Mixing Pitcher

[0002] This invention relates to a pitcher equipped with a cooperating manually operated mixing subassembly.

[0003] Pitchers adapted for dispensing beverages and the like that are associated with mixing subassemblies, particularly a cooperating mixing subassembly having a mixing head that is manually reciprocated vertically while the pitcher is an upright orientation, are well known. Commonly, such a pitcher has a cross-sectionally circular configuration. Moreover, the associated mixing subassembly has a mixing head mounted on the lower end of a shaft which projects upwards, which slidably and centrally extends through a pitcher mouth cover member, and which terminates in a hand-graspable handle portion. When the shaft is manually reciprocated, the mixing head produces agitation and mixing of fluid in the pitcher.

[0004] Because of the volumetric space occupied by an upright pitcher, a storage problem arises particularly when the liquid-holding capacity of a cross-sectionally circular pitcher is increased from, for example, a one quart, or one liter, size to a four quart (gallon), or four or five liter, size. The problem is particularly troublesome when the large-sized pitcher is stored, even temporarily, in a refrigerator before the resulting chilled liquid contents of the pitcher, after a final mixing, are dispensed. A cross-sectionally round pitcher of a gallon size capacity can occupy so much space that it is not suitable for practical storage on the top shelf or in the door of a domestic refrigerator.

[0005] To alleviate the pitcher size and space-consuming problem, it is proposed to reconfigure a pitcher from a cross-sectionally circular configuration to a cross-sectionally elliptical configuration, or, generically, to a so-called race-track configuration. The term “cross-sectional race-track configuration” (or equivalent word form) is used herein as a convenience to designate a pitcher configuration characterized by having (a) spaced, opposed, symmetrical, curved, or, alternatively, flattened side walls (the latter now preferred), with (b) interconnecting symmetrical, opposed, semi-circular end walls. However, such a configuration causes a new problem to arise—the mixing head of common prior art mixing subassembly is configured for use in a cross-sectionally circular pitcher, and is not suitable, or sufficiently effective, for use in the reconfigured pitcher. Even assuming that suitable means for mounting the prior art mixing subassembly through the lid of the reconfigured pitcher is found, the mixing capacity or mixing efficiency of the prior art mixing subassembly is generally insufficient or inadequate for acceptable marketing purposes even for domestic utilization.

[0006] Thus, a need arises for an improved combination of pitcher and cooperating mixing subassembly, particularly a combination wherein the pitcher has a space-saving non-circular cross-sectional configuration, and wherein the mixing head of the mixing assembly is adapted for producing mixing of the liquid contents of the pitcher in a highly efficient and effective manner. The present invention satisfies this need.

[0007] This invention provides a new and improved combination of beverage pitcher and coacting, manually-operated, reciprocatable mixing subassembly. The combination is particularly well adapted for use with pitchers that are characterized by having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration, particularly pitchers having in cross-section a race-track configuration.

[0008] The inventive combination enables one to accomplish a mixing of the liquid contents of a pitcher in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort but with maximum effectiveness.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the combination is used with no spillage either during use of the mixing subassembly, or during beverage dispensing after completion of a mixing operation.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the pitcher preferably gradually and systematically increases in cross-sectional area proceeding upwardly from the closed bottom to the top or mouth, and the mixing subassembly has a mixing head whose sides and bottom are nestably received in adjacent relationship to the interior lowermost sides and bottom of the pitcher.

[0011] Although the inventive pitcher and mixing subassembly combination may be fabricated with the pitcher having a cross-sectionally circular configuration, it is preferred that the pitcher have in cross-section a race-track configuration.

[0012] The combination is easily assembled, used, and dissembled for cleaning or storage. The components of the combination can be easily fabricated from various materials, as the fabricator or user may desire. Preferably, the components are fabricated of molded plastic that is refrigerator storable, and that is cleanable at elevated water temperatures with detergents.

[0013] The mixing subassembly has a mixing head which is configured so that, upon reciprocal movement in the pitcher, the mixing head angularly deflects the liquid to produce the desired mixing action.

[0014] Other and further objects, aims, purposes, features, advantages, embodiments, applications, and the like will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present specification disclosures taken with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

[0015] In the drawings:

[0016] FIG. 1 is an assembled isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a pitcher and coacting mixing subassembly combination of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the FIG. 1 combination;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 combination;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the FIG. 1 combination, including for illustration purposes, decorative markings and indicia on the pitcher side wall, a liquid fill in the pitcher, and with the mixing subassembly moving downwardly, and with arrows illustrating downward movement of the mixing subassembly and concurrent liquid movement in the pitcher;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the mixing subassembly apart from the pitcher;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a front end elevational view of the mixing subassembly apart from the pitcher;

[0022] FIG.7 is a back end elevational view of the mixing subassembly apart from the pitcher;

[0023] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the mixing assembly in the configuration shown in FIG. 3, but with the pitcher bottom removed;

[0024] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the pitcher lid apart from the pitcher and also from the mixing subassembly;

[0025] FIG. 9A is an elevational projection view showing the outside surface of the face of the curved flange of the leaf member,of the spout closure means;

[0026] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the long axis X—X of FIG. 8 of the mixing head of the mixing subassembly with the shaft fragmentarily shown;

[0027] FIG. 11 is an enlarged front end elevational view of the sliding door of the pitcher lid apart from the pitcher lid;

[0028] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the FIG. 1 combination showing the opposite side compared to FIG. 4, including for illustration purposes, a liquid fill in the pitcher, and with the mixing subassembly moving upwardly, and with arrows illustrating upward movement of the mixing subassembly and concurrent liquid movement in the pitcher;

[0029] FIG. 13 is a front end elevational view of the FIG. 1 combination;

[0030] FIG. 14 is a back end elevational view of the FIG. 1 combination;

[0031] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mixing head of the mixing subassembly taken as shown in FIG. 10 but with the plate broken into two parts, the left hand part including arrows illustrating the flow of liquid through the mixing head when the shaft of the mixing subassembly is moving upwardly, and the right-hand part including arrows illustrating the flow of liquid through the mixing head when the shaft of the mixing assembly is moving downwardly;

[0032] FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view through a mid-region of the shaft of the mixing subassembly;

[0033] FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are each similar to FIG. 16, but each showing a transverse sectional view of a different alternative embodiment of a shaft for a mixer subassembly; and

[0034] FIG. 20 is view similar to FIG. 10, but taken perpendicularly to the line X—X of FIG. 8 and showing an alternative embodiment for a mixing head.

[0035] Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodiment 20 of a pitcher and mixing subassembly combination of this invention is shown. The combination 20 incorporates a pitcher 21 and a mixing subassembly 22 that is disassociatively associatable with the pitcher 21.

[0036] Although the pitcher 21 can have various configurations, the preferred configuration, as shown, has in cross-section a race-track configuration. Thus, pitcher 21 has (a) a pair of spaced, opposed, symmetrical, flattened side walls 23 and 24 with (b) a pair of spaced, opposed, symmetrical, semi-circular end walls 26 and 27. The side edge portions of each curved end wall 26 and 27 interconnect integrally with respective adjacent side edge portions of the side walls 23 and 24.

[0037] The pitcher 21 has a generally flattened bottom wall 28 that interconnects integrally with bottom side edges of the side walls 23 and 24 and the end walls 26 and 27, and an upper, upwardly opening, terminal open mouth 29 that is generally opposed to the bottom wall 28. Also, the pitcher 21 has a handle 31 that is integrally associated with one end wall 26 and a spout 32 that is integrally formed in the upper portion of the other end wall 27 adjacent mouth 29 as an end wall protrusion. Preferably, and as shown, the side walls 23 and 24 and the end walls 26 and 27 diverge slightly and continuously proceeding upwardly from bottom wall 28 to mouth 29.

[0038] The pitcher 21 can be comprised of various materials, but it is preferred to form the pitcher of a molded plastic, such as a transparent acrylic resin, or the like, with good high and low temperature stability characteristics and with good resistance to common acidic and alkaline substances, including detergents. Preferably the plastic used is slightly resilient and slightly elastomeric, thereby to enhance desirable use characteristics, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate. The side and end walls can, if desired, have associated designs or measuring indicia, such as exemplified in FIG. 4.

[0039] The mixing subassembly 22 incorporates a lid 33, a mixing head 34, and a plunger rod or shaft 36.

[0040] The lid 33 can have various configurations, but is generally adapted to cover the mouth 29 and engage, preferably sealingly, mouth adjacent upper edge portions of the side and end walls 23, 24, 26 and 27 while permitting liquid in pitcher 21 to be dispensed from the spout 32 by tilting the pitcher 21 while holding the handle 31. In the combination 20, the lid structure 33 preferably comprises a mouth-closing cap portion 37 that has an integral downturned brim flange or skirt portion 38 that extends about the periphery of the cap portion 37. The skirt portion 38 is receivable through the mouth 29. The circumferentially extending outside surfaces of the skirt portion 38 are adapted to make contacting and sealing engagement with the radially adjacent circumferentially inside wall portions of the pitcher 21 adjacent the mouth 29 except in the region of the spout 32.

[0041] The lid structure 33 can be comprised of various materials, but it is presently preferred to mold the lid structure 33 as a single, unitary structure comprised of a durable plastic, such as, for example, a polyolefin resin, a polyacrylic resin, or the like. The plastic used can be opaque and pigmented, if desired. Preferably, the plastic used is slightly resilient, slightly elastomeric, and slightly waxy with regard to surface characteristics, thereby facilitating desirable use characteristics for the lid structure 33, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate.

[0042] The skirt portion 38 is preferably provided with a window or aperture 39 (see FIG. 6, for example) that is positioned so that, when the lid structure 33 is engaged with the pitcher 21 and closes the mouth 29, the window 39 is aligned radially with the spout 32. Thus, when the lid structure 33 is so engaged with the pitcher 21, liquid can be dispensed from the assembled combination 20 through the spout 32 and aperture 39. As hereinafter explained, the lid structure 33 is preferably equipped with a closure means for reversibly closing the aperture 39, if desired.

[0043] The shaft 36 is elongated and preferably has a plus-sign configuration in transverse cross section. The shaft 36 slidably extends through an aperture 42 provided centrally in the cap portion 37. The aperture 42 has a plus-sign configuration which conforms to the exterior configuration of the shaft 36. Thus, when the shaft 36 extends slidably through the aperture 42, the shaft 36 is non-rotatable relative to the lid structure 33. The upper end of the shaft 36 is associated, preferably detachably, with a gripping member or portion 43. The lower end of the shaft 36 is associated with the central area 46 of the mixing head 34 so that the shaft 36 upstands from the central area 46 of the mixing head 34. Various alternative cross-sectional configurations for shaft 36 and for aperture 42 are possible, as exemplified in FIGS. 16-19.

[0044] The mixing head 34 has a peripheral frame portion 44 whose perimeter configuration permits the peripheral frame portion 44 to be nestably received in the pitcher 21 adjacent to the bottom wall 28 and adjacent to the lower side edges of the side walls 23 and 24 and the end walls 26 and 27.

[0045] The peripheral frame portion 44 is associated with first and second respective pluralities 47 and 48, respectively, of straight, diagonally extending, spaced, adjacent, parallel, generally flattened, generally elongated vanes. The vanes of each plurality 47 and 48 are mounted at each of their respective opposite vane ends to the peripheral frame portion 44 so that the vanes extend transversely across the peripheral frame portion 44. Each vane plurality 47 and 48 preferably has the same number of vanes. The vanes of the first plurality are located on one side of the central area 46, and the vanes of the second plurality are located on the opposite side of the central area 46. For convenient identification purposes (see FIG. 10), the individual vanes of the first plurality 47 are individually sequentially designated by progressive alphabetical letters proceeding outwards from the central area 46, and similarly for the vanes of the second plurality 48. Preferably all vanes in a mixing head 34 have similar widths and similar cross-sectional shapes. The vanes of the first plurality 47 also extend parallel to the vanes of the second plurality 48. Relative to the central area 46, the vanes of the first plurality 47 all have a first common fixed acute inclination angle, and the vanes of the second plurality 48 all have a second common fixed acute inclination angle. The first and the second inclination angles are equal but extend in opposite inclination relative to each other. While, as shown, each of the first and second vane pluralities 47 and 48 contains three or four vanes, the vane pluralities may each contain a larger or smaller number of vanes.

[0046] When the cap portion 37 of the lid structure 33 covers the mouth 29, and the skirt portion 38 is sealingly seated about the mouth 29 against the adjacent portions of the walls 23, 24, 26 and 27, and the mixing head 34 is reciprocated longitudinally, up and down in the pitcher 21 by an operator's hand upon the gripping portion 43, mixing occurs. During movement of the mixing head 34 in one direction in the pitcher 21, liquid in the pitcher 21 that moves through the mixing head 34 is angularly deflected by each of the first and the second vane pluralities 47 and 48 towards a midinterior region of the pitcher 21. In the combination 20, this liquid movement occurs when the shaft 36 is moving downwardly, owing to the manner in which the first and second inclination angles are set, and the mid-interior region is above the mixing head 34. During movement of the mixing head 34 in the opposite direction in the pitcher 21, liquid in the pitcher 21 that moves through the mixing head 34 is angularly deflected by each of the first and the second vane pluralities 47 and 48 towards opposed interior side regions in the pitcher 21. In the combination 20, this liquid movement occurs when the shaft 36 is moving upwardly, owing to the manner in which the first and second inclination angles are set, and the opposed interior side regions in the pitcher are below the mixing head 34.

[0047] Optionally, the respective first and second inclination angles can each be changed by 180 degrees, if desired, which results in a reversal of the liquid movement characteristics that occur during upward and downward movements of the shaft 36.

[0048] The mixing achieved by reciprocation of the mixing head 34 in the pitcher 21, as taught by this invention, regardless of which of the two types of inclination angles for vanes in the mixing head (and resulting associated fluid movement characteristics) are chosen, results in the accomplishing of mixing of liquid in the pitcher 21 in a rapid and efficient manner, even though the pitcher 21 does not have a cross-sectionally circular configuration.

[0049] Preferably, and as shown, the mixing head 34 is additionally provided with a plurality of straight, vertically oriented, generally flattened, generally elongated, spaced, parallel baffle plates 51. Preferably, all baffle plates in a mixing head 34 have similar widths and similar cross-sectional shapes. The baffle plates extend at an angle relative to the vanes, but preferably this angle is 90 degrees, so that, at the preferred angle, the baffle plates perpendicularly intersect the vanes. The baffle plates 51 are each mounted with their respective opposite ends secured to the peripheral frame portion 44. Also, the baffle plates 51 are fastened to the vanes at all locations of intersection therebetween. Preferably, a mixing head 34 is molded as a single integrated structure.

[0050] The baffle plates 51 provide various advantages. For one thing, they provide enhanced structural support for the vanes of each vane plurality 47 and 48. For another thing, they provide enhancing mixing action by the mixing head 34 by channeling of liquid flow through the region of the mixing head 34. For another thing, they enhance the capacity of the mixing head 34 to break apart solid and semi-solid masses that may happen to be present in the liquid being mixed. Examples of such masses include fruit pieces, such as pieces of citrus fruit or berries, and chunks of partially melted frozen juices, such as frozen fruit juices that are deposited into the pitcher and are to be melted and dissolved to form a uniform mixture of liquid in the pitcher 21.

[0051] The baffle plates 51 in a mixing head 34 can have various widths. In one preferred embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 10, for example, the baffle plates have upper and lower respective edges that extend above and beyond, and below and beyond, respectively, corresponding adjacent respective upper and lower edges of the individual vanes which enhances channeling of fluid flow through a mixing head 34.

[0052] In another embodiment of a mixing head 34′, such as shown in FIG. 20, for example, the baffle plates 51′ have lower edge portions which are tapered in a knife-like configuration which enhances break-up of solid and semi-solid bodies during operation of the mixing subassembly 22. Components of head 34′ which respond to head 34 are similarly numbered but have prime marks added for identification purposes.

[0053] The mixing action provided by the vanes is enhanced by providing the vanes with one surface 66 which is smooth. Such a smooth surface is provided in embodiment 20 on the upper face of the individual vanes. The vanes are preferably medially and longitudinally thickened, and the opposing face 67 of the individual vanes is provided with a medial, longitudinally extending ridge 49 (see, for example, FIG. 15). Such a ridged surface is provided in embodiment 20 on the lower face 67 of the individual vanes.

[0054] Preferably, and as shown, the cross-section of the pitcher 21 and also of the mixing head 34 is characterized by having a long axis that extends between the curved end walls and a short axis that extends between the flattened side walls. Preferably, and as shown, the vanes of each vane plurality 47 and 48 extend parallel to the short axis while the baffle plates extend parallel to the long axis.

[0055] As above indicated, the lid structure 33 is preferably provided with a closure means for the window 39. A sliding gate structure 41 is provided (see FIGS. 9, 9A and 11) to achieve such a closure means. Thus, the lid structure 33 is provided on its interior or under side with a generally pie-configured, generally flattened leaf member 52 having an apex region 53 and a peripheral curvature along one side region 54 opposed to said apex region 53. The peripheral curvature of the region 54 generally conforms to the curvature of a pre-determined portion of a curved side region of the skirt portion 38 of the lid structure 33 that includes the spout 32. Here, the pre-determined curved portion lies along the curved wall 27. The leaf member 52 is adjacent to, and slidably movable over, a region of the cap portion 37 that is adjacent such pre-determined portion.

[0056] A pivot pin member 56 extends through both the apex region 53 of the leaf member 52 and an adjacent portion of the cap portion 37 whereby said leaf member 52 is pivotable relative to the cap portion 37.

[0057] An outstanding downturned flange 57 is integrally associated with, and extends perpendicularly along and from, the region 54. This flange 57 is adapted to move slidably over and adjacent to the window 39 when the leaf member 52 is so pivoted. The flange 57 (see FIG. 9A) has defined in a predetermined first portion thereof a second window 58, defined in a predetermined second portion thereof a continuous wall portion 59, and defined in a predetermined third portion thereof a plurality of spaced, parallel, comb-like fingers 61. Thus, when the flange slidably and progressively moves over and adjacent to the window 39 during pivotal movement of the leaf member 52, one of said first, second, and third portions (and, respectively, window 58, wall 59, and fingers 61) is locatable over the window 39.

[0058] An arcuate aperture 62 is defined in the cap portion 37 adjacent to the leaf member 52. A tab member 63 is provided that outstands from one face of the leaf member 52 and extends through the arcuate aperture 62. The curvature of the arcuate aperture 62 is matched to the path of travel of the tab member 63 during pivotal movements of the leaf member 52 about pin member 56.

[0059] Thus, manual movement of the tab member 63 results in the positioning of a predetermined one of said first, second and third portions over the window 39, thereby permitting, respectively, dispensing of liquid from window 39, closing of window 39, or straining of liquid before liquid dispensing from window 39.

[0060] It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and from the accompanying illustrations thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this invention.