Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of electric food preparation appliances comprising a rotary tool, typically presenting blades, installed for rotation in a work container. These appliances are commonly called blenders and the work containers are known as jars. 
   The present invention more particularly relates to appliances of the above-mentioned type having a mixing accessory. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,799 discloses a food preparation appliance comprising a mixing accessory assembled in the lid of the blender jar. For this purpose the mixing accessory comprises a flange. The mixing accessory presents a hollow sleeve prolonged at its lower end by a spoon. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention facilitates the use of an appliance of the above-mentioned type. 
   In particular, the present invention improves the ergonomics of an appliance of the above-mentioned type. 
   Specifically, the invention provides an electric food preparation appliance comprising a rotary working tool assembled in a jar, and a mixing accessory constructed to be installed in a closeable opening provided in a lid of the jar, the mixing accessory extending then into the jar, the rotary working tool being driven through the bottom of the jar, wherein the appliance further comprises a side, or lateral, support member provided to hold the mixing accessory when it is not being used. 
   This provision makes it possible to facilitate the use of the appliance while making the mixing accessory easily and conveniently accessible. The user can begin food preparation by introducing the ingredients to be blended through the opening in the lid, or by first removing the lid. The mixing accessory, being stored on the side support, is immediately and conveniently available for use. The user can then install the mixing accessory in the opening provided in the lid so that the accessory can stir the preparation while it is being blended. The mixing accessory can approach or even reach, or contact, the wall of the jar, to detach ingredients from the wall. After use, the user can, if desired, rinse the mixing accessory and/or to position it back on the side support for the next use. 
   According to a preferred embodiment, the mixing accessory presents a hollow sleeve forming an emerging conduit. This provision allows for the addition of ingredients when the mixing accessory is in place in the opening in the lid. 
   Advantageously then, the hollow sleeve is adapted to be installed on the side support. This provision makes it possible to avoid contact between the side support and the lower part of the mixing accessory, designed to come in contact with food in the jar. 
   Advantageously still, to limit handling of the mixing accessory and to facilitate the filling of ingredients in the jar, the hollow sleeve is shaped to form a funnel. 
   Advantageously still, to avoid splashing of the mixture out of the jar during operation of the appliance, a blocking, or closing, element is provided to close the upper end of the hollow sleeve. 
   Advantageously then, the blocking element can be configured to form a container. The blocking element can then be used as a measuring cap. 
   Advantageously still, to avoid splashing out of the jar during operation of the appliance when the mixing accessory is not installed, the blocking element can be used to close the opening in the lid. 
   Advantageously then, to facilitate withdrawal of the blocking element, the lid is formed to have two side recesses adjacent to the opening. 
   Advantageously still, to facilitate mixing of the ingredients in the jar or to facilitate the introduction of ingredients into the jar, the mixing accessory forms a spoon. 
   Advantageously then, the spoon is made of polypropylene. This material has the advantage of being less rigid than ABS, SAN, or polycarbornate, which facilitates scraping of the sides of the jar, and also the installation of the mixing accessory on, and withdrawal from, the support. This material also has the advantage of being easily overmolded on a more rigid material such as polycarbonate. Alternatively, the spoon could in particular be made of a flexible material, such as for example silicone. 
   Advantageously then, the mixing accessory has a hollow sleeve made at least partially of a material that is more rigid than the material of the spoon. 
   According to an advantageous embodiment, the appliance comprises a base for receiving the jar. The motor of the appliance is housed in the base. Alternatively, the motor could be integrated into the blender jar. 
   Then, according to a preferred embodiment, the side support extends from the base. This provision makes it possible to withdraw the blender jar from the base while leaving the mixing accessory in place on the support. Pouring of the contents out of the jar is then facilitated. 
   Advantageously, the side support is integral with a part forming a ring. This provision makes it possible to facilitate fabrication of the side support. 
   Advantageously, the side support is removably mounted with respect to a case, or housing, that is a component of the base. This provision makes it possible to facilitate the cleaning of the side support and to facilitate fabrication of the side support. 
   Advantageously then the side support is constructed to occupy any one of several positions relative to the case. This provision in particular makes it possible to place the support in a suitable manner depending on whether the user is right-handed or left-handed. 
   Alternatively, the side support could in particular extend from the blender jar or from the lid. 
   Advantageously still, the lower end of the mixing accessory in place on the side support is arranged laterally at a distance from the lower part of the appliance. This provision makes it possible to prevent liquid that might remain present on the mixing accessory from flowing or dripping onto the lower part of the appliance. 
   The invention also provides a mixing accessory especially provided for an electric food preparation appliance according to one at least of the above-mentioned embodiments, by the fact that the aforementioned mixing accessory has a hollow sleeve forming a funnel. 
   The invention also provides a mixing accessory especially provided for an electric food preparation appliance according to one at least of the above-mentioned embodiments, by the fact that the aforementioned mixing accessory has a spoon made of polypropylene. 
   The invention also provides a mixing accessory especially provided for an electric food preparation appliance according to one at least of the above-mentioned embodiments, by the fact that the aforementioned mixing accessory has a spoon made of a flexible material. 
   Advantageously also, the mixing accessory is formed with a hollow sleeve forming a funnel. 
   Advantageously still, the mixing accessory has a flange. This provision makes it possible to facilitate the installation of the mixing accessory in the opening in the lid of the appliance. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment and two alternatives, presented on a purely non-limiting basis and illustrated in the annexed figures, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a food preparation appliance according to the invention having a side support for a mixing accessory according to the invention, 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded front elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , in which the mixing accessory is engaged in the opening in the lid of the blender jar. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view the mixing accessory and blocking element of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the appliance illustrated on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the mixing accessory in place on the side support, 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are side elevational views of alternative embodiments of food preparation appliances according to the invention in which the side support extends from, or is integral with, the blender jar and the lid of the blender jar, respectively. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The electric food preparation appliance illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  comprises a rotary working tool, or blades,  1  installed in a jar  2 . If desired, rotary working tool  1  can be removably installed. 
   More particularly, the appliance comprises a base  3  receiving a work container  4  forming jar  2 . A motor (not shown) is housed in base  3 . The motor is coupled with a drive mechanism  5  designed to cooperate with a drive element  6  disposed under blender jar  2  and connected to rotary working tool  1 . Thus, as is clearly visible in  FIG. 2 , rotary working tool  1  is actuated through the bottom of jar  2  by means of drive element  6 . 
   A lid  7  is associated with jar  2 . Lid  7  presents an opening  8  advantageously placed at the bottom of a depression, or recess. Opening  8  extends essentially above rotary working tool  1  installed in jar  2 . Lid  7  has two diametrically opposed side recesses  9  adjacent to opening  8 . 
   The appliance also comprises a mixing accessory  10 , shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . Mixing accessory  10  is adapted to be installed in opening  8 . As is clearly visible in  FIG. 2 , mixing accessory  10  extends then into jar  2 . 
   Mixing accessory  10  forms a spoon  11 . Advantageously, spoon  11  can touch the walls of jar  2  when mixing accessory  10  is in place in opening  8  of lid  7 . 
   Mixing accessory  10  presents a hollow sleeve  12  forming an emerging conduit  13 . Thus hollow sleeve  12  allows food ingredients to be introduced into jar  2  from the upper end of mixing accessory  10  installed in opening  8  of lid  7 . More particularly, hollow sleeve  12  forms a funnel  14 . The introduction of ingredients into mixing accessory  10  in place in opening  8  of lid  7  is thus facilitated. Funnel  14  is provided at the end of conduit  13  opposed to spoon  11 . The other end of conduit  13  emerges near spoon  11 . 
   Mixing accessory  10  is provided with a flange  15  designed to be supported on lid  8  around opening  7 . Flange  15  is arranged between spoon  11  and funnel  14 . 
   If desired, hollow spoon  11  and handle  12  can be made of different materials. As is clearly visible in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , mixing accessory  10  comprises a tubular part  16  forming funnel  14 , flange  15  and the major part of conduit  13 . Tubular part  16  is advantageously made of a rigid material, such as for example polycarbonate. Mixing accessory  10  also comprises a part  17  forming spoon  11  and part of conduit  13  from which spoon  11  projects. Part  17  is made of a more flexible material, such as for example polypropylene. Part  17  can advantageously be overmolded on tubular part  16 . Thus, mixing accessory  10  at least partially present a hollow sleeve  12  made of a material more rigid than the material from which spoon  11  is made. 
   The appliance also has a blocking element  20 , shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . Blocking element  20  is provided to be placed in opening  8  of lid  7 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Moreover, blocking element  20  is provided to be engaged in one end of hollow sleeve  12 . More specifically, blocking element  20  is constructed to be placed in the end of hollow sleeve  12  opposed to spoon  11 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , blocking element  20  can be placed in opening  8  of lid  7  in place of mixing accessory  10 . 
   Blocking element  20  forms advantageously a container  21 . Blocking element  20  can in particular be provided with level markings, or graduations, and can thus form a measuring cap. 
   Alternatively, the blocking element  20  can be provided at its bottom with at least one opening for the flow of liquid into jar  2  when blocking element  20  is in place in opening  8  or in mixing accessory  10 . 
   The appliance further comprises a side support  30  designed to receive mixing accessory  10 . Side support  30  presents an arm  31  surmounted by a protuberance  32 . Protuberance  32  advantageously presents a storage body  33  and a support body  34 . Hollow sleeve  12  is configured to be engaged on side support  30 . 
   More particularly, side support  30  extends from base  3 . According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , side support  30  is secured to, or integral with, a piece  35  forming a ring  36 . Side support  30  and piece  35  are advantageously mounted to be removable from a case  40  forming a component of base  3 . For this purpose, ring  36  presents internal shaped regions, or conformations, e.g. protrusions,  37  adapted to cooperate with mating side shaped regions, or conformations, e.g. recesses,  41  formed on an upper part  42  of case  40 . Side support  30  is advantageously adapted to occupy any one of several possible positions relative to case  40 . For the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , there are four internal conformations  37  and eight side conformations  41 . Thus, the user can choose from among eight available positions for side support  30  on case  40 . 
   Advantageously, the lower end of mixing accessory  10 , when in place on side support  30 , is disposed laterally at a distance from the lower part of the appliance, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   Mixing accessory  10  makes it possible to use spoon  11  to pour ingredients into jar  2  through opening  8 . Mixing accessory  10  can also be constructed to provide funnel  14  through which ingredients can be poured into conduit  13  in jar  2  through opening  8 . Mixing accessory  10 , when in place in jar  2 , can also be used to mix the ingredients present in jar  2  and/or to scrape food off of the internal wall of jar  2 , in particular during preparation of a puree, for example of chickpeas. 
   Blocking element  20  can be used to close the upper end of hollow sleeve  12  or to directly seal opening  8  of lid  7 . 
   Side support  30  can be used to receive mixing accessory  10 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , in which hollow sleeve  12  is engaged on side support  30 . Storage body  33  is then engaged in the end of conduit  13  adjacent spoon  11  and the upper end of spoon  11  rests on support body  34 . If desired, side support  30  can also be used to hold blocking element  20  in an upside down orientation. 
   The user can choose the orientation of side support  30  relative to case  40  by positioning internal conformations  37  of ring  36  opposite selected side conformations  41  of case  40 . 
   Thus, side support  30  can be placed on the left-hand side of the appliance, as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , but also on the right-hand side of the appliance, or opposite the front face or the rear face, or in any other intermediate position permitted by internal conformations  37  of ring  36 . Side support  30  is thus not necessarily placed on the side of the appliance. 
   The appliance according to the invention is thus particularly practical to use. 
     FIG. 5  shows an alternative embodiment differing from the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that base  3 ′ includes case  40 , but does not carry side support  30  or piece  35 . Instead, side support  30  is replaced by a side support  30 ′, which is designed to receive mixing accessory  10  and extends from, and may be integral with, blender jar  4 ′. 
   Blocking element  20  on lid  7  can also be used with mixing accessory  10 , in the same manner as blocking element  20  and mixing accessory  10  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
   As a complementary alternative, side support  30 ′ is not necessarily disposed on the rear face of the appliance as illustrated on  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative embodiment differing from the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  in that side support  30 ″ extends from, and may be integral with, lid  7 ″, instead of from blender jar  4 , or  4 ′, or from base  3 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , base  3 ′ includes case  40 , but does not carry side support  30  or piece  35 . 
   Blocking element  20  on lid  7 ″ can also be used with mixing accessory  10 , in the same manner as blocking element  20  and mixing accessory  10  of the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
   As a complementary alternative, side support  30 ″ is not necessarily positioned at the rear face of the appliance as illustrated on  FIG. 6 . 
   As a complementary alternative, spoon  11  could be made of a flexible material, such as for example silicone. 
   As a complementary alternative, mixing accessory  10  can in particular be made entirely of one material. 
   As a complementary alternative, mixing accessory  10  need not be provided with flange  15 . 
   As a complementary alternative, the motor could be integrated into blender jar  4 ,  4 ′ and base  3 ,  3 ′ can be eliminated. 
   As a complementary alternative, protuberance  33  does not necessarily extend in a vertical direction, but could in particular be tilted, for example toward the front face of the appliance. 
   The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment described and its alternatives, but includes many modifications within the framework of the claims. 
   This application relates to subject matter disclosed in French Application number FR 07 08108, filed on Nov. 19, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Technology Category: a