  18 ,  20  and  22  is a clear plastic material which is transparent. Thus, the elements within container  12 , e.g., cooling stick  122  and spoon end  102 , are drawn in solid lines, rather than broken lines, to indicate the element which is identified. On the other hand, cover  42  is opaque and the elements behind the downwardly extending cover wall  43  are not shown. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6,  8  and  9 , the construction of aperture  48 , shown in cross-section in FIG. 6, will be described in conjunction with the construction of the tubular insert  120  to show their interaction. As described above, the cooling stick aperture  48  includes a downwardly extending cover wall  74 , which preferably has a length somewhat greater than the height of stopper  126 , including the handle portion  128 . The lateral dimensions of the cover wall  74  exceed slightly the dimensions of the flange  130 , so as to accommodate insertion of the stopper  126  within the volume enclosed by the cover wall  74 . 
     The dimension of flanged lip  76  of the aperture  48  does not extend inwardly of the cover wall  74  to such a degree as to interfere with the insertion of the tubular container insert  122  within the aperture; rather, the dimensions of flanged lip  76  and of downwardly extending lip walls  78  are such as to snugly fit over the tubular walls of container insert  122  so as to retain the container insert within the aperture opening. The flanged lip  76  acts also to stop the fill insertion of the container insert  120  into aperture  48  without a means to retain the container insert  120  in place. The flanged lip  76  has a dimension which prevents the stopper flange  130 , and thus the stopper  126  and insert container  122 , from falling into the container  12 . 
     The cooling stick can provide cooling of the contents in container  12 , either through ice contained within container insert  120  or other conventional cooling chemicals. For example, such chemicals are known and available from the assignee hereof, Sierra Housewares, Inc. of Chicago, Ill. The cooling stick is especially convenient when it is not desirable for water to melt from ice and to dilute the contained liquid. For example, a mixed cocktail may have a predetermined recipe, and it is desired that the liquid melting from ice not dilute the drink mixture. Also, for cooling wine or beer, it is undesirable to dilute such liquids with melting ice because dilution from water changes the taste. Thus, the container insert  122  of cooling stick  120  contains and keeps isolated melting ice water or chemicals. Refreezing the water or chemicals after use in the stirring pitcher  10  permits the reuse of the cooling stick  120  in pitcher  10  subsequent to cleaning out the pitcher container  12  and of the stirrer subassembly  90 . 
     Cleaning of the parts of the pitcher  10  also is convenient because the stirrer subassembly  90  can be broken down and cleaned, even in a dishwasher, without great effort. Reassembly of the cover assembly and stirrer subassembly is possible without great effort, as is described above. 
     Modifications and alterations to the embodiments illustrated and described may become readily apparent once the features of this invention are fully understood. For example, bottom wall  32  is shown extending as an arc in one direction (FIG. 2) and as a straight surface in the lateral direction, as shown in FIG.  3 . However, the shape of that surface in the lateral direction may take any of a number of different shapes, for example, a curved or oval surface (not shown), and this will be sufficient to utilize the teachings of this invention as long as the corresponding contour of the spoon end has identical or essentially similar shape or contour to that of the bottom wall. 
     Accordingly, the invention has been illustrated and described herein in connection with preferred forms of the invention. It will be understood that alterations and modifications may be made thereto while retaining the general scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is described and illustrated above for purposes of description. However, the invention is only limited by the following claims and their equivalents.