Patent Publication Number: US-9895026-B2

Title: Food processing device jar lock

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/190,203 filed Feb. 26, 2014, entitled “FOOD PROCESSING DEVICE JAR LOCK,” now U.S. Pat. No. 9,700,177, issued Jul. 11, 2017, which also claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/771,760, filed Mar. 1, 2013, entitled “BLENDER JAR LOCK,” which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present concept generally relates to a jar lock for a food processing device, also referred to as a blender herein. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present concept includes a food processing machine having a base and a cylindrical jar lock extending upwardly from a top surface of the base. A jar assembly has a jar and a collar that extends downwardly from the jar. The collar is adapted to fit circumferentially around the cylindrical jar lock. A plurality of locking tabs extend radially inwardly from the collar. The locking tabs engage with the cylindrical jar lock and prevent vertical movement of the jar with respect to the cylindrical jar lock while allowing rotational movement of the jar and linear movement of the jar with respect to the base in the xy-plane. 
     Another aspect of the present concept includes a food processing machine having a base with a motor disposed therein. A cylindrical jar lock extends upwardly from a top surface of the base. The cylindrical jar lock is mounted to the base in a manner that permits a range of vertical motion of the cylindrical jar lock with respect to the base. A jar assembly has a jar and a collar that extends downwardly from the jar. The collar is adapted to fit circumferentially around the cylindrical jar lock. A plurality of locking tabs extend radially inwardly from the collar. The locking tabs mechanically engage with the cylindrical jar lock to prevent vertical movement of the jar with respect to the cylindrical jar lock. 
     Another aspect of the present concept includes a method of manufacturing a food processing machine, including the steps of disposing a motor within a base and operably connecting a lower coupler to the motor, with the lower coupling extending upwardly from the motor. A cylindrical jar lock is spring-mounted to the base, with the cylindrical jar lock positioned radially outwardly from the lower coupler and permitted to move over a predetermined vertical range with respect to the base. A jar assembly with a jar and a collar is formed. The collar is adapted for removable mechanical engagement with the cylindrical jar lock. An upper coupler extends downwardly from the jar and is adapted to removably mechanically engage the lower coupler. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present concept will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial top perspective view of a blender; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of the blender, showing one embodiment of a blender jar lock; and 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged side cross-sectional view of a blender, showing another embodiment of a blender jar lock. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the concept as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the concept may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a blender  10  is shown. As used herein, the terms “blender” and/or “food processing device” both include a blender, food processor, or other device for processing food having a jar with a rotary tool for processing the food. The blender  10  includes a jar assembly  12  and a housing assembly  14 . The jar assembly  12  includes a jar  16  and a collar  18  extending downwardly therefrom. The jar  16  may be any of a variety of jar constructions configured to operably couple with the housing assembly  14 . 
     As shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , a shaft  20  extends through the bottom of the jar  16 , having one end  22  that terminates inside the jar  16 , and another end  24  that terminates below the bottom of the jar  16 , radially inwardly from the collar  18 . A blade  26  is fixedly attached to the end  22  inside the jar  16  and an upper coupler  28  is fixedly attached to the other end  24  of the shaft  20 . Rotation of the upper coupler  28  drives rotation of the blade  26  inside the jar  16 . A retainer assembly  30 , including a bushing sleeve  32 , a retainer  34 , and a retainer nut  36 , surround the shaft  20  and retain it in a fixed vertical position in relation to the bottom of the jar  16 . 
     Referring again to the embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 2 , the collar  18  includes a plurality of locking tabs  38  oriented in a generally vertical direction and extending inwardly toward the upper coupler  28 . The collar  18  also includes a plurality of generally rectangular windows  40  therethrough. Each window  40  is above one of the locking tabs  38 . 
     The housing assembly  14  as depicted in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  includes a base  42  with a motor M disposed therein. A lower coupler  44  extends upwardly from the base  42 , and is operably coupled to the motor M. Activation of the motor M causes rotation of the lower coupler  44 . The lower coupler  44  is removably mechanically engageable with the upper coupler  28 , such that the lower coupler  44  translates rotational movement to the upper coupler  28  upon engagement of the lower coupler  44  with the upper coupler  28 , and thereby to the blade  26  inside the jar  16 . 
     Also in the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-2 , a cylindrical jar lock  46  is spaced circumferentially outwardly from the lower coupler  44  and extends upward from the base  42 . The circumference of the cylindrical jar lock  46  is sized so that the cylindrical jar lock  46  fits closely within the collar  18  of the jar assembly  12 . As best shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the cylindrical jar lock  46  includes a ridge  48  around the upper circumference thereof. The ridge  48  is interrupted by a plurality of openings  50 , each opening  50  adjacent a notch  52 , with a tapered step  54  separating the opening  50  and the notch  52 . Each of the openings  50  has dimensions sufficient to allow the passage of one of the plurality of locking tabs  38  through the opening  50 . The tapered steps  54  have dimensions adapted to retain the locking tabs  38  in the notches  52 , and prevent them from rotating to the openings  50 . Retention of the locking tabs  38  within the notches  52  limits the vertical and rotational movement of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the cylindrical jar lock  46 . 
     The plurality of openings  50  correspond with the plurality of locking tabs  38  on the collar  18 , so that the openings  50  align with the locking tabs  38  when the collar  18  is placed vertically above the cylindrical jar lock  46 . The number of openings  50  is at least as large as the number of locking tabs  38 , and may be greater than the number of locking tabs  38 , provided that there is at least one opening  50  to correspond with each locking tab  38 . For example, the cylindrical jar lock  46  could be provided with four openings  50 , while the collar  18  includes only two locking tabs  38 , so long as the spacing of the openings  50  permits the locking tabs  38  to be aligned with the openings  50 . 
     The cylindrical jar lock  46  in the embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 2  is fixed in a vertical direction with respect to the base  42 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the cylindrical jar lock  46  is coupled to the housing assembly  14  with a plurality of screws  60  which extend through a plurality of flanges  62  in the base  42 , with each screw  60  extending into a screw receiving portion  64  of the cylindrical jar lock  46 . 
     In an alternate embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 3 , where like parts are given the same reference numerals as above, the cylindrical jar lock  46  is mounted to the housing assembly  14  such that the cylindrical jar lock  46  is permitted to move in a vertical direction (along the z-axis) with respect to the housing assembly  14 , and the movement is dampened. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , a spring  66  dampens vertical movement at the coupling between the cylindrical jar lock  46  and the base  42 . The lower coupler  44  is optionally operably coupled with the cylindrical jar lock  46  to move therewith over a vertical range with respect to the base  42 . Dampened vertical motion of the cylindrical jar lock  46  with respect to the base  42  absorbs vertical loads and vibration created by rotating the blade  26  to mix ingredients in the jar  16 . 
     In use, the jar assembly  12  is aligned over the cylindrical jar lock  46  with the plurality of locking tabs  38  aligned with the plurality of openings  50 . The jar assembly  12  is then lowered over the jar lock  46 , and twisted so that each locking tab  38  passes under the tapered step  54  and engages with the corresponding notch  52 . When the jar assembly  12  is coupled to the cylindrical jar lock  46 , the jar assembly  12  does not physically touch and is free of engagement with an upper surface  68  of the cylindrical jar lock  46 . More specifically, when the jar assembly  12  is coupled to the cylindrical jar lock  46 , an underside  70  of the jar  16  does not touch and is free of engagement with the upper surface  68  of the cylindrical jar lock  46 . 
     The plurality of openings  50  and notches  52  in the ridge  48  around the cylindrical jar lock  46  engage with the plurality of locking tabs  38  and windows  40  in such a way that vertical movement of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the cylindrical jar lock  46  is restrained. The locking tabs  38  are vertically restrained below the notches  52 , with the ridge  48  protruding through the plurality of windows  40  as shown in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 . However, the dimensions of the notches  52 , the tapered steps  54 , and the plurality of locking tabs  38  are such that some rotational motion (clockwise-counterclockwise) and some linear motion (in the x-y plane) of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the housing assembly  14  is permitted while the jar assembly  12  is coupled to the cylindrical jar lock  46 . The notches  52  have a width that is larger than the width of the locking tabs  38 , to permit rotational movement. Additionally, the circumference of the ridge  48  is sufficiently less than the collar  18  to permit some linear movement of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the housing assembly  14 . The cylindrical jar lock  46  may also be fabricated from a material that has some flexibility to permit such movement of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the housing assembly  14 . 
     To blend food or other items in the blender  10 , the motor M is activated when the jar assembly  12  is mated with the housing assembly  14 , with the collar  18  engaging the cylindrical jar lock  46  such that the upper coupler  28  is mechanically engaged with the lower coupler  44 . The motor M is operably connected with the lower coupler  44 , and upon activation the motor M causes the lower coupler to rotate. The mechanical engagement of the lower coupler  44  with the upper coupler  28  allows the lower coupler to drive rotation of the upper coupler  28 , thereby causing the blade  26  to rotate. 
     The rotational movement and linear movement permitted in the x-y plane of the jar assembly  12  with respect to the housing assembly  14  allow the lower coupler  44  to engage the upper coupler  28  efficiently, and allows the couplers  44 ,  28  to remain engaged during use, reducing wear and allowing a natural coupler alignment. The coupling between the jar assembly  12  and the housing assembly  14  described herein provides a tolerance for the fit between the lower coupler  44  and the upper coupler  28 . 
     The blender  10  described herein could also include other rotary tools for use in the jar assembly  12 , such as a chopper, grater, or any other rotary tool used for food processing in place of the blade  26  or in addition thereto. 
     It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the concept as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or connector or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations. 
     It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present concept. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting. 
     It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departing from the concepts of the present concept, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.