PORTABLE DRINK BLENDER

A portable drink blender includes a blade rotation axis offset from center such that the blender blades to not extend across in interior of the drinking spout. The motor housing is formed of a lower housing having the complete spout formed therein, and an upper housing including an aperture through which the spout extends. A cover interlock is provided which prevents operation of the motor unless the cover is in the closed position to seal the spout closed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending attorney reference number 132136-D200, which is incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to blenders for food, and in particular personal food blenders of the type capable of being portable.

It is known to provide a personal blender, typically intended for blending fruit based drinks commonly known as “smoothies”. These were first developed as smaller versions of standard upright blenders. It was then improved with the pitcher converted to a closed top, which allowed then entire base and “pitcher” to be inverted after blending such that the “pitcher” could be used as a drinking tumbler. This was further improved to provide the base with a through-spout. This allowed the user to retain the base motor on top of the tumbler to act as a cap. In this manner the contents of the tumbler could be held in their unblended original state for some time and only later blended just before intended consumption. For example, the smoothie ingredients could be prepared at home in the morning, the blender brought to work, and then blended just prior to lunch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable drink blender having improved safety and reliability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable drink blender which includes a unitary leak-proof spout extending through the motor housing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable drink blender with offset blade rotation axis to improve safety and allow the use of a straw.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable drink blender with a cap hinged to the motor housing to seal the spout, and in which the blender activation switch may only be operated with the cap closed.

These and other objects are achieved by a portable drink blender as described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG.1, a portable drink blender according to the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral10. The blender10generally includes tumbler12and a cap14. The tumbler12is formed as a concave element formed of a base, and at least one side wall extending form the base upward to a rim16. Within the tumbler12is formed a cavity which receives the solids and liquids intended to be blended, and which holds these materials after they are blended.

The cap14is comprised of a motor housing18and a cover20pivotally mounted to the cap14for movement between a closed position and an open position. Cap14includes a spout22extending through the body of the cap14and extending from the cap14to allow a user to engage the spout22with their mouth for drinking the contents of the tumbler12. The cover20preferably will close the spout22when cover20is in the closed position in a manner to prevent liquid from exiting the spout.

The cap14is sized to closely fit within the rim16of tumbler12, in a manner to prevent liquid from leaking. It is preferred that both the cap14and rim16have a circular shape, and may be detachably secured together as by a threaded connection. The cap14includes a lower face24received within the cavity of tumbler12, and an upper face26outside the tumbler and accessible to the user. The cap14and tumbler12define a vertical central longitudinal axis.

As shown, the cap14includes a set of blender blades28mounted on a rotation shaft extending from the lower face24of the cap14in parallel to the longitudinal axis. As best shown inFIG.5, the rotation shaft of the blades28is not coincident with the longitudinal axis of blender10. Rather, the rotation shaft of blades28is offset laterally in a direction away from the spout22. This will reduce the length of the blades28which extend across the opening of spout22. In the embodiment shown, the offset of the shaft of blades28is in a direction directly opposite the spout22; and the distance of the offset of the shaft of blades28and the length of blades28is chosen such that the blades28stop short of the spout22. In other words, the blades28do not cross the opening of spout22whatsoever. This improves the safety of the blender10by reducing the possibility of a finger being injured when inserted into spout22. Additionally, this improves the functionality of blender22. With this arrangement, the spout22may alternatively be used to receive a drinking straw (not shown), and this placement of blades28will prevent damage to the straw.

As may be envisioned, the blades28must be powered to provide the blending action necessary. To this end, the motor housing18will include an electric motor30operatively connected to the shaft of blades28, batteries32to power the motor30, and a power switch34to activate the motor30to begin blending. These electrical components must be protected from the liquid being blended, and similarly the liquid being blended must be protected from contamination by the electrical components. These components are therefore sealed within the motor housing18in a liquid-tight manner.

The need to manufacture the motor housing18with the various electrical components inside leads to the motor housing18being formed of at least two pieces. In the embodiment shown this is a lower housing36and an upper housing38. The lower and upper housings36and38fit together in a mating relationship to create a closed internal cavity which will enclose the motor30at a minimum. The embodiment shown employs rechargeable batteries for batteries32and as such this embodiment also encloses batteries32within this internal cavity. The mating line between the upper and lower housings36and38preferably includes a gasket, as is known in the art.

A further feature of the present invention is the formation of the spout22within the housings36and38. In particular, the spout22is fully formed as a complete unit within the lower housing36. The upper housing38forms no portion of the spout22. Rather, the upper housing38includes a spout aperture40and the spout22extends through the aperture40with the upper housing38sealing against the exterior of spout22as part of the mating relationship between the housing36and38. This is a significant improvement over prior art designs which split the spout between the two housings. The present unitary design of the spout22eliminates any possibility of leakage from the spout into the motor housing18, and more importantly any contamination into the spout22from the motor housing18.

The blender10is capable of disassembly, with the blades28being accessible to the user when the cap14is removed from the tumbler12. The cap14further includes the motor30and batteries32allowing operation of the blades28. This obviously presents a safety hazard, and it is known to provide an interlock to prevent operation of the motor30when the cap14is removed from tumbler12. The blender10may include various improvements in the interlock mechanism and add additional interlock mechanisms not previously known.

First discussed will be the interlock to prevent motor operation while the cap14is removed from tumbler12, with reference toFIGS.8and9. While various interlock mechanism could be employed, it is preferred to provide one or more magnets42which will interact with Hall effect switches (not shown) associated with the cap14. The use of magnets in these situations is known, but has suffered from problems such as the magnets becoming dislodged or corroded. Either of these problems can result in the interlock not operating properly. To overcome this problem, the present invention forms a two-step interlock cavity44in the rim16of tumbler12, with one cavity44formed for each magnet42. The cavity44includes a block cavity46opening directly onto the rim16. The block cavity46preferably has an elongated form. The cavity44further includes a second magnet cavity48formed within, and opening directly onto, the block cavity46. The magnet42is sized to be closely received within the magnet cavity48. The blender10is also provided with a sealing block50for each interlock cavity44. The sealing block50is sized to be closely received within the block cavity46. With the magnet42received within magnet cavity48, and the block50received within the block cavity46, the block50is then subjected to ultrasonic welding to secure the block50to the tumbler12. In this way the magnet42is secured to the tumbler12in a manner preventing loss and oxidation.

In operation, the user will fill the tumbler12with the desired ingredients and secure the cap14to the tumbler. The motor30will be engaged by manual pressing of the power switch34, and the blender10will be inverted to rest upon the cover20with the tumbler12uppermost. In this operation it is assumed that the cover20will be fully closed to prevent leakage of the tumbler contents from the inverted spout22during blending. The present invention provides a further interlock mechanism to eliminate this assumption. In particular, the blender10may include a cover interlock to ensure that the motor30may not be engaged unless the cover20is fully closed.

With reference toFIGS.10-12, it is first seen inFIG.11that the power switch34is formed on the upper face26of cap26. In particular, the power switch34is recessed within the upper face34to prevent direct manual operation of the power switch34by the user: the recess is too small for the user's finger to depress the power switch34. Next, fromFIG.10it is seen that the cover20is formed such that a portion of the cover20will overlie the power switch34when cover20is in the closed position (the position in which the spout22is sealed closed). The portion of the cover20overlying the power switch34is formed with an actuating pin52which will extend into the recessed power switch34when cover20is in the closed position. Further, the area of cover20surrounding the actuating pin52is formed to be flexible. In the embodiment shown, a pair of slots extend inward from an edge of the cover20to form a flexible tab from which the actuating pin52extends. As may be envisioned, manual pressure on the cover20in the area over actuating pin52will cause the actuating pin52to activate the power switch34to begin operation of the motor30. In this manner, operation of the motor30is prevented unless the cover20is in the closed position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects set forth above together with the other advantages which are inherent within its structure.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth of shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.