Abstract: Power lock tool retention apparatus for a food processor includes at least one flattened section on the drive shaft with an associated horizontal notch. A socket extending downwardly on the inside of the rotary tool hub is placed onto this drive shaft during manual installation of the tool so that rotation of the shaft will cause the tool to be rotated. At least one horizontal lip is provided in the socket at an elevation to become aligned with the notch on the drive shaft when the hub has been slid down vertically into its operating position on the shaft. The socket configuration is complementary to, but slightly different from, the flattened configuration of the drive shaft in order to permit a small amount of relative angular movement between the shaft and hub when the shaft commences to rotate.

Abstract: A rotary food processing tool has an elongated upright hub rotatable about a vertical axis with sockets in its upper and lower ends. Each socket has inclined grooves, and the elongated hub is adapted to be driven from a motor drive unit mounted on top of the bowl having a drive shaft extending downwardly. The elongated hub carries blades extending outwardly from the axis for processing food near the bottom of the bowl. A spindle having a plurality of protrusions for mating with the inclined grooves in the upper hub socket is mounted for rotation on the drive shaft. A vertical stationary guide post extends upwardly from the bottom of the bowl. Upon actuation of the motor drive, the elongated hub is lifted upwardly by the screw action of the drive spindle in the upper socket of the hub, while the lower socket remains encircling the guide post for aligning and stabilizing rotation of the elevated hub.

Abstract: A cover is manually releasably locked to the base of a storage container for protecting the contents of the container from accidentally or inadvertently opening even on dropping. A forked member is mounted on the cover having tongues with eyelets extending downwardly therefrom which fit into a latch housing in the base which contains slots for receiving the eyelet tongues. A slidable actuator is movably mounted in the latch housing which housing includes a first and second latch which are adapted to engage the eyelets of the tongues of the stem when the cover is closed on the container.

Abstract: A rotary food processor tool storage container is provided for storing and protecting specially configured food processor tools and accessories, and more particularly, a metal blade, a dough blade, and a detachable stem for removable head disc-type tools. It includes an upstanding enclosed hollow base having an inclined support with first and second sloping side-by-side pockets separated by an upstanding partition with the first pocket adapted to store a metal blade rotary tool and the second pocket adapted to store a dough blade rotary food processing tool. The partition laterally separates the pockets and prevents the metal blade from coming into contact with the dough blade. The inclined support includes an elevated support positioned above the first and second pockets which has an open channel therein extending downwardly into the hollow base which is adapted to receive and support therein a detachable stem from a rotary food processing tool.

Abstract: A friction braking system located entirely inside an induction motor of an appliance quickly stops rotation of the rotor in the appliance motor, for example such as a food processor, whenever the A.C. electrical power is turned off. Thus, rotation of any tool being operated in the appliance is quickly stopped, whenever the electrical power is interrupted. The rotor in the induction motor is axially slidably mounted on the motor shaft and is keyed to the shaft for permitting axial shifting displacement of the rotor relative to the stator while preventing any angular displacement of the rotor relative to the shaft. Consequently, the rotor and shaft always turn and stop as a function unit. A friction brake lining is affixed within the motor housing offset from the axis of the motor shaft as far as practicable. A disc brake mounted onto the rotor has an annular friction braking surface positioned for engagement against the brake lining.

Abstract: An invertible/reversible tool for use in a rotary food processing appliance is provided for performing predetermined processing operations in a first position and other predetermined operations in a second upside down position in a working bowl, which bowl contains a drive shaft for rotating the tool about a vertical axis in the bowl. The tool has an elongated hub with first and second sockets positioned on opposite ends adapted to engage the drive shaft for rotating the elongated hub in different directions depending on which socket is engaging the drive. Raised ridge keyways extending vertically for at least more than half the length of the elongated hub are provided to provide a positive driving relationship between the elongated hub and an encircling blade hub which carries reversible blades extending outwardly relative to the axis of rotation from opposite sides of the blade hub.

Abstract: A salad spinner dryer attachment is provided for a food processor having a base housing containing an electrical motor drive with a deck located on top of the base housing for removably mounting a working bowl thereon in predetermined engaged fixed position and having a tool drive shaft projecting vertically above the deck which drive shaft is rotatable by the motor drive at a first rotational speed around a main vertical axis of rotation. The attachement has an upstanding auxiliary bowl removably mountable upon the deck in place of the working bowl in the predetermined engaged fixed position. This auxiliary bowl has an uninterrupted side wall and a bottom trough for catching and holding any water which drains down its inside surface. A slotted basket is rotatably mountable in the auxiliary bowl to rotate around the main vertical axis at a second rotational speed substantially less than the first rotational speed of the tool drive shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapt a beater/whipper unit to be used in food processor bowls of varying diameter which have upstanding side walls wherein a revolving head of the beater/whipper unit is mountable on an upstanding central well of each working bowl. The revolving head carries a pair of closely spaced counter-rotating beaters which extend downwardly from the revolving head toward the bottom of the bowl so that the beaters are revolved around the central well by the revolving head. A deflector blade having an inclined front surface is detachably mounted on the revolving head when the beater unit is intended to be used on a working bowl having an upstanding side wall of a first predetermined large diameter. The deflector blade is inclined radially inwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the revolving head for deflecting ingredients in the bowl inward from the side wall toward the counter-rotating beaters.

Abstract: A bowl extender-actuator-and-adapter support has larger upper and smaller lower annular channel members separated by an intermediate shelf and is adapted to be mounted on the bowl of a food processor wth the lower channel member extending down into the bowl and is terminated at its lower end in a spider support web having a central opening in alignment with the rotary drive of the food processor extending up into the bowl. A plurality of radially spaced support ribs below the intermediate shelf define a plurality of mounting steps for enabling this adapter support to be mounted upon food processor bowls of various sizes. An actuator on the shelf extends downwardly outside of the bowl for activating the interlock switch of the food processor.

Abstract: A 220 Volt electric outlet is conveniently provided in a kitchen without requiring an electrician. The control switch for a heater element in an electric kitchen range is turned "OFF". This heater element is lifted from its well and unplugged or disconnected from the 220 Volt terminals normally energizing it. An adapter with an attractive cover for this well carries a centrally located 220 Volt outlet with electrical conductors extending downwardly and laterally to be connected to the supply terminals in the heater well. The adapter cover has a peripheral skirt which seats down flush against the top of the range. The 220 Volt outlet is accessible to the user from the top of the electric range conveniently available for supplying power to appliances which desirably would utilize more power than is available from a 110 Volt outlet, particularly heating and cooking appliances. For use the control switch is turned to "HIGH" for the heater well employed with this 220 Volt outlet adapter.

Abstract: A safety switch for automatically interrupting a circuit when its main contacts are fused or stuck together in the "ON" position comprises a housing containing a pair of main contacts and auxiliary safety contacts which are normally closed but are automatically opened when the main contacts fuse together. One main contact is an "ON" contact, and the other main contact is carried by a movable switch arm. A first spring in the housing mechanically coupled to the movable switch arm normally urges the movable main contact into open position away from the engagement with the ON contact. Switch operating means include a movable actuator to overcome the biasing force of the spring for moving the movable main contact to closed position into engagement with the ON main contact for energizing a circuit controlled by the main contacts.

Abstract: A switch for providing a safety function when its main contacts are fused or stuck together in the "ON" position, comprising a housing containing a pair of main contacts, one being designated an ON contact, and the other main contact being carried by a movable switch arm in the housing. This switch arm has a first end which carries the movable main contact and a second end, and spring means mechanically coupled to the movable switch arm normally bias the movable main contact toward open position away from engagement with the ON contact. Switch operating means including movable actuator means overcome the biasing force of the spring means for moving the movable main contact to closed position into engagement with the ON main contact.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for quickly and effectively grinding kernels of grain, such as wheat or corn, coffee beans, and the like, in a food processor producing a finely divided or flour-like consistency food product or condiment. Nutritious home-ground whole-grain flour can be conveniently and quickly made. The kernels, grains, beans, or other food products to be ground are introduced into a hopper positioned above the bowl of the food processor and located above a grinder assembly including a downwardly converging then diverging stator grinding member which encircles a rapidly rotating rotor grinding member having a vertical axis of rotation and being positioned within the stator member. This rotor grinding member is coupled to the vertical tool shaft of the food processor which extends up into the bowl.

Abstract: An improved safety interlock for a food processor of the type including a control system for preventing actuation of a powerful motor drive, so that the food processing tool does not rotate, unless two conditions have been met; namely,(1) a bowl is mounted in its operating position on the base housing, and(2) a cover is held securely in its operating position on the bowl.The improved safety interlock provided in one embodiment of the invention uses two permanent magnets. One magnet is associated with actuator means and the other magnet is associated with switch means which prevent operation of the motor unless actuated. These two magnets are oriented generally in vertical planes relative to the horizontal top deck of the base housing. Each magnet is divided or coded into respective polarity quadrants, said quadrants of each of these magnets being non-symmetrical with respect to mutually perpendicular axes.

Abstract: An ice chopping apparatus is provided for a food processor having a base containing a motor and a motor-driven rotary tool drive which extends into a working bowl. The apparatus involves mounting a rotary ice chopping tool on the tool drive in the working bowl and establishing an annular channel around the chopping tool, forming an escape gap of predetermined size around the perimeter of the annular channel and feeding ice chunks into the channel. These chunks when reduced to the proper size are discharged through the escape gap and become deposited in the bowl. The gap may be adjusted for varying the size of the discharged ice fragments. The apparatus includes a removable disc-like head having a socket on the underside and preferably two radially spaced blades protruding upwardly from the disc-like member, with their front edges chopping the ice. The socket receives a removable shank of the same geometrical shape coupled on the other end to the rotary drive.

Abstract: A flip-over drive system for a removable oven rotisserie comprising drive means, gear train means driven by the drive means, cam means mechanically coupled to the gear train means for rotation in response to the driving of the gear train means by the drive means, escapement means position for periodic engagement with the cam means, socket means mechanically coupled to the escapement means, the socket means being configured to receive a rotisserie shaft therein, whereupon the socket means and the rotisserie shaft upon being received therein are rotated to a first predetermined angular position upon engagement of the escapement means with the cam means and remain in the first predetermined angular position for a predetermined dwell period until the cam means re-engages the escapement means whereupon the socket means and the rotisserie shaft are rotated to a second predetermined angular position and remain in the second predetermined angular position for a predetermined dwell period.

Abstract: A rack is disclosed for storing food processor tool discs of the type having a receptacle or socket structure offset from its axis of rotation and located beneath the lower surface of the disc for receiving the upper end of a removable elongated hub on which the tool disc is mounted during operation, such receptacle having a generally crescent-like configuration. The rack includes a base having a plurality of parallel slots for receiving the tool discs and a vertical wall extending upwardly alongside each slot. Each of the vertical walls includes an offset portion for receiving the crescent-like hub receptacle of the tool disc.

Abstract: An enlarged food pusher with clean-out windows is provided in a feedtube protector assembly utilized with a food processor. The feedtube protector includes an outer sleeve nestable around the exterior of an expanded feedtube which forms a first passageway for feeding food items through the cover into the bowl. A telescoping oval-shaped food pusher on the outer sleeve moves longitudinally in the expanded feedtube for pushing food items onto the rotary tool. A second passageway is provided by a tubular member extending through the food pusher which is adapted to receive a removable food pusher normally retained within the second passageway when the larger food pusher is being used. The oval-shaped food pusher has an enclosed bottom end extending from its periphery inwardly to the second food passageway. A pair of crescent-shaped cavities having four cusp regions defined between the oval-shaped pusher and the tubular member are open and may accumulate food which may be difficult to remove.

Abstract: Lock for the food pusher in a feedtube protector of a food processor. The feedtube protector has an outer sleeve nestable in a predetermined position around the exterior of the feedtube with a first food pusher captured in telescoping relationship within the outer sleeve for enabling the captured food pusher to move up and down therein. This first food pusher is in alignment with the interior of the outer sleeve for causing the first food pusher to become aligned with a first larger food passageway in the feedtube only when the outer sleeve is nested around the feedtube. This first food pusher has a second smaller food passageway within itself adapted to receive a removable second food pusher plungable into this second food passageway for pushing smaller food items down into the bowl toward a rotating tool in the bowl. This second passageway is smaller than the first passageway for convenient processing of smaller food items without removing the feedtube protector from the food processor.