Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. When the cover is secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole, and when the cover is not secured to the lid, the one-way air valve allows air flow into the container.

Abstract: A hand-held electric blender or mixer has an electric motor that is accommodated in a housing and that serves for selectively driving different attachments, such as a whisk or kneading hook or an immersion blender. The hand-held blender or mixer has an actuating element that opens and closes a switch for switching the electric motor on and off. The switch can be operated in a temporary mode or in a continuous mode, depending on the respective attachment coupled to the appliance. An interlocking means is provided for the actuating element and is either engaged with a counterpart to the interlocking means or not, depending on the type of attachment coupled to the appliance.

Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid body with a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body, a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening, and a pressure-indicating protrusion. The cover impedes air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The pressure-indicating protrusion, which has a cavity in it, is in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening. The pressure-indicating protrusion contracts toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole while allowing air flow out of the container via the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover removed, the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole. An outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container.

Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid body with a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body, a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening, and a pressure-indicating protrusion. The cover impedes air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The pressure-indicating protrusion, which has a cavity in it, is in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening. The pressure-indicating protrusion contracts toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. When the cover is secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole, and when the cover is not secured to the lid, the one-way air valve allows air flow into the container.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a coupling device for an appliance for domestic use, in particular a handheld blender, for connecting a drive part to a tool shank, with a locking device having locking elements being arranged on a coupling section of the drive part, said locking elements being in engagement with depressions formed on the inner circumference of the tool shank in the locked state. The invention is characterized in that the locking device is constructed as an annular spring element and that in the area of the locking element provision is made for an actuating device causing, when actuated, the spring element to be deformed elastically such that the locking element moves inwardly, hence becoming disengaged from the detent element.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a handheld or immersion blender including a coupling device (1) for separating the shank provided with a processing tool from the electrically powered drive part, with an upper coupling part (2) arranged on the drive part having locking elements and a lower coupling part (3) arranged on the tool shank having detent elements, which enable the coupling device (1) to be interlocked axially. In this arrangement the locking elements are formed by spring-loaded holding lugs (11) projecting radially outwardly, and the detent elements are formed by recesses (16) on the inner circumference of the lower coupling part (3), with the upper coupling part (2) being twistable relative to the lower coupling part (3), whereby a releasable coupling is obtained. An improved handheld or immersion blender is thereby made available.

Abstract: A lid for a food storage container includes a lid defining a vacuum sense opening and a vent opening extending through the lid body. The lid also includes a releasable cover disposed over the vent opening to impede air flow into the container through the vent opening until the cover is released. The lid further includes a pressure indicating dome defining a cavity therein, the dome in hydraulic communication with the container through the vacuum sense opening, the dome having a membrane that collapses toward the vacuum sense opening in response to negative container pressure.

Abstract: A food storage container includes a lid with a vent hole, and a removable cover removably secured to the lid to cover the vent hole. The cover has an evacuation hole. The food storage container further includes a one-way air valve disposed between the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover secured to the lid, the one-way air valve inhibits air flow into the container through the vent hole while allowing air flow out of the container via the vent hole and evacuation hole. With the cover removed, the one-way air valve allows bi-directional air flow through the vent hole. An outer surface of the cover defines a smooth sealing area extending about the evacuation hole for sealing against a vacuum pump held against the cover over the evacuation hole to evacuate the container.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for chopping food, in particular ice cubes, which includes a container body (2) subdivided into an upper processing zone (20) and a lower collecting zone (21). The rotary chopping tool (3) received in the processing zone (20) serves to comminute the food materials. A sieve (4; 25; 26) is provided in the transition region from the processing zone (20) to the collecting zone (21). The device of the invention has the advantage of enabling both foodstuffs and ice cubes to be reduced to defined sizes readily. In addition, ice cubes may be reduced without major amounts of energy being absorbed by the chopping tool (3) and without the reduced parts beginning to melt.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a coupling device (1) for an appliance for domestic use, in particular a handheld blender, for connecting a drive part (7) to a tool shank (6), with a locking device (2) having locking elements (3) being arranged on a coupling section of the drive part (7), said locking elements being in engagement with depressions (10) formed on the inner circumference of the tool shank (6) in the locked state. The invention is characterized in that the locking device (2) is constructed as an annular spring element and that in the area of the locking element (3) provision is made for an actuating device (4) causing, when actuated, the spring element to be deformed elastically such that the locking element (3) moves inwardly, hence becoming disengaged from the detent element (10).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a safety device for a jug blender that has a blender jug (10) adapted for seating engagement with a base (7) equipped with a drive motor. The safety device includes two vertically movable actuating pins (1) arranged in spaced relation to each other and projecting upwardly through the wall of the base (7), and the blender jug (10) has actuating points (11) cooperating therewith which, with the blender jug (10) properly assembled, urge the two actuating pins (1) simultaneously and evenly horizontally in downward direction in order to thus close the circuit supplying the drive motor. Any improper handling or activation of the motor with the blender jug (10) not properly positioned is avoided by connecting actuating members with the actuating pins (1) in the base (7) in such manner that a safety switch does not close unless the pins (1) are urged down evenly and at the same time horizontally.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an electric powered hand mixer for processing food materials, which is provided with switching arrangements adjustably disposed on a housing (2) and featuring different settings for activation of a continuous-on mode and a pulse mode. Provision is made for tool mounts for holding various tools including, for example, a mixing or kneading tool (3) or a puréeing wand. A lock release element (14) is provided for ejecting a tool held in one of the tool mounts. Provision is made for two switching devices (10, 12) one of which is associated with the activation of the continuous-on mode and one with the activation of the pulse mode. The two switching devices (10, 12) and the lock release element (14) are mechanically coupled to each other so that only one of the two switching devices (10, 12) is actuatable at a time.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a handheld or immersion blender including a coupling device (1) for separating the shank provided with a processing tool from the electrically powered drive part, with an upper coupling part (2) arranged on the drive part having locking elements and a lower coupling part (3) arranged on the tool shank having detent elements, which enable the coupling device (1) to be interlocked axially. In this arrangement the locking elements are formed by spring-loaded holding lugs (11) projecting radially outwardly, and the detent elements are formed by recesses (16) on the inner circumference of the lower coupling part (3), with the upper coupling part (2) being twistable relative to the lower coupling part (3), whereby a releasable coupling is obtained. An improved handheld or immersion blender is thereby made available.

Abstract: A bell-shaped shield for use on a household appliance, particularly a hand blender or a hand mixer has an inner wall that forms a space which is accessible from below via an opening through which food is supplied and discharged. A blade-like processing tool inside the space is adapted to be set in rotation by a drive shaft so that the food is caught, comminuted and/or mixed by said tool. The surface of the inner wall has on its circumference individual outwardly extending wall sections for the formation of clearance spaces, said wall sections serving primarily for the diversion, comminution and enhanced mixing of food, while the clearance spaces are used for receiving and discharging the food. This configuration allows for a more intensive and thorough mixing and comminution of food in a minimum of time.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a bell-shaped shield (1) for use on a household appliance, particularly a hand blender or a hand mixer. The inner wall (7) of the shield (1) forms a space (6) which is accessible from below via an opening (12) through which food (36) is supplied and discharged. A blade-like processing tool (8) inside the space (6) is adapted to be set in rotation by a drive shaft (3) so that the food (36) is caught, comminuted and/or mixed by said tool. The surface of the inner wall (7) has on its circumference individual outwardly extending wall sections (51) for the formation of clearance spaces (37), said wall sections (51) serving primarily for the diversion, comminution and enhanced mixing of food, while the clearance spaces (37) are used for receiving and discharging the food (36). This configuration allows for a more intensive and thorough mixing and comminution of food (36) in a minimum of time.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a safety device for a jug blender that has a blender jug (10) adapted for seating engagement with a base (7) equipped with a drive motor. The safety device includes two vertically movable actuating pins (1) arranged in spaced relation to each other and projecting upwardly through the wall of the base (7), and the blender jug (10) has actuating points (11) cooperating therewith which, with the blender jug (10) properly assembled, urge the two actuating pins (1) simultaneously and evenly horizontally in downward direction in order to thus close the circuit supplying the drive motor. Any improper handling or activation of the motor with the blender jug (10) not properly positioned is avoided by connecting actuating members with the actuating pins (1) in the base (7) in such manner that a safety switch does not close unless the pins (1) are urged down evenly and at the same time horizontally.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a processing device for stirring or reducing foods, particularly a handheld blender, with a motor driven tool shaft extending in a housing part of the housing of the processing device and having a work performing element secured to the shaft's output end. The housing part becomes a protective shield in the area of the output end of the tool shaft, said shield encompassing the work performing element in a radial direction at least in part and terminating in an opening edge at its lower open end. To ensure that the processing tool is not only adequately protected in an initial position by the shield but also well suited to reduce large pieces of solid foods, means are provided for enabling a relative axial displacement of the work performing element and the opening edge of the shield.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for chopping food, in particular ice cubes, which includes a container body (2) subdivided into an upper processing zone (20) and a lower collecting zone (21). The rotary chopping tool (3) received in the processing zone (20) serves to comminute the food materials. A sieve (4; 25; 26) is provided in the transition region from the processing zone (20) to the collecting zone (21). The device of the invention has the advantage of enabling both foodstuffs and ice cubes to be reduced to defined sizes readily. In addition, ice cubes may be reduced without major amounts of energy being absorbed by the chopping tool (3) and without the reduced parts beginning to melt.