Patent Application
20070297275
In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
The presently preferred embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
Referring now to
The manual mixing device 10 is versatile and may be utilized to mix substances of many different types, not merely to form concrete. For example, the manual mixing device 10 may be used to form masonry or tile grout utilizing appropriate dry mixes. Thus, the term dry mix is broad and encompasses any substance or combination of substances that may be combined or mixed together.
The manual mixing device 10 may also be designed for use in situations in which neither the first substance nor the second substance comprises a fluid. For example, the first substance may comprise a quantity of mulch, fertilizer, or manure, and the second substance may be a quantity of top soil. The mixing of these two substances may also be accomplished by embodiments of the disclosed device 10.
The manual mixing device 10 includes a base 14. This base 14 is made of a flexible material so that it may be moved and/or manipulated by a user. This flexible material may be a plastic material, such as 12 millimeter Visqueen or other similar vinyl coated or vinyl laminated material. Of course, other types of Visqueen, such as 18 millimeter Visqueen, may also be used. Similarly, other types of flexible materials, such as cloth, fabric, and the like, may also be used to form the base 14. As shown in
As shown in
The base 14 receives a quantity of the first substance (e.g., the fluid) and a quantity of the second substance (e.g., the dry mix). More specifically, the base 14 is designed such that a user may place the first and second substances on the base 14 and may then mix the first and second substances together, utilizing a process which will be described below. In order to allow mixing of the substances, the base 14 may be made of a material that has a sufficient tear and tensile strength such that the base 14 will not tear during the mixing process. In many embodiments, this will involve making the base 14 out of a material that has sufficient tensile and tear strength that will hold and allow mixture of at least an eighty (80) pound bag of dry concrete mixture with a sufficient quantity of water (fluid) to form moldable concrete. In other embodiments, the material used for the base 14 will have sufficient tear and tensile strength such that two eighty (80) pound bags of dry concrete mixture (e.g., 160 pounds of dry concrete mixture) may be mixed with a sufficient quantity of water (fluid) to form moldable concrete.
In the embodiment shown in
Embodiments beyond the one shown in
Likewise, the size/proportions of the base 14 may also be changed. For example, embodiments may be constructed in which the base 14 is 84 inches in length (as measured from one side to an opposite side). Still other embodiments may be made in which the base 14 is 60 inches in length or 90 inches in length (as measured from one side to an opposite side). Still other embodiments are designed such that the base 14 is simply cut out of a larger piece of material into any shape desired by the user. Of course, other shapes, sizes, and/or dimensions may also be used within the scope of this invention.
The manual mixing device 10 may also comprise at least four grips 22. As shown in the embodiment of
As used herein, the term “grips” means any feature or structure that a user may use to grip or hold the base 14. In some embodiments, the grips 22 may simply be a portion of the base 14 (such as a peripheral region 29) that the user may utilize to grab or hold the base 14. In other embodiments, including the embodiment shown in
As noted above, each of the grips 22 of
In the embodiment shown in
Referring still to
The manual mixing device 10 may optionally include one or more pouring aprons 34. The pouring aprons 34 are generally positioned between the grips 22 and constitute an area of the base 14 through which the mixed product may be poured out of the base 14. Optionally, the aprons 34 may comprise a recessed area relative to adjacent areas of the base 14. In other embodiments, the pouring aprons 34 may be additional features, such as spouts, tubes, or channels, that are added to the base 14 to facilitate the pouring of the mixed substances (moldable concrete) out of the base 14 without requiring the user to shovel or scoop the concrete out of the manual mixing device 10.
In the embodiment shown in
Referring now to
Both the handle 25 shown in
The handles 25, 26 are examples of the type of handle that may be used. In other embodiments, a handle may be a disposable or removable handle that may be clamped to the base 14. Hinged handles may also be used. In further embodiments, the handle may be integral with the base 14. In yet other embodiments, the handles may be made of the same material that is used to form the base 14. Still further embodiments are designed in which the handles are loops of fabric (or other similar materials) that are bonded or otherwise secured to the base 10.
The handle may be shaped in various ways. For example, the handles may be motorcycle type handles and/or may be made from a 5-inch electrical conduit material optionally surrounded by a rubber hose. Other handles may have connectors that operate to connect the handle to the base 14. Handles of any material, shape, or configuration that allow the user to adequately grip and secure the base 14 may be used within the scope of this invention.
Referring now to
As noted above, the first substance 42 is generally a fluid (such as water) whereas the second substance 46 is a dry mix (such as dry concrete mixture, etc.). Because the first substance 42 may be fluid, a user may create a cavity 50 in the pile of the second substance 46 that will hold the first substance 42 and prevent the first substance 42 from spilling. The cavity 50 is shown in greater detail in
Referring again to
The amount of the first substance (fluid) that is added to the base 14 will be determined in accordance with the guidelines provided with the dry mix and the user's knowledge and experience. For example, for each 80 pound bag of concrete dry mix, it can be expected that about 1 to 1½ gallons of fluid must be added to properly form the moldable concrete. Of course, the exact amount of the fluid that is required will depend on a variety of factors that are well known to those of skill in the art including the age of the concrete mix, the variety of concrete, the amount of humidity in the air, the application for which the user desires the concrete, etc. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will clearly be able to determine how much of the first substance 42 and the second substance 46 should be added to form the proper mixture.
Referring still to
As shown in
In some embodiments, the manual mixing device 10 is sized so that when the sides 30 are pulled upwards, the users may secure the grips 22 standing in an upright position, while all or much of the weight of the substances 42, 46 is borne by a supporting surface (e.g., the ground) underneath the base 14. Such embodiments will allow the user to elevate one or more of the grips 22 using his/her arms and shoulders, rather than the user's back, and thus minimize the risk of injury.
This mixing will generally occur via one or more manual mixing iterations. A manual mixing iteration may include having the users 60a, 60b alternatively raise one of the grips 22 relative to an opposing grip. For example, a first user 60a may grasp the first and the third grips 22a, 22c and a second user may grasp the second and the fourth grips 22b, 22d, as shown in
Once the first user 60a has raised and lowered the first grip 22a, the first user 60a may then raise the third grip 22c (which is in his other hand) in a similar manner, causing the substances 42, 46 to further mix in the manner described above. Then, the second user 60b may then elevate the second and fourth grips 22b, 22d in a similar manner to further mix the substances 42, 46.
Raising each of the grips 22 in turn constitutes one complete manual mixing iteration. Of course, the exact order in which the users 60a, 60b elevate each of the four grips 22 is immaterial; rather, all that is required for a manual mixing iteration is that each of the grips 22 are elevated at least once relative to an opposing grip. Of course, partial manual mixing iterations may be used, as appropriate.
Iterations, or partial iterations, may be repeated, as necessary. In one embodiment, proper mixture of the first and second substances 42, 46 is achieved using two manual mixing iterations. However, depending on the particular quantities of the substances 42, 46, the humidity in the air, etc., additional iterations, or partial iterations, of the mixing process may be required.
After performing one or more manual mixing iterations, the users 60a, 60b may examine the substances 42, 46 and determine that an additional quantity of either the first substance 42 or the second substance 46 may be required. For example, after conducting a first mixing iteration (or any subsequent mixing iteration), the users 60a, 60b may determine, based on the user's experience and knowledge, that an additional quantity of the first substance (the fluid) may be needed in order to fully hydrate the mixture and create moldable concrete. Similarly, after completing one or more mixing iterations, the users 60, 60b may determine that an additional quantity of the second substance 46 (the dry mix) is required, this ingredient may also be added as necessary and the composition re-mixed until the desired end product (e.g., moldable concrete) is obtained.
It should be noted that in some embodiments of the manual mixing device 10, the entire manual mixing device 10 (including the substances 42, 46 contained therein), may be lifted entirely off the ground by the users 60a, 60b during the manual mixing iterations. However, other embodiments may be constructed such that during the manual mixing iterations, a significant portion (30% of more) of the weight of the substances is borne by a supporting surface 80 to minimize weight borne by operators of the manual mixing device. This feature may be advantageous because it will not require the users 60a, 60b to support the majority of the weight of the substances 42, 46 during the mixing iterations. Thus the manual mixing device 10 is easy to use and require minimal strength and physical exertion to properly and thoroughly mix the substances.
As is readily apparent, the manual mixing device 10 of the present embodiments provides advantages over other previously known mechanisms for mixing concrete (and substances). In fact, it has been found that using a manual mixing device 10 of the present embodiments, skilled artisans can mix an 80 pound bag of “Quikcrete®” with only two manual mixing iterations. The users add about 1-1.5 gallons of water to the dry mix and perform a single manual mixing iteration. After finishing this iteration, the users determine if more water is required and add, if necessary, an additional quantity of water. Once this second amount of water is added, a second manual mixing iteration is performed. In many situations, the moldable concrete is properly formed and mixed upon the completion of the second manual mixing iteration.
Referring still to
One of the advantages of the manual mixing device 10 is that it may be disposable, i.e., it may be simply thrown away for easy clean-up. It is envisioned that, if the base 14 is made of 12 millimeter Visqueen or a vinyl coated fabric material, the manual mixing device 10 will wear out in about a day of use, or the equivalent of mixing about 30 batches of concrete. Of course, the exact lifespan of the manual mixing device 10 will depend on a variety of factors, such as the amount of concrete mixed and the care exercised by the users (i.e., whether the users rip the manual mixing device 10, puncture it with a shovel, etc.). Likewise, if the quantity of dry mix used contains sharp, jagged pieces of gravel or other aggregates, these rocks may tear the manual mixing device 10 and decrease its lifespan. Of course, if the manual mixing device 10 is made of a stronger material, then the lifespan of the manual mixing device 10 may be increased. For example, a stronger grade of plastic or flexible material may be used to create a “professional grade” manual mixing device 10, which could last much longer than a standard grade device 10.
As shown in
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
