Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: An agitator may include one or more members adjustable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration. When the one or more members are in the expanded configuration, the agitator in a first set of two orthogonal dimensions is larger than an opening having a predetermined size. When the one or more members are in the compressed configuration, the agitator in a second set of two orthogonal dimensions is smaller than the opening having the predetermined size. The one or more members are biased to the expanded configuration in absence of external force applied to the one or more members. In use, the agitator may be inserted into a container through a neck of the container in the compressed configuration. The agitator may expand within the container so that the container does not fit through the neck of the container.

Abstract: A container lid includes a container top, a lid opening, a closure, a push button, and a lock. The container top may be sized and configured to be attached to a container body. The lid opening may be formed in the container top. The closure may be movably coupled to the container top and may be movable between first and second positions in which the lid opening is, respectively, covered or uncovered. The push button may be configured to selectively retain the closure in the first position, and may be movable between latched and unlatched positions. The lock may be movable between locked and unlocked positions and in the locked position may be configured to inhibit movement of the push button from the latched to the unlatched position.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: A container can include a container body, a container top, a closure, and a closure seal. The container top can be connected to the container body. The container top includes a first opening and a second opening. The closure is selectively connected to the container top to control access to the first opening and the second opening. The closure seal is positioned between the closure and the container top. The closure seal comprises a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface. The first sealing surface is sized and configured to at least partially seal the first opening when the closure is connected to the container top. The second sealing surface is sized and configured to at least partially seal the second opening when the closure is connected to the container top.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: Blender and food processing devices dampen impact forces between a blending blade and a blending jar. One blender includes a blender base and a blending jar that has a seal opening. A blending blade assembly in the jar includes a blending blade, a jar shaft attached to the blending blade and extending through the seal opening, a circular motion guide positioned around the jar shaft, and a jar seal positioned between the circular motion guide and the seal opening. The jar seal prevents contact between the circular motion guide and the seal opening and dampens forces induced by relative motion between the seal opening and the blending blade, jar shaft, and/or circular motion guide. The dampening may reduce wear or damage to the jar and may improve quality of the blending jar and blade assembly.

Abstract: A container lid includes a container top, a lid opening, a closure, a push button, and a lock. The container top may be sized and configured to be attached to a container body. The lid opening may be formed in the container top. The closure may be movably coupled to the container top and may be movable between first and second positions in which the lid opening is, respectively, covered or uncovered. The push button may be configured to selectively retain the closure in the first position, and may be movable between latched and unlatched positions. The lock may be movable between locked and unlocked positions and in the locked position may be configured to inhibit movement of the push button from the latched to the unlatched position.

Abstract: An agitator may include one or more members adjustable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration. When the one or more members are in the expanded configuration, the agitator in a first set of two orthogonal dimensions is larger than an opening having a predetermined size. When the one or more members are in the compressed configuration, the agitator in a second set of two orthogonal dimensions is smaller than the opening having the predetermined size. The one or more members are biased to the expanded configuration in absence of external force applied to the one or more members. In use, the agitator may be inserted into a container through a neck of the container in the compressed configuration. The agitator may expand within the container so that the container does not fit through the neck of the container.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: A blade configured for use in a blending apparatus includes a body portion and a pair of wing portions extending from the body portion. At least a leading edge of the blade is forged to increase a hardness property. The leading edge may have a minimum thickness that provides a relatively blunt leading edge. The wing portions of the blade may be formed after forging the blade.

Abstract: A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.

Abstract: A container can include a container body, a container top, a closure, and a closure seal. The container top can be connected to the container body. The container top includes a first opening and a second opening. The closure is selectively connected to the container top to control access to the first opening and the second opening. The closure seal is positioned between the closure and the container top. The closure seal comprises a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface. The first sealing surface is sized and configured to at least partially seal the first opening when the closure is connected to the container top. The second sealing surface is sized and configured to at least partially seal the second opening when the closure is connected to the container top.

Abstract: A liquid-dispensing container may include a vessel, lid body, valve assembly, selector and/or straw. The selector may be movable between a first position that allows fluid disposed within the container to be discharged through a straw, and a second position that allows fluid within the container to be discharged by inverting and/or squeezing the container. The selector may be movable into a closed position that restricts fluid from being discharged from the container. The selector may be movable into a detachment position that allows for detachment of the selector from a remainder of the container, disassembly of the valve assembly, or both.

Abstract: A machine for processing a chilled food product includes a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The machine mixes the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flows the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shears at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. The machine may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.

Abstract: A method of processing a chilled food product includes providing a product in a storage container, wherein the product has a frozen portion and a non-frozen portion in the storage container, and the frozen portion has a granular size. The method also includes mixing the frozen portion of the product with the non-frozen portion of the product within the storage container, flowing the frozen portion and non-frozen portion into contact with a shearing apparatus, and shearing at least the frozen portion with the shearing apparatus, thereby reducing the granular size of the frozen portion. This method and similar systems and machines may refine and process chilled food products such as smoothies and slushes to have a smoother and more even consistency.