Blender container
A blender system includes a mixing base capable of agitating the contents of associated containers. The mixing base includes a rotatable shaft within a recessed well, a pressure-actuated switch positioned about the periphery of the recessed well, and a locking groove. One container that may be used with the mixing base has an opening at one end and a base at a second end, where the base is tapered. The container also includes one or more locking members in spaced relation about the periphery of the container body. The container body may include a handle coupled to the exterior of the container. The container includes at least one ring selectively attachable and removable from the periphery of the body opening such that when the ring is coupled to the container, the user is able to drink from the container without spilling or dripping.
This utility patent application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/824,531, filed Apr. 13, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/649,757, filed on Aug. 26, 2003 and issued on Nov. 16, 2004 as U.S. Utility Pat. No. 6,817,750 B1, the disclosures of which are incorporated hereby in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUNDVarious devices for blending various liquids and solids have been developed over the years. These devices have various features and options to suit a wide variety of uses and applications. For example, there are many blenders that are either handheld or freestanding devices. These devices have been useful but somewhat difficult to clean, use and store unused products, especially, when preparing smaller batches. More specifically, freestanding devices can be too large and cumbersome to use to make smaller portions and are generally better designed for blending larger quantities of fluids and ingredients. Handheld units may be useful to make individualized portions, but they may lack the power to properly blend ingredients together. Furthermore, these handheld units are generally used with open containers such as bowls or cups that can increase the chances of spilling or splattering during preparation of the ingredients. Moreover, the unused portion would have to be poured out of the open container and into a sealable container to be stored or to be readily carried by a person. Accordingly, there remains a need for an individualized blender system that may be easier to use, clean and adapted to store unused products.
SUMMARYExemplary embodiments disclosed here are directed to an individualized blender system.
According to one exemplary embodiment, the blender system is composed of a base including a motor means, an individual-sized container and a combination blender and/or juicer canister. The base includes a body, a motor means, an agitating means coupled to the motor, a recessed well for receiving a container and a pressure-sensitive switch that selectively powers the motor means. In use, the container or canister may be placed on the base, pressure is applied to the container or canister thereby activating the motor means and agitating the contents of the container or canister. The base also includes a locking groove that permits the user to lock the container or canister on the base while keeping the motor means in the powered position.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the individually sized container may be bullet-shaped. In alternate embodiments, the container may have a cylindrical, polygonal, cubical, or pyramidal shape. Also, the container may be sealed with a simple cap or a cap having an agitating means. The container may also include a plurality of ridges that form a stable platform for standing the container like a typical drinking vessel. That is, the bullet-shape container may be inverted so that the container rests on the ridges, and the cap is readily accessible. Additionally, the container may include locking members that engage the locking grooves provided on the blender base.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment, the blender canister includes, at a minimum, a body, a selectively removable base having an agitating means, locking members that engage the locking grooves provided on the blender base and a selectively removable means for sieving the container contents. In use, with the sieving means provided in the body of the blender canister, fruits and vegetables may be placed and blended within the bore of the sieving means. The pulp remaining from the fruits and vegetables remain within the bore of the sieving means and the resultant juice may be decanted from the blender canister. Alternatively, the blender canister may be used without the removable means for sieving the container contents.
According to still another embodiment, a container that may be used with a mixing base has an opening at one end and a base at a second end, where the second end is tapered. The container may also include one or more locking members in spaced relation about the periphery of the container body. The container body has a hollow interior and may include a gripping or holding means that is coupled to the exterior of the body. The container may also include a ring that is selectively attachable and removable from the periphery of the body opening such that when the ring is coupled to the container, the user is able to drink from the container without spilling or dripping.
A different embodiment is directed to caps that may be coupled to one or more of the containers disclosed herein. One cap may have a generally planar top surface and at least one sidewall. The cap may be secured to the open container via one or more coupling means. The cap may also include openings that are spaced about the top of the container. The openings may have varying sizes, shapes, and density on the cap depending upon the intended or desired use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description generally sets forth the functions and/or sequence of steps for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and/or sequences of steps may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Some embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the related drawings of
Turning to the drawings,
The blender container 106 includes selectively removable lid 104, 105, and a base member 110 which may be provided with an agitating means 108. As shown in
According to one exemplary embodiment, the blender container 106 may include a juicer element 111. Juicer element 111 is composed of a main body 113 and a plurality of sieve elements 114 spaced about the periphery of the main body 113. According to the exemplary embodiment depicted in
In one configuration, the container 101 may be also enclosed with a cap 200. In an alternate configuration, the container 101 may be enclosed with a base 202 having an agitating means 203 as shown in
Also, as shown in
Turning back to
The container 1100 also includes a plurality of locking members 1104 that are positioned about the periphery of the container 1100. In one embodiment, locking members 1104 are protuberances that extend substantially perpendicular from the wall 1101 of container 1100. Also, as shown in
As shown in
Ring 1103 is positioned atop the mouth of container 1100 (
As generally shown in
As generally shown in
In closing, it is understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of these varying embodiments. Other modifications that may be made are within the scope of these embodiments described herein. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and description are illustrative and not meant to be a limitation thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention cover all embodiments and variations thereof as long as such embodiments and variations come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A blender container, comprising:
- a body having an opening at a first end and a base at a second end, said body having a hollow interior and being substantially tapered at said second end;
- at least one handle coupled to the exterior of said body;
- a stop ridge positioned below the body opening and extending from the exterior of said body;
- at least one locking member disposed in spaced relationship about a periphery of said stop ridge;
- means for blending contents contained in said hollow body interior; and
- a ring selectively attachable and removable from said body at said first end.
2. The blender container of claim 1, further comprising at least one thread positioned on the periphery of said body opening, wherein said at least one thread is positioned away from said stop ridge.
3. The blender container of claim 1, further comprising means for agitating the container contents, said means being selectively attachable and removable to said body at said first end.
4. The blender container of claim 3, wherein said agitating means includes at least one blade rotatably coupled to a mixer base.
5. The blender container of claim 1, wherein said ring comprises at least one sidewall and a lip coupled at one end to said at least one sidewall.
6. The blender container of claim 1, further comprising at least one ridge positioned on the interior of said body.
7. The blender container of claim 1, wherein said at least one handle is substantially C-shaped.
8. The blender container of claim 1, further comprising at least one cap configured for coupling to said body opening at said first end.
9. The blender container of claim 8, wherein said at least one cap includes a plurality of openings adapted for shaking out coarse items contained within said hollow body.
10. A blender container, comprising:
- a hollow body being open at a first end and closed at a second end, said hollow body being substantially tapered at said second end and provided with at least one interior ridge;
- a base member adapted to blend the contents of said hollow body when operatively coupled to said first open end of said hollow body;
- means for facilitating drinking from said first open end; and
- means for locking said operatively coupled hollow body and base member to a blender base.
11. The blender container of claim 10, wherein said substantially tapered second end facilitates blending of contents within said hollow body.
12. The blender container of claim 10, wherein said drinking facilitation means includes at least one annular member operatively coupled to said first open end of said hollow body.
13. The blender container of claim 10, wherein said locking means includes at least one blender base locking member protruding from the outer periphery of said first open end over said operatively coupled base member.
14. The blender container of claim 10, further comprising at least one cap operatively coupled to said first open end.
15. The blender container of claim 14, wherein said at least one cap includes a plurality of openings adapted for shaking out coarse items contained within said hollow body.
16. A blender container, comprising:
- a mug-like body being tapered at one end;
- at least one substantially elongated ridge disposed on the interior of said mug-like body;
- means for blending contents contained within said mug-like body;
- at least one annular member adapted for coupling to said mug-like body opposite said tapered end; and
- means for operatively locking said mug-like body to a blender base.
17. The blender container of claim 16, wherein said blending means includes a base member with at least one blade adapted to agitate contents within said mug-like body.
18. The blender container of claim 17, wherein said base member is operatively coupled to said mug-like body away from said tapered end.
19. The blender container of claim 16, wherein said operative locking means includes at least one blender base locking tab protruding from the outer periphery of said mug-like body away from said tapered end.
20. The blender container of claim 16, further comprising at least one perforated cap operatively coupled to said mug-like body away from said tapered end.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 13, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 8, 2006
Inventor: Lenny Sands (Encino, CA)
Application Number: 11/332,793
International Classification: B01F 7/00 (20060101);