Abstract:
The invention concerns a personal juice extractor system including a blending and pressing apparatus where a user places a container charged with food or beverage or any combination thereof in a container chamber. After the start button is pressed, a blending tool attached to a shaft along with a cover are lowered into the container until the cover seals the open top of the container. The blending tool is axially rotated until a desired consistency is achieved. The cover then presses down on the blended contents, forcing liquid to flow out an outlet in the bottom of the container and into an external cup for consumption. The cover, shaft, and blending tool are retracted and then the container is removed from the container chamber and discarded or cleaned for reuse.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of domestic appliances, particularly the field of blenders, juice extractors or the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Juice extractors have become increasingly popular over the years. These devices extract juice from fresh fruits and/or vegetables and provide people with fresh, healthy, and all natural beverages. 
         [0003]    While numerous health benefits are associated with juicing, the extraction process is often known to be time-intensive, difficult, and messy. Typically, a user must: gather necessary fruit and/or vegetables, wash and cut the food to proper size, insert all food into the extractor, dispose of the organic waste, disassemble and clean the extractor parts, and lastly reassemble the extractor. Thus, many users are left frustrated and demanding a better option. Moreover, a correct portion size is not easily enforced due to no standard amount of fruit and/or vegetables allowed to be juiced during a single session. It is also known that devices have been made that simply blend fruit and/or vegetables into a pulp and provide both the pulp and juice mixed together for consumption. However, many people prefer a pulp-free beverage. 
         [0004]    In a fast-paced world, there is an increasing demand for healthy beverages that can be prepared easily, quickly, and most importantly with minimal cleanup. Furthermore, people would greatly benefit from a properly portioned, fresh beverage from the comfort of their own home. For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a machine that can produce personal juice beverages from fresh fruit and/or vegetables. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention is directed to a personal blender and juicer system that meets these needs. 
         [0006]    Specifically, it is an aspect of the invention to provide a food blending and pressing apparatus. The food blending and pressing apparatus includes a housing that covers moving machinery used for blending and pressing food and/or beverage in a removable container located in a container chamber. The upper face of the bottom of the container chamber preferably includes an anti-rotational surface so that when the container with a preferably complimentary anti-rotational bottom surface is inserted into the container chamber, the container is secured. A start button is preferably pressed by a user to initiate the automatic blending and pressing process. A blending tool is rotated by a driving source which blends food and/or beverage in the container to a desired consistency while a cover hermetically seals the container during the blending process. A primary elevator assembly is used to raise and lower a shaft attached to the blending tool during the blending process. The primary elevator is preferably driven by a spring-loaded lever. A secondary elevator assembly is used to raise and lower the cover during the blending and pressing. The secondary elevator is preferably driven by an inflatable and deflatable airbag. Once the blending process is complete, the cover is used to press the food and/or beverage towards the bottom of the container causing liquid to flow through an outlet in the container. The shaft is preferably connected to the driving source as well as to the secondary elevator by quick release connectors for quick removal and cleaning. The cover is preferably connected to the secondary elevator by a quick release connector for quick removal and cleaning. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, it is another aspect of the invention to provide a container. The preferably cylindrical container has an upper opening to afford food and/or beverage, a blending tool and a cover. The top diameter of the container is preferably larger than that of the bottom diameter to allow for efficient stacking and a funnel is preferably connected to the top of the container to allow the cover to properly seal upon entering the upper opening of the container. The sides of the container preferably have vertical concave grooves extending half-way down to allow pressure to escape when the cover is inserted into the container. A spacer may be mounted at the center of the upper face of the bottom of the container to prevent the blending tool from contacting the bottom of the container during operation. The container preferably includes an anti-rotational surface on the bottom so that when inserted into a food blending and pressing apparatus with a complementary anti-rotational surface, the container is properly secured. The container is removably inserted into a food blending and pressing apparatus. Food and/or beverage is first blended and then pressed in the container, forcing liquid to flow through an outlet fitted with a filter in the bottom of the container into an external cup. The outlet is preferably connected to a secondary outlet extending out to a spout, thereby allowing liquid to be received in the external cup placed adjacent to the container. The outlet is preferably covered by a valve that prevents liquid from passing out of the container due to gravity. Furthermore the outlet and open top are preferably covered with a plastic film to prevent contamination prior to use. 
         [0008]    It is another aspect of the invention to provide a method of blending and pressing food and/or beverage in a container wherein food and/or beverage is placed on a container, the container is secured in a container chamber, a shaft with a blending tool is lowered into the container while a cover is also lowered into the container to seal the container, the shaft and the blending tool are rotated by a driving source thereby blending the food and/or beverage, the shaft and the blending tool are moved up and down as necessary until a desire consistency is met, the cover is lowered further into the container thereby forcing liquid through an outlet in the container and into an external cup, followed by the cover, shaft, and blending tool being retracted, and then removing the container from the chamber. The cover and blending tool may be removed for cleaning. 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a food blending and pressing apparatus with both primary and secondary doors open, the container chamber empty, and the blending tool and cover removed; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  with the blending tool and cover inserted; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2  with the container inserted in the container chamber; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3  with both primary and secondary doors closed and an external cup placed next to the food blending and pressing apparatus; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a frontal cross sectional view of the food blending and pressing apparatus of  FIG. 3  showing the blending tool and cover fully refracted; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a frontal cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the blending tool and cover are partially extended downward wherein the cover contacts the container; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a frontal cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 6  showing the blending tool and cover extended downward wherein the blending tool contacts the spacer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side cross sectional view of the food blending and pressing apparatus of  FIG. 5  showing the airbag apparatus deflated; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a side cross sectional view of the food blending and pressing apparatus of  FIG. 7  showing the airbag inflated; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the blending tool and cover assembly of the blending and pressing apparatus shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12A  is a side cross sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12B  is an enlarged side cross sectional view of the spout shown in  FIG. 12A  with liquid exiting the spout; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the container shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, a plastic film is shown covering the open top; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the bottom of the container shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a cross sectional view of the container shown in  FIG. 14 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention, the sides are angled such that the containers are stackable. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-4  generally depict a food blending and pressing apparatus  100  comprising a removable container  200  with an open top  201  received in a container chamber  101 , a cover  111  used for both sealing open top  201  and pressing the contents in container  200 , and a blending tool  112  used for chopping, mixing, or liquefying food in container  200 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  provides a view of one embodiment of container  200 . Container  200  further comprises sides  202  which may be generally cylindrical and a bottom  203 . For example, container  200  is constructed to hold food and/or beverage before, during, and after the blending and pressing process. An outlet  204  is mounted through bottom  203  to allow liquid to flow out of container  200  when pressurized. Outlet  204  has a filter  207  which provides a sieve-like configuration to prevent solids from flowing out of container  200  during the blending and pressing process. A spacer  205  may be mounted on the upper surface of bottom  203 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , spacer  205  prevents blending tool  112  from hitting and thus damaging bottom  203  during operation. The upper face of spacer  205  is a bearing surface  206  and therefore allows blending tool  112  to spin freely while contacting bearing surface  206 . 
         [0031]    In one example of container  200 , all parts of container  200  are manufactured with non-hazardous materials conforming to international food safety standards. The materials used to construct it may be such that container  200  is discarded after a single use. Likewise, in another example, the materials used to construct container  200  may be such that it is reusable after cleaning by increasing the thickness and strength of such materials. 
         [0032]      FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of cover  111 . Cover  111  is used to hermetically seal open top  201  of container  200  and also to press food and/or beverage toward bottom  203  forcing liquid to flow out through outlet  204 . For example, a secondary elevator assembly  109  is attached to cover  111  ( FIGS. 5-7 ) to provide the means to vertically reciprocate cover  111  up and down as needed during the blending and pressing process. The reciprocating motion of secondary elevator assembly  109  may be driven by deflating and inflating an airbag apparatus  116 . A releasable connector  118  may be integrated into cover  111  to allow cover  111  to be removed for cleaning ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  also illustrates one embodiment of blending tool  112 . Blending tool  112  is attached to the bottom end of a shaft  110 . Shaft  110  is extended through the center of cover  111  and includes a connector  117  on the top end of shaft  110  that is connected to a driving source  114  using a belt  113  to rotate blending tool  112 . In the preferred embodiment, connector  117  has a hex shaped cross-section and is integrated into shaft  110 . A sanitary seal  121  is attached to cover  111 , hermetically sealing cover  111  about shaft  110  thereby preventing air, liquid, or solids escaping from container  200  ( FIG. 7 ). A primary elevator assembly  108  is attached to shaft  110  to provide the means to vertically reciprocate blending tool  112  up and down as needed during the blending and pressing process ( FIGS. 5-7 ). The reciprocating motion of primary elevator assembly  108  may be driven by a spring-load lever  115  ( FIGS. 8-9 ). Connectors  117  and  119  may be releasable to allow blending tool  112  and shaft  110  to be removed for cleaning. Blending tool  112  may include radially extended cutting blades  120  with sharpened edges, pointed tips, and one or more bends along the surface of the cutting elements. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 1-4  generally illustrate the process of installing components into food blending and pressing apparatus  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a housing  107  used to protect the components. A primary door  103  and latch  104  may be opened to provide access to blending tool  112  and cover  111  ( FIG. 2 ). A secondary door  102  and latch  105  may be opened to provide access to container chamber  101 . Blending tool  112  and cover  111  are inserted into food blending and pressing apparatus  100  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Container  200  is charged with food and inserted into food blending and pressing apparatus  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  shows one embodiment where primary door  103  and secondary door  102  are closed and an external cup  300  next to food blending and pressing apparatus  100 . During the food blending and pressing process, juice may be extracted out through spout  213  into external cup  300  for consumption ( FIGS. 12A-12B ). Spout  213  may be connected to a secondary outlet  212  which may be connected to outlet  204 . 
         [0035]    Sides  202  of container  200  may be constructed in an inverted frustaconical shape such that the diameter of open top  201  is larger than the diameter of bottom  203  ( FIG. 17 ). This allows container  200  to be stacked in another container  200  efficiently when empty. Container  200  may include a funnel  208  attached to open top  201  thereby correcting small misalignments when cover  111  is lowered into container  200 . Container  200  may include one or more vertical pressure relief grooves  209  ( FIG. 11 ) which allows pressure to escape container  200  until cover  111  is lowered below the bottom of pressure relief grooves  209 . This allows cover  111  and blending tool  112  to be lowered into container  200  without forcing liquid through outlet  204 . Also, a valve  211  may cover outlet  204  to prevent liquid from flowing out of container  200  until pressure is applied inside container  200 , forcing liquid through outlet  204  ( FIG. 15 ). 
         [0036]    Bottom  203  may include an anti-rotational surface  210  in the shape of a downwardly protruding triangular-shaped vane ( FIG. 15 ). Anti-rotational surface  210  is complementary to a concavely shaped anti-rotational surface  122  located in the bottom of container chamber  101  ( FIG. 1 ) and such that when container  200  is inserted in container chamber  101 , container  200  is unable to rotate. A plastic film  214  may be fixed to both open top  201  ( FIG. 14 ) and outlet  204  ( FIG. 15 ) of container  200  to prevent contamination prior to use. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 14-16  generally illustrate an alternative configuration to container  200 . No spout  213  or secondary outlet  212  are used. Outlet  204  may allow liquid to flow out of container  200  into an external cup (not shown) directly below container  200 . 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment, container  200  is filled with food and/or beverage and then placed in container chamber  101 . A start button  106  is pressed by the user to initiate the blending and pressing process. The blending and pressing process begins by lowering shaft  110  along with attached blending tool  112  into container  200  while also lowering cover  111  into container  200  until cover  111  contacts container  200 , thereby sealing open top  201 . The food and/or beverage is blended by rotating shaft  110  and blending tool  112  using driving source  114 . Shaft  110  and blending tool  112  are lowered and raised as necessary while rotating in order to properly blend the contents and then rotation is halted once a preferred consistency is met. Cover  111  is then lowered further into container  200 , pressing food and/or beverage towards bottom  203  and forcing liquid through outlet  204 . After the desired liquid has been extracted from the food and/or beverage, cover  111 , shaft  110 , and blending tool  112  are fully retracted and container  200  is removed from container chamber  101 . Cover  111  and blending tool  112  may be removed from food blending and pressing apparatus  100  for cleaning. 
         [0039]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein. Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specified function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. 
         [0040]    The reader&#39;s attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with his specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.