Abstract:
A storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided to enclosed the inside of the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/490,181 filed on Jul. 25, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to appliances such as food appliances and, more particularly, to accessories for storing and transporting cutting blades of appliances.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Food processors and other known electronic appliances utilize interchangeable rotating, generally flat cutting blades. A user typically has more than one blade. Since the appliances use only one blade at a time, storage and transport of the blades that are not attached to the appliance must be handled with care in order to preserve and protect the condition of the blade edges and other features, as well as to provide safety to people handling the blades.  
         [0006]     There is a need, therefore, for blade storage and transport containers that are compact, efficient and safe to use.  
         [0007]     These and other objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to a storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor. The container has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided to enclosed the inside of the container. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective illustration of a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial, front view of a container according to the preferred embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a partial front view of a component of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a partial top view of a component of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a bottom view, schematic of a blade disc of the type used with the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a side view, schematic of a blade disc of the type used with the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic, partial view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     A container ( 10 ) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The container ( 10 ) has an outer housing ( 12 ) that is generally cylindrically shaped to accommodate the round shape of blades to be stored therein. The housing ( 12 ) may be of another shape, though it preferably is designed to conserve space and, thus, may conform closely to the shape of the blades to be stored therein.  
         [0019]     The housing ( 12 ) is preferably a unitary piece that has a space on part of the sidewall to accommodate a hinged door ( 14 ). The door ( 14 ) and the housing ( 12 ) may be molded from plastic and the housing ( 12 ) may have hinge protrusions ( 16 ) that snap-fit with the door ( 14 ) to hold in it hinged relation. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the door ( 14 ) can be swung open. The door ( 14 ) is shown closed in  FIG. 1 . The edge ( 18 ) of the door ( 14 ) and the mating portion ( 20 ) of the housing ( 12 ) may be provided with wedge or press-fit latching means (not shown) of the type known to those skilled in the art to selectively secure the door ( 14 ) in the closed position.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a partial front view, a rack ( 22 ) is fixed inside the housing ( 12 ). The rack ( 22 ) comprises a series of horizontally-aligned platforms ( 24 ) having spaces ( 26 ) therebetween. Each space ( 26 ) is designed to accommodate a blade disc to be stored therein. The platforms ( 24 ) are supported by struts ( 28 ) that hold them in spaced relation. The rack ( 22 ) may be fastened to the housing ( 12 ) by screws (not shown) positioned through holes ( 30 ).  
         [0021]     A close view of one of the platforms ( 24 ) is shown in  FIG. 4A  to more clearly show the spring-biased wedge lock ( 32 ) that locks a blade disc positioned in the rack ( 22 ). Referring to the top view of  FIG. 4B , the wedge lock ( 32 ) is a flat spring-tab unitarily formed from the molded platform ( 24 ). A wedge tip ( 34 ) extends downwardly or beneath the platform ( 24 ) so that when a blade disc having a lip is slipped in the space ( 26 ) beneath the platform ( 24 ), the wedge rides over the lip and snaps back into un-biased position after the lip passes. The reverse action happens when the blade disc is pulled out. This serves as a lock to hold a blade disc in place within the container ( 10 ). For reference purposes, the side of the platform ( 24 ) that has the mating surfaces ( 44 ) shown faces front, and thus is the view in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate a blade disc ( 36 ) of the type to be held in the container ( 10 ). The blade disc ( 36 ) has a raised center portion ( 38 ) and a disc body ( 40 ). The platforms ( 24 ) may be formed with mating surfaces ( 44 ) that contact corresponding surfaces ( 42 ) of the raised portion ( 38 ) when it is inserted into the rack ( 22 ).  
         [0023]     An alternative embodiment container ( 100 ) is shown in  FIG. 6 , wherein the door ( 124 ) is a sliding door that nests inside a wall portion ( 122 ) of the housing body ( 120 ) when the door ( 124 ) is slid closed. The door ( 124 ) is slid opened or closed in the direction of the arrow ( 126 ) in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0024]     Another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein platforms ( 200 ) may be staggered laterally as shown, in order to accommodate multiple blade discs ( 202 ) in close vertical spaces. By staggering the platforms ( 200 ) inside the housing of the container, the platforms ( 200 ) may be positioned closer vertically than if they were not staggered since the center extending portions ( 204 ) of the discs ( 202 ) are alternately off-set eccentrically.  
         [0025]     While the preferred present invention has been herein described, it is understood that various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.