Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for warming and mixing the contents of a closed container, comprising: an open-top housing defining a chamber for receiving a heating fluid, means for heating the fluid, a substantially planar cover for closing the top of said housing, container support means carried by and depending from said cover so as to be disposed within said chamber when said cover is on said housing, said support means including spaced opposed container gripping members mounted for oscillation about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of said cover, said container being gripped therebetween such that it may be oscillated about said axis in said chamber to impart relative motion to the container contents and to oscillate portions of the container with respect to the heating fluid in heating the contents, motor means mounted on said cover, and, linkage means connected thereto and to said container gripping members for oscillating said members and a container gripped thereby.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
An apparatus for warming and mixing the contents of a closed container, comprising: an open-top housing defining a chamber for receiving a heating fluid, means for heating the fluid, a substantially planar cover for closing the top of said housing, container support means carried by and depending from said cover so as to be disposed within said chamber when said cover is on said housing, said support means including spaced opposed container gripping members mounted for oscillation about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of said cover, said container being gripped therebetween such that it may be oscillated about said axis in said chamber to impart relative motion to the container contents and to oscillate portions of the container with respect to the heating fluid in heating the contents, motor means mounted on said cover, and, linkage means connected thereto and to said container gripping members for oscillating said members and a container gripped thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes two standards depending from said cover and said opposed gripping members are rotatably secured to the lower ends of said standards.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said standards carry axially aligned axles, respectively, at the lower ends thereof and said gripping members comprise a disk secured to each said axle, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein one said axle is axially shiftable in its said standard, and means for axially shifting said one axle, thereby to effect gripping and releasing of the containers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 4 including spring means for urging said one axle in a direction to grip a container, and shiftable cam means to urge said one axle in a direction against said spring to release a container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cover is provided with an aperture, and said linkage means extends through said aperture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said gripping members include two discs, one disc rotatably mounted with respect to each standard, each disc adapted to frictionally engage one end portion of the container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 further including: retaining means mounted to the discs and surrounding the container end portions to restrict linear movement of the container perpendicular to the axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein: the retaining means include a plurality of screws anchored to each disc.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 including: spring means continually biasing the discs toward engagement with the end portions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein: the spring means include a coiled spring in compression between one of the discs and its associated standard.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 10 including: quick release means for moving one disc away from the container in opposition to the spring means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the linkage means includes a crank arm mounted with respect to the shaft and extending radially outward therefrom, an elongate follower, and means pivotally connecting the follower to the crank arm and to said disc.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: the oscillatory path of said disc encompasses less than 120° of rotation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the container support means has a release mechanism operable to release the support means from the container.