Abstract:
A cooking appliance in accordance with the present invention includes a base, a container engageable with the base and configured to receive one or more food ingredients, a blade assembly rotatably mounted in the container and a lid engageable with said container. The lid includes a chamber configured to hold a volume of liquid and a heating element for heating the liquid within the chamber to produce steam.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/443,965, filed on Feb. 17, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to cooking appliances and, more particularly, to counter-top cooking appliances for preparing food products by use of chopping, mixing, cutting and application of heat or steam. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various food appliances exist for processing (i.e., cutting, chopping, mixing) food ingredients and cooking them through the application of heat or steam. Certain known appliances that function in this manner and are adapted to fit on a countertop are used for preparation of baby food or infant food, but may also be used for preparing food products such as soups, dips, sauces and the like. 
         [0004]    While existing food appliances are generally suitable for what is regarded as ordinary performance, there is room for improvement in terms of efficiency, convenience and effectiveness. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooking appliance that is adapted to efficiently, conveniently and effectively process and cook food ingredients. 
         [0006]    These and other objects are achieved by the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cooking appliance according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the cap removed from the lid. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the lid removed from the base. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 , illustrating an electrical connections pathway. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 , illustrating certain internal components. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a steam flow path. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a side, cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is perspective, cross-sectional view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an exploded, perspective view of the lid of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an exploded, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a cooking appliance in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is an exploded, right-hand side, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 13  illustrating the connection between the bowl and the base. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is an exploded, left-hand side, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 13 , illustrating the connection between the bowl and the base. 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is an exploded, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 13 , illustrating the connection between the lid and the bowl. 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the lid of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 13 , illustrating a steam flow path. 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a cooking appliance in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , illustrating a loading position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 21  is partial cross-sectional, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , illustrating certain internal components thereof. 
           [0030]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of a blade assembly and torque transmitting assembly of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 24  is a side, elevational view of a bowl for use with the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , showing a loading position with the bowl removed. 
           [0033]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , showing a loading position with the bowl attached. 
           [0034]      FIG. 27  is another perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , illustrating a ready position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 28  is a partial cross-sectional, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 29  is a partial cross-sectional, perspective view of the cooking appliance of  FIG. 19 , illustrating a steam flow path. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0037]    Cooking appliances in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed, generally, to an appliance having a work bowl in which a rotatable blade assembly is positioned and, subsequently, the bowl is loaded with food ingredients to be processed and cooked. A cover is positioned over the bowl and water is added to a steam-producing chamber that is in communication with the bowl. The steam-producing chamber is heated to cause the water to boil and generate steam/cooking vapor. The steam travels into the bowl and contacts the food ingredients in order to heat or cook them. A certain amount of condensation from the steam is collected in the bowl and is combined with the food ingredients to form a puree, semi-liquid, or liquid as desired, and depending upon the specific ingredients and amounts. 
         [0038]    After steaming, the food ingredients may be processed by the rotatable blade assembly. Depending on the blade and the chosen speed and duration of rotation, the food ingredients may be chopped, mixed or pureed. 
         [0039]    Appliances according to the present invention include a single bowl design in which steaming and processing are carried out without the need to transfer the food ingredients to additional containers to carry out separate steaming and processing functions. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 1-12  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. are line drawings illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to  FIG. 1 , a cooking appliance  10  includes a base  12 , a bowl  14  releasably received on the base  12 , and a lid  16  releasably attached to the bowl  12 . The base  12  houses an electric motor (not shown) and associated electrical and mechanical components (not shown) associated with the motor, its drive output, the heat element, and controls, all of types generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art. An electrical cord (not shown) extends from the base  12  and plugs into and outlet of an external electrical power source. Control buttons or dials (not shown), of a type generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art, may be provided on the base  12  for enabling a user to control operation of the appliance  10  in the manner described herein. A handle  18  is provided on the outside of the bowl  12  to enable a user to remove or attach the bowl  14  to the base  12 . 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the appliance  10  is shown. As shown therein, a blade assembly  20  having a pair of blade edges  22 ,  24  is rotatably mounted within the bowl  14 . In particular, the blade assembly  20  is received on a rotatably driven output shaft (not shown) extending upwards from the base  12  through an opening (not shown) in the floor of the bowl  14 , as is known in the art. 
         [0042]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the lid  16  of the cooking appliance  10  includes a boiler and boiler chamber  26 , as will be illustrated in more detail in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 ,  10  and  11 . The lid  16  has a removable cap  28  that provides access to the interior boiler chamber  26  of the lid so that a user can add water to the boiler chamber  26 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lid  16 , itself, is removable from the bowl  14  to allow a user to place one or more food ingredients within the bowl  14 . 
         [0043]    As further shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the top portion  30  of the handle  18  is provided with a slot  32  having an electrical contact (not shown) therein. The lid  16  has a complementary extension  34  that engages the top portion  12  of the handle when the lid  16  is engaged and aligned on the bowl  14  such that an electrical contact (not shown) in the extension  34  comes into contact with the electrical contact in the slot  32  to form a continuous, electrically-conductive path. There are also electrical contacts (not shown) between the bowl  14  and the base. In this manner, electrical energy from the base  12  is transferred up through a conductor (not shown) internally running through the handle, and to the extension  34 , in order to power the boiler, or heating element, housed in the lid  16 .  FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the connection between the top portion  30  of the handle  18  and the extension  34 . As alluded to above, electrical energy is routed from the base  12 , through the handle  18  of the bowl  14 , through the extension  34  of the lid  16  and to the heating element contained in the lid  16  below the boiler chamber  26 . 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIG. 7 , certain internal components of the lid  16  are illustrated. As shown therein, the lid  16  includes the boiler chamber  26 , a heating element  36  positioned beneath the boiler chamber  26  for heating the boiler chamber  26 , and electronics  38  for supplying electrical energy to the heating element  36 . In an embodiment, the heating element may be an electrical resistance heating element, such as those known in the art, although other types of heating elements known in the art may also be utilized without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the lid  16  illustrating a steam flow path. As shown therein, the lid  16  is formed with a plurality of steam channels  40  extending from the internal boiler chamber  26  to the bottom of the lid  16 . Importantly, the steam channels  40  are in fluid communication with the interior of the bowl  14 . In the preferred embodiment there are three steam channels  40  radially spaced around the periphery of the chamber  26 , although more or fewer steam channels  40  may be utilized without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. In operation, water  42  within the boiler chamber  26  is heated by the heating element  36  until steam is produced. The steam then travels from the boiler chamber  26 , though the steam channels  40  and into the bowl  14  containing one or more food ingredients. Importantly, in an embodiment, the steam enters the top of the bowl  14  and cooks or heats the food ingredients from above. 
         [0046]    Referring back to  FIG. 7 , in an embodiment, the cooking appliance  10  includes a safety interlock column  44  that includes mechanical and/or electro-mechanical safety interlocks (not shown) of a type generally known to those skilled in the art. The mechanical and/or electromechanical safety interlocks function to render the appliance  10  inoperable unless the bowl  14  and lid  16  are properly attached and secured. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 9-12  are various exploded and cross-sectional views of the cooking appliance  10  according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 11  is an exploded, perspective view of the lid  16  of the appliance  10 . As described above, the lid  16  includes the boiler chamber  26  having a plurality of steam channels  40  extending therefrom, a heating element  36  disposed below the chamber  26 , and a removable cap  28 . The components housed within the lid  16  may be assembled using mounting brackets, gaskets and a plurality of screws. 
         [0048]    In operation, the lid  16  may be removed from the bowl  14  and one or more food ingredients  46  may be placed in the bowl  14 . The lid may then be attached to the bowl  14  and the boiler chamber  26  may be filled with water or other liquid. Cap  28  may then be screwed onto the lid  16  to fully enclose the boiler chamber  26 . A user may then control operation of the device from the base  12 . In an embodiment, the appliance  10  may chop or puree the food ingredients  46  within the bowl  14  utilizing the blade assembly  20 . The heating element  36  may then be activated to produce steam to cook or heat the pureed food ingredients. In other embodiments, the food ingredients  46  may be heated or cooked first via steam from the boiler chamber  26 , then chopped or pureed by the blade assembly  20 . In yet other embodiments, the chopping/pureeing and cooking/heating functions may be carried out simultaneously. 
         [0049]    As noted above, the cooking appliance  10  of the present invention permits steaming/cooking and processing of food ingredients within a single bowl, thereby obviating the need to transfer the food ingredients to additional/separate containers to carry out separate steaming and processing functions. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIGS. 13-18 , a cooking appliance  100  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cooking appliance  100  is generally similar in configuration and function to the cooking appliance  10  described above and includes a base  110 , a bowl  112 , and a lid  114 . The bowl  112  is preferably made of glass or plastic and is transparent to enable a user to view the condition of the food ingredients contained therein during use. The base  110  houses an electric motor (not shown) and associated electrical and mechanical components (not shown) associated with the motor, its drive output, the heat element, and controls, all of types generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art. An electrical cord (not shown) extends from the base  110  and plugs into and outlet of an external electrical power source. Control buttons or dials (not shown), of a type generally known to those of ordinary skill in the art, may be provided on the base  110  for enabling a user to control and operate the appliance  100 . A handle  116  is provided on the outside of the bowl  112  to facilitate removal and attachment of the bowl  112  to the base  110 . 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a blade assembly  118  having a plurality of blades is rotatably mounted within the bowl in a similar manner to that described above. In particular, the blade assembly is rotatably mounted to a driven output shaft extending from the base  100  and through an opening (not shown) in the floor of the bowl  112 . A bowl cover  120  is releasably attached to the top rim of the bowl  112 . As further shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the bowl cover  120  includes a plurality of small apertures  122  through which steam may pass, as discussed hereinafter. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 16 , the a top portion  124  of the handle  116  is provided with a socket  126  having holes  128  housing electrical contacts (not shown). The lid  114  has an extension  130  with pins  132  that are received in holes  128  when the lid  114  is operatively engaged and aligned on the bowl  112  in a proper manner for operation, forming an electrically-conductive path between the bowl  112  and the lid  114 . Similarly, electrical conductors  134  on the base  110  transmit electricity from the base  110  to the internal electrical conductors (not shown) in the handle  116  via contacts  136 . In this manner, electrical energy from the base  110  is transferred up through a conductor (not shown) internally running through the handle  116 , and to the extension  130 , in order to power the boiler, or heater, housed in the lid  114 . 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 17 , the lid  114  includes a boiler chamber  138  and a boiler/heating element  140 . The lid  114  also includes a cap  142  that may be removed by a user so that a user can add water to the boiler chamber  138 . 
         [0054]    In operation, water in the chamber  138  is heated and turned to steam, and the steam is caused to travel through a tube  144  formed in the lid  114  in the direction of the arrows and be dispersed through apertures  122  in bowl cover  120 , as shown in  FIG. 18 . As will be readily appreciated, the cooking appliance  100  according to the second preferred embodiment functions in much the same manner to cook/heat and process food as cooking appliance  10 . 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIGS. 19-29 , a cooking appliance  200  according to a third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cooking appliance  200  includes a two-piece housing having a base  210  and a hingedly attached to upper housing  212 . As best shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the base  210  has a flat section  214  and a column section  216 . The upper housing  212  has a column section  218  and a cantilever section  220 . The cantilever section  220  extends away from the column section  218  and is generally located above the flat section  214  of the base  210 . A bowl  222  is sized and shaped to be received on the base  210  and beneath the cantilever section  220 . The bowl  222  is provided with a handle  224 . 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , the upper housing  212  may be pivoted relative to the base  210  so that it tilts away from the base  210 , causing the cantilever section  220  to lift away from the bowl  222  to facilitate insertion or removal of the bowl  222 . A control dial  226  for operating and controlling the appliance  200  may be provided on the base  210 . The base  210  and upper housing  212  are locked relative to each other in a non-tilted position. A release button  228  on the base  210  unlocks the base  210  and upper housing  212  from a state in which they are relatively locked in order to facilitate the tilting illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the upper housing  212  includes an electric motor  230  that rotatably drives a shaft  232  and pulley  234 , causing a belt  236  to be driven. The driven belt  236  rotates a second pulley  238  to which a torque transmitting member  240  is attached. The torque transmitting member  240  has a torque drive end  242  that engages a torque driven end  244  on the axis  246  of a blade assembly  266  having first and second blade edges  268 ,  270 . This mechanism drives the blade assembly  266  to mix, chop or blend food ingredients in the bowl  222   
         [0058]    As shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , a cone-shaped pivot  272  is provided on the floor of the bowl  222  to rotationally support the blade assembly  266  by engaging a matching cone-shaped indent  274  in the bottom of the blade assembly  266 . A recess  276  on the bottom of the bowl  222  receives protruding base portion  278  on the base flat section  214  to locate the bowl  222  in operation position. 
         [0059]    Referring now to  FIGS. 28 and 29 , a heating element  280  in the column section  218  of the upper housing  212  functions to heat water  282  in a boiler chamber  284  located above it. The boiler chamber  284  may be filled with water by removing a cap  286 . 
         [0060]    In operation, steam  288  is produced when the water  282  within the boiler chamber  284  is heated by the heating element  280 . As shown in  FIG. 29 , the steam travels from the boiler chamber  284 , through silicone tube  286 , and into the bowl  222 , where it functions to heat or cook one or more food ingredients within the bowl  222 . As will be readily appreciated, the cooking appliance  200  according to the third preferred embodiment functions in much the same manner to cook/heat and process food as cooking appliances  10  and  100 , described above. 
         [0061]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.