Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: John C. Sterpin, of 14 Canterbury Street, Mornington, Victoria 3931, AUSTRALIA Actual Inventor: John C. Sterpin Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, of 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia Invention Title: "An apparatus to measure liquid mixing amounts" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2003904021 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us. Q:\OPER\LKA\12479860 completc.doc - 2/8/04 P:OPER\LKA\ 2479860 capdoc-02/08/04 - 1A An apparatus to measure liquid mixing amounts Field of the invention 5 The present invention relates to the measurement of liquids that are to be mixed. In particular the measurement of liquids that are to be mixed in a fixed ratio by sequentially adding the liquids to a mixing container. Background 10 There are numerous ways to accurately measure a fixed ratio of liquids. One way is to sequentially add each liquid to a single container. This can be achieved, for example, by measuring each liquid before addition. However this method often creates large numbers of containers that either need to be cleaned or a large 15 amount of disposed containers. An alternative is to measure the amounts of the liquid whilst adding each liquid. This has been achieved by including volume measurements on the container so that a person mixing the liquids can see how much liquid they have added to the 20 container. However this still requires a person to calculate the amount of each liquid required. Another measuring container includes several mixing ratio pyramids that indicate the amount of subsequent liquids given a set amount of initial liquid. Alternatively, 25 an insert may be inserted into a container so as to indicate the amount of subsequent liquids given a set amount of initial liquid. It is a feature of all the above that only set amounts of liquid can be prepared. Consequently, there is often an amount of liquid left over and is discarded. This 30 may be expensive and not friendly to the environment.
P:\OPER\LKAkI247986O pg 23 doc.10/9/2009 -2 By way of example in the spray painting industry it is important that the correct proportions of base paint, hardener and thinner are mixed. Typically special containers that allow a set amount of mixed paint to be made are used. However, 5 the set amounts is rarely equal to the amount required and it is often the case that there is an amount of mixed paint which is not used during the spray painting process. This residual mixed paint must be discarded and this is both potentially expensive and environmentally unfriendly. 10 Summary of the invention It is therefore desirable to provide an apparatus that provides an indication of the amount of subsequent liquid required according to a desired mixing ratio given any amount of initial liquid in the container. 15 Accordingly in one aspect, the present invention is an apparatus for indicating the amounts of at least two liquids to be mixed in a mixing container in at least one mixing ratio including a dipstick having at least two fill lines each corresponding to a respective liquid and at least one indicating line represented thereon; said fill 20 lines and indicating line(s) extending a distance corresponding to substantially the depth of the mixing container, whereby the juxtaposition of each fill line provides for determination of the relative amounts of said liquids required to achieve a corresponding selected mixing ratio by reference to said indicating line. 25 That is, the indicating line crosses the filling line so that in a sequentially additive mixing process the amounts of each subsequent liquid to be added are shown by the intersection of the indicating line and the respective filling line for each liquid. In one embodiment, the dipstick is at least semi transparent. In another 30 embodiment the dipstick includes a sleeve. The sleeve has either the fill lines or the indicating lines marked thereon, so that the sleeve can be moved to obtain a P:OPER\LKA\2479860 pg 2 3 doc-10/9/2009 -3 selected intersection between one of the fill lines and one of the indicating lines. In another aspect the invention is an apparatus for indicating the amounts of at least two liquids to be mixed in a mixing container in at least one mixing ratio, the 5 mixing container having at least two fill lines each corresponding to a respective liquid and at least one indicating line represented thereon; said fill lines and indicating line(s) extending a distance corresponding to substantially the depth of the mixing container, whereby the juxtaposition of each fill line provides for determination of the relative amounts of said liquids required to achieve a 10 corresponding selected mixing ratio by reference to said indicating line. In one embodiment the mixing container consists of an inner container and an outer container. Preferably, the fill lines are marked on either the inner or outer container with the indicating line(s) on the other container. More preferably, the 15 inner container is capable of being nested within the outer container. In another embodiment, the mixing container is a container having a sleeve closely surrounding the container. Preferably the container has one of the fill lines and the indicating line(s) marked thereon and the sleeve has the other line(s) marked 20 thereon, so that the sleeve can be moved to obtain a visual intersection between one of the fill lines and an indicating line. The sleeve may be of any suitable material and is movable relative to the mixing container. The movement may be rotation or sliding. 25 Preferably the respective indicating lines indicate the ratio of 2:1, 3:1, 4:1 or 5.1 however lines corresponding to any desired ratio can be possible. More preferably the apparatus also includes a percentage fill line. Preferably the percentage is 5%, 10% or 15% by volume of the at least two liquids to be mixed. Even more 30 preferably the liquids to be mixed are for use in spray painting.
P:)PER\LKA\12479860 ap.doc-02/08/04 -4 Detailed Description Some of the embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings: 5 Figure 1 - A dipstick according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 1A - A dipstick according to one embodiment of the invention with a first liquid indicated. Figure 2 - A dipstick according to one embodiment of the invention. 10 Figure 2A - A dipstick according to one embodiment of the invention with a first liquid indicated. Figure 3A - An inner mixing container according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 3B - An outer container according to one embodiment of the invention. 15 Figure 4 - The inner and outer containers according to one embodiment of the invention. Figure 5 - A dipstick according to another embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 - A sleeve used with the dipstick of Figure 5. 20 Referring to figure 1 and figure 1A, the dipstick 10 is elongate and has an insertion end 14 and a handling end 15. The dipstick 10 has a filling line 11 corresponding to a first liquid, a filling line 12 corresponding to a second liquid and a percentage filling line 13 corresponding to a third liquid. Although not completely shown these lines extend substantially the length of the dipstick from the insertion end 14 to the 25 handling end 15. These lines may be a single continuous line or broken into at least two separate lines. If broken into at least two separate lines, the broken lines would form a continuous line if connected. Also included are several indicating lines 16. An indication of the mixing ratio that can be achieved using the dipstick is provided near the handling end 15. 30 P:\OPER\LKA\l2479860 cp.doc-02/08/04 -5 The dipstick shown in figure 1 is used by dipping it into a mixing container either before or after a first liquid is added to the mixing container as shown in figure 1A. The dipstick is inserted into the mixing container until the insertion end 14 of the dipstick is touching the base of the mixing container. The amount of first liquid 17 5 can be determined by removing the dipstick from the mixing container and locating the intersection 19 of the first fill line 18 and the first liquid 17. Alternatively, the amount of first liquid 17 can be determined by leaving the dipstick in the container and locating the intersection 19 of the first fill line 18 and the first liquid 17. 10 The amount of second liquid is determined in the case of the dipstick in figure 1A using the indicating lines 20. A position on the second fill line 21 corresponding to the intersection of the first fill line 18 and the first liquid 17, is established by moving parallel to the fill lines 20. If the intersection corresponds to a fill line 20 then that fill line 20 is followed to its intersection with the second fill line 21 to find 15 the corresponding position. Otherwise some interpolation is required. The second liquid 22 is then added until the level in the container reaches the intersection 23 of the second fill line 21 and the indicating line 20. If a third or subsequent liquid is required then this process can be repeated so that a mixture of the desired ratio or percentage is measured. 20 Referring to figure 2 and figure 2A, the dipstick 40 is cylindrical and at least semi transparent and has a leading end 41 and an insertion end 42. The dipstick 40 has a filling line 43 corresponding to a first liquid, a filling line 44 corresponding to a second liquid and a percentage filling line 45 corresponding to a third liquid 25 formed on the outer surface. These lines may be a single continuous line or broken into at least two separate lines. If broken into at least two separate lines, the broken lines would form a continuous line if connected. Also included is an indicating line 46. The indicating line 46 is formed internally of the dipstick so that it can be viewed from any angle. The indicating line 46 can be provided by a small 30 axial passage filled or at least partially coated with a material of contrasting colour. An indication of the mixing ratio that can be achieved using the dipstick is provided P:OPER\LKA\12479860 cap.doc-02/08/04 -6 near the handling end 42. The dipstick shown in figure 2 is used by dipping it into a mixing container either before or after a first liquid is added to the mixing container as shown in figure 2A. 5 The dipstick is inserted into the mixing container until the insertion end 41 of the dipstick is touching the base of the mixing container. The amount of first liquid 47 can be determined by removing the dipstick from the mixing container and locating the intersection 49 of the first fill line 48 and the first liquid 47. Alternatively, the amount of first liquid 47 can be determined by leaving the dipstick in the container 10 and locating the intersection 49 of the first fill line 48 and the first liquid 47. The amount of second liquid is determined in the case of the dipstick in figure 2A by following the indicating line 46, from the intersection with the intersection 49 of the first fill line 48 and the first liquid 47, to the second fill line 50. It will be 15 appreciated that by rotating the dipstick around its axis, or changing the viewing position, the filling line 46 can be aligned with the intersection 49. The second liquid 51 is then added until the level in the container reaches the intersection 52 of the second fill line 50 and the indicating line 46. If a third or subsequent liquid is required then this process can be repeated so that a mixture of the desired ratio is 20 measured. Figure 3A, 3B and 4 show another embodiment of the invention with an inner cup 60 and an outer cup 61. The inner cup 60 fits into the outer cup 61 as shown in figure 4. The inner cup 60 has filling lines 62, one for each liquid. The outer cup 25 as at least one indicating line 63 and may also include a handle 64 for ease of handling. Each indicating line 63 may be associated with a different mixing ratio. If a proportion, for example 10% is required as a final liquid there may also be included proportion lines 65.
P:OPER\LKA\I2479860 p.doc.-02/0804 -7 The filling lines 62, indicating lines 63 and any proportion lines 65 may be printed onto the inner cup 60 and outer cup 61, formed integral with the inner cup 60 and outer cup 61 or otherwise associated with the inner cup 60 and outer cup 61. 5 A first liquid is added to the inner cup 60, which may or may not be within the outer cup 61. The amount of second liquid is determined by rotating the outer cup 61 around the inner cup 60 such that the indicating line 63, that refers to the desired ratio, intersects 66 the first fill line 64 at the level of the first liquid 67 in the inner cup 60. The second liquid can then be added to the intersection 68 of the 10 indicating line 63 and the second liquid filling line 69. The amount of final proportion liquid is determined by following the proportion lines 65 from the intersection 68 of the previous fill line 69 and the indicating line 63 to the last fill line 70. 15 It is noted that the filling lines 62 and indicating lines 63 may be on the alternative cup to that shown in figures 3A, 3B and 4. It is also noted that a similar marking to that of the dipsticks may be applied to a single cup. 20 It is also noted that the mixing container or dipstick may also have a sleeve. The sleeve may have one of or both the fill lines and the indicating lines marked thereon. The sleeve may be of any suitable material and is movable relative to the mixing container or dipstick. The movement may be rotational or sliding. 25 Figures 5 and 6 show a modification of the dipstick of Figure 2 to incorporate a sleeve 80. The same reference numbers are used to identify corresponding features. The dipstick 40 shown in Figure 5 is generally the same as shown in Figure 2 except that the indicating line 46 is not used. 30 P:\OPER\LKA\12479860 cap.doc-02/08/04 -8 Figure 6 shows a transparent hollow sleeve 80 which snugly fits over cylindrical dipstick 40. Sleeve 80 has indicating lines 81, 82 respectively corresponding to mixing ratios of 2:1 and 3:1. The dipstick 40 of Figure 5 fitted with sleeve 80 is used in a similar manner as the inner cup and outer cup embodiment described 5 with reference to Figures 3A, 3B and 4. That is the sleeve 80 is rotated to position the selected indicating line 81, 82 at the intersection of the liquid and the first fill line 43. The foregoing describes only certain embodiments of the present invention and 10 modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.