US1168618A - Paint-mixing device. - Google Patents

Description

G. P. FITZSIIVIMONS.

PAINT MIXING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. I5, 1914.

Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

TOR

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MA ATTORNEYS NTED STAES GEORGE P. FITZSIMMONS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PAINT-MIXING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1%, 1916.

Application filed December 15, 1914. Serial No. 877,295.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. Frrzsnrmore, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paint- Mixing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in receptacles or containers; and the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction of paint-can adapted for marketing readymixed paint. 1-

The invention has for its principalobject to provide a container or can for paint ready prepared for use having internally arranged means constructed to enable the user of the paint to thoroughly mix the same, and to loosen and stir up or mix through the paint the sediment or ingredients thereof which have settled in and even hardened in the bottom of the container or can as a result of the long standing of the same on the shelves of the dealer.

The invention has for a further object to provide a mixing means or element in combination with the commercial paint-can or container, which is simple and cheap in con struction adding little to the cost of the can, and which is peculiarly eflicient in construction and operation for the purpose of both loosening the settled and hardened paint ingredients in the bottom of the can and then thoroughly mixing said ingredients with the liquid content of the can.

Other objects of the present invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the said invention.

The present invention consists, primarily, in the novel construction of combined commercial paint can and mixing element there for hereinafter more fully set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the various arrangements and combinations of the several parts thereof as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification and then finally embodied in the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the novel construction of paint-can made according to and embodying the principles of my present lnvention. Fig. 2 is a top View of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same; and Fig. 4 is another longitudinal vertical section taken at right angles thereto as indicated by the section line 41 in said Fig. 3, in said Fig. l: however, the can is shown opened to permit the application of a crank-handle to the mixing element of the can.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference character 1' indicates any usual form of can-body, the upper end of which is closed by a cover-member 2, secured to the can-body l in any suitable manner. When desired the can-body 1 may be equipped with the ordinary carrying bail 3 connected therewith in any of the usual or suitable ways.

Centrally disposed within the interior of the can-body, and upon the bottom 4 thereof, is a bearing-thimble 5 provided with the bearing opening or perforation 6. Also secured within the interior of the can-body, in any suitable manner, and spaced slightly below the upper marginal edge of the canbody, is a diametrically extending cross-bar or brace 7 provided with the bearing opening or perforation 8.

The reference character 9 indicates a vertical rotatable yoke member provided throughout its length with the elongated transverse opening 10. Connected with the lower end of said yoke-member is a journalpin or portion 11 which is journaled in the bearing opening or perforation 6 of said bearingthimble 5. Extending upwardly from the upper end of said yoke-member 9 is a spindle-member 12 which is journaled in said bearing opening or perforation 8 of said cross-bar or brace 7. The upper or free end of said spindle -member 12 projects bar or brace through an opening 13 provided in said cover-member 2 so as to be exteriorly disposed or projected above said cover-member. Arranged upon said spindle-member 5 is a washer ll, of any suitable resilient or flexible material, such for example as rubber, leather, fiber, etc. A compression spring-member surrounding said spindlemember, and disposed between said cross- T and said washer l-L forces the latter in close contact with the under side of said cover-member 2 so as to extend over and close said opening 13 against the flowing or passing of any of the fluid contents 15 of thecan-body therethrough should the latter be displaced from its normal upright position. An additional precaution against such leakage is provided by a second washer 16 arranged upon said spindle-member and 20 pressed downward in contact with the upper or outer surface of said cover-member 2 so as to extend over the opening 13 thereof. Secured upon the upper surface of said cover-member 2 is an upstanding circular flange or collar 17 adapted to surround and inclose the outwardly projecting end'of said spindle-member 12. Said flange or collar 17 is provided with a closing memberor cap 18, which closes over the space'inclosed by said flange or collar. This closing member or cap 18 may be secured in place by solder, or any desirable form of mechanical means, and is adapted to be cut away or otherwise removed when access to said upwardly projecting end of said spindle-member 12 is de sired, for purposes to be subsequently described. Said free upper end of said spindle-member 12 is preferably provided with a squared or rectangular portion 19 adapted to receive the operative connection of an operating crank-handle or rotating-means 2O therewith. Connected with said yoke-member 9 so as to be rotated thereby is a mixing element comprising a body adapted to extend transversely through an opening 10 of said yoke-member. a series of transverse interconnected loopmembers 21 vertically alined one with the other and capable of a vertical spring action This body comprises or spring like expansion or compression in a vertical plane. The arm 22 of the upper of said series of loop-members 21 is secured to said yoke-member 9 within its opening 10 in any suitable manner, either by solder or mechanically and being thus secured anchors the upper end of the mixing element in rigid connection with said yokemember, and thus retains said mixing element in operative relation to said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby when said yoke-member is rotated. Connected with the lower of said series of loop-members 21 is a transversely extending scraping element comprising a series of vertically disposed and transversely alined loop-members 23 providing a series of downwardly extending scraping points or fingers 24. As shown in the drawings the above described members of said mixing element are preferably formed from an integral wire rod bent in proper conformation, such material providing a requisite degree of resiliency whereby the expansion and compression of the mixing element may be obtained, but it will readily be understood that so long as the essential operation or function of vertical expansion and compression is retained said mixing element may be made of any other suitable material or form.

Before the can is filled with paint, the mixing element is compressed to thus be moved upwardly in the opening 10 of said yoke-member 9, and thereby raise the scrap ing points or fingers 2i away from and space the same away from the bottom of the can, and in order to retain the same compressed and under the tension of its contracted loop-members 21 a stay or block of light and buoyant material, such as cork or light wood, is inserted between the mixing element and the bottom of the can. The can may be now filled with the paint and sealed by its cover member 2. As is well known ready mixed paint when left standing for any considerable time precipitates to the bottom of the recep acle in which it is contained the heavier and non-soluble portion of its ingredients, thereby causing the mass in the bottom of the can to become thick and even in some cases hardened while the fluid in which the ingredients were suspended becomes thin at the surface of the filled can. It is frequently very diflicult, after opening a can of paint in such a condition to thoroughly mix the precipitated mass with the fluid and so that the same is properly suspended in the latter, and much waste is entailed by the inability of the user to thoroughly stir up and mix the contents of the can.

Paint put up in cans constructed according to my present invention as above de scribed, may be thoroughly mixed again and all waste eliminated by means of my novel mixing element. First the closingmember or cap 18 is removed to expose the end of the spindle member 12 so that an operating crank-handle 20 may be applied thereto, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be borne in mind that the compression of the mixing element maintains the scraping points or fingers raised or spaced from the bottom of the can, thus providing a space in which the sediment or precipitation of the paint ingredients settles, so that the latter is normally below said scraping points. or fingers. Now by turning the 25, andimmediately the transverse loops 21 being freed exert their normal tension which tends to expand the mixing element and cause the scraping fingers or points Q-l to move downward The stay or block 25 becoming loosened from the bottom of the can floats up to the surface and out of the way. The tension of the mixing element causes the scraping points or fingers 24: to grind upon the thick or hardened sediment or precipitation in the bottom of the can gradually loosening the same, so that as the loop-mem bers 21 1'evolve, such sediment or precipitation is thoroughly agitated in the fluid content of the can until thesame is properly suspended therein. It will thusbe apparent that not only do the loop-members 2lserve when under compression or tension to move downwardly the scraping-points toward the bottom of the can as the mixing element is revolved, but they also serve in their lateral extension when revolved in thecan to provide efficient agitating means for stirring and again intermixing the loosened precipitation with the fluid content of the can. After the above :mixing operations have been completed, the cover-member 2' of the can-body 1, may be removed and access to. the thoroughly mixed paint content of the can obtained. 1

I am aware that some changes may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the parts of my present invention, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, without departing from the scope of this invention. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the parts as described in the foregoing specification and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

I claim 1. In a device of the kind described, a can-body, a centrally locatedvertically disposed rotatable yoke-member having an opening forming a longitudinal slot therein, bearings therefor, and a transverse mixing clement mounted in the slot of said yokemember so as to be revolved thereby, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane within said slot of said yoke-member.

In a device of the kind described, a can-body, a centrally located vertically disposed. rotatable yokc -member, bearings therefor, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane, and means for retaining said mixing element compressed to normally remove its lower end from the bottom of the can. i

3. In a device of the kind described, a

can-body, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yoke-member, bearings therefor, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, said mixing element being capable of compression andiexpansion in a vertical plane, means for retaining said mixing element compressed to, normally remove its lower end from the bottom of the can, and means for rotating said yoke-memher. 7 I a 4, In a device of the kind described, a canbody, a centrally located vertically dis posed rotatable yoke-member, bearings therefor, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, and a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected with the lower end of said mixing element, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane. I

5 In a device of the, kind described, a can body, a cent ally located vertically disposed rotatable yoke member. bearings therefor, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected withthe lower end of said mixing element, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansionin a vertical plane, and means for re,- taining said mixing element compressed to normally raise said scraping-lingers above the can-bottom.

6. In a device of the kind described, a canbody, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yoke-member, bearings therefor, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected with the lower end of said mixing element, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane, means for retaining said mixing element compressed to normally raise said scraping fingers above the can-bottom, and means for rotating said yoke-member.

7. In a device of the kind described. a canbody, a cover-member therefor, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yokemember, bearings for said yoke-member, a spindle-member connected with the upper end of said yoke-member adapted to project exterior-1y through said cover-member, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected with the lower end of said mixing element, and means adapted to be connected with said spindle-member for rotating said vokemember.

S. In a device of the kind described, a canbody, a cover-member therefor, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yokeiz-t) member, bearings for said yoke-member, a spindle-member connected'with the upper end'of said yoke-member adapted to pro ect exteriorly through said cover-member, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected with the lower end of said mixing element, means adapted to be connected with said spindle-member for rotating said yoke-member, and an inclosing means connected with said cover-member for normally inclosing and covering the exteriorly projecting end'of said spindle-mem- 9. In a device of the kind described, a canbody, a cover-member therefor, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yokemember, bearings for said yoke-member, a spindle-member connected with the upper end of said yoke-member adapted to project exteriorly through said cover-member, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly projecting scraping fingers connected with the lower end of said mixing element, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane, means for retaining said mixing element compressed to normally raise said scraping-fingers above the can-bottom, and means adapted to be connected with said spindle-member for rotating said yoke-, member.

10. In a device of the kind described, a can-body, a cover-member therefor, a centrally located vertically disposed rotatable yoke-member, bearings for saidyoke-member, a spindle-member connected with the upper end of said yoke-member adapted to project exteriorly through said cover-memher, a transverse mixing element mounted in said yoke-member so as to be revolved thereby, a plurality of downwardly pro jecting scraping fingers connected With the lower end of said mixing element, said mixing element being capable of compression and expansion in a vertical plane, means for retaining said mixing element compressed to normally raise said scraping-fingers above the can-bottom, and means adapted to be connected with said spindle-member for rotating said yoke-member, and an inclosing means connected with said cover-member for normally inclosing and covering the exteriorly'projecting end of said spindle-mem- In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of December, 1914.

GEORGE P. FITZSIMMONS.

Witnesses:

F REDK C. F RAENTZEL, FREDK H. W. FRAENTZEL.

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