Patent Description:
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes a housing that has an operable portion. A power receptacle is in electrical communication with the operable portion and has a high-friction interface. A power source selectively engages with the power receptacle to define an installed position that selectively delivers an electrical current from the power source to a motor of the operable portion. At least one resilient member exerts a biasing force against the power source when the power source is in the installed position. The high-friction interface maintains the power source in the installed position during operation of the motor and resists vibration from the operable portion to maintain the power source in the installed position, and at least one of the power receptacle and the power source include the at least one resilient member.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes a housing that has an operable portion. A power receptacle is in electrical communication with the operable portion and has a high-friction interface. A power source selectively engages with the power receptacle and the high-friction interface to define an installed position that selectively delivers an electrical current from the power source to a motor of the operable portion. A lever is attached to the power source, and selectively engages a bearing surface of the housing in the installed position. The high-friction interface maintains the power source in the installed position during operation of the motor and resists vibrations from the operable portion to maintain the power source in the installed position. The lever selectively operates to remove the power source from the installed position. A handle portion rotationally operates to exert a biasing force against the bearing surface that overcomes the high-friction interface and biases the power source away from the installed position.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes a housing that has an operable portion. A power receptacle is in electrical communication with the operable portion and has a high-friction interface. A power source selectively engages with the power receptacle to define an installed position that selectively delivers an electrical current from the power source to the operable portion. A resilient member exerts a biasing force against the power source when the power source is in the installed position. A lever is coupled to the power source. The lever is selectively operable to cooperate with the resilient member to increase the biasing force that selectively overcomes the high-friction interface. The high-friction interface maintains the power source in the installed position during operation of a motor of the operable portion and resists vibrations from the operable portion to maintain the power source in the installed position, and at least one of the power receptacle and the power source includes the at least one resilient member.

The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to combinations of methods, steps and apparatus components related to a cordless and battery-operated appliance that includes a force reduction feature to maintain a battery in an installed position in response to vibrations experienced by the battery during operation of the appliance, and also to assist in the extraction of the battery from a power receptacle for the appliance. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

The terms "including," "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by "comprises a. " does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring to <FIG>, reference numeral <NUM> generally refers to a cordless appliance that includes a power source <NUM>, typically a battery, that can be removed from the appliance <NUM>. This power source <NUM> can be placed within the appliance <NUM> in an installed position <NUM> to provide electrical current to an operable portion <NUM> of the appliance <NUM>. This power source <NUM> can also be removed from the appliance <NUM> and placed within a separate charger for recharging the power source <NUM> for later use within any one of several appliances <NUM>. Typically, the appliances <NUM> include a suite of appliances <NUM> where various power sources <NUM> can be used interchangeably among the suite of appliances <NUM>.

According to various aspects of the device, as exemplified in <FIG>, the appliance <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> that includes the operable portion <NUM>. As discussed herein, the operable portion <NUM> can be in the form of a motor <NUM> that operates a rotary interface <NUM>. This rotary interface <NUM> can be in the form of a blender, mixer, chopper, or other food processing portion of an appliance <NUM>. The appliance <NUM> also includes a power receptacle <NUM> that is in electrical communication with the operable portion <NUM>. The power receptacle <NUM> includes a high-friction interface <NUM> that is used to assist in securing a power source <NUM> in the installed position <NUM>. The power source <NUM> is selectively engaged with the power receptacle <NUM> as well as the high-friction interface <NUM> to define the installed position <NUM>. This installed position <NUM> places the power source <NUM> in engagement with a contact of the power receptacle <NUM> for delivering electrical current from the power source <NUM> to the motor <NUM> of the operable portion <NUM>. At least one of the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM> can include a force reduction feature <NUM> that selectively operates to overcome the high-friction interface <NUM> to assist in removing the power source <NUM> from the installed position <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM>. As is discussed herein, this force reduction feature <NUM> can be in the form of various resilient members <NUM>, a lever <NUM>, combinations thereof, and other similar force reduction features <NUM> that can be attached to the housing <NUM> or the power source <NUM>.

During use of the appliance <NUM>, the motor <NUM> for the operable portion <NUM> can generate various vibrations within the appliance <NUM>. These vibrations, in certain instances, can be sufficient to cause a "contact bounce" where the power source <NUM> temporarily disengages from the contact within the power receptacle <NUM>. This temporary disengagement can result in a loss of electrical power within the appliance <NUM>. The high-friction interface <NUM> is utilized for counteracting and resisting these vibration forces and maintaining the power source <NUM> within the installed position <NUM>. Use of this high-friction interface <NUM>, while securing the power source <NUM> in the installed position <NUM>, can also produce difficulties in separating the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>. The use of the force reduction feature <NUM> resists vibration and provides a counteracting force that biases the power source <NUM> away from the installed position <NUM> and assists the user in separating the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>.

The high-friction interface <NUM> can be formed through the engagement of various mating electrical terminals <NUM> that are defined within each of the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM>. The cooperative engagement of the electrical terminals <NUM> form a close engagement that is used to secure the power source <NUM> in the installed position <NUM>. Due to this close engagement, separating the power source <NUM> from the installed position <NUM> can require a significant force to overcome the high-friction interface <NUM>. The various force reduction features <NUM> described herein are utilized for disengaging the electrical terminals <NUM> that form the high-friction interface <NUM>. Accordingly, the force reduction features <NUM> are configured to provide for a relatively limited amount of travel of the power source <NUM> with respect to the power receptacle <NUM>. This amount of travel substantially corresponds to the distance necessary to disengage the electrical terminals <NUM>. Once the electrical terminals <NUM> are disengaged, the power source <NUM> can be removed from the remainder of the power receptacle <NUM> with significantly less effort. Accordingly, as the power source <NUM> is removed from the power receptacle <NUM>, the high-friction interface <NUM> is typically utilized near the installed position <NUM> and areas of the power receptacle <NUM> immediately adjacent to the installed position <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the electrical terminals <NUM> that define the high-friction interface <NUM> can include any one of various engagement structures, such as electrical engaging features. These electrical terminals <NUM> can include one or more pins <NUM>, and typically a set of pins <NUM> that selectively and matingly engage a respective and opposing set of electrical contacts <NUM> that are disposed on the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM>. The location of the pins <NUM> and the electrical contacts <NUM> can vary with respect to the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM>. As discussed herein the pins <NUM> and electrical contacts <NUM> selectively and matingly engage with one another to define an electrical engagement that selectively delivers the electrical current from the power source <NUM> to the motor <NUM> of the appliance <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the force reduction feature <NUM> can be in the form of a resilient member <NUM> that is positioned between the power source <NUM> and a surface <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM>. When the power source <NUM> is moved into the installed position <NUM>, the resilient member <NUM> is preloaded within the power receptacle <NUM>. As the power source <NUM> is installed within the power receptacle <NUM>, a tab, latch, or other securing member maintains the power source <NUM> within the installed position <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM> and also maintains the resilient member <NUM> in the pre-loaded state <NUM>.

As exemplified in <FIG>, the resilient member <NUM> can be in the form of a flat spring, leaf spring, or other similar resilient member <NUM>. When in the pre-loaded state <NUM>, the resilient member <NUM> exerts the biasing force <NUM> away from the installed position <NUM> and in an outward direction <NUM>. Accordingly, when the securing mechanism of the power source <NUM> is disengaged, the resilient member <NUM> at least partially overcomes the high-friction interface <NUM> and assists the user in separating the power source <NUM> from the installed position <NUM> within the power receptacle <NUM>.

Referring again to <FIG>, the resilient member <NUM> can be attached to an underside <NUM> of the power source <NUM>. In addition, the resilient member <NUM> can be attached to a surface <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM> that receives the power source <NUM>. According to the claimed invention, the resilient member <NUM> is positioned to exert the biasing force <NUM> in the same outward direction <NUM> that the power source <NUM> can be extracted from the power receptacle <NUM>. It is also contemplated that each of the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM> can include a cooperative component of the resilient member <NUM>. In this manner, the resilient member <NUM> can include dedicated and respective resilient members <NUM> on each of the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM> that engage with one another to provide a cooperative biasing force <NUM> for absorbing vibration and assisting in separating the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>. Where each of the power source <NUM> and the power receptacle <NUM> include a component of the resilient member <NUM>, the component of the resilient member <NUM> on the power source <NUM> can exert a portion of the biasing force <NUM> on the power receptacle <NUM>. Similarly, the component of the resilient member <NUM> on the power receptacle <NUM> can exert a portion of the biasing force <NUM> on the power source <NUM>.

The resilient member <NUM> can be in the form of one or more pieces of spring metal, one or more elastomeric members, combinations thereof, or other similar member that deflect to a pre-loaded state <NUM> when the power source <NUM> is disposed within the installed position <NUM> inside the power receptacle <NUM>. As discussed herein, the resilient member <NUM> tends toward its original shape. In doing so, the resilient member <NUM> exerts the biasing force <NUM> that biases the power source <NUM> away from the installed position <NUM> and in the outward direction <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>.

As exemplified in <FIG> and <FIG>, the power source <NUM> (or the housing <NUM>) includes a lever <NUM> that is rotationally operable. Rotation of the lever <NUM>, being coupled with the power source, serves to extract the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>.

As exemplified in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lever <NUM> can be attached to the power source <NUM>, such as an outer case <NUM> of the power source <NUM>. In this manner, the lever <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a fulcrum <NUM> and a biasing portion <NUM>. During operation of the lever <NUM>, the user operates the handle <NUM> about the fulcrum <NUM> such that the biasing portion <NUM> engages a bearing surface <NUM>. Engagement of the biasing portion <NUM> with the bearing surface <NUM> allows the user to exert the biasing force <NUM> against the bearing surface <NUM> such that the fulcrum <NUM> is moved in an outward direction <NUM> with respect to the high-friction interface <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM>. According to the herein claimed invention the lever <NUM> cooperates with the resilient member <NUM> or the resilient members <NUM>. In this manner, the lever <NUM> can operate to selectively increase the biasing force <NUM> acting on the power source <NUM> by cooperating with the various resilient members <NUM>. The one or more resilient members <NUM> continually exert the biasing force <NUM> on the power source <NUM> when the power source <NUM> is in the installed position <NUM>. Operation of the lever <NUM> selectively and temporarily increases the biasing force <NUM> that acts upon the power source to bias the power source <NUM> away from the installed position <NUM> and assist in the extraction of the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>.

The lever <NUM>, being attached to an outer case <NUM> of the power source <NUM>, generates the biasing force <NUM> that serves to overcome the high-friction interface <NUM> and extract the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>. As exemplified in <FIG>, the handle <NUM> is configured to rotationally operate through a large rotational distance. This provides for a mechanical advantage the results in the biasing portion <NUM> exerting the biasing force <NUM> through the smaller path of travel. As discussed herein, the distance required to disengage the power source <NUM> from the high-friction interface <NUM> is relatively small.

Typically, the bearing surface <NUM> will be defined by a portion of the housing <NUM> for the appliance <NUM>. In this manner, as the user operates the handle <NUM> of the lever <NUM>, the biasing portion <NUM> of the lever <NUM> pushes against the housing <NUM> and generates the biasing force <NUM> away from the housing <NUM> to extract the power source <NUM> from the power receptacle <NUM>. Use of the lever <NUM>, according to various aspects, operate to convert a rotational motion of the lever <NUM> into an axial or linear motion of the biasing force <NUM>. Accordingly, the rotational operation of the lever <NUM> can be transmitted through various linkages and to the bearing surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. It is contemplated that the bearing surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> can be located near the aperture <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM> or near the base <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM>. Depending on the intended location of the bearing surface <NUM>, one or more linkages can be included in the force reduction feature <NUM> to overcome the high-friction interface <NUM> and remove the power source <NUM> from the installed position <NUM>. As discussed herein, the biasing force <NUM> operates to move the power source <NUM> typically only through the limited travel distance to disengage the electrical terminals <NUM> and the high-friction interface <NUM>.

In certain aspects of the device, the handle <NUM> can also be attached to the housing <NUM>. In such an aspect of the device, the biasing portion <NUM> of the lever <NUM> rotates to engage a portion of the outer case <NUM> of the power source <NUM>. As the handle <NUM> of the lever <NUM> rotates about the fulcrum <NUM>, the biasing portion <NUM> pries the power source <NUM> away from the installed position <NUM> to overcome the high-friction interface <NUM> of the power receptacle <NUM>. In this aspect of the device, the outer case <NUM> of the power source <NUM> can include various notches and other features that can be used to allow the biasing portion <NUM> of the lever <NUM> to engage with the power source <NUM> to exert the biasing force <NUM> that can be used to extract the power source <NUM> from the installed position <NUM> and away from the power receptacle <NUM>.

According to various aspects of the device, the various force reduction features <NUM> described herein can be utilized within any one of various cordless appliances <NUM>. Such appliances <NUM> can be in the form of countertop appliances, portable appliances, handheld appliances, and other similar appliances that can be utilized in a cordless and battery-operated configuration.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs and is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.

According to another aspect, each of the power source and the power receptacle includes a component of the at least one resilient member.

According to another aspect, each of the power source and the power receptacle includes a respective resilient member of the at least one resilient member.

According to another aspect, the power source includes a lever that selectively engages the housing when the power source is in the installed position. The lever is selectively operable to selectively increase the biasing force to bias the power source away from the installed position.

According to another aspect, the lever and the at least one resilient member cooperate to overcome the high-friction interface.

According to another aspect, the lever is rotationally operable to engage a bearing surface of the housing. Engagement of the lever and the bearing surface defines a portion of the biasing force.

According to another aspect, the high-friction interface is defined by electrical terminals that include a set of pins and an opposing set of electrical contacts that are disposed on the power source and the power receptacle.

According to another aspect, the set of pins and the opposing set of electrical contacts matingly engage with one another to define an electrical engagement that selectively delivers the electrical current from the power source to the motor.

According to another aspect, the lever includes a handle portion that is operable to extract the power source from the power receptacle.

According to another aspect, the lever includes a fulcrum that is rotationally attached to the power source.

According to another aspect, the fulcrum is positioned between the handle portion and a biasing portion that selectively engages the housing.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes a housing that has an operable portion. A power receptacle is in electrical communication with the operable portion and has a high-friction interface. A power source selectively engages with the power receptacle and the high-friction interface to define an installed position that selectively delivers an electrical current from the power source to a motor of the operable portion. A lever is attached to the power source, and selectively engages a bearing surface of the housing in the installed position. The high-friction interface maintains the power source in the installed position during operation of the motor and resists vibrations from the operable portion to maintain the power source in the installed position, and the lever selectively operates to remove the power source from the installed position. A handle portion rotationally operates to exert a biasing force against the bearing surface that overcomes the high-friction interface and biases the power source away from the installed position.

According to another aspect, at least one of the power source and the power receptacle include a resilient member that partially absorbs the vibrations from the operable portion.

According to another aspect, the high-friction interface includes a set of pins and an opposing set of electrical contacts that are disposed on the power source and the power receptacle.

According to another aspect, the set of pins and the opposing set of electrical contacts matingly engage to define an electrical engagement that selectively delivers the electrical current from the power source to the motor.

According to another aspect, the lever includes a handle portion that is operable to extract the power source from the power receptacle. The lever includes a fulcrum that is rotationally attached to the power source, and the fulcrum is positioned between the handle portion and a biasing portion that selectively engages the housing.

Claim 1:
An appliance (<NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) having an operable portion (<NUM>);
a power receptacle (<NUM>) in electrical communication with the operable portion (<NUM>) and having a high-friction interface (<NUM>);
a power source (<NUM>) that is selectively engaged with the power receptacle (<NUM>) to define an installed position (<NUM>) that selectively delivers an electrical current from the power source (<NUM>) to a motor (<NUM>) of the operable portion (<NUM>); and
at least one resilient member (<NUM>) that exerts a biasing force (<NUM>) against the power source (<NUM>) when the power source (<NUM>) is in the installed position (<NUM>),
wherein:
the high-friction interface (<NUM>) maintains the power source (<NUM>) in the installed position (<NUM>) during operation of the motor (<NUM>) and resists vibrations from the operable portion (<NUM>) to maintain the power source (<NUM>) in the installed position (<NUM>);
at least one of the power receptacle (<NUM>) and the power source (<NUM>) includes the at least one resilient member (<NUM>); and
the resilient member (<NUM>) is positioned to exert the biasing force (<NUM>) in an outward direction (<NUM>) that the power source (<NUM>) can be extracted from the power receptacle (<NUM>),
characterised in that the power source (<NUM>) includes a lever (<NUM>) that selectively engages the housing (<NUM>) when the power source (<NUM>) is in the installed position (<NUM>),
wherein the lever (<NUM>) and the at least one resilient member (<NUM>) cooperate to overcome the high-friction interface (<NUM>) and the lever (<NUM>) is rotationally operable to engage a bearing surface (<NUM>) of the housing (<NUM>).