Stirring Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A stirring apparatus includes a power tool such as a drill or cordless screwdriver, and a stirring bit that may be removably inserted into the power tool in the conventional manner for stirring a liquid or any other material that requires stirring or agitation for proper use or consumption. The stirring bit, in a preferred embodiment, is a generally longitudinal structure having a first and a second end, where the first end includes a hexagonal cross section, similarly to any standard drill bit, and a second end that include a clamp mechanism. The clamp mechanism is used for attaching a stirring stick or paddle to the stirring bit. In another embodiment, the stirring bit may include a beater or frothing mechanism, rather than the clamp mechanism.

Claims

1. A stirring bit comprising: a longitudinal structure having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is formed into a hexagonal cross section for insertion into a rotating portion of a power tool, and a clamp mechanism positioned on said second end.

2. The stirring bit set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamp mechanism is biased toward a closed position, and includes a pair of pinch members attached thereto, wherein said clamp mechanism may be opened by pinching said pinch members, and wherein said clamp mechanism may close by releasing said pinch members.

2. The stirring bit set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamp mechanism includes a first panel and a second panel in hinged relation, and further includes a securing mechanism for tightening said clamp member against an object that is being held by said clamp member.

4. The stirring bit set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second panels define at least one holes therein, and wherein said securing mechanism includes a threaded bolt extending through said holes in said first and second panels, and a pair of nuts screwed onto either end of said threaded bolt, so that said clamp may be tightened against an object being held by said clamp by tightening said nuts against outer portions of said panels.

5. The stirring bit set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one of said nuts is a wing nut.

6. The stirring bit set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one said nut includes a knob member.

7. The stirring bit set forth in claim 1, further in including a stirring tool that is removably attached to said clamp member.

8. A stirring bit comprising: a longitudinal structure having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is formed into a hexagonal cross section for insertion into a rotating portion of a power tool, and wherein said second end includes a frothing mechanism.

9. The stirring bit set forth in claim 8, wherein said frothing mechanism includes a ring portion on a distal end of said stirring bit, and includes a coiled member that surrounds said circular portion so that said ring portion extends through a center of said coiled member.

10. The stirring bit set forth in claim 8, wherein said frothing mechanism is removable from said stirring bit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a stirring bit, having a first end with a generally hexagonal cross-section, and a second end consisting of a clamp including a pair of pinch members used to open the clamp by squeezing the pinch members together;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stirring bit shown in FIG. 1, wherein the stirring bit is attached to a cordless screwdriver for mechanically rotating the stirring bit, and further showing a stirring stick removably held by the clamp for stirring a liquid, such as coffee, tea, or the like;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of a stirring apparatus, including a cordless drill having a stirring/agitating bit with a first end having a generally is hexagonal cross-section that is received by the drill chuck, and further including a clamp member with tightening screws, wherein the clamp member is holding a paint stirring paddle;

[0033] FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the stirring/agitating bit shown in FIG. 3, wherein the clamp member is in an open position for receiving the paint stirring paddle, and further showing a handle member for receiving the tightening screw on an opposed side of the clamp member from the tightening screw;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a side view of the stirring/agitating bit shown in FIG. 3, wherein the paint stirring paddle is removably secured to the clamp member;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a front view of the stirring/agitating bit shown in FIG. 3, wherein the paint stirring paddle is removably secured to the clamp member;

[0036] FIG. 7 is a front of the stirring/agitating bit shown in FIG. 3, wherein the paint stirring paddle is removably secured to the clamp member in an angular configuration; and

[0037] FIG. 8 is a front view of the stirring/agitating bit shown in FIG. 3, wherein a pair of paint stirring paddles are removably secured to the clamp member.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a stirring/frothing apparatus including a first end having a generally hexagonal cross-section for insertion into a drill or cordless screwdriver, and a shaft extending downwardly toward a second end having a circular configuration surrounded by a spiraling coil for stirring and/or frothing liquid such as coffee, or the like;

[0039] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of a stirring/frothing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, wherein the stirring/frothing apparatus is removably connected to a cordless screwdriver, which is used to mechanically rotate the stirring/frothing apparatus;

[0040]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Overview

[0042] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a power tool 10 such as a drill or cordless screwdriver, and a stirring bit 12 that is removably secured to the power tool 10 for stirring a fluid or other material. The stirring bit 12, in a first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-8, is a longitudinal structure having a first end 14 and a second end 16. Preferably, the first end of the stirring bit includes a hexagonal cross section to facilitate attachment to a power tool 10, in a similar fashion as any standard drill bit. The second end 16 of the stirring bit includes a clamp 18 for holding a stirring tool 20, such as a stirring stick or paint paddle, or the like.

[0043] In use, a user simply attaches the stirring bit 12 to the power tool 10 in a conventional manner, and removably attaches a stirring tool 20 (or the like) to the clamp 18. The user then inserts the stirring tool 20 down into a container having a liquid or other mixable material therein, and engages the power tool 10 so that the stirring bit 12 rotates, thereby rotating the attached stirring tool 20 so that the stirring tool 20 is used to stir and agitate the liquid in the container. One advantage to this apparatus and method is that the stirring tool 20 may be disposed of after use, so that no cleaning is required.

[0044] Pinch Clamp Bit

[0045] The clamp 18 may take many forms, depending on the intended use. In one embodiment that is particularly useful for small applications like starring coffee and mixed drinks, the clamp 18 may be a simple pinch clamp as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, similar to paper binders, where a pair of pinch arms 22 extend outwardly from a rear portion of the clamp 18, and the clamp 18 is opened by pinching the pinch arms 22 toward one another. In this embodiment, the clamp 18 is biased in a closed position, and remains in the closed state until a user opens the clamp 18 by pinching the pinch arms 22 together.

[0046] Vise Clamp Bit

[0047] In other embodiments that are used for heavy duty jobs like stirring up concrete, paint, or the like, the clamp 18 may operate more like a vise, as shown in FIGS. 3-8. In this embodiment, the clamp 18 may be formed from a pair of panels 24 connected to form a hinge member 26 that freely opens and closes, and includes a securing mechanism 28 that applies a closing pressure to the clamp. The securing mechanism, in one embodiment, may include one or more threaded bolts 30 extending through holes on both panels 24, and wing nuts, knobs 32 or the like that are used to tighten the clamp 18 by screwing the knobs 32 tightly to the bolt 30 to hold the clamp 18 together.

[0048] Alternatively, the bolt 30 may be welded or fixed to the first panel 24 and extend through a hole in the second panel 24, where the knob 32 (or wing nut, or the like) is positioned on the outer portion of the second panel 24 and is used to tighten the second panel 24 down toward the first panel 24.

[0049] The examples of the clamp mechanism shown in FIGS. 1-8 are illustrative of clamp mechanisms that may be used, but it should be understand that any suitable clamping mechanism may be attached to the end of the stirring bit 12, either integrally or removably, so long as those clamp mechanisms are capable of temporarily securing a stirring tool 20 (stick, paddle, or the like) to the stirring bit 12 for the duration of a stirring or agitating operation.

[0050] One particularly useful advantage of the present invention is that the stirring tools 20 that are attached to the stirring bit 12 may be oriented and positioned at any desired angle. For example, a stirring tool 20 may be attached to the clamp member 18 so that it is in a direct line with the axis of rotation of the bit 12, as shown in FIG. 6, or it may be disposed at an angle with respect to the bit, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. Multiple stirring tools 20 may be attached to the stirring bit 12 at one time, if desired, in any angular combination or configuration, as shown in FIG. 8. It is also contemplated that two stirring tools 20 may be held by the clamp 18 where the stirring tools 20 are oriented to form a V-shape, where the distal ends of the stirring tools 20 are oriented away from one another. Additionally, the upper portion of the stirring tools 20 may extend above the top of the clamp 18 at an angle, as desired.

[0051] In another embodiment, the stirring bit 12 may include a beater or frothing mechanism 34, rather than the clamp mechanism. In this embodiment, the beater or frothing mechanism 34 is used to stir and agitate the fluid by rotating the bit 12 with the power tool 10, as described above. For instance, one common frothing mechanism is a generally round member that is attached to the second end (the distal end) of the stirring bit 12, and includes a spiraled wire thereabout, as shown in FIGS. 9-10. Essentially, the frothing mechanism 34 is, in this embodiment, a metal or plastic ring 36 with a spring or coiled wire 38 extending around the ring 36, as shown. In this embodiment, the frothing mechanism 34 or beater may be integrally formed with the stirring bit 12, or the stirring bit 12 may have an attachment mechanism so that the beater or frothing mechanism 34 may be removably attached thereto, so that multiple agitating members may be used interchangeably with a single stirring bit 12.

[0052] It should be understood that the stirring bit 12 may be made from any suitable material, but is preferably made from metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The stirring bit 12 may have any desired length or size, as desired.

[0053] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.