Interlocking blending system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10413131-B2
Application number	US-201615137575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2016
Priority date	Apr 24, 2015
Publication date	Sep 17, 2019
Grant date	Sep 17, 2019

Abstract

A blender system that includes a base that is selectively and operatively engaged with a container is shown and described herein. The base may include a near field communications chip that may communicate with a near field communications chip of a container. The base also includes a motor that is selectively and operatively engaged with a blade disposed within the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blender system comprising:
a base including a motor and a first near field communication component; and
a container including a second near field communications component,
a blade assembly configured to operatively rotate within the container,

wherein the first near field communication component operatively generates a first signal to operatively power the second near field communication component, and
wherein the first near field communication component is disposed within the base such that second near field communication component is within a coverage area of the first near field communication component when the container is operatively interlocked with the base.

2. The blender system of claim 1 , wherein the second near field communication component is outside the coverage area when the container is not operatively interlocked with the base.

3. The blender system of claim 1 , wherein the second near field communication component operatively generates, in response to receiving the first signal, a second signal.

4. The blender system of claim 3 , wherein the base alters, in response to the first near field communication component operatively receiving the second signal, an operation of the base.

5. The blender system of claim 4 , wherein altering the operation comprises allowing or preventing operation of the motor.

6. The blender system of claim 1 , wherein the second near field communication component comprises a memory device that operatively stores information associate with the container.

7. The blender system of claim 6 , wherein the information associate with the container comprises at least one of a history of use of the container, a blending program, an identification token, or a model of the container.

8. The blender system of claim 6 , wherein the second near field communication component alters the information in response to receiving a signal from the first near field communication component.

9. A blender system for blending foodstuff, the blender system comprising:
a base comprising a motor and at least one base near field communication component;
a container comprising at least one container near field communication component; and
a blade assembly configured to operatively rotate within the container,
a lid operatively attachable to the container,
wherein the base determines whether to allow operation of the motor in response to the at least one base near field communication component operatively receiving a first wireless signal from the at least one container near field communication component.

10. The blender system of claim 9 , wherein the lid comprises at least one lid near field communication component.

11. The blender system of claim 10 , wherein base further determines whether to allow operation of the motor in response to the at least one base near field communication component operatively receiving both the first wireless signal, and a second wireless signal from the at least one lid near field communication component.

12. The blender system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one lid near field communication component operatively generates the second wireless signal in response to the at least one lid near field communication component receiving a third signal.

13. The blender system of claim 9 , wherein the lid comprises at least one magnet, and wherein the container comprises at least one reed switch disposed proximal an open end of the container, the at least one read switch operatively responsive to the at least one magnet.

14. The blender system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one read switch is in operative communication with the at least one container near field communication component.

15. The blender system of claim 10 , wherein the container comprises a blade assembly operatively attached thereto.

16. The blender system of claim 15 , wherein the blade assembly includes the at least one container near field communication component.

17. The blender system of claim 10 , wherein the container comprises:
a body having an open end, a closed end, and a wall extending from the open end to the closed end; and
a near field communication component disposed within the body.

18. A blender system for blending foodstuff, the blender system comprising:
a base comprising a motor and a first near field communication component;
a container; and
a blade assembly configured to operatively rotate within the container,
a lid operatively attachable to the container and comprising a second near field communication component,
wherein the base allows the motor to operate when the first near field communication component is in direct and operative communication with the second near field communication component.

19. The blender system of claim 18 , wherein the container comprises a third near field communication component.

20. The blender system of claim 19 , wherein the base allows the motor to operate when the first near field communication component is in direct and operative communication with the second near filed communication component and the third near filed communication component.

21. The blender system of claim 18 , wherein the base comprises a controller that operatively allows the motor to operate.

Assignees

• Vita Mix Man Corp

Inventors

• Kolar David J
• Tareen Saifur T
• Miller Eric

Classifications

• A47J43/0761 Primary

  for machines with tools driven from the lower side · CPC title

• A47J43/0766

  activated by the proper positioning of the mixing bowl · CPC title

• A47J43/085

  for machines with tools driven from the lower side (A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47J43/0777 Primary

  in which the activating element on the cover transmits a signal to a safety device in the base element via the mixing bowl removably seated on this base element, e.g. pin on the cover moves a pushrod in the bowl handle to operate safety switch in the base element · CPC title

• A47J43/046

  with tools driven from the bottom side · CPC title