FOOD-PROCESSING DEVICE
A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods. The device comprises a container, a removable base, and a blender base. The container comprises a locking member located at the periphery of the container. The container has an opening. The removable base comprises a blade member and is removably affixable to the opening of the container. The blender base comprises a motor and a recessed well. The recessed well comprises a pressure-activated switch and an interior wall having a locking surface formed therein. The removable base is adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that such that the locking member of the container is capable of both engaging the switch to activate the motor and capable of biasing against the locking surface, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.
This is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority from my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/160,448, filed on Jun. 14, 2011, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/150,012, filed on Apr. 24, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,958,819, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/988,281, filed on Nov. 13, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,430,957, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/649,757, filed on Aug. 26, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,750, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention technically relates to household appliances. More particularly, the present invention technically relates to kitchen appliances. Even more particularly, the present invention technically relates to blenders and juicers.
BACKGROUND ARTVarious 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, many blenders exist that are either handheld or freestanding. While these devices have been useful, they can be difficult to clean, to use, and to store unused products, especially when preparing smaller batches. More specifically, freestanding devices can be too large and cumbersome to use for making 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, a long-felt need remains for a blender and juicer system that is easier to use, to clean, and to store unused products.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONExemplary embodiments disclosed herein are generally directed to a blender and juicer system. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the blender and juicer system comprises a blender container, having an open top and an open bottom, and a removable juicer member being open at each end and being adapted for insertion into the blender container. The blender container is adapted to prevent the over-insertion of the juicer member. The inserted juicer member is adapted to operatively engage the interior of the blender container. The blender and juicer system also comprises a plunger being adapted for insertion into the juicer member. The inserted plunger is utilized during a juice extraction operation. The blender and juicer system further comprises a structure for defining the optimal range of plunger insertion into the removable juicer member. These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the accompanying drawings and the section entitled “Mode(s) for Carrying-Out the Invention,” infra.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the below-referenced description of the accompanying Drawing. Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawing.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments, i.e., the modes of carrying-out the invention, and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the exemplary embodiments may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the exemplary embodiments in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, understood is that the same or equivalent functions and sequences 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 has an open top and an open bottom. The blender container 106 includes selectively removable lid members 104, 105 (
The open bottom of blender container 106 may be coupled to a removable base portion 110 (
The removable base portion 110 may be affixed to the bottom of blender container 106 via a thread-fit, a friction fit, a snap-fit, or any other suitable type of attachment. The open bottom of the blender container 106 is provided with a plurality of lateral (exterior) locking members 109, as generally shown in
In another example, the user may-blend the contents of the bullet-shaped container 101, detach the bullet-shaped container 101 from the blender base 100, access the contents of the bullet-shaped container 101 with the bullet-shaped container 101 standing upright (
In an alternate configuration, the bullet-shaped container 101 may be adapted to hold a relatively larger volume. The bullet-shaped container 101 may include a removable base 202, having a blade member 203, as generally shown in
The blender base 100 includes a recessed well 300, as generally depicted in reference to
The recessed well 300 comprises a plurality of pressure-activated switches 302 (
As generally depicted in
The blender container 106 may be equipped with a removable juicer 117 (
The juicer member 111 includes a generally tubular body 113 of variable diameter being equipped at one end with a multi-panel sieve filter 114 and a funnel 112 at an opposite end, as generally depicted in
Each one of the ridges 123 has a generally triangular cross-section that flares toward the removable base portion 110 (
The user 127 inserts juicer member 111 with the indentations 121 being generally lined up with the respective ridges 123 to ensure proper operation of juicer 117, as generally illustrated in
A multi-panel sieve filter 114 may comprise a wire mesh screen material or the like. The filter 114 generally conforms to the shape of the tubular body 113, as generally shown in
The opening provided by the removable lid member 104 is adapted to accommodate the plunger 119, as generally shown in
The remaining pulp is separated and trapped within the interior of the juicer member 111. By providing a two-part cap, such as implemented by the lid members 104, 105 of
The lid member 104 may be provided with a plurality of slots 700 (
Information, as herein shown and described in detail, is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention. The presently preferred embodiment of the invention, is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention also fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem that is sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, that various changes and modifications, in form, material, and fabrication material detail, may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as being encompassed by the present invention. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYThe present invention industrially applies to household appliances. More particularly, the present invention industrially applies to kitchen appliances. Even more particularly, the present invention industrially applies to blenders and juicers.
Claims
1. A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods, the device comprising:
- a container comprising a locking member, the locking member located at the periphery of the container, the container having an opening;
- a removable base comprising a blade member, the removable base removably affixable to the opening of the container; and
- a blender base comprising a motor and a recessed well, the recessed well comprising a pressure-activated switch and a locking groove, the removable base adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that when the locking member of the container engages the switch, the downward movement of the switch activates the motor, wherein the container can be rotated to allow the locking member to engage the locking groove, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.
2. The food-processing device of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a plurality of locking members that are spaced about the periphery of the container, and the recessed well comprises a plurality of switches and locking grooves such that the locking members can contact and depress the respective switches and can engage the respective locking grooves.
3. The food-processing device of claim 1, wherein the blender base further comprises an impeller, the motor operatively coupled to the impeller, the removable base adapted to fit within the recessed well and to operatively couple with the impeller.
4. The food-processing device of claim 1, wherein the blender base further comprises a plurality of bushings that are located about the periphery of the recessed well.
5. The food-processing device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of bushings comprise a substantially resilient material.
6. A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods, the device comprising:
- a container comprising a locking member, the locking member located at the periphery of the container, the container having an opening;
- a removable base comprising a blade member, the removable base removably affixable to the opening of the container; and
- a blender base comprising a motor and a recessed well, the recessed well includes a pressure-activated switch and an interior wall having a locking surface formed therein, the removable base adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that the locking member of the container is capable of both engaging the switch to activate the motor and capable of biasing against the locking surface, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.
7. The food-processing device of claim 6, wherein the container comprises a plurality of locking members that are spaced about the periphery of the container, and the recessed well comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of locking surfaces such that the locking members can engage the respective switches and can bias against the respective locking surfaces.
8. The food-processing device of claim 6, wherein the blender base further comprises an impeller, the motor operatively coupled to the impeller, the removable base adapted to fit within the recessed well and to operatively couple with the impeller.
9. The food-processing device of claim 6, wherein the blender base further comprises a plurality of bushings that are located about the periphery of the recessed well.
10. The food-processing device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of bushings comprise a substantially resilient material.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 21, 2012
Inventor: Lenny Sands (Encino, CA)
Application Number: 13/405,837
International Classification: A47J 43/046 (20060101); A23N 1/00 (20060101); A47J 43/08 (20060101);