Patents Assigned to Vita-Mix Corporation
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Patent number: 8690093Abstract: A blender blade or blade for being mounted to an interior base of a blender container for rotation about a vertical axis is described. The blade includes at least two blade wings, such that it may include four blade wings. The blade includes a body, first transition section, second transition section, first blade wing and second blade wing. Body includes an aperture, wherein the body is located on a first horizontal plane. First and second transition sections extend at downward angles from opposite sides of the body. First blade wing extends outwardly from the first transition section, wherein the first blade wing is located on a second horizontal plane. Second blade wing extends outwardly from the second transition section, wherein the second blade wing is located on a third horizontal plane. The blade is a one-piece blade and can process approximately 6-48 ounces of working medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2013Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Stephen P. Rukavina
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Publication number: 20130308417Abstract: A container (11) for a blender includes a base surface (13) and a blade (20) which is rotatable on an axis above the base surface (13). An arcuate wall (14) and two generally straight walls (15, 16) extend upwardly from the base surface (13) and terminate at the upper end of container (11). The axis of rotation of the blade (20) is closer to the arcuate wall (14) than it is to the generally straight walls (15, 16). A skirt (25) extends downwardly from the base surface (13) and has an opening. Sound baffling fingers (32) extend from the skirt (25) and into the opening. A spout (40) is formed at the intersection of two of the walls (14, 15, 16), the spout (40) having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of the walls (14, 15, 16) from the upper end of the container (11). A handle (34) is positioned opposite to the spout (40) and a cover (12) includes a plug (55) to close the spout (40).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2013Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Robert M. ULANSKI
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Publication number: 20130240654Abstract: A blender blade or blade for being mounted to an interior base of a blender container for rotation about a vertical axis is described. The blade includes at least two blade wings, such that it may include four blade wings. The blade includes a body, first transition section, second transition section, first blade wing and second blade wing. Body includes an aperture, wherein the body is located on a first horizontal plane. First and second transition sections extend at downward angles from opposite sides of the body. First blade wing extends outwardly from the first transition section, wherein the first blade wing is located on a second horizontal plane. Second blade wing extends outwardly from the second transition section, wherein the second blade wing is located on a third horizontal plane. The blade is a one-piece blade and can process approximately 6-48 ounces of working medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Steve Rukavina
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Patent number: 8529120Abstract: A container (11) for a blender includes a base surface (13) and a blade (20) which is rotatable on an axis above the base surface (13). An arcuate wall (14) and two generally straight walls (15, 16) extend upwardly from the base surface (13) and terminate at the upper end of container (11). The axis of rotation of the blade (20) is closer to the arcuate wall (14) than it is to the generally straight walls (15, 16). A skirt (25) extends downwardly from the base surface (13) and has an opening. Sound baffling fingers (32) extend from the skirt (25) and into the opening. A spout (40) is formed at the intersection of two of the walls (14, 15, 16), the spout (40) having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of the walls (14, 15, 16) from the upper end of the container (11). A handle (34) is positioned opposite to the spout (40) and a cover (12) includes a plug (55) to close the spout (40).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Robert M. Ulanski
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Publication number: 20130223183Abstract: An agitator (10) includes a stern (11) having a shaft coupler (12) at one end adapted to be attached to the rotatable shaft (25) of a food mixing machine. The other end of the stem (11) has a mixing blade (13) which can be in the shape of the bowl of a spoon. The stem (11) is shaped like an I-beam having side walls (20) spaced by a central wall (21). The side walls (20) have opposed notches (22) leaving a web (23) therebetween, and the central wall (21) is provided with an aperture (24) which is aligned with the web (23). Together the web (23) and the aperture (24) define a weakened area where the stem (11) will break upon a predetermined torque which is established based on the hardness of the food product (26) being mixed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2013Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Vita-Mix Corporation
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Patent number: 8491179Abstract: A food mixing machine (20) has an agitator (25) to mix food in a cup (C). A cup holder (31) is provided with a flexible boot (32) which receives the cup (C). The cup holder (31) is moveable through an opening (90) in the machine (20) and carries a gripping assembly (33) and an actuator assembly (34). The actuator assembly (34) is moveable relative to the gripping assembly (33) and is biased by springs (35) to maintain fingers (56) of the gripping assembly (33) in engagement with the cup (C). When it is desired to release the cup (C), a release assembly (80) overcomes the bias of the springs (35). As the cup holder (31) moves through the opening (90), the area between the cup holder (31) and the opening (90) is sealed by a seal assembly (91) so that food materials cannot go through the opening (90).Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, John K. Barnard
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Patent number: 8444076Abstract: A blender blade or blade for being mounted to an interior base of a blender container for rotation about a vertical axis is described. The blade includes at least two blade wings, such that it may include four blade wings. The blade includes a body, first transition section, second transition section, first blade wing and second blade wing. Body includes an aperture, wherein the body is located on a first horizontal plane. First and second transition sections extend at downward angles from opposite sides of the body. First blade wing extends outwardly from the first transition section, wherein the first blade wing is located on a second horizontal plane. Second blade wing extends outwardly from the second transition section, wherein the second blade wing is located on a third horizontal plane. The blade is a one-piece blade and can process approximately 6-48 ounces of working medium.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Steve Rukavina
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Patent number: 8430557Abstract: A food mixer (10) includes a rotatable shaft (18) which carries a coupler (21) having an aperture (25) therein. An agitator (22) is configured as a spoon having a bowl (27) and a stem (26). The stem (26) is received in the aperture (25) and in one embodiment a flexible tab (32) at the end of the stem (26) is engaged by a lug (37) in the aperture (25) to attach the agitator (22) to the coupler (21). In another embodiment, flexible tines (52) have lugs (53) which are received in a bore (46) in a coupler (41) to attach the agitator (42) to the coupler (41).Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Robert M. Ulanski
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Patent number: 8414183Abstract: An agitator (10) includes a stem (11) having a shaft coupler (12) at one end adapted to be attached to the rotatable shaft (25) of a food mixing machine. The other end of the stem (11) has a mixing blade (13) which can be in the shape of the bowl of a spoon. The stem (11) is shaped like an I-beam having side walls (20) spaced by a central wall (21). The side walls (20) have opposed notches (22) leaving a web (23) therebetween, and the central wall (21) is provided with an aperture (24) which is aligned with the web (23). Together the web (23) and the aperture (24) define a weakened area where the stem (11) will break upon a predetermined torque which is established based on the hardness of the food product (26) being mixed.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Raymond Seuffert
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Publication number: 20120291826Abstract: A container cleaner includes a body having a fluid inlet, a fluid passage within the body, and a nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly comprises a spray head, a plunger movable relative to a spray head, and a stopper having an opening to receive a portion of the plunger. The spray head may include a plurality of spray apertures formed in the spray head. The spray apertures are angled to direct fluid to portions of a container placed over the container cleaner.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: VITA-MIX CORPORATIONInventor: Michael Arnett
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Patent number: 8287180Abstract: An enclosure for a blender includes a body portion and a cover. The cover is hingedly attached to the body portion. The body portion of the enclosure includes a metallic foot that mates with the base member of the blender. The base member may include at least one magnet that secures the foot, and therefore body portion, in position by the magnetic force acting upon the foot. A gasket is provided between the foot of the body portion and the base member to completely isolate the enclosure from the base member, and to reduce vibrations in the enclosure during operation of the blender. The body portion of the enclosure may also include gasket strips to seal the enclosure when the cover is closed.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: David J. Kolar, Robert M. Ulanski
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Patent number: 8251572Abstract: A food mixing machine (16) includes an agitator (15) for mixing food in a cup (C). The cup (C) is received in a flexible boot (22) which is carried by a cup holder (21). The cup holder (21) also carries a cup release assembly (23) which is biased away from the cup by springs (24). At the end of the mixing cycle, a release initiating assembly (60) engages the cup release assembly (23) which overcomes the bias of the springs (24) and allows the cup release assembly (23) to engage the boot (22) which in turn releases the cup (C) from the cup holder (21).Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: Eugene J. Kozlowski
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Patent number: 8147125Abstract: The open top of a blender container (11) is closed by a cover (10). The cover (10) is provided with an internal vane (25) which extends downwardly from the top wall (17) of the cover (10) and inwardly from the sidewall (16) of the cover (10). The vane (25) disrupts any turbulence which might be created by a fluid being mixed in the container (10).Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Michael D. Anton, John K. Barnard
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Patent number: D660642Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Tyrone Manhoff, Fred H. Mehlman, Steffen F. Koury, Paul K. Metaxatos
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Patent number: D660643Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Tyrone Manhoff, Fred H. Mehlman, Steffen F. Koury, Paul K. Metaxatos
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Patent number: D662359Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Fred H. Mehlman, Steffen F. Koury, Paul K. Metaxatos
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Patent number: D662367Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Robert M. Ulanski
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Patent number: D666056Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2012Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D. Boozer, Robert M. Ulanski
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Patent number: D670532Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventors: Richard D Boozer, Tyrone Manhoff, Fred H Mehlman, Steffen F. Koury, Paul K. Metaxatos
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Patent number: D678727Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Vita-Mix CorporationInventor: David Kolar