Shield for mixer

Abstract

A shield for use with a cup is disclosed and comprises a tubular member having first and second open ends, the first end, in use, being disposed in close-fitting relation within the open end of said cup and the second end, in use, projecting out of said cup. The tubular member can have at least two axes for permitting said tubular member to fold into a flattened condition and can be constructed out of a compostable material, sheet material secured upon itself, recyclable plastic material or biodegradable material. The tubular member can be dimensioned such that, in normal use, the portion thereof projecting out of the cup captures substantially all of the splatter produced in the creation of a blended soft serve product.

1 . A shield for use with a cup, said shield comprising a tubular member having first and second open ends, the first end, in use, being disposed in close-fitting relation within the open end of said cup and the second end, in use, projecting out of said cup. 
   
   
       2 . The shield of  claim 1  including having said tubular member constructed out of a compostable material, recyclable plastic material, biodegradable material, food grade materials, or any combinations thereof. 
   
   
       3 . A shield for use with a cup, said shield comprising a tubular member having first and second open ends, the first end, in use, being disposed in close-fitting relation within the open end of the cup and the second end, in use, projecting above the cup, wherein the tubular member is constructed solely out of sheet material secured upon itself. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein said tubular member includes a die cut sheet having ends adapted to mechanically connect with one another to define said tubular member. 
   
   
       7 . The shield of  claim 1  including having the first and second open ends of unequal cross-sectional dimensions. 
   
   
       8 . The shield of  claim 7  including having the tubular member frustoconical and tapering in width from its second to first open end. 
   
   
       9 . The shield of  claim 3  including having the tubular member comprise at least two axes for permitting said tubular member to fold into a flattened condition. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The shield of  claim 1  including having said tubular member constructed from fibrous material, 12 pt. solid bleached sulfite, fibers of cellulosic material, or fiber selected from the group consisting of cotton, hemp, straw, kenaf, sugar cane, corn stalk, flax, jute, coconut husk, coir, sisal and bagasse, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is coated on the inner surface, outer surface, or both inner and out surfaces, with a water resistant agent. 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein, in use, the tubular member projects about 5 cm out of said cup. 
   
   
       19 . The shield of  claim 1  wherein the tubular member is dimensioned such that, in normal use, the portion thereof projecting out of the cup captures substantially all of the splatter produced in the creation of a blended product or a soft serve product. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The shield of  claim 1  including having said tubular member constructed out of sheet material and having at least two axes for permitting said tubular member to fold into a flattened condition. 
   
   
       22 . The shield of  claim 21  wherein, when the tubular member is disposed in said flattened condition, the edge of said tubular member which defines the second end opening is convex and the edge of said tubular member which defines the first end opening is concave. 
   
   
       23 . The shield of  claim 3  including having the first and second open ends of unequal cross-sectional dimensions. 
   
   
       24 . The shield of  claim 3  wherein the tubular member is coated on the inner surface, outer surface, or both inner and outer surfaces, with a water resistant agent. 
   
   
       25 . The shield of  claim 3  wherein, in use, the tubular member projects about 5 cm out of said cup. 
   
   
       26 . The shield of  claim 3  wherein the tubular member is dimensioned such that, in normal use, the portion thereof projecting out of the cup captures substantially all of the splatter produced in the creation of a blended product or a soft serve product. 
   
   
       27 . The shield of  claim 23  including having the tubular member frustoconical and tapering in width from its second to first open end. 
   
   
       29 . The shield of  claim 9  including having the edge of said tubular member which defines the second end opening be convex and the edge of said tubular member which defines the first end opening be concave.