Turbulence-reducing blender lid and method of operation

The open top of a blender container (11) is closed by a cover (10). The cover (10) is provided with an internal vane (25) which extends downwardly from the top wall (17) of the cover (10) and inwardly from the sidewall (16) of the cover (10). The vane (25) disrupts any turbulence which might be created by a fluid being mixed in the container (10).

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a lid for a container of a blender and its method of operation. More specifically, this invention relates to a lid which reduces turbulence in the container as a food product is being blended in the container.

BACKGROUND ART

Food products are often mixed in the container of a blender or food processor. A cover or lid, which is often made of a flexible rubber-like material, is placed on the container, and blades positioned in the bottom of the container mix the food, at least a portion of which is a liquid material. At times, particularly when the container is nearly full of a liquid material, the agitation of the blades causes the liquid to swirl which could result in a great deal of turbulence in the container. Such turbulence can cause the container to rock or sway and can cause the cover to undulate. If allowed to continue, such could result in the container actually falling off of the base of the blender or the cover coming loose from the container allowing the contents to spill out of the container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender container which reduces turbulence in the container.

It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender container, as above, which minimizes the possibility of the container wobbling and the cover undulating.

It is an object of a further aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender container, as above, which will remain attached to the container under the most severe mixing conditions.

It is an object of yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender container, as above, which will enable the container to be maintained on the base of the blender under the most severe mixing conditions.

It is an object of an additional aspect of the present invention to provide a method of minimizing the turbulence that might be created in a blender container.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a cover which is adapted to be attached to a container and which is made in accordance with the present invention includes a top wall and a sidewall extending downwardly from the top wall. A vane extends downwardly from the top surface and extends inwardly from the sidewall.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a cover is adapted to be attached to the container of a blender. The cover includes a top wall, a sidewall, and means to minimize turbulence in the container.

The invention also contemplates a method of minimizing turbulence which might be created in the blender container having an open top and includes the step of closing the open top with a cover thereby positioning a vane carried by the cover in the path of the turbulence.

A preferred exemplary cover for a blender container according to the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A cover made in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral10and is adapted to be used with a blender container generally indicated by the numeral11.

Container11includes a base skirt12which is adapted to be carried by the motor components of a blender. A sidewall or sidewalls13extend upwardly from a bottom surface (not shown) positioned above skirt12, and form an open top. Sidewalls13are shown as being generally circular in configuration and thus, in essence, only one continuous sidewall is shown. However, the container11could take on any configuration, such as square and therefore having four sidewalls, without departing from the concepts of the present invention. A rim14extends outwardly from the periphery of the open top at the top of sidewall13. A blender blade (not shown) is located above and near the bottom surface to mix or otherwise process foods as is well known in the art. A handle15may be carried by sidewalls13, and a pouring spout (not shown) may be formed near the top of sidewalls13opposed to handle15.

Cover10may be formed of a resilient or elastomeric material such as most known thermoplastic elastomers (TPE's). Such TPE's include, for example, thermoplastic olofin rubbers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, and thermoplastic elastic block copolymers. These materials are particularly suited for cover10as they all exhibit the elastomeric properties required for cover10if it is to be readily attached to and removable from container11as will hereinafter be described.

Cover10is configured to match the configuration of the open top of container11and thus, in the embodiment shown, it includes a round sidewall16and a somewhat domed top wall17which is dished out, as at18. Dished out area18is provided with a central aperture19which is normally closed by a plug (not shown), but which when open provides access to the inside of container11should stirring or the like be desired.

Sidewall16of cover10is shown as carrying two diametrically opposed tab assemblies generally indicated by the numeral20. Each tab assembly20includes a body portion21carried by sidewall16. A notch22is formed in body portion21, and a handle23having a finger hole24extends angularly upwardly and outwardly from body portion21. When cover10is on container11, container rim14is received in the notch22of tab assemblies20.

To remove cover10from container11, one needs to merely lift handle23upwardly, which can be conveniently accomplished by placing a finger in hole24, to flex handle assembly20thereby releasing rim14from notch22. Reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/221,158 filed on Jul. 30, 2008, for whatever further details may be necessary to understand the manner in which cover10attaches to container11.

As previously described, with cover10on container11and with an at least partially liquid-based food being mixed in container11, container11could begin to wobble or sway and cover10could vibrate or undulate, particularly if container11is nearly full of the liquid food. In order to prevent such, at least one turbulence interrupting vane25is formed on the underside of cover10. Vane25extends downwardly from cover top wall17and inwardly from cover sidewall16. As shown inFIG. 3, the height of vane25extends substantially the entire height of sidewall16. In addition, vane25extends a length almost to cover aperture19and, as shown inFIG. 2, does not extend directly radially from sidewall16. Rather, vane25is preferably angled, from radial, away from the direction of circulation of the fluid in container11caused by the rotation of the blade. Whether so angled or not, the presence of vane25reduces, and can eliminate, the turbulence which might be created within container11.

In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that a container and cover made in accordance with the present invention, as described herein, accomplishes the objects of the present invention and otherwise substantially improves the art.