Abstract: An electric blender comprises a base unit including an electric motor, a connecting line for connecting the motor to a power supply, a separate glass container incorporating rotatable blades and engageable with the base unit so that the motor, when connected to the power supply will drive the blades, a lid for closing the container but separable therefrom, and interlock switch in said connecting line operable between closed and open conditions, the switch being normally biased to its open condition and an enabling member integral with the lid and arranged to operate the switch to the closed condition only when the container and its lid are correctly engaged with one another and the container is engaged with the base unit.

Abstract: A blender (13) comprises a base support (12) having a motor (14), a container (22) formed in two connectable and disconnectable portions (23, 26), a first of the portions being a base portion (23) mounting a number of rotatable blades (30) and being connectable to the base support so that the blades will be driven by the motor (14), and the other portion comprising an upper open tubular portion (26), the blender including a motor disable switch (17) arranged to automatically disable the motor unless the base portion and upper portion are fully engaged with each other and the base support. A switch operating member, in the form of a collar (41) and plunger (20), provides effective connection between the upper tubular portion (26) of the container and the switch, such that it will move the switch to its operative position when the upper portion and base portion are full engaged with each other and the base support.