Hand pump mixer

Abstract

The utility model discloses a hand pump mixer for mixing water-based transparent paint. The hand pump mixer comprises a driving shaft, a paddle assembly and a driving mechanism, a shaft is coupled between the blade assembly and the drive mechanism. The paddle assembly includes a mixing element having a plurality of mixing blades extending from the cover. The drive mechanism includes a cover and a drive sleeve disposed on the shaft, a driven element coupled to the shaft for rotation, and a coupling element disposed between the drive sleeve and the driven element for converting translational movement of the drive sleeve on the shaft into rotational movement of the driven element in the drive sleeve. The shaft and the paddle assembly rotate in a first rotational direction relative to the drive mechanism, and the drive mechanism idles on the shaft in response to translational movement of the drive mechanism away from the paddle assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a hand pump mixer for mixing water-based transparent coatings, and more specifically to a rotary mixing device actuated by a manually applied vertical force. Background Technology

[0002] Topcoat coatings, such as automotive paints, are a class of coatings typically described based on their function and often classified according to the type of formulation and components used. For example, depending on whether a single composition (e.g., a single coating) or two compositions (e.g., a primer plus a clear coat) are used to achieve the final coating, a particular topcoat can be classified as a single-stage coating or a two-stage coating system. Coating compositions are typically described as water-based or solvent-based, depending on the type of carrier used to form the polymer dispersion at the bottom of the coating. Depending on whether a hardener or activator is required to prepare the desired final coating, individual coating compositions are typically classified as single-component (i.e., "1K") or two-component (i.e., "2K") compositions. More specifically, 1K compositions are typically formulated as a single part and are dried / cured after application without the addition of any hardener or activator. In contrast, 2K compositions are typically formulated as two parts, such as a polymer dispersion part (i.e., "part A") and an activator part (i.e., "part B"), which are combined together before or during application to form the final coating composition. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term 2K composition is intended to include multi-component coatings having more than one component.

[0003] The two parts of a 2K composition are typically combined shortly before the resulting coating composition is applied to the substrate. Once combined, the resulting coating composition is thoroughly mixed to homogenize the activator throughout the entire composition to achieve the desired level of coating texture and to ensure uniformity of the deposited coating once applied. The operating parameters for mixing and application can vary considerably depending on the specific chemistry of the coating composition (e.g., acrylates compared to urethanes) and the carrier system used (e.g., water compared to a solvent). Generally, a rapid activation time is desirable to minimize residence time and runoff-related defects. However, a shorter activation time necessitates a correspondingly shorter treatment time for the 2K composition portion during mixing and application, which can be challenging when manually mixing and applying the coating.

[0004] Further challenges arise when processing 2K aqueous compositions. In some instances, such 2K aqueous compositions require relatively greater effort to achieve a homogeneous solution during mixing compared to many solvent-based counterparts, which are being phased out to reduce reliance on volatile solvents. However, processing challenges are often due to the multiphase nature of such 2K compositions. In particular, many aqueous coating compositions are multiphase dispersions prepared by mixing water, polymer dispersions and / or latex, and hydrophobic components (e.g., isocyanates, solvents, etc.). For example, some 2K aqueous coatings are prepared from a first part (i.e., “part A”) as an aqueous dispersion and a second part (i.e., “part B”) as a solvent-based solution containing isocyanates, and may also include a reducing agent containing water and / or organic solvents. During a typical mixing process (i.e., before applying the coating), part B is added to part A, and the resulting mixture is hand-mixed for 1–2 minutes. During mixing, the viscosity of the mixture increases rapidly and reaches its maximum level due to emulsification of hydrophobic components (e.g., isocyanates, hydrophobic additives, and solvents). Unfortunately, this increased viscosity can quickly tire someone manually mixing the composition. Furthermore, even after reaching maximum viscosity, mixing usually needs to continue to ensure a homogeneous mixture of the final coating composition. Additionally, further mixing is typically required during the reduction step when a reducing agent is added to achieve adequate mixing and impart sufficient performance characteristics to the final coating composition. In general, manual mixing for 2-3 minutes (or longer) may be necessary to prepare a suitable 2K waterborne coating composition before application. If the mixing requirements are not met (i.e., insufficient mixing), the properties of the final coating (e.g., coating appearance, such as gloss and texture) will be compromised.

[0005] In small-scale applications, such as in repair applications, 2K waterborne clear coat formulations are typically mixed manually using a stirring rod that moves back and forth and / or in a circular motion within a relatively small container (e.g., a 1-liter bucket) to combine the components and homogenize the clear coat composition before application. This manual mixing process usually requires continuous stirring for several minutes while the mixture develops viscosity and then becomes homogenized, which often leads to rapid fatigue for the person mixing the components. As a result, such 2K waterborne clear coat compositions are often undermixed, which can result in poor finish and / or reduced performance of the prepared coating. Therefore, there is a need in the art for an efficient apparatus for timely and efficient mixing of multi-component waterborne coatings, such as the high-viscosity waterborne 2K compositions detailed above. Utility Model Content

[0006] This section provides a general overview of this disclosure and is not a full disclosure of its entire scope or all its features.

[0007] In one embodiment, this disclosure provides a hand pump mixer for mixing multi-component waterborne coatings. The hand pump mixer includes an elongated drive shaft, a blade assembly, and a drive mechanism. In one form, the shaft extends in an axial direction. The blade assembly may be coupled to a first end of the shaft for rotational motion. The blade assembly may include a cover having a first side and a second side, the second side opposite to the first side and defining a mixture interface for partially covering the water-based clear coating; and a mixing element having a plurality of mixing blades extending from the second side of the cover. The plurality of mixing blades may include a first mixing blade radially separated from the axis of rotation at a first position; and a second mixing blade radially separated from the axis of rotation at a second position. The drive mechanism may include a drive sleeve disposed on the shaft, a driven element disposed in a through-hole formed in the drive sleeve and coupled to the shaft for rotation, and a coupling element disposed between the drive sleeve and the driven element for converting translational motion of the drive sleeve on the shaft into rotational motion of the driven element in the drive sleeve. The shaft and blade assembly rotate relative to the drive mechanism in a first rotational direction in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism toward the blade assembly from an extended position to a retracted position. The drive mechanism idles on the shaft in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism away from the blade assembly from a retracted position to an extended position.

[0008] In another embodiment, this disclosure provides a hand pump mixer for mixing multi-component waterborne coatings. The hand pump mixer includes an elongated drive shaft, a blade assembly, and a drive mechanism. The drive shaft extends in an axial direction. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The blade assembly is coupled to the first end of the shaft for rotational movement. The blade assembly includes a cover having a first side configured to face an external environment and a second side opposite the first side and defining a mixture interface for partially covering the water-based clear coating. The blade assembly further includes a mixing element having a plurality of mixing blades extending from the second side of the cover. The plurality of mixing blades includes a first mixing blade radially separated from an axis of rotation at a first position, a second mixing blade radially separated from the axis of rotation at a second position, and a third mixing blade extending from the second side of the cover along the axis of rotation. The shaft extends through and terminates at a pivot that rotatably supports the blade assembly. The blade assembly further includes one or more first support brackets extending horizontally between the first and third mixing blades, and one or more second support brackets extending horizontally between the second and third mixing blades. The drive mechanism further includes a drive sleeve disposed on a shaft, a driven element disposed in a through-hole formed in the drive sleeve and coupled to the shaft for rotation, and a carrier having a hole configured to receive and securely couple to one end of the sleeve, and an outer surface of the carrier securely seated to a one-way clutch. The drive mechanism further includes a spring disposed in the through-hole of the drive sleeve to actuate the driven element away from the carrier, a knob, and a one-way clutch coupled to the knob and the drive sleeve. The one-way clutch is configured to allow the blade assembly to move in response to a force applied to the knob in a first rotational direction, and to allow the one-way clutch to idle when a force is applied to the knob in an upward direction. Furthermore, the drive mechanism further includes a coupling element disposed between the drive sleeve and the driven element for converting the translational motion of the drive sleeve on the shaft into rotational motion of the driven element in the drive sleeve. The shaft and blade assembly rotate relative to the drive mechanism in the first rotational direction in response to a translational motion of the drive mechanism toward the blade assembly from an extended position to a retracted position. Furthermore, the drive mechanism idles on the shaft in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism away from the blade assembly from a retracted position to an extended position. The coupling element includes a ball bearing disposed in a helical groove and positioned relative to the drive sleeve within the driven element, and a helical groove formed in the inner surface of the drive sleeve.

[0009] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the descriptions and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0010] To better understand this disclosure, its various forms will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an example hand pump mixer used for mixing water-based clear coatings in an extended location;

[0012] Figure 2 It is in the retracted position. Figure 1 Perspective view of a hand pump mixer;

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of the hand pump mixer;

[0014] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism of the hand pump mixer;

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A front view of a first embodiment of the blade assembly;

[0016] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Side view of the blade assembly;

[0017] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the blade assembly;

[0018] Figure 8 This is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the blade assembly; and

[0019] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the blade assembly.

[0020] The accompanying drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit this disclosure, its application, or its use. It should be understood that throughout the accompanying drawings, corresponding reference numerals denote similar or corresponding parts and features.

[0022] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2An example hand pump mixer 100 is provided in this disclosure. The hand pump mixer 100 is configured for mixing and / or agitating water-based clear coatings (not shown). It should be noted that while the intended use of the hand pump mixer 100 is for mixing water-based clear coatings, the hand pump mixer 100 can be used to mix any two or more substances into a homogeneous mixture. In one form, the hand pump mixer 100 is configured to reduce air trapping and suppress splashing of the mixed composition during mixing, reduce mixing time, and / or provide a higher level of homogeneity (when compared to manual hand mixing). The hand pump mixer 100 is configured to... Figure 1 The extended positions shown are Figure 2 The operation involves switching between the retracted positions shown to mix the water-based transparent coating.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 The hand pump mixer 100 provided includes a drive mechanism 102, a shaft 104, and a blade assembly 106. The drive mechanism 102 is rigidly coupled to one end of the shaft 104, and the blade assembly 106 is rigidly coupled to the opposite end of the shaft 104. In response to a downwardly applied force, the drive mechanism 102 is configured to convert a translational motion into a first rotational motion about a vertical axis. This first rotational motion of the drive mechanism 102 causes the shaft 104 and the blade assembly 106 to rotate in a first rotational direction (e.g., counterclockwise) to mix a water-based clear coating. In response to an upwardly applied force, the drive mechanism 102 is configured to convert the translational motion into a second rotational motion. This second rotational motion causes the drive mechanism 102 to rotate in a second rotational direction (e.g., clockwise) as the shaft 104 returns to its extended position. In one embodiment, the drive mechanism 102 freewheels on the shaft 104 when the blade assembly 106 is inserted into the viscous water-based mixture.

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As can be seen, shaft 104 is an elongated drive shaft extending in the axial direction 108. Shaft 104 has a first end 112 and a second end 114. The first end 112 of shaft 104 is coupled to the second end 116 of drive mechanism 102. The second end 114 of shaft 104 is coupled to blade assembly 106. In some embodiments, shaft 104 can be made of any material having sufficient rigidity to rotatably couple drive mechanism 102 to blade assembly 106. For example, shaft 104 can be made of a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, a plastic-like material, or a combination thereof. In this example, shaft 104 is made of stainless steel. In one form, shaft 104 is configured to rotate simultaneously with blade assembly 106 to mix water-based clear coatings. In some forms, shaft 104 and blade assembly 106 are formed as a single unit. In other embodiments, shaft 104 and blade assembly 106 are formed as two or more separate components. The blade assembly 106 is configured to be at least partially immersed in the water-based transparent coating and to thoroughly mix the water-based transparent coating into a homogeneous mixture.

[0025] like Figures 3-4 As best shown, the drive mechanism 102 includes a knob subassembly 200, a driver subassembly 202, and an end cap 204. The knob subassembly 200 and the end cap 204 are fixed to opposite ends of the driver subassembly 202. Furthermore, the driver subassembly 202 is also disposed on at least a portion of the shaft 104 and operatively coupled to at least a portion of the shaft 104. In one embodiment, the knob subassembly 200 is a user interface configured to receive manually applied vertical force and to control the mixing function of the hand pump mixer. Specifically, the knob subassembly 200 is configured for the user to apply a downward axial force that drives the driver subassembly 202 in a downward direction, causing the shaft 104 to retract into the driver subassembly 202 and rotate. The knob subassembly 200 is further configured to allow the driver subassembly 202 to rotate freely in an upward direction relative to the knob subassembly 200 and the shaft 104. End cap 204 is configured to securely surround the second end 116 of drive mechanism 102, while also providing an inlet to shaft 104 for rotary motion operation. Figure 4 As best shown, the end cap 204 includes a through hole 206, which is configured to receive a first end 112 of the shaft 104 and allow the shaft 104 to operate in the rotational direction.

[0026] Special Reference Figure 4 The knob subassembly 200 includes a knob 300, a thrust bearing 302, a carrier 304, and a one-way clutch bearing 306. The knob 300 is shown as a circular handle, which is used by the operator to apply a downward vertical force during operation. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the knob 300 may have other shapes and / or sizes.

[0027] Thrust bearing 302 is disposed between knob 300 and carrier 304 and is configured to reduce any friction between carrier 304 and knob 300 when an operator applies a vertical force to knob 300. Thrust bearing 302 can be any suitable commercial thrust bearing, such as ball thrust bearings or needle roller thrust bearings for low-thrust applications with small axial loads (e.g., less than 400 lbf). In one example, thrust bearing 302 may include a ball thrust bearing with SKU number 51108NTN, or alternatively, needle roller thrust bearings and cage thrust bearings such as AXK 1730 available from SKF.

[0028] The carrier 304 is configured as a coupling mechanism between the one-way clutch bearing 306 and the drive subassembly 202. The carrier 304 includes a flange 308 and a cylinder 310 extending from the flange 308. The diameter of the flange 308 is larger than the diameter of the cylinder 310 and defines a sufficiently flat upper surface 312 configured to support the thrust bearing 302, wherein the thrust bearing 302 is rotatably attached to the upper surface 312 of the flange 308. The cylinder 310 is configured to provide an outer surface 316 configured to receive the one-way clutch bearing 306 such that the one-way clutch bearing 306 abuts against the flange 308.

[0029] The one-way clutch bearing 306 is a one-way drive mechanism configured to drive in a first direction and move freely or idle in a second opposite direction. The outer cage 320 of the one-way clutch bearing 306 is securely coupled to the inner surface 322 of the knob 300. The inner cage 324 of the one-way clutch bearing 306 is securely attached to the cylinder 310 of the carrier 304. The one-way clutch bearing 306 is configured to transmit force from the knob 300 to the shaft 104 via the carrier 304 and the drive sub-assembly 202 in the first rotational direction. In the second rotational direction, the outer cage 320 of the one-way clutch bearing 306 is configured to inhibit movement of the knob 300 while allowing the inner cage 324 of the one-way clutch to idle in the second rotational direction, such that the drive sub-assembly 202 rotates relative to the knob sub-assembly 200 and the shaft 104 via the carrier 304 in the second rotational direction. In one example, the one-way clutch bearing 306 may include an INA (Schaeffler) HF2016-L564 pulled cup clutch bearing.

[0030] The actuator subassembly 202 is configured to receive a downward vertical force from the knob subassembly 200, which causes the shaft 104 to retract upward toward the carrier 304 into the actuator subassembly 202. Furthermore, the actuator subassembly 202 is configured to provide a biasing force that pushes the actuator subassembly 202 in an upward or springback direction, causing the shaft 104 to extend out of the actuator subassembly 202.

[0031] Refer again Figures 3-4 The actuator subassembly 202 includes a drive sleeve 326, a spring 328, a driven element 330, and a coupling element 332. The drive sleeve 326 is configured to protect and house the spring 328, the driven element 330, and the coupling element 332. (See also: Special Reference) Figure 3 The first end 334 of the drive sleeve 326 is positioned and securely coupled to the inner surface 336 of the carrier 304, allowing the drive sleeve 326 to rotate freely together with the carrier 304. The drive sleeve 326 is an elongated tube with a through-hole 338. The through-hole 338 extends to define the length of the drive sleeve 326 of the inner surface 340. The drive sleeve 326 is made of any suitable material that is rigid enough to withstand translational motion that rotates the mixing assembly to mix the water-based transparent coating to a predetermined homogeneity. For example, the drive sleeve 326 can be made of a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, a plastic-like material, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0032] like Figure 4 As best shown, at least a portion of the inner surface 340 of the drive sleeve 326 includes one or more bearing tracks or races 342. In one embodiment, the bearing tracks 342 include a first bearing track 342-1 and a second bearing track 342-2. Each bearing track 342 provides a travel path to guide the driven element 330 along the inner surface 340 of the drive sleeve 326. In one form, each bearing track 342 is a helical groove extending a predetermined number of turns and / or rotating about the inner surface 340 of the drive sleeve 326. For example, each bearing track 342 may extend and rotate 540 degrees about the inner surface 340 of the drive sleeve 326. The degree of rotation is equivalent to the number of rotations the blade assembly 106 is configured to rotate in one direction. However, those skilled in the art will reasonably understand that the length of the bearing track 342 may be adapted for a larger or smaller degree of rotation without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0033] Spring 328 is configured to bias drive sleeve 326 in an upward direction, opposite driven element 330, for pushing shaft 104 out of drive sleeve 326. In this embodiment, spring 328 is disposed within through hole 338 of drive sleeve 326 and positioned between carrier 304 and driven element 330. Although in this example spring 328 is positioned between carrier 304 and driven element 330, those skilled in the art will understand that spring 328 may also be positioned between driven element 330 and end cap 204 without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. As shown, spring 328 is a compression spring. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of springs, such as extension springs, torsion springs, or constant force springs, may be used. When the one-way clutch bearing 306 is engaged (i.e., in the driving direction) and a downward force is applied to the knob 300, the spring 328 is compressed between the flat inner surface of the carrier 304 and the driven element 330, causing the shaft 104 to retract into the drive sleeve 326. In this compressed state, the spring 328 stores energy. When the one-way clutch bearing 306 is idling, the spring 328 expands and moves away from the end cap 204, driving the drive sleeve 326 in an upward direction, causing the shaft 104 to extend out of the drive sleeve 326.

[0034] The driven element 330 is the interface element between the spring 328 and the shaft 104, and is configured to guide the shaft 104 between an extended position and a retracted position, and vice versa. A first end 346 of the driven element 330 is securely engaged to one end of the spring, and a second end 348 of the driven element is independent. Figure 4 As best shown, the driven element 330 has a blind hole 350 extending from the underside of the driven element 330 and defining an inner surface 352. The inner surface 352 is configured to receive a first end 112 of the shaft 104 such that the shaft 104 is rigidly attached to the driven element 330.

[0035] like Figure 3 As best shown, the driven element 330 includes one or more recesses 360 disposed around at least a portion of the outer surface 362 of the driven element 330. In one form, the recesses 360 include a first recess 360-1 and a second recess 360-2, the second recess 360-2 being radially separated from and positioned opposite the first recess 360-1. It should be noted that those skilled in the art will understand that more or fewer than two recesses may be present without departing from the scope and / or spirit of this disclosure.

[0036] like Figure 4As best seen, coupling element 332 includes one or more features between drive sleeve 326 and driven element 330 that cooperate to convert translational motion between drive mechanism 102 into rotational motion of shaft 104. Coupling element 332 is disposed in bearing track 342 between drive sleeve 326 and driven element 330. Coupling element 332 is configured as a mechanism to provide axial movement of drive subassembly 202 when drive subassembly 202 moves from a first end 364 to a second end 366 of bearing track 342, and vice versa. In this example, coupling element 332 may include one or more ball bearings 368 disposed and securely coupled between a recess in driven element 330 and bearing track 342 of drive sleeve 326. Ball bearings 368 include a first ball bearing 368-1 and a second ball bearing 368-2. Ball bearings 368 are configured to slide along each of the bearing tracks 342. Each ball bearing 368 may comprise a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, a plastic-like material, a polymer-like material, or a combination thereof. Those skilled in the art will understand that more or fewer than two ball bearings, bearing races, and / or recesses may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It should be noted that the number of recesses, ball bearings, and helical races is equal to that of each other, such that a ball bearing mates and is disposed between a recess and a bearing race.

[0037] As described and illustrated herein, a one-way clutch bearing 306 is supported between the knob 300 and the drive mechanism 102. When the knob is pressed, the one-way clutch bearing 306 engages the carrier 304 and the drive sleeve 326, thereby rotating the blade assembly 106. If the knob 300 is held during a rebound, the one-way clutch bearing 306 should disengage the carrier 304 and the drive sleeve 326 from the knob 300, allowing these components to rotate in the opposite direction relative to the idle knob 300 and the blade assembly 106. In some instances (e.g., when operating in air or low-viscosity fluids such as water), the blade assembly 106 may rotate in the opposite direction during a rebound due to friction and tolerances in the drive mechanism 102. If all components are smooth and the tolerances are tight, the blade assembly 106 and the knob 300 will remain idle. In higher-viscosity fluids, there is sufficient resistance to the reverse rotation of the blade assembly 106 to overcome the friction and tolerances in the drive mechanism 102. When the drive sleeve 326 is held during the rebound, the one-way clutch bearing 306 is effectively removed from the other components in the drive mechanism 102, and the blade assembly 106 must rotate in the opposite direction so that the driven element 330 returns to the bottom of the drive sleeve 326 in the fully extended position.

[0038] refer to Figure 3 and Figures 5-6The impeller assembly 106 includes a cover 370 and a mixing element 372 extending from the lower surface 376 of the cover 370. The cover 370 and mixing element 372 are shown as a single unit, but may be formed from two or more distinct components firmly coupled together. The cover 370 is configured to suppress splashing during mixing of a water-based clear coat by the impeller assembly 106, and to reduce air trapping within the water-based clear coat. The cover 370 is a disc-shaped component extending radially away from its central axis and may extend around or beyond the width of the mixing element 372. While the cover 370 in this example is disc-shaped, those skilled in the art will understand that the shape of the cover 370 can include any shape, such as a rectangle, square, ellipse, etc. The cover 370 includes a centrally located hole 374 through it. Figure 3 The hole 374 is configured to receive the second end 114 of the shaft 104, which is then rigidly attached to the mixing element 372. The cap 370 can be made of any suitable material with sufficient rigidity and stiffness to prevent splashing as the mixing element 372 agitates the water-based clear coating into a homogeneous mixture. For example, the cap 370 may comprise a plastic-like material, a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, or a combination thereof.

[0039] Mixing element 372 defines a stirring element configured to agitate or mix the components of the water-based transparent coating into a homogeneous mixture. Mixing element 372 may take the form of a paddle agitator, turbine agitator, propeller agitator, anchor agitator, or any combination thereof. Mixing element 372 may comprise a plastic-like material, a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, or a combination thereof. Mixing element 372 may be made of the same material as cap 370, or it may be made of a different material.

[0040] In this embodiment, the mixing element 372 includes a plurality of mixing blades 378 extending from the lower surface 376 of the cover 370. The plurality of mixing blades 378 includes a first mixing blade 378-1, a second mixing blade 378-2, and a third mixing blade 378-3. The first mixing blade 378-1 is radially separated from the axis of rotation 380 at a first position. The second mixing blade 378-2 is radially separated from the axis of rotation 380 at a second position. The third mixing blade 378-3 is positioned along the axis of rotation 380 and spaced apart from the first mixing blade 378-1 and the second mixing blade 378-2 at a third position. An aperture 374 extends through the third mixing blade 378-3 and is configured to receive the second end 114 of the shaft 104. In this way, the shaft 104 extends through the cover 370 and the third mixing blade 378-3 and terminates at a protrusion 382 to define a pivot for rotatably supporting the hand pump mixer 100 in a container having a water-based transparent coating. The bump 382 defines an axial device located at the axis of rotation of the mixing element about which the hand pump mixer 100 rotates and swivels. Although not shown, in some embodiments, a hole 374 extends through a portion of the third mixing blade 378-3, wherein the second end 114 of the shaft 104 is secured within the hole 374 of the mixing blade 378-3. In other embodiments, the bump 382 and the third mixing blade 378-3 are formed as a single unit. A fillet 384 securely binds each mixing blade 378 to the cover 370 and is configured to round the outer corner between the cover and the corresponding mixing blade 378.

[0041] The mixing element 372 includes one or more crossbars 386. In this example, the mixing element 372 includes a first crossbar 386-1, a second crossbar 386-2, a third crossbar 386-3, and a fourth crossbar 386-4. Each crossbar 386 is configured to connect at least two of the plurality of mixing blades 378 to each other and to provide support and stability to the mixing element 372 when the blade assembly 106 agitates the water-based clear coating. The first crossbar 386-1 and the second crossbar 386-2 extend between the first mixing blade 378-1 and the third mixing blade 378-3, respectively. The third crossbar 386-3 and the fourth crossbar 386-4 extend between the second mixing blade 378-2 and the third mixing blade 378-3, respectively. While this example provides four crossbars 386, those skilled in the art will understand that more or fewer crossbars 386 may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0042] Figures 7-9An alternative embodiment of the blade assembly 106 is shown, wherein the blade assembly 106 further includes one or more panels 388 extending between the mixing blades 378. In one embodiment, the one or more panels 388 include a first panel 388-1 extending between a first mixing blade 378-1 and a third mixing blade 378-3, and a second panel 388-2 extending between a second mixing blade 378-2 and a third mixing blade 378-3.

[0043] In some forms, panel 388 is a solid panel, such as... Figure 7 As best shown in the image. In another form, panel 388 has one or more perforations 390 formed therethrough, such as... Figure 8 and Figure 9 As best shown in the image. All perforations 390 can have the same size. Figure 8 and Figure 9 The perforation 390 may be of one or more different sizes (not shown). The perforation 390 is configured to increase the thorough mixing of the water-based transparent coating over time, thereby improving the optical characteristics and performance metrics of the water-based transparent coating. For example, optical characteristics may include haze, hardness, pop rating, etc. The panel 388 may be made of a metal-like material, a metal-like alloy material, a plastic-like material, a textile-like material, a glass-like material, etc.

[0044] The description in this disclosure is merely exemplary in nature, and therefore, variations that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this disclosure are intended to fall within its scope. Such variations should not be considered as departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A hand pump mixer characterized by, The hand pump mixer includes: A slender drive shaft extending in the axial direction; The drive mechanism includes: A drive sleeve, which is mounted on the shaft; A driven element, wherein the driven element is disposed in a through-hole formed in the drive sleeve and coupled to the shaft for rotation; and A coupling element, disposed between the drive sleeve and the driven element, for converting the translational motion of the drive sleeve on the shaft into the rotational motion of the driven element within the drive sleeve; and A blade assembly coupled to a first end of the shaft for rotational motion, wherein the blade assembly includes: A cover having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite to the first side and defining a mixture interface for partially covering a water-based transparent coating; A mixing element having a plurality of mixing blades extending from the second side of the cover, the plurality of mixing blades comprising: A first mixing blade, the first mixing blade being radially separated from the axis of rotation at a first position; and The second mixing blade is radially separated from the axis of rotation at a second position; A protrusion is centrally disposed on the end of the blade assembly opposite the cover to define a pivot for supporting the blade assembly. The shaft and the blade assembly rotate relative to the drive mechanism in a first rotational direction in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism toward the blade assembly from an extended position to a retracted position, and the drive mechanism idles on the shaft in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism away from the blade assembly from the retracted position to the extended position.

2. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein The cover has a disc shape configured to suppress splashing and reduce air trapping within the water-based transparent coating when the blade assembly moves in the first rotational direction, wherein the shaft extends through the cover, and the cover has configured holes.

3. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein, The drive mechanism further includes a knob and a one-way clutch operably coupled between the knob and the drive sleeve, wherein the one-way clutch is configured to allow the blade assembly to move in response to a force applied to the knob in the first rotational direction, and to allow the one-way clutch to idle when a force is applied to the knob in an upward direction.

4. The hand pump mixer of claim 3, wherein, The drive mechanism further includes a thrust bearing disposed between the knob and the sleeve, wherein the thrust bearing is configured to facilitate rotational movement between the knob and the shaft during the translational movement and freewheeling movement between the knob and the one-way clutch.

5. The hand pump mixer of claim 3, wherein, The drive mechanism further includes a carrier having a hole configured to receive and securely couple to one end of the sleeve, and the outer surface of the carrier is securely mounted to the one-way clutch.

6. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein, The coupling element further includes: A helical groove, the helical groove being formed in the inner surface of the drive sleeve; and A ball bearing is disposed in the helical groove and positioned within the driven element relative to the drive sleeve.

7. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein, The drive mechanism further includes: A cap, the cap being disposed on the drive sleeve opposite the shaft; and A spring is disposed in the through hole of the drive sleeve to push the driven element away from the cap.

8. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein, The blade assembly further includes a third mixing blade extending from the second side of the cover along the axis of rotation, wherein a portion of the axis extends through the third mixing blade to form the bump.

9. The hand pump mixer of claim 1, wherein, The blade assembly further includes at least one of the following: A solid panel extending between the first and second hybrid blades; or A panel having one or more perforations formed therein and extending between the first and second mixing blades.

10. A hand pump mixer characterized by, The hand pump mixer includes: A slender drive shaft extending in the axial direction; The drive mechanism includes components operably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the drive mechanism includes: A drive sleeve, which is mounted on the shaft; A driven element is disposed in a through hole formed in the drive sleeve and coupled to the shaft for rotation; A carrier having a hole configured to receive and securely couple to one end of the sleeve, and the outer surface of the carrier being securely mounted to a one-way clutch; A spring is disposed in the through hole of the drive sleeve to push the driven element away from the carrier; Knob; and A one-way clutch, coupled to the knob and the drive sleeve, wherein the one-way clutch is configured to allow the blade assembly to move in response to a force applied to the knob in a first rotational direction, and to allow the one-way clutch to idle when a force is applied to the knob in an upward direction; and A coupling element, disposed between the drive sleeve and the driven element, for converting the translational motion of the drive sleeve on the shaft into the rotational motion of the driven element within the drive sleeve, wherein the coupling element includes a helical groove formed in the inner surface of the drive sleeve and a ball bearing disposed in the helical groove and positioned relative to the drive sleeve within the driven element; and A blade assembly, the blade assembly being disposed on the shaft opposite to the drive mechanism, wherein the blade assembly includes: The cover has a first side configured to face the external environment and a second side opposite the first side and defining a mixture interface for partially covering the water-based transparent coating; A mixing element having a plurality of mixing blades extending from the second side of the cover, the plurality of mixing blades comprising: A first mixing blade, the first mixing blade being radially separated from the axis of rotation at a first position; and The second mixing blade is radially separated from the axis of rotation at a second position; A third mixing blade extends from the second side of the cover along the axis of rotation; A protrusion is centrally disposed on the end of the blade assembly opposite the cover to define a pivot for supporting the blade assembly. One or more first support brackets extend horizontally between the first mixing blade and the third mixing blade; and One or more second support brackets extend horizontally between the second mixing blade and the third mixing blade; The shaft and the blade assembly rotate relative to the drive mechanism in a first rotational direction in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism toward the blade assembly from an extended position to a retracted position, and the drive mechanism idles on the shaft in response to a translational movement of the drive mechanism away from the blade assembly from the retracted position to the extended position.

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