Abstract:
A mixing device for the mixing of quantities of ingredients, said device including a flexible sheet bounded by edges; said sheet formed into a basin having a base portion and side portions; said side portions formed by upwardly folding outer portions of said sheet; adjacent sides portions meeting to form respective corners at which said sheet is gathered to form respective pointed formations; each of said respective pointed formations attached to a corresponding handle.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to devices for the mixing of a plurality of ingredients into a homogenous preparation, and more particularly to a method for the mixing of the ingredients for the preparation of mortar or concrete.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Manual means are normally employed for the mixing of mortar or concrete where relatively small quantities are required or no mechanical means are available. Typically the mixing is then accomplished in a wheelbarrow or on a flat surface with the use of a hoe or shovel. Both methods tend to be awkward and inefficient; especially so for small quantities.  
         [0003]     Achieving a proper homogenous mix in a wheelbarrow is difficult as residues of dry sand or cement tend to adhere in the corners of the barrow, while mixing on a flat surface is awkward as the adding of water tends to cause spillage of both water and some of the ingredients of the mix over the edge of the surface.  
         [0004]     It is an object of the present invention to address or ameliorate the above disadvantages or to provide a useful alternative.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a mixing device for the mixing of quantities of ingredients, said device including a flexible sheet bounded by edges; said sheet formed into a basin having a base portion and side portions; said side portions formed by upwardly folding outer portions of said sheet; adjacent sides portions meeting to form respective corners at which said sheet is gathered to form respective pointed formations; each of said respective pointed formations attached to a corresponding handle.  
         [0006]     Preferably said flexible sheet is impervious.  
         [0007]     Preferably said flexible sheet is of sufficient stiffness to substantially maintain the shape of said basin when said device is prepared for use on a supporting surface.  
         [0008]     Preferably said sheet is bounded by at least three edges to form a triangle.  
         [0009]     Preferably said sheet is bounded by four edges to form a rectangle.  
         [0010]     Preferably the ratio of the height of said side portions to the length of said base of said basin is in the range of between 1 to 3 and 1 to 5.  
         [0011]     Preferably the ratio of the volume of said basin to the volume of a standard bag of dry-mix mortar or concrete is in the range of between 2.5 to 1 and 4 to 1.  
         [0012]     Preferably each said respective handle is provided with at least one load-bearing edge and at least one friction-inducing aperture.  
         [0013]     Preferably each said respective handle is adapted for attachment to one of said respective pointed formations by a combination of folding said pointed formation over at least one of said at least one load-bearing edge and passing said pointed formation through at least one of said at least one friction-inducing aperture.  
         [0014]     Accordingly, in another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the mixing of the ingredients of mortar or concrete with water, said method including the steps of; 
        (a) preparing a flexible impervious sheet folded into the shape of a basin, said basin fitted at said respective corners with respective handles,     (b) placing said basin on a supporting surface,     (c) placing said ingredients of said mortar or concrete in said basin,     (d) adding a desired quantity of water, repeating sequential raising and lowering said respective handles sufficient to cause said ingredients and said water to attain a homogenous mixture.        
 
         [0019]     Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the mixing of the ingredients of mortar or concrete with water, said method including the steps of; 
        (a) preparing a flexible impervious sheet bounded by three edges folded into the shape of a three sided basin having three corners with a triangular base, said basin fitted at each one of respective said corners with respective handles,     (b) attaching one of said handles to a support means adapted to maintain said base in contact with a supporting surface,     (c) placing said ingredients of said mortar or concrete in said basin with a desired quantity of water,     (d) a person grasping each of said handles not attached to said supporting means and repeatedly sequentially raising and lowering said handles sufficient to cause said ingredients and said water to attain a homogenous mixture.     (e) maintaining the bulk of the weight of said ingredients of said mortar or concrete and said water supported by said supporting surface,     (f) pouring said homogenous mixture from said basin into a desired position.        
 
         [0026]     Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the mixing of the ingredients of mortar or concrete with water, said method including the steps of; 
        (a) preparing a flexible impervious sheet bounded by four edges folded into the shape of a four sided basin having four corners with a generally rectangular base, said basin fitted at each one of respective said corners with respective handles,     (b) placing said ingredients of said mortar or concrete in said basin with a desired quantity of water,     (c) a first one of two persons grasping each of two of said handles and a second one of said two persons grasping remaining ones of said handles,     (d) each of said two persons alternately sequentially raising and lowering said handles sufficient to cause said ingredients and said water to attain a homogenous mixture.        
 
         [0031]     Accordingly, in yet another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the mixing of volumes of disparate particulate materials, said method including the steps of; 
        (a) preparing a flexible sheet bounded by edges folded into the shape of a basin comprising a base with sides; adjoining ones of said edges meeting at corners; said basin fitted at each respective corner with respective handles,     (b) placing said basin on a supporting surface,     (c) placing said volumes of disparate particulate material in said basin,     (d) urging each of said handles repeatedly and sequentially in a generally raising and lowering motion sufficient to cause said disparate particulate material to attain a homogenous mixture,        
 
         [0036]     Accordingly, in another broad form of the invention there is provided a method for the forming of a basin from a sheet of material for the mixing of quantities of ingredients, said method including the steps of: 
        (a) selecting at each corner of a generally flat sheet of flexible material bounded by edges, a first one of two points lying at a preferred distance from said corner along a first one of said edges defining said corner and a second one of said two points lying at an equal said preferred distance from said corner along a second one of said edges defining said corner,     (b) bringing the said two points at said corner together so as to urge the portions of said edges between each one of said two points and said corner towards each other sufficient to form generally upwardly curving sections of said sheet of material at said corner, 
 
 gathering that portion of said sheet of material between said two points and said corner into a generally pointed formation suitable for threading into, and attachment to, a handle.
       
 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0039]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first stage of construction,  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  at a final stage of construction,  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a view of a first form of a handle component of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to assembly,  
         [0043]      FIG. 3A  is a view of the handle component of  FIG. 3  after assembly,  
         [0044]      FIG. 4  is a view of a second form of a handle component of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to assembly,  
         [0045]      FIG. 4A  is a view of the handle component of  FIG. 4  after assembly,  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a view of a third form of a handle component of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to assembly,  
         [0047]      FIG. 5A  is a view of the handle component of  FIG. 5  after assembly,  
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a view of a fourth form of a handle component of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to assembly,  
         [0049]      FIG. 6A  is a sectioned view of the handle component of  FIG. 6  after assembly.  
         [0050]      FIG. 7A  is an elevation view of a fifth view of a handle component of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  prior to assembly.  
         [0051]      FIG. 7B  is a sectioned side view of the handle component of  FIG. 7A  after assembly.  
         [0052]      FIG. 8A  is an illustration of a first stage of a preferred method of preparation for assembly,  
         [0053]      FIG. 8B  is an illustration of a second stage of the preferred method of  FIG. 8A . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0054]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , mixing device  10  is comprised of a flexible, generally rectangular sheet  11  gathered at the four corners  12  so as to form a generally rectangular basin  13  having folded-up sides  14 . The sheet material is impervious and is sufficiently stiff to retain the general basin shape when the device is assembled and is arranged on a supporting surface.  
         [0055]     The process of forming folded-up sides  14  causes folds of excess material at each of the four corners  12  which are bunched into elongate gathered formations  15 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each of formations  15  is attached to a handle  16 . In preferred embodiments handle  16  is comprised of a gripping portion adapted to fit the hand of a user and an attachment portion adapted to connect to the formation  15 .  
         [0056]     Preferred ratios of the height of the sides  14  to the length of the basin lie in the range of between 1 to 3 and 1 to 5. The dimensions of the basin are preferably chosen such that a typical bag of dry-mix mortar or concrete can be accommodated for mixing as described below. Preferred ratios of the volume of the basin to that of a standard proprietary bag of dry-mix mortar or concrete lie in the range of between 2.5 to 1 and 4 to 1.  
         [0057]     In a first preferred form as shown in  FIG. 3 , handle  16  is formed from an injection moulded polymer having a gripping portion  22  and a hinged retaining portion  23  provided with projecting section  24 . The material of formation  15  in this form of the handle is fed through the handle opening  25  and thence through opening  26  after which hinged retaining portion  23  is rotated to enter opening  26  trapping the material of formation  15 . The hinged retaining portion may be locked in this position by means of for example, screws or rivets so as to firmly attach formation  15  to handle  16  as shown in  FIG. 3A .  
         [0058]     In a second preferred form as shown in  FIG. 4  handle  16  is moulded into two portions comprising a handle plate  27  and a retainer plate  28 . In this case, a suitable length of the material of formation  15  is first fed through handle opening  29  and drawn through upper gap  30  into first holding aperture  31 . The material is then drawn around the base of handle plate  27  and drawn through lower gap  32  into second holding aperture  33 . Retainer plate  28  is then assembled to handle plate  27  by for example, mating arrays of holes  34  and snap-fit lugs  35  so as to attach formation  15  firmly to handle  16  as shown in  FIG. 4A .  
         [0059]     In a third preferred form as shown in  FIG. 5  handle  16  is in the form of moulded handle plate  36  and retainer clip  37 . In this case the outer end of the material of formation  15  is formed into a ‘U’ shape (as shown in  FIG. 5A ). The base of the ‘U’ is then fed through slot  38  of the handle plate  36  far enough to engage retainer clip  37  with the leg  39  of the ‘U’ by means of gap  40 . Retainer clip  37  is larger than slot  38  thus trapping the material of formation  15  when this is pulled back to seat clip  37  against handle plate  36  as shown in  FIG. 5A .  
         [0060]     In fourth preferred form of a handle according to the invention, with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 6 A, there is provided a moulded handle  16  having a gripping portion  50  and a retaining portion  51 . Handle  16  is further provided with dowel  52  which nests in recess  53  when the handle is attached to gathered formation  15 . In this embodiment of the handle  16  the material of gathered formation  15  is fed around dowel  52  as shown by dashed path  54 . The outer end  59  of formation  15  is pulled to pass through scalloped opening  55  as dowel  52  is pushed into recess  53 , effectively trapping the material of formation  15  between dowel  52  and the edge  56  of opening  55 . A suitable tying means  57 , such as for example, a cable tie is then inserted through holes  58  and tightened to compress the material of gathered formation  15  into recess  60 .  
         [0061]     In each of the above described preferred forms of handle  16  the path of the material of the gathered formation  15  is such as to form a sharply folded region over a load bearing edge or member. The remainder of the outer portion of the formation is further constrained in a manner to provide sufficient additional friction to prevent the material pulling from the handle when the device is in use.  
         [0062]     In a fifth preferred form of a handle according to the invention as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , there is provided a moulded handle  16  having a gripping portion  7 D and a retaining portion  71 . Gripping portion  71  is formed so as to provide a wedge-shaped cavity  72  having apertures communicating with the central portion  73  and the underside  74  of handle  16 . Preferably, cavity  72  is wedge-shaped in both length and width. Handle  16  is further provided with a wedge plate  75  adapted for insertion into cavity  72  and so dimensioned as to leave a gap between the surfaces of wedge plate  75  and cavity  72  when assembled as shown in  FIG. 7B .  
         [0063]     In this form of the handle  16  the material of gathered formation  15  is firstly fed upwardly through the aperture at the underside  74  of handle  16  and through cavity  72  so as to project into central portion  73  sufficient to allow the outer end  76  of gathered formation  15  to be folded over and pushed back downwardly into cavity  72 . Wedge plate  75  is then inserted into the loop  77  now formed by gathered formation  15  and both the loop of material and the wedge pulled downwardly into cavity  72  until firmly wedged in the cavity.  
         [0064]     The forming of the basin, its depth and hence its other relative dimensions for a given sheet of material, is determined by the manner of gathering the material at the four corners prior to the attachment of the handles.  
         [0065]     In a preferred procedure, the sheet of material is laid out flat on a suitable surface. As shown in  FIG. 7A and 7B , two points  80  lying equidistant along each of the edges from a corner  81  of the sheet  82  are initially clamped or weighted down so as to maintain this initial position. Then two further points  83  and  84  lying along each edge, again equidistant from the corner by approximately at twice the distance as for point  81  and  82 , are pulled together and the material so gathered tied with, for example, a self adjusting cable tie  85 .  
         [0066]     When this process has been completed for each corner, the effect is to draw the material adjoining the tied points upwardly relative to the middle of the sheet thus forming side-like formations surrounding a base portion; in effect approximating a basin. The material lying between the tied point and the corners may now be gathered for feeding through, and attachment to the handles.  
         [0067]     When assembled, material  11  and handles  16  may conveniently be bundled into a suitable container for transport and storage, such as for example in a polythene bag or in a canister such as a paint tin.  
         [0068]     In use the device is spread out on a suitable surface to form the basin  13 ; typically this will be the floor or ground close to where the mortar or concrete mix is to be used. A bag of dry-mix mortar or concrete is then deposited in the basin. Alternately smaller quantities of ingredients may be placed in the basin as desired.  
         [0069]     Water is then added in the desired or recommended quantity and the mixing process follows according to a first preferred sequence. Two people each grasp two adjoining handles allowing the bulk of the weight of the ingredients to remain supported on the floor or ground. One person, (the first person) commences with either the right or left hand to tug upward on the handle in that hand thus causing the ingredients to be displaced towards the second person. The first person repeats this action with the other hand and then continues the sequence for each hand, tugging upward and lowering the handles a number of times. The second person now duplicates this procedure. Both persons may continue to alternately repeat the process as required.  
         [0070]     The effect of these motions is to repeatedly roll over the ingredients within the confines of the basin causing a rapid and thorough intermingling of all particles and water resulting in a homogenous mix of mortar or concrete.  
         [0071]     After mixing, the mortar or concrete can be carried in the basin and poured out into its desired location.  
         [0072]     In a second preferred method of use, a single person may effect the mixing process after preparing at least one but preferably two suitable hooks from a support at the height of approximately one meter and separated (in the case of two hooks) by approximately the width of the basin. Although mixing may be effected with two handles supported from the one hook, for best results, two handles should each be supported by its own hook. For this method the remaining two handles are then grasped by the single person. Again the bulk of the weight of the ingredients placed in the basin remains supported on the floor or ground as the single person now alternately raises and lowers his or her two handles.  
         [0073]     Although the above descriptions reference the mixing of mortar or concrete it will be clear that the device may be used for the mixing of any combination of disparate loose material into a homogenous preparation.  
         [0074]     The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.