U.S. patent application number 13/530964 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for agitator for food and beverage mixer.
This patent application is currently assigned to MEDPORT LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Dustin R. Avila, Jessica DeSiena. Invention is credited to Dustin R. Avila, Jessica DeSiena.
Application Number | 20130343148 13/530964 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49774336 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130343148 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Avila; Dustin R. ; et
al. |
December 26, 2013 |
AGITATOR FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE MIXER
Abstract
A cup for receiving a beverage includes a container body having
a side wall and a bottom wall joined at a first radius. A lid may
be selectively affixed to the top of the side wall. An agitator is
received inside the container body to enhance mixing of the
beverage. The agitator has a weighted, central hub and a plurality
of elongated projections extending radially from the hub. The
projections join the hub at a root and extend to a free end. The
free ends are capped by domes having a second radius less than or
equal to the first radius. All of the projections have
substantially the same length. This affords a shape that allows the
agitator to roll freely on the bottom wall or in the corners. Any
one of the projections can reach into a corner of the cup and
dislodge any solids.
Inventors: |
Avila; Dustin R.; (Bristol,
RI) ; DeSiena; Jessica; (Providence, RI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Avila; Dustin R.
DeSiena; Jessica |
Bristol
Providence |
RI
RI |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MEDPORT LLC
Providence
RI
|
Family ID: |
49774336 |
Appl. No.: |
13/530964 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
366/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/27 20130101;
B01F 13/005 20130101; B01F 15/00512 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
366/130 |
International
Class: |
B01F 13/00 20060101
B01F013/00 |
Claims
1. An agitator for placement in a cup along with beverage
components and a liquid carrier, the agitator comprising: a central
hub; a plurality of elongated projections extending radially from
the hub, the projections having substantially the same length.
2. The agitator of claim 1 wherein the hub includes a core covered
by a sheath.
3. The agitator of claim 2 wherein the core is a metal ball.
4. The agitator of claim 3 wherein the sheath is made of a polymer
material.
5. The agitator of claim 1 wherein the projections attach to the
hub at a root and extend from the root to a free end.
6. The agitator of claim 5 wherein the projections include at least
one post having a frusto-conical shape with a maximum diameter at
the root and a minimum diameter at the free end.
7. The agitator of claim 5 wherein the projections include at least
one spoke having a frusto-conical shape with a maximum diameter at
the free end and a minimum diameter at the root.
8. The agitator of claim 5 wherein the projections include at least
one post having a frusto-conical shape with a maximum diameter at
the root and a minimum diameter at the free end and the projections
further include at least one spoke having a frusto-conical shape
with a maximum diameter at the free end and a minimum diameter at
the root.
9. The agitator of claim 1 having at least two projections which
are diametrically aligned with one another.
10. The agitator of claim 1 wherein the projections are arranged
orthogonally to one another.
11. The agitator of claim 10 wherein the projections are arranged
in diametrically-aligned pairs.
12. The agitator of claim 11 having at least three pairs of
projections arranged orthogonally to one another with each pair
diametrically aligned.
13. A cup for receiving beverage components and a liquid carrier,
the cup comprising: a container body having a bottom wall and side
wall, the walls adjoining one another at a first radius; and an
agitator for placement in the container body and having a central
hub and a plurality of elongated projections extending radially
from the hub, the projections having substantially the same length
and each projection terminating at a dome having a second radius
that is less than or equal to the first radius.
14. The cup of claim 13 further comprising a lid sized for
selective engagement with the top of the container body.
15. The cup of claim 13 wherein the agitator includes a hub having
a core covered by a sheath.
16. The cup of claim 15 wherein the core is a metal ball.
17. The cup of claim 15 wherein the sheath is made of a polymer
material.
18. The cup of claim 15 wherein the projections attach to the hub
at a root and extend from the root to a free end.
19. The cup of claim 15 wherein the projections include at least
one post having a frusto-conical shape with a maximum diameter at
the root and a minimum diameter at the free end.
20. The cup of claim 15 wherein the projections include at least
one spoke having a frusto-conical shape with a maximum diameter at
the free end and a minimum diameter at the root.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The present invention generally relates to cups for
containing and dispensing contents such as beverages. More
particularly, this invention relates to an improved agitator for
mixing the contents of a cup and to a cup containing such an
agitator. It will be understood that as used herein the term "cup"
refers broadly to any size, shape or type of drinking vessel.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] There are numerous portable cups which are commonly sold and
used for the containment of beverages such as water, juice, soft
drinks, shakes, nutritional supplements or infant formulas.
Typically, such containers have a lid which selectively covers an
opening through which the cup is filled. The lid often includes an
aperture for dispensing the contents from the cup. A cover can be
selectively positioned to open or close the aperture.
[0005] Problems arise with current cups when the beverage is a
suspension having components such as powders, syrups or the like
blended into a liquid carrier. Preferably, the initial blending or
mixing occurs while both the components and the carrier are within
the cup itself. Proper initial mixing of the components and carrier
can be problematic if it requires a separate stirring element such
as a spoon or the like. The separate stirring element typically
requires the lid to be left off the container for stirring which
increases the chances for spillage. Availability of a separate
stirring element is not always assured and even where it is used it
creates an additional item to be cleaned. Furthermore, in instances
where an initially mixed beverage stands still, beverage components
may tend to settle toward the bottom of the cup. Upon settling, the
beverage is no longer homogeneous and will not have the proper
taste, texture and efficacy. In that case the lid has to be
re-opened and the separate stirring element has to be brought back
into use, thereby recreating the original nuisance.
[0006] These issues can be addressed by use of an agitator placed
in the cavity of the cup. The cup is shaken to mix the contents and
the agitator bounces around inside the cup, mechanically breaking
up agglomerations of solid particles and creating turbulence that
enhances mixing of the solids and liquids. Agitators for mixing
solids and liquids in a container are known. Some of these
agitators are intended for use in aerosol cans, such as are
commonly used for spray paint for example. Due to the need to
retain elevated pressure inside the aerosol cans, such cans do not
have removable lids. Accordingly, the agitators will not be
extracted from the can and reused; they will be discarded with the
can when it is empty. Thus, there is no concern in the design of
the aerosol agitators for cleaning and handling the agitator. This
is contrasted with beverage agitators used in cups containing
foodstuffs. A user will open and refill a beverage cup numerous
times, with cleaning of the cup and agitator commonly being done
between uses. Thus, the needs for cleaning and long-term durability
distinguish beverage agitators from aerosol agitators.
[0007] Examples of beverage agitators include the wire frame
agitator shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,379,032. This agitator has the
disadvantages of being difficult to clean and its metal wires can
scratch the interior of a plastic cup, which creates places for
bacteria to grow. The ball-shaped agitator cannot fit into corners
of a cup which often leaves agglomerated beverage components, such
as clumps of powder in the bottom edges of the container. Also, at
roughly 14-16 grams its relatively light weight has trouble
bursting through the powder of some nutritional supplements.
[0008] Sommovigo U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,960 has a faceted beverage
agitator in the nature of a truncated sphere. With this shape it is
incapable of extending into the bottom corners of a cup to scrape
out beverage components that may have settled there.
[0009] Church U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,975 has a star-shaped aerosol
agitator. Since this agitator is not intended for reuse or for use
with drinkable fluids, it is not suitably shaped to be cleaned.
Further, it is deliberately made non-symmetrical and unbalanced
with the idea that an unbalanced agitator will trace nonpredictable
random mixing patterns regardless of the user's shaking motion.
Espey U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,262 is another aerosol agitator having a
generally rounded main portion and at least one projection
extending from the main portion.
SUMMARY
[0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
cup is provided which includes an elongated container body and a
removable lid. The container body has a generally cylindrical side
wall and a bottom wall joined to the side wall at a first radius.
Together the side wall and bottom wall define an interior cavity
and an open mouth. The lid is selectively engageable with the side
wall to close the mouth. The lid has a dispensing aperture and a
closure arm, which selectively opens and closes the aperture.
[0011] An improved agitator is designed for placement with the
beverage in the interior cavity of the container body. The agitator
has a weighted, central hub. A plurality of elongated projections
extend radially from the hub. The projections join the hub at a
root and extend to a free end. The projections may include spokes
which have their smallest diameter at the root and flare outwardly
from the root to the largest diameter at the free end. The
projections may also include one or more posts, each of which has
its largest diameter at the root and tapers outwardly therefrom to
the smallest diameter at the free end. The free ends of the
projections are capped by rounded domes. The radius of the domes is
less than or equal to the first radius at the cup's bottom wall and
side wall intersection. All of the projections have substantially
the same length. This affords a shape that allows the agitator to
roll freely on the bottom wall or in the corners. Also, any one of
the projections can reach into a corner of the cup and dislodge any
solids that may have settled in a corner.
[0012] The hub has a weighted core, such as a metal ball. A sheath
tightly covers the core. The sheath may be formed by molding it
over the core. The projections are connected to the sheath and may
be molded therewith.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a cup
of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the cup shown in FIG. 1,
with an agitator of the present invention shown therein in phantom
lines.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the cup shown in FIG.
1.
[0016] FIG. 4 section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cup shown in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an agitator
of the present invention, on an enlarged scale compared to the
previous figures.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the agitator of FIG.
6.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the agitator.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the agitator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] An embodiment of a cup is illustrated generally at 10 in
FIGS. 1-5. The cup 10 includes two main parts, a container body 12
and a lid 14. The lid is releasably mountable on top of the
container body. In the illustrated embodiment, the container body
12 has a generally elongated cylindrical shape, with a bottom wall
16 joined to an upstanding side wall 18 at a first radius R (FIG.
4). In one embodiment the first radius R may be about 0.50 inches.
The outer surface of the side wall may have a set of ribs 20 which
protrude slightly from the rest of the side wall exterior to help
provide the user with a better grip on the cup. The side wall 18
terminates at its upper end at an open mouth 22. Together the
bottom wall 16 and side wall 18 define an interior cavity 24 (FIG.
4) which is sized and configured for receiving and temporarily
storing a beverage, such as water, juices, soft drinks, energy
drinks, nutritional supplement drinks, or shakes. It will be
appreciated that the container body 12 may have any convenient
configuration and its form may depend, in part, on the type of cup
desired.
[0024] As mentioned above, the open mouth 22 of the container body
12 is selectively closed by the lid 14. The lid has a skirt 26
sized to fit over the top of the container body. Threads may be
formed on the lid 14 and container body 12 so that the lid and
container body may be selectively threadedly engaged or disengaged
as desired. When the lid and container body are engaged the
interior cavity 24 is formed into a closed, fluid-tight cavity. An
aperture 28 in the lid may be selectively opened and closed by a
closure arm 30. A carrying loop 32 may also be formed on the lid.
The lid 14 and closure arm 30 are typically injection molded, out
of conventional polymers such as polypropylene. However, it will be
appreciated that the invention is not limited to this material and
that any suitable material may be used.
[0025] In order to allow the user to selectively dispense the
contents from the cup, the elongated closure arm 30 is pivotally
mounted to the lid. In the illustrated embodiment a hinge
configuration allows the closure arm 30 to be pivoted by the user
between a closed position (as shown in FIGS. 1-5) and an open
position (not shown). When the closure arm 30 is in the open
position, the aperture 28 is unobstructed and when the closure arm
30 is in the closed position, the aperture 28 is sealed in order to
prevent the contents from flowing out of the interior cavity 24 of
the cup 10. It will be appreciated that any variety of hinge
configurations could be used. Further details of a lid structure
are shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/045,845, filed
Mar. 11, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by
reference herein.
[0026] FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate the agitator of the present
invention generally at 34. It will normally rest on the bottom wall
16 but it is free to move about in the interior cavity 24 when the
cup is shaken, swirled, rotated or otherwise agitated by the
user.
[0027] Details of the agitator 34 are shown in FIGS. 6-10. The
agitator has a central hub 36 which is generally spherical. The hub
36 has an interior core 38 (FIG. 9) which preferably is a weighted
metal ball, such as a ball from a ball bearing. Molded around the
core 38 is a sheath 40. The sheath is preferably made of
polyethylene although other materials could be used. For reference
purposes, and not by way of limitation, in one embodiment the ball
may have a diameter of about 0.54 inches and a weight of about ten
grams. The sheath may have a diameter of about 0.64 inches.
[0028] Extending radially from the hub are a plurality of elongated
projections. Each projection includes a rod portion and a rounded
dome on the free end of the rod. The rods may have a variety of
cross-sectional shapes. In the illustrated embodiment there are two
different types of rods--spokes and posts. In this embodiment there
are four spokes 42, 44, 46 and 48 and two posts 50 and 52. The
number and types of projections could be other than as shown. For
example, the rods could be all spokes or all posts. Also, the
projections need not always be diametrically aligned with another
projection on the opposite side of the hub.
[0029] Each rod extends from a root 54 at the sheath 40 to a free
end 56. The free ends are capped by a rounded dome 58. The rods
joins the sheath where they form a radius between adjacent rods of
about 0.11 inches. This radius makes the agitator easier to clean
because it eliminates a sharp corner where food particles could
adhere. As an example of the projection's length, the overall
distance from the tip of a dome of one projection to the tip of the
dome of an oppositely aligned projection may be about 2.5
inches.
[0030] The spokes 42, 44, 46 and 48 flare outwardly from the root
54 to the free end 56. That is, the spokes have a frusto-conical
shape with a minimum diameter at the root 54 and a maximum diameter
at the free end 56. By way of example and not limitation, the
diameter at the root may be about 0.35 inches and the diameter at
the free end may be about 0.52 inches. The second radius of the
dome 58 on a spoke is about 0.50 inches. This second radius is
selected to be no larger than the first radius R of the
intersection of the bottom wall and side wall of the cup. This
assures that the end of the projection can extend all the way into
the corner to scrape food particles off the cup.
[0031] The posts 50, 52 taper down as they extend outwardly from
their root 54 to their free end 56, just the opposite of the
spokes. The posts also have a frusto-conical shape but instead of
the minimum diameter being at the root as in the spokes, the post's
minimum diameter is at the free end and the maximum diameter is at
the root. In the agitator with the sizes noted above, the posts may
have a free end diameter of about 0.28 inches and a root diameter
of about 0.33 inches. The radius of the dome 58 on the posts may be
about 0.25 inches.
[0032] The projections are preferably molded from the same material
as the sheath 40 of the hub 36. As mentioned above, polyethylene is
a suitable material for the sheath and thus for the projections as
well. With this material and the dimensions given above, the
projections and sheath will have a weight of about ten grams,
giving the agitator a total weight of about twenty grams. An
agitator of this size has been found to have sufficient mass to
burst through foodstuffs such as powdered nutritional supplements
and the like.
[0033] The projections all have substantially the same length. This
enables any one of them to reach into a corner of a cup and
dislodge any food particles that have settled there. Furthermore,
the projections are spaced from one another sufficiently that no
projection will interfere with another's extension into a corner of
a cup. While the illustrated orthogonal arrangement among six
projections is preferred, some variation from an orthogonal
arrangement could be tolerated. However if the angle between
adjacent projections became much less than about 75.degree. there
arises the problem of one projection hitting one of the cup walls
and preventing an adjacent projection from extending fully into the
corner.
[0034] In addition to being spaced apart from one another the
projections are also slender enough to effectively reach into
corners of the cup. The rod-like configuration of the projections
enables them to act individually without interference from an
adjacent projection.
[0035] In operation, a user may insert the desired beverage through
the open mouth 22 and into the interior cavity 24 of the container
body 12. The agitator 34 is also placed in the container body 12.
The user may selectively secure the lid 14 to the top portion of
the lid. With the closure arm 30 in the closed position, a user may
manually agitate the cup to create a disturbance of the beverage
within the cup 10. When the user desires to drink the beverage, the
user may pivot the closure arm 30 to the open position to unseal
the dispensing aperture 28. In this position the beverage can be
selectively dispensed from the aperture 28. When the user no longer
wants to dispense the beverage, the closure arm 30 can be pivoted
back to the closed position such as to create a fluid-tight
seal.
[0036] One of the advantages of having all the projections of about
the same length is the agitator can roll easily around the
perimeter of the bottom wall and as it does so it is assured of
scraping or cleaning the corners of the cup. Unlike non-uniform
agitators that require a particular, elongated projection to align
with the corner to clean it out, with the present invention no
particular orientation of the agitator is needed to get a
particular projection into the corner. This is because any and all
projections will reach into the corners to perform the corner
cleaning function. Thus, a user can swirl the cup gently about a
vertical axis to get the agitator to roll around the bottom of the
cup with assurance that the bottom and corner of the cup will be
cleaned of settled food particles. While a vigorous up-and-down
shaking of the cup is possible if the user desires (and may be
preferable for initial mixing), it is not necessary to shake the
cup in that manner. Especially for re-mixing after settling, a
circular swirling motion will work. Gentle swirling has the added
advantage of not entraining air into the beverage.
[0037] It will be understood that the above examples are merely
exemplary of the cup and agitator arrangement of the present
disclosure. Variations of these examples may become apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing
description. It will be appreciated that skilled artisans may
employ such variations as desired, and cups and agitators of the
present disclosure may be constructed otherwise than as
specifically described herein. Accordingly, all modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter described herein are intended to
be covered by the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable
law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements and
all possible variations thereof are encompassed by the present
disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly
contradicted by context.
* * * * *