Drive mechanism

A drive mechanism for relatively rotatable components such as a salad spinner comprising a bowl, a colander adapted to rest within the bowl, a lid for the bowl and colander, and a drive mechanism associated with the lid and operatively connected to the colander for rotating the colander relative to the bowl. The drive mechanism includes a handle and a drive gear associated with the handle rotatably attaching the turret to the lid, a pinion gear in driving engagement with the turret, and a clutch interposed between the pinion gear and the turret. The pinion gear meshes with the drive gear whereby movement of the handle in one direction engages the clutch to transmit movement to the turret for spinning of the colander in one direction. Movement of the handle in the opposite direction disengages the clutch. The clutch comprises a clutch housing and a clutch assembly receivable within the clutch housing. The clutch assembly includes a central hub, a plurality of drive pins, flexible arms connecting the drive pins to the central hub, and tensioning petals attached to the central hub for engagement with the turret. Recesses defined by the clutch housing receive the drive pins and these recesses slope inwardly toward the central hub. An engagement surface defined by the turret is received within the clutch housing and the petals operate to move the pins inwardly along the recesses and into driving engagement with the engagement surface when the handle is moved in one direction and outwardly along the recesses and out of driving engagement when the handle is moved in the opposite direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a drive mechanism adaptable for use with various 
products such as a salad spinner useful in the making of salads. The 
concepts of the invention include as one feature an improved clutch means 
for a drive mechanism useful for a salad spinner and other products. 
The invention will be described with reference to salad spinners which have 
typically consisted of an outer bowl with solid walls, and an inner 
perforated bowl adapted to nest within the outer bowl. Salad ingredients 
are located in the inner bowl, and a cover is provided for covering the 
salad. A drive means is provided for spinning the inner bowl relative to 
the outer bowl whereby water on the lettuce and/or other vegetables can be 
passed through the perforated bowl and collected in the outer bowl. A 
handle for operating the drive means is often associated with a lid placed 
over the bowls. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,025 discloses a salad spinner apparatus of the type 
including an outer bowl with solid walls, and an inner perforated bowl 
nested within the outer bowl. A lid is provided for covering the outer 
bowl and the lid includes drive means for spinning the inner bowl relative 
to the outer bowl. 
The drive means specifically comprises clutch means for spinning the inner 
bowl in one direction, a handle positioned adjacent the periphery of the 
lid, and a drive arm extending from the handle to a pivotal connection 
adjacent the opposite side of the lid. The driving force is applied to a 
turret with drive elements at its outer periphery. When the lid is put 
into place, these drive elements are automatically placed in position for 
driving engagement with the inner perforated bowl. Accordingly, once the 
lid is in place, operation of the handle imparts driving movement to the 
inner bowl to achieve the spinning operation. Because of the clutch drive, 
the spinning movement may be repeated as often as desired. 
The perforated inner bowl can be used as a colander while the outer bowl 
can be used as a serving bowl for the salad or for other similar purposes. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The drive mechanism for the salad spinner apparatus of this invention also 
includes a lid incorporating a clutch drive and reciprocally mounted 
handle. This structure imparts driving force to a turret which serves to 
spin a colander mounted for rotation within a bowl. 
The drive mechanism particularly includes a drive gear associated with the 
handle and a pinion gear associated with a clutch means which is, in turn, 
drivingly connected to the turret. The pinion gear meshes with the drive 
gear whereby movement of the handle in one direction engages the clutch 
means to transmit movement to the turret for spinning of the colander in 
one direction. Movement of the handle in the opposite direction disengages 
the clutch means. 
The clutch means comprises a clutch housing and a clutch assembly 
receivable within the clutch housing. The clutch assembly includes a 
central hub, a plurality of drive pins, flexible arms connecting the drive 
pins to the central hub, and tensioning petals attached to the central hub 
for engagement with the turret. Recesses defined by the clutch housing 
receive the drive pins and these recesses slope inwardly toward the 
central hub. An engagement surface defined by the turret is received 
within the clutch housing and the petals operate to move the pins inwardly 
along the recesses and into driving engagement with the engagement surface 
when the handle is moved in one direction, and outwardly along the 
recesses and out of driving engagement when the handle is moved in the 
opposite direction. 
As will be apparent, the clutch means of the invention could be 
incorporated in a variety of products including other household items, 
toys, and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a salad spinner 10 which includes a transparent bowl 
12 and a colander 14. The bowl 12 has a solid side wall construction while 
a plurality of perforations 16 are defined by the side walls of the 
colander with additional perforations 18 being defined by the bottom wall 
of the colander. Openings 17 are formed in the bottom wall of the bowl for 
drainage purposes. 
A protrusion 19 extends upwardly from the bottom wall surface 21 of the 
bowl 12. A corresponding shaped recess 23 is defined by the bottom wall 27 
of colander 14 so that these elements interfit while permitting rotational 
movement of the colander relative to the bowl. 
A lid 20 is adapted for interfitting relationship with the bowl 12. As best 
shown in FIG. 2, this lid includes a downwardly extending flange 22 spaced 
inwardly of shoulder 24. The flange fits within the confines of the bowl 
while the shoulder is adapted to rest on the top edge 25 of the bowl. 
The turret 26 defines a plurality of drive tabs 30. As best shown in FIG. 
2, when the lid 20 is placed over the bowl and colander, these drive tabs 
fit between the upper ends of respective pairs of vertical nibs 31 which 
define the perforations 16 defined by the colander. Accordingly, rotation 
of the turret will automatically result in spinning movement of the 
colander relative to the bowl. 
A drive handle 32 has one end 33 pivotally attached to the underside of lid 
20 by means of fastener 35 fixed within the post 36 formed in the lid. The 
opposite end 38 of the handle extends outwardly from an elongated opening 
40 defined by the lid, and a knob 42 is supported at the exposed end of 
the handle for engagement during use of the spinner. 
The enlarged intermediate section 44 of the handle defines an arcuate slot 
46 having ratchet teeth 48 along one side edge (FIGS. 3, 4 and 6). A post 
50 is formed integrally with and extends downwardly from the lid. Clutch 
housing 52 includes a central tubular section 54 which defines opening 56 
for receiving post 50. The housing 52 is freely rotatable about the post. 
Pinion gear teeth 58 are formed on the tubular section 54 for engagement 
with the ratchet teeth 48. 
A clutch assembly 60 is provided for positioning within the housing 52. 
This assembly, as particularly shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, comprises a 
central hub 62, outwardly extending flexible arms 63, pins 64 attached at 
the ends of the arms, and tensioning petals 66 extending, when in the 
operating position shown in FIG. 3B, downwardly and outwardly relative to 
the central hub. The axis of each pin 64 is substantially parallel to the 
axis of central hub 62. 
The interior wall surface of the housing 52 defines recesses 70 for 
receiving pins 64 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The turret 26 supports a hub 72 on its 
top surface. A central opening defined by this hub receives post 50 and, 
in turn, fastener 76 has a threaded end receivable within the threaded 
interior of post 50. The fastener thus serves to hold the turret 26 and 
clutch housing in assembly relative to the lid 20 while permitting 
rotation of the turret and housing about the post. 
The hub 72 of turret 26 defines a vertically serrated surface 74 for 
engagement by pins 64 of the clutch assembly 60. In this regard, the 
clutch assembly has distinct advantages when compared with prior art 
clutch drives as illustrated, for example, in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,562,025. Thus, as with the other components of the salad spinner of 
this invention, plastic, such as ABS, is molded to form the assembly. This 
one-piece construction greatly facilitates location of the pins 64 within 
the respective recesses 70 of housing 52 during assembly operations. 
The interior of hub 72 defines a concentric tubular section 76 having an 
upper end surface 78 for engagement with the tensioning petals 66. This 
engagement is sufficient upon assembly of the components to provide 
resistance against rotation of the clutch assembly from the position shown 
in FIG. 5 as the clutch housing begins movement counterclockwise in 
response to movement of handle 32. Due to this resistance and the flex 
provided by arms 63, the recesses 70 thereby move the pins inwardly 
relative to serrated surface 74 to insure driving engagement with the 
turret 26. 
When the handle movement is reversed, the pins are moved to the outermost 
positions in recesses 70, out of engagement with the serrated surface so 
that the turret driving action is disengaged (FIG. 5). Reversal of the 
handle movement reengages the driving action, and so on, so that the 
turret and colander always spin in one direction. 
It will be apparent that the clutch assembly of the invention has utility 
beyond a salad spinner. Thus, the clutch housing could be driven by a 
variety of means and the driving force of the clutch assembly 60 could 
then be imparted to a variety of means. In a simple application, a child's 
toy could be constructed with the clutch assembly interposed between parts 
which are relatively movable in the fashion of the illustrated salad 
spinner. 
It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in 
the structures of the invention without departing from the spirit of the 
invention particularly as defined in the following claims.