Abstract: An improved safety interlock is provided for operating a control switch which enables operator activation of a drive motor of a food processor. The safety interlock comprises an axially movable interlock rod for operating the control switch upon movement of the rod in a first direction. A coil spring is provided for resiliently forcing the interlock rod in the direction opposite to the first direction such that the control switch is normally unoperated. A generally U-shaped channel member receives the interlock rod and coil spring to properly align the interlock rod with the control switch. The channel member is removably connected to the food processor such that the channel member, interlock rod and coil spring can be removed for cleaning or replacement. The U-shaped channel member includes flanges outwardly extending from its open side which are received into first and second tracks on the food processor.

Abstract: An improved operating interlock is included in a food processor having a drive motor and a control switch which must be operated by the interlock to enable the operation of the drive motor. A shaft projects upwardly through a working bowl of the food processor and is coupled to the drive motor for rotation of a food processing tool coupled to the shaft within the bowl. A bowl cover is detachably secured to the bowl and defines a feed tube for introducing food items through the bowl cover into the bowl. A feed tube cover is detachably secured to the bowl cover for movement between a closed position over the feed tube and an opened position. The improved operating interlock further defines a child-lock for securing the feed tube cover to the bowl cover and the bowl cover to the bowl without enabling operation of the food processor such that one or more food processing tools can be enclosed within the bowl to discourage inadvertent contact with sharp tool portions when the processor is not in use.

Abstract: An improved food pusher support is provided for a food processor having a primary feed tube for introducing food products into the processor and a feed tube cover including an opening for slidingly receiving a primary food pusher by means of compression leaf springs formed into the feed tube cover for engaging elongated ramped projections extending axially along the primary food pusher. In one instance, the projections are formed adjacent the food pushing portion of the primary food pusher such that the primary food pusher can be retained in a raised position for movement of the feed tube cover relative to the feed tube. In another instance, the primary food pusher comprises a hollow shaft defining a secondary feed tube therethrough and a secondary food pusher securably and slidably engageable with the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A smoke shield assembly for an over-the-range oven includes a magnetically hinged deflecting shield movable between stored and in use positions. The assembly includes a metal base secured to a forwardly positioned bottom metal member of the over-the-range oven by four magnets. Two of the magnets securing the base to the oven also form a magnetic hinge that secures the deflecting shield to the base. The two other magnets securing the base to the oven further maintain the deflecting shield in the stored position. The deflecting shield is metal having a generally U-shaped pivot end magnetically secured to the base. The pivot end may have an unhemmed pivot edge or a hemmed pivot edge to ease pivoting between the stored and in use positions.

Abstract: A protector for a feed tube of a food processor comprises a feed tube protector hingedly mounted to a bowl cover by means of elongated hinge members such that the feed tube protector can be pivotally moved between a closed position over the feed tube and an opened position retracted from the feed tube. The elongated hinge members can be squeezed and deformed toward one another to permit hinge pins on their outer surfaces to be inserted into hinge brackets on the bowl cover for removably mounting the protector. A finger is formed on the forward extremity of each of the elongated hinge members and a corresponding aperture is formed into the upper surface of the bowl cover for receiving the fingers when the protector is in the closed position to prevent removal of the feed tube protector from an operating food processor.

Abstract: A concentric drive is provided for a food processing tool to permit a plurality of food processing heads to be removably associated with a single drive extension. Each food processing head comprises a disk member having cutting means for performing a desired food processing operation. The food processing head is formed by securing the disk-like member to a disk-mounting flange which extends axially and radially from the upper end of a disk-mounting hub having a D-shaped drive-receiving opening extending entirely therethrough with the remaining portion of the upper end being closed.