Patent Description:
Kitchen machines typically comprise a jug unit configured to receive food which is to be processed, and a motor base configured to drive a respective tool for processing the food. To facilitate cleaning and/or exchanging the tool, the jug unit and the motor base may be separable from each other. To this end, the kitchen machine may further comprise a connector assembly configured to be arranged between the jug unit and the motor base. Such connector assembly thus connects the jug unit with the motor base. It may include a base surface of the jug unit, and it may comprise a tool holder configured to mount the tool.

<CIT> discloses a safety mechanism to insure that a blender jar is properly mounted over the high speed comminuting blades of a blender to prevent exposure of the blades when they are revolving. The jar must be inserted on a base member properly and twisted to a locked position to enable the base, which has a portion of the driven blade shaft in it, to be connected to the drive shaft of the blender.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved connector assembly and an improved kitchen machine.

The object is achieved with a connector assembly according to claim <NUM> and with a kitchen machine according to claim <NUM>.

Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims, in the description and in the figures.

A connector assembly according to the present invention serves for connecting a jug unit of a kitchen machine with a motor base thereof.

The connector assembly comprises a safety element, at least one elastic element and a housing with first and second connection means. The first connection means serves to detachably fix the connector assembly to the jug unit. The second connector means serves to detachably couple the connector assembly to the motor base (thus, to mount it thereon).

Preferably, the connector assembly is configured to be arranged between the motor base and the jug unit, which in a designated orientation of utilisation of the kitchen machine may be stacked.

The safety element of a connector assembly according to the present invention is movable with respect to the housing. In a first position relative to the housing, the safety element blocks the second connection means and unblocks (i.e., releases) the first connection means. The blocking thus inhibits coupling of the connector assembly to the motor base. In a second position relative to the housing, the safety element unblocks (releases) both the first and the second connection means, and the at least one elastic element urges the safety element towards its first position.

Therein, in its first position relative to the housing, the safety element is arranged so as to be transferred (thus, moved) to its second position relative to the housing by means of the jug unit when the jug unit is being fixed to the connector assembly. That is, combining the jug unit with the connector assembly entails that the safety element is moved from its first position relative to the housing to its second position relative to the housing, in which the connector assembly is enabled to be coupled to the motor base. In the following, to improve readability of the text, the statement "relative to the housing" referring to the respective positions is sometimes omitted.

To realise the transfer from the first to the second position, the safety element may be configured to at least temporarily contact the jug unit and/or an intermediate element (possibly further comprised by the connector assembly) during the fixing (of the jug unit to the connector assembly), and to follow a corresponding fixing movement (of the jug unit relative to the housing) in at least one direction (component) thereof, such as due to friction and/or due to a member (which may be a blocking member configured to engage with the jug unit and to interfere with the first connection means when the safety element is in a third position as detailed below).

For instance, if the fixing movement comprises a screwing, the safety element may be forced to rotate and/or to be linearly shifted (in particular in a direction parallel to a screwing axis). If the fixing movement comprises a linear shift, the safety element may be forced to likewise move linearly and/or to rotate. The housing may comprise a guide system which may be configured to direct the respective movement of the safety element accordingly.

Therefore, unless the safety element is forced (against the at elastic force of the at least one elastic element) away, it takes its first position, in which a fixing of the connector assembly to the motor base is prevented. As long as the connector assembly is devoid of the jug unit, it thus cannot be coupled to the motor base. As a consequence, a user is protected against touching components such as a tool (for processing food) possibly comprised by the connector assembly and configured to be driven by the motor base when the connector assembly is coupled thereto. Therein, the protection is easily and conveniently released by fixing the connector assembly to the jug unit. In particular, the blocking and unblocking of the respective connection means as well as the transfer of the safety element (thus, the protection) may be achieved in a purely mechanical manner.

Moreover, when the safety element is in its second position, further to the second connection means also the first connection means is unblocked. Accordingly, the jug unit may be detached from the connector assembly, which causes the safety element to be forced, by the at least one elastic element, into its first position.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the connector assembly comprises a tool holder configured to mount at least one (possibly exchangeable) tool for processing food. The connector assembly may further comprise at least one such tool. In particular, the tool may comprise a rotation tool such as a rotatable knife assembly.

Preferably, the connector assembly includes a base surface for the jug unit, thus forming a closing bottom of the jug unit. In particular, while the jug unit alone may form a jug wall only (without a ground), the base surface may complete the jug unit so as to form, in combination, a jug configured to receive and hold food. The base surface may be movable with respect to the housing of the connector assembly. For instance, the base surface may be configured to be pushed relative to the housing by the jug unit when being fixed to the housing.

The connector assembly may preferably include a clutch unit for coupling a (respective) tool of the kitchen machine with a motor of the motor base, in particular with a rotatable shaft thereof. The clutch unit may be movable relative to the housing and/or (in respective embodiments) relative to a possibly comprised tool holder and/or relative to a possibly comprised base surface for the jug unit. In particular, the respective movement/s may be possible in a direction of a rotation axis of the clutch.

Preferably, the safety element comprises a ring portion. In respective embodiments comprising a tool holder for a rotation tool, such ring portion may be arranged so as to at least partially surround a rotation axis of the tool. If the first connection means and/or the second connection means comprises a screw thread, the respective screw axis may preferably coincide with a centre axis of the ring portion.

The blocking of the second connection means may be realised, for example, by one or more blocking unit(s) the safety element may comprise, which blocking unit(s) may interfere with and/or obstruct the second connection means when the safety element is in its first position. In embodiments, in which the safety element comprises a ring portion, such blocking unit(s) may protrude from the ring portion in a direction having a (non-zero) component parallel to a centre axis of the ring portion.

According to the present invention, in its second position, the safety element is arranged so as to be transferred to a third position by means of the motor base when the connector assembly is being coupled thereto. In its third position, the safety element may then be urged towards its second position, by the force of gravity (when the connector assembly is in a designated orientation of utilisation) and/or by the elastic force of the at least one elastic element and/or by a further elastic element the connector assembly may comprise, and it may block the first connection means and unblock the second connection means.

The blocking of the first connection means may be realised, for example, by one or more blocking member(s) the safety element may comprise, which blocking member(s) may interfere with and/or obstruct the first connection means when the safety element is in its third position. In embodiments, in which the safety element comprises a ring portion, such blocking member(s) may protrude from the ring portion in a direction having a (non-zero) component parallel to a centre axis of the ring portion.

To realise the transfer from the second to the third position, the safety element may be configured to at least temporarily contact the motor base and/or an intermediate member (possibly further comprised by the connector assembly) during the coupling (of the connector assembly to the motor base), and to follow a corresponding coupling movement (of the motor base relative to the housing) in at least one direction (component) thereof. For instance, if the coupling movement comprises a screwing, the safety element may thus be forced to rotate and/or to be linearly shifted (in particular in a direction parallel to a screwing axis). If the coupling movement comprises a linear shift, the safety element may be forced to likewise move linearly and/or to rotate. The housing may comprise a guiding system which may be configured to direct the respective movement of the safety element accordingly.

Coupling the connector assembly to the motor base thus entails that the safety element is moved from its second position to its third position, in which the safety assembly can be decoupled from the motor base (as the second connection means is unblocked), but in which the jug unit cannot be detached from the connector assembly, as the first connection means is blocked. Therefore, removing the jug unit from the connector assembly being coupled to the motor base is prohibited. In such state, the user thus remains protected against touching components such as a tool (for processing food) possibly comprised by the connector assembly and configured to be driven by the motor base when the connector assembly is coupled thereto. In particular, according to these embodiments, the connector assembly can neither be coupled without the jug unit to the motor base, nor can the jug unit be separated from the connector assembly coupled to the motor base. That is, occurrence of a situation in which the connector assembly is coupled, without the jug unit, to the motor base is precluded. Thus, high safety and nevertheless comfortable and easy handling is achieved.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the second connection means may comprise a bayonet mount component (configured to interact with a respective bayonet mount counter component the motor base may comprise). In such embodiments, if the safety element comprises at least one blocking unit as mentioned above, such blocking unit(s) may be configured to obstruct the bayonet mount component when the safety element is in its first position, thus inhibiting a connection with the respective bayonet mount counter component of the motor base. The transfer of the safety element from its first position to its second position may then preferably comprise a rotation of the safety element with respect to a mounting axis of the bayonet mount component. Thereby, the at least one blocking unit may be moved (i.e., rotated) so as to release the bayonet mount component, thus unblocking the second connection means.

Additionally or alternatively, the second connection means may comprise a screw thread; such screw thread may be a one-start thread or a multiple-start thread, in particular a double-start thread. The screw thread may include at least one slot configured to receive a blocking unit, which may be comprised by the safety element and which may be configured to release the screw thread when the safety element is in its second position, and to block it when the safety element is in its first position. In particular, in such embodiments in which the second connection means comprises a screw thread, the transfer of the safety element from its first position to its second position preferably comprises a shift parallel to a screwing axis of the screw thread.

Similarly, the first connection means may comprise a screw thread; such screw thread may be a one-start thread or a multiple-start thread, in particular a double-start thread. According to particular examples, the fixation of the jug unit to the connector assembly by means of such screw thread may comprise a rotation of at least <NUM>° or at least <NUM>° and/or of at most <NUM>° or at most <NUM>°.

Such screw thread advantageously comprised by the first connection means may include at least one slot configured to receive a (respective) blocking member preferably comprised by the safety element. In respective embodiments, such blocking member may be configured to be inserted into the at least one slot when the safety element is in its third position, and to release the screw thread when the safety element is in its first and its second position. In particular, in embodiments wherein the first connection means comprises a screw thread, the transfer of the safety element from its second position to its third position preferably comprises a shift parallel to a screwing axis of the screw thread.

Additionally or alternatively, the first connection means may comprise a bayonet mount component (configured to interact with a respective bayonet mount counter component the jug unit may comprise). In respective embodiments, the transfer of the safety element from its second position to its third position may then comprise a rotation of the safety element with respect to a mounting axis of the bayonet mount. Thereby, at least one blocking member possibly comprised by the safety element may be moved so as to close a mouth of the bayonet mount, thus blocking the first connection means.

A kitchen machine according to the present invention comprises a jug unit, a motor base and a connector assembly according an embodiment of the present invention, the connector assembly being configured to connect the jug unit with the motor base. The motor base may preferably comprise an electric motor. In particular, the kitchen machine may comprise an electric blender. Advantageously, in a designated state and orientation of utilisation of the kitchen machine, the motor base, the connector assembly and the jug unit may be stacked.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained with respect to the accompanying drawings. As is to be understood, the various elements and components are depicted as examples only, may be facultative and/or combined in a manner different than that depicted. Reference signs for related elements are used comprehensively and not defined again for each figure.

In <FIG>, a connector assembly <NUM> and a motor base <NUM> of a kitchen machine according to the present invention are shown in a perspective view, which kitchen machine in the present exemplary case is an electric blender. The connector assembly <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM> including first connection means <NUM>-a for detachably fixing the connector assembly to a jug unit (not shown in <FIG>). In the exemplary embodiment depicted, the first connection means <NUM>-a comprises a screw thread which is interrupted by slots S<NUM> extending parallel to a screwing axis of the thread. As detailed below, the slots S<NUM> serve to receive respective blocking members of a safety element further comprised by the connector assembly (and not shown in <FIG>) when the safety element is in its third position.

The housing <NUM> of the connector assembly <NUM> further comprises second connection means configured to detachably couple the connector assembly <NUM> with the motor base <NUM>. In the present case, the second connection means is not visible therein <FIG>, due to the perspective thereof. The second connection means is configured to interact with respective motor base connection means <NUM> which in this case are embodied as bayonet mount counter components of the motor base <NUM>. In <FIG>, the second connection means <NUM>-b is seen to comprise a bayonet mount component.

The connector assembly <NUM> depicted in <FIG> further comprises a base surface <NUM> for a jug unit to be combined with the connector assembly <NUM>, a tool holder <NUM> and a rotatable tool <NUM> which in the present case is a rotatable knife assembly. For driving the rotatable tool, a clutch unit (not visible in <FIG>) of the connector assembly is to be coupled, by mounting the connector assembly on the motor base, with a clutch element <NUM> of the motor base. In <FIG>, such clutch unit <NUM> is visible.

Due to the present invention, the mounting (and therewith, coupling) of the connector assembly to the motor base is prevented when the jug is devoid of a jug unit. Thereby, a user is protected from being able to touch a driven tool.

The protection is achieved, according to the present invention, by means of a safety element the connector assembly further comprises, which safety ring is hidden in the perspective of <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the connector assembly <NUM> is shown when fixed to a jug unit <NUM>. Moreover, for explanation, the safety element <NUM> inside the connector assembly <NUM> is indicated. In the present case, the safety element <NUM> comprises a ring portion <NUM>-R, several blocking members <NUM>-a configured to interfere with the first connection means <NUM>-a (comprising a thread) when the safety element is in its third position, and a plurality of blocking units <NUM>-b configured to obstruct respective bayonet mount components when the safety element is in its first position. In the situation shown in <FIG>, the jug unit <NUM> is coupled to the connector assembly <NUM>, whereby the safety element <NUM> included in the connector assembly <NUM> is transferred from its first position to its second position, in which the first and the second connection means are unblocked (i.e., released).

To transfer the safety element from its first to its second position relative to the housing <NUM>, the safety element <NUM> may be rotated by the jug unit <NUM> when the jug unit is screwed in. The rotation may be caused by the jug unit <NUM> interacting with the blocking members <NUM>-a when the jug unit is sufficiently screwed to the connector assembly <NUM>. Stopper members <NUM>-c of the safety element may serve to delimit the rotation by butting against respective limit stops <NUM>-c in the housing <NUM> (such limit stops are seen in <FIG>). Thereby, precision in the transfer of safety element <NUM> to the second position may be ensured.

Engaging elements <NUM>-d comprised by the safety element are configured to engage with an elastic element <NUM> (further comprised by the connector assembly and not visible in <FIG>, but referenced in <FIG>), so as to act thereon against an elastic force of the elastic element <NUM> when the safety element <NUM> is rotated by the jug unit. As a consequence, when the jug unit <NUM> is detached from the connector assembly <NUM>, the safety element <NUM> is automatically rotated back from its second position to its first position.

In <FIG>, the connector assembly <NUM> is seen to be mounted, with the jug unit <NUM> being fixed thereto, to the motor base <NUM>. Thereby, the safety element is transferred, by the motor base <NUM>, to a third position relative to the housing. In its third position, the safety element <NUM> blocks the first connection means <NUM>-a. Thereby, it is inhibited that the jug unit <NUM> can be detached from the connector assembly <NUM> being mounted on the motor base <NUM>. As a consequence, a user is again protected from being able to touch a driven tool <NUM>.

The connector assembly <NUM>, the motor base <NUM> and the jug component <NUM> together form a kitchen machine <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention. In <FIG>, the kitchen machine <NUM> is depicted in its designated orientation of utilisation.

In <FIG>, details of the protection mechanism according to the present invention are shown by means of an opening in the casing of the connector assembly <NUM>. As is to be understood, the opening allowing the insight in the interior of the connector assembly <NUM> is for illustration purposes.

In <FIG>, the connector assembly <NUM> is shown to be fixed to the jug unit <NUM>. In this situation, the safety element <NUM> is in its second position, in which the first and the second connection means are unblocked. As a consequence, the connector assembly <NUM> and the jug unit <NUM> can be rotated with respect to each other, as indicated by respective arrows, and the connector assembly can be mounted on a motor base (not shown in <FIG>).

In <FIG>, the connector assembly <NUM> is seen to be thus mounted, with the jug unit <NUM> being fixed thereto, to the motor base <NUM>. As a consequence, the motor base <NUM> has pushed the safety element towards the first connection means. Thereby, a blocking member <NUM>-a has been shifted, within a slot S<NUM> (see <FIG>) in the first connection means, into a slot S<NUM> arranged in the thread of the jug unit <NUM>. As a consequence, a rotation of the jug unit <NUM> and the connector assembly <NUM> relative to each other is inhibited. That is, the first connection means of the connector assembly <NUM> is blocked, and the safety element <NUM> is in its third position.

<FIG> show details of the present invention in respective cross sections along a screwing axis of the first connection means <NUM>-a (comprising a screw thread), which axis coincides with a rotation axis of a tool <NUM> comprised by the connector assembly <NUM>.

In the situation shown in <FIG>, the safety element <NUM> is in its first position, in which position blocking units <NUM>-b comprised by the safety element <NUM> obstruct bayonet mount components comprised by the second connection means <NUM>-b.

By contrast, in the situation shown in <FIG>, the safety element <NUM> has been rotated, by the jug unit <NUM> being screwed into the screw thread comprised by the first connection means <NUM>-a, into its second position. As a consequence, the blocking units <NUM>-b release the bayonet mount components comprised by the second connection means <NUM>-b.

In the situation depicted in <FIG>, the safety element <NUM> has been shifted, by the motor base <NUM>, into its third position.

Disclosed is a connector assembly <NUM> for connecting a jug unit <NUM> with a motor base <NUM> of a kitchen machine <NUM>. The connector assembly <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, a movable safety element <NUM> and at least one elastic element <NUM>. In a first position relative to the housing <NUM>, the safety element <NUM> unblocks first connection means <NUM>-a for fixing the connector assembly to the jug unit, and blocks second connection means <NUM>-b for mounting the connector element to a motor base. In a second position, the safety element <NUM> unblocks both the first connection means <NUM>-a and the second connection means <NUM>-b. Therein, the safety element <NUM> can be transferred, against an elastic force of the elastic element <NUM>, from its first to its second position by fixing the jug unit <NUM> to the connector assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Connector assembly (<NUM>) for connecting a jug unit (<NUM>) with a motor base (<NUM>) of a kitchen machine (<NUM>), the connector assembly (<NUM>) comprising
- a housing (<NUM>) having first connection means (<NUM>-a) for detachably fixing the connector assembly to the jug unit (<NUM>), and second connection (<NUM>-b) means for detachably coupling the connector assembly (<NUM>) to the motor base (<NUM>),
- a safety element (<NUM>) which is movable relative to the housing (<NUM>), and
- at least one elastic element (<NUM>),
wherein in a first position, the safety element (<NUM>) is arranged so as to be transferred, by the jug unit (<NUM>) when the jug unit is being fixed to the connector assembly (<NUM>), to a second position, in which an elastic force of the at least one elastic element (<NUM>) is configured to urge the safety element (<NUM>) towards the first position thereof,
wherein in its first position, the safety element (<NUM>) is configured to unblock the first connection means (<NUM>-a) and block the second connection means (<NUM>-b), and in its second position, the safety element (<NUM>) is configured to unblock both the first connection means (<NUM>-a) and the second connection means (<NUM>-b),characterized in that in its second position, the
safety element (<NUM>) is arranged so as to be transferred, by the motor base (<NUM>) when the connector assembly (<NUM>) is being coupled to the motor base, to a third position, in which position force of gravity, the elastic force of the at least one elastic element (<NUM>) and/or the elastic force of a further elastic element is configured to ur-gethe safety element (<NUM>) towards the second position thereof,
wherein in its third position, the safety element (<NUM>) is configured to block the first connection means (<NUM>-a) and unblock the second connection means (<NUM>-b).