Abstract:
The blender for production of scented materials has mutually connecting containers or chambers that attach to a conventional motorized blender base. The chambers include a mixing chamber having a removable blade assembly and base attachment mount, a filtration chamber installed upon the mixing chamber, and a collection chamber installed upon the filtration chamber. The filtration chamber may include one or more scent absorbent pads removably installed in the neck thereof. The blender is used by assembling the mixing chamber upon the blender base, adding ingredients and liquid, installing the filtration and collection chambers, and operating the blender. When the ingredients have been mixed and comminuted, the chamber assembly is removed from the base and inverted to drain the liquid mixture through the scent absorbent discs and into the collection bottle. The discs and collection bottle are then removed for use in distributing the scent.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/907,928, filed Apr. 23, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to devices for mixing and blending materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a blender for production of scented materials that may be used to mask other scents or to create attractive scents for game in hunting, or for other purposes. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Various scents have long been known to attract game when hunting, and even where such scents may be prohibited, it is still desirable to mask the human scent of the hunter and his or her equipment. Anglers have long known of the scents produced by various materials, e.g., chopped bait, and even some cheeses, etc., for attracting fish. More generally, various air fresheners have been developed, with most such air fresheners having an attractive scent for placement in the home, automobile, etc. 
         [0006]    Many, if not most, of the above scents have been made available commercially, and other than in fishing, it has been difficult for a person desiring to make use of a certain scent to produce that scent at home. While blenders and other mixing devices are well known, such devices produce scents only as a secondary effect, and are not configured for producing an end product that is primarily intended to produce a scent for use in hunting, fishing, or other purposes. 
         [0007]    An example of a grinding device is found in German Patent No. 4,025,995, published on Jun. 27, 1991. According to the drawings and English abstract, the apparatus comprises two grinders capable of grinding to different granule sizes, and a system for returning larger granules back to the first grinder for regrinding or to the second grinder for finer grinding. The device is primarily intended for grinding coffee. 
         [0008]    Thus a blender for production of scented materials solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The blender for production of scented materials has a series of stages or sections installed upon a motorized base for operation. The first or lowermost section is a mixing or blending chamber, with the chopping blades of the motorized base extending upwardly into this chamber. A filtration chamber is removably attached atop the mixing chamber, serving to prevent the entrance of relatively large particles into the final collection container. A series of scent absorbent pads or discs may be placed in the upper end of the filtration chamber, with the processed liquid passing through the scent pads en route to the uppermost collection bottle or container. An additional final filter may be placed between the scent pads and the collection bottle or container, if desired. 
         [0010]    The device is used by placing scent-producing materials (e.g., grasses, pine needles, soil, etc.) in the lower or mixing chamber, along with a liquid (water, non-scented gel, etc.) to serve as a carrier or vehicle for the scent. If the production of scent-impregnated pads is desired, such pads may be installed within the upper end of the filtration chamber before the operation. The assembly is closed with a collection bottle or container at the uppermost end, and the motorized blending or mixing blades are activated. When the desired mixing and blending has been accomplished, the apparatus is inverted to drain the liquid through the filter, through the scent absorbent pads, and into the collection container, which is now positioned beneath the remainder of the apparatus. When essentially all of the liquid has drained into the collection bottle, the bottle may be removed and capped, and the scent-impregnated pads may be removed and sealed for future use. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a blender for production of scented materials according to the present invention, including a motorized base and chamber assembly thereon. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the base attachment and chamber assembly of a blender for production of scented materials according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a blender for production of scented materials according to the present invention, showing the mixing chamber attached to the motorized base with the filtration and collection chambers removed therefrom, and with ingredients being added to the mixing chamber. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a blender for production of scented materials according to the present invention with the base attachment and chamber assembly removed and inverted relative to the motorized base, showing disassembly of the components after blending for removal of scented materials therefrom. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The present invention is a blender apparatus or assembly for producing scented materials, for use in making scents for use in hunting, fishing, home or automotive interior air freshening, or other purposes. The apparatus may use a conventional motorized blender base or other means for driving the mixing blades within the lower chamber of the device. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  of the drawings provides a perspective view of the entire blender apparatus  10  for producing scented materials, with  FIG. 2  providing an exploded perspective view of the various components. A conventional motorized blender base  12  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , but other blade driver means may be used in lieu thereof, as noted above. The blender base  12  includes a conventional mixing blade drive  14  and mixing chamber mount  16  thereon, generally as shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. Other types of blender bases may be used, with the lowermost portion of the container assembly being modified as required to fit any practicable blender configuration. 
         [0019]    A blending chamber assembly  18  is removably installed atop the blender base  12 , with the blending chamber including a series of separable components. The first of these components, i.e., the component that attaches to the blender base  12 , is a mixing chamber  20 . The mixing chamber  20  includes a first or lowermost end  22  when the chamber  20  is secured to the blender base  12 , and an opposite second end  24 . The first end  22  further includes a conventional mixing blade or blades  26  extending from a shaft  28 , which passes through a conventional passage and seal formed concentrically through a bottom closure  30 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The bottom closure  30  is removably sealed to the first end  22  of the mixing chamber  20  by an adaptor  32 , with the blade drive shaft  28  engaging the mixing blade drive  14  of the motorized base  12  in a manner known in the art of household blenders and the like. 
         [0020]    A filtration chamber  34  includes a first end  36  which removably seals to the second end  24  of the mixing chamber  20 , and a second end  38  opposite its first end. An O-ring  40  or other suitable seal may be installed between the two chambers  20  and  34 . The filtration chamber  34  includes a removable filter holder  42  having a filter element disposed integrally therewith. The filter holder  42  comprises a frame having generally open sides, an open first end  44 , and an opposite open second end  46 , and serves as a holder for the filter element  48  therein, with the filter element  48  being shown partially in  FIG. 2  in order to show details of the filter holder frame  42 . The filter element  48  is preferably a washable and reusable unit of fine mesh screen (metal, plastic fiber, etc.) constructed and assembled integrally with the removable filter holder  42 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, a filter frame  42   a  for the carriage of a separable and disposable element  48   a  of paper or other material may be provided, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The filter holder  42  (or  42   a ) is configured to fit closely within the interior of the filtration chamber  34 , with the first and second ends  44  and  46  of the filter holder  42  (or  42   a ) disposed closely adjacent to the corresponding first and second ends  36  and  38  of the filtration chamber  34  when installed therein. 
         [0021]    The blender  10  for producing scented materials is capable of producing scented pads for various purposes (masking of foreign scents for hunting, fish attractant scents, home air fresheners, etc.). The second end  46  of the filter holder  42  (or  42   a ) includes a scent pad attachment frame  50  extending thereacross, with the pad attachment frame  50  including a scent pad attachment passage  52  disposed concentrically therethrough. A scent pad holding pin  54  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) is removably secured within the scent pad attachment passage or hole  52  and serves to capture one or more (preferably a plurality of) scent absorption pads  56  thereon. Each of the pads  56  is configured to fit closely within the interior of the filtration chamber  34  adjacent the second end  38  thereof, and includes a central hole formed therethrough for insertion of the holding pin  54 . The holding pin  54  is secured in the attachment passage  52  of the scent pad attachment frame  50  of the filter holder  42  or  42   a , e.g., by means of a conventional partial turn “bayonet” type attachment, flexible flanges extending radially from the pin  54  to grip the opposite side of the attachment passage  52 , threaded attachment, etc., as desired. 
         [0022]    A catch screen  58  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 ) may be removably installed within the second end  38  of the filtration chamber  34  beyond the scent absorbent pads  56 , if desired. The screen  58  is preferably formed of a wire mesh material, and is of a coarser gauge or mesh than the filter element  48  or  48   a . This screen  58  serves to capture any relatively large particles of material that may happen to flow past the outer surface of the filter element  48  or  48   a  between the filter element  48  or  48   a  and the wall of the filtration chamber  34  during use. The screen  58  is preferably of a reusable material, and may be removed and cleaned between uses of the scent manufacturing blender assembly  10 . 
         [0023]    Finally, a collection chamber or bottle  60  is removably attached to the filtration chamber  34 . The collection chamber  60  includes a first end  62 , which seals to the second end  38  of the filtration chamber  34  when attached thereto, and a permanently closed and sealed second end  64 . The first end  62  of the collection chamber  60  comprises an externally threaded neck configured for attachment to the cooperating internally threaded second end  38  of the filtration chamber  34 . The second end or neck  38  of the filtration chamber  34  includes an extension spout  39  disposed concentrically therein, with the extension spout  39  extending beyond the internally threaded second end or neck  38  of the filtration chamber  34 . 
         [0024]    This extension spout  39  extends into the interior of the externally threaded neck of the collection chamber  60  when the filtration chamber  34  and collection chamber  60  are threadably assembled to one another, and precludes spillage of material from the filtration chamber  34  around the exterior of the collection chamber  60  when the filtration chamber  34  is removed from the underlying collection chamber  60  after scent production operations. The blending chamber assembly  18 , including the mixing chamber  20 , filtration chamber  34 , and collection chamber  60 , form a closed container when assembled together, with the interior volumes of each of the chambers communicating with one another and allowing the flow of materials therethrough, subject to any internal filtration described further above. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate the general procedure for producing or manufacturing scented liquids or pads using the blender  10 . Initially, the mixing chamber  20  with its mixing blade assembly  26 , mixing chamber bottom closure or cover  30 , and adapter  32  are installed upon the motorized blender base  12 , leaving the upper second end  24  of the mixing chamber  20  open. If the production of one or more scented pads  56  is desired, the pads are secured to the attachment frame  50  of the filter holder frame  42 , using the pad attachment pin  54 , at this time. The screen  58  (if used) is placed within (or adjacent to) the second end  38  of the filter chamber  34 , and the filter holder  42  or  42   a  and clean filter element  48  or  48   a  are installed within the filter chamber  34 . 
         [0026]    At this point, the materials to be used to produce the desired scent may be added to the mixing chamber  20  through the open upper or second end  24  thereof, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. These materials may comprise myriad dry or liquid materials, e.g., assorted grasses, leaves, mosses, earth or soil, etc., which may produce the desired scent when mixed. The various liquids may comprise unscented gel, water from a certain locale, animal urine, etc. as desired. In  FIG. 3 , a quantity of dry material D is being poured into the mixing chamber  20  from a suitable container C, with an appropriate quantity of liquid ingredient L being poured from a measuring cup M (or other suitable container). Other ingredients, e.g., baitfish, fish oils and extracts, certain pungent cheeses, etc. may be used to produce scents that are attractive to fish, if desired. Alternatively, the blender  10  may be used to produce scents and aromas that are pleasing to people, e.g., floral scents, various food scents, etc., as desired. The various materials described herein are intended to be exemplary, and by no means limit the ingredients that may be used with the blender  10 . 
         [0027]    Once the appropriate or desired ingredients have been added to the mixing chamber  20 , the filtration chamber  34  (with its previously installed filter holder  42  or  42   a  and filter element  48  or  48   a , scent pads  56 , and/or final filtration screen  58 ) is secured to the upper or second end  24  of the mixing chamber  20 . The collection chamber  60  may then be secured atop the second end  38  of the filtration chamber  34  to close the container assembly, if this step has not previously been carried out. The blender  10  is now ready for operation, and will have the general appearance of the assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  of the drawings. 
         [0028]    The blender motor in the base  12  is now operated for a predetermined time, with the blades  26  within the lower portion of the mixing chamber  20  chopping, cutting, and comminuting the scent producing materials and mixing them with the liquid added to the chamber  20 , as is conventional in such blender devices. Once the desired degree of mixing and blending has been accomplished, the entire chamber assembly  18  may be removed from the motorized base  12  by detaching the adapter  32  from the mounting structure  16  of the base  12 , and/or removing the adapter  32  from the first end  22  of the mixing chamber  20 . It may be necessary to retain the adapter  32  on the mixing chamber  20  in order to retain the seal of the bottom closure  30  with the mixing chamber  20 , depending upon the specific configuration of the blender base  12 , blade assembly  26 , and closure  30  and their fit with the first end  22  of the mixing chamber  20 . In any event, it will be seen that the assembly  18  may be removed from the blender base  12  without the loss or spillage of liquids or materials within the container assembly  18 , so long as the first end  22  of the mixing chamber  20  remains closed. 
         [0029]    At this time the entire container assembly  18  is inverted, with the various liquid and solid materials forming the scent mix draining into the filtration chamber  34 . The assembly  18  will have the orientation shown in  FIG. 4  relative to the motorized base  12 , but will still be in an assembled state, as shown in the assembly  18  of  FIG. 1 . The mixed scent materials pass through the filter element  48  or  48   a , which filters out all but the finest particulate matter. The remaining scented liquid then passes through the scent absorption pads  56 , if installed, and finally through the screen  58 , which catches any relatively large particulate matter that may have bypassed the filter element  48 , to drain into the collection container  60 . 
         [0030]    When essentially all of the liquid within the container assembly  18  has drained into the collection container  60  (excepting that which has saturated the filter  48  or  48   a  and scent absorption pads  56 ), the collection chamber or container  60  may be removed from its attachment to the second end  38  of the filtration chamber  34 . The extension spout  39  extends downwardly into the neck of the collection container  60  during this operation, precluding liquids running down the internal threads of the second end or neck  38  of the filtration chamber  34  and down the outside of the external threads  62  and outer surface of the collection container  60 . An internally threaded cap  66  is secured to the collection container or bottle  60  to seal the scented liquid therein for future use. The remainder of the container assembly  18  may then be disassembled for cleaning, with the reusable filter element  48  of the filter frame  42  of  FIG. 2  being cleaned for reuse or the disposable filter element  48   a  of  FIG. 4  being discarded, and the scent absorption pads  56  being placed in a suitable sealed container for future use. 
         [0031]    In conclusion, the blender for the production of scented materials enables the hunter, angler, homemaker, and other parties desiring to produce a specific odor or aroma for a specific purpose to do so without need to purchase various scents that may or may not be suitable or precisely what is desired. The blender is particularly valuable for hunters and anglers, enabling them to produce a specific scent to attract game or fish, and can provide a scent that may not be available at all commercially. Accordingly, the blender for the production of scented materials will prove extremely popular with hunters, anglers, nature photographers who wish to attract animals for photography, and all others who have need or desire to produce specific scents from raw materials. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.