GB2057902A - Mixing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A predetermined quantity of additive such as paint stainer or fungicide for a base or neutral paint or an accelerator for an adhesive is mixed with the base material by means of a specially adapted hand held mixing device 1 on which a receptacle 2 for the additive may be formed integrally, or to which a removable receptacle can be attached. After removal of a sealing cover 5 or breaking a seal from the receptable, the device is used to stir the base material in such a way that the contents of the receptacle are discharged into the base material and mixed therewith. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mixing devices This invention relates to mixing devices, and particularly but not exclusively, devices for use in mixing additives with paint in predetermined proportions. Such devices find practical application in the mixing of colourants or other liquid additives, such as fungicides, with paints.

Modern decorating paints are available in a large variety of different colours and shades, and for different intended uses (e.g. indoor and outdoor paints). For the paint retailer this poses a considerable storage and display problem since it requires considerable shelf space to store all the different colours and shades of paint and different types of paint in different tin sizes.

For colour mixing, a method of avoiding this difficulty is to provide the paint retailer with a paint mixing machine. Paint is then mixed to a customer's requirements by adding appropriate quantities of a stainer or dye to a tin of neutral or white paint using a speciallydesigned dispenser and mixer installed in the retailer's shop. Such paint mixing machines are generally bulky and expensive, and are not intended for use by the consumer.

The present invention aims to provide a mixing device which is both cheap and simple so that it can be used by the consumer, for example to provide paint of a selected colour or shade, or to mix fungicide or other additives to a paint in order to render it suitable for external use. Clearly such a mixing device must be capable of adding, with a degree of precision, a predetermined quantity of one or more additives to a liquid.

The solution of the present invention is to provide a hand-held stirrer which is especially adapted to allow the complete admixture of one or more additives with a paint.

According to one embodiment of the invention there is provided a mixing device comprising a stirrer having a handle and at least one receptable for additive carried by the stirrer, the or each receptacle having a removable cover or seal.

The action of stirring a tin of paint with the stirrer causes the complete mixture of the or each additive with the paint and the complete release of all the additive from the or each receptacle. To ensure that no additive is left unmixed in the receptacle the or each receptacle may be provided with two removable covers or seals in opposite sides, so as to allow a flow of the base paint through the or each receptacle as the stirrer is used, ensuring that the or each additive is effectively "flushed" from the respective receptacle by the action of stirring.

It is envisaged that mixing devices according to this embodiment of the invention would be manufactured and offered for sale with the or each additive receptacle incorporated in the stirrer, ready for use upon removal of the cover or seal. The quantities of the or each additive would be predetermined by the manufacturer so that when the stirrer is used in a given quantity of a paint a predetermined quantity of additive is mixed with the paint. In the case of a colourant additive or stainer the quantity of additive will be such as to result in a predetermined colour or shade.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides a mixing device comprising a handle carrying stirrer which incorporates a support for at least one additive receptacle, and means for releasably retaining such a receptacle in an open condition in the support to introduce the additive into a liquid such as a paint while stirring with the device. The retaining means may comprise parallel resilient lips or flanges with which opposite edges of a receptacle may be engaged to retain the receptacle in the support.

The support for the or each additive receptacle may comprise two parts of plastics material which snap together to retain a peripheral flange of the or each receptacle in position on the support.

The or each additive receptacle may have a sealed cover which may be removed or broken to release the contents of the receptacie. Breakage of the cover or seal would normally be carried out over the liquid to be mixed so that any leakage of additive which occurred during the removal or breakage of the cover would drop into the liquid.

When using this second embodiment of the invention the consumer would have a handle complete with a stirrer and support and would purchase one or more receptacles of additive designed to be clipped to the support and then introduced into a liquid such as a paint by a stirring operation, as described with reference to the first embodiment.

As an alternative to providing a stirring device incorporating a support for at least one receptacle the invention may provide, according to a third embodiment, a mixing device which has a handle carrying a mixing vane or paddle, provided with a slot through which a flexible-walled sachet may be passed to squeeze a stainer or other additive out of the sachet. The additive would be alloyed to fall into a liquid, for example paint, to be mixed therewith, and after all the contents of the sachet had been squeezed out in this manner the sachet would be thrown away and the liquid stirred by means of the vane or paddle.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the additive receptacle comprises a cylinder within the stirrer and a plunger slidable in the cylinder, the cylinder having an outlet, with a removable closure or seal, through which the additive may be discharged into liquid by movement of the plunger.

All the embodiments of the invention referred to above enable a retailer to stock and display relatively small quantities of different additives such as different colours which the consumer can add to appropriate quantities of a base or neutral paint using mixing devices according to the invention, to achieve desired characteristics, such as colours or shades, with accurate repeatability.

The mixing devices of the present invention may conveniently be made of metal or plastics material, the cooperating additive receptacle being also of plastics material, metal or metal foil.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying purely diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a paint mixing device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

1 of a paint mixing device according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a paint mixing device according to a third embodiment of the invention and an associated additive receptacle; Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Fig.

3 of a variant of the third embodiment of the invention, for holding two additive dispensing receptacles; Figure 5 is an end view of the mixing device shown in Fig. 4, with two receptacles supported therein; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mixing device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, in its closed and sealed condition; Figure 7 shows the device of Fig. 6 in its open, paint mixing condition; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a paint mixing device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a general view of a paint mixing device according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, for use with a flexible walled sachet type container; Figure 10 is a plan view of a typical sachet type container for use with the mixing device shown in Fig. 9;; Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of a paint mixing device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention, and Figure 12 is a perspective view of a paint mixing device according to an eighth embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or corresponding component parts of the various illustrated embodiments.

The paint mixing device shown in Fig. 1 consists of a moulded plastics handle 1 formed at one end with a receptacle 2 for a paint additive such as a fungicide or stainer.

In this embodiment the receptacle 2 is integral with the handle 1 and is open on two opposite parallel sides. The two open sides 3, 4 of the receptacle 2 are closed by means of respective removable foil covers 5, 6 which, after a predetermined quantity of paint additive has been added to the receptacle 2, are sealed peripherally to the edges of the respective open sides 3, 4, sealing the additive in the receptacle 2.

When it is desired to add the contents of the receptacle 2 to a base or neutral paint the two sealing covers 5, 6 are peeled off, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, over the open tin of base or neutral paint, so that any additive or stainer which flows out of the receptacle 2 falls into the base or neutral paint. After both covers 5, 6 have been removed in this way the device is used to stir the paint, with the open receptacle 2 completely immersed in the paint. The action of stirring completely mixes the additive or stainer with the base or neutral paint, and at the same time flushes any remaining additive from the receptacle 2, thereby ensuring that the entire contents of the receptacle 2 are discharged into the base or neutral paint and thoroughly mixed therewith.

Fig. 2 illustrates a variant of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in which the two open sides 3, 4 of an integral receptacle 2 for stainer or additive are closed by respective covers 5, 6 of plastics sheet or metal foil. The covers 5, 6 have opposite parallel longitudinal edges which slide in respective channels formed in upstanding ribs along opposite par allel edges of the respective open sides 3, 4 of the receptacle 2. Each cover 5, 6 has an integral tongue 7, 8 which projects beyond the receptacle 2 towards the free end of the handle 1 when the receptacle 2 is closed. The free ends of the tongues 7, 8 are interconnected by a stud 9 passing through a longitudinally extending slot 10 in the handle 1.

When it is desired to open the receptacle 2 the two covers 5, 6 are displaced simultaneously relative to the receptacle 2 by moving the stud 9 along the slot 10 in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2, uncovering both open sides 3, 4 of the receptacle 2 simultaneously and allowing the contents of the receptacle 2 to fall into an underlying open tin of base or neutral paint.

The transverse wall of the receptacle 2 nearer the handle 1 is formed at the two open sides 3, 4 of the receptacle with respective knife edges or "doctor blades" 11, 1 2 which make wiping contact with the respective covers 7, 8 as they are slid into their open positions to scrape any paint additive from the under surfaces of these covers.

When the receptacle 2 has been opened by the sliding movement of the two covers 7, 8 the device is used, as described with reference to Fig. 1, to stir the base or neutral paint to ensure complete mixing of the additive with the paint, and to flush any remaining additive out of the open receptacle 2.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a moulded plastics handle 1 is formed integrally with a support 14 which in this embodiment takes the form of a substantially rectangular frame terminating at its free end remote from the handle 1 in a tapered scraping edge 1 5. The support 14 is moulded with integral upstanding resilient lips 16, 1 7 which act as retaining clips to engage and locate opposite edges of a removable receptacle 1 8 the size of which is such that it can be inserted into the aperture of the support frame 14 and snap-engaged with the retaining lips 16, 17.The receptacle 18 has a removable metal or plastics foil cover 1 9 which is heat-sealed around the periphery of the open side of the receptacle 18 and which can be removed by gripping an integral pull tag 20 and peeling the cover 1 9 from the receptacle, after the receptacle 1 8 has been clipped into the support frame 14, and with the receptacle held over the surface of base or neutral paint to be coloured.

When the device shown in Fig. 3 is used for stirring paint, after removal of the cover 14 from the receptacle 18, the device has a shape similar to a stirring spoon or ladle. The walls of the receptacle 1 8 are smoothly curved in order to avoid any additive or stainer clinging in corners or edges of the receptacle.

The device shown in Fig. 3 may be cleaned for re-use with different additive receptacles 18.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the device is shown as having a single receptacle for stainer or additive. In principle more than one additive receptacle may be provided on the device. For example, if provision is made for the clipping to a stirrer of two or more different receptacles or pouches for different coloured additives, then a large number of different permutations of resultant colour can be achieved by using a relatively small number of different additive colours.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a variant of the device shown in Fig. 3 in which the handle is moulded with two integral support frames 1 4 for supporting two different additive receptacles 1 8. In this embodiment the two support frames 14 are disposed in mutually perpendicular planes and the receptacles 1 8 which cooperate with them have a substantially triangular shape in cross section to enable the two receptacles 1 8 to abut each other back to back when clipped in the respective support frames 14, as shown diagrammatically in Fig.

5. The device shown in Fig. 4 may be formed as a flat strip of plastics material hinged along a central longitudinal bisecting line enabling it to be folded into the shape shown in Fig. 4 when it is to be loaded with two additive receptacles 1 8. When the device of Fig. 4 is to be used with a single additive receptacle 1 8 the two halves of the device may be folded flat against each other and clipped together, for example by means of integral snap engaging elements of the handle parts of the device.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a sealed receptacle 2 is carried by a tubular handle 1, the receptacle 2 having a cylindrical wall formed by a number of spiral strips 21 sealed to each other in edge to edge abutment. The cylindrical wall formed by the strips 21 extend between a circular flange 22 of the handle 1 and the circular disc like base 23. Stainer or other additive within the receptacle 2 is released into a base or neutral paint contained in an open paint tin by immersing the receptacle 2 in the paint, with the base 23 resting upon the bottom of the paint tin, and then forcing the handle 1 downwardly towards the base 23 with sufficient force to rupture the edge seals between the spiral steps 21, as shown in Fig. 7.This causes the release of the contents of the receptacle 2 into the base or neutral paint, and by moving the handle 1 up and down the mixing of the contents of the receptacle 2 with the base or neutral paint is effected by a pumping-stirring action.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further alternative embodiment in which the handle 1 is formed as a hollow tubular reservoir containing additive or stainer. One end of the handle 1 is intended to be immersed in a base or neutral paint to be stirred, this end being provided with a number of holes 24. Pairs of such holes 24 may be aligned in diametrically opposite positions in the wall of the tubular handle 1. The holes 24 are covered by a captive cylindrical sleeve 25 which is rotatable upon the handle 1 between a closed position, as shown, in which the holes 24 are all closed, sealing the contents of the receptacle formed within the handle 1, and an open position, in which holes 26 in the sleeve 25 are aligned with the holes 24.The device shown in Fig. 8 is used to stir a base or neutral paint with the sleeve 25 in its open position, the action of stirring causing the contents of the hollow tubular handle to be discharged into the base or neutral paint and thoroughly admixed therewith.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of the invention in which the rigid paint stirrer having a handle 1 and an integral paddle or vane 28 cooperates with a flexible walled receptacle in the form of a sachet 29 of plastics or metal foil. The vane or paddle 28 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 30 the length of which is substantially equal to the width of the sachet 29. The width of the slot 30 is slightly greater than twice the wall thickness of the sachet 29.

The sachet 29 has a relatively rigid sealing strip 31 along one edge, formed with a discharge hole 32 which is closed by an integral moulded portion of the strip 31.

In order to discharge the contents of the sealed sachet 29 into an open tin of base or neutral paint the vane 28 of the stirrer device is held over the open tin of paint and the flexible edge of the sachet 29 opposite the rigid sealing strip 31 is introduced into the slot 30. With the sachet 29 held in this position the corner of the sealing strip 31 is cut from the sachet to expose the discharge aperture 32, and the sachet 29 is then drawn through the slot 30 until the sealing strip 31 comes into abutment with the mouth of the slot 30. This will result in the complete discharge of the contents of the sachet 29 through the hole 32 into the base or neutral paint. The empty sachet 29 is then removed from the slot 30 and the vane or paddle 28 then immersed in the paint and used to mix the additive thoroughly with the paint by means of the handle 1.The vane or paddle portion 28 of the device may be provided with one or more holes 33 to promote the mixing action of the device.

In a variant of the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the flexible walled sachet 29, which is preferably made from polythene or polypropylene sheet, may be formed along one edge with a rigid roller which can be used to roll the sachet flat after it has been opened or ruptured, the roller cooperating with a suitable flat surface formed on the vane or paddle 28 of the stirring device.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11 the stirrer is moulded in plastics material (polypropylene) in two parts 34, 35 which are formed with interengageable studs 36 and apertures 37 so that they can be snapped together. The parts 34 and 35 when snapped together form an integral handle and support, the part 34 in the illustrated example having a handle portion 38 with a U- or V-shaped channel section to impart rigidity to the assembled stirrer. In the illustrated example the two parts 34 and 35 are each formed with two rectangular apertures 39, 40 and 41, 42 respectively which register with each other in pairs in the assembled stirrer.The apertures 39, 40 are formed in a recessed surface portion so that each aperture 39, 40 is surrounded by a recessed peripheral shoulder 43 on which a peripheral flange of a respective additive receptacle (not shown) may be located, the flange being effectively trapped when the two parts 34, 35 are snapped together. Each receptacle may be of the kind illustrated in Fig. 3.

Although the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 is intended to hold two additive receptacles it will be appreciated that alternative versions may be designed to hold a single receptacle, or more than two receptacles.

Fig. 1 2 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the stirrer embodies a simple syringe for introducing an additive such as a liquid stainer or fungicide into paint.

The stirrer has a hollow cylindrical body 44 of plastics material, for example clear polycarbonate, open at one end and provided at its other end with an outlet orifice 45 closed by a removable rubber plug 46 or other removable seal. The open end of the body 44 is surrounded by an external flange 47 which affords a finger grip. A stirring vane 48 is formed integrally with the body 44.

A tubular slide 49, also of plastics material, is slidable wthin the body 44 and is fitted at its end within the body 44 with a rubber plunger 50 which makes sealing contact with the internal surface of the tubular body 44.

The slide 49 has an open end projecting beyond the open end of the body and formed with an external flange 51.

The clear plastics body 44 may be provided with a graduated scale, but this is not essential.

When the device is ready for use the plug 46 is first removed and the flange 47 is then gripped by two fingers of one hand while the thumb of that hand is used to press on the flange 51 to push the plunger 50 through the cylindrical bore of the body 44, in the manner of a syringe, discharging into a tin of paint a predetermined quantity of additive through the outlet orifice 45. The paint is then stirred thoroughly by means of the stirrer.

It will be appreciated that the' device according to the invention can be used for adding any additive to a liquid, and not only for the addition of stainers to paint. For example the invention can be employed for adding catalysts to liquids, or accelerators to liquid resins, in predetermined quantities.

Claims (8)

1. A mixing device comprising a stirrer having a handle and at least one receptacle for additive carried by the stirrer, the or each receptacle having a removable cover or seal.

2. A mixing device comprising a handle through which a flexible-walled sachet may be passed to squeeze additive out of the sachet.

3. A mixing device comprising a handle carrying stirrer which incorporates a support for at least one additive receptacle, and means for releasably retaining such a receptacle in an open condition in the support to introduce additive into a liquid while stirring with the device.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 in which the additive receptacle has a sealed cover which may be removed or broken to release the contents of the receptacle.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the retaining means comprise parallel resilient lips or flanges with which opposite edges of a receptacle may be engaged to retain the receptacle in the support.

6. A mixing device as claimed in Claim 3, in which the support for the or each additive receptacle comprises two parts of plastics material which snap together to retain a peripheral flange of the or each receptacle in position on the support.

7. A mixing device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the additive receptacle comprises a cylinder within the stirrer and a plunger slidable in the cylinder, the cylinder having an outlet, with a removable closure or seal, through which the additive may be discharged into by movement of the plunger.

8. A mixing device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Figs. 4 and 5, Figs. 6 and 7, Fig. 8, Figs. 9 and 10 or Fig. 11 or Fig. 1 2 of the accompanying drawings.