Patent Publication Number: US-2010126359-A1

Title: Multipurpose Apparatus for Juice Extracting and Objects Crushing

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of kitchen appliances and more particularly to multipurpose appliances that can extract juice and crush objects. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Crushing of object such as plastic bottles, cans and the like is an efficient way to minimize the space these object usually occupy in your trash bin or any other container for disposing of waste. 
     Liquid content of plastic bottles, such as a soft drink or even water, for example, is usually consumed by the consumer within a short time span from the purchasing of the drink bottle and the bottle is quickly disposed. 
     Trash bins used in households are usually too small to contain a large amount of disposed plastic bottles and requires the consumer to frequently empty his/her trash bin due to the quick accumulation of plastic bottles. This may be a tedious task for a heavy plastic bottles&#39; consumer. 
     Juicers are used for extracting juice from a fruit or a vegetable that is placed therein. The juicer usually comprises a handle that is connected to a lid allowing the lid to be lowered towards a container placed underneath the lid. The container usually has a removable top part which is perforated to allow the juice to be directed into the container. The top is shaped to be received by the lid of the juicer in a manner that enables trapping the fruit part (such as half an orange) between the lid and the top while applying a pushing force (applied by lowering of the handle) thereon and thereby extracting of the juice. 
     SUMMARY 
     A multipurpose apparatus that enables extracting juice and crushing objects of variable sizes is provided. 
     According to some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a base, an approximation mechanism, an upper member, a lower holder member and a support assembly. 
     The upper member and the lower holder member may be movably connected to one another through the approximation mechanism, which comprises at least one handle, where the upper member and the lower holder member are movably disposed on the support assembly. 
     According to embodiments, a manual lowering of the handle enables the approximation mechanism to approximate the lower holder member to the upper member by simultaneously lifting of the lower holder member towards the upper member and lowering the upper member towards the lower holder member. 
     The apparatus may enable extracting juice or crushing an objects such as plastic or paper bottles, plastic or paper boxes and the like, by placing a juicer assembly (which usually includes a removable juicer top and container) or an object on the lower holder member and lower the at least one handle to allow the simultaneously lifting of the lower holder member and lowering of the upper member. 
     The distance between the lower holder member and the upper member may be adjusted according to the size of the object or juicer assembly by lowering and lifting of the lower holder member and upper member using the approximation mechanism. 
     These, additional, and/or other aspects and/or advantages of the present invention are: set forth in the detailed description which follows; possibly inferable from the detailed description; and/or learnable by practice of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter regarded as the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of embodiments herein, given by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the present invention only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a multipurpose apparatus for extracting juice and crushing objects with a juicer assembly placed therein, where the apparatus is in a half open position, according to some embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the multipurpose apparatus for extracting juice and crushing objects with a juicer assembly placed therein, where the apparatus is in a closed position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a multipurpose apparatus for extracting juice and crushing objects with an object placed therein, where the apparatus is in an open position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a multipurpose apparatus for extracting juice and crushing objects with an object placed therein, where the apparatus is in a closed position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a multipurpose apparatus for extracting juice and crushing objects, according to other embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or “some embodiments” do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “some embodiments” or “other embodiments” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only. 
     The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description below. 
     It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”, “consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. The phrase “consisting essentially of”, and grammatical variants thereof, when used herein is not to be construed as excluding additional components, steps, features, integers or groups thereof but rather that the additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, device or method. 
     If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can” or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. 
     Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. 
     Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only. 
     Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. 
     Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. 
     The present invention, according to some embodiments thereof, provides a multipurpose apparatus  100  enabling extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′ of variable size, so that the apparatus  100  may be used as a juicer device or as a crushing device by simply placing a juicer assembly  10  or an object  10 ′ that is to be crushed by the apparatus  100  in the apparatus  100 . 
     The apparatus  100  may be especially but not exclusively adapted to crush objects  10 ′ such as plastic bottles, plastic boxes, cans, paper bottles or boxes etc. 
       FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  all illustrate the multipurpose apparatus  100  at different functionalities and positions, according to some embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of the multipurpose apparatus  100  for extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′ with a juicer assembly  10 ′ placed therein, where the apparatus  100  is in a half open position, according to some embodiments. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the multipurpose apparatus  100  for extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′ with a juicer assembly  10  placed therein, where the apparatus  100  is in a closed position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of the multipurpose apparatus  100  for extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′ with a plastic bottle as the object  10 ′ placed therein, where the apparatus  100  is in an open position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of the multipurpose apparatus  100  for extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′ with the bottle object  10 ′ placed therein, where the apparatus  100  is in a closed position, according to the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     According to some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  the multipurpose apparatus  100  may comprise a base  110 , an approximation mechanism  200 , an upper member  30 , a lower holder member  20  and a support assembly  130 . 
     The base  110  may be of any shape that enables holding the other parts of the apparatus  100  and stabilizing the weight of the apparatus  100 , such as, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , a rectangular platform, which may have a substantial weight compared to the weight of the other components of the apparatus  100  to serve as a stabilizing member. 
     According to some embodiments, the support assembly  130  may be connected to the base  110  and the approximation mechanism  200  may be movably disposed on the support assembly  130 . 
     The upper member  30  and the lower holder member  20  may be movably connected to one another through the approximation mechanism  200 . 
     The lower holder member  20  may be a tray shaped placement enabling to simply place the object  10 ′ or the juicer assembly  10  thereon. 
     According to embodiments, the upper member  30  may be movably connected to the support assembly  130  through at least one connector  33  and the lower holder member  20  may be movably connected to the support assembly  130  through at least one connector  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     According to some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the approximation assembly  200  may comprise at least one handle  220  and at least one set of arms  210 / 210 ′ (the illustrated embodiments show an example of two sets  210  and  210 ′), each comprising a multiplicity of arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ rotatably connected to one another through joints  212 . 
     Each set  210 / 210 ′ of arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ may slidably connect to the support assembly  130  directly or through the connectors  22  and  33 . 
     According to embodiments, a manual lowering of the handle  220  (carried out by a user) may enable the approximation mechanism  200  to approximate the lower holder member  20  to the upper member  30  by simultaneously lifting of the lower holder member  20  towards the upper member  30  and lowering of the upper member  30  towards the lower holder member  20 . 
     The apparatus  100  may further enable extracting juice from a fruit part or a vegetable (e.g. a sliced part of an orange, a lemon, a grapefruit etc.) or crushing an object  10 ′ (e.g. a plastic bottle, a can, plastic box etc.) by placing a juicer assembly  10  or an object  10 ′ on the lower holder member  20  and levering the juicer assembly  10  or object  10 ′ towards the upper member  30  and the upper member  30  towards the juicer assembly  10  or the lower part of the object  10 ′ (which means lowering towards the lower holder member  20 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the distance “D” between the lower holder member  20  and the upper member  30  can be adjusted according to the size of the object  10 ′ or juicer assembly  10  by lowering and lifting of the lower holder member  20  and the upper member  30 , using the approximation mechanism  200  (by lowering or lifting the handle  220 ). 
     According to some embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each set  210 / 210 ′ of arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ may be connected to one side of the upper member  30  at one upper end of the set  210 / 210 ′ and to one side of the lower holder member  20  at another lower end of the set  210 / 210 ′. 
     According to embodiments, the handle  220  may connect the two sets  210 / 210 ′ to one another in a manner that when the handle  220  is manually lowered it enables the arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ of the two sets  210 / 210 ′ to fold towards one another and thereby to lift the lower holder member  20  to approximate the lower holder member  20  towards the upper member  30  and simultaneously to lower the upper member  30  to approximated it to the lower holder member  20 . 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , each set  210 / 210 ′ of arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ may comprises at least three arms: an upper arm  211 C/ 211 C′, a middle arm  211 B/ 211 B′ and a lower arm  211 A/ 211 A′. The lower part of the upper arm  211 C/ 211 C′ may be rotatably connected to the upper part of the middle arm  211 B/ 211 B′ through a joint  212 , the upper part of the upper arm  211 C/ 211 C′ may be rotatably connected to one of the upper member&#39;s  30  connector  33  through a joint  212 , the lower part of the middle arm  211 B/ 211 B′ may be rotatably connected to the upper part of the lower arm  211 A/ 211 A′ through a joint  212 , the middle part of the middle arm  211 B/ 211 B′ may be connected to one of the at least one handle  220  (e.g. through a joint  212 ), the lower part of the middle arm  211 B/ 211 B′ may be rotatably connected to the upper part of the lower arm  211 A/ 211 A′ and the lower part of the lower arm  211 A/ 211 A′ may be rotatably connected to one of the lower holder member&#39;s  20  connector  22  through a joint  22 . 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the support assembly  130  may comprise two cylindrical rods  131 , substantially parallel to one another and perpendicularly connected to the base  110 , enabling the connectors  22  and  33  that connect to the sets  210 / 210 ′ of arms  211 A,  211 B and  211 C/ 211 A′,  211 B′ and  211 C′ to the lower holder member  20  and to the upper member  30  to slide along the rods  131 , by having rounded holes perforated through the connectors  22  and  33  through which each rod  131  can be inserted. 
     The maximal distance between the lower holder member  20  and the upper member  30 , which determines the maximal height of the object  10 ′ placed therebetween, may be adjustable. According to embodiments, the adjustment may be enabled by adjusting the positioning of the upper member  30  along the support assembly  130 , which may be enabled by movably connecting of the upper member  30  to the support assembly  130  at a desirable distance from the base, using the connectors  33 , wherein the connectors are removable. 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the juicer assembly  10  may comprise a container  11  and a juicer top  12  adapted in size and shape to be placed upon the container  11  as a top. The juicer top  12  may comprise holes or an opening through which the juice of the fruit can be directed into the container  11 , as known in the art. To facilitate the juicing, the top  12  may have a roughened surface, as known in the art. 
     The juicer assembly  10  may be placed upon the lower holder member  20  of the apparatus  100  to allow using it as a juicer. 
     The size and hence the volume of the juicer assembly&#39;s container  10  can be adjusted according to the desired quantity of juice and according to the maximal distance between the lower holder member  20  and the upper member  30 . 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the upper member  30  may be a lid, shaped as a trimmed cone having an opening  32 , where the trimmed cone shape of the upper member  30  and the opening  30  may be adapted to receive an upper part  11 ′ of a standard sized bottle object  10 ′, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4  as well as the juicer top  12  of the juicer assembly  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     According to embodiments, the apparatus  100  may be provided with a multiplicity of upper members  30  of variable sizes and shapes, which allow adapting the size and shape of the upper member  30  to the upper part of the object  10 ′ or the size and shape of the juicer assembly  10 . 
     According to some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may be further provided with a multiplicity of lower holder members  20  of different sizes and shapes to allow adapting it to various objects  10 ′ and/or juicer assemblies  10  sizes and shapes. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a multipurpose apparatus  100  for extracting juice and crushing objects  10 ′, according to other embodiments of the invention. 
     According to these embodiments, the support assembly  130  may comprise a support handle  132  and the two rods  131 , where the support handle  132  connects the top end of the rods  131 , to allow the user to stabilize the apparatus  100  when extracting juice or crushing an object  10 ′ by holding the support handle  132 . 
     According to the other embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the base  110  of the apparatus  100  may include at least one niche  111  for receiving the container  11  of the juicer assembly  10 , where the lower holder member  20  may be an encircling member (e.g. a flat ring) enabling to hold the container  11  or the object  10 ′ by tightly encircling the outer surface of the container  11  or object  10 ′. 
     According to embodiments, the container  11  may be integrally connected to the encircling lower holder member  20  where to crush an object  10 ′ the object&#39;s  10 ′ lower part may be received by the integrated container  11  and lower holder member  20 . 
     According to embodiments, the container  10 , integrally connected to the ring shaped lower holder member  20  may enable receiving a juicer top  12  as a cover, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     According to embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , each of the support rods  131  may include a track like groove  133  curved along the inner side of each rod  131  enabling the connectors  22  and  33  of each side of the lower holder member  20  and upper member  30 , respectively, to be inserted into the grooves  133  and to slide along the grooves  133  and thereby allow the approximation mechanism  200  to move along the support assembly  130 . 
     Additionally, at least one of the arms  211 B and  211 B′ of each set  210  and  210 ′ may comprise an additional connector  21  enabling the arms  211 B and  211 B′ to also slide along the grooves  133  of the rods  131 . 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the embodiments thereof, including a preferred embodiment. The scope of the invention should not be limited by what has been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.