Mixing paddle

Abstract

A mixing paddle is described comprising a first section (2) adapted for mixing a paint, and a second section (3) having at least one removing edge (4), wherein the removing edge (4) has a geometry complementary to a horizontal cross section (5, 6) of the first section (2), and wherein the second section (3) is detachably attached, and a corresponding method for removing excess paint from a mixing paddle is described.

Claims

1. A mixing paddle comprising: a first section adapted for mixing a paint, the first section including an edge, a front side, and a back side, wherein the front side and the back side define a horizontal cross section of the first section; and a second section frangibly coupled to the edge of the first section, the second section having at least one removing edge, wherein the removing edge has a geometry complementary to an entirety of the front side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

2. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the at least one removing edge is opposite to an edge of the second section that results from detaching the second section from the first section.

3. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the second section is detachably coupled to the first section by a perforation in the mixing paddle.

4. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the second section is detachably coupled to the first section by a tapering in the mixing paddle.

5. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first section has a non-rectangular horizontal cross section.

6. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has a curved horizontal cross section.

7. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has an s-shaped horizontal cross section.

8. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has a z-shaped horizontal cross section.

9. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the first section comprises at least one through hole.

10. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the second section comprises a plurality of reinforcements spaced along a length of the second section.

11. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the mixing paddle is made of recycled synthetic material.

12. The mixing paddle of claim 1, wherein the geometry of the removing edge is further complementary to an entirety of the back side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

13. A mixing paddle comprising: a first section adapted for mixing a paint, the first section including an edge, a front side, and a back side, wherein the front side and the back side define a horizontal cross section of the first section, and wherein at least a part of the first section has a non-rectangular horizontal cross section; and a second section detachably coupled to the edge of the first section, the second section having at least one removing edge, wherein the removing edge has a geometry complementary to an entirety of the front side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

14. The mixing paddle of claim 13, wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has a curved horizontal cross section.

15. The mixing paddle of claim 13, wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has a s-shaped horizontal cross section.

16. The mixing paddle of claim 13, wherein the geometry of the removing edge is further complementary to an entirety of the back side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

17. A mixing paddle comprising: a first section adapted for mixing a paint, the first section including an edge, a front side, and a back side, wherein the front side and the back side define a horizontal cross section of the first section, and wherein at least a part of the first section of the mixing paddle has an s-shaped horizontal cross section; and a second section detachably coupled to the edge of the first section, the second section having at least one removing edge, wherein the removing edge has a geometry complementary to an entirety of the front side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

18. The mixing paddle of claim 17, wherein the geometry of the removing edge is further complementary to an entirety of the back side of the horizontal cross section of the first section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following the mixing paddle according to the present disclosure is further described by reference to the schematic illustrations shown in the figures, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1a-d are different views of an embodiment of a mixing paddle according to the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2a is a front view of a mixing paddle according to the present disclosure with the second section detached;

(4) FIG. 2b is a front view of a mixing paddle according to the present disclosure where the removing edge of the second section is aligned with the first section; and

(5) FIG. 2c is a dimensional view of a mixing paddle according to the present disclosure where the removing edge of the second section is aligned with the first section.

(6) It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the disclosed embodiments are sometimes illustrated diagrammatically and in partial views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosed methods and apparatus or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1a-d show different views (front-, side-, back-, top-, end-, and dimensional view) of an embodiment of a mixing paddle 1 according to the present disclosure with a first section 2 adapted for mixing a paint and a second section 3 having a removing edge 4. The horizontal cross sections 5, 6 are schematically indicated on the very top in FIGS. 1a and 1c, where FIG. 1a shows the front side 20 of the mixing paddle 1, and whereas FIG. 1c shows the back side 22 of the mixing paddle 1. As it can be seen in the Figures, the geometry of the removing edge 4 is complementary to the horizontal cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2 extending in the vertical direction. Advantageously, that allows fitting the removing edge 4 into the geometry, i.e. into the profile, of the first section.

(8) In the here shown embodiment the first section 2 comprises several openings such as opening 7 in its material. These openings allow easier and more efficient mixing of the paints. The openings in FIGS. 1a-d are disposed throughout the first section 2 and are tear-shaped. However, this example shall not be limiting and it is evident for a person skilled in the art that the openings can have any shape, such as circular or rectangular, and are disposed in any pattern on the first section 2. Also, in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1a-d the cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2 is s-shaped. However, in alternative embodiments the cross section may be also rectangular, convex/concave, having a V-shape, etc.

(9) FIGS. 1a-d also show enforcements like enforcement 8 being arranged along the vertical length of the second section 3 and partly along the length of the first section 2. The here shown enforcements 8 are in the shape of fins that are located in the s-shaped horizontal cross-section 5, 6. Advantageously, these enforcements 8 add extra stability to the mixing paddle as well as they are being helpful for the user to reliably hold the mixing paddle 1, even when the entire mixing paddle is covered with slippery paint.

(10) In the here shown embodiments it is shown that the first section 2 and the second section 3 are hold together by a perforated strip 9. If the user starts bending the first section 2 and the second section 3 relative to each other, both parts will break apart along the perforation strip 9. However, the person skilled in the art would also know alternative ways how the second section 3 could be detached from the first section 2 such as for example by thinning the material along the strip, i.e. tapering the material.

(11) FIG. 2a shows, like FIG. 1a, the front view of the mixing paddle 1. In the here shown example, the second section 3 is detached from the first section 2. As already described above, this can be done by bending both sections 2, 3 relative to each other until they break apart along the perforation strip 9. FIG. 2a shows that both sections 2, 3 are separated from each other along a straight horizontal line leaving an edge 10 in the second section 3 opposite the removing edge 4. Alternatively, however, the edge 10 could also, or instead, have the geometry of the removing edge 4. The geometry of the removing edge could also be realized on either or both sides 11, 12 of the second section 3.

(12) FIGS. 2b and 2c show a front view and a dimensional view of the mixing paddle 1 where the removing edge 4 of the second section 3 is aligned with the cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2.

(13) After the second section 3 was detached, the user can hold the first section 2, preferably on the very top part where there is no or less paint. For removing the excess paint the removing edge 4 is simply aligned with the horizontal cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2, i.e. the removing edge 4 having a geometry complementary to the horizontal cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2 is simply pushed into the horizontal cross section 5, 6 of the first section 2.

(14) For removing the excess paint, the removing edge 4 is moved down along the length of the first section 2 to scrape the paint off. Advantageously, when the removing edge 4 is moved down along the length of the first section 2 for the first time most of the excess paint can be already removed from the first section 2 due to the drop shaped through holes 7 in the first section 2. The removing edge 4 can be moved down along the length of the first section 2 more than once to make sure that as much excess paint as possible is being collected.

(15) The first section 2 can be then turned over to its back side where the process is repeated until all excess paint, or at least most of it is also removed from the back side of the first section 2.

(16) All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference. The description of certain embodiments as preferred embodiments, and other recitation of embodiments, features, or ranges as being preferred, is not deemed to be limiting, and the claims are deemed to encompass embodiments that may presently be considered to be less preferred. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended to illuminate the disclosed subject matter and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claims. Any statement herein as to the nature or benefits of the exemplary embodiments is not intended to be limiting, and the appended claims should not be deemed to be limited by such statements. More generally, no language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as being essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter. The scope of the claims includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited therein as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the claims unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The description herein of any reference or patent, even if identified as prior, is not intended to constitute a concession that such reference or patent is available as prior art against the present disclosure.