MIXING DEVICE FOR JOINT COMPOUND

摘要

A mixing device including a blade with radially outwardly extending arms and/or with a longitudinally extending wall with an elliptical cross-section. The elliptical cross-section may synergistically provide enhanced mixing and enhanced durability of the blade compared to previously known joint compound mixers. For example, the elliptical cross section may provide structural support to the radially outwardly extending arms and/or the longitudinally extending walls while allowing the radially outwardly extending arms and/or the longitudinally extending walls to cut through and spread joint compound. The structural support may allow the blade to be made of a plastic material. For example, the blade may be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Making the blade out of plastic may reduce scratching and degradation of the container that holds the joint compound during mixing, compared to previously known drywall mixers made of metal.

主权项

1. A mixing device, including:
a blade extending along a longitudinal axis, including:
a first radially extending arm extending from a first radially central portion of the blade, wherein the first radially extending arm has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the first radially extending arm includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge;a second radially extending arm extending from a second radially central portion of the blade that is axially spaced from the first radially central portion, wherein the second radially extending arm has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the second radially extending arm includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge;a first axially extending wall extending from a radially outer end of the first radially extending arm to a radially outer end of the second radially extending arm, wherein the first axially extending wall has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the first axially extending wall includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge;a third radially extending arm extending from the first radially central portion of the blade, wherein the third radially extending arm has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the third radially extending arm includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge;a fourth radially extending arm extending from the second radially central portion of the blade, wherein the fourth radially extending arm has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the fourth radially extending arm includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge; anda second axially extending wall extending from a radially outer end of the third radially extending arm to a radially outer end of the fourth radially extending arm, wherein the second axially extending wall has an elliptical cross-section, and wherein the second axially extending wall includes a trailing edge, a leading edge, and a central portion between the trailing edge and the leading edge;wherein each leading edge is able to cut through a fluid to be mixed when the blade is rotated about the longitudinal axis in a first circumferential direction, and at least a portion of each leading edge is thinner than each adjacent central portion.