Patents by Inventor David J. Kolar

David J. Kolar has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10562672
    Abstract: A blending system includes a blending container having a base surface. The container also has a side wall extending upwardly from said base surface and a sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface and encasing the side wall. The container may also have a viscoelastic material positioned between the side wall and the sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface. In one embodiment, a blender has a base containing a motor and the container described above and the container is able to attach and engage with the motor and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack W. Gee, II, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20200008626
    Abstract: A blender system that includes a base that is selectively and operatively engaged with a container is shown and described herein. The base may include a near field communications chip that may communicate with a near field communications chip of a container. The base also includes a motor that is selectively and operatively engaged with a blade disposed within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: David J. KOLAR, Saifur T. TAREEN, Eric MILLER
  • Publication number: 20190298109
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 10413131
    Abstract: A blender system that includes a base that is selectively and operatively engaged with a container is shown and described herein. The base may include a near field communications chip that may communicate with a near field communications chip of a container. The base also includes a motor that is selectively and operatively engaged with a blade disposed within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Saifur T. Tareen, Eric Miller
  • Patent number: 10321785
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Patent number: 10172373
    Abstract: A modular blending system is shown and described. The modular blending system may include a storage device capable of storing a plurality of flavoring products, and an ice shaving mechanism removably attached to the storage device, the ice shaving mechanism including an ice dispenser. The modular blending system may also include a fluid dispensing unit in fluid communication with the flavoring products, where the fluid dispensing unit is separate from the ice dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Joseph Hobbs, Susan Mayer, Fred Mehlman, Richard D. Boozer, Casey Zale
  • Publication number: 20180059790
    Abstract: A blending system is provided for displaying information. The blending system may include a display system. The display system may project or display an image on a blending container. The image may be a gradient marking or text relating to a blending process. The display system may contain a projection device capable of projecting an image, a control component operatively controlling the blender display system and at least one sensor operatively evaluating data associated with a blender device to provide feedback to the control component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack W. Gee, II, Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong
  • Publication number: 20180020875
    Abstract: A blending system is shown and described herein. The blending system may include a base including a motor, a blade selectively and operably engaged with the base, where the motor rotates the blade, a container having an open end and a lid configured to cover the open end. The blending system may also include an interlock system that may include a plurality of induction coils positioned on the base and the container and be in electrical communication with at least one lid sensor, wherein the power is translated through the induction coils to engage a switch device to complete a power circuit to allow a user to operate the motor of the blender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Saifur Tareen, Eric Miller
  • Publication number: 20170354940
    Abstract: A blender system may include a base including a motor, a container, and a blade assembly. The blade assembly may include a gear drive. The gear drive may include an input and an output. The input may receive a drive shaft of a motor. The output may drive blades of a blade assembly. The gear drive may alter a rotational speed of the blades relative to a speed of the drive shaft of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Richard D. Boozer, Fred Mehlman, Rebecca L. Hammond
  • Publication number: 20170303744
    Abstract: A blending system is shown and described herein. The blending system may include a base including a motor, a blade selectively and operably engaged with the base, where the motor rotates the blade, a container having an open end and a lid configured to cover the open end. The blending system may also include an optical interlock detector that may include a camera positioned on the base and indicia positioned at a predetermined location on a lid, wherein the camera detects the indicia and position of the lid to permit operation of the blender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. Sutton, David J. Kolar
  • Publication number: 20170295997
    Abstract: Touch sensors form various controls for a touch controller of a blender. The controls are arranged on the touch controller such that a user holding the blender can operate the blender by articulating their thumbs. In one example, button controls for preset programs are arranged in an arcuate manner on one side of the touch controller, the curvature of the arcuate shape being open to the side of the blender. A button for a pulsating function may be located inside the curvature opening. Start and stop buttons may be located near the bottom in the middle of the touch controller. A vertical sliding speed control may be located on the side of the touch controller opposite the button controls. The touch controller may also have an LED or LCD screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack Warren Gee, II
  • Publication number: 20170120208
    Abstract: A control panel for a blender assembly is shown and described. The control panel may include a body integrated with controls. The body may also be integrated with circuitry, such as a printed circuit board. The controls may interact with the printed circuit board to control operation of the blender assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred Mehlman, Robin Shorr
  • Publication number: 20170071227
    Abstract: A modular blending system including a bin is provided; the bin being for consumable products has a well in the bottom thereof. A bottom surface of the bin is sloped from substantially a plurality of sides toward the well to facilitate evacuation of the consumable product into and through the well. An outlet fixture connected through an opening in the well may be connected to a dispenser, thereby allowing evacuation of the consumable product from the well to the dispenser. The bin may also have side walls for supporting the bin, and/or a lid for covering at least a portion of the top of the bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20160309960
    Abstract: A blender system that includes a base that is selectively and operatively engaged with a container is shown and described herein. The base may include a near field communications chip that may communicate with a near field communications chip of a container. The base also includes a motor that is selectively and operatively engaged with a blade disposed within the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: David J. KOLAR, Saifur T. TAREEN, Eric MILLER
  • Publication number: 20160256004
    Abstract: A blending system is provided for identifying a blending container. The blending system may include an attachment member that attaches to a blending container. The attachment member may include an identification tag. A receiving system may communicate with the identification tag to identify the container. The receiving system may measure characteristics of the blending container. The characteristics can be compared to stored characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20160045073
    Abstract: A blending system is disclosed herein. The blending system may comprise a blender base, a container and a blending volume reduction device. The blending volume reduction device may be removably inserted into the container of the blender system at various positions. The positions may alter the working volume of the container when the blending volume reduction device is inserted in the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Eugene J. Kozlowski, Mark F. Fleming, David J. Kolar, Stephen Hosey, Fred H. Mehlman, Jonathan Emerson, Brian Harvanec, Richard D. Boozer, Stephen P. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20160035335
    Abstract: A blending system includes a blending container having a base surface. The container also has a side wall extending upwardly from said base surface and a sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface and encasing the side wall. The container may also have a viscoelastic material positioned between the side wall and the sound sleeve extending upwardly from said base surface. In one embodiment, a blender has a base containing a motor and the container described above and the container is able to attach and engage with the motor and the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: David J. Kolar, Jack W. Gee, II, Fred H. Mehlman
  • Publication number: 20160015218
    Abstract: A blender system with a shearing blade assembly is shown and described. The blender system may include a container and a shear blending assembly attached thereto. The shear blending assembly may include a cutting blade, a shearing blade, a shear mechanism, and bearings operably coupled with a blending base. The shearing blade may force foodstuff through apertures of the shearing mechanism. The foodstuff may be drawn through a cut path of the cutting blade. The cutting blade may cut the foodstuff.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: David J. Kolar
  • Patent number: D768433
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack Warren Gee, II, David J. Kolar
  • Patent number: D825984
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jack Warren Gee, II, David J. Kolar