Abstract:
A multi-blade food processing apparatus having two independent blade assemblies, each of which blade assemblies having two opposed horizontal cutting blades, wherein the upper of two independent blade assemblies is selectively removable from the apparatus, the cutting blades are spaced apart in elevation, and are offset in orientation 90 degrees for improved cutting efficiency. The blade assemblies are positioned at 90 degrees from each other but may include additional positions for orienting the blades at any angle with respect to each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 10/251,679 filed on Sep. 23, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a multi-blade food processing apparatus having a removable blade assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to an multi-blade food processing apparatus including two independent blade assemblies, each of which has two opposed substantially horizontal cutting blades, to provide increased chopping height and with the upper of two independent blade assemblies being selectively removable from the apparatus.  
           [0003]    Numerous food processing apparatuses such as food processors and blenders are known, each of which is designed to achieve a desired level of cutting, chopping and/or mixing of the various foodstuffs deposited therein by the user. These devices serve to accomplish their desired goal with a greater or lesser degree of overall efficiency. Common to each of the available prior art food processors are the use of a rotatable shaft having attached thereto cutting blades of varying configurations, which is usually driven by an electric motor.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,878 to Shibata and U.S Pat. No. 4,744,522 to Borgmann et al., each disclose standard food processors having cutting arrangements with two opposed horizontal cutting blades. The cutting blades are spaced apart typically about one inch from each other and are mounted on a removable cylindrical hub that is mounted on the motor shaft.  
           [0005]    U.S. application No. 2002/0139884 to Williams, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,111 to Seyfried, U.S. Pat. No. 2,964,301 to Bosse, U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,267 to Walton, U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,672 to Barker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,706 to Borger, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,922 to Kett, et al. all disclose food processors or blenders (or other types of mixers) including at least one blade assembly having blade angularly offset from the rotating shaft. The patent to Barker further discloses a blender equipped with two axially spaced blade assemblies mounted to the same rotational shaft. Each assembly includes blades that are angularly offset from the shaft. Barker, Walton, Seyfried, Kett, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,922 and the upper angularly oriented blades in Borger include multiple blades mounted at the same location on the shaft.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 241,278 to Barnard, U.S. Pat. No. 917,206 to Watts and U.S. Pat. No. 1,017,820 to Svebilius disclose multiple blade rotor assemblies in a conveyor, circulator and propeller, respectively, in which at least one blade is angularly adjustable relative to another blade. The patents to Watts and Svebilius further disclose hubs with a seated tooth arrangement to secure the blades together.  
           [0007]    While a variety of blade arrangements are shown in the art, no apparatus described in the art is directed to a food processing apparatus having at least one removable separate blade assembly on the motor shaft to increase chopping efficiency. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a food processing apparatus having a blade configuration with increased cutting height, chopping efficiency and convenience.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    A multi-blade food processing apparatus having two independent blade assemblies, each of which has two opposed spaced apart horizontal cutting blades, wherein the upper of the two independent blade assemblies is selectively removable from the apparatus is provided. The lower cutting blade assembly is fixedly mounted to the lower portion of a hub having an internal socket to engage a rotating shaft driven by the motor. The upper blade assembly includes a projecting member that engages the rotating shaft. A slot on the main hub is inclined towards the rear of the main blade cutting surfaces to secure the upper assembly during rotation. The blades in each assembly are spaced apart about one inch and are mounted at 180 degrees from each other, and are curved in the conventional fashion for a food processor. This enables cutting at increased height within the processing apparatus bowl.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a food processing apparatus which is capable of exhibiting enhanced cutting efficiency over such similar devices as have heretofore been available.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a blade assembly for a food processing apparatus having increased efficiency utilizing a conventional food processing apparatus.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a food processing apparatus and blade assembly that is selectively capable of being utilized in alternative modes with either a single two blade cutting assembly or a dual two blade cutting assembly.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a food processing blade assembly that chops and cuts food more efficiently and at a higher level in the chopping bowl.  
           [0013]    Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a blade assembly for a food processing apparatus having a removable upper blade assembly that allows for easier cleaning of the blades.  
           [0014]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a driven electric-powered cutter-parting, stirrer blender, robot and mixer, etc. devices of either house type or industrial type with a multi-point center and multi-wings positioned at every possible angle with respect to each other and locked to middle axis.  
           [0015]    Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.  
           [0016]    The invention accordingly comprises products possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the products hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing(s), in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a food processing apparatus having a multiblade assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the food processing apparatus of FIG. 1 showing an inclined key slot arrangement for securing the upper blade assembly at any angle to the bottom fixed blade assembly;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a main hub of the multi-blade assembly in accordance with the invention with the blade assemblies at 90 degrees and showing a hexagonal socket for engaging the main hub to a driven hexagonal shaft;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior of upper blade assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the key for securing the upper blade assembly to the fixed lower blade assembly;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of lower blade assembly  31  with a slot for receiving the keys of the upper blade assembly of FIG. 4; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing multiple key slots for engaging an upper blade assembly at any angle in relation to the lower blade assembly. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    A multi-blade food processing apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention has a main hub with a fixed blade assembly and a second removable blade assembly. Each blade assembly has two opposed horizontal cutting blades, wherein the upper of two independent blade assemblies is selectively removable from the main hub. The lower fixed blade assembly may be utilized alone in the usual manner. The multi-blade assembly may be utilized in a conventional food processor, blender, food chopper or hand blender device.  
         [0025]    When assembled together the upper portion of the multi-blade assembly and the lower portion of the multi-blade assembly form one cohesive assembly wherein the two opposing blades of the lower blade assembly are mounted on a hollow hub and orientated at 90 degrees from the two opposing blades of the upper blade assembly. The hub of the upper assembly engages the main hub by a key on the hollow hub and an inclined and horizontal key slot provided on the main hub that securely lock when the shaft is rotated. The blade assemblies easily lock and unlock as desired. Multiple blade angles are possible with cooperating internal protrusions and keys provided on the hubs.  
         [0026]    Thus, a food processing apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention has two separate cutting blades assemblies which cooperate on the same rotational shaft. The assembly includes a first lower cutting blade assembly mounted on the lower portion of a main hub having a hexagonal socket to be mounted on a hexagonal rotating shaft which is coupled to a motor. The first lower cutting blade assembly has two cutting blades which are spaced apart in elevation between about 12 to 30 mm from each other and are mounted on the lower portion of the hub at 180 degrees from each other. These blades may be curved in the conventional fashion for food processor blades.  
         [0027]    The second upper cutting blade assembly has two similar blades mounted on a hollow cylindrical hub having at least one internal key for engaging at least one cooperating key slot on the main hub for mounting at 90 degrees to the first blade assembly on the processor hub. Thus, the four cutting blades of the two blade assemblies cut in locations separate of each other and not one on top of the other.  
         [0028]    The upper blades are also spaced apart between about 12 to 30 mm from each other. Thus, when the upper blade assembly is engaged on the shaft, the three axial spaces between the four blades are substantially the same to provide a total cutting depth of between about 50 to 75 mm. When mounted on the hexagonal motor shaft, the upper cutting blade of the upper assembly will chop at a level of at least one-third and preferably about half the height of a typical food processor bowl of about 1500-2500 ml.  
         [0029]    The key and slot arrangement on the upper blade assembly and main hub is inclined or oriented in a direction away from the blade cutting surface. A preferred configuration includes an inclined upper slot opening and a lower horizontal slot to ensure that when the processor is turned on and the blades rotate, the projection or key on the upper blade assembly is forced into secure engagement in the key slot.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 1 shows a food processor  11  having a typical food processor L-shaped housing  12  including an upright portion  13  housing an electric motor  14  and a horizontal portion  16  for supporting a chopping bowl  17 . Motor  14  drives a motor shaft  18  and rotates a small toothed pulley  19  coupled to a large toothed pulley  21  by an internally toothed endless belt  22 . Pulley  19  can also function as a fan for motor  14 . An upwardly extending blade shaft  23  driven by pulley  21  extends upwardly from horizontal portion  16  into bowl  17 . Belt  22  and pulleys  19  and  21  are disposed in the relatively flat lower portion of horizontal portion  16  of housing  12 . Bowl  17  has an open top  24  with a removable cover  26  and a closed bottom  27  with an upwardly projecting column and opening  28  for shaft  18 . Bowl  17  also includes a handle  29  for easy handling of bowl  17  and is preferably made of light-transmitting material. This enables a user to observe the treatment of one or more foodstuffs in bowl  17  when in operation.  
         [0031]    A lower cutting blade assembly  31  includes a main hub  32  with a first lower blade  33  and a second upper blade  34  configured in the usual fashion for a food processor. Main hub  32  includes an integral internal axial hexagonal socket  36  shown in FIG. 3 for mounting on hexagonal shaft  18 . A second upper cutting blade assembly  37  includes a hollow cylindrical hub  38  with a lower blade  39  and an opposed upper blade  41  mounted thereon. Upper blade assembly  37  is selectively mounted on hub  32  and positioned over lower blades  33  and  34 .  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 2, lower blade assembly  31  includes opposed cutting blades  33  and  34  that are spaced apart between about 12 to 30 mm in elevation from each other. Blades  39  and  41  of upper cutting blade assembly  37  are also spaced apart the same distance. Preferably the blades are separated by between about 18 to 24 mm in elevation from each other. With upper cutting blade assembly  37  affixed to main hub  32  and positioned adjacent to lower cutting blade assembly  31  as shown, lower blade  39  of upper cutting blade assembly  37  will be spaced about 12 to 30 mm in elevation from upper blade  34  of lower blade assembly  31 . In this embodiment, blades  33  and  34  and blades  39  and  41  are about 21 mm apart. The total distance from the top of blade  41  to the bottom of blade  37  is about 62 mm. The distance between the top of blade  34  to the bottom of blade  39  is about 21 mm.  
         [0033]    This configuration provides for cutting and chopping at a higher level in bowl  26  of approximately 2500 ml. For example, upper blade  41  of upper blade assembly  37  is at a level of at least one-third the height of bowl  17 , and preferably it is at a level over one-half the height of bowl  17 , or at about the measured 1250 ml mark.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of cutting blade assemblies  31  and  37  showing hexagonal socket  36  that mates with hexagonal shaft  23  shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of upper blade assembly  37  showing the interior of hollow upper hub  38 . A pair of opposed projections or keys  42  are formed on the cylindrical interior of hub  38 . FIG. 5 shows lower main hub  32  that includes two opposed key slots  43  for receiving keys  42  formed on the inside of hub  38 . Slots  43  are formed with a substantially vertical opening  44  and a lower horizontal slot  46  are oriented towards the rear of blades  33  and  34  of lower blade assembly  31  to insure that keys  42  are urged into engagement with hub  32  when shaft  23  rotates. This firmly affixes and engages upper cutting blade assembly  37  to hub  32 .  
         [0036]    Multiple blade orientations are possible in accordance with the invention as shown in perspective in FIG. 6. Here, an upper blade assembly  51  includes a hollow hub  52  with a plurality of projections or keys  53 . A lower blade assembly  54  includes a main hub  56  with a plurality of key slots  57 . This configuration is suitable for industrial blades with a multi-point center and multi-wings which can be used with any driven, electric-powered, cutter-parting, stirrer blender, robot and mixer, etc. devices for either house type or industrial use. The blades may be positioned at every possible angle with respect to each other and locked to main hub  56 .  
         [0037]    The invention wherein a blade with multi-centers and multi-wings used instead of a blade with single center and two wings, the time of function is decreased by half as compared to the use of single blade, cut pieces of various foodstuff have identical sizes, ice dices are uniformly broken down into snow sprinkles in a very short period of time if engine power is sufficient for this purpose and some of the non-stiff foodstuff are fragmented without becoming juicy.  
         [0038]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above product without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing(s) shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.  
         [0039]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.