U.S. patent number RE45,818 [Application Number 14/480,764] was granted by the patent office on 2015-12-15 for mixing paddle for ice cream machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to CONAIR CORPORATION. The grantee listed for this patent is CONAIR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kam Fai Fung.
United States Patent |
RE45,818 |
Fung |
December 15, 2015 |
Mixing paddle for ice cream machine
Abstract
A mixing paddle for use in a conventional ice cream maker
includes two vertical arms that have outer contact edges that
exceed the inner diameter of the freezer bowl in which they are
positioned during use. This enables the contact edges to
effectively scrape ice cream ingredients from the inner wall of the
bowl during use and direct the ingredients toward the center of the
bowl. The mixing paddle also comprises two cross-members that have
pin-wheel style shapes that move ice cream ingredients vertically
during use. The combined effect of the vertical arms and the
cross-members optimally and uniformly mixes the ice cream
ingredients during use and ensures efficient cooling.
Inventors: |
Fung; Kam Fai (Tuen Mun,
HK) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CONAIR CORPORATION |
Stamford |
CT |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CONAIR CORPORATION (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
45934055 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/480,764 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
12771579 |
Apr 30, 2010 |
8425108 |
Apr 23, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23G
9/224 (20130101); B01F 15/065 (20130101); A23G
9/22 (20130101); B01F 7/00208 (20130101); B01F
7/32 (20130101); B01F 2015/061 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01F
9/12 (20060101); A23G 9/22 (20060101); B01F
7/00 (20060101); B01F 7/32 (20060101); B01F
15/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;366/221,309,312,313,325.7,325.8,325.94,328.8 ;62/342-343 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kaufman; Joseph
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Grogan, Tuccillo &
Vanderleeden, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mixing paddle for use with an ice cream maker, said paddle
comprising a top portion .[.of a generally cylindrical shape having
open top and bottom ends and an inner wall surface and an outer
wall surface.].; a first longitudinal arm attached to a lower end
of said top portion and extending vertically downwardly and
terminating at a distal end, said first longitudinal arm having a
first outer edge running vertically substantially along its length,
extending radially outwardly with respect to said top portion,
.[.and laying in a plane that is tangential to an imaginary circle
defined by said top portion's shape,.]. and comprising a first
groove running vertically substantially along its length; a second
longitudinal arm attached to a lower end of said top portion and
extending vertically downwardly and terminating at a distal end,
said second longitudinal arm having a second outer edge running
vertically substantially along its length, extending radially
outwardly with respect to said top portion, .[.and laying in a
plane that is tangential to an imaginary circle defined by said top
portion's shape,.]. and comprising a second groove running
vertically substantially along its length; and a first cross-member
attached to the respective distal ends of said first and second
longitudinal arms, connecting said first and second longitudinal
arms to each other.
2. A mixing paddle according to claim 1, wherein said first
cross-member has a center portion, a first blade portion on one
side of the center portion aligned with a first plane, and a second
blade portion on the other side of the center portion aligned with
a second plane that is not parallel to said first plane.
3. A mixing paddle according to claim 1, wherein said paddle is
made of plastic.
4. A mixing paddle according to claim 1, further comprising a
second cross-member attached to said first and second longitudinal
arms, connecting said first and second longitudinal arms to each
other.
5. A mixing paddle according to claim 4, wherein said second
cross-member has a center portion, a first blade portion on one
side of the center portion aligned with a first plane, and a second
blade portion on the other side of the center portion aligned with
a second plane that is not parallel to said first plane.
.Iadd.6. A mixing paddle according to claim 1, wherein said top
portion is of a generally cylindrical shape and has open top and
bottom ends and an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.7. A mixing paddle according to claim 6, wherein said first
longitudinal arm lies in a plane that is tangential to an imaginary
circle defined by said top portion's shape; and said second
longitudinal arm lies in a plane that is tangential to said
imaginary circle defined by said top portion's shape. .Iaddend.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to ice cream making machines designed
for personal or home use and, more particularly, to mixing paddle
components used in such machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various ice cream making machines for personal or home use exist
which share common characteristics including: small size,
convenient storage and use, base with internal motor, freezing
bowl, mixing paddle, and cover. In use, the freezing bowl is cooled
in a freezer for a period of time. The mixing paddle is placed in
the bowl and moves relative to the bowl in either one of two
arrangements. In the first, the bowl is in engagement with a drive
mechanism that transfers rotational force from the motor to cause
the bowl to rotate while the paddle is held stationary. In the
other arrangement, the bowl is held stationary and the paddle is
rotated relative to the bowl. Ice cream ingredients are placed in
the bowl and the cover is positioned. As the mixing paddle and bowl
move relative to each other the ingredients are cooled by the
temperature of the pre-frozen bowl, resulting in ice cream.
Known ice cream mixing paddles are designed to span a distance just
short of the inner diameter of the mixing bowl so that direct
contact is not made with the inner walls of the mixing bowl, as the
friction plus the load of the ice cream might stall or damage the
motor or paddle. At the same time, this prevents some of the ice
cream mixture from being pushed into and out of contact with the
cold inner wall of the bowl as much as the rest of the ice cream
mixture.
OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
mixing paddle for use with a personal or home style ice cream maker
that efficiently and effectively moves the ice cream mixture into
and out of contact with the inner wall of the freezing bowl evenly
and optimally. These and other objects are achieved by the
presently described invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a front view of an ice cream maker used in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a top view of an ice cream maker used in accordance with
the present invention.
FIG. 1C is a bottom view of an ice cream maker used in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 1D is a rear view of an ice cream maker used in accordance
with the present invention.
FIG. 1E is a first side view of an ice cream maker used in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 1F is a second side view of an ice cream maker used in
accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an ice cream mixing paddle and ice
cream maker according to and used in accordance with the present
invention.
FIG. 3A is a front view of an ice cream mixing paddle according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a top view of an ice cream mixing paddle according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3C is a bottom view of an ice cream mixing paddle according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3D is a rear view of an ice cream mixing paddle according to
the present invention.
FIG. 3E is a first side view of an ice cream mixing paddle
according to the present invention.
FIG. 3F is a second side view of an ice cream mixing paddle
according to the present invention.
FIG. 4A is a first perspective view of an ice cream mixing paddle
according to the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a top, cross-sectional view of and ice cream mixing
paddle according to the present invention.
FIG. 4C is an enlarged, top cross-sectional view of a contact edge
of an arm of an ice cream mixing paddle according to the present
invention.
FIG. 5A is a second perspective view of an ice cream mixing paddle
and a part-sectional, perspective view of a freezer bowl according
to the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a top view of an ice cream mixing paddle and freezer
bowl according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
A mixing paddle for use in a conventional ice cream maker includes
two vertical arms that have outer contact edges that exceed the
inner diameter of the freezer bowl in which they are positioned
during use. This enables the contact edges to effectively scrape
ice cream ingredients from the inner wall of the bowl during use
and direct the ingredients toward the center of the bowl. The
mixing paddle also comprises two cross-members that have pin-wheel
style shapes that move ice cream ingredients vertically during use.
The combined effect of the vertical arms and the cross-members
optimally and uniformly mixes the ice cream ingredients during use
and ensures efficient cooling.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the FIGS. 1A-1F, an ice cream maker 1 comprises a base
2 and lid 3. The lid 3 has an opening 4 at its top surface. The
base 2 houses an internal motor and drive assembly (not shown) of a
conventional type. The bottom surface of the base 2 includes vents
5, 6 to accommodate cooling during the motor operation. As shown in
FIG. 2, a freezer bowl 7 is adapted to be mounted on the base 2 and
a mixing paddle 8 is adapted to be positioned in the freezer bowl
7. When assembled, the lid 3 covers both the freezer bowl 7 and the
paddle 8.
The mixing paddle 8, made of plastic or a material having similar
properties, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, comprise a ring-shaped top
portion 9, a first longitudinal arm 10, a second longitudinal arm
11, an upper cross-member 12, and a lower cross-member 13. The top
portion 9 includes internal ribs 14, 15, 16 to lock against
rotation relative to the lid 3 when attached thereto. The
longitudinal arms 10, 11 are positioned at a relative distance to
each other and aligned with the top portion 9 such that they are
positioned generally coincident with the annular wall of the top
potion 9, except that the longitudinal arms 10, 11 are each angled
so as to be tangentially oriented with respect to the annular wall
of the top portion 9. This is illustrated in the top and bottom
views labeled, respectively, as FIG. 3B and 3C. Due to this
orientation, a contact edge 17 of the first arm 10 and a contact
edge 18 of the second arm 11 are each distanced further from the
center hub 21 of the paddle 8 than, respectively, an inner edge 19
of the first arm 10 and an inner edge 20 of the second arm 11.
Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first arm 10 includes a
longitudinally extending groove 35 adjacent to the contact edge 17
to enable it to flex primarily at the groove 35 when the contact
edge 17 is in contact with the bowl's inner wall during use.
Similarly, as best shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, a groove 36 exists on
the second arm 11 of the same configuration and for the same
purpose. This facilitates positive contact with the bowl during use
as described below.
The center hub 21 of the paddle 8 is part of the lower cross-member
13 and is positioned in alignment with the center of the circle
formed by the top portion 9. The lower cross-member 13 has a first
side 22 and a second side 23. The two sides 22, 23 are out-of-plane
and angled with respect to each other in the same manner as a
pinwheel or propeller, with the hub 21 forming the center of
rotation. The first side 22 has a leading edge 24 and a trailing
edge 25. The second side 23 has a leading edge 26 and a trailing
edge 27.
The upper cross-member 12 has a first side 28 and a second side 29
separate from each other by a middle portion 30. The first and
second sides 28, 29 are out-of-plane and angled with respect to
each other in the same manner as a pinwheel or propeller, with the
middle portion 30 forming the center of rotation. The first side 28
has a leading edge 31 and a trailing edge 32. The second side 29
has a leading edge 33 and a trailing edge 34.
During use, a user places the freezer bowl 7 into a freezer
appliance or outside, if sufficiently cold outside, to cool the
temperature of the freezer bowl 7. The freezer bowl 7 may be of a
type having a double-wall construction forming an internal
compartment that is filled with cold-retention material such as
liquid or gel that can be frozen. Once the freezer bowl 7 is
cooled, it is positioned on the base 2. The bowl 7 is positioned
such that drive engaging means (not shown) on the bottom of the
bowl 7 engage the drive output means 37 of the motor that are
rotationally driven. This enables the bowl 7 to be rotated relative
to the base 2 during operation. The paddle 8 is positioned in the
bowl 7 such that the hub 21 rests on the bottom of the bowl 7 and
the lid 3 is placed over the bowl 7 and mounted to the base 2. Ice
cream ingredients are added to the bowl 7 through the opening 4.
The ingredients immediately begin chilling. Once the motor is
activated, the bowl 7 begins to rotate relative to the base 2. The
lid 3 is fixed relative the base 2 and the paddle 8 is fixed
relative to the lid 3 by attaching to the lid 3 at its top portion
9. Thus, the bowl 7 rotates relative to the base 2, to the lid 3
and to the paddle 8. The relative movement between the bowl 7 and
the paddle 8 causes the ice cream ingredients in the bowl 7 to be
mixed and moved relative to the bowl 7.
Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, the contact edges 17, 18 are always in
contact with the inner wall surface 38 of the freezer bowl 7 due to
the flexibility of the contact edges 17, 18. This enables all of
the ingredients to be more evenly mixed by the longitudinal arms
10, 11 and moved into and out of contact with the inner wall
surface 38. The edges 17, 18 move ingredients away from the inner
wall surface 38 and towards the center of the bowl so that more
ingredients can assume the position of contact with the wall
surface 38. The cycle repeats continuously during operation, As a
result, uniform and efficient cooling of ingredients is achieved,
as is optimal mixing. The upper and lower cross-members 12, 13 move
the ingredients vertically and laterally due to their pinwheel
shapes and rotational movement. This vertical movement, combined
with the above-described movement cause by the longitudinal arms
10, 11 enhances the mixing and cooling.
While the preferred embodiment has been described herein, various
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
present invention.
* * * * *