Patent Publication Number: US-2021186267-A1

Title: Food processor

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/950,475 filed on Dec. 19, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is generally related to kitchen appliances and, more specifically food processors. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Increasingly, kitchen appliances are becoming multitasking appliances to, for example, save space. For example, a base unit that contains a motor may be able to couple to several different modules that used the motor for various tasks. A food processor is a kitchen appliance that uses input of a motor to drive various blades to manipulate (e.g., blend, chop, shred, slice, etc.) food. A food processor module may fit onto the motorized based. The food processor module engages with the motor to drive a rotary blade to blend, chop, shred, and/or slice food within a bowl of the food processor module. 
     SUMMARY 
     A food processing assembly is detachable from a base (sometimes referred to as a “blender base”) that includes a motor and motor control. The food processing assembly selectively engages with the motor to drive a rotary shaft that is selectively couplable to multiple types of blades. The food processing assembly is configured to have a flexible operating configuration, and a storage configuration. In the operation configuration, the food processing assembly is configured to manipulate food. In this configuration, the food processing assembly may be comprised of different food manipulating components (e.g., lids, rotary blades, etc.) to process food in different manners. In the storage configuration, the food processing assembly is configured to store all of its components while minimizing the horizontal space occupied by the food processing assembly. In the storage configuration, the food processing assembly is not able to manipulate food. In some examples, the components of the food processing assembly are configured to interlock with each other in different ways depending on which one of the configurations the food processing assembly is currently in. The food processing assembly may have other features that, for example, improve processing of food and/or facilitate cleaning the food processing assembly. 
     An example food processor assembly includes an assembly base, a bowl base, a bowl, a lid, and a bald storage container. The assembly base includes a rotary input shaft configured to selectively couple to a coupler of a blender base. The bowl base selectively couples to the assembly base with the rotary input shaft extending through the bowl based. The bowl selectively couples to the bowl base. The bowl including a body and a central column integrally formed with the body though which the rotary input shaft extends. The lid selectively couples to the bowl. The lid includes a feed tube to receive food items to be processed. The lid having a first vertical orientation to selectively couple to the bowl and a second vertical orientation to selectively couple to the bowl. The blade storage container selectively couples to the lid when the lid in coupled to the bowl in the second vertical orientation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Operation of the present disclosure may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a food processing system that includes a blender base and a food processing assembly, in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1  in an example operating configuration, in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1  in a storage configuration, in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a blade storage container of with a dual purpose flat lid of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates and exploded view of the blade storage container of  FIG. 4  with example blades and the dual purpose flat lid, in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a feeder lid of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a back perspective view of the feeder lid and the bowl of the food processing assembly of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     As used herein, the words “example” and “exemplary” mean an instance, or illustration. The words “example” or “exemplary” do not indicate a key or preferred aspect or embodiment. The word “or” is intended to be inclusive rather an exclusive, unless context suggests otherwise. As an example, the phrase “A employs B or C,” includes any inclusive permutation (e.g., A employs B; A employs C; or A employs both B and C). As another matter, the articles “a” and “an” are generally intended to mean “one or more” unless context suggests otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a food processing system that includes a blender base  100  and a food processing assembly  102 , in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The blender base  100  includes a motor and an interface to control and receive feedback regarding the motor (e.g., one or more switches, dials, and/or displays, etc.). The blender base  100  may also include a sensor reader (e.g., a near field communication (NFC) sensor, an radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, etc.) to read a corresponding sensor on attachments (such as, the food processing assembly  102 , etc.) and motor control circuitry to control the motor based on the value(s) read by the sensor reader. An example blender base with a system to wirelessly detect properties of attachments is “Wireless Food Processor Discs,” filed Mar. 12, 2018, assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/917,914, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. The blender base  100  may have a configuration such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,413,131, titled “Interlocking Blending System,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The blender base  100  includes a pedestal on which the food processing assembly  102  selectively sits and/or is attached to—the pedestal may also be configured to have operatively secured thereto a blending container of any appropriate configuration. The blender base  100  also includes a coupler to interface with the food processing assembly  102 . The coupler is driven by a rotary output shaft driven by the motor of the blender base  100 . The coupler may include an internally splined receptacle that is sized to receive corresponding splined connector (sometimes referred to as an “input shaft”) at the base of the food processing assembly  102  to provide a detachable connection between the blender base  100  and the food processor assembly  102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-8 , the food processing assembly  102  include multiple selectively attached components that couple together in different configurations to provide for one or more operating configurations and a storage configuration. In the operating configurations, food processing assembly  102  is configured to process food using various blades. In the storage configuration, the components are attached to limit horizontal space (e.g., counter/cupboard space, etc.) used to store the food processing assembly  102 . In the illustrated examples, the food processing assembly  102  includes an assembly base  104 , a bowl base  106 , a bowl  108 , a lid  110 , blade storage container  112 , and various blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c.    
     The assembly base  104  includes a side wall  202  and a base  204  that define a cavity sized and configured to selectively receive the coupler of the blender base  100 . The assembly base  104  also a rotary input shaft  206  rotationally coupled to the based  204 . A proximal end of the rotary input shaft  206  has a splined connector to attach to the correspondingly splined receptacle of the blender base  100 . A distal end of the rotary input shaft  206  includes a connector to selectively couple to the blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c . The rotary input shaft  206  imparts rotary motion to the blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c  (e.g., 300-2,000 rotations per minute (RPMs), etc.) received from the coupler of the blender base  100 . The side wall  202  defines multiple mounting holes  208  at different locations around the circumference of the side wall  202  to facilitate attaching the bowl  106  to the assembly base  104  at different orientations (e.g., a radial orientation of a handle  404  of the bowl  108  relative the controls of the blender base  100 , etc.). 
     The bowl base  106  attaches to the assembly base  104  and receives the bowl  108 . The bowl base  106  includes a base  302 , a lip  304 , and a partial side wall  306 . The lip  304  extends from the base  302  and the partial side wall  306  extends from a portion of the lip  304 . The base  302  defines a central hole. When assembled, the rotary input shaft  206  of the assembly base  104  extends through and is coaxial with the central hole. The base  302 , the lip  304 , and the partial side wall  306  define a cavity sized and shaped to receive the bowl  108 . The bowl base  106  includes a latch  308  mounted on the partial side wall  306 . A proximal end of the latch  308  is configured to selectively engage with one of the mounting holes  208 , via a lever  310 , to selectively affix the bowl base  106  to the assembly base  104 . A distal end of the latch  308  may include a mount  312  that extends beyond the partial side wall  306  configured to be inserted into and extend through a corresponding hollow portion of the bowl  108  to, for example, prevent rotation of the bowl  108  about the bowl base  106  and/or to secure the lid  110 . 
     The bowl  108  includes a bowl portion  402  to receive food processed or being processed by the food processor assembly  102 , an integral handle  404 , an integral interlock portion  406  between the bowl portion  402  and the handle  404 , and an integral spout  408 . The bowl portion  402  includes a lip  410  to provide for engagement to a latch of a lid, and a hollow central column  412  to through which, when the food processor assembly  102  is assembled, the rotary input shaft  206  extends and the input shaft shield  308  at least partially extends. The central column  412  is sized and shaped to receive the input shaft shield  308 . When the food processor assembly  102 , the spline mount on the distal end of the rotary input shaft  206  is exposed to selectively engage with one or more blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c  such that the blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c  are operationally within a cavity of the a bowl portion  402  and do not extend beyond a top of the bowl portion  402 . 
     As best illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the lip  410  may define specific engagement points  414  which are sized and shaped to receive engagement with the corresponding latches of the lid  110  to, in some examples, define a specific connection orientation of the lid  110 . This provides a connection such that the lid  110  snaps on the bowl  108  instead of a twist lock connection. 
     The interlock portion  406  between the bowl portion  402  and the handle  404  defines a cavity through which, when the food processor assembly  102  is assembled, the mount  312  extends to facilitate the bowl  108  not rotating on the bowl base  106  and/or to provide a physical connection between the lid  110  and the bowl base  106 . In some examples, because the bowl  108  does not include any interlock components (e.g., the mount  312 ) but rather a cavity to for the interlock components, the bowl  108  is easier to clean as one integrally formed unit without any movable parts. 
     The feeder lid  110  includes a top substrate  500 , an upper side wall  502 , a lower side wall  504 , a gasket  506 , latches  508 , a hollow feeding tube  512 , and an interlock  514 . The upper side wall  502  extends from the top substrate  500 . In some examples, the upper side wall  502  increases in diameter from the top substrate  500  (sometimes referred as the “initial diameter”) until the outer diameter of the upper side wall  502  (sometimes referred to as the “final diameter”) is the outer diameter of the bowl portion  402 . In some examples, the initial diameter is smaller than an inner diameter of the bowl portion  402  such that the outer diameter of the upper side wall  502  is the inner diameter of the bowl portion  402  at some point between the initial diameter and the final diameter. In such a manner, when the lid  110  is inverted relative the bowl  108 , a portion of the upper side wall  502  sits within the bowl portion  402 . As best shown in  FIG. 8 , in some examples, the upper side wall  502  may define cavities  515  proximate the feeding tube  512  on both sides of the interlock  514  to, for example, reduce an amount of material used to form the lid  110 . 
     The lower side wall  504  extends from the upper side wall  502 . The outer diameter of the lower side wall  504  is approximately the inner diameter of the bowl portion  402  such that, when the lid  110  is attached to the bowl  108 , the lower side wall  504  fits within the bowl portion  402 . The gasket  506  is at an interface between the upper side wall  502  and the lower side wall  504 . When the lid  110  is attached to the bowl  108 , the gasket  506  provides a liquid resistant seal between the lid  110  and the bowl  108 . 
     The latches  508  extend from the interface of the top substrate  502  and the upper side wall  502  to provide snapping engagement with the bowl  108 . The latches  508  are flexible enough to engage with the engagement points  414  of the bowl  108  to affix the lid  110  to the bowl  108  and, with some force, disengage with the engagement points  414  to remove the lid  110  from the bowl  108 . 
     The feeding tube  512  is configured to fit between the interior wall of the bowl portion  402  of the bowl  108  and the central column  412  of the bowl  108 . The feeding tube  512  is sized to receive a large plunger  516 . The feeding tube  512  is positioned radially offset from a center of the lid  110 . This position introduces the food items to the blades  114   a  and  114   b  radially offset from center so that the cutting operation is periodic and sequential for slicing, chopping or shredding. The large tamper  516  provides for manual translation of food items through the feeding tube  512 . The large tamper  516  may include a flange to facilitate the large tamper  516  being positioned and/or stored within the feeding tube  512 . The large tamper  516  defines a secondary feeding tube  518  to accommodate a small tamper  520 . The small tamper  520  provides for manual translation of food items through the secondary feeding tube  518 . For example, the large tamper  516  may be used for relatively large food items to be processes and the small tamper  520  may be used for relatively small food items to be processed. In some examples, the small tamper  520  may include a flange to facilitate the small tamper  520  being positioned and/or stored within the secondary feeding tube  512 . In some examples, the small tamper  520  may be hollow and may define a hole or passage 521 sized to drizzle liquid into the bowl  108  to, for example, create an emulsification with the food item in the bowl  108 . In some examples, as best illustrated by  FIG. 7 , feeding tube  512  includes a rib  522  that extends into an interior of the lid  110  to prevent food items becoming trapped between the tampers  516  and  520  and a top of the interior of the lid  110 . The large tamper  516  includes a tab  524  with a keyed protrusion  526  centered on and protruding from the tab  224 . The protrusion  526  is configured to interfaces with the interlock  514  when the small tamper  520  is used to resist movement of the large tamper  516  that may be caused by food items being pushed through the secondary feeding tube  518 . 
     The interlock  514  is affixed to the lid  110  such that the interlock  514  extends along the feeding tube  512 , and in some examples, at least partially embedded into the feeding  512 . A proximal end of the interlock  514  is configured to, when the lid  110  is affixed to the bowl  108 , the interlock  514  slides over a portion of the mount  312 . In some examples, the proximal end of the interlock  514  also includes an extension  526  that defines a slot in which a wall of the interlock portion  406  is received such at the extension  530  extends into a cavity defined by  404 . As best shown in  FIG. 8 , the distal end of the interlock  514  defines a keyed slot  528  to accept the keyed protrusion  526 . 
     The blade storage container  112  includes a base  602  and a lid  604 . The base  602  includes a central pillar  606  to receive the blades  114   a  and  114   b . The base  602  includes an interior wall  608  and an exterior wall  610 . The interior wall  608  and the exterior wall  610  define a first set of notches  612  to, for example, facilitate manipulating the blades  114   a  and  114   b  that are stored in the blade storage container  112  about the pillar  606 . The exterior wall  610  defines a second set of notches  614  that form engagement points  616  to facilitate the lid  604  selectively attaching to the base  602 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the second set of notches  614  is configured to, when the food processing assembly  102  is in a storage configuration, accommodate (e.g., not interfere with, etc.) the latches  508  that extend from the lid  110  of the food processing assembly  102 . The interior wall  608  and the exterior wall  610  define a space between them to receive the lower side wall  504  of the lid  110  of the food processing assembly  102 . 
     The lid  604  includes a connector  616 , wings  618 , and latches  620 . When the lid  602  is attached to the base  602 , (i) the connector  616  receives and slides over the central pillar  606 , (ii) the wings  618  fit within the first set of notches  612  so that the lid  604  forms a barrier against outside object entering the blade storage container  112 , and (iii) the latches  620  engage with the engagement points  616 . 
     The food processing assembly  102  has an operational configuration ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and a storage configuration ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ). In the operation configuration, (a) the food processing assembly  102  is assembled to process food items using the blender base  100 , (b) the bowl base  106  is connected to the assembly base  104 , (c) the bowl  108  slide onto the bowl base  106 , (d) one of the blades  114   a ,  114   b , and  114   c  is attached to the rotary input shaft  206 , and (e) the lid  110  is connected to the bowl  108  in an operating orientation where the feeding tube  512  is exterior to the bowl  108 . In the storage configuration, (a) the food processing assembly  102  is assembled to process food items using the blender base  100 , (b) the bowl base  106  is connected to the assembly base  104 , (c) the bowl  108  slid onto the bowl base  106 , (d) the processing blade  114   c  is attached to the rotary input shaft  206 , (e) the lid  110  is placed in the bowl  108  in a storage orientation where the feeding tube  512  and a portion of the upper side wall  502  is interior to the bowl  108 , ( 0  the base  602  of the blade storage container  112  is sitting on the lid  110  such that the lower side wall  504  is in the space between the interior wall  608  and the exterior wall  610  of the storage container  112 , (g) the disc blades  114   a  and  114   b  are stored about the pillar  606 , and (h) the lid  604  of the blade storage container  112  is affixed to the base  602 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the disclosure described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof