Drive coupling for a food processing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11974699-B2
Application number	US-202117221915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2021
Priority date	Apr 5, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A drive coupling assembly for a food processing device includes an adapter having a connection mechanism for connection of the adapter to a drive shaft of a motor of a food processing device, and a coupler body having an aperture and an opening, the opening being configured to receive a shaft of a blade of a food processing container, and the aperture being configured to releasably receive the adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive coupling assembly for a food processing device, comprising:
an adapter having a connection mechanism for connection of the adapter to a drive shaft of a motor of a food processing device; and
a coupler body having an aperture and an opening, the opening being configured to receive a shaft of a blade of a food processing container, and the aperture being configured to releasably receive the adapter;
wherein the coupler body and the adapter are configured such that an axial pulling force on the coupler body causes the coupler body to decouple from the adapter while the adapter remains connected to the motor shaft.

2. The drive coupling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a retaining mechanism configured to retain the coupler body on the adapter.

3. The drive coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the retaining mechanism includes one of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess associated with the adapter, and the other of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess associated with the coupler body;
wherein a ball of the spring-biased ball plunger is biased into engagement with the recess when the adapter is received within the aperture of the coupler body to retain the coupler body on the adapter.

4. The drive coupling assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the spring-biased ball plunger forms part of the coupler body; and
the recess forms part of the adapter.

5. The drive coupling assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the connection mechanism is a plurality of threads configured to threadedly engage a plurality of threads on the drive shaft of the motor.

6. The drive coupling assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the plurality of threads of the adapter have an orientation such that rotation of the drive shaft of the motor of the food processing device functions to tighten, rather than loosen, the adapter on the drive shaft of the motor.

7. The drive coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the coupler body includes a cap portion and a stem portion, the cap portion including the opening and the stem portion including the aperture.

8. The drive coupling assembly of claim 7 , wherein:
the opening is a splined opening.

9. The drive coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the adapter is configured such that when the drive shaft is received within the adapter, a top surface of the drive shaft is flush with a top surface of the adapter.

10. The drive coupling assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the aperture in the coupler body is square in shape.

11. A food processing device, comprising:
a motor;
a drive shaft driven by the motor;
an adapter connected to a distal end of the drive shaft;
a coupler body removably connected to the adapter, the coupler body having an upwardly-facing opening configured to receive a shaft of a blade of a food processing container of the food processing device; and
a retaining mechanism configured to retain the coupler body on the adapter;
wherein the coupler body and the adapter are configured such that an axial pulling force on the coupler body causes the coupler body to decouple from the adapter while the adapter remains connected to the motor shaft.

12. The food processing device of claim 11 , wherein:
the adapter is receivable within an aperture in an underside of the coupler body;
wherein the retaining mechanism includes one of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess associated with the adapter, and the other of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess associated with the coupler body; and
wherein a ball of the spring-biased ball plunger is biased into engagement with the recess when the adapter is received within the aperture of the coupler body to retain the coupler body on the adapter.

13. The food processing device of claim 12 , wherein:
the spring-biased ball plunger forms part of the coupler body; and
the recess forms part of the adapter.

14. The food processing device of claim 11 , wherein:
the adapter is threadedly connected to the drive shaft; and
wherein threads of the adapter have an orientation such that rotation of the drive shaft of the motor functions to tighten, rather than loosen, the adapter on the drive shaft.

15. The food processing device of claim 12 , wherein:
the coupler body includes a cap portion and a stem portion, the cap portion including the opening and the stem portion including the aperture.

16. The food processing device of claim 15 , wherein:
the opening is a splined opening.

17. The food processing device of claim 11 , wherein:
the adapter is configured such that when the adapter is connected to the drive shaft, a top surface of the drive shaft is flush with a top surface of the adapter.

18. The food processing device of claim 12 , wherein:
the aperture in the coupler body is square in shape.

19. An adapter for a food processing device, comprising:
a rectangular body;
a threaded bore configured to threadedly receive a drive shaft of a motor of a food processing device for connection of the adapter to the drive shaft; and
one of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess configured for engagement with the other of a spring-biased ball plunger or a recess associated with a coupler body of the food processing device, the coupler body being configured to transmit rotational movement of the drive shaft of the motor to a shaft of a blade of a food processing container of the food processing device;
wherein the spring-biased ball plunger and recess are configured to allow for decoupling of the coupler body from the adapter when an axial pulling force is exerted on the coupler body.

20. The adapter of claim 19 , wherein:
threads of the threaded bore of the adapter have an orientation such that rotation of the drive shaft of the motor functions to tighten, rather than loosen, the adapter on the drive shaft.

Assignees

• Conair Llc

Inventors

• Ney Francis M
• Kayser David Edward

Classifications

• A47J43/085 Primary

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

• F16D1/108

  having retaining means rotating with the coupling and acting by interengaging parts, i.e. positive coupling · CPC title

• F16D2001/102

  the torque is transmitted via polygon shaped connections · CPC title

• F16D2001/062

  characterised by adaptors where hub bores being larger than the shaft · CPC title

• F16D2001/103

  the torque is transmitted via splined connections · CPC title