Blender jug and coupling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9283528-B2
Application number	US-201113991902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2011
Priority date	Dec 7, 2010
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A blade assembly for use with a jug having a central throat, the blade assembly includes: one or more blades; a plug element having a peripheral annular flange; a seal element located below the annular flange; a coupling component for engaging a co-operating coupling component on a blender base, the coupling component being coupled to the one or more blades by a rotatable shaft assembly; and a locking element for retaining the plug element with the seal element sealingly engaging the jug, thereby providing a sealing arrangement between the blade assembly and the jug.

First claim

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A blender jug assembly including:
a vessel having a throat located at a floor of the interior of the vessel;
a collar located at a base of the vessel, and the collar defining a jug skirt;
a plug element being located from within the interior of the vessel and partially through the throat and engages the collar;
the plug element having a blade module comprising one or more blades;
the plug element having a first coupling component, the first coupling component being engaged to the one or more blades by a rotatable shaft assembly supported by the plug element, the first coupling component being accessible from below the vessel for engaging a co-operating second coupling component on a motorised blender base; and
wherein the plug element and collar include co-operating retaining elements, which include one or more tabs having a retaining lip that engages a rim to releasably couple the plug element to the collar and resist separation of the plug element and collar when fully engaged.

2. The blender jug assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the collar comprises the tabs, the tabs being releasably coupled to the plug element for retaining the plug element within the vessel.

3. The blender jug assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the collar is reliably coupled to the vessel, such that a portion of the floor of the interior of the vessel is retained between the plug element and the collar.

4. The blender jug assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the collar has a centrally located stabilising ring for locating the vessel.

5. The blender jug assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the collar includes a plurality of upright lugs that maintain correct orientation and spacing of the vessel relative to the jug skirt.

6. The blender jug assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plug element comprises the tabs, the tabs being releasably coupled to the collar for retaining the plug element within the vessel.

7. The blender jug assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the collar is reliably coupled to the vessel, such that a portion of the floor of the interior of the vessel is retained between the plug element and the collar.

8. The blender jug assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the plug element comprises an interior sleeve portion having an exterior thread; and an exterior sleeve portion surrounding the inner sleeve portion, wherein the tabs are located within the exterior sleeve.

9. The blender jug assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the exterior sleeve portion further comprises two integrally formed tabs in the form of flexible tongue elements; each tongue element has a ridge protrusion proximal a lower extremity; the collar having a central opening surrounded by an substantially flat underside landing, for releasable retaining engagement with the ridges of the tongues of the assembly.

10. The blender jug assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the collar is releasably engaged to the vessel, the collar including one or more flexible teeth that engage a shoulder formed proximal to the terminal extremity of the throat for capturing the vessel.

11. The blender jug assembly according to claim 1 , the assembly further includes a locking nut in threaded engagement with the plug element while abutting the collar, wherein a portion of the floor of the interior of the vessel is clamped between the plug element and the collar.

12. The blender jug assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the locking nut has an annular abutment surface for clamping abutment against the collar.

13. The blender jug assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plug element further comprises an annular flange; an annular seal element is located below the annular flange; a circumferential groove is located below the flange for receiving an portion of the seal element.

14. The blender jug assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the plug element comprises an externally threaded portion located below a flange.

15. The blender jug assembly according to claim 14 , the assembly further includes a locking nut in threaded engagement with the plug element while abutting the collar, wherein a portion of the floor is clamped between the plug element and the collar.

16. The blender jug assembly according to claim 13 , wherein, the collar includes one or more flexible teeth adapted to engage a shoulder formed proximal to the terminal extremity of the throat for capturing the vessel.

Assignees

• Thai Khon
• Breville R & D Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Thai Khon

Classifications

• B01F7/162 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• A47J43/085

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

• A47J43/046 Primary

  with tools driven from the bottom side · CPC title

• B02C18/06

  with rotating knives · CPC title

• B01F27/808 Primary

  with stirrers driven from the bottom of the receptacle · CPC title