Patent Grant
9084971
The present invention relates to equipment and system used for painting, or more specifically, equipment and systems used to agitate or stir paint.
Paint can be defined as a liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which, after applying a thin layer to a substrate, leaves a solid film upon drying. It is most commonly used to protect, color, or provide texture to an object. Stir sticks are typically used to mix paint before applying, although other mechanical stirring means may be used such as motorized paint stirrers and pain shakers (paint tumblers). The present invention features a paint agitating system.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
The present invention features a paint agitating system with a generally cylindrical mixing cup. In some embodiments, the system comprises a paddle having a plurality of paddle blades connected at paddle inside edges. In some embodiments, the paddle blades comprise one or more cutouts forming an interior open paddle area. In some embodiments, a shaft is located at an intersection of the paddle top edges. In some embodiments, a flexible blade is located on the paddle, in some embodiments, the system comprises a rotating means for rotating the paddle via the shaft.
In some embodiments, paint is poured into the mixing cup. In some embodiments, the paddle is placed into the mixing cup. In some embodiments, the rotating means is fastened to the shaft. In some embodiments, the paddle is rotated via the rotating means to mix the paint. In some embodiments, paint is scraped off the mixing cup for mixing via the flexible blade. In some embodiments, paint is mixed via the paddle blade.
Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the mixing cup (200) is a paint can. In some embodiments, the mixing cup (200) is a cup for a spray gun.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a paddle (300) having a plurality of paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle blade (310) comprises a paddle first surface (320), an opposing paddle second surface (330), a paddle top edge (340), an opposing paddle bottom edge (350), a paddle outside edge (360), and an opposing paddle inside edge (370). In some embodiments, the paddle blades (310) are connected at the paddle inside edges (370). In some embodiments, the paddle blades (310) comprise one or more cutouts (385) forming an interior open paddle area (390). In some embodiments, the cutouts (385) combine to form a single shaped interior open paddle area (390). In some embodiments, there are a plurality of individual cutouts (385) that do not touch that combine to form the interior open paddle area (390).
In some embodiments, a shaft (400) is located at an intersection of the paddle top edges (340). In some embodiments, the shaft (400) projects out and away from the paddle top edges (340). In some embodiments, the shaft (400) is located on an Axis A (410).
In some embodiments, a flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle (300). In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is constructed from a rubber, a silicone rubber, a polymer, or a flexible material. In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) acts similar to a squeegee.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a rotating means (500) for rotating the paddle (300) via the shaft (400).
In some embodiments, paint is poured into the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) is placed in the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is fastened to the shaft (400). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) is rotated via the rotating means (500) to mix the paint. In some embodiments, paint is scraped off the mixing cup (200) for mixing via the flexible blade (420). In some embodiments, paint is mixed via the paddle blade (310).
In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a motor drive (510). In some embodiments, the motor drive (510) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation. In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a handle (520). In some embodiments, the handle (520) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation. In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a crank (530). In some embodiments, the crank (530) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation.
In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises two paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises three paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises four or more paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) is contiguous, regardless of how many paddle blades (310) comprise the paddle (300).
In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle top edge (340). In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle bottom edge (350). In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle outside edge (360). In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is located on a combination of edges. In some embodiments the flexible blade (420) is located on a combination of edges and is contiguous.
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a lid (600) having an aperture (610) located in a center thereof. In some embodiments, the lid (600) is located on the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, the lid (600) is planar. In some embodiments, the lid (600) is conical.
In some embodiments, the shaft (400) is rotatably located through the aperture (610). In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises an adapter (620) centrally located in the aperture (610). In some embodiments, the adapter (620) comprises an adapter aperture (630) centrally located therein. In some embodiments, the shaft (400) is rotatably located through the adapter aperture (630).
In some embodiments, a cup liner (640) is slidably located in the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, the cup liner (640) interfacially contacts the cup side wall (220) and the cup bottom interior surface (230). In some embodiments, the cup liner (640) is disposable and is constructed from a plastic or paper material.
In some embodiments, the system comprises a paint sprayer (650). In some embodiments, the mixing cup (200) is located on the paint sprayer (650). In some embodiments, the system can be agitated on the paint sprayer (650) via a rotating means (500).
In some embodiments, a paddle inside notch (380) is located on the paddle blade (310) on the paddle inside edge (370). In some embodiments, a plurality of paddle inside notches (380) is fluidly connected to form the interior open paddle area (390). In some embodiments, a plurality of paddle inside notches (380) is not fluidly connected, but each comprise an open area together forming the interior open paddle area (390).
In some embodiments, the interior open paddle area (390) comprises a shape of a circle. In some embodiments, the interior open paddle area (390) comprises a shape of an oval. In some embodiments, the interior open paddle area (390) comprises an irregular shape. In some embodiments, the interior open paddle area (390) is formed by one or more paddle inside notches (380) and one or more secondary paddle blade components (660) located on each paddle inside notch (380). In some embodiments, the paddle blades (310) comprise a cutout (385) or a notch on the paddle bottom edge (350). In some embodiments, two opposed paddle blades (310) intersect and comprise a general shape of a horseshoe.
In some embodiments, the present invention features a paint agitating system (100). In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a generally cylindrical mixing cup (200) having an open cup top (210), a smooth cup side wall (220), a smooth cup bottom interior surface (230), and a cup interior cavity (240). In some embodiments, the mixing cup (200) comprises a cup height (250) and a cup diameter (260). In some embodiments, the mixing cup (200) is a paint can. In some embodiments the mixing cup (200) tapers to a smaller diameter as the cup side wall (220) approaches the bottom interior surface (230). In some embodiments the mixing cup (200) does not taper to a smaller diameter as the cup side wall (220) approaches the bottom interior surface (230).
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a paddle (300) having a plurality of paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle blade (310) comprises a paddle first surface (320), a paddle second surface (330), a paddle top edge (340), a paddle bottom edge (350), a paddle outside edge (360), a paddle inside edge (370), and a paddle inside notch (380). In some embodiments, the paddle blades (310) are connected at the paddle inside edges (370). In some embodiments, the paddle inside notches (380) are fluidly connected to form an interior open paddle area (390). In some embodiments, the paddle blades (310) are connected at the paddle inside edges (370) via unitary construction.
In some embodiments, a shaft (400) is located on the paddle top edge (340). In some embodiments, the shaft (400) projects out and away from the paddle top edge (340) at the intersection of the paddle top edge (340) and the paddle inside edge (370). In some embodiments, the shaft (400) is located on an Axis A (410). In some embodiments, Axis A lies on the paddle inside edge (370). In some embodiments, a flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle outside edge (360). In some embodiments, the flexible blade (420) is adapted to scrape the cup side wall (220).
In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a rotating means (500) for rotating the paddle (300) via the shaft (400).
In some embodiments, for use, paint is poured into the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) is inserted into the mixing cup (200). In some embodiments, a rotating means (500) is fastened on and coupled to the shaft (400). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) is rotated via the rotating means (500) to mix the paint. In some embodiments, paint is scraped off the cup side wall (220) via the flexible blade (420). In some embodiments, paint is mixed via the paddle blade (310).
In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a motor drive (510). In some embodiments, the motor drive (510) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation. In some embodiments, the motor drive (510) is an electric screwdriver or a drill. In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a handle (520). In some embodiments, the handle (520) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation. In some embodiments, the rotating means (500) is a crank (530). In some embodiments, the crank (530) attachably connects to the shaft (400) for rotation.
In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises two paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises three paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises four paddle blades (310). In some embodiments, the paddle (300) comprises more than four paddle blades (310).
In some embodiments, a flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle top edge (340). In some embodiments, a flexible blade (420) is located on the paddle bottom edge (350). In some embodiments, the system (100) comprises a lid (600) having an aperture (610) located in a center thereof. In some embodiments, for use, the lid (600) is located on the mixing cup (200).
As used herein, the term “about” refers to plus or minus 10% of the referenced number.
Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. Reference numbers recited in the claims are exemplary and for ease of review by the patent office only, and are not limiting in any way. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/692,094, filed Aug. 22, 2012, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61692094 | Aug 2012 | US |
