Patent Abstract:
A butter maker having a housing for mounting on a countertop in a kitchen or the like. The butter maker includes a cream holding container in which cream is placed and also includes drive assembly having a shaft both rotatable along its vertical axis and reciprocal therealong. The shaft includes a dasher having a pair of spaced paddles with a plurality of spaced throughholes extending into the container conforming generally to the inner configuration of the interior of the container but spaced from the inner wall thereof.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to butter makers; and, more particularly, a butter maker adapted to be set on top of a counter and activated to make butter and buttermilk.  
         [0003]     2. Related Art  
         [0004]     In my U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,511,219 and 6,257,755, I disclose a compact butter maker that can be used in a kitchen or the like. Butter is a common food fat product that has been used throughout the world for centuries as an ingredient of other foods or as a condiment. Today, butter is commonly made on an industrial scale with apparatus suitable for handling tens, hundreds, or more gallons of cream or milk. In a day before commercial creameries, butter was commonly made in the home using mechanical churns that, typically, were manually operated. As commercial creameries became prevalent, home butter making became less popular and advances in equipment for home butter making slowed. As a result, modem improvements in kitchen appliances have not been incorporated into home butter makers. Therefore, my patents fill a need for a butter maker that can be conveniently used in a contemporary home kitchen.  
         [0005]     Thus, my butter maker in my patents used in the contemporary home kitchen. The butter maker therein is compact and fits on a counter or other surface in a home kitchen. The butter maker includes a cream container, a drive housing, a drive, and a dasher. The drive housing houses a drive, which is coupled to the dasher and adapted and configured to drive the dasher in reciprocal motion. The drive housing and the cream container are adapted and configured to reversibly mate and to position the dasher in the cream container for reciprocal motion within the container. The dasher and the container have complementary shapes with the dasher dimension to fit within the container and to define a space that can be occupied by cream within the container and around the dasher. Reciprocal motion of the dasher within the container converts the cream to butter.  
         [0006]     I have determined that there is a need for a more substantial butter maker which is the type of appliance suitable for use in a kitchen.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of this invention to provide a butter maker adapted to be set on top of a counter and activated to make butter and buttermilk. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a butter maker in accordance with the invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a right side view of the butter maker of  FIG. 1 , the left side view being a mirror image;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a sectional elevation view of the container assembly of the maker of  FIGS. 1 and 2  removed from the housing;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the beaters along of the assembly of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the drive assembly alone of the butter maker of  FIGS. 1 and 2  removed from the housing thereof;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the butter maker of FIGS.  1  to  7 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of a circuit a circuit diagram that may be used in the device of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of one of the parts of the butter maker of  FIG. 1  removed therefrom for convenience of illustration;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10A  is a side view of the part shown in  FIG. 10 ; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the butter maker of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a butter maker  10  is shown comprising a main housing  11  extending upwardly from a base  12 . A plurality, such as four, of resilient feet  13 , one at each corner, may be provided on the undersurface of base  12 . Butter maker  10  includes a cream container  14 , which may be generally cylindrical and transparent and of glass or plastic or the like, normally disposed on the upper surface  15  of base  12  and open at the top (as will be discussed). The side walls  16 ,  17  (see also  FIG. 2 ) of main housing  11  may be cut-out at a forward portion thereof, such as at cut-out area  18  (in each side wall  16 ,  17 ) to facilitate insertion and removal of container assembly  14  and allow access to jog switch  207 .  
         [0021]     Butter maker  10  includes a stepped container lid  19  which may be of a resilient material so that the container  14  press fits into an annular groove  20  ( FIG. 3 ) in the lower wall  21  of upper stepped portion  22  of lid  19 . As seen, the integral lower stepped portion  23  of lid  19  extends down into the open top of container  14 . A resilient o-ring  24  may be provided in groove  20  to provide a liquid seal.  
         [0022]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the upper portion of housing  11  may have a start button  25  at top and a movable panel  26  below button  25  having an elongated handle  27  (see also  FIG. 2 ) for lifting panel  26  as will be discussed.  FIG. 2  shows in dotted lines the movement of panel  26  from the lower to the upper position. Suitable indicia, such as a direction indicating arrow  28 , may be provided on panel  26  along with other suitable operating indicia  29 .  
         [0023]     A beater assembly  30  is provided internally of butter maker  10  extending downwardly through lid  19 .  
         [0024]     Thus, as seen in  FIG. 3 , beater assembly  30  includes a pair of spaced paddles  31 ,  32 . As seen in  FIG. 4 , each paddle, such as paddle  31 , paddle  32  being identical, is generally circular, having a central aperture  34 , with a plurality of round spaced holes  33  extending about aperture  32 . Each paddle also has a centrally located hub portion  35  adapted to mate with a like hub portion  36  ( FIG. 5 ) on a mating paddle  32  and sealed or otherwise secured together in a fluid tight manner.  
         [0025]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , a suitable plug  37  is provided for plugging the butter maker  10  into a suitable electrical outlet (not shown).  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the paddle  31 ,  32  are secured together by a shaft  38  extending down through the aligned holes  34  to a barrel nut  39 . A resilient washer  40  may be provided through which shaft  38  extends. The shaft  38  may be threaded to thread into aligned holes  34 , or holes  34  may be smooth bored with only the terminal end of the shaft  38  being threaded to thread to nut  39 .  
         [0027]     Shaft  38 , at its upper end, extends through a bearing  41  mounted in a throughhole  42  extending through lid  19 .  
         [0028]     As seen, a centrally located integral hub portion  43  extends downwardly from stepped portion  23  of lid  19 . A conventional shaft seal  44  may be provided at the area where shaft  38  enters bearing  41 .  
         [0029]     The upper end  45  of shaft  38  terminates in a beater drive assembly  46  as will be discussed. A closure member  47  is centrally mounted on lid  19  through which shaft  45  extends and is secured to lid  19  by a plurality of screws  48 . The entire assembly shown in  FIG. 3  is removable for ease of cleaning after the butter and buttermilk is removed.  
         [0030]     The beater drive assembly  46  is coupled to a motor assembly  49  comprising a motor mount  50  coupled via screws  51  or the like to a mounting plate  52 . Motor assembly  49  has a motor shaft  53  extending through an opening  54  in mounting plate  50  into driving engagement with a flywheel  55 . A drive shaft  56  extends from flywheel  55  to a bearing  57 A ( FIG. 7 ) coupled to a second bearing  57 ′B and drive pin  58  via connecting link  59 .  
         [0031]     A fan  60  ( FIG. 6 ) may be mounted in housing  11  for cooling motor assembly  49 .  
         [0032]     The beater drive assembly  46  is seen more particularly in  FIG. 7  and mounts into a T-shaped opening  204  in drive block  61  with shaft end  45  fixed thereto. Drive assembly  46  further includes a pair of spaced posts  62 ,  63  extending through openings in block  61 . Bearing sleeves  64 ,  65  are associated with posts  62 ,  63 , respectively.  
         [0033]     It can be seen in  FIG. 7  that actuation of motor assembly  49  rotates shaft  53  and flywheel  55 . Drive shaft  56  on rotating flywheel  55  through connecting link  59  transfers its rotating movement, guided by posts  62  and  63  and bearing sleeves  64  and  65 , into a vertical reciprocal movement of drive pin  58 . Drive pin  58 , being part of drive block  61 , carries the beater drive assembly  46  when inserted.  
         [0034]     As seen in  FIG. 8 , a suitable timer  67  may be provided on the upper wall  68  of housing  11  with suitable actuating means and switches, such as power “on” light  69 , power switch  70  and an automatic or time control slide switch  71 .  
         [0035]     In operation, the user pours 1 pint of heavy whipping cream into container  14 . Preferably, the cream should be at room temperature. The lid assembly, which includes the lid  19  and paddle assembly  30 , is now inserted into the cream in container  14 . The lid assembly fits automatically in place.  
         [0036]     Switch  71  is set to either automatic or time and the start button  25  is pressed. If automatic, the butter will churn until done. If time controlled, the timer  67  may be set for any time between 0 and 30 minutes.  
         [0037]     Inserting the container assembly  14  into the maker  10  automatically seals the container. Closing the door  26 , and pressing the start button  25 , starts the churning process. The churn process either stops automatically when butter is separated or runs for a predetermined length of time.  
         [0038]     The user now removes the container and lifts the lid  19 . The churned butter and buttermilk are placed in suitable containers.  
         [0039]     Although the basic process for churning butter is disclosed, certain refinements can be made by the user. For example, ultra-heavy pasteurized whipping cream may be used. Various types of cream from different manufacturers may be used.  
         [0040]     If the whipping cream is too cold, it does not separate or takes a long time. If the cream is too warm, it melts the butter and does not separate properly; the butter may get too creamy and mushy containing most of the buttermilk.  
         [0041]     Preferably, the best cream temperature is about 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. It should be removed from the refrigerator about 3-4 hours before processing.  
         [0042]     Time setting: Depending on conditions and type of whipped cream the time for churning varies from 2-5 minutes. One should start with time setting of 5 minutes. If the butter separates in less time, the machine should be stopped by opening the access door. If more time is needed after the machine is stopped, the start switch should be pressed again. When the butter maker  10  is started in the “Auto” mode, the butter maker  10  runs until the churning process is completed (butter is done) and the motor is deenergized and stops. In the “Auto” mode, the churning process is controlled by the “Auto” control unit as seen in the wiring diagram of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0043]     When the butter is done, the buttermilk separates and the butter solidifies. The motor may labor heavily and may stop under load. The access door should be opened and the container removed.  
         [0044]     The cover should be removed along with accumulated butter from the container.  
         [0045]     The butter may be collected into a shallow dish and, working with a spoon, compressed and drained to draw out all excess buttermilk.  
         [0046]     The butter may be placed into a suitable container and keep cold in the refrigerator.  
         [0047]     Briefly, the short operation is as follows:  
                                                 Pour whipping cream in container.       Replace cover assembly.       Set timer to desired time in minutes.       Open access door and insert container.       Close access door.       Press start button. Churning will stop, when cycle completed.       Open access door, remove container.            Butter churn   Power requirements:   120 VAC 50/60 Hz 250 watts       specification.   Dimensions:   10″ high × 7″ wide × 11″ deep           Weight:   16 lb.                  
 
         [0048]     Container  14  may be of any suitable materials and dimensions, such as a 1½ pint mixing container of strong, clear acrylic material.  
         [0049]     All container  14  components should be dishwasher safe. The butter maker assembly, (motor, etc.) stays clean during the churning process and is not submersible.  
         [0050]     Any suitable motor dimensions and specifications may be used. For example, a 250 watt, 120 VAC 50/60 Hz motor may be used. The overall dimensions of maker  10  may be about 10″ high, 7″ wide, 11″ deep and about 16 pounds in weight.  
         [0051]      FIG. 11  illustrates how the beater assembly  30  and container  14  is removed from butter maker  10 . Access door  26  has indicia  28 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , and the beater drive assembly  46  enters a T-shaped opening  204  in mounting block  61  (see also  FIG. 7 ). Door or panel  26  may slide up and down between spaced side flanges  205 ,  206 . A jog switch  207  is mounted on the front wall  208  of butter maker  10 . Mixing container  14  and beater assembly  30  can not be removed or inserted unless the access door  26  is fully open and the mounting block  61  is properly aligned and visible in the access door opening. If one does not see the mounting block  61  in the door opening, as shown, a light touch of the “jog” switch  207  on the front wall  208  will move it to the desired position.  
         [0052]     Thus, the door opening is rather small so that people will not insert fingers in it. Unless the container  14  is properly aligned, the container  14  can no be removed or inserted, the door  20  itself is in the way.  
         [0053]     Opening the door  26  disconnects the electric power and thus the motor except for the jog switch  207 , becomes inoperative.  
         [0054]     The door safety disconnect switch  72  is shown in  FIG. 1 . A finger  73  extending from door panel  26  activates the switch  72  when door  26  is closed.  
         [0055]     Just behind the container  14  is the container switch  74 . This is a normally open wherein inserting the container  14  pushes the plunger  75  and activates the switch  74 . The maker  10  can not be run without container  14  inserted.  
         [0056]     Any suitable electronic means may be used to carry out the invention. For example, a schematic illustration of a circuit that may be used is shown in  FIG. 9  wherein like numerals refer to like parts of  FIGS. 1-8 .  
         [0057]     Receptacle container  14  may be 4½″ in height, 4″ in diameter with a ⅛″ wall thickness. Paddles  31 ,  32  may be about 3.375″ in diameter so a spacing of about 0.375″ is provided between the outer periphery of the paddles and the inner wall of container  14 .  
         [0058]     In order to seal the container  14  and hold it firmly in place, a tension spring  200  ( FIG. 6 —see also  FIG. 10 ) may be provided mounted to mounting plate  52  and having a pair of spaced forward hooked or curved portions  201 ,  202  (see  FIGS. 10 and 10 A) extending from flat portion  203 . Thus, the lip of container  14  abuts there against and is held firmly in position. It applies pressure, seals the container  14  in position and holds it in place until removed. Spring  200  may be of any suitable material, such as phosphor bronze. Mounting holes  210  are provided for secured spring  200  to plate  52 .  
         [0059]     In conclusion, the maker  10  includes a container  14  with a separate cover assembly. The container  14  may be conventional kitchen type-type Pyrex Glass container that is dish washer safe. The cover assembly includes container lid  22 , beater paddle assembly  30  and driver rod  45  are assembled into one unit. This unit can not be home disassembled and is dish washer safe. Container lid  22  has an O-ring style seal  24  on its underside matching the upper rim of the class container  14 .  
         [0060]     Both the glass container  14  and the cover assembly are individual parts and have no interlocking features and, unless inserted into maker  10 , are always free to separate.  
         [0061]     Sliding container  14  into the maker activates the tension spring parts  201 ,  202  located on each side underneath the maker  10  and seals the container  14  and holds it in place. In order to remove container  14 , one opens the door  26  and slides the container  14  out.  
         [0062]     Although a particular embodiment of the invention is disclosed, variations thereof may occur to an artisan and the scope of the invention should only be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1