An motorized base apparatus for selectively receiving an appliance. The apparatus comprising: a control interface; an appliance coupling element; an appliance sensor element; an appliance retaining mechanism; and a processor element. The processor element being coupled to the appliance sensor element for receiving data indicative of the selectively received appliance. The processor element being coupled to the control interface for adapting the interface in response to the identified appliance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to kitchen appliances and more particularly to electrical kitchen appliances.

The invention has been developed primarily for use as a combination juicer and blender and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Fruit and vegetable juicers are well known. Blenders are also well known. Both appliances utilise an electric motor to spin a working part. The present invention seeks to integrate the aforesaid appliances by providing a single motorised base that can accept a specially configured juicer head or blender head interchangeable, safely and economically. It will be appreciated that the motorised base and sensor arrangement taught in the present invention may be used to drive kitchen appliances other than a juicer or blender.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention in a preferred form to provide a motorised based that accepts both a juicing head a blending head.

It is another object of the invention in a preferred form to provide a motorised base that can selectively detect the presence of either juicing head or a blending head and having means for altering the configuration of a control on the base according to what is detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for providing a motorised base to a selectively received appliance, the apparatus comprising:a control interface;an appliance coupling element;an appliance sensor element;an appliance retaining mechanism; anda processor element coupled to the appliance sensor element for receiving data indicative of the selectively received appliance; the processor element being coupled to the control interface for adapting the interface in response to the identified appliance.

Preferably, the control interface is adaptively configurable for enabling tailored control to the selectively received appliance.

Preferably, the processor element is adapted to identify the appliance and present a predetermined respective control interface. More preferably, the processor element is adapted to receive control data from the control interface and respectively control the appliance coupling element.

Preferably, the coupling element is a dual function coupling element.

Preferably, the retaining mechanism includes a locking bar. More preferably, the locking bar is rotatable to engage one or more retention detents on an exterior surface of the appliance.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a safety mechanism that cooperates with the retaining mechanism for preventing operation unless the retaining mechanism is substantially full engaged with the appliance. More preferably, the processor element is coupled to the safety mechanism for restricting operation of the appliance coupling element when the retaining mechanism is not substantially full engaged with the appliance.

Preferably, the processor element is further adapted to present a restricted control interface when the retaining mechanism is not substantially full engaged with the appliance.

Preferably, wherein the appliance includes a magnetic element located proximal to a lower surface. More preferably, the appliance further includes a hall effect sensor for detecting presence of the magnetic element, thereby identifying orientation of the appliance. Most preferably, the processor element is coupled to the hall effect sensor, and upon receipt of data indicative of the orientation of the appliance, the processor being adapted to respectively alter the control interface.

Preferably, an upper surface of the apparatus comprises a contoured surface that includes one or more locating depressions for receiving cooperating features of the appliance. More preferably, cooperation of the depressions with the appliance, restrict the appliance into a single operative orientation in which it is seated against the apparatus.

Preferably, the coupling element is adapted to receive a male coupling component from the appliance. More preferably, the coupling element includes internal splines for cooperatively engaging external splines formed on a male coupling of the appliance. The coupling element preferably includes spaced apart longitudinal grooves for cooperating with features on a female coupling component of the appliance. The coupling element preferably includes retractable protrusions, which are biased radically outward for seating the appliance coupling and providing a tactile feed-back.

Preferably, the apparatus includes an electric motor for driving the coupling element. More preferably, the apparatus is a motorised based for selectively receiving either a juicing head appliance or a blending head appliance.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product stored on a computer usable medium, the computer program product adapted to provide a control interface for a processor element, the processor element being adapted to receive configuration data indicative of an appliance and present a predetermined respective control interface.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown inFIG. 1, a combination juicer and blender10comprises a motorised base11, a juicing head12and a blending head13. The motorised base is seen as having a safety bar or locking bar14, a multi function user operated controller15and a dual function coupling16.

As shown inFIG. 2, the blending head13may be assembled on to the top of the motorised base11. By comparison toFIG. 1, it can be seen that the safety bar14has been rotated into a fully upright orientation. In the upright orientation, the safety bar is received and retained by one or more retention detents21that protrude from an exterior surface from the blender head. Within the cylindrical body22of the motorised base11there is an electrical cut-out or safety mechanism23that prevents the motor from operating unless the safety bar14is in the fully upright orientation. Note that in this example, the safety bar14comprises a pair of metallic uprights24that are interconnected by a generally semi-circular bail25. The orientation of the safety bar14is sensed by a mechanism23internal to the base that cooperates with a processor or switching arrangement26. The processor or switching arrangement26also cooperates with a user operated control15.

The detent21on the blender has vertical features that receive a small horizontal stub72that extends radially inward from a lower portion of the locking bar. The vertical features of the detent21on the blending head mimic the vertical features on the juicing head's cap48,49.

As shown inFIG. 3, the base11contains a vertically oriented or upright electric motor31that drives an external coupling32. The coupling32is adapted to receive a pinion like stub shaft or male coupling component33that protrudes from the bottom surface of the blender head. A magnet34is located directly or nearly adjacent to a lower surface of the blender head. Because of the mechanical cooperation between the blender head and the motorised base11, the blender head may only be oriented one way with respect to the base11. In this correct or “seated” orientation, the presence of the magnet34can be detected by a Hall effect sensor35that cooperates with the processor26. A recognition signal sent by the Hall sensor35causes the processor26to alter the way that the user control of the base's motor31operates, that is, from a first or juicer mode to a second or blender mode.

As shown inFIG. 4, the motorised base will also accept a juicing head12. The juicing head lacks a magnetic trigger or target for the Hall sensor35and therefore, the processor will operate in the aforementioned first mode when the juicing head12is in place. The juicing head12comprises a juice collector vessel41having a spout42. The juicer collecting vessel is covered by a cap or lid43having a feed tube44. In preferred embodiments, the cap or lid is transparent or “see through” and the feed tube is fabricated from stainless steel and affixed to the cap. The feed tube44receives a pusher45. The lid or cap43has an extension46that assists in the diversion of unwanted pulp into a removable pulp collector47. In preferred embodiments, the pulp collector has a surface that conforms to the rounded external shape of the base11. The upper surface of the cap further comprises a detent40with a ramped surface49. The detent is able to receive and temporarily secure the safety bar14. The motor will only operate when the safety bar14is in a fully upright orientation.

As shown inFIG. 5, the upper surface of the base contains a notch or grove51for receiving the spout42of the juicing head12. It will also be appreciated that the rotating grating disk and filter basket will engage the outside diameter52of the base's coupling32. Thus, the central void53of the coupling is used, in this example, only for the blender's corresponding male coupling part and is not used with the juicing head. Similarly, when the blender head is engaged with the central recess53, the rim oriented features that used to drive the juicer's grating disk and filter basket are not used (seeFIG. 6).

As shown inFIG. 5, an upper surface61of the motorised base11comprises a contoured surface that includes one or more locating depressions62for receiving cooperating features of the blender head. The cooperation of the depressions62and the blender head features force the blender head into a single orientation in which the blender head can be properly seated against the base. A small depression63may be located above the Hall sensor35on the upper surface of the base11. The various orientation depressions62may also be used to orient and secure the juicing head.

FIG. 6clearly illustrates the rotating coupling32. The central recess53is seen as having internal teeth or splines etc64for engaging or cooperating with the external teeth or splines formed on the blender's male coupling counterpart33. This same coupling32also has spaced apart longitudinal grooves65for cooperating with features on the female coupling component of the juicing head. Retractable steel ball bearings, biased radially outward with compression springs may be used to firmly seat the juicing head's coupling and provide tactile feed-back.

As shown inFIG. 7, the motorised base11features a user operated control15on an exterior location. In this example, the control15comprises a rotary knob or dial71that also operates as a push switch. Rotation of the knob71corresponds generally to motor speed for the first mode or juicing mode but also acts as a blender program selector when in the second mode. It will be appreciated that the control over the motor including motor speed and various motor programs are achieved by having microprocessor control over the motor or its speed controller. It will also be appreciated that one of the benefits of the invention is being able to utilised the same user control in different ways, depending upon which appliance head is located on the base. In this example, a rotating knob that also acts as a push button is provided. In other embodiments, different forms of user control may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. In more sophisticated embodiments a touch screen may be provided. In this way, the display and interactive capability of the touch screen may be determined by the above method, i.e. determined according to detection (or not) of a particular appliance head. This may be done with a magnet and a Hall sensor or by other means as are commonly known in the art. The determination of which appliance head is present may also be accomplished in a variety of ways, that is, by using micro switches, optical sensors or RFID.

In the first or juicing mode, the rotational position of the knob71merely acts to increase the motor speed, continuously, within a range indicated by visible numerals “1-5”73. When the blender head13is properly oriented and the safety bar14is fully vertical, and the blender head's magnet34is detected by the Hall sensor35, the processor utilises the outputs from the user control15in a different way. The second mode or blender mode controls (indicated by the rotating knob71) comprise well known blender functions such as the “smoothie”, “ice crushing”, “pulse” and normal continuous operation. For example, when the user selects “smoothie” functionality using the knob15, the blender will operate in accordance with the following processor program. The motor will cycle automatically between high and low speeds for predetermined intervals over a set time of approximately one minute. The alternation between high motor speed and slower motor speed optimises both the liquification of the ingredients within the blender as well as agitating the entire contents of the blender to achieve uniform mixing and breakdown of the blender contents.

Both the juicing head and the blender head have only one correct orientation with respect to the motorised base. This is to ensure that the locking bar or safety bar14can be utilised for both heads.

As suggested by the above description, the motorised base of the present invention is adapted to be used in conjunction with other types of appliance heads. A variety of different appliance heads can be used so long as the appliance can be driven by the aforementioned external coupling32, be mountable on the base11, and interact with the safety bar14and sensor35. To illustrate this point, a “generic” appliance head80is depicted as being mounted upon the base11inFIG. 8andFIG. 9. In this example the head80is seen as having retention detents21located at the lower extremity81of the head similar to those disclosed with reference to the blender inFIG. 2. The ramped detents21receive inward facing projections82of the safety bar14and thus prevent operation of the motor unless the safety bar is in the fully upright orientation. As suggested byFIG. 8, the head80must fit within the confines of the safety bar when it is in the upright orientation. As shown inFIG. 9, the motorised base11may be provided with two sensors (such as hall sensors)35,91. The second sensor91is also located internally of the base11and interacts with a magnet or other target92located within the body93of the appliance head80. The interaction between the magnet92and the second hall sensor91causes a third type of graphic display to be generated. The appliance head80is depicted as having a working part94such as a chopper or grinding head arrangement that presents an external male coupling element95. In this example, the appliance head's coupling element95is received within the central recess53of the base's coupling32. Extrapolating from the above description it will be appreciated that practically any number of appliance heads may be provided for use in conjunction with a motorised base11in accordance with the teachings provided in the above specification.

It will be appreciated that disclosed embodiments can provide a motorised based that accepts both a juicing head a blending head. It will be further appreciated that disclosed embodiments can provide a motorised base that can selectively detect the presence of either juicing head or a blending head alters the configuration of a control on the base according to what is detected.

While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader, or with reference to the orientation of the structure during nominal use, as appropriate. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

It will be appreciated that an embodiment of the invention can consist essentially of features disclosed herein. Alternatively, an embodiment of the invention can consist of features disclosed herein. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.