Abstract:
A blending appliance is provided including a motorized base, a blending container, and a blade assembly fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The blade assembly includes a lower blade element disposed on a spindle performing blending operations on ingredients at a lower end of the blending container; and an upper working element disposed on a shaft spaced apart from the lower blade element, and including an upper working portion and a lower working portion spaced apart from the upper working portion. The upper working portion acting to reduce cavitation in the lower blades element during the blending process.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/174,757 filed Jun. 12, 2015, entitled Paddle Style Blender Blade, the contents of which are incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to food preparation devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a blending or food processing appliance with an improved agitator configuration having both conventional blending blades and a blending implement to resist cavitation in the upper areas of the blending container. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Blending appliances used to blend beverages from solid and liquid ingredients are known. These blending appliances typically use blades disposed in proximity to the bottom of the blending jar and formed from blade sets that perform different functions. Known problems include cavitation and solidification of blending ingredients in areas of the blending jar remote from the blade configuration at the bottom of the blending jar. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    There is provided a blending appliance including a motorized base, a blending container, and a blade assembly fitted into an opening of the blending container and rotatably coupled to the motorized base when the blending container is mounted on the motorized base. The blade assembly is configured to allow for traditional blending functions while substantially eliminating the cavitation of the blade assembly during operations. In as much, the blade assembly includes upper working elements and lower blade elements positioned on a central shaft. 
         [0005]    The lower blade elements are positioned proximal to the first end of the central shaft and can include a plurality of blade forms. In an embodiment, a top form, a middle blade form, and a bottom blade form are provided. The top and bottom blade forms can be similar to a conventional blender blade design (one or more generally U-shaped blades). 
         [0006]    The middle blade form can be an altered food processing blade design suited for use in a small throat jar. Wherein a typical food processor blade arrangement may include one or more generally fiat blades extending radially outward from a central point of rotation, The middle blade form can be an S-shaped food processing blade bent at opposing ends to a generally U-shaped configuration. 
         [0007]    The upper working elements is positioned adjacent to a second end of the central shaft, and can include top and lower working members. The top working member can include first and second wing portions extending in opposite directions, where the top wing portion can be extended at an upward angel and the lower wing portion can be extended and a downward angle. Additionally, the first and second wing portions can be twisted with respect to a horizontal axis. 
         [0008]    The lower working member can include first and second wing portions extending radially, in opposite directions. The first and second wing portion can extend radially outward in a substantially horizontal direction. Additionally, the first and second wing portions can be twisted with respect to a horizontal axis. The positioning of the upper and lower working members act to substantially prevent a cavitation of the blade assembly during the blending process. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a blending appliance with a blending jar with an improved blade assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the blending jar with the improved blade assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the improved blade assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the improved blade assembly of  FIGS. 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a top isometric view of the improved blade assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    While the present invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present description is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein. Instead, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0016]    Referring now to FIGS,  1  and  2  of the drawings, in an embodiment there is illustrated a blending or food processing appliance  100 . The blending appliance  100  includes a motorized base  102  and a blending jar  104 . In use, the blending jar  104  fits into a recess (not shown) formed in the base  102 . The blending jar  104  includes a removable lid  106  that fits into an open top  105  of the blending jar  104 . The base  102  includes an electrical motor (not shown) for providing rotary power to a blade assembly  108  disposed within the blending jar  104 . Electronic controls  110  in the base  102  control electrical power to the electrical motor (not shown) which in an embodiment may include one or more switches for controlling the electrical motor (not shown) at various speeds including “off”, “low”, “medium” and “high”. In an alternate embodiment, the electronic controls may include a microprocessor (not shown) with memory storing pre-programmed routines for controlling the electrical motor (not shown). 
         [0017]    The blade assembly  108  is inserted into an opening  112  on the bottom end  114  of the blending jar  104  and secured therein with an agitator nut  116 . The agitator nut  116  includes internal threads  118  that engage complementary threads  120  around the bottom end  114  of the blending jar  104 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-5 , the blade assembly  108  comprises a base  130  having a generally circular shape with an extended central hollow post  132 . A collared rotational shaft  134  is mounted to and driven by the blender/food processor motor (not shown) at a first end  136 . Rotational shaft  134  passes through the hollow post  132  and is removably affixed to a blade stack  140  at a second end  138 . A circular sealing gasket can be provided about the outer periphery  142  of base  130  for sealing the blender/food processor jar  104  against the base  130  during operation. 
         [0019]    The blade stack  140  of the blade assembly  108  is configured to allow for traditional blending functions while substantially eliminating the cavitation of the blade assembly  108  during operations. The blade stack  140  can include upper working elements  144  and lower blade elements  146  positioned on a central shaft  148 , where a first end  150  of the central shaft  148  is connected to the second end  138  of the rotational shaft  134 . 
         [0020]    The lower blade elements  146  are positioned proximal to the first end  150  of the central shaft  148  and can include a top or first blade form  160 , a middle or second blade form  162 , and a third or bottom blade form  164 . The blade forms  160 ,  162 ,  164  may be made of any durable material such as metal, steel, carbon, composites, or any combinations of such material which can be sharpened and withstand the high stresses and heats generated in this environment. 
         [0021]    The top blade form  160  and bottom blade form  164  are preferably similar to a conventional blender blade design (one or more generally U-shaped blades). In particular, the top blade form  160  includes a central, substantially fiat base  166  that extends radially with respect to the longitudinal rotational axis of the blade assembly  108 . A first wing portion  168  extends at a first angle upward from the base  166  and a second wing portion  170  extends at a second angle upward from an opposing end of the base  166 . While it is preferred that first and second wing portion&#39;s respective angles are not equal so as to provide enhanced blending and processing, it should be noted that such angles may be identical. 
         [0022]    As with the top blade form  160 , bottom blade form  164  includes a central, substantially fiat base  172  extending radially with respect to the longitudinal rotational axis of the blade assembly  108 . First  174  and second  176  curved blades are preferably formed integrally with the base  172 , and extend downward and outward from opposing ends of the base  172 . The curved shape of the blades  172  and  176  enhances blending and processing, and permits the edges of the blades  174  and  176  to extend to adjacent the blade assembly base  108 . In this manner, blended and processed items are dislodged and forced upward from the bottom of the jar  104 . 
         [0023]    The middle blade form  162  can an altered food processing blade design suited for use in a small throat jar  104 . Wherein a typical food processor blade arrangement may include one or more generally flat blades extending radially outward from a central point of rotation, the middle blade form  162 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment, is an S-shaped blade bent at opposing ends to a generally U-shaped configuration. The middle blade form  162  cooperates with the top and bottom blade forms  160  and  164  to enhance the circulation of blended or processed items while avoiding interference with the performance of the other blades. 
         [0024]    Middle blade form  162  has a central, substantially flat base  180  extending radially from the longitudinal axis of rotation of the blade assembly  109 . The central bases  166 ,  172 , and  180  of each of the top, middle and bottom blade forms  160 ,  162 , and  164  are circumferentially offset from each other by a predefined angle as will be discussed in greater detail below. A first wing portion  182  of the middle blade form  162  extends upward and curves circumferentially away from the middle blade form&#39;s central base  180 . Similarly, from an opposing end of the central base  180 , a second wing portion  184  extends upward and curves circumferentially away from the central base  180 . The resultant compound curve of the first and second wing portions  182  and  184  of the middle blade form  162  allow for a longer blade length for improved food processing capabilities. 
         [0025]    The longer blade lengths allowed by the compound curve shape of the middle blade form  162  provides a continuous-radius edge along the entirety of each of the wing portions  182  and  184  so as to improve food processing performance of the blade assembly  108  similar to that of the typical flat blades found in food processors. A knife-sharpened edge additionally enhances the middle blade form&#39;s performance. Still further, the gull wing shape of the middle blade form  162  allows for its use in a small throat blender/processor jar  104  without negatively effecting the circulation of the blended/processed items during its operation. In part, the gull wing shape of the middle blade form  162  achieves this balance of improved performance and reduced circulatory impact by remaining an optimal distance from an inner throat wall of the blender/processor jar  104 . The gull-wing shape allows for a balancing of being far enough away from the inner throat wall so as not to merely force items down into the bottom blade form  164  and thus liquefy them, while not placing the blade tips so far from the inner throat wall as to fail to pull the processed items into the blade stack  140  for processing. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, the wing portions  182  and  184  of the middle blade form  162  make generally about a 75° angle with the horizontal plane (i.e., generally about a 105° vertical angle between the wing portions  182  and  184  and the central base  180  of the middle blade form  162 ). Further, the point of intersection of the wing portions  182  and  184  and the central base  180  of the middle blade form  162 , the bend line, makes an angle generally about 34.5° with the center line of the S-shaped middle blade form&#39;s central base  180 . These angles can provide for improved interaction between the middle blade form  162 , the inner jar wall, and the processed items (not shown). 
         [0027]    With regard to the interaction of the top, bottom and middle blade forms  160 ,  162 , and  164 , in an embodiment, the blade tips of the blending blades, the top and bottom blade forms  160  and  164 , are offset by an angle between 25° and 30° and the angle formed between the tips of the middle and bottom blade forms  162  and  164  is generally between 70° and 80°. It is these angles of rotation and the various angles of lift on the individual wing portions of the various blade forms that directly drive the performance of the blade assembly  108  by reducing interference by one blade form with another while enhancing the ability to circulate the blended/processed items and reducing the wear-and-tear on the assembly&#39;s bearings and the blender/processor motor (not shown). 
         [0028]    The upper working elements  144  are positioned adjacent to a second end  188  of the central shaft  148 , spaced a distance L from the lower blade elements. The distance L can be between 1.5 and 2.5 inches in length. 
         [0029]    The upper working element  144  can include a first, top, working member  190 , and a second, lower, working member  192 . The top and lower working members  190  and  192  may be made of any durable material such as metal, steel, carbon, composites, or any combinations of such material which can be sharpened and withstand the high stresses and heats generated in this environment. 
         [0030]    The top working member  190  can include a central, substantially flat base  194  that extends radially with respect to the longitudinal rotational axis of the blade assembly  108 . First and second wing portions  196  and  198  extend in opposite directions from the base  194 , The first wing portion  196  can be extended at an upward angel from the flat base  194 , and the second wing form can be extended and a downward angle from the fiat base  194 , opposite the first wing form  196 . The angle of extension of the first and second wing portions  196  and  198  can be between about 20°-40° with respect to the horizontal, where in one embodiment the angle of extension can he between 34°-38°. 
         [0031]    Alternatively, the first and second portions  196  and  198 , can both extend at upward angles, downward angles, or horizontally from the base  194 . 
         [0032]    Additionally, the first and second wing portions  196  and  198  can be twisted with respect to a horizontal axis of the flat bass  194 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second wing portions  196  and  198  can each be twisted in a clock wise direction, where each of the first end second wing portions can be twisted between 30°-60° at their ends. Alternatively, the first and second wing portions  196  and  198  can each be twisted in a counter-clock wise direction or is opposite directions. It is noted that the provided angle is only exemplary in nature, and other angles are contemplated. 
         [0033]    The lower working member  192  can include a central, substantially flat base  200  that extends radially with respect to the longitudinal rotational axis of the blade assembly  108 . First and second wing portions  202  and  204  extend radially, in opposite directions from the base  194 . The first and second wing portions  202  and  204  can extend radially outward in a substantially horizontal direction. Alternatively, the first and second portions  202  and  204 , can both extend at upward angles, downward angles, or opposing upward and downward angled. from the base  200 . 
         [0034]    Additionally, the first and second wing portions  202  and  204  can be twisted with respect to a horizontal axis of the flat base  200 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second wing portions  202  and  204  can each be twisted in a clock wise direction, where each of the first end second wing portions can be twisted between 20°-35° at their ends. Alternatively, the first and second wing portions  202  and  204  can each be twisted in a counter-clock wise direction or is opposite directions. It is noted that the provided angle is only exemplary in nature, and other angle are contemplated. 
         [0035]    It should be understood that the number of working member disclosed as part of the upper working element  144  is only exemplary in nature, and it is contemplated that any number of working members can be utilized. 
         [0036]    A spacer  210  can be position on the central shaft  148 , interposed between the upper and lower working member  190  and  192 . The spacer  210  separates the upper and lower working member  190  and  192 . a distance “D.” The distance “D” can be between 0.25 and 0.75 inches in length. 
         [0037]    In use, the blade assembly  109 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment, is mounted within a blender/food processor appliance base  102  having a motor suited for driving the blade assembly  108 . The blender jar  104  is mounted over the blade assembly  108  and within the appliance base  102 . The sealing gasket is located between the blade assembly base  120  and the bottom  114  of the jar  104  serves to make the combined structure water tight. 
         [0038]    Upon the introduction of items into the jar  104  to be blended/processed, a user may initiate the operation of the appliance. The top blade form  160  serves to effectively crush ice. The middle blade form  162  with its long continuous radius edge blade operates to process solid food stuffs including heavier items such as nuts, vegetables, and meats. Finally, the bottom blade form  164  operates to assist in the mixing of larger particulate matter and liquids by enhancing circulation of the items being blended/processed and to liquefy soft food items, such as tomatoes. Additionally, the upper and lower working members  190  and  192  of the upper working element  144  act to substantially prevent a cavitation of the blade assembly  108  during the blending process. 
         [0039]    All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0040]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.