Patent ID: 7387269

Claim:
A food preparation device comprising: a base comprising a motor located within the base and having an output shaft defining a first axis of rotation; a jar removably coupled with the base; a food processing assembly coupled with the jar and having a drive shaft defining a second axis of rotation; a drive coupler comprising a splined socket coupled with one of the output shaft and the drive shaft; and a splined insert coupled with the other of the output shaft and the drive shaft, the splined insert sized to be received within the splined socket when the jar is mounted to the base to operably couple the output shaft and the drive shaft, the splines of one of the splined insert and the splined socket having an arcuate profile, wherein the splined insert is fully received in the splined socket without an upper and lower edge of the splined insert contacting an inner surface of the splined socket, thereby preventing binding and noise due to misalignment.