Abstract:
A blender with an air intake snorkel where the snorkel extends away from a motor housing provided by the blender is provided. The snorkel includes an air intake opening, an outlet opening, and a conduit fluidly connecting the intake and outlet openings. In one preferred embodiment, the snorkel includes a cap connected to the snorkel wherein the cap partially obstructs access to the intake opening in order to prevent contamination of the conduit. The outlet opening fluidly communicates with an inlet aperture provided by the motor housing. In use, an electric motor contained by the housing actuates a fan. The fan pulls air through the intake opening, conduit, and outlet opening. The air enters the housing via the inlet aperture where it acts to cool the electric motor. In one preferred embodiment, the appliance is a blender and the motor housing comprises a blender base that is installed on a countertop or in-counter (i.e., a portion of the blender extends into or through the plane defined by a countertop). The air intake snorkel reduces contamination of the interior of the appliance, provides efficient airflow for motor cooling, and reduces the re-circulation of warm appliance exhaust air into the motor housing.

Description:
The present invention relates to a blender air intake for countertop or in-counter blender installations wherein the air intake extends away from the body of the blender. More specifically, the blender air intake as disclosed herein provides a snorkel function in that the intake supplies cool, dry air drawn from a point away from the blender&#39;s motor housing, and the air is operable to cool an appliance motor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Kitchen countertop appliances incorporate electric motors operable to slice, dice, crush, mix, blend or otherwise process food and drink products. The motors, generally operating at speeds of thousands to tens of thousands of rotations per minute, must be cooled to operate efficiently. Typically, electric appliance motors are cooled by a fan integral to the motor wherein the fan blows air on or draws air over the motor during operation. Unfortunately, many existing appliance cooling systems are inefficient. This commonly occurs because the appliance, including blenders, moves an insufficient volume of cooling air due to vents of inadequate surface area. Typical air intakes are often located in close proximity to an exhaust outlet resulting in recirculation of hot air. These inefficiencies may result in reduced cooling. 
     In addition to cooling the motor, the inefficient air flow and fan operation creates noise. An inefficient air flow particularly can create a substantial noise level. If an engineer tries to compensate for the poor cooling of a motor with a more powerful fan, then the result is to create even more noise. 
     Perhaps the most difficult challenge to increasing appliance motor cooling efficiency is the placement of the air intake and exhaust outlet. Typical air intakes for blenders are designed as grates or sieves in the blender base housing. The air flow generated by the motor&#39;s fan causes air to enter the intake where it is then routed over the motor as desired. However, the typical grate/sieve construction found in modern blenders has several potential shortcomings. Namely, fluid or food on the countertop or fluid or food spilled from the blender can enter the open and exposed intake due to operator negligence. In some cases, particularly where a chilled or iced food or drink product is being processed, condensation on the exterior of the blender may enter the intake. Blender manufacturers and owners have sought to prevent this type of contamination. This is particularly true as more blenders incorporate complicated electronic controls and components. 
     Cooling air pulled through the motor housing exchanges heat with the motor before being expelled from the appliance as exhaust air. A blender&#39;s exhaust air flow is most commonly directed to the rear or to the bottom of the blender. The proximity or location of the air intake to the exhaust outlet often causes warm exhaust air to be recirculated into the motor chamber thereby greatly reducing the appliance&#39;s cooling efficiency. Baffles are commonly used to reduce the intake of warm exhaust air (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,358) by acting as a physical barrier between the air intake and exhaust outlet. 
     Typical blenders are also not constructed with in-counter installations in mind (i.e., a portion of the blender extends into or through the plane defined by a countertop), and they are certainly not designed with both countertop and in-counter installations in mind. Therefore, current blender air intake and outlet assemblies are not conducive to, or would preclude, in-counter appliance installations. Yet, in-counter installations provide potential benefits that include improved aesthetics, reduced countertop space (increased clearance to above-counter cabinets), and sub-cabinet exhaust flow. Ideally, an improved air intake assembly would be designed to operate with both countertop and in-counter blender installations. 
     When a conventional blender is installed in-counter, the typical ‘grate’-style air intake is moved to a point immediately proximate to the countertop&#39;s upper surface, which only increases the possibility of contamination. Specifically, standing fluid or loose food items might be pulled into the blender&#39;s motor housing. An in-counter installation may also mean that a typical air intake is located beneath the upper surface of the countertop. A sub-countertop air intake is thought to be detrimental as the space under a countertop can contain warm, recirculated, and/or stagnant air that could impede motor cooling. 
     In light of the above and other shortcomings with current blender motor cooling regimes, there is a need for a new intake assembly that is operable with both countertop and in-counter installations that provides efficient cooling and relatively quiet airflow over a blender motor. Ideally, an improved intake would preclude or reduce the possibility of interior contamination relative to existing air intake assemblies. A blender air intake snorkel in accordance with the following description is thought to solve one or more of these or other needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A blender with an air intake snorkel for countertop or in-counter installations is provided. The air intake snorkel provided herein reduces noise, creates an efficient air flow, and reduces the possibility of contaminating a blender motor housing with fluids or food stuff. The result is an improved cooling system for blender electric motor housings. 
     A blender with the air intake snorkel comprises a motor, a motor housing, and a snorkel assembly extending from the motor housing. The motor housing is adapted to contain an electric motor wherein the motor includes a fan operable to cool the motor by drawing or pushing air across the motor. The housing comprises an air inlet aperture, a shroud to contain the motor within the housing, and an air passageway at least defining a fluid path from the inlet aperture around the motor. 
     In one embodiment, the housing includes an upper housing and a lower housing selectively secured together to form the motor housing. The upper housing comprises the air inlet aperture and shroud. The lower housing comprises an exhaust aperture whereby air in the air inlet passageway moves over the motor and exits the housing via the exhaust aperture. 
     The housing may rest on the countertop or be supported by legs supported by the countertop. In another embodiment, the lower housing is selectively removed and the lower edge of the upper housing fits flush against the countertop. The motor, at least partially surrounded by the motor shroud, extends into or through the plane defined by the countertop. For this in-counter installation, cooling air moves over the motor and fan, which are enclosed by the shroud, before dispersing into the air space beneath the countertop and shroud. The exhaust outlet provided by the shroud is roughly of the same area as the housing&#39;s inlet aperture and snorkel&#39;s intake opening, as defined below. 
     The air intake snorkel assembly defines a snorkel conduit that fluidly connects a snorkel intake opening to a snorkel outlet opening. The snorkel assembly extends away from the motor housing. The assembly is secured to the housing or is integral with the motor housing. 
     In one embodiment, the snorkel further comprises a protective cap adjacent the intake opening. The cap is operable to shield the intake opening from, or reduce the possibility of, contamination from fluid, food, or other foreign objects. The cap partially obstructs access to the intake opening while allowing an air flow past the cap and into the intake opening. Air flow caused by operation of the fan causes the fluid movement of cooling air through the snorkel conduit to the outlet opening, inlet aperture, and air passageway. With the optional cap in place, and in one preferred embodiment, an upward, vertical air flow is created prior to the air entering the intake opening. Specifically, cooling air moves upwards between the snorkel body and cap before entering the intake opening. The vertical air flow reduces the possibility of vacuuming solids or fluids from the space proximate to the intake opening. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the conduit first extends roughly or generally horizontally away from the motor housing. An elbow or corner turns the conduit vertically. Therefore, the intake opening is facing vertically (i.e., entry to the intake opening occurs along a vertical axis), and the optional cap at least partially covers the intake opening. Air is pulled upwards past the cap before passing through the intake opening, moving down and then laterally through the conduit, and exiting the conduit via the outlet opening. The conduit is internally rounded at the elbow or juncture to create smooth/quite air flow. 
     A blender intake snorkel in accordance with the disclosure herein efficiently addresses at least one of the above or other identified shortcomings associate with existing blender air intake structures. For instance, extending the air intake away from (and/or upwards from) the motor housing provides fresher/cooler air compared to standard blender intakes. In a preferred embodiment, the housing is cubical in that it has four substantially vertical walls, a top side, and bottom side, the top and bottom sides enclosing the space between the four substantially vertical walls. The intake opening is located in the plane of the top wall (‘in-plane’) or above the top side of the blender base (i.e., above the plane defined by the top side of the housing). The re-circulation of warm exhaust air through the motor housing is reduced relative to conventional blenders. The placement of the intake opening is thought to draw cooler air into the blender relative to an intake opening or inlet aperture located beneath the top side of the blender. The location of the intake opening reduces or eliminates the possibility of food, drink or other contaminants being vacuumed by the fan into the housing. 
     In addition, the snorkel is operable with a countertop or in-counter installation of the blender. With a standard air intake design, an in-counter installation could mean the intake is near or below the countertop level. The air intake snorkel as disclosed herein moves the intake above and away from the countertop for cooler air with a lower probability of contaminating the appliance motor housing. A cap prevents against the accidental entry of solids or fluids entering from a point above the intake opening. In addition, the cap creates a vertical air flow that reduces the possibility of vacuuming solids or fluids from points proximate to the intake opening. 
     Further features and advantages of the air intake snorkel will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a blender including a motor housing and air intake snorkel in accordance with present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective, exploded view of the motor housing comprising an upper housing and a lower housing, as described herein. 
         FIG. 2B  is perspective view of the upper motor housing, motor shroud, and countertop as described herein for an in-counter installation. 
         FIG. 2C  is a side view of a blender including the air intake snorkel installed into an in-counter installation. 
         FIG. 3A  is an perspective rear view of a blender motor housing including a snorkel assembly without a snorkel cap. 
         FIG. 3B  is three-quarter bottom view of a blender with an air intake snorkel and motor housing as described herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the blender air intake snorkel and motor housing as described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As will be described in detail herein, the supply of an air flow through a blender motor housing (a.k.a., a ‘blender base’) can be improved by an air intake snorkel to increase cooling effect, reduce noise, and reduce or eliminate contamination of the air intake. An air intake snorkel may also be designed for selective countertop and in-counter installations of the same blender. The possible variations of the snorkel are adaptable for use with many existing motor housings. Accordingly, the specific structure disclosed should not and is not a reasonable limitation of the scope of the present invention. The following describes certain preferred embodiments of an air intake snorkel and a blender with such a snorkel. 
     Turning first to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a blender  10  having a blender jar  12  mounted onto the blender base or motor housing  14 . Housing  14  may be an integral, one-piece shell to enclose a motor and the corresponding appliance electronics. The specific shape of the motor housing is not critical. Here, the blender base is a rectilinear motor shell with four substantially vertical walls, a top side, and a bottom side. The shape of the housing could vary. The motor housing optionally includes legs (illustrated but not labeled), which support the blender on a countertop or support surface. 
     In another embodiment, and as illustrated in the attached figures, housing  14  may include an upper housing  16  with a top side  22  and a lower housing  18 . An optional gasket  17  is placed between the walls defined by the upper and lower housings. Gasket  17  provides a sound and fluid resistant seal between the upper and lower housings. The upper and lower housings are joined around a periphery that roughly divides the housing into an upper half and a lower half. Overall, housing  14  is effectively a shell creating a hollow space for an electric motor and any associated electronic controls or components. 
     An optional rotatable enclosure  20 , as known in the art, may operate to enclose jar  12  during operation of the blender. The specific operation and standard features of the blender is not important for the purposes of this disclosure and will not be discussed in detail. 
     An air intake snorkel assembly  60  is illustrated as extending away and upwards from housing  14 . The air intake is a snorkel in that displaces a conventional air intake that would be found on the face of the motor housing and moves the intake away from the motor housing so as to supply cool, clean air. Snorkel  60  can be connected or integrally molded to any surface of housing  14 . In a preferred embodiment, snorkel  60  is located to the rear of the blender. An optional cap  62  at least partially covers the snorkel&#39;s intake opening. 
     In another preferred embodiment, snorkel assembly  60  extends from upper half of housing  14  or from upper housing  16 . The placement towards the top of housing  14  ensures the snorkel is drawing in fresh, cool air. The higher placement on the motor housing also assists in-counter installation functionality by moving the intake above the surface of a countertop (see, e.g.,  FIG. 2C ). Again, the specific placement of the snorkel on housing  14  or upper housing  16  can be customized or altered as needed. However, it is generally thought that a rearward-extending snorkel  60  is at least more aesthetically pleasing and more ergonomically functional. 
     It should be noted that while the primary preferred embodiment described herein relates to a blender motor, blender housing/base, and a blender air intake snorkel, the teachings herein may be applied to many different types of appliances that have electric motors that need to be cooled during operation. Inclusion of the disclosed snorkel assembly with a blender base is thought to be advantageous as blender air intakes are generally proximate to the surface of the countertop, and many typical blender air intakes are not conducive for use with in-counter installations. Benefits of using the disclosed snorkel with other kitchen appliances will become apparent to one of skill in the art. 
       FIG. 2A  is an exploded view of motor housing  14 . The housing  14  includes a top  22  with a blender jar pad  24 . Pad  24  mates or otherwise supports jar  12  on top  22 . A control panel  26 , located on the front side of housing  14  at a slightly reclined angle, provides a means for a user to input instructions to the blender. Snorkel  60  extends from the rear face of the housing; in other words, snorkel  60  is placed opposite panel  26 . 
     Lower housing  18  is separable from upper housing  16  to form upper and lower halves of housing  14 . The upper and lower housings attach around their outer periphery to enclose appliance components and electronics necessary within a hollow space (gasket  17  is not illustrated). A motor shroud  28  is fixed to the underside of housing top  22 . Shroud  28  extends past the lower edge of upper housing  16 . As illustrated and described further below, shroud  28  partially encloses a motor and motor fan. Shroud  28  can be of any shape or structure so as to direct or contain airflow over the motor. Moreover, shroud  28  limits access to the motor and fan when lower housing  18  is disengaged from upper housing  16 , as when the appliance is installed in-counter. 
     Turning to  FIG. 2B , for an in-counter installation, lower housing  18  is removed and shroud  28 , the motor and fan are inserted into an appropriately sized opening of a countertop  30 . The shroud, motor and fan extend into or through the plane defined by countertop  30 . 
     For an in-counter installation, as further illustrated in  FIG. 2C , the bottom edge of upper housing  16  is flush with the top surface of countertop  30 . Optional gasket  17  can act as a sound and air seal between upper housing  16  and countertop  30 . Snorkel  60 , and particularly the intake opening of snorkel  60 , is located above countertop  30 , which prevents any fluid or solids physically resting on the countertop from entering the snorkel. As described below, the intake opening is near or above the top side of the housing or the plane defined by the top side  22 . 
     The structure and operation of snorkel  60  is better understood when considering  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In  3 A, optional cap  62  is deleted so that the internal structure of snorkel  60  is visible, including an air conduit  64  defined by snorkel  60 . Considering both figures SA and  3 B, it should be understood that cap  62  can be secured to snorkel  60  by known means such as clips, adhesives, or the like. The cap could also be integrally formed with the snorkel. As illustrated, snorkel  60  and cap  62  include matching mounting points  65 . Fasteners, adhesive or other means can be used to secure the corresponding mounting points to each other. It would be apparent to one of skill in the art of appliance manufacturing that various means could be employed to secure cap  62  to snorkel  60 . 
     Snorkel assembly  60  includes a body  66  comprising molded plastic or a series of rigid, connected panels. Body  66  creates an elongated, hollow space with a first end, second end, and a cross-sectional shape, such as the rectilinear shape illustrated. The elongated hollow space can be bent along one or more angles or arcs placed between the first and second ends. Body  66  generally extends across the width of the rear side of housing  14 , preferably on the upper half of housing  14  or on upper housing  16 . The placement, size and shape of the snorkel, however, can be modified as needed. 
     In more detail, with reference to  FIG. 3A , conduit  64  is essentially the hollow space created by body  66 . In a preferred embodiment, body  66 , and conduit  64 , are bent at a single angle to form an L-shaped fluid passage comprising a first leg and a second leg. First leg  68  extends substantially or generally horizontally from housing  14 . Second, substantially vertical leg  70  is joined to first leg  68  at a nearly 90-degree angle. Second leg  70  extends upwards from first, horizontal leg  68 . The interior juncture of the first and second legs is preferably at least partially rounded, as is better illustrated by  FIG. 4 . Rounding the interior angle, or a portion of the interior angle, provides a more efficient and laminar airflow in comparison to straight edge angles. As a result, cooling efficiency is increased and the noise produced by air moving through conduit  64  is reduced. Air is pulled through the conduit, and hard corners create air flow turbulence by decelerating a portion of the airflow. The internal geometry of conduit  64  is intended to reduce turbulence, resulting in a more efficient and quiet laminar air flow. 
     The first end and the second end of snorkel  60  are open ends fluidly connected by conduit  64 . The first exposed, vertically-facing end of conduit  64  acts as an intake opening  72  for snorkel  60 . Entry to the intake opening occurs along a vertical axis. The second, horizontally-facing end of conduit  64  is mated to housing  14 . The second end acts as an outlet opening  74  ( FIG. 4 ) for snorkel  60 . In use, air is drawn into intake opening  72 . The air moves vertically downwardly through conduit  64  of second leg  70  before moving horizontally through conduit  64  of first leg  68 . The air exits the conduit and enters housing  14 . The shape of conduit  64  can be modified as needed. 
     An upward- or vertically-facing intake opening  72  is the preferred construction of snorkel  60 . Using this construction, the optional cap  62  can be placed above the opening to prevent spills or accidental contamination of conduit  64  or housing  14 . In another preferred embodiment, intake opening  72  is in-plane with, or located above, top side  22 . The location of the upward facing intake opening in-plane with or above top side  22  provides cooler air, less recirculated exhaust, and a reduced possibility of vacuuming material into the housing relative to an intake opening or inlet aperture located below the top side  22 . Using an up-turned intake opening  72  also ensures that the intake opening is moved some distance from a countertop where standing fluid or food may otherwise be drawn into the housing during operation of the appliance. It is also more difficult for the appliance fan to pull liquid or food vertically around snorkel body  66  into intake opening  72  relative to, say, a horizontally-facing intake opening. 
     One or more vertical dividers  76  can divide conduit  64  into a plurality of air flow channels. The dividers  76  provide structural support to snorkel body  66 . Dividers  76  also segregate conduit  64  into multiple flow channels thereby reducing turbulence. 
     Access to the interior of housing  14  is provided by inlet aperture  75 , as best viewed in  FIG. 3B . In  FIG. 3B , snorkel body  66  and vertical dividers  76  are deleted so as to better appreciate the operation of the snorkel and appliance. Instead, the underside of cap  62  and housing  14  are illustrated. 
     With body  66  removed, a plurality of housing anchor points  78  are revealed. The anchor points, which are located adjacent the periphery of inlet aperture  75 , represent points at which snorkel  60  is connected with or mated to housing  14 . One of skill in the art will appreciate that various methods for joining the snorkel to the appliance motor housing are available. Fasteners (not illustrated), such as screws, rivets, or bolts can join anchor points  78  to corresponding structure provided by snorkel  60 . Snorkel  60  could also be adhered or clipped to housing  14 . 
     The shape of inlet aperture  75  roughly corresponds to the cross sectional shape of snorkel  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, the snorkel defines a roughly rectilinear cross sectional shape. Therefore, inlet aperture  75  is a corresponding rectilinear opening in the motor housing. 
     It should be understood that outlet opening  74  and inlet aperture  75  are immediately adjacent to each other. Therefore, conduit  64  fluidly connects intake opening  72  to inlet aperture  75 . Air drawn into the motor housing by the motor fan moves through intake opening  72 , conduit  64 , outlet opening  74 , and inlet aperture  75 . 
     An exhaust aperture  80  is centrally located in the bottom side of the roughly cubical shape of housing  14 . A grill  82  spans the area of exhaust aperture  80  to prevent access to the interior of motor housing  14 . A baffle  84 , extending beneath housing  14  directs warm exhaust air to the rear of the appliance or blender. Snorkel  60  locates the intake opening upwards and away from housing  14  and countertop  30  so that there is a reduced possibility of recirculating warm exhaust air as compared to conventional appliance or blender air intakes. 
       FIG. 4  further illustrates the operation of blender  10  in cross-section. An electric motor  86  is mounted to the top surface of housing  14 . Mounted on the bottom of motor  86  is a fan  88 . Fan  88  includes fan blades  90  and a central hub portion  92 . When motor  86  is on, fan blades  90  draw air across motor  86  by exhausting air downwardly. 
     Where separable upper and lower housings are provided, a motor shroud would similarly be connected to the bottom of top side  22  ( FIGS. 2B and 2C ). Shroud  28  includes a recess into which is received motor  86 . With or without shroud  28 , as illustrated by following the arrows in  FIG. 4 , air is drawn through intake opening  72 , conduit  64 , outlet opening  74 , inlet aperture  75 , and an inlet passageway (identified by the air flow arrows inside housing  14 ). The cooling air flow moves around motor  86  downwardly over blades  90  and out exhaust aperture  80 . Baffle  84  directs the warm exhaust air to the rear of the appliance. 
     Air that is exhausted by fan  88  is less likely to be recirculated around the motor because intake opening  72  of snorkel  66  is above the top side  22  of housing  14 , or it is proximate to top  22  of housing  14 . In other words, intake opening  72  is near the plane defined by top side  22  or is above the plane defined by top side  22 . By this placement, snorkel  66  is drawing in fresh, cool air or, even if exhaust air is recirculated to the housing, the exhaust air has been cooled by or diffused with ambient air. For an in-counter installation, the exhaust air diffuses beneath the countertop. 
     Whether in-counter or on the countertop, snorkel  60  reduces the possibility of contaminants on the countertop entering the housing by displacing the air intake to a point near the top of or above housing  14 . Specifically, snorkel intake opening  72  is in-plane with or above top side  22 . ‘Above’, in this usage, meaning intake opening  72  is located farther away from a support surface upon which the blender rests relative to top side  22 . Therefore, intake opening  72  is at least as far away from the countertop as a hypothetical plane defined by top side  22 . The location away from the support surface reduces the recirculation of warm air and reduces the possibility of vacuuming material into the housing. 
     Cap  62  prevents objects from accidentally entering the snorkel. In at least one of the disclosed embodiments, inclusion of cap  62  on snorkel  60  also creates an upwardly vertical air flow before the cooling air enters the snorkel conduit  64 . The upwardly vertical air flow limits the possibility that liquid or food will be vacuumed or drawn into the snorkel. The possibility of contaminating housing  14  is also thereby reduced. 
     The cross-sectional area of the inlet aperture  75  is substantially equal to the exhaust aperture  80 . There are efficiencies obtained by maintaining substantially the same cross-sectional area through the air flow into the housing, across the motor, and out the outlet. By minimizing variations in the exhaust path, for instance, there is efficient outlet flow of the air. In other words, if the air is allowed to diffuse on its path through the appliance into a substantially larger passage, the efficiency is reduced. Where the lower housing is removed, the open end of the motor shroud is also of roughly the same area as the intake opening and inlet aperture. 
     As briefly described above, efficiency and laminar air flow is also improved upon by rounding the internal juncture between first leg  68  and second leg  70  of snorkel  60 . The increase in efficiency and laminar air flow is also thought to reduce noise generated by the operation of fan  88 . 
     While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.