Abstract:
A food spinner with a lid assembly that contains gears and a brake. The brake impinges upon at least one gear of the spinner to slow and stop the spinner. The brake has frictional material on a surface that contacts the gear. The brake is moved into contact with the gear by pressing a button on the lid of the spinner. The food spinner is secured to a work surface by a compact suction device contained in a base of the spinner.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No, 29/232,222, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,229, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,215, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,220, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,225, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,321, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,217, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,271, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,218, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,248, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,226, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/232,228, filed Jun. 16, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/239,921, filed Sep. 30, 2005 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,332, filed Sep. 30, 2005. The aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to kitchenware and, in particular, a salad and food spinner with a convenient and dependable brake structure.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0003]     Salad spinners are used to remove excess or undesired moisture from lettuce and other leafy foods that have been washed or rinsed before they are combined with other foods for human consumption. The leafy food is placed in the spinner, the spinner is rotated, usually at a relatively high speed to remove the water from the leaves, and then stopped so that the leafy food may be removed from the spinner. Due to the speed at which the spinner rotates and the uneven distribution of the food therein, the spinner may have a tendency to move on the work surface or even fall off the work surface. Also, and again due to the speed of the spinner, it may be difficult to stop the spinner once the water or other liquid has been spun off the leaves. The user may at times have to wait until the spinner has slowed down in order to stop it.  
         [0004]     It would be desirable to have a salad and food spinner that could be easily and firmly secured to a counter or work surface during the spinning operation. It is also desirable to have a low profile device for securing the spinner to the work surface so that the spinner assemble itself does not become bulky or unnecessarily or uncomfortably high for the user when it is secured to the work surface. It would also be desirable to have a food spinner that had a braking device that could be easily activated and could stop the spinner in a very short period of time, again without causing the spinner to move or become unstable on the counter or work surface.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     The salad and food spinner of the invention has a suction device in the base. The suction device is engaged and disengaged by a lever that is moved horizontally in a slot in the base to secure the spinner very firmly to the work surface. The suction device has low profile so that the spinner assemble itself does not become bulky or unnecessarily or uncomfortably high for the user when it is secured to the work surface.  
         [0006]     The spinner is also equipped with a brake that quickly and dependably stops the spinner and is activated by simply pressing a button in the top of the lid of the spinner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the food spinner of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the food spinner;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of the assembled food spinner;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a brake and first, second, and third gears of the food spinner; and  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a basket, a basket top, a lid base, the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, the brake, a lid top, and a handle of the food spinner.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]     Certain terminology will be used in the following description. Words such as “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “upward”, “downward”, “rightward”, “leftward”, “above”, “below”, and the like, refer to those same directions in the properly oriented drawings. Words such as “inward”, “outward”, “inner”, “outer”, “central”, refer to the same directions or locations at, toward, or away from the geometric center of the object shown or referenced in the properly oriented drawings. This use of such terminology is for convenient reference, is not intended to be limiting (as, for example, if an embodiment of the invention is inverted or reversed), and includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of a similar nature or import.  
         [0000]     Food Spinner Assembly  
         [0013]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , a food spinner  1  of the invention has a base  2 , a bowl  3 , a basket  4 , a basket top  5 , a lid base  6 , a first movable toothed gear  7 , a second movable toothed gear  8 , a third movable toothed gear  9 , a brake  10 , a lid top  11 , and a handle  12 . The assembled food spinner is show in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]     The base  2  may be removably or permanently secured to the bowl  3 . See  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0015]     The basket  4  is made of a lattice type structure so that it has a multitude of openings  4   a  in its side. The basket  4  is sized to fit within the bowl  3  so that it may rotate within the bowl  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  5 , the basket top  5  is sized to be removably placed on top of the basket  4  in a friction fit such that, when the basket top  5  is rotated, the basket  4  rotates as well.  
         [0017]     The above listed parts of the food spinner  1  may be made of plastic or metal or a combination thereof. However, a durable plastic is preferred.  
         [0000]     Food Spinner Handle and Gears  
         [0018]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the handle  12  is attached to the third movable toothed gear  9 , at connector  13 . The teeth  14  of the third movable gear cooperate and mesh with the spaces between the upper teeth  15  of the second movable gear  8 . (See  FIG. 4 ) The lower movable teeth  16  of the second gear  8  cooperate and mesh with the spaces between the teeth  17  of the first movable gear  7 . The first gear  7  is connected to the basket top  5 , and the basket top  5  is firmly, but removably secured to the basket  4 . Thus, as the handle  12  is rotated, the third, second, and first gears  9 ,  8  and  7  rotate, the basket top  5  rotates, and the basket  4  rotates and spins.  
         [0019]     The handle  12  is movably positioned in a recession  18  of the lid top  11 . The handle  12  has a grip  19  that is used to rotate the handle  12  in the recession  18  and, as described above, to rotate the basket  4 .  
         [0000]     Lid Assembly  
         [0020]     The lid top  11  and the lid base  6  are secured to one another and house the gears  7 ,  8 , and  9  and the brake  10 . The first gear  7  is connected to the basket top  5  through a hole  20  in the lid base  6 . The basket top  5  does not separate from the lid base  6  during normal use. Thus, when the connected lid top  11  and lid base  6  are removed or lifted from the food spinner  1 , the basket top  5  is also removed from the basket  4 .  
         [0000]     Brake Assembly  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the brake  10  comprises a U-shaped frame  22  having hinge bars  23 , a frame projection  24 , a button  25 , and a spring  26 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the button  25  is attached to the projection  24  of the brake frame  22 . Rubber or some other frictional material (not shown) is bonded or attached to the underside  28  of the U-shaped frame  22 . The frictional material may be rubber, plastic, metal, or other material that creates friction between the gear  8  and the underside  28  of the frame  22 . In many cases the addition of the frictional material may not be necessary, because the surfaces of the brake frame  22  and the gear  8  may be such that sufficient friction is created therebetween when they are brought in contact with one another.  
         [0023]     An upper end  29  of the spring  26  is attached to or rests against an underside  30  of the frame projection  24 . A lower end  31  of the spring  26  is attached to or rests upon an upper side  32  of the lid base  6 . The spring  26 , when unbiased, is slightly longer or taller than the thickness of a lower toothed portion  33  of the second gear  8 .  
         [0024]     The hinge bars  23  fit movably within cooperatively shaped hinge receivers  34  on the lid base  6 . When the button  25  is pressed, the spring  26  is compressed, and the U-shaped frame  22  pivots downward as the hinge bars  23  rotate within the hinge receivers  34 . When the button  25  is released, the hinge bars  23  rotate in the opposite direction, and the frame  22  moves upward via the bias of the spring  26 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8  is larger in diameter than an upper portion  35  of gear  8 . The top  36  of the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8  thus presents a substantially flat surface  37  that is not overlapped by the upper portion of  35  of second gear  8 . The U-shaped brake frame  22  is positioned just above the flat surface  37  of the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8  and is held in that position by the spring  26  when the spring  26  is not compressed. When the button  25  is pressed, the frame  22  and its extension  24  are moved downward against the bias of the spring  26 . As the frame  22  is moved downward, the rubber or other material attached to the underside  28  of frame  22  makes contact with the flat surface  37  on the top  36  of the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8  and prevents the second gear  8  from moving. Of course, if the second gear  8  is moving when the button  25  is pressed, the rubber or other frictional material on the underside  28  of frame  22  makes frictional contact with the flat surface  37  of on the top  36  of the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8  and slows the second gear  8  or stops its movement. When the button  25  is released, the brake frame  22  rises in response to the bias of the spring  26  so that it is once again positioned just above, and not in contact with, the flat surface  37  on the top  36  of the lower portion  33  of the second gear  8 , in which position it does not hinder or interfere with the rotation of the gear  8 .  
         [0026]     The button  25  that activates the brake  10  extends through a hole  38  in the lid top  11  so that the button  25  can be pressed, and the brake  10  activated, from the lid top  11 . (See  FIG. 5 )  
         [0000]     Base Suction Device  
         [0027]     The base  2  of the food spinner  1  houses a suction assembly  39 , as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0028]     The suction assembly  39  comprises a suction pad  60 , a suction pad plate  61 , a handle  62 , and a pivot  63 . The suction plate  61  has a top side  64 . Two spaced-apart bridge-like structures  65  extend away and upward from the top side  64  of the plate  61 . Each bridge-like structure  65  has an underside  66  that is ramped or sloped. The pivot  63  is situated between the bridge-like structures  65 .  
         [0029]     The suction pad  60  is larger in diameter than the suction pad plate  61 . The suction pad has a central portion  68  and an outer portion  69 . When the suction pad  60  is placed on the top side  64  of the suction pad plate  61 , the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  extends beyond and outward from the suction pad plate  61 . The central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is situated on and connected to the top side  64  of the plate  61 .  
         [0030]     The handle  62  extends from the sloped underside  66  of one of the bridge-like structures  65 , through a hole  70  in the pivot  63 , along the sloped underside  66  of the other bridge-like structure  65 , and outward thorough the elongated slot  59  in the side  56  of the base  2  above the bottom opening  58  of the base  2 . The handle  62 , so situated, is in sliding contact with the sloped undersides  66  of the bridge-like structures  65 .  
         [0031]     The suction assembly  39  is oriented so that the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60 , which extends outward from the plate  61 , makes contact with the counter or work surface through the bottom opening  58  of the base  2 .  
         [0032]     Suction device  39  is operated by moving its handle  62  from one side of its elongated slot  59  to the other.  
         [0033]     Movement of the handle  62  in one direction causes the handle  62  to slide along the upward slopes of the underside  65  of the bridge-like structures  65 . As the handle  62  slides along the slope underside  65 , it pulls the plate  61  from which the bridge-like structures  65  extend, in turn causing the plate  61  to pull the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  away from the counter, while the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  remains in contact with the counter. As the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is pulled away from the surface, the air pressure between the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  and the counter decreases, creating a partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , which, in turn causes the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60 , which is still in contact with the counter, to adhere to the counter.  
         [0034]     Movement of the handle  62  in the opposite direction in the slot  59  relaxes the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , causes the central portion of the suction pad  60  to move toward the counter, increases the pressure under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 , dispels the partial vacuum, and allows the suction pad  60  to be easily removed from the surface to which it is was formerly mated.  
         [0000]     Operation of the Suction Device  
         [0035]     The food spinner  1  is placed in a desirable location on a work surface or counter. In this position, the outer portion  69  of the suction pad  60  is in contact with the countertop. The handle  62  of the suction device  39  is moved in the elongated slot  59 . As the handle  62  moves in the slot  59  the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  is raised upward, creating a partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60  while the outer portion of the  69  of the suction pad  60  remains on the countertop. The vacuum or suction so created under the central portion  68  of the suction pad causes the food spinner  1  to stick or adhere to the counter in the desired location.  
         [0036]     So adhered, the food spinner  1  will not be moved or tipped on the counter or work surface when the food spinner  1  is in operation.  
         [0037]     If it is desired to move the food spinner  1  to a different location, the handle  62  of the suction device  39  is moved in the opposite direction in the slot  59  in the side  56  of the base  2  to relieve the partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 . The food spinner  1  may then be moved to a different location on the countertop, where it may again be adhered by suction in the manner stated above.  
         [0000]     Operation of Food Spinner  
         [0038]     In use, the food spinner  1  is secured to the counter or work surface by placing the food spinner  1  on the work surface and activating the suction device  39  as described immediately above.  
         [0039]     The lid top  1  laid base  6 /basket top  5 , all of which are connected, are lifted and removed from the food spinner  1 . When the basket top  5  is removed or lifted from the food spinner  1 , the basket top  5  is also removed from the basket  4 . Lettuce, leafy greens, or other washed, wet, or moisture-containing food is then placed in the open basket  4 . The basket top  5 , together with the connected lid top  11  and lid base  6 , is then placed back on the basket  4  to enclose the wet food in the basket  4 .  
         [0040]     The grip  19  of the handle  12  is then used to rotate the handle  12 . As the handle  12  is rotated, the third, second, and first gears  9 ,  8  and  7  rotate, the basket top  5  rotates, and, with it, the basket  4  is rotated and spins. As the basket  4  spins, the centrifugal force imparted to the spinning food forces the water or moisture out through the holes  4   a  in the side of the basket  4 . As the water or other liquid is forced out through the holes  4   a  it goes into the bowl  3  and collects in the bottom of the bowl  3 .  
         [0041]     After the water or other liquid has been spun from the food, the button  25  is pressed to activate the brake  10 . When the button  25  is pressed, the brake frame  22  is moved downward into contact with the flat surface  37  on top of the lower portion  33  of second gear  8  and friction is created therebetween. When friction is created between the brake  10  and the flat surface  37 , the second gear  8 , as well first and third gears  7  and  9 , are slowed, eventually to a stop. When the gears  7 ,  8 , and  9  are slowed and stopped, the basket top  5  and basket  4  also slows and stops spinning. The button  25  is then release to disengage the brake  10 .  
         [0042]     When the basket  4  stops spinning, the basket top  5  (and with it the lid top  11  and lid base  6 ) are removed from the spinner  1 , and the basket  4  containing the dried food is removed from the bowl  3 . The suction device  39  is then deactivated by moving the handle  62  of the suction device  39  in the slot  59  in the side  56  of the base  2  to relieve the partial vacuum under the central portion  68  of the suction pad  60 . The food spinner  1  and bowl  3  may then be lifted and the collected liquid poured out of the bowl  3 .  
         [0043]     The lid top  11  and connected lid base  6  and basket top  5  may then be replaced on the food spinner  1 , and the food spinner  1  may be placed in its storage location.  
         [0044]     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.