Mixing paddle

Abstract

A mixing paddle specifically designed to produce pastry dough is disclosed. The mixing paddle is comprised of a collar, a rim, and a plurality of parallel blades enclosed within the rim. An axis from the collar to a bottom of the mixing paddle bisects the rim, creating a first side and a second side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pastry paddle for use with an electric mixer comprising:
 a collar, defining an axis about which the pastry paddle rotates;   a continuous peripheral rim attached to the collar; wherein the continuous peripheral rim and the collar are joined together at a junction, with the collar being outside the continuous peripheral rim, wherein the continuous peripheral rim includes a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side about the axis, and which meet at a bottom of the pastry paddle on the axis;   a plurality of blades disposed within the continuous peripheral rim, wherein at least one end of each blade in the plurality of blades is attached directly to the continuous peripheral rim, and each blade of the plurality of blades is parallel with one another, wherein the continuous peripheral rim completely surrounds and encloses the totality of blades.   
     
     
         2 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades is attached at the at least one end to the first side of the peripheral continuous rim and extend toward the second side of the peripheral continuous rim. 
     
     
         3 . The pastry paddle of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of blades are perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising a central shaft that extends along the axis from the junction toward the bottom of the pastry paddle. 
     
     
         5 . The pastry paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the central shaft extends to the bottom of the pastry paddle where the first and second sides of the peripheral continuous rim meet. 
     
     
         6 . The pastry paddle of  claim 4 , wherein each blade of the plurality of blades is further attached to the central shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The pastry paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the central shaft is a compound shaft having a frustoconical member that extends from the junction to a spine that continues from a bottom of the frustoconical member to the bottom of the pastry paddle along the axis. 
     
     
         8 . The pastry paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of blades is a first plurality of blades, disposed between the central shaft and the first side of the peripheral continuous rim, the pastry paddle further comprises a second plurality of blades disposed between the central shaft and the second side of the peripheral continuous rim, wherein each blade of the second plurality of blades is parallel with one another and not parallel with the first plurality of blades. 
     
     
         9 . The pastry paddle of  claim 8 , wherein the first plurality of blades and the second plurality of blades are perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The pastry paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality of blades are perpendicular to the axis and a second plurality of blades are parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1  wherein the continuous peripheral rim is formed from piece-wise members. 
     
     
         12 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous peripheral rim is contoured so as to conform to the sides of a standard mixing bowl. 
     
     
         13 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous peripheral rim is symmetrical about the axis. 
     
     
         14 . The pastry paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous peripheral rim has the shape of a scutiform. 
     
     
         15 . A mixing paddle for use with an electric mixer comprising:
 a collar, defining an axis about which the mixing paddle rotates;   a continuous peripheral rim attached to the collar; wherein the continuous peripheral rim and the collar are joined together at a junction, with the collar being outside the continuous peripheral rim, wherein the continuous peripheral rim includes a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side about the axis, and which meet at a bottom of the mixing paddle on the axis;   a plurality of blades disposed within the continuous peripheral rim, wherein at least one end of each blade in the plurality of blades is attached directly to the continuous peripheral rim, and each blade of the plurality of blades is parallel with one another and uniformly spaced from each other, wherein the continuous peripheral rim completely surrounds and encloses the totality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of blades is attached at the at least one end to the first side of the peripheral continuous rim and extend toward the second side of the peripheral continuous rim.   
     
     
         16 . The mixing paddle of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of blades are perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         17 . The mixing paddle of  claim 5 , further comprising a central shaft that extends along the axis from the junction toward the bottom of the mixing paddle. 
     
     
         18 . The mixing paddle of  claim 17 , wherein the central shaft extends to the bottom of the mixing where the first and second sides of the peripheral continuous rim meet. 
     
     
         19 . The mixing paddle of  claim 17 , wherein each blade of the plurality of blades is further attached to the central shaft. 
     
     
         20 . The mixing paddle of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of blades is a first plurality of blades, disposed between the central shaft and the first side of the peripheral continuous rim, the mixing paddle further comprises a second plurality of blades disposed between the central shaft and the second side of the peripheral continuous rim, wherein each blade of the second plurality of blades is parallel with one another and not parallel with the first plurality of blades.