Stir stick

Details Stir stick Stir stick

1999-12-30

2001-06-19

Cooley, Charles E. (Department: 1723)

Agitating

Operator supported

C366S308000, C366S343000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06247837

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a stir stick for use in stirring liquid within a container, such as wine within a carboy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The home wine making industry is ever growing in popularity. More and more people are learning the benefits of making their own wine, in terms of lower cost and the satisfaction of creating something unique and enjoyable. Whether it is done at home or at a commercial establishment, the basic steps in home winemaking are largely the same.
One step in the process is to stir the wine within the carboy after the fermentation stage. A vigorous stirring of the wine gets rid of solution CO
2
trapped within the wine in the carboy. Removing the gas greatly enhances the bouquet of the finished wine and is thus an important step in the process.
Unfortunately, despite the importance of this step, the most common method of stirring the wine is to simply use a long stick or a shaved down spoon and manually stirring the wine. This has proven to be a time consuming means of achieving the desired amount of stir. The small cross-section of the stick or the shaved down spoon may not always ensure that the liquid is completely stirred and, if stirred too aggressively, the spoon or stick is prone to break.
Other solutions to the problem have included the use of metal fins or the like attached to a slender rod whereby the fins mix the liquid when the rod is rotated. For example, the applicant is aware of a product marketed by PYI Innovative in association with the trade-mark FIZZ-X which incorporates this design. The effectiveness of this product is limited, however, due to its design since the fins may not separate from the rod in the proper orientation, thus requiring the user to stop rotating the rod, remove the device and adjust the fins. Further, the use of metal fins increases the risk of damage to the neck or the inside of the carboy during rotation of the rod. These limitations have been specifically addressed by the present applicant.
Other stirring devices known to the applicant do not integrate the necessary features to achieve the desired stirring of the liquid within the carboy or container. Reference may be had, for example, to Canadian Patent 960,609 of Aubry, Dispositif Pour Le Conditionnment et La Distribution De Produits, Comprenant Un Organe De Brassage, issued Jan. 7, 1975 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,533 of Sturrup, Nail Polish Stirrer, issued Jun. 20, 1967.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a stir stick for use in stirring liquid within a container, such as wine within a carboy that overcomes the deficiencies of the present devices.
In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in stirring liquid within a container which container has an opening with a smaller circumference than a circumference of a body of the container. The device comprises a cylindrical rod having a first end and a second end. There is provided a coupling means at the first end that is constructed so as to rotationally couple the rod to a rotation source. There is further provided a split in the rod extending longitudinally from an approximate mid-point of the rod to the second end to form mixing blades. A portion of the mixing blades proximate to the second end are constructed so as to spread apart during the rotation of the device.
In another aspect of the invention, the distal portions of the mixing blades are bent outwardly from an axis of the split to assist the spreading of the mixing blades during rotation of the device.
In another aspect of the invention, the rod has a right-circular cylindrical cross-section, and is made of resilient ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.


REFERENCES:
patent: 427963 (1890-05-01), Booz et al.
patent: 579055 (1897-03-01), Gates et al.
patent: 1159080 (1915-11-01), Poggensee
patent: 2092353 (1937-09-01), Kyseth et al.
patent: 2161508 (1939-06-01), Ensor et al.
patent: 2577802 (1951-12-01), Payne
patent: 3011768 (1961-12-01), Clark
patent: 3166303 (1965-01-01), Chapman
patent: 3223389 (1965-12-01), Simmonds
patent: 3326533 (1967-06-01), Sturrup
patent: 3333831 (1967-08-01), Chapman
patent: 3455540 (1969-07-01), Marcmann
patent: 3456923 (1969-07-01), Zeuzem
patent: 3559962 (1971-02-01), Enssle et al.
patent: 3972512 (1976-08-01), Grise et al.
patent: 3991983 (1976-11-01), Drynan
patent: 4396291 (1983-08-01), Simmonds
patent: 4981367 (1991-01-01), Brazelton
patent: 5073033 (1991-12-01), Klepeis
patent: 5489151 (1996-02-01), Weber
patent: 5676463 (1997-10-01), Larsen
patent: 5938325 (1999-08-01), Edwards
patent: 5941636 (1999-08-01), Lu
patent: 960609 (1975-01-01), None
Page from advertisement from Gardner Laboratory, Inc. entitled “Palo Stirrers Set the Standard” and showing a number of stirring mechanisms.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stir stick does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stir stick, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stir stick will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2490630