Blender with vertically movable blades

A blender has vertically reciprocating blades attached to a spindle. The blades, when activated, spins about the axis of the spindle. The spindle is also attached to a reciprocating motor which moves the spindle with blades attached up and down the interior of the blender cup.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a blender having a blade assembly attached to a vertically reciprocating shaft within a blender jar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The common food blender is found in kitchens, restaurants, and bars all over the world. It does a very efficient job of pulverizing solids, mixing liquids, and changing consistencies of various food products. However, there are certain types of ingredients such as ice, powders, or similar solids which frequently do not blend completely. This is because the impeller blades operate in a void, and the remaining solids do not fall down to the bottom of the blender. This requires the operator to stop the blender, and manually stir it or even shake the entire blender. Obviously this takes additional time, and negatively impacts the quality of the blended food. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which complete and thorough blending of food products in a blender can occur regardless of the ingredient consistency. The use of the blender with vertically moving blades allows for the thorough and complete mixing of food ingredients in a blender in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principles of the present invention provide for such a blender that includes a blender j ar, having a sidewall, an open jar top and a bottom aperture, a lid detachably connected to the jar top, a base assembly that includes a base housing, a drive means having a portion disposed within the base housing, and a control means in electrical communication with the drive means, and a blade attachable to and in mechanical communication with the drive means. The blender jar is secured to the base housing. The blade resides within the blender jar when attached to the drive means and the blender jar is secured to the base housing. The drive means is capable of simultaneously vertically driving the blade in an oscillating motion and rotating the blade.

It is an object of the present invention to provide such a blender jar to further include a pouring spout located on a side of the jar top, a handle that extends outwardly from the sidewall opposite the pouring spout, an aperture wall surrounding the bottom aperture, and a fastening feature located about the aperture wall, configured to enable the blender jar to removably fasten to the base housing. In at least one (1) embodiment, the blender jar further includes a plurality of side flutes formed on the sidewall.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a drive means to include a bearing housing, a portion of which extends outward from the base housing, a motor in electrical communication with the control means, a motor sheave having a first end operably controlled by the motor and a second end, and a transmission operably controlled by the motor shaft and capable of vertical adjustment within the base assembly. In at least one (1) embodiment, the bearing housing has a bearing within an interior thereof, a shaft seal within an interior thereof, and a bearing housing flange located on a lower portion thereof and extending perpendicularly therefrom. The shaft seal prevents environmental communication with the bearing housing interior.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a transmission to also include a drive sheave in mechanical communication with the motor sheave, an oscillator sheave in mechanical communication with the drive sheave, a worm in mechanical communication with the oscillator sheave, a worm gear in mechanical communication with the worm, a drive link in mechanical communication with the worm gear, an oscillator in mechanical communication with the drive link, an oscillating quill in mechanical communication with the oscillator, and a shaft coupling in mechanical communication between the oscillating quill and said blade.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a blade that has an impeller shaft, having a first end capable of removable attachment to the shaft coupling and be operably driven thereby, at least one (1) impeller, each having a first end removably mounted to the impeller shaft, and an impeller shaft flange located at the impeller shaft first end capable of removable connection to the base housing.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a base housing to also include an upper shell, a socket located at an upper side of the upper shell and having a connector, a lower shell fastenable to the upper shell, a plurality of drive support assemblies, each having a first end attached to an inner bottom surface of the lower shell and extending vertically upward therefrom, and a sub support plate attached to the second ends of the drive support assemblies. The impeller shaft flange is capable of removable attachment to the connector. The drive means and transmission are attached to and supported by the plurality of drive support assemblies. The bearing housing portion and connector extends therethrough.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide such a control means to include a control circuit disposed within the base housing and in electrical communication with the motor, a power switch, capable of providing electrical communication between the control circuit and a power source, and a rheostat in electrical communication with the control circuit.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a clamp ring removably attaching the fastening feature to the bearing housing flange within the socket. Also, a sealing feature removably placed within the clamp ring is capable of preventing environmental communication with the blender jar through the bottom aperture.

DESCRIPTIVE KEY

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention describes a blender (herein referred to as the “device”)10, intended to accomplish certain procedural steps in the processing of foodstuffs for consumption, having a rotary powered blade115which has the further capability of reciprocal vertical motion so as to be displaced through some portion of a removable blender jar20to more adequately slice and mix the contents therein. This reciprocating vertical motion of the blade115may be most advantageous when the device10is utilized on items having a more solid texture such as when crushing ice cubes.

Referring now toFIG. 1, an isometric view of the device10, andFIG. 2, a section view along line A-A, as seen inFIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device10includes a blender jar20, having a detachable lid90, and a motorized base270containing a speed control rheostat500and a power switch505.

The blender jar20is composed preferably of a borosilicate glass to reduce marring caused by impacts and the undesirable retention of some food flavors. However, other materials, such as polycarbonate, or other polymer glass, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device10. It is envisioned that in some embodiments, additional metal salts may be introduced into the constituent material of the blender jar20at the time of manufacture in order to provide some color tint. The blender jar20is produced in a molding process to have certain physical shape features, such as a sidewall25having side flutes30to improve the circulation of the processing foodstuffs therein, as well as an external thread70around a circular bottom aperture wall60for the attachment of a clamp ring170. The blender jar20is formed in one (1) piece with an encircling sidewall25joined to a domed bottom50along a smooth radius so as to envelope an internal cavity85. A top lip35is disposed around an upper edge of the sidewall25to define a top opening40. All foodstuffs placed within the interior cavity85are introduced through the top opening40. A portion of the top lip35and the sidewall25is molded into a flared, generally “V”-shaped pour spout75groove. The pour spout75is intended to channel the flow of material exiting the interior cavity85over the top lip35when the blender jar20is tilted. An arcuate handle80is formed along the sidewall25opposite from the pour spout75by which a user may grasp the blender jar20for transportation or tilting to drain the contents.

As previously stated, side flutes30are disposed along the sidewall25for circulation primarily of contents that have been processed into slurry. The side flutes30are configured to be convex channels molded into the sidewall25to receive material pushed downwardly through the interior cavity85by the action of the blade115and redirect that material upwardly along the interior of the sidewalls25for further processing.

A threaded insert45is disposed along an inner face of the sidewall25in proximity to the top lip35. The threaded insert45is configured to be a metal ring into which a spiral thread of some profile has been cut. The threaded insert45is securely fitted into the interior cavity85in order to retain a lid90. The lid90is configured to be a disk composed of a rigid thermoplastic material provided for a covering of the top opening40. Disposed on an upper face of the lid90is a lid grip95which can be utilized to rotate and otherwise move the lid as necessary. A lid thread100is formed along the peripheral face of the disk. The lid thread100is complimentary to the thread of the threaded insert45so that the lid may be secured to the blender jar20during operation to obviate splashing any contents out of the interior cavity85.

A bottom aperture55is centrally located in the bottom50of the blender jar20. This bottom aperture55provides access for the insertion of an impeller110mounted to an impeller shaft125. The aperture wall60surrounds the bottom aperture55. A lower planar face of that aperture wall60is a seal face65against which the jar seal165is pressed in order to retain the contents of the interior cavity85.

The impeller110is provided with a plurality of contoured stainless steel blades115. The blades115are secured to a first end of the impeller shaft125by means of a threaded blade retainer120. The blades115are configured to cut through foodstuffs to be processed and press that processed food downwardly through the interior cavity85toward the bottom50of the blender jar20.

A bearing housing130is disposed at the bottom50of the blender jar20located in the bottom aperture55. The bearing housing130is a drawn metal shell having a bearing housing cavity135provided with the necessary features, such as the appropriate bores and shoulders to accept and retain a shaft seal145and a bearing150. The shaft seal145is a commercially available device, equipped with a resilient elastomer element, capable of inhibiting the flow of any material into the bearing housing130from the blender jar20. The bearing150is a commercially available needle roller bearing150. Other types of rolling elements, such as ball bearings150, may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device10. The bearing housing130is configured to have a generally planar bearing housing flange140at a lower end. The bearing housing flange140is a ring of material extending perpendicularly from bearing housing130. The bearing housing flange is intended to work in conjunction with a jar seal165pressed against the seal face65of the aperture wall60and retained by the clamp ring170to obviate the leakage of any material from the bottom50of the blender jar20. The clamp ring170is composed of an injection molded thermoplastic and provided with the necessary peripheral features to allow a user to easily tighten the internal ring threads175against the external thread of the aperture wall60so as to accomplish the previously described seal. Disposed on the interior of the clamp ring170is seal seat185configured to be a planar face oriented perpendicular to the central axis of the ring thread175for the purpose of pressing the bearing housing flange140against the jar seal165and the aperture wall60. The jar seal165is configured to be a resilient elastomer washer having parallel planar faces adequate for the intended sealing purpose. The clamp ring170is also provided with a ring aperture180through which the impeller shaft125is permitted to pass.

Disposed at a second end of the impeller shaft125is an impeller shaft flange155. The impeller shaft flange155is provided with a geometric profile, such as a hexagon, to selectively fit within a connector160. The impeller shaft flange155is configured to be removably attached to the connector160so that the blender jar20with the enclosed impeller110may be selectively removed from the base270for emptying and cleaning.

The base270is preferably comprised of a rigid thermoplastic material and constructed from a plurality of injection-molded shell275parts to house interior components as will be described herein below. The various pieces of the shell275are envisioned to be fastened together by the use of a plurality of threaded fasteners. A bottom plate285, preferably fabricated from a metal, such as carbon steel, is disposed at a bottom face of the base270and provides the necessary structural support for oscillator support assemblies510. A plurality of footpads290, configured to be resilient elastomer disks, are attached to the bottom plate285to provide stability to the device as well as obviating any marring to the support surface. It is also appreciated that the base270can have no plurality of shell275parts or fasteners, and the shell270itself is a unitary construction.

Disposed on an upper surface of the base270is a jar socket280configured to be an annular ring molded to conform to the profile of the clamp ring170. In use, the assembled blender jar20, with the clamp ring170engaged in the external thread70of the aperture wall60, will be inserted into the jar socket280as a primary means of supporting the blender jar20in an upright position and simultaneously connecting the impeller shaft125to the connector160in the base270.

Referring now toFIG. 3, an exploded parts view of the device10in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The interior cavity85is partially shown at the uppermost portion of the figure, with the clamp ring170arranged in a linear manner. The shell275is provided in an upper and lower clamshell arrangement as shown. The jar socket280is fastened to the upper shell275with the aid of two (2) engagement studs515. The speed control rheostat500and the power switch505is located in a forward-facing position on the lower shell275. A cord310with an associated plug315exit the rear of the lower shell275which power the blender10. Further detail on the electrical operation of the blender10will be provided herein below.

The oscillator support assemblies510form vertical structures to hold internal components of the blender10and are mechanically fastened to the bottom plate285. A sub support plate520is physically fastened to span the top of the two (2) oscillator support assemblies510and thus form a physically stable structure. A motor525, operated through a motor control circuit530, and connected to the cord310through the speed control rheostat500and the power switch505is used to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to operate the blender10. The motor525can be of any of a variety of commercially available, copper wound, small frame, multiple speed motors energized by 110-VAC, and capable of generating sufficient torque to induce the desired motion in the impeller110(as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2). The mechanical connection of the motor525will be explained in greater detail elsewhere in this narrative. Also shown inFIG. 3are a pitcher shaft coupling535, an oscillating quill540, an oscillator shaft housing545, a worm,64p, single thread, s/s550, a drive link555, a worm gear,180t,64p560and a motor sheave565, all of which will be described in greater detail herein below.

Referring next toFIG. 4, a detailed perspective view of the reciprocating/rotary drive unit700as used with the blender10in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Rotary motion from the motor525is transferred to a motor sheave565and in turn to a drive sheave575via a motor drive belt580. Likewise, rotary action from the drive sheave575is transferred by an oscillator drive belt585to an oscillator sheave570. As the oscillator sheave570rotates, the worm,64p, single thread, s/s550is driven rotationally as well. As such the worm nature of the worm,64p, single thread, s/s550drives the worm gear,180t,64p560thus producing rotation. An offset protrusion (not shown due to illustrative limitations) on the rear of the worm gear,180t,64p560then displaces the drive link555in a distance equal to the diameter of the offset protrusion. As such, this reciprocation motion of the drive link555is transferred via a linkage connection595to a oscillator unit590and thus the oscillating quill540and pitcher shaft coupling535. As the pitcher shaft coupling535and the oscillating quill540are already rotating due the -drive sheave575, a simultaneous reciprocating motion path600and rotary motion path605is produced. This motion is transferred to the impeller shaft125(as shown inFIG. 2) to produce the desired motion as aforementioned described of the blade115within the interior cavity85.

Referring finally toFIG. 5, an operational block diagram of the device10in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted. Electrical power is provided by the cord310and the plug315and controlled by the power switch505. The controlled power serves as an input to the motor control circuit530along with the additional control input of the speed control rheostat500. Resultant output, controlled by voltage, frequency, and/or current is then routed to the motor525which produces variable speed and thus variable control of the blender10depending on various food stuffs.

In accordance with the invention, the illustrated embodiment can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device10, it would be installed as indicated inFIG. 1.

The method of installing and utilizing the device10may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device10having a desired style to suit the taste of a user; selecting a clear, level, dry, planar support surface upon which to place the device10; extending the cord310; inserting the plug315into an appropriate electrical receptacle; installing the blender jar20onto the base270; grasping the lid grip95; rotating the lid90so as to disengage the lid thread100from the threaded insert45; removing the lid90, thereby exposing the top opening40; inserting the selected food items into the interior cavity85through the top opening40; returning the lid90to the top opening40; rotating the lid90so as to engage the lid thread100with the threaded insert45; selecting the desired processing speed by rotation of the speed control rheostat500; activation of the on/off switch505; allowing the device10to function in the normal manner of rotating the blades115while displacing the impeller110in a reciprocal motion; removing the lid90from the top opening40when blending and/or mixing operations are complete; grasping the handle80so as to maneuver the blender jar20; removing the blender jar20from the base270; tipping the blender jar20so as to allow the contents to flow over the top lip35at the pour spout75; repeating this procedure as required to complete the task; and cleaning the device10. The blender jar20, as well as the components within the interior cavity85, and the lid90may require cleaning prior to a first use.