Splatter shield for mixing bowls and the like

Abstract

A shield, of flat, plate-like form, has a slot extending inwardly from its periphery to receive the conventional, spaced beater shafts of an electric mixer of the type used in the home. Means is provided, presenting an abutment intermediate opposite ends of the entrance slot, to cooperate with the inner end of the shaft in defining spaced stops, limiting the shield against movement, when in use, to an extent such as would wholly or partially uncover the mixing bowl into which the beater shafts extend. The device is specially adapted to facilitate maintenance in a completely sanitary condition, and is so formed as to be usable either with small or large mixing bowls.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates, generally, to the art bearing upon agitating, stirring, or mixing devices, and in particular to covers therefor. In a more particular sense, the invention has reference to the provision of a removable cover, designed specifically for association with a conventional electric mixer of the kind normally employing twin beater shafts, and in further association with a mixer bowl, in such fashion as to substantially eliminate splattering of the bowl contents.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has heretofore been proposed to provide covers or splatter shields for mixing devices, and among patents bearing upon this particular concept will be found the following:

Patentee Patent No. ______________________________________ Olson 1,345,457 Green 2,193,356 Ost 2,486,320 Post 2,504,727 Perkins 2,858,118 Wright, et al 3,318,583 ______________________________________

However, these have failed to incorporate certain highly desirable characteristics, and as a result, all the problems encountered in the prior art have not been completely solved thereby.

The housewife using an electric mixer finds certain inconveniences in connection therewith, and in particular, when the mixer is turned on, it is common for the contents of the mixing bowl to be agitated in such fashion as to cause droplets or particles to be driven therefrom, splattering the user, adjacent surfaces of the kitchen counter, adjacent utensils, etc. Obviously, this is an extremely undesirable characteristic of electric mixers as now made and used, and requires that the housewife wash off the splattered surfaces carefully, often over a substantial area thereof, so as to eliminate not only the unsightly residue of the mixer bowl contents splattered thereon, but even more importantly, assure against unsanitary, dried food particles upon said surfaces which may attract ants, may harbor disease-causing bacteria, etc.

In the prior art, attempts have been made to solve this problem, as evidenced by the patents listed above. However, in some cases additional problems have been created. For example, splatter shields for splash covers as heretofore devised, have in some instances been so complicated, as to be too expensive, and too difficult to maintain in sanitary condition. In other instances, the splatter shields heretofore conceived have not been adapted for use with bowls of different sizes, and in still other instances, the splatter shields have been of short-lived duration, have tended to be easily broken or torn, and have been incapable of being readily disassembled for cleaning, may additionally be incapable of being washed in electric dishwashers, etc. All of these have been undesirable attributes of splatter shields as heretofore devised, and in addition, in many instances the splatter shields have been usable only with bowls of particular size and shape, and have been difficult to attach or detach, when use is to be made thereof.

A further problem, when no shield is used or when prior art concepts are employed, is found in the annoying tendency of heavy batter to creep or ride up the shafts to the motor, requiring frequent stopping and cleaning during use.

The present invention, accordingly, has been intended to and is believed to solve the problems involved in the prior art as noted above.

SUMMARY

Summarized briefly, the invention comprises a flat, sheet-like member of circular configuration in the illustrated embodiment, which may be formed of a piece of plastic, preferably a type of plastic which will not be subject to deformation or discoloration, when subjected to repeated washings in conventional electric dishwashers, in which high heat is often encountered. In accordance with the invention, the flat, circular splash cover or splatter shield is so designed as to be usable in overlying relation to either small or large mixing bowls, and to this end, has a slot extending substantially radially inwardly from the periphery thereof, terminating well inwardly from said periphery, and so proportioned as to receive the conventional twin beater shafts of the ordinary electric mixer used by the housewife.

Associated with the flat plate member is means to prevent the cover from moving off the mixing bowl when in use. The tendency of a cover of this type to deviate from its proper use position occurs, for example, due to vibrations encountered when the mixer is in use. To this end, the invention incorporates abutment means adapted to extend across the longitudinal center line of the slot, in such fashion as to restrain the cover against movement off the mixing bowl, regardless of the size of the bowl, to such an extent as would uncover the bowl, even to a small degree.

In one form of the invention, the abutment means is in the form of a pivoted member of hook-like shape, which can be swung between opposite extreme positions in one of which it completely opens the slot to facilitate positioning of the splatter shield for use, or its ready removal after use. In another form of the invention, the slot itself has a tortuous area intermediate its ends, again presenting an abutment tending to engage one of the beater shafts in the event the cover begins to move out of its proper use position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, of a splatter shield or splash cover according to the present invention, as it appears when in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan sectional view on the same scale as FIG. 2, taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed sectional view, still further enlarged, substantially on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a modified construction; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 5 showing another modification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 10 generally designates a mixer of conventional design, such as is commonly used by the housewife. Although these may differ from one another in respect to various structural details, in most instances the mixer incorporates a pair of parallel, twin beater shafts 12, 14, and a stand 16 upon which is removably positioned a mixing bowl 18.

Housewives experience the difficulty or inconvenience of having the bowl contents splatter during agitation thereof by the beaters, and to obviate this difficulty, in accordance with the present invention I provide a splatter shield or splash cover generally designated 20.

In the preferred embodiment, the splatter shield 20 includes a flat, circular, body portion 21, formed of a high-heat plastic material in a preferred embodiment, and preferably characterized by an absence of flanges, lips, projections or the like that would tend to complicate the construction, limit the versatility thereof, and that might possibly be of a nature such as to form food crevices in a manner that would make it difficult to keep the cover in a completely sanitary condition.

Further in accordance with the invention, the body 21 of the splash cover or splatter shield is formed, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, with a straight, elongated slot 24 opening upon the periphery of the body 21, and extending radially of the circular body of the device. The slot does not extend inwardly from the periphery fully to the center point of the body, but rather, terminates at its inner end in closely spaced relation to said center point, to particularly adapt the device for use both with smaller bowls, such as shown in chain dotted lines at 22 in FIG. 3, and with larger bowls 18.

In any event, slot 24 is of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the beater shaft 12, 14, so as to permit the slot to receive said beater shaft comparatively loosely, in such manner as to assure against rubbing of the shafts against the walls of the slot when the device is in use.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-4, abutment means is provided, whereby to limit the device from movement out of its proper position when in use. Such movement may normally occur by reason of vibrations set up during the operation of the mixer, but through the provision of abutment means incorporating a swingable locking arm 26 having a head 28, the device will be kept in its assigned position.

To this end, the arm 26 is generally L-shaped in the illustrated embodiment, having an elongated body portion, terminating at its free end in a laterally extended head 28, said head providing an abutment surface 29 extending transversely across the slot 24 when the arm 26 is in its use position shown in full lines in FIG. 3. Arm 26, at its proximal end, has a smooth-walled opening 30, receiving a correspondingly smooth-surfaced shoulder portion 32 of a screw shank 34 of a combination locking and pivot element 36 formed with a large diameter head 37. Adjacent the opening 30 is a second similar opening 31. This can be used instead of opening 30 to receive element 36, as an adjustment means whereby head 28 may be brought closer to the pivot axis by arm 26. This permits adjustments for use with different makes of beaters, for example, one in which the beater shafts are closer together.

The arm 26, as well as the pivot element 36, may be formed of the same high-heat plastic as the body 21, and as will be noted, the pivot element can be swiftly removed from a threaded opening 38 formed in the body 21, so as to completely take apart the pivot element, arm 26, and body 21 to facilitate washing of the device after use.

When the device is to be used, however, the parts are connected as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in these circumstances, the arm 26 is swung from a dotted line to a full line position as shown in FIG. 3, after the shafts 12, 14 have entered the slot 24. Abutment surface 29 now extends across the slot, and by giving the pivot element a quarter- or half-turn, a shoulder 39 defined at the underside of the head 37 is caused to bear tightly against the top surface of arm 26, forcing the arm downwardly into tight, frictional engagement with the top surface of the body 21, thereby locking the arm in its use position shown in full lines in FIG. 3.

After the device has been used, the threaded portion 34, which may be formed with a quick-thread, is backed off just sufficiently to free the arm 26 for pivotal movement back to its dotted line position, thereby to permit the cover to be removed.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the device is made in a single piece, but in common with the first form of the invention has an abutment surface extending across the adjacent beater shaft 14 in the use position of the device. In this form of the invention, the device has been generally designated 120, and includes a flat, circular, sheet-like plastic body 121, formed with a radial slot 124, terminating short of the center point of the body 121, while opening upon the periphery of the body, in the same manner as the slot 24. In this form of the invention, the slot is formed, intermediate its ends, with a tortuous portion extending out of the radial line along which the general length of the slot extends, whereby to define an abutment surface 129 disposed transversely of the general radial extension of the slot, in the same manner as the abutment surface 29 extends thereacross in the use position of arm 26 in the first form of the invention.

In this form of the invention, the open end of the slot receives the beater shafts 12, 14, and then by ready manipulation of the cover, the beater shafts traverse the arcuate or tortuous portion 125 of the slot, until the beater shafts are disposed in the inner end portion of the slot, between the closed end of the slot and the abutment surface 129.

In both forms of the invention, the arrangement causes the body 121 or 21 as the case may be, to cooperate with the beater shafts in holding the cover in its use position in respect to the mixer and the bowl 18 or 22.

The operation of the device is believed obvious, but it may be noted that when using a small bowl, the beater shafts would be disposed substantially centrally thereof in the illustrated arrangement, whereas said shafts are off-set slightly from the center of a larger bowl 18. This does not detract from the efficiency of the mixer, since in either event, the bowl contents are effectively agitated. If necessary, one can rotate the larger bowl 18 should this be found desirable to assure uniform mixing of the bowl contents. In these circumstances, of course, the cover does not interfere with such rotatable movement, since the cover is held in its proper, use position, in which position it covers the bowl effectively except for the small, inconsequential area defined by the open portions of the slot. Of particular importance is the fact that the construction prevents heavy batter from riding up the beater shafts. The width of the slots, and the particular structure whereby the cover is held in place in respect to the shafts, produces the desirable result of continuously stripping the batter from the shafts, when it tends to creep upwardly thereon, without attention on the part of the user.

It is believed that the slot shown in FIG. 5 could take various other forms, without departure from the spirit of the invention, as for example, the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, in which the device has been generally designated 220, includes a plastic body 221 similar to those previously described, and has a slot 224 extending generally radially of the body, but formed intermediate its ends with an off-set defining an abutment 229. In this form of the invention, thus, the slot has an outer end portion opening upon the periphery of the cover, and designated by the reference numeral 240, and an inner end portion designated by the reference numeral 242, the inner end portion being of a length slightly greater than the spacing of the beater shafts, so that beater shaft 12 is in close proximity to the inner end beater shaft the slot, while beater 14 is disposed, correspondingly, in close proximity to abutment 229, the inner and outer end portions of the slot being connected by the offset or connecting slot portion 242, that extends normally to the lengths of the slot portions 240, 242, whereby to define the previously mentioned abutment 229.

Claims

I claim:

1. A splatter shield for electric mixers of the type including spaced, parallel beater shafts, comprising a one-piece, flat, generally circular, sheet-like body having an elongated, narrow slot extending inwardly from its periphery toward its center point, said slot having a closed inner end, said slot being adapted to loosely receive the beater shafts and said body being proportioned to cover a mixing bowl to prevent splattering of the bowl contents during agitation thereof by the beater shafts; rigid first abutment means on said body disposed transversely of the general length of the slot in spaced relation to said closed inner end thereof in position to normally engage one of the beater shafts at a location upon the body effective to prevent movement of the body in one direction from a bowl-covering position during said agitation of the bowl contents, said inner end of the slot presenting a second rigid abutment means engaging the other beater shaft to prevent movement of the body in the other direction, said first-named abutment means adapted for passage of the beater shafts thereby under the control of a user to disengage the beater shafts from the slot and thereby free the cover, the slot having an elongated, narrow part defined between the first and second abutment means within which the shafts are confined during use to hold the body against rotation, strip the bowl contents from the shafts, and minimize splattering of said bowl contents, said first abutment means comprising a pivoted arm movable between opposite extreme positions in one of which it extends across the slot; a pivot element mounting the arm upon the body for pivotal movement between said opposite extreme positions thereof; and means to lock the arm in said one position, comprising a threaded connection between the pivot element and the body, and shoulder means on the pivot element cooperating with the body in clamping the arm against the body upon tightening of the threaded connection between the pivot element and the body.

2. A splatter shield for electric mixers of the type including spaced, parallel beater shafts, comprising a one-piece, flat, generally circular, sheet-like body having an elongated, narrow slot extending inwardly from its periphery toward its center point, said slot having a closed inner end, said slot being adapted to loosely receive the beater shafts and said body being proportioned to cover a mixing bowl to prevent splattering of the bowl contents during agitation thereof by the beater shafts; rigid first abutment means on said body disposed transversely of the general length of the slot in spaced relation to said closed inner end thereof in position to normally engage one of the beater shafts at a location upon the body effective to prevent movement of the body in one direction from a bowl-covering position during said agitation of the bowl contents, said inner end of the slot presenting a second rigid abutment means engaging the other beater shaft to prevent movement of the body in the other direction, said first-named abutment means adapted for passage of the beater shafts thereby under the control of a user to disengage the beater shafts from the slot and thereby free the cover, the slot having an elongated, narrow part defined between the first and second abutment means within which the shafts are confined during use to hold the body against rotation, strip the bowl contents from the shafts, and minimize splattering of said bowl contents, said first abutment means comprising a pivoted arm movable between opposite extreme positions in one of which it extends across the slot, said arm being generally L-shaped, having an elongated body portion pivotally joined to the body and having a free end terminating in a laterally extended head providing an abutment surface defining said first abutment means and disposed transversely across the slot in the use position of the first named abutment means.

3. A splatter shield as in claim 2, wherein said arm is pivotally joined to the body of the splatter shield at a location laterally spaced from the slot, whereby the arm, in the use position thereof, is disposed with the body portion and head thereof located obliquely to the length of the slot to define a generally V-shaped recess extending across the slot to receive said one beater shaft.

4. A splatter shield as in claim 3 wherein said body portion of the arm is formed with longitudinally spaced openings, the body of the splatter shield having a single opening registrable with either of the openings of said arm, and a pivot element extendable through the registered openings of the arm and body for effecting the pivotal mounting of the arm upon the body, the openings of the body portion of the arm being spaced apart a distance such that the head of the arm will be at different distances from the closed end of the slot, according to which of the openings of the body portion of the arm is selected for registration with the opening of the splatter shield body and for receiving the pivot element.