# US 11,111,071 B2 · Mixing apparatus, method of making the mixing apparatus and using the mixing apparatus

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- Number: US 11,111,071 B2
- Document ID: US11111071B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/050,449
- Filed: 2018-07-31
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-31
- Assignees: V1 Enterprises, LLC
- Applicants: V1 Enterprises, LLC
- Inventors: Donald T. Dunn; Chance E. Tanner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111071B2

## CPC

- B65D 83/38: Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70)
- B01F 29/31: the containers being supported by driving means, e.g. by rotating rollers
- B01F 29/34: Constructional details of holders for the individual packages or containers
- B01F 29/4011: {characterised by the shape or cross-section of the receptacle, e.g. of Y-, Z -, S -, or X shape}
- B01F 33/50115: {Stirring devices adapted to be connected to a standard boring machine or other kind of domestic tool}
- B01F 35/42: Clamping or holding arrangements for mounting receptacles on mixing devices
- B01F 35/421: {having a cup-shaped or cage-type form}
- B05B 15/25: using moving elements, e.g. rotating blades
- B65D 1/0215: {multilayered (B65D81/3837 takes precedence)}
- B65D 83/164: {Actuators comprising a manually operated valve and being attachable to the aerosol container, e.g. downstream a valve fitted to the container; Actuators associated to container valves with valve seats located outside the aerosol container}
- B65B 31/003: {Adding propellants in fluid form to aerosol containers (in solid form B65B31/10)}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)

## Abstract

An apparatus is provided that is configured to be used with a container having contents to permit mixing of the contents of the container. The apparatus includes a main body having a geometrical shape having an open end, a closed end, and a longitudinally extending bore or opening extending from the open end to the closed end. The opening or bore is configured to receive at least a portion of a container. A shaft is generally orthogonally positioned from a portion of the closed end. The shaft is configured to be received by a rotational device. The mixing apparatus can be used to mix various sized containers containing contents having one or more materials to be mixed. The container is not attached to any portion of the main body and the container is configured to rotate freely and independently of the main body during an operation of the rotational device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of using a mixing apparatus for mixing contents of a container, comprising the steps of:
providing a mixing apparatus having a main body having an open first end, a closed second end, and a longitudinally extending bore extending from the open first end to the closed second end, wherein the longitudinally extending bore is configured to receive at least a portion of the container, wherein the container is not attached to any portion of the main body and the container is configured to rotate freely and independently of the main body during an operation of a rotational device, and a shaft extending from the closed second end and the shaft is orientated orthogonally from the closed second end; and
attaching a portion of the shaft to the rotational device;
arranging a portion of the container into the longitudinally extending bore of the main body; and
operating the rotational device to rotate the main body and the container, wherein the main body rotates at a first angular velocity during a first period time of operation of the rotational device and the container rotates at a second angular velocity during the first period of time wherein the first angular velocity is greater than the second angular velocity of the container for at least a portion of the first period of time.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the container is an aerosol can.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending bore of the main body has a height extending from the closed second end to the open first end that is less than the height of the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the height of the longitudinally extending bore extending from the closed second end is in a range from about 10 mm to about 150 mm or greater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the main body has an inside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the container.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the operating the rotational device step comprising operating the rotational device at revolutions per minute (RPM) in a range from about 100 RPM to about 2000 RPM or greater.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the main body comprises an orange color.

### Claim 8

A method of mixing an aerosol container with a mixing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
providing a mixing apparatus with a main body including an open first end, a closed second end, a wall extending circumferentially from the first end to the second end, an opening or bore extending from the open first end to the closed second end and a shaft extending from the second end, wherein the bore has an inside diameter at the closed second end and an inside diameter of the bore at the open first end, wherein the inside diameter at the closed second end is less than the inside diameter at the open second end;
arranging the aerosol container within at least a portion of the opening or bore of the mixing apparatus, wherein at least one third or less of the aerosol container extends outside the bore of the main body, wherein the aerosol container is not attached to the main body with any type of attachment mechanism and the aerosol container is configured to rotate freely and independently of the main body during operation of a rotational device;
attaching the rotational device to at least a portion of the shaft wherein the rotational device is a drill with an attachment mechanism and the attaching step includes releasably attaching the attachment mechanism of the drill to the shaft; and
operating the rotational device to rotate the main body about a central axis thereof via the shaft to mix contents of the aerosol container, wherein the main body rotates at a first angular velocity during a first period of time and the aerosol container rotates at a second angular velocity during the first period of time, and wherein the first angular velocity is greater than the second angular velocity of the aerosol container during the first period of time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein a user can support a portion of the rotating aerosol container with at least a portion of the user's hand.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first period of time is about 5 seconds or less.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first period of time is about 10 seconds or less.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the operating the rotational device to rotate the main body and mix contents of the aerosol container step comprises positioning the rotational device to an angle of operation of about 25 degrees to about 35 degrees formed between a surface of a floor a user is standing or sitting on and a central axis of the main body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the operation of the rotational device step comprising operating the rotational device at revolutions per minute (RPM) in a range from about 800 RPM to about 2000 RPM or greater.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the main body comprises an orange color.

### Claim 15

A method of using a mixing apparatus to mix contents of an aerosol container, comprising:
providing a mixing apparatus with a main body including an open first end having a first inside diameter, a closed second end having a second inside diameter, a bore extending from the open first end to the closed second end, and a radially symmetrical shaft unit extending from the main body in a direction opposite the bore;
arranging at least a portion of the aerosol container in the bore of the main body, wherein the aerosol container is not attached to the main body and the aerosol container is configured to rotate freely and independently of the main body during operation of a rotational device;
providing a drill with an attachment mechanism as the rotational device;
releasably attaching a portion of the shaft unit to the attachment mechanism of the drill; and
operating the drill to rotate the main body and the aerosol container about a central axis of the main body at an angular velocity to mix the contents of the aerosol container.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the main body comprises a color.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the main body color comprises an orange color.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the operating the rotational device to rotate the main body comprises rotating the main body at revolutions per minute (RPM) in a range from about 100 RPM to about 1500 RPM.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the shaft comprises one or more supporting ribs attached to the main body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first inside diameter is greater than the second inside diameter.