Combined measuring cup for mixing containers

A closure element for a mixing container of a blender, which comprises a pouring area for ingredients, the pouring area having an outlet opening into the underlying container of the blender, and comprises a measuring area which is disposed next to or under the pouring area and is separated from the pouring area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to German Utility Model Application No. 202014105352, filed Nov. 7, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combined measuring, dosing and closure element for mixing containers according to the preamble of claim1. Such a closure element is placed, for example, in a lid of a blender, a food processor or another kitchen appliance and closes the filling opening thereof.

BACKGROUND

With a blender or a food processor, it is necessary for most processes to add small amounts of liquid exactly according to the recipe prior to the actual start of the device, for example in the case of cocktails, smoothies, etc. On the other hand, ingredients must also be frequently added during the preparation, e.g. when making mayonnaise. This problem can, of course, also occur with other kitchen appliances. In this regard, measuring cups are known from the prior art, which are placed in a filling opening in the lid of a blender and which are removed for adding ingredients, see e.g. the Braun MX2050 device. These cups are mostly approximately cylindrical in shape, with the edge of the cup often being widened in a flange-like manner, thus closing the lid when inserted. However, when the device is in use and ingredients must be added, the mixed material that is moved in the blender container may spill out when the cup is removed for adding the ingredients (such as liquids or solid ingredients). This is particularly problematic if the filling process should not occur fast, but the ingredient should be added slowly or particularly steadily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present invention makes it possible to overcome the problems of the prior art and to add liquids or other ingredients to the mixed material with the required speed or uniformity both when the kitchen appliance, e.g. a blender, is switched off and when it is in use, without having to open the lid or closure of the blender container. For this purpose, the invention provides a closure element according to claim1and a kitchen appliance according to original claim 5. Preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims.

According to the present invention, a closure element is provided for a mixing container of a kitchen appliance comprising: a pouring area for ingredients, the pouring area having an outlet opening into the underlying container of the kitchen appliance, and a measuring area which is disposed next to or under the pouring area and is separated from the pouring area. Thus, the closure element can close not only the mixing container but also serves as a combined measuring, dosing and closure element, i.e. the closure element can be used as a measuring cup when removed while it serves as a dosing aid and, of course, as a closure of the mixing container when closed. In particular, the pouring area in the closure element ensures that liquids or other ingredients such as, e.g., free-flowing ingredients (sugar, spices, etc.) can be refilled or added without having to remove the closure element and splattering the kitchen. It is understood that the pouring area is not used strictly for “pouring” liquids but is also suited for adding free-flowing substances such as sugar, flour, etc. The present invention understands the “mixing container” to be any container of a kitchen appliance in which the ingredients are processed, in particular mixed, either simultaneously or successively. Mixing can also occur due to the addition alone, without a mechanical action of the device. This means that also such containers are comprised into which the ingredients are only added in order to be mechanically mixed in subsequent device parts.

Moreover, the integration of the functions of the dosing element, that is the filling element, closure element and measuring element, always ensures that in particular the element with the measuring function is always stowed on the kitchen appliance such that it cannot be lost, as is often the case in the prior art. By the outlet opening, an inlet cross-section is additionally defined which ensures that the ingredients are added steadily at all times.

The closure element can close the mixing container directly or it can be inserted into an opening of a lid which in turn closes the mixing container and is only opened, for example, for the initial addition (in the switched-off state) or for cleaning purposes.

In an advantageous embodiment, the pouring area comprises an upper part extending over substantially the entire lateral extent of the closure element, and it comprises a lower part tapering away from the upper part and comprising the outlet opening into the container of the kitchen appliance. Thus, the entire lateral extent of the closure element serves as a funnel, which particularly facilitates addition.

Preferably, the bottom wall of the upper part of the pouring area is at the same time the bottom wall of the measuring area, and the measuring area, when the closure element is inserted into the mixing container, is downwardly open such that when the closure element is removed and turned upside down, said measuring area can be filled and used for measuring the content thereof. Thus, for example, viscous ingredients such as egg, yoghurt, curd or dough preparations can run slowly from the measuring area into the mixing container, without a measuring cup having to be held for a longer period since the measuring area of the closure element is easily filled, and then the mixing container is closed by the closure element.

According to a preferred embodiment, the lower part of the pouring area has a substantially cup- or cylinder-shaped side wall touching the side wall of the measuring area such that the lateral outer contour of the closure element is vertically constricted there, thus forming a gripping area for the closure element. When removed from the mixing container, the closure element can thus be gripped particularly well, which in particular allows a larger dimensioning of the measuring area than in the conventional prior art and therefore allows measuring larger amounts of ingredients, without the weight of the element being of any importance.

In a further aspect, the invention also relates to a kitchen appliance having a mixing container closed by a removable closure element according to any one of the preceding embodiments. A possible kitchen appliance is in particular a blender. However, the invention is not limited to blenders, but generally to kitchen appliances which process ingredients by rapidly moving these, e.g. so-called food processors.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mixing container of the blender according to the invention comprises a lid with an opening closed by the closure element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows as a possible example of a kitchen appliance a blender1which consists of a lower housing2, in which the blender motor as well as the operating elements are located, and an upper blender container3as the mixing container. The blender container3is closed in the present embodiment by a lid4in which an opening5is provided that is closed by the closure element10according to the invention. It is, of course, also conceivable that the closure element in the upper area extends over the entire opening of the blender container and also acts as a lid, for which purpose the upper part of the closure element can be correspondingly configured in a flange-like manner.

In the following embodiment example, the closure element10has a pouring area11as well as a measuring area21which is separated therefrom and which is disposed substantially laterally to the pouring area. In the view ofFIG. 2a, the pouring area11has an upper part12, which extends substantially over the entire lateral expansion of the closure element, and a lower part13which follows the upper part12and extends downwards. Expediently, this lower part13is formed on one side of the closure element10, inFIG. 2ato the right, while the measuring area21is to the left. Other arrangements are also conceivable, for example a central arrangement of the lower part of the pouring area with a measuring area arranged thereabout.

The bottom of the upper part12is formed by a wall15which is slightly inclined from the horizontal, the inclination of which causes the ingredients poured or filled into the pouring area11flow to the lower part13. At the end of the lower part13of the pouring area11, there is an outlet opening14through which the liquid or free-flowing ingredients can flow from the pouring area11into the blender container3. The lower part13of the pouring area11is formed by a substantially annular wall30bof the closure element (FIG. 3), which forms a bottom around the outlet opening14such that the lower part13is substantially cup-shaped.

The measuring area21, which is located on the side of the lower part13of the pouring area11, is limited upwardly in the view ofFIG. 2aon the one hand by the wall15and on the other hand by a wall30aof the closure element10, which in the embodiment example shown has an oblong/annular cross-section and is connected to the annular wall30bat the constriction30c. As is shown in this example, the outer wall30formed by the outer parts of the walls30aand30bhas a constriction30cwhich as a gripping area facilitates holding the closure element10. In contrast, in an alternative embodiment as shown inFIG. 4, the outer wall30of the closure element10is not constricted but has a smooth transition from the area30ato the area30b. The outer wall30and the walls30aand30bare expediently made of a transparent material, e.g. transparent plastic. Optionally, the outer wall30can also have a measuring scale31.

In the state shown inFIG. 2ain which the closure element closes the opening5of the lid4of the blender container3, the measuring area21is downwardly open. If the closure element10is removed and turned upside down (FIG. 2b), the measuring area21can be filled and can be used to measure ingredients. These do not necessarily have to be liquid, but can also have a viscous consistency. The reason for this is that for adding the ingredient from the measuring area21into the blender container3, it is sufficient to insert the closure element10into the lid4(to close the opening5), upon which the viscous ingredient can run slowly from the measuring area21into the blender container, without the cup having to be held during this process.

If, however, liquid or free-flowing ingredients should be added in a controlled manner, this is done through the pouring area11. Since its upper part12extends over the entire width of the closure element, it is possible to fill in liquids or free-flowing ingredients without any problems, i.e. it serves as a funnel, so to speak. The liquid or free-flowing ingredient then runs into the cup-shaped lower part13and passes into the blender container3through the defined outlet opening14, as a result of which a steady addition is achieved at all times. It is conceivable to design the outlet opening so as to be variable in size, for example by adapters, in order to achieve different addition speeds.

It is also advantageous that the outer gripping area30cor the outer wall30and the lid cannot be soiled from below by the mixed material since the corresponding surfaces face away from the action taking place in the blender. Furthermore, it is not necessary to remove the closure element10or to open the lid4of the blender container3when adding free-flowing ingredients or liquids. Thus, the closure element10with its two areas is always stowed with the blender container3, that is the entire blender1, such that no components can be lost.