Shaker for aerosol spray cans

Abstract

A device for shaking aerosol spray cans (2) and spray paint containers that agitate and thoroughly mixes the contents contained therein by replicating the up-and-down and back-and-forth spinning motions an individual normally performs with his or her hand to shake a spray can. The spray can shaker (1) of the present invention is adaptable to multiple sizes and shapes and spray cans.

Claims

1. A spray can shaker comprising: a base having a bottom surface, top surface, front edge, back edge, a right side edge, and a left side edge; a right vertical side support extending upward at an angle from the right side edge of the base; a left vertical side support extending upward at an angle from the left side edge of the base; said right vertical side support and left vertical side support supporting a carrier in an elevated position above the base; said carrier providing a means for securing a spray can in the carrier; said carrier being slidably attached to the right side vertical support by a first fixed channel on the base; wherein the first fixed channel is horizontal to the right side edge of the base; said carrier being slidably attached to the left side vertical support by a second fixed channel on the base; wherein the second fixed channel is horizontal to the left side edge of the base; and a rotational power source connected to a first end of the carrier by at least one gear that rotates and causes the first end of the carrier to move up and down in relation to the base while simultaneously causing the carrier to move forward and backward in relation the first fixed channel on the base and the second fixed channel on the base.

2. The spray can shaker of claim 1 wherein: the carrier further includes a first projection located on a right side of the carrier that engages the first fixed channel; and a second projection located on a left side of the carrier that engages the second fixed channel.

3. The spray can shaker of claim 1 wherein: said power source is pivotally connected to the first end of the carrier via the at least one gear and a fly wheel having a counterweight.

4. The spray can shaker of claim 1 wherein: said power source is a crank handle.

5. The spray can shaker of claim 1 further comprising: a stationary handle extending above the spray can shaker in a substantially centered position to provide a contact point for a user to hold the spray can shaker at a fixed position on a work surface.

6. The spray can shaker of claim 1 further comprising: a non-slip surface located on the bottom surface of the base to keep the base stationary during use.

7. The spray can shaker of claim 1 wherein: said carrier further comprises an open tubular-shaped body having a front end, a back end, and at least one middle clip located between the front end of the body and the back end of the body.

8. The spray can shaker of claim 7 wherein: said at least one middle clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a perimeter edge of a spray can.

9. The spray can shaker of claim 1 wherein: said carrier further comprises an open tubular-shaped body having a front end, a back end, an inner surface, and an outer surface; and at least one C-shaped clip located within the tubular-shaped body that is used to secure a spray can into the carrier.

10. The spray can shaker of claim 9 wherein: said at least one C-shaped clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a perimeter edge of a spray can.

11. The spray can shaker of claim 9 wherein: said carrier further comprises an open tubular-shaped body having a front end, a back end, and a top clip located on the front end of the body and a bottom clip located on the back end of the body.

12. The spray can shaker of claim 11 wherein: said carrier further comprises at least one middle clip located between the front end of the body and the back end of the body.

13. The spray can shaker of claim 12 wherein: said at least one middle clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a perimeter edge of a spray can.

14. The spray can shaker of claim 11 wherein: said top clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a top perimeter edge of a spray can; and said bottom clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a bottom perimeter edge of a spray can.

15. The spray can shaker of claim 14 wherein: said at least one C-shaped clip further comprises an indented step that acts as a stop to engage a perimeter edge of a spray can.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an empty spray can shaker of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the spray can shaker of the present invention having a spray can secured therein;

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear view of the spray can shaker of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional side view along lines A-A of FIG. 3 showing the flywheel and counterweight used to assist in actuating the carrier;

(6) FIG. 5 is a sectional side view along lines B-B of FIG. 3 providing an internal view of the gear box used to assist in actuating the carrier;

(7) FIG. 6 is a right side view of the spray can shaker of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a side view of a carrier of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a top view of a carrier of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of a carrier of the present invention accommodating a short spray can; and

(11) FIG. 10 is an end view of a C-shaped clip from the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows: 1. spray can shaker, generally 2. spray can 3. base 4. bottom surface of base 5. top surface of base 6. front edge of base 7. back edge of base 8. right side edge of base 9. left side edge of base 10. right vertical side support 11. left vertical side support 12. carrier 13. right side guide 14. left side guide 15. pin 16. power supply 17. crank handle 18. gear box 19. gear 20. fly wheel 21. counterweight 22. carrier body 23. front end of body 24. back end of body 25. inner surface of body 26. outer surface of body 27. clip, generally 28. top clip 29. bottom clip 30. middle clip 31. step 32. stop 33. stationary handle

(13) With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, views of a spray can shaker 1 of the present invention without a spray can 2 and with a spray can 2, respectively, are illustrated. The spray can shaker 1 comprises a base 3 having a planar bottom surface 4, top surface 5, front A edge 6, back edge 7, a right side edge 8, and a left side edge 9. A non-slip surface and or/means to mechanically mount the base 3 to a work surface is preferably located on the bottom surface 4 of the base 3 to keep the base stationary during use.

(14) A right vertical side supports 10 and a left vertical support 11 each extend upward at an angle, respectively, from the right side edge 8 and a left side edge 9.

(15) The right vertical side support 10 and the left vertical support 11 support a carrier 12 in an A elevated position above the base 3. The carrier 12 provides means for securing a spray can 2 in the spray can shaker 1. The carrier 12 is slidably attached to the right side vertical support 10 and the left vertical support 11 via a right side guide 13 and a left side guide 14, both of which preferably comprise fixed channels that engage pins 15 extending from a right side of the carrier 12 and a left side of the carrier 12.

(16) A motorized or a manual power supply 16 may be used to move the carrier 12 and a spray can 2 secured therein in the carrier 12 in a front-to-back oscillating motion in relation to the base 3, thereby replicating an up-and-down and turning motion an individual normally performs with his or her hand to mix a spray can 2. A stationary handle 33 preferably extends above the spray can shaker 1 in a substantially centered position to provide a contact point for a user to hold the spray can shaker 1 a fixed position on a work surface.

(17) With reference to FIGS. 3-6, the manual power supply 16 is illustrated herein having a crank handle 17 connected to a gear box 18 having at least two gears 19 housed therein to transfer the power from the rotating crank handle 17 to a flywheel 20 having a counterweight 21 located thereon that is pivotally attached to a back end 24 of the carrier 3 in a circular motion combined with a front-to-back motion in relation to the base 3, thereby replicating an up-and-down and turning motion an individual normally performs with his or her hand to mix a spray can 2.

(18) With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a side view and a top view, respectively, of a carrier 12 of the present invention is illustrated. The carrier 12 comprises a preferably open tubular-shaped body 22 having a front end 23, a back end 24, an inner surface 25, and an outer surface 26. At least one C-shaped clip 27 is located within the tubular-shaped body 22 and is used to grasp and lock a spray can 2 into carrier the spray can shaker 1. As illustrated herein the carrier 12 comprises a top clip 28 located on the front end 23 of the body 22, a bottom clip 29 located on the back end 24 of the body 22, and at least one middle clip 30 located between the front end 23 of the body 22 and the back end 24 of the body 22.

(19) Each clip 27 may act as an attachment means for securing a spray can 2 and may also act as ledges or stops so the carrier 12 may accommodate different sizes of spray cans 2. For example, when a full-sized spray can 2 may be inserted into the carrier 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2, it engages all of the clips 27 located in the carrier 12. When a short spray can 2 is inserted into the carrier 12, as illustrated in FIG. 9, it is not long enough to engage the bottom clip 29 and only engages the top clip 28 and two middle clips 30 with one of the middle clips 30 acting support for the bottom of the spray can 2.

(20) As illustrated in FIG. 9, each clip 27 may comprise an indented step 31. Each indented step 31 may act as a stop 32 to engage top and bottom perimeter edges of a spray can 2. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a step 31 located on a middle clip is engaging a bottom perimeter edge of the spray can 2 and acting as a stop 32 that keeps a top perimeter edge of the spray can 2 locked in secure contact with a step 31 located on the top clip 28.

(21) It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.