Patent ID: 12201242

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1shows a modular kitchen appliance of the present invention having a universal powerhead10and a coffee grinder attachment20. Although the grinder10is described as a coffee grinder, it should be understood that any beans, nuts, spices or other materials may be ground by the present invention.

FIG.2shows the grinder attachment20having a housing22and a cup24. The housing22is made up of two clamshell portions26that are held together by screws28. The top of the housing forms an opening30including ribs32for connection to the powerhead. The grinder attachment20is attached to the powerhead10as described in appl. no.17/167,150.

FIG.3shows the coffee grinder with one of the clamshells26removed to show the internal components, andFIG.4is an exploded view of the components. The grinder consists of two assemblies, a blade assembly80and a power transmission assembly90.

The power transmission assembly90will be described first. It delivers power from the powerhead10to the blade48and includes a power coupling46that connects to an output or drive shaft in the power head10. A bearing42is secured in a groove27(seeFIG.3) in clamshell housing26and holds the power coupling46. A plate38is slidable along the power coupling46, with a spring54(not shown inFIG.3) held between the plate38and housing22.

Next is the blade assembly80, which is also shown inFIG.5. The blade assembly comprises a transmission axle47that detachably connects to the power coupling46. The transmission axle47is secured by bearing43which is pressed fit into blade cover34. A blade48is fixedly connected to the transmission axle47. An optional liner36is placed on the inside of the blade cover34, and can be included to help protect the blade cover34from wear during grinding. In one embodiment, the liner36is made of a metal material, while the cover34is made of a plastic material. The blade cover34includes a circular perimeter wall33that encloses the blade48and includes a shelf35that extends out from the wall33. A gasket52is placed in the corner of the wall33and shelf35to provide a seal when attached to cup24.

To operate the grinder20, the cup24is filled with beans or other material and is slidingly slipped onto the blade cover34. The cup24is shown friction fit onto the blade cover's wall33, but other attachments method between the cup and blade cover are envisioned within the scope of the invention. An example of an alternate attachment method is a simple twist and lock feature.

With the cup24attached to the blade cover34(and consequently, the blade assembly80), it can be screwed onto the housing22. The cup includes a top rim portion25whose exterior is threaded, and the threads correspond with threads on an interior surface of the housing22.

Referring toFIGS.6and7, the blade assembly80is secured on top of the cup24as the combined cup24and blade assembly80are screwed onto the housing22. As the blade cover34moves upward within the housing22, it pushes against plate38, which is biased by spring54, until the transmission axle47engages with the power coupling46. Power can now be delivered to the blade48, and the grinder is now operational as shown inFIG.7.

It is noted that although the current design shows the blade assembly80as a separate piece that's assembled with the cup24, an alternative embodiment envisions the blade assembly80could be captured within the housing22, so that securing it to the cup24before attachment to the housing22is unnecessary.

In any case, the powerhead10can now be turned on and the grinder20turned upside down so that any material in the cup24will be cut by the rotating blade48. After grinding is finished, the process is reversed and the grinder20is flipped right side up, and the cup24and blade assembly80are unscrewed from the housing22. As this is happening though, the spring54pushes the plate38downward until it's stopped by a ledge56. The ledge56retains the plate38in the housing22.

An important function of the plate38is to help separate the transmission axle47from power coupling46. In this way, power cannot be transferred to the blade48except when the cup24is screwed into the housing22. With the cup24unscrewed from the housing22, the blade assembly80can be separated from the cup24, without any risk of the blade48being turned on.

FIG.8shows yet another example of a kitchen appliance attachment, in this case a can opener100, that can be attached to the powerhead10. A can102is shown attached to the can opener100.FIG.9is a side view of the can opener100, which is comprised of a main housing110and a lever104.

FIG.10is a top view of the can opener100which shows an opening105through which a power coupling106extends. The power coupling106is releasably attached to a drive shaft of the powerhead10, which powers the operation of the can opener100. The opening further includes ribs108along its interior edge for securing it to the powerhead10as explained in related application no.17/167,150.

Now turning toFIG.11, an exploded view of the can opener100is shown. The main housing110formed from two clamshell portions110aand110b. A transmission axle112is located in the housing and includes the power coupling106, a reduction gearbox114and an output shaft116. The output shaft116is fixedly connected to feed wheel118by a pin (not shown). The reduction gearbox114reduces the rotational speed of the drive shaft from the powerhead10to a much lower speed for spinning the can as it's being cut.

The housing110further encloses a blade assembly120that includes a shuttle122, a blade124and a roller126. A bolt and washer128secure the blade124and roller126to the shuttle122.FIG.12shows the assembled blade assembly120.

FIGS.13-14are sectional views of the blade assembly120within the housing110in the disengaged and engaged position, respectively. The shuttle122includes rails130that travel within a groove132formed in the housing (seeFIG.11). The shuttle includes an extension134that captures one end of a spring136. The other end of the spring136abuts an internal wall133of the housing110, and biases the shuttle122outwardly (e.g. to the right inFIGS.13and14).

Now referring toFIG.13, the blade124is shown disengaged from the can102. The can102is placed against feed wheel118which engages a lip103of can102. The lever104is then pulled down, pushing the shuttle122inward so that blade124punctures the side of the can102. The lever104is fixed to the housing110by a pin140through an aperture142. In the disengaged position, the shuttle122abuts a relatively flat side of the lever104.

FIG.14shows the lever104after it's been rotated 90 degrees into the engage position, where the end of the lever104, which is generally oval shaped, pushes the shuttle122against the force of the spring136. The lever is prevented from over-rotating by a ledge144in the housing110that acts as a stop. When the lever104is rotated, it pushes the shuttle122so that the blade124cuts through the side of the can102. The lip103of the can102is pinched between the feed wheel118and the roller126. The powerhead can then be turned on, which rotates the feed wheel118and cuts the can. See alsoFIG.15.

A magnet146can be provided in the housing adjacent the feed wheel118(seeFIG.16). The magnet146helps retain the can lid after the top of the can102has been cut off.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure