How Early Industrial Food Mixers Used Planetary Gear Systems
A 1918 patent for a heavy-duty industrial mixing machine that used a specific gear arrangement to rotate a beater while simultaneously moving it around the bowl.
Original patent title: “Mixing-machine.”
A 1918 patent for a heavy-duty industrial mixing machine that used a specific gear arrangement to rotate a beater while simultaneously moving it around the bowl. Granted to Hobart Manfacturing Co in 1918 with 19 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a mechanical mixing apparatus designed for commercial kitchens. It utilizes a planetary gear system where the mixing tool rotates on its own axis while also revolving around the center of the mixing bowl. This dual-motion design ensures that the beater reaches all areas of the bowl, providing a more thorough and consistent mix than a single-axis mixer. The mechanism relies on a specific arrangement of drive shafts and gears housed within the mixer head to translate motor power into this complex orbital movement.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover hand-operated kitchen whisks or manual egg beaters.
- Does not cover mixers that use a single fixed-axis rotation without planetary motion.
- Does not cover electronic speed control or digital automation features.
- Does not cover mixing bowls that rotate independently of the planetary beater head.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in the planetary gear configuration, which forces the beater to trace a complex path that covers the entire bowl volume, preventing dead zones where ingredients might remain unmixed.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Hobart commercial stand mixers
KitchenAid stand mixers
Professional bakery dough mixers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This design became the blueprint for the modern stand mixer. By enabling consistent, high-volume mixing, it transformed commercial baking and food preparation in the early 20th century. Hobart Manufacturing, now part of ITW, established a dominant position in the professional kitchen equipment market based on these robust mechanical designs.
Filed
March 1, 1915
Granted
April 23, 1918
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Hobart (now a division of ITW) continues to refine these designs for industrial use. KitchenAid, which originated from Hobart's consumer division, remains the primary entity applying these planetary mixing principles to the home appliance market.
Market impact
This patent helped standardize the planetary mixer as the essential tool for professional bakeries and kitchens. It effectively created a high-barrier-to-entry category for industrial kitchen equipment, forcing competitors to develop alternative mechanical solutions or licenselicensePermission from the patent owner to make, use, or sell the invention — usually in exchange for payment. Doesn't transfer ownership.Read more → similar gear-driven designs.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a mechanical mixing apparatus designed for commercial kitchens. It utilizes a planetary gear system where the mixing tool rotates on its own axis while also revolving around the center of the mixing bowl. This dual-motion design ensures that the beater reaches all areas of the bowl, providing a more thorough and consistent mix than a single-axis mixer. The mechanism relies on a specific arrangement of drive shafts and gears housed within the mixer head to translate motor power into this complex orbital movement.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in the planetary gear configuration, which forces the beater to trace a complex path that covers the entire bowl volume, preventing dead zones where ingredients might remain unmixed.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover hand-operated kitchen whisks or manual egg beaters.
- Does not cover mixers that use a single fixed-axis rotation without planetary motion.
- Does not cover electronic speed control or digital automation features.
- Does not cover mixing bowls that rotate independently of the planetary beater head.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$8K – $26K
Midpoint $16K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Rataiczak, T. F., & Johnston, H. L. (1918). How Early Industrial Food Mixers Used Planetary Gear Systems (U.S. Patent No. 1,264,128). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1264128/stand-mixer-kitchenaid-johnston
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Early Industrial Food Mixers Used Planetary Gear Systems cover?
A 1918 patent for a heavy-duty industrial mixing machine that used a specific gear arrangement to rotate a beater while simultaneously moving it around the bowl.
Who owns patent US 1264128?
Hobart Manfacturing Co owns this patent, granted in 1918.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 1264128 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 19 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This design became the blueprint for the modern stand mixer. By enabling consistent, high-volume mixing, it transformed commercial baking and food preparation in the early 20th century. Hobart Manufacturing, now part of ITW, established a dominant position in the professional kitchen equipment market based on these robust mechanical designs.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover hand-operated kitchen whisks or manual egg beaters.
Patent monitoring