Food preparation appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338541-A1
Application number	US-201615157736-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2016
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A food preparation appliance generally comprises a handle, a blade member operatively coupled to the handle and rotatable about a rotation axis. A first shroud is coaxial with the blade member and defines a blade chamber in which the blade member is at least in part disposed. A second shroud is coaxial with the first shroud. The first shroud has an upper side opening through which food processed by the blade member within the blade chamber of the first shroud may exit the blade chamber. The second shroud is positioned and configured relative to the first shroud such that food exiting the blade chamber through the upper side opening contacts the second shroud.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A food preparation appliance, comprising:
a handle; a blade operable to rotate on a rotation axis; a first shroud coaxial with the blade and defining a blade chamber, the blade being disposed generally within the blade chamber, the first shroud having an upper side opening through which food can exit the blade chamber; and a second shroud coaxial with the first shroud and located exterior of the blade chamber, the second shroud being positioned and configured relative to the first shroud for redirecting food that exits the blade chamber through the upper side opening.

2 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first shroud comprises an upper portion, a base portion and an intermediate portion defining a blade guard, the base portion being open.

3 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second shroud has an upper surface facing the handle and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, at least a portion of the lower surface being concave such that food exiting the blade chamber of the first shroud at the upper side opening is redirected generally downward toward the base portion of the first shroud upon contacting the lower surface of the second shroud.

4 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 1 , wherein the second shroud comprises a plate extending at least in part radially outward from the handle.

5 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 4 , wherein the second shroud extends radially outward beyond the first shroud such to inhibit objects disposed above the second shroud from entering the blade chamber at the upper side opening of the first shroud.

6 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 5 , wherein the second shroud further comprises a distal edge spaced from the first shroud.

7 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first shroud has a plurality of upper side openings spaced circumferentially from each other about the first shroud.

8 . The food preparation appliance set forth in claim 1 , wherein the base portion of the first shroud at least in part has a lower side opening through which food enters the blade chamber from exterior of the blade chamber, the lower side opening being longitudinally aligned with the upper side opening.

9 . A method for processing food using a food preparation appliance, the appliance having a handle, a first shroud disposed generally at one end of the handle and defining a blade chamber, a second shroud coaxial with the first shroud and longitudinally nearer to the handle than the first shroud, and a blade member coaxial with the first shroud and disposed generally within the blade chamber, the method comprising:
positioning the food preparation appliance such that at least some food is disposed within the blade chamber; rotating the blade member to contact the food to thereby process the food; directing processed food out of the blade chamber through an upper side opening in the first shroud for impact with the second shroud exterior of the blade chamber; and further directing the processed food from the second shroud back toward the blade chamber other than at the upper side opening of the first shroud.

10 . The method set forth in claim 9 , wherein the blade member comprises a planar portion, a first wing, and a second wing, and wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing includes an angled surface such that the blade member propels material that contacts the blade member upward as it rotates.

11 . The method set forth in claim 9 , wherein the second shroud comprises a curved plate extending radially outward from the handle to a distal edge spaced from the first shroud.

12 . The method set forth in claim 9 , wherein directing the food through an upper side opening in the first shroud comprises directing the food through a plurality of upper side openings in the first shroud.

13 . The method set forth in claim 9 , further comprising directing the food along a processing surface of the second shroud, the processing surface being at least in part concave curve to redirect the food downward back toward the first shroud.

14 . The method set forth in claim 9 , further comprising positioning a base portion of the first shroud down against a surface, the base portion having a lower side opening through which food to be processed can the blade chamber, the method further comprising drawing food into the blade chamber at the lower side opening.

15 . A blade member for a food preparation appliance, the appliance having a drive motor for operative connection with the blade member to drive rotation of the blade member about an axis of rotation of the blade member, the blade member being elongate and having a length, the blade member comprising:
a central planar portion extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the blade member to lie in a first plane, the central planar portion having a first lengthwise end and a second lengthwise end opposite the first lengthwise end with the rotation axis of the blade member disposed therebetween; a first wing having a proximal end coupled to the first end of the central planar portion and a distal end disposed lengthwise outward of the proximal end of the first wing; a second wing having a proximal end coupled to the second lengthwise end of the central planar portion and a distal end disposed lengthwise outward of the proximal end of the second wing; and at least a portion of the first wing lying in a second plane different from the first plane of the central planar portion.

16 . The blade member set forth in claim 15 , wherein the second plane is at an angle in the range of about 0.1 degrees to about 20 degrees relative to the first plane.

17 . The blade member set forth in claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the second wing lies in a third plane different from the first plane, the third plane lying at an angle in the range of about −0.1 degrees to about −20 degrees in relation to the first plane.

18 . The blade member set forth in claim 15 , wherein the first wing has a first length measured from the proximal end of the first wing to the distal end thereof and the second wing has a second length measured from the proximal end of the second wing to the distal end thereof, the second length of the second wing being different from the first length of the first wing.

19 . The blade member set forth in claim 15 , wherein the blade member has a direction of rotation about the rotation axis of the blade member, the first wing having a leading edge in the direction of the rotation of the blade member, the second wing having a leading edge in the direction of rotation of the blade member, the leading edges of the first and second wings each having a respective angled cutting surface.

20 . The blade member set forth in claim 15 , wherein the blade member has a direction of rotation about the rotation axis of the blade member, the first wing and the second wing each imparting an axial upward flow of contents impacted by the blade member upon rotation of the blade member in the direction of rotation.

Assignees

• Spectrum Brands Inc

Inventors

• Saunders James Stuart
• Hamilton Matthew James
• Nernberger Kroy Everett

Classifications

• A47J2043/04427

  with housing extending vertically in line with the tool axis · CPC title

• A47J43/0711 Primary

  mixing, whipping or cutting tools · CPC title

• A47J2043/04409

  Apparatus of hand held type · CPC title

• A47J43/044 Primary

  with tools driven from the top side · CPC title