GB2203060A

GB2203060A - Hand-held mixing device

Info

Publication number: GB2203060A
Application number: GB08708736A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwong Shing Mok
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-11
Filing date: 1987-04-11
Publication date: 1988-10-12
Also published as: GB8708736D0; CN87107294A; KR880012193A

Abstract

A hand-held mixing device, adapted to be manipulated by one hand of a user, comprises a housing (12), at least one blade means (22, 24) extending from one end of the housing, a hand grip or stationary handle (16) provided integrally with the housing, a trigger or swing handle (18) pivotally connected to the housing and adapted to be operable in cooperation with the stationary handle, a gear mechanism disposed in the housing to operatively couple the swing handle to the blade means and to convert the oscillating action of the swing handle into rotary motion to thereby rotate the blade means, whereby the swing handle may be squeezed or compressed against the stationary handle by one hand of a user. <IMAGE>

Description

HAND-HELD MIXING DEVICE The present invention relates in general to mixing device and in particular to hand-held mixing device adapted to be operable by one hand of a user.

Hand-held devices for use in mixing or whisking process are known in prior art. A commonly used device is so-called a ballon whisk which is usually formed of loops of stainless steel wires or blades and a handle of stainless steel or wood Under the same category as the ballon whisk is the flat whisk which is characterized In the manner In which the loops of wires or blades are disposed, i.e. in a flat plane. A major disadvantage of using these kinds of whisks is that they require a user to handle the whisk in a rather skillful way in order to perform a perfect task of mixing or whisking. A user also needs to exercise quite a lot of energy because the hand of a user has to move in a beating or whipping motion during which great stress is put on the wrist. Hence, improper usage may result in spraining the wrist.

Another type of hand-held mixing device is one including a stationary handle and a rotatable handle. To operate the device, a user has to grasp the stationary handle with one hand and turn the rotatable handle wlth the other hand One disadvantae Df this kind of mixing device is that it requires both hands of a user to manipulate the device. Furthermore, the rotatory motion of the rotating handle is likely to cause undesired side movement of the device in the course of the mixing process. This is especially the case-when the rotatable handle is disposed on a side wall of the mixing device.

It is an object of the present invent ion to produce a mixing device which Is adapted to be manipulatable by one hand of a user so that other ingredlents may be added to the mixing bowl ot container by using the other hand of the user durlng the mixing process According to the present invention, there is provided a hand-held mixing device comprising: a housing, a.

fixed or stationary handle integrally provided on and extending from one end of the housing, a trigger or swing handle being operable in cooperation with the fixed handle, two blade means extending from another end of the housing, a gear mechanism disposed in the housing to operatively couple the swing handle to the blade means and to convert the oscillating action of the swing handle into rotary motion to rotate the blade means, and a spring for biasing the swing handle in a first position where the swing handle is spaced apart from the fixed handle, and force may be exerted against the spring urging the swing handle in a second position where the suing handle is abutted against the fixed handle.

The gear mechanism comprises an engaging and disengaging gear having an associated pinion gear which is engaged with and rotated by a gear segment provided integrally on one end of the swing handle.

The gear mechanism further comprises a first bevel gear which is meshed with a second bevel gear provided at one end of a first shaft having the first blade means secured thereto at the other end thereof.

The engaging and disengaging gear is engagable with a pinion gear associated with the first bevel gear.

The engaging and disengaging gear rotates about an axis defined by a pin taxing the ends thereof received in two corresponding collars extending oppositely from two opposite side walls of the housing. Each collar is provided with an elong-ated recess along which corresponding end of the pin travels. When the gear segment swings in a clockwise direction, it imposes a force on the pinion gear associated with said engaging and disengaging gear causing it to move towards and engage with the pinion gear associated with the first bevel gear. When the gear segment swings in an anticlockwise direction, it causes the engaging and disengaging gear to move away from and out of engagement with the pinion gear associated with the first bevel gear.

The first shaft further comprises a fi:st idle gear which is meshed with a second idle gear which is mounted to a second shaft having a second blade means secured thereto at one end thereof. When the second bevel gear turns in a clockwise direction, the first idle gear turns therewith in a clockwise direction driving the second idle gear to turn in an anticlockwise direction.

A specific embodiment of the invention wili now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mixing device in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the mixing device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged framentary view of the mixing device, with portions of the housing being broken away showing the gear segment in a swing up position and the engaging and disengaging gear being out of engagement with a bevel gear; Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 showing the gear segment in a swing down position and the engaging and disengaging gear being moved into engagemnet with the bevel gear; and Figure 5 is an enlarged framentary side view of the mixing device, with portions of the housing being broken away showing the gear mechanism disposed therein Referring now in more detail to the drawing, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 shows a mixing device designated generally by reference numeral 10. Mixing device comprises a housing 12 which is adapted to accommodate therein a gear mechanism which is generally designated by reference numeral 14 (Figure 3 and 4).

A handle 16 is fixedly provided on the top side of the housing 12 as depicted in the preferred embodiment of Figure 1. A swing handle 18 is pivoted about a pivot axis defined by pivotal projgrions 2Da and 2Db (see Figure 5) and is operable in cooperation with the fixed handle 16.

According to the illustrated embodiment, two blade means 22 and 24 are disposed at the bottom side of the housing 12 and are rotatable, through shafts 50 and 62, by the action of the gear mechanism 14 which is caused to turn by the oscillating motion of the swing handle 18.

The housing 12 and the fixed handle 16, the gear mechanism 14 and the swing handle 18 are, preferably, moulded of plastic material. The blade means 22, 24 and the shafts 50, 62 are, preferably, made of stainless steel.

Provided integrally on the top side of the housing 12 and extending generally longitudinally of the long side of the housing 12 is the stationary or fixed hand l The fixed handle 1S, setoåns as a hand grip is adapted to be grasped by the hand of a user. It is noted that fixed handle 16 is hollow and has, according to the preferred embodiment, a generally annular cross section. A hanger 17 is provided at the free end of the fixed handle 16 for hanging the mixing device 10 in an upright position whereby any substance left on the blade means 22 and 24 is allowed to be dripped therefrom without making any contact with the other parts of the mixing device 10.

Swing handle 18 has a gear segment 26 provided integrally at one end thereof. This gear segment 26 is located inside the housing 12 whilst the swing handle ie extends to the external of the housing 12 adjacent the fixed handle 16. The swing handle 18 and the gear segment 26 are moulded in a single piece of plastic material. Pivotal projections 20a and 20b projecting from the opposite sides of the gear segment 26 have a common axis which defines a pivot axis about which the swing handle 18 is pivoted.

Pivotal projections 20a and 20b are received respectively in oppositely facing collars 21, 21 which are provided integrally on the inner surfaces of the two opposite side walls of the housing 12.

Spring biasing means 28 is operatively associated with the swing handle 18 for biasing the swing handle 18 in a first position where the fixed handle 16 and thde swins handle 1B are spaced apart as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 3. Force may be applied to urge the swing handle 18 to a second position where the fixed handle 16 and the swing handle 18 are abutted against each other as shown in Figure 4.

When force is released, swing handle 18 returns to the first position by means of the force of the spring biasing means 28. This results in oscillating movement of the gear segment 26 about the pivot axis when the compressing and releasing of the swing handle 18 is repeated It can be seen that the spring biasing means 28 is coiled around the pivotal projection 20a. One end of 'the spring biasing means 28 is mounted on the gear segment 26 whilst the other end is held freely against a pin 29.

The operating relationship of the swing handle 18 to the fixed handle 16 is such that a user grasping the fixed handle 16 by a hand is able to manipulate the swing handle 18 by the fingers of the same hand to thereby urge the swing handle 18 towards the fixed handle 16 against the spring biasing means 28.

Provided between the swing handle 18 and the gear segment 26 is an arcuate plane 20 defining a portion of the wall of the housing 12.

Gear mechanism 14 consists of an engaging and disengaging gear 30 and its associated pinion gear 32. The engaging and disengaging gear 30 and the associated pinion gear 32 are mounted to and supported by a pin 34. The ends of the pin 34 are held in place by two corresponding oppositely facing collars 36, 36 which are integrally provided on the inner surfaces of the opposite side walls of the housing 12.

Pinion gear 32 is meshed with gear segment 26 and is rotated thereby.

As best shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, collars 36, 36 have elongated recesses 38, 38 respectively. The elongated recesses 38, 38 are adapted to receive corresponding ends of the shaft 34 therein so as to render engaging and disengaging gear 30 to move freely into or out of engagement with the pinion gear 42.

Gear mechanism 14 further consists of a bevel gear 40 and its associated pinion gear 42. The bevel gear 40 and the associated pinion gear 42 are mounted to and supported by a pin 44. The ends of the pin 44 are being held in position by two oppositely facing collars 46, 46 (see Figure 2 or Figure 5) which are integrally provided on the inner surfaces of the two opposite side walls of the housing 12.

A pair of blade means 22 and 24 are illustrated in the preferred embodiment. Blade means 22 is fixedly connected to one end of a shaft 50 which is journalled through a first opening B0 of an Internal wall 54 which is disposed transversely within the housing 12 and substantially parallel to the bottom wall of the housing 12 and a first opening 82 of the bottom wall of the housing 12.

This acts to hold the shaft 50 in a predetermined position and prevents displacement of the shaft 50 relative to the gear mechanism 14. The other end of the shaft 50 is provided with a bevel gear 52 which is engaged with and rotated by bevel gear 40.

Referring now to Figure 3 or Figure 4, it is seen that idle gear 56 is mounted on the portion of the shaft 50 immedistely below the internal wall 54 Orientation collar 58 is provided on the section of the shaft 50 intermediate the bevel gear 52 and the internal wall 54 and extending substantially along the whole length thereof. Orientation collar 60 is provided on the section of the shaft 50 intermediate the idle gear 56 and the bottom wall of the housing 12 and extending substantially along the whole length thereof.

These orientation collars 58 and 60 are adapted to prevent axial displacement of the shaft 50. This assures a desired engagement of the bevel gear 52 to the bevel gear 40.

Blade means 24 is mounted to one end of a shaft 62 which is spaced apart from shaft 50. The shaft 62 is jnznaled through a second opening ss9 ef Xbe internal wall 54 and a second opening 86 of the bottom wall of the housing 12 (see Figure 2) which serve to hold the shaft 62 in a predetermined position and prevent displacement thereof.

Idle gear 66 is mounted on the portion of the shaft 62 immediately underneath the internal wall 54. Idle gear 66 is meshed with the idle gear 56 and is adapted to be rotated thereby in an opposite direction with respect to the idle gear 56.

Orientation collar 6S is provided on the section of the shaft 62 intermediate the idle gear 66 and the bottom wall of the housing along the whole length thereof Orientation collar 68 is adapted to prevent axial displacement of the shaft 62. This renders a desired engagement of the idle gear 66 of shaft 62 to the idle gear 56 of the adjacent shaft 50.

When the swing handle iB is squeezed or compressed against the fixed handle 16 by the fingers of a user, gear segment 26 pivots about the pivotal axis in a clockwise direction. This clockwise movement of the gear segment 26 imposes a sufficient force on the pinion gear 32, causing the engaging and disengaging gear 30 to move in a direction generally towards the pinion gear 42 to thereby engage the pinion gear 42 of the bevel gear 40.

Further clockwise movement of the gear segment 2 acts to turn the pinion gear 32 of the engaging and disengaging gear 30, causing the engaging and disengaging gear 30 to turn in an anticlockwise direction.

The engaging and disengaging gear 30 engaging the pinion gear 42 of the bevel gear 40 in turn causes the pinion gear 42 to turn in a clockwise direction which in turn causes the bevel gear 40 to turn in a clockwise direction.

Clockwise movement of the bevel gear 40 acts to turn the bevel gear 52 engaged thereto in an anticlockwise direction This anticlockwise movement causes the shaft 50 and the corresponding- blade means 22 tD turn likewise in the anticlockwise direction. Idle gear 56 being secured to the shaft 50 is caused to turn also in the anticlockwise direction.

Idle gear 66 being engaged to idle gear 56 is caused to turn with the idle gear 56 but in the opposite direction, i.e. in a clockwise direction. This clockwise movement of the idle gear 66 acts to turn the shaft 62 and thus the corresponding blade means 24 which is secured thereto in the clockwise direction.

When the pressure on the swing handle 18 is released, gear segment 26 swings in an anticlockwise direction. This anticlockwise movement of the gear segment 26 imposes a sufficient force on the pinion gear 32 associated with the engaging and dSseaqagag gear 39 causing the engaging and disengaging gear 30 to move out of engagament with the pinion gear 42 of the bevel gear 40.

This disengagement is made feasible by means of the elongated recesses 38, 38 along which ends of the pin 34 moves. Further anticlockwise movement of the gear segment 26 causes the engaging and disengaging gear 30 to rotate clockwise through its associated pinion gear 32.

It is therefore appreciated that every time the swing handle lB is compressed against the fixed handle 16 by the fingers of a user, the gear mechanism 14 serves to turn the shafts 50 and 62 to yield over six complete turns of the blade means 22 and 24 about the axis of the corresponding shafts 50 anf 62. This rotation only takes place when the gear segment 26 swings in the clockwise direction. When the gear segment 26 swings in the anticlockwise direction under the froce of the spring biasing means 28, the rotation of the blade means 22 and 24 is interrupted. It is understood that although the swing handle 18 is adapted to oscillate along an oscillatory path, this oscillating action results only in unidirectional rotary motion of each of the shafts 50 and 62.

It can be seen in Figure 3 or Figure 4 that the shafts 50 and 62 are disposed at an angle to each other.

This assures that the blade means 22 and -24 rotate freely without maklng contact to each other.

Guiding sleeves 70 and 72 are projecting outwardly from and integrally with the bottom wall of the housing 12 for further guiding and holding the shafts 50 and 62 respectively into position.

While the present invention has been shown and described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hand-held mixing device comprising: s housing; at least one blade means extending from one end of said housing; a stationary handle integrally provided on and extending from another end of said housing; a swing handle pivotally connected to said housing and adapted to be operable in cooperation with said stationary handle; and a gear mechanism disposed in said housing to operatively couple said swing handle to said blade means and to convert the oscillating action of said swing handle into rotary motion to rotate said blade means.

2. A hand-held mixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mixing device further comprising a spring means for biasing said swing handle in a first position where said swing handle Is spaced apart from and disposed at an angle to said stationary handle, whereby force may be exerted against said spring means urging said swing handle in a second position where said swing handle is abutted against said stationary handle.

3. A hand-held mixing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gear mechanism is provided with an engaging and disengaging gear having an associated pinion gear which is engaged with and rotated by a gear segment provided integrally on one end of said swing handle.

4. A hand-held mixing device as claimed in claim 3s wherein said gear mechanism further includes a first bevel gear which is engaged to a second bevel gear provided at one end of a shaft having one of said blade means secured thereto at the other end thereof.

5. A hand-held mixing device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said engaging and disengaging gear is engagable with a pinion gear associated with said first bevel gear, said engaging and disengaging gear rotates about an axis defined by a pin having the ends thereof received in two - oppositely facing collars extending from the inner surface of two opposite side walls of said housing, each said collar has an elongated recess along which said pin travels, such that when the gear segment swings in a clockwise direction, it imposes a force on the pinion gear associated with said engaging and disengaging gear causing it to move towards and engage with said pinion gear associated with said first bevel gear to thereby rotate said first bevel gear in a clockwise direction, and when the gear segment swings in an anticlockwise direction, it causes the engaging and disengaging gear to move away from and out of engagement with said pinion gear associated with said first bevel gear.

6. A hand-held mixing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said shaft further comprising an idle gear which is engaged to another idle gear mounted to another shaft having another one of the blade means secured thereto at one end thereof, such that when the second bevel gear on said shaft turns in a clockwise direction, said idle gear on said shaft turns therewith in a clockwise direction driving said another idle gear and thus said another blade means to turn in an anticlockwise direction.

7. A hand-held mixing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustra-ted in the accompanying drawings.