Abstract: An enclosure for a blender including a body portion adapted to be secured to a base, and a cover pivotally attached to the body portion. The body portion includes sidewalls, a back wall, and an abbreviated top wall. The cover includes sidewalls, a front wall, a top wall, and an abbreviated back wall. A flange extends outwardly from the sidewalls and the top wall of the body portion and a gasket is provided thereon to create a seal between the cover and the body portion of the enclosure.

Abstract: A machine (10) for mixing food in a cup (C) includes a housing having an agitator assembly (15) extending downwardly therefrom and adapted to be rotated by a motor to mix food in the cup (C). A switch assembly (20) is provided to operate the agitator assembly (15). The switch assembly (20) includes a bracket (21) which pivotally carries a plate (41) which extends downwardly adjacent to the agitator assembly (15). A switch (31) is carried by the bracket (21) and has an arm (36) biased toward the plate (41). The plate (41) is biased toward the arm (36) by springs (50) to maintain the switch (31) in the open position. Pivoting the plate (41) relative to the bracket (21) against the bias of the springs (50) allows the arm (36) of the switch (31) to pivot to close the switch (31) allowing the agitator assembly (15) to rotate.

Abstract: A system (10) for attaching a cover (12) to a container (11) and for closing an opening (21) in the cover (12) with a plug (13) utilizes a container (11) having an upper lip (16). The cover (12) is made of an elastomeric material and has handles (30) each having a notch (31) therein to receive the lip (16) of the container (11). A ridge (32) depends from the periphery of the opening (21) in the cover (12). The ridge (32) is generally square having sides (33) and corners (34). The ridge (33) includes a notch (35) formed in each side (33), and ribs (36) are positioned at each side of the notches (35). The plug (13) has a generally cylindrical stem (41) whose diameter approximates the length of a side (33) of the ridge (32). Diametrically opposed tabs (45) are positioned on the stem (41). By aligning the tabs (45) with the corners (34) of the ridge (32), the stem (41) can pass through the opening (21). Then rotating the plug (13) allows the tabs (45) to pass over the ribs (36) and into opposed notches (35).

Abstract: A food mixer (10) includes a rotatable shaft (18) which is connected to the shaft (21) of an agitator (20). The agitator (20) includes an upper disk (23) attached to the shaft (21) and a lower disk (28). Slat walls (27, 29) extend from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (22) and slat walls (27, 29) are curved so as to together forming a parabolic ring. A central blade (33) extends from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (28) between the slat walls (27, 29). Both the upper and lower disks (23, 28) are circular and are curved upwardly in one direction and curved downwardly in a direction transverse to the one direction.

Abstract: A food mixing machine (10) has a rotatable shaft (18) which is attached to the shaft (21) of an agitator (20). The shaft (21) carries a ring (24) and a disk (23), and the ring (24) carries a cloverleaf-shaped chip (25). The chip (25) has opposed, generally flat lobes (27) with the opposed lobes (29) positioned between the lobes (27). The lobes (29) are inclined relative to the lobes (27). Cutout areas (31) are formed between the lobes (27, 29), and as the agitator (20) is being rotated by the shaft (18), a leading edge (32) on the lobes (27, 29) at the cutout areas (31) contacts the food being mixed. The leading edges (32) have a larger radius of curvature than the trailing edges (33) on each lobe (27, 29).

Abstract: A drink making machine (10) includes an ice shaving and dispensing unit (11) which provides a predetermined amount of ice, by weight, through a chute (21) to the pitcher (17) of a blending unit (12). A nozzle (30) is carried by the chute (12) and provides water through a nozzle opening (41) until a predetermined amount of water, by weight, is received by the pitcher (14). The water from the opening (41) is not allowed to directly impinge against the bottom of the pitcher (17). The water from the opening (41) is not allowed to directly impinge against the bottom of the pitcher (17) so that it does not adversely affect the weight measurements being taken.

Abstract: A drive coupling assembly (10) for attaching two shafts includes a coupler body (11) and a locking clip (12). The body (11) has a splined opening (23) which is adapted to receive one shaft, and an aperture (24) which is adapted to receive a drive shaft (13) of a motor (14). A slot (25) is formed in coupler body (11) and the slot (25) communicates with the aperture (24). The clip (12) is positioned in the slot (25) and includes a spring tab (33) which can engage an undercut (40) in the shaft (13) to maintain the drive coupling assembly (10) on the shaft (13).

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a blender blade (10) includes a body portion (12) having an upper surface (15) and a lower surface (16). The body portion includes an aperture (13) effectively defining an axis of rotation for the blender blade (10). A first blade wing (21) extends from the body portion (12) and has an upper surface (23) and a lower surface (25). A second blade (22) wing extends from the body portion (12) and has an upper surface (24) and a lower surface (26). A leading edge (41) is provided on the first blade wing (21) and a leading edge (42) is provided on the second blade wing (22), the leading edges (41, 42) being adapted to cut through a working medium during rotation of the blender blade (10). At least one wing flap (51, 52) extending outwardly, selectively from the first blade wing (21) and the second blade wing (22).

Abstract: An enclosure (10) includes a base member (13), a body portion (12) and a cover (11) pivotally attached to the base portion (12) by a hinge assembly (25). The body portion (12) is attached to the base member (13) by a magnet assembly (35). The magnet assembly (35) includes magnets (36) positioned in pockets (20) formed in a wall (15) of the base member (13), and a metallic strip (37) held in a wall (28) of the body portion (12) by a plate (38). The body portion (12) is also provided with lugs (34) to be received in openings (19) in the base member (13).

Abstract: A safety shield (10) is adapted to be used in a machine having a blade assembly such as an ice shaving and dispensing machine (11). The machine (11) has an ice bin (13) carried by a pedestal (12). An ice shelf (31) has an opening (32) and is positioned in the bin (13). The opening (32) provides access to the blade assembly which includes a shaver wheel (35) which directs ice to a blade (40). The shield (10) has a ring-shaped sidewall (50) which is carried by the bin (13) and which can extend upwardly out of the bin (13) to increase the capacity thereof. The shield (10) also includes a disk-shaped hub (51) which is connected to the side wall (50) by a plurality of arms (52). The hub (51) is larger than the opening (32) and is positioned over the opening (32) to prevent direct human access thereto. But ice may still pass through openings (53) between the arms (52) and through the opening (32) in the shelf (31) to be received by the blade assembly.