Compact storage and transport container for appliance blades
A storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided to enclosed the inside of the container.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/490,181 filed on Jul. 25, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to appliances such as food appliances and, more particularly, to accessories for storing and transporting cutting blades of appliances.
2. Description of Related Art
Food processors and other known electronic appliances utilize interchangeable rotating, generally flat cutting blades. A user typically has more than one blade. Since the appliances use only one blade at a time, storage and transport of the blades that are not attached to the appliance must be handled with care in order to preserve and protect the condition of the blade edges and other features, as well as to provide safety to people handling the blades.
There is a need, therefore, for blade storage and transport containers that are compact, efficient and safe to use.
These and other objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor. The container has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided to enclosed the inside of the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A container (10) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The housing (12) is preferably a unitary piece that has a space on part of the sidewall to accommodate a hinged door (14). The door (14) and the housing (12) may be molded from plastic and the housing (12) may have hinge protrusions (16) that snap-fit with the door (14) to hold in it hinged relation. As shown in
Referring to
A close view of one of the platforms (24) is shown in
An alternative embodiment container (100) is shown in
Another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in
While the preferred present invention has been herein described, it is understood that various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A container for cutting blades of appliances comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of generally horizontally aligned platforms within said housing and being adapted to hold one or more of said blades; and
- a lock associated with each platform for securing a respective one of said blades.
2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising
- a door for selectively opening and closing said housing to insert or remove said blades.
3. A container according to claim 1, further comprising
- a plurality of struts positioned between and supporting said plurality of platforms.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein
- said lock is a flat spring-tab unitarily formed with each of said platforms.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein
- said lock further comprises a wedge tip extending downwardly beneath each of said platforms.
6. A container according to claim 1, wherein
- said housing is generally cylindrically shaped.
7. A container according to claim 1, wherein
- said door is a sliding door adapted to nest within a recess of said housing.
8. A container according to claim 1, wherein
- said plurality of platforms are staggered laterally.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2005
Inventors: Michelle Carillo (Monroe, CT), Howard Steinberg (Shelton, CT), David Wanat (Meridan, CT)
Application Number: 10/898,903