MICRO PUREE MACHINE WITH BOWL AND BLADE DETECTION

A micro puree machine has a microswitch for interacting with projections on a bowl to alert the user that the bowl has been installed correctly to the machine housing. The microswitch also interacts with a plunger of a lid and blade assembly to alert the user that the blade has been properly assembled to the lid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a food processing device and, more particularly, to a micro puree machine for making frozen foods and drinks.

BACKGROUND

Home use machines that are intended to make ice creams, gelatos, frozen yogurts, sorbets and the like are known in the art. Typically, a user adds a series of non-frozen ingredients to a bowl. The ingredients are then churned by a paddle while a refrigeration mechanism simultaneously freezes the ingredients. These devices have known shortcomings including, but not limited to, the amount of time and effort required by the user to complete the ice cream making process. Machines of this nature are impractical for preparing most non-dessert food products.

An alternative type of machine known to make a frozen food product is a micro-puree machine. Typically, machines of this nature spin and plunge a blade into a pre-frozen ingredient or combination of ingredients. While able to make frozen desserts like ice creams, gelatos, frozen yogurts, sorbets and the like, micro puree style machines can also prepare non-dessert types of foods such as non-dessert purees and mousses. In addition, consumers can prepare either an entire batch of ingredients or a pre-desired number of servings. With some current micro puree machines, however, it is difficult for the user to discern when the bowl has been correctly installed to the machine housing, or when the blade has been properly assembled to the lid.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes a micro puree machine having a microswitch for interacting with projections on the bowl to alert the user that the bowl has been installed correctly to the machine housing. Furthermore, the microswitch interacts with a plunger of a lid and blade assembly to alert the user that the blade has been properly assembled to the lid.

Embodiments of the micro puree machine of this disclosure may include one or more of the following, in any suitable combination.

In one aspect, a lid and blade assembly for a micro puree machine includes a lid having a slotted member defining one or more slots. The lid also includes a cam member positioned between the slotted member and an attachment portion, where the cam member defines at least one pocket. The cam member may be rotatable relative to the slotted member between a first position and a second position. The lid further includes plunger having a first portion and a second portion, where the second portion of the plunger is configured to extend through one of the one or more slots and rest in the at least one pocket when the cam member is in the first position. The assembly also includes a blade insertable within the lid when the cam member is in the second position such that, when the cam member is in the second position, the second portion of the plunger is configured to exit the pocket to cause the first portion to activate a microswitch.

The second portion of the plunger may rest on a surface of the cam member when the cam member is in the second position. The attachment portion may be configured to couple to a bowl. Activation of the microswitch may indicate the presence of the blade within the lid to a user. The cam member may include a lever arm for effecting manual rotation of the cam member between the first position and the second position. The slotted member may include a projection for engaging the lever arm when the cam member is in the second position.

The lid may include at least one retaining component for engaging a portion of the blade when the blade is installed in the lid. The lid may be configured to couple to a coupling of the micro puree machine.

In another aspect, a micro puree machine with a lid and blade assembly includes a lid having a slotted member defining one or more slots and an attachment portion configured to couple to a bowl. The lid also includes a cam member positioned between the slotted member and the attachment portion, where the cam member defines at least one pocket. The cam member may be rotatable relative to the slotted member between a first position and a second position. The lid also includes a plunger having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the plunger configured to extend through one of the one or more slots and rest in the at least one pocket when the cam member is in the first position. The assembly includes a blade insertable within the lid when the cam member is in the second position. When the cam member is in the second position, the second portion of the plunger is configured to exit the pocket to cause the first portion to activate a microswitch. The lid and the bowl are configured to couple to a coupling of the micro puree machine.

The second portion of the plunger may rest on a surface of the cam member when the cam member is in the second position. Activation of the microswitch may indicate the presence of the blade within the lid to a user. The cam member may include a lever arm for effecting manual rotation of the cam member between the first position and the second position. The slotted member may include a projection for engaging the lever arm when the cam member is in the second position. The lid may include at least one retaining component for engaging a portion of the blade when the blade is installed in the lid. The slotted member may define at least one track for engaging at least one pin on the at least one retaining component.

The second portion of the plunger may extend through an opening in the coupling. The coupling may include at least one rib for engaging the lever arm when the cam member is in the second position. An outer surface of the bowl may include at least one projection for engaging a corresponding indentation on an inner surface of the coupling. The indentation may house an interlock plunger, and wherein engagement of the at least one projection with the interlock plunger causes the interlock plunger to activate the microswitch. Activation of the microswitch may indicate installation of the bowl on the coupling to a user.

A reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings will make apparent the advantages of these and other structures. Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description serve as an explanation only and do not restrict aspects of the disclosure as claimed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like components have the same reference numerals, regardless of different illustrated embodiments. To illustrate embodiments clearly and concisely, the drawings may not necessarily reflect appropriate scale and may have certain structures shown in somewhat schematic form. The disclosure may describe and/or illustrate structures in one embodiment, and in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments, and/or combined with or instead of the structures of the other embodiments.

In the specification and claims, for the purposes of describing and defining the invention, the terms “about” and “substantially” represent the inherent degree of uncertainty attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms “about” and “substantially” moreover represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. Open-ended terms, such as “comprise,” “include,” and/or plural forms of each, include the listed parts and can include additional parts not listed, while terms such as “and/or” include one or more of the listed parts and combinations of the listed parts. Use of the terms “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below” and the like helps only in the clear description of the disclosure and does not limit the structure, positioning and/or operation of the micro puree machine in any manner.

FIG.1shows an isometric view of a micro puree machine10according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure. The micro puree machine10may include a base100and an upper housing140. A middle housing120may extend between the base100and the upper housing140. The upper housing140may include an interface142for receiving user inputs to control the micro puree machine10and/or display information. The micro puree machine10may also include a removable bowl350and lid400(FIG.2). The bowl350may contain one or more pre-frozen ingredients for processing. A user may couple the bowl350to a coupling500on a surface144of the upper housing140by rotating the bowl350relative to the coupling500, as further described below. In embodiments, the bowl350may include features354on the bottom surface of the bowl350to aid in the fixing of frozen ingredients within the bowl350. The features354may prevent such ingredients from rotational movement within the bowl350during use. In embodiments, the bowl350can be manufactured from a disposable material to enhance the convenience of using the micro puree machine10. Further, the bowl350can be sold as a stand-alone item and can also be prefilled with ingredients to be processed during use of the micro puree machine10.

FIG.2shows the micro puree machine10ofFIG.1with the bowl350and the lid400disassembled from the upper housing140according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.2, an inner surface502of the coupling500may comprise locating and locking elements for positioning and connecting the bowl350to the coupling500. For example, the inner surface502of the coupling500may comprise one or more indentations504sized to receive at least one corresponding projection352on an outer surface of the bowl350. In embodiments, the at least one projection352may be four projections352spaced 90 degrees apart about an outer surface of the bowl350. However, the disclosure contemplates more or fewer than four projections352. The user may rotate the bowl350relative to the coupling500such that the projections352are rotated into the indentations504, locking the bowl350and the coupling500together.

FIG.3illustrates a detailed view of the underside of the coupling500according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.3, the coupling500may include at least one of rib540for interacting with the lid400, as further described below. In embodiments, the at least one rib540may be four ribs540spaced 90 degrees apart about an inner surface of the coupling500. However, the disclosure contemplates more or fewer than four ribs540. In embodiments, when the bowl350and the lid400are properly installed on the coupling500, any one of the projections352on the bowl350may press an interlock plunger506within the indentation504of the coupling500. Pressing the interlock plunger506may activate a micro switch434(FIG.4A) to alert the user via the interface142that the bowl350and the lid400are properly installed to the coupling500. Similarly, when a blade has been properly assembled to the lid400, a blade detection plunger510extending through an opening in the coupling500may activate the micro switch434to alert the user via the interface142that the blade has been properly assembled to the lid400, as further described below.

FIGS.4A-Cillustrate the positioning of the blade detection plunger510when the blade300is not installed within the lid400according to some embodiments. As shown inFIGS.4A-C, embodiments of the lid400may include retaining components408configured to engage the blade300when the blade is installed in the lid. The retaining components408may be spring biased toward a center of the lid400by at least one spring (not shown). The spring may extend and attach to opposing retaining components408such that the spring tends to pull the opposing retaining components408toward each other. The lid400may further include a slotted member402defining one or more slots and/or channels412and an attachment portion406configured to couple to the bowl350. Between the slotted member402and the attachment portion406, a cam member428may define at least one pocket432. A release lever arm430of the cam member428may be retained on the attachment portion406such that the release lever arm430can move rotationally relative to the slotted member402within a pre-determined range of motion. The cam member428may also define tracks431for engagement with pins435on the retaining components408. The slotted member402may also include a projection440for engaging the release lever arm430as it rotates. In embodiments, the blade detection plunger510may have first portion510aoperationally configured to engage the micro switch434and a second portion510bconfigured to extend through one of the slots412and to rest in the pocket432of the cam member428when the blade300is not installed in the lid400.

FIGS.4D and4Eillustrate the relative positioning of the retaining components408, the pins435and the release lever arm430when the blade300is not installed in the lid400(FIG.4D) and when the blade300is installed in the lid400(FIG.4E), according to some embodiments. As shown inFIG.4D, when the blade300is not installed in the lid400, the pins435on the retaining components408may sit at the furthest end of the tracks431. If the lid400is installed to the coupling500without the blade300, the release lever arm430may sit counterclockwise of a rib540of the coupling500(FIG.3). As shown inFIG.4E, when the blade300is installed in the lid400, the pins435on the retaining components408may sit further apart from each other and closer to a middle of the tracks431. If the lid400is installed to the coupling500with the blade300, the release lever arm430may sit clockwise of the rib540of the coupling500. When the user presses the blade300into the lid400, a central support hub305of the blade300may tend to urge the retaining components408outwards against the force of the springs (not shown). When the user removes the blade300from the lid400, the retaining components408may be urged by the springs back to their rest position ofFIG.4D.

FIGS.4F-Hillustrate the positioning of the blade detection plunger510when the blade300is installed within the lid400according to some embodiments. As described above with regard toFIGS.4D and4E, to install the blade300in the lid400, the user may first rotate the release lever arm430to force the retaining components408apart so that the blade300may be installed to the lid400. Rotating the release lever arm430may also rotate the cam member428relative to the slotted member402of the lid400such that the second portion510bof the blade detection plunger510may be forced to exit the pocket432and instead may contact an upper shelf436of the cam member428. This positioning of the blade detection plunger510may cause the first portion510aof the blade detection plunger510to activate the microswitch434to alert the user via the interface142that the blade300has been installed in the lid400.

FIGS.5A-Dillustrate further configurations of the lid400and the bowl350when the blade300is not installed in the lid400, according to some embodiments.FIGS.5A and5Cillustrate a top-down views of the lid400(with certain components removed for ease of illustration) whileFIGS.5B and5Dillustrate bottom-up views of the bowl350. Furthermore,FIGS.5A and5Billustrate and lid400and the bowl350in the unlocked position relative to the coupling500, whileFIGS.5C and5Dillustrate the lid400and the bowl350in the locked position. As shown inFIG.5A, when the blade300is not installed in the lid400, if the user attempts to install the lid400and the bowl350to the coupling500, the release lever arm430may sit counterclockwise of a rib540on the coupling500. This may be true whether the lid400and the bowl350are in the unlocked position relative to the coupling500, as shown inFIG.5B(i.e., the projection352on the bowl350may not be inserted into the indentation504of the coupling500), or in the locked position relative to the coupling500, as shown inFIG.5D(i.e., the projection352may be inserted into the indentation504). This position of the release lever arm430prevents the retaining components408from opening.

FIGS.6A-Dillustrate configurations of the lid400and the bowl350when the blade300is installed in the lid400.FIGS.6A and6Cillustrate a top-down view of the lid400(with certain components removed for ease of illustration) whileFIGS.6B and6Dillustrate a bottom-up view of the bowl350. Furthermore,FIGS.5A and5Billustrate and lid400and the bowl350in the unlocked position relative to the coupling500, whileFIGS.5C and5Dillustrate the lid400and the bowl350in the locked position. When the blade300is installed in the lid400, if the user rotates the lid400and the bowl350to install them to the coupling500, the release lever arm430may sit counterclockwise of the rib540of the coupling500and may contact the rib540during its rotation. As the user continues to rotate the bowl350and the lid400, the release lever arm430may further rotates until it is forced to halt against the rib540. The slotted member402may continue to rotate with the bowl350relative to the halted cam member428until the projection440on the slotted member402is halted by the release lever arm430. This position of the release lever arm430may allow the retaining components408to open such that the blade300(now attached to a mixing shaft252) can engage the ingredients in the bowl350.

FIGS.7A-Cillustrate an alternative embodiment of the lid400′. As shown inFIGS.7A-C, in embodiments, the lid400′ may include a plurality of tabs438for aligning to the projections352on the bowl350when the lid400′ is properly installed on the bowl350(FIG.7A). When the tabs438are not aligned with the projections352(FIG.7B), the lid400′ and the bowl350cannot be installed to the coupling500(FIG.7C). This mechanism advantageously prevents the user from assembling the bowl350to the micro puree machine10unless the lid400′ is fully screwed onto the bowl350.

While the disclosure particularly shows and describes preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and details may exist without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims. The scope of this present application intends to cover such variations. As such, the foregoing description of embodiments of the present application does not intend to limit the full scope conveyed by the appended claims.