Abstract:
A juice extractor has a fruit receiving cavity having a center axis with first and second cavity portions movable along the center axis between an open position in which the first and second cavity portions are spaced away from each other a distance sufficient to allow a fruit to be inserted therein and a compressed position in which the first and second cavity portions are brought toward each other to compress the fruit. The first cavity portion has a press with a center recess. The second cavity portion has a bowl. The first and second cavity portions have cooperating geometry that allows the first and second cavity portions to be brought toward each other to the compressed position. The fruit receiving cavity has a blade support with cutting blades exposed therefrom. The cutting blades are positioned about the center axis and define planes parallel to the center axis.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0001]    The disclosure is directed to a juice extractor. In particular, the juice extractor extracts juice from fruits, such as citrus fruits and the like. The juice extractor is configured to allow a whole fruit to be inserted in the extractor so as obviate the need to slice the fruit in half before inserting it in the extractor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the juice extractor. 
           [0003]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0004]      FIG. 3  is a right side view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0005]      FIG. 4  is a left side view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the juice extractor of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the fruit receiving cavity and the support portions of the juice extractor of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the components of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a juicer blade associated with the juice extractor of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of the juicer blade of the juice extractor of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the fruit receiving cavity and support structure with a top cavity portion spaced away from a bottom cavity portion to show further details of the fruit receiving cavity components. 
           [0014]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the fruit receiving cavity with the top cavity portion in register with the bottom cavity portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The juice extractor  20  comprises a base  22  having a general horseshoe type shape with legs  24 . The base  22  may have suction cups  25  for instance on the bottom of the legs  24  to assist in fixing the base to a counter top or other support. One is shown and others may be provided around the base as necessary. The base  22  has a center pillar  26  extending therefrom in a central part of the base and posts  28  on each leg of the base. A fruit cavity support  30  is positioned above the base  22  on top of the posts  28 . The fruit cavity support  30  provides a rigid mount for a fruit receiving cavity  32 . The fruit to be processed is insertable into the fruit receiving cavity  32  and compressed therein. Juice extracted from the processed fruit flows from the cavity  32  through the fruit cavity support  30  to a serving dispenser (not shown) that may be positioned under the fruit cavity support and between the legs  24  of the horse shoe base. The fruit cavity support  30  has a rear lobe extension  34  with a hole that allows the central pillar  26  to pass therethrough. The fruit cavity support  34  may be fixed in position relative to the central pillar  26  with a set screw  36  passing through the rear lobe extension  34  and engaging the central pillar. The posts  28  projecting upward from each leg  24  of the base  22  provide additional support for the fruit cavity support  30 . The fruit cavity support  30  may be provided with a handle  38  on its front end diametrically opposite the rear lobe extension  34 . The fruit cavity support  30  may have two cap-like protrusions  40  diametrically spaced apart on lateral sides of the fruit cavity support. The cap-like protrusions  40  have hollow interior portions that are dimensioned to have a tight press fit with the posts  28 . The cap-like protrusions  40  may receive the distal ends of the posts  28  thereby allowing the fruit cavity support  30  to be supported above the base in a rigid configuration. Set screws (not shown) may be provided through the cap-like protrusions to engage the distal ends of the posts for additional support. As shown in the drawings, the cap-like protrusions  40  are positioned 90 degrees apart from the rear lobe extension  34 . 
         [0016]    On a distal end of the central pillar  26 , a lever arm support  42  may be provided. The lever arm support  42  may have a sleeve  44  which is configured to receive the distal end of the central pillar  26 . The sleeve  44  may have a cap  46  that seals the interior of the sleeve and allows the lever arm support  42  to be rigidly mounted to the central pillar  26 . A set screw  48  passing through the sleeve  44  may prevent rotation of the lever arm support about the central pillar. The set screw  48  may be provided on surface of the sleeve  44  at the rear of the extractor. Extending from the sleeve  44  toward the front of the extractor, the lever arm support  42  may have bifurcated support arms  50  and a bushing portion  52  extending there between. The bifurcated support arms  50  provide a mounting surface for a lever arm and crank assembly  54  of the extractor. The bushing portion  52  of the lever arm support provides a bearing surface for reciprocal sliding motion of a center plunger  56 . 
         [0017]    The fruit receiving cavity  32  may be formed by a top cavity portion  58  and a bottom cavity portion  60 . The fruit to be processed may be inserted between the top cavity portion  58  and the bottom cavity portion  60  and compressed therebetween. The bottom cavity portion  60  may be fixed in positioned and operatively supported by the fruit cavity support  30 . The top cavity portion  58  is connected with the center plunger  56  and movable in a vertical direction as shown in the drawings as the center plunger reciprocatingly slides in the bushing portion  52  of the lever arm support  42  by action of the lever arm and crank assembly  54 . 
         [0018]    The lever arm and crank assembly  54  includes a lever arm  62  with bifurcations on one end  64  and a handle portion  66  on an opposite end. Each lever arm bifurcation  64  may have its distal end pivotally connected to a respective bifurcation  50  of the lever arm support  42  and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to a crank arm  68 . The crank arm  68  is in turn pivotally connected with the top cavity portion  58  opposite its pivot connection with the intermediate portion of the bifurcation  64  of the lever arm  62 . As shown in the drawings, two crank arms  68  are provided for each bifurcation  64  of the lever arm  62 . One crank arm may also be provided instead of two crank arms as shown. As shown in  FIGS. 2 through 7 , the lever arm  62  is in a downward position which allows for positioning of the top cavity portion  58  in a downward orientation in register with the bottom cavity portion  60 . Upward pivoting motion of the lever arm  62  causes upward rotation of the crank arms  68  which translates into linear (i.e., vertical) motion of the top cavity portion  58  as the center plunger  56  slides through the lever arm support bushing  52 . In other words, upward motion of the lever arm  62  creates a space between the top cavity portion  58  and the bottom cavity portion  60  to allow a fruit to be processed to be inserted in the fruit receiving cavity  32 . The bottom cavity portion may also be made movable relative to the top cavity portion. The handle portion  66  of the lever arm  62  may facilitate operation of the juice extractor. 
         [0019]    The top cavity portion  58  has a general bell shape with a narrow top and wide bottom. A recess  70  may be formed in a top of the top cavity portion  58  which receives a proximal end of the center plunger  56 . The center plunger  56  may be held in position in the recess  70  of the top cavity portion with a set screw directed through a set screw hole  72  in the top cavity portion. The crank arms  68  may be connected to the top of the top cavity portion  58  with a one or more mechanical fasteners directed through a crank arm mounting hole  74  formed in the top cavity portion. The mechanical fastener(s) provide(s) the pivot connection of the crank arms  68  with the top cavity portion  58 . The bottom of the top cavity portion comprises a ram  76 , which may have a conical shape, projecting from a center of the bottom of the top cavity portion, and a rim  78  extending around the periphery of the bottom surrounding the ram. The rim  78  may extend around the ram  76  to limit juice from splashing out of the fruit receiving cavity  32  during extraction. The ram  76  may include a concave recess  80 . The concave recess may  80  be shaped in accordance with the shape of the fruit to be processed in the juice extractor. The top cavity portion may be disassemblable from the center plunger to allow cleaning and to allow interchangeability among top cavity portions depending upon the fruit to be processed. For instance, interchangeability may allow for the user to use one top cavity portion with a specifically dimensioned/shaped ram for an orange and another top cavity portion with a differently/shaped ram for a lemon or lime, etc. The ram may also be removably attachable to the top cavity portion for such as purpose. 
         [0020]    The bottom cavity portion  60  generally has a bowl shape sized to accommodate the fruit to be processed. The bottom cavity portion  60  has a plurality of perforations  82  that allow juice to flow from the cavity. The bottom cavity portion  60  may have a central opening  84  with the perforations surrounding the central opening. An upper and outer periphery  86  of the bottom cavity bowl shape may fit within the rim  78  of the top cavity portion  58  when the top cavity portion and bottom cavity portion  60  are brought into register. The bottom cavity portion may also allow for interchangeability to allow the user to use one bottom cavity portion with a specifically dimensioned/shaped bowl for an orange and another bottom cavity portion with a differently/shaped bowl for a lemon or lime, etc. 
         [0021]    In the drawings, a juice flow base portion  88  is shown as a separate piece that surrounds the bottom cavity portion  60  and is supported by the fruit cavity support  30 . The juice flow base portion  88  may be integral and/or monolithic with the bottom cavity portion  60  and/or fruit cavity support  30 . The juice flow base portion  88  has an interior volume which is shaped to accommodate the bottom cavity portion. The juice flow base portion  88  generally comprises a funnel shaped member with a spout portion  90  extending from a bottom center of the juice flow base. The spout portion  90  may project through a central aperture  92  in the fruit cavity support  30  and direct extracted juice to a serving dispenser (not shown) positioned below the fruit cavity support. The perforations  82  in the bottom of the bottom cavity portion  60  allow the bottom cavity portion to be in communication with the juice flow base portion  88 . The juice that is extracted from the fruit during processing flows through the perforations  82  in the bottom cavity portion  60  into the juice flow base portion  88  and through the spout  90  portion of the juice flow base portion to a serving dispenser located under the fruit cavity support  30 . The spout portion  90  of the juice flow base portion  88  may be releasably connected to the fruit cavity support  30  to allow disassembly for cleaning. 
         [0022]    A blade support  100  may be centrally located in the bottom cavity portion  60 . The blade support  100  may comprise a plurality of triangular projections  102  extending from a generally circular base  104 . One or more of the triangular projections may have a cutting surface. The cutting surfaces may have a staggered height. The circular base  104  may have perforations  106  that communicate with the perforations  82  in the bottom cavity portion  80  thereby allowing juice to flow from the blade support  100  through the bottom cavity portion and through the juice flow base portion to a serving dispenser. The blade support  100  may be releasably attached to the bottom cavity portion  60  and extend upward into the concave recess  80  of the top cavity portion  58  when the top cavity portion and bottom cavity portion are in register. The blade support may also be integral or monolithic with the bottom cavity portion. As shown in the drawings, the blade support  100  is mounted and extends upward from the bottom cavity portion central opening  84 . The blade support  100  may have deflectable tabs  108  extending radially from the circular base  104  that engage the bottom cavity central opening  84  in releasably attaching the blade from the bottom cavity portion  60 . 
         [0023]    In operation, a whole (e.g., unsliced) citrus fruit may be inserted into the fruit receiving cavity  32  formed by the spaced apart relationship of the top cavity portion  58  and the bottom cavity portion  60 . The lever arm  62  may rotated to the upward position to draw the top cavity portion  58  away from the bottom cavity portion  60  to an open position to open the fruit receiving cavity  32 . Fruit may be inserted in the fruit receiving cavity  32  and fixed in position by puncturing the fruit with the blade support  100 . The blade support  100  may assist in fixing the fruit in position in the open cavity prior to compression. The fruit may be positioned in the fruit receiving cavity  32  with a core of the fruit coaxially aligned with a center axis of the fruit receiving cavity such that axial ends of the fruit are aligned with a center recess of a press of the top cavity portion  58  and a center of a bowl of the bottom cavity portion  60 . With the fruit disposed in the fruit receiving cavity  32 , the lever arm  62  may be actuated to drive the top cavity portion  58  downward toward the bottom cavity portion to a compressed position, thereby compressing the fruit between the top cavity portion  58  and the bottom cavity portion  60 . The blade support  100  may further puncture the fruit as the top cavity portion  58  is driven toward the bottom cavity portion  60 . Because of the blade portions  102  formed on the blade support  100 , the blade portions  102  may be driven into the fruit adjacent the core. The slicing action of the blade portions  102  extracts juice and allows the fruit to collapse around the blade support  100 . The collapsing of the fruit allows the top and bottom cavity portions  58 , 60  to compress the fruit and maximize the extraction of juice from the fruit. The ram  78  and center recess  88  of the top cavity portion  58  maximizes the compression of the fruit against the bottom cavity portion  60 . The center recess  80  of the ram  78  forces a central portion of the citrus fruit against the blade support  100  and against the bottom cavity portion  60  while the radially outer portions of the ram compress the outer radial portion of the fruit. The outer radial portions of the fruit are deformed and compressed along the outer surfaces the ram  76 . A conical shape for the ram  78  may assist in deforming and compressing the fruit. Because the fruit is punctured first as the blade support  100  is driven into the fruit, the ram  76  is able to compress the fruit further which allows juice to be more fully extracted from the fruit, and allows juice to be extracted from fruit without having to first slice the citrus fruit in half. 
         [0024]    In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the several advantages of the invention are achieved and attained. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.