Abstract:
A food processor having an integrated spatula is provided. The food processor includes a work bowl and a lid configured to be selectively removable therefrom. The food processor further includes a spatula having a wiper in contact with interior walls of the work bowl and a lever coupled to the wiper and accessible above the lid for manually rotating the wiper within the bowl to scape the interior walls of the bowl.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/809,494, filed on Apr. 8, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to food processors and, more particularly, to a food processor having an integrated spatula. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Food processing devices providing a number of different types of food preparations, such as mixing, grinding, chopping, slicing, grating, shredding, or other processing operations, are well known. Existing food processing devices typically include a base housing an electric motor, a drive shaft driven by the motor, a bowl receivable on the base and a lid or cover having a feed tube releasably mounted to the bowl. A rotatably driven blade is mounted to the drive shaft to process one or more food items inside the bowl. 
         [0004]    While existing food processing devices are generally suitable for what is regarded as ordinary performance, there is room for improvement in terms of ease of use and expanded functionality. In particular, a limitation of existing food processing devices is that they must be turned off and a cover removed from the bowl in order for a user to scrape food items from the sides of the bowl to ensure complete processing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a food processor having an integrated spatula. 
         [0006]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a food processor having an integrated spatula that allows a user to wipe the inner walls of the food processor bowl without opening the lid. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a food processor having an integrated spatula that allows a user to wipe the inner walls of the food processor bowl during processing. 
         [0008]    These and other objects are achieved by the present invention. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a food processor having an integrated spatula is provided. The food processor includes a work bowl and a lid configured to be selectively removable therefrom. The food processor further includes a spatula having a wiper in contact with interior walls of the work bowl and a lever coupled to the wiper and accessible above the lid for manually rotating the wiper within the bowl to scape the interior walls of the bowl. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lid and spatula of the food processor of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a food processor lid and work bowl having an integrated spatula according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the lid and integrated spatula of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view illustrating the lid and integrated spatula of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a food processor  10  according to the present invention is shown. The food processor  10  includes a base  12 , a work bowl or receptacle  14  received on the base  12 , and a lid  16  configured to be selectively removable from the work bowl  14 . Base  12  includes a motor or other rotary drive mechanism (not shown) connected to a rotatable output shaft  18  for rotatably driving a blade interior to the work bowl  14  and may include controls (not shown) for varying settings of the motor. 
         [0017]    As further shown therein, work bowl  14  is generally cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape and has a handle  20  and a pour spout (not shown). The lid  16  defines a substantially circular body sized and is dimensioned to cover work bowl  14 . The lid  16  also includes a feed tube opening (not shown). The feed tube opening may be generally oval in shape, although other shapes and dimensions are envisioned without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the lid  16  may also include a feed tube  22  defining a substantially annular body having a substantially oval cross-section extending upwards from the lid  16  and in communication with the feed tube opening. As is well known in the art, the feed tube  22  provides a chute through which a user may load food items to be processed into the work bowl  14 . 
         [0019]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the feed tube  22  may be removable from the lid  16  and a cover  24  may be utilized to cover the feed tube opening. As shown therein, the cover  24  may include a knob  26  to which a spatula  28  may be coupled. The spatula  28  may be rotated within the bowl by twisting the knob  26 . 
         [0020]    With reference to  FIGS. 3-5 , an alternative embodiment of an integrated spatula  30  is shown. As shown therein the spatula  30  includes a connecting arm  32  having an aperture  34  therein, and a wiper arm  36 . The connecting arm  32  is adapted to mate with a lever  38  that is provided through an aperture in the lid  16  of the work bowl  14 . In particular, the connecting arm  32  and the lever  38  are configured to snap together to retain the lid  16  therebetween. 
         [0021]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the wiper arm  36  is generally arcuate in shape and is designed to closely follow the curvature of the interior of the work bowl  14  within which it is disposed. In the preferred embodiment, the wiper arm  36  is formed from a resilient material such as rubber or the like, although other materials known in the art may also be utilized without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention. The wiper arm  36 , as shown therein, is also angled so as to direct processed food items downward and into blade assembly  40 . Importantly, a distal end of the wiper arm, as shown in  FIG. 3 , terminates just above the upper-most blade of the blade assembly  40 , so as not to interfere therewith. In addition, the wiper arm  36  is spring loaded towards the sides of the bowl  14 , thereby allowing it to be used with different diameter work bowls. 
         [0022]    In operation, a user can grasp lever  38  and rotate the same to effect rotation of the wiper  36  inside the work bowl  14 . As will be readily appreciated, this allows a user to wipe the inner walls of the bowl prior to, after, and even during processing without opening the lid  16 , and without interfering with the blade assembly  40 , thereby providing a functionality heretofore not seen in the art. 
         [0023]    In particular, existing food processing devices are cumbersome in that when partially processed, but not fully processed, food items stick to the sides of the work bowl, a user must turn off the device, remove the cover, scrape the sides of the bowl, replace the cover and initiate processing again. This series of steps often must be repeated numerous times to ensure full processing of the food items. 
         [0024]    In contrast to this, the integrated spatula  30  of the present invention allows a user scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure complete processing without having to remove the cover or even turn off the device. 
         [0025]    Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure.