There are no current related applications.
The present invention relates to a mixing bit used in conjunction with a portable drill to agitate and mix a volume of mud within a container.
Drywall is perhaps the most common interior wall surface used in the world today. It is easy to work with, low-cost, and looks great when finished. The seams between pieces of drywall along with fastening nails and screws are covered in multiple layers of drywall compound to provide a smooth appearance. For large jobs this compound is mixed in a large container, and transferred to smaller hand-held “mud” pans for subsequent direct application to the wall surface. However, there are times when the compound may require additional mixing in the mud pan itself. Additionally, there are also times when only a small amount of compound is needed, and the worker may attempt to mix the compound directly in the mud pan with often unsatisfactory results. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which drywall compound can be mixed in a mud pan or similar small container in a satisfactory manner. The development of the present invention fulfills this need.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bit particularly suited for mixing drywall mud, including a central shaft having a first end and a second end, and a blade arrangement affixed to the second end, including a plurality of vanes each having a first section extending perpendicularly from an intermediate position of the central shaft and having a second portion converging adjacent to a terminus of the central shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the vanes form a symmetric arrangement about the central shaft.
Another object of the present invention is to provide that the central shaft has a hexagonal shaft, particularly suited for connection to a driving device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide the blade arrangement configured to enable use within a tapering slope of an interior of a conventional mud pan. Such an embodiment would have the vanes' first section to be generally “V”-shaped and the second section to be generally “L”-shaped.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide where the plurality of vanes are each spaced at (90°) intervals about a perimeter of the central shaft.
Yet another object of the present invention provides for a spinner feature to be located at the terminus of the central shaft second end to enable a relatively friction-less rotation of the bit as it contacts the bottom of the mud pan. In a preferred embodiment, the spinner feature has a diameter coextensive with a maximum cross-sectional length of said central shaft.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items.
The present invention describes a mud mixing bit (herein described as the “device”) 10, which provides a mixing tool adapted to provide a rotary driven means for rapidly mixing or agitating various viscous liquids 110 such as drywall joint compound, or similar substances.
Referring now to
The portions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 30, 35 of the device 10 define an assembly having rigid steel portions which are permanently affixed to each other via a welding process or other equivalent metal joining process.
In a preferred embodiment, the blades 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d form an assembly approximately seven and fifteen-sixteenths inches (7 5/16 in.) in height and six and thirteen-sixteenths inches (6 13/16 in.) in width. The preferred embodiment includes a rod 35 which is twenty-four inches (24 in.) in length and preferably made using seven-sixteenths of an inch ( 7/16 in.) hexagonal bar stock. However, it is understood that the device 10 may be provided in various overall sizes suitable to particular construction applications, and based upon a user's preference, and as such should not be interpreted as a limitation of scope.
As seen here, the rod 35 extends upwardly from the blade portions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, to enable engagement with a chuck portion 105 of a rotary power tool 100, such as a drill motor, which in turn provides a rotating force to the device 10. The rod 35 is to be of sufficient length so as to enable mixing of a large volume of liquid 110 within various containers 115 such as a five gallon (5 gal) bucket (shown here), a standard “mud pan”, or the like.
The device 10 is envisioned to be capable of thoroughly mixing a large quantity of a viscous liquid 110 in less than a minute.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Each blade 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is positioned so as to terminate coincidentally at a bottom end portion of the rod 35. In a preferred embodiment, each blade 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is approximately one-half of an inch (½ in.) in width, one-eighth of an inch (½ in.) in thickness, and seven and five-sixteenths inches (7 5/16 in.) in height.
Furthermore, each blade 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d includes an upper section 25 and a lower section 27 having approximately equal in height. When viewed from a side perspective, the upper section 25 forms a “V”-shaped portion which protrudes perpendicularly outward from the rod 35 approximately three and one-half inches (3½ in.) before angling downwardly and inwardly towards the rod 35 at an approximate included angle of sixty degrees (60°) before meeting the lower section 27. The lower section 27 forms an “L”-shaped portion which protrudes vertically downward from the upper section 25 subsequently forming a right angle whereby it is directed toward, and affixed to the rod 35. When viewed from the side, as seen here, each blade 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d presents a profile resembling an inverted half-bell shape.
The device 10 also includes an integral spinner feature 30 which comprises a hemispherically-shaped protrusion located upon a bottom portion of the rod 35, being designed to reduce friction as the device 10 comes in contact with a bottom surface of the container 115. The spinner feature 30 has a diameter approximately equal to that of the cross-sectional size of the rod 35. The spinner feature 30 allows the device 10 to glide smoothly along a floor portion of a container 115 or dry wall “mud pan” while in use.
It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device 10, it would be installed as indicated in
The method of utilizing the device 10 may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the device 10 having a desired overall size and desired number of blades 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d; inserting the hexagonal top end of the rod 35 into a chuck portion 105 of a rotary power tool 100, such as a drill motor; tightening the chuck 105 to secure the device 10 to the rotary power tool 100; submerging the blade portions 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d of the device 10 into the container 115 and below the surface of the contained viscous liquid 110; rotating the device 10 by actuating the rotary power tool 100 in a normal manner; allowing the device 10 to agitate and mix the liquid 110 until obtaining a desired consistency of the liquid 110; deactivating the rotary power tool 100; retracting the device 10 from the container 115; utilizing the liquid 110 to perform a construction task; remixing the liquid 110 during the construction project as needed using the device 10 and the rotary power tool 100; removing the device 10 from the chuck portion 105 of the rotary power tool 100 in a normal manner; cleaning and storing the device 10 until needed again; and, benefiting from the reduced effort and timely mixing of a viscous liquid 110 afforded a user of the present invention 10.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
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308901 | Kitchell | Dec 1884 | A |
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2520577 | Tooley | Aug 1950 | A |
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5382092 | Okamoto et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
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D637871 | Frank | May 2011 | S |
Number | Date | Country |
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WO 2008018257 | Feb 2008 | WO |
Entry |
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http://www.toolbarn.com/kraft-dc305.html (Feb. 25, 2012). |
http://www.toolbarn.com/cox-3m1201.html (Feb. 24, 2012). |
http://www.toolbarn.com/kraft-dc308.html (Oct. 26, 2011). |
http://www.toolbarn.com/marshalltown-rm771.html (Feb. 24, 2012). |
http://www.toolbarn.com/kraft-dc362.html (Oct. 26, 2011). |
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/—2Vblc1t1K3M/TJE—QCqf-1l/AAAAAAAAAvg/anW5RtMcwJQ/s400/WhWhFr6.jpg, Date unknown. |