Abstract:
An attachment to a mixer blade wipes the sides of a container and produces a mixture that is uniform and consistent. The attachment is placed onto the mixer blade either temporarily or permanently. After the attachment is on the mixer blade, the rotating spin of the mixer blade and the angular positioning of the flexible fins wipe the mixture on the sides of the container to the center of the container. By using a flexible material for the fins, the fins come into direct contact with the container while not damaging the container. The direct contact allows for the complete wiping of each side of the container. The attachment is easily cleaned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC 120 to, U.S. Ser. No 11/335,286, filed 19 Jan. 2006, issued as U.S. Pat. No. ______ on ______ Month 2010, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/648,614, filed on Jan. 31, 2005, now expired. The entire content of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to mixer blades and more specifically, to mixer blades with an attachment with flexible fins for wiping the sides of a container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0003]    Mixers come in a variety of styles. There are many types of mixers ranging from hand held appliances to large mixers for commercial use. In some applications of mixers, a single blade is used for mixing material in a container. The mixer blade rotates and hovers in a position right above the container to mix the material. In other applications, the mixer has two beaters. 
         [0004]    Preferably, the mixer blade is composed of plastic or metal or other rigid material. The rigid material provides for sturdy attachment to the mixer. The attachable/detachable mixer blades may be removed from the mixer for easy cleaning. 
         [0005]    In any of the previous described mixers, when mixing some of the ingredients may cling to the inside wall of the container so that the final product is improperly mixed or does not have the correct ratio of ingredients mixed uniformly and consistently throughout the product. In the previously described mixers, it is incumbent upon the user to utilize a spoon or the like to scrape away the ingredients clinging to the wall of the container. This poses a problem because users may have to consistently scrape the sides of the container. Users expose themselves to danger when the spoon or the like may catch in the mixer blade. To safely scrape the sides of the container, a user may have to turn off the mixer several times during the mixing process. This results in delay and inconvenience. Additionally, when users attempt to mix ingredients by repositioning the mixer blade, damage may occur when the mixer blade touches the side of the container. 
         [0006]    In order to solve the previous problem, manufactures developed a paddle-like attachment to continually wipe the sides of the excess material, as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,285, 5,556,201, 2,753,160. However, these inventions do not direct the flow of the mixture. Thus, the mixture is not uniform or consistent. 
         [0007]    As a result, a need exists to provide an improved mixer blade that overcomes the above mentioned problems. A need exists for mixing ingredients in a consistent and uniform way while not damaging the container that contains the ingredients. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, an attachment for wiping a mixture from the sides of a container may be easily applied to a pre-existing mixer blade. 
         [0009]    The attachment may be preferably heated permanently onto the pre-existing mixer blade. The attachment may also temporarily snap onto the pre-existing mixer blade. 
         [0010]    The attachment may contain angular flexible fins for pushing the mixture to the center of the container. The fins may be used for lifting the mixture located in the center of the container. The fins may be made of a flexible material for providing smooth contact between the fins and the container. 
         [0011]    The mixer blade attachment with flexible fins may provide a uniform and consistent mixture. The mixer blade attachment with the flexible fins is easy to clean. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an attachment for a mixer blade is described. The attachment allows for the smooth contact between the mixer blade and the container without damaging the container. The angular direction of the fins directs materials in the container downward. By directing material downward, the attachment gives the mixture uniformity and consistency. 
         [0013]    In addition to the novel features and advantages mentioned above, other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiment(s) when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements, and wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a mixer blade with one embodiment of an attachment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top isometric view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a bottom isometric view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a bottom isometric view of a mixer blade with a snap-on attachment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a cross-section of a container and the  FIG. 1  mixer blade; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the  FIG. 8  mixer blade attachment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to the Figures, an attachment to a mixer blade will be described. Like numbers are used to identify like parts. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1-7  show an embodiment of a mixer blade with an attachment that may comprise a rigid mixing blade structure  10 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  8 - 10  clearly show a blade  10  with a mixing body that, viewed in profile, a pair of rays that extend outward, forming an obtuse angle, from a vertex, the outward end of each ray connected to one of a pair of curved arms that come to a noticeable but blunt point at a bottom of the body. It can readily be appreciated from  FIG. 9  that the blade  10  may be attached to the drive shaft of a mixer, and that the drive shaft attaching means is attached to the mixing body at the vertex. Additionally,  FIG. 9  clearly shows that the mixing body has an axis of rotation generally defined by a line that passes through the vertex and the point. 
         [0027]    Encasing the mixing blade  10  is an over molded elastomeric sheath  11 .  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6 ,  8  and  9  clearly show that the over molded elastomeric sheath  11  encases the curved arms of the mixing blade  10 . Integral to the sheath  11  are a plurality of elastomeric fins  12 . The fins  12  may be spaced along the sheath  11 . The fins may be placed at an angle. It is envisioned that one may attach the fins directly to the mixer blade without the use of an elastomeric sheath. 
         [0028]    Once the sheath  11  is placed on the mixer blade  10  either permanently or temporarily, the mixer blade  10  may use the flexible fins  12  to push the mixture downward. The flexible fins  12  may be positioned at an angle and may be spaced completely around the elastomeric sheath  11 . 
         [0029]    As is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , showing the left and right side view of the mixer blade with attachment, the fins  12  are staggered along the sheath  11 . This staggering assures that the inner surface of the container is wiped by a fin. The gap between the fins may reduce drag on the blade and assist in the mixing. 
         [0030]    The fins  12  may be made of a poly (tetrafluoroethylene), flexible plastic, latex, or silicone rubber. The flexible fins  12  may be integral to the elastomeric sheath  11 . As a result of the flexible material which makes up the plurality of fins  12  the attachment allows for the clean, smooth wiping of the sides of the container. Moreover, the flexible material will not damage the container. 
         [0031]    The sheath  11  may be attached to the blade structure by use of a tie layer that binds the sheath  11  to the mixer blade  10 . The tie layer may be chemically applied to the mixer blade  10 . Once the tie layer is applied, the elastomeric sheath  11  with integral fins  12  may be heated onto the tie layer which connects it to the mixer blade  10 . Although the tie layer is not required, it is one preferred way to adhere the elastomeric sheath  11  to the mixer blade  10 . 
         [0032]    Another embodiment of an attachment affixed to a mixer blade is shown in  FIG. 8 . A rigid plastic snap on frame  13  may clip on the rigid mixer blade  10 . The rigid plastic snap on frame  13  may comprise flexible elastomeric fins  15  that are over molded onto the rigid plastic frame  13 . Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment does not require the use of heat to affix the attachment to the mixer blade and is temporary. The plastic sleeve snap-on attachment  13  may work like a jacket or sheath over the mixer blade  10 . Accordingly, the snap-on attachment  13  may cover the mixer blade  10  either through a plurality of hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clasps, clips, or the like. In the shown embodiment, a plurality of snaps  16  may be utilized for affixing the frame  13  to the mixer blade  10 . The plurality of snaps  16  may be integral to the rigid plastic frame and grip the mixer blade. A plurality of rectangular holes  14  in the snap on frame  13  may allow for the molding of the plurality of snaps  16 . Once the attachment  13  is positioned it may operate similar to an attachment that has been applied by the heat process described above. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a common stand mixer and the improved mixer blade in combination with a container  22 . The over molded elastomeric sheath  11  in combination with the flexible fins  12  is shown attached to the mixing blade  10 . The improved mixing blade solves the problem of having a gap between the side of the container  22  and the blade  10 . Unlike the typical gap between the container and a standard mixer blade, which is a dead zone where the mixture sticks to the container walls and does not get mixed in unless other measures are taken, adjacent fins co-act with the blade and the container wall to form a plurality of downwardly-angled flow channels. The mixer housing  18  includes the drive hub  19  that rotates on the central mixer axis  17 . The mixer blade drive shaft  21  rotates on the mixer blade axis  20 . 
         [0034]    The flexible fins  12  are placed in a position so that in conjunction with the rotating mixer blade, the flow channels formed by the flexible fins push down the material with every rotation of the mixer blade, and allow solids, such as nuts or chocolate chips, to pass through without being comminuted. By pushing the mixture toward the center of the container, the mixture will consistently and uniformly be mixed. Thus, the normal residue which is left by the mixture in an ordinary mixer blade may be mixed thoroughly by using the attachment. 
         [0035]    The length of the flexible fins may vary. The fins may vary depending on the size of the container and the size of the mixer blade. The larger the container and the smaller the mixer blade, the larger the flexible fins may be. Alternatively, the smaller the container and the larger the mixer blade, the smaller the flexible fins may be. Thus, the disclosed invention pertains to containers of different sizes. In addition to providing a way of making a consistent and uniform mixture, the attachment is easy to clean. 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of yet another embodiment of a mixer blade attachment of the present invention. In this embodiment a metal insert  23  attaches to the mixer drive shaft. There may be an annular groove  28  undercut in the insert  23  to prevent the plastic mixer blade  27  from slipping off. The plastic mixer blade  27  may be molded over the metal insert. This allows the metal insert  23  to change depending upon the manufacturer of the mixer so as to allow the mixer blade to fit many types of mixers. The metal insert  23  may have a plurality of splines  24  that grip the plastic to provide rotational gripping and prevent slippage. The mixer blade may have a circular frame design  25  that may assist in mixing. The flexible fins and sheath  26  may be over-molded onto the mixer blade. 
         [0037]    The preferred embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The preferred embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention.