Interface for a handheld kitchen appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9392910-B2
Application number	US-201314405815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2013
Priority date	Jun 8, 2012
Publication date	Jul 19, 2016
Grant date	Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to mounting of accessory parts to a main unit of a handheld kitchen appliance. In order to provide a facilitated way of operation, a handheld kitchen appliance interface ( 10 ) for releasably mounting of an accessory part to a main unit, comprising a body structure ( 12 ), an insertion opening ( 14 ), a locking device ( 16 ), and an activation device ( 18 ). The insertion opening is provided in the body structure for inserting an insert end of an accessory or of a main part of a handheld kitchen appliance. The locking device comprises at least one engagement element ( 20 ) moveably guided by the body structure and being movable between a first position (P1), in which the engagement element is provided to engage a locking element of an insert end of the accessory or the main part inserted into the opening to provide axial fixation of the insert end in relation to the body structure, and a second position (P2), in which the engagement element is provided to be disengaged to allow axial displacement of the insert end in relation to the body structure. The activation device comprises a button ( 24 ) for applying a manual release force. The locking device comprises at least one holding bracket ( 26 ) supported by the body structure in at least one fixation point ( 28 ) such that during an activation of the interface, the fixation point maintains stationary relative to the body structure. The at least one holding bracket comprises a bendable part ( 30 ) on which the engagement element is provided. Further, the manual release force causes a bending of the holding bracket resulting in a radially directed movement ( 32 ) of the at least one engagement element from the first to the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A handheld kitchen appliance interface for releasably mounting of an accessory part to a main unit, comprising:
a body structure;
an insertion opening;
a locking device; and
an activation device;
wherein the insertion opening is provided in the body structure for inserting an insert end of an accessory or of a main part of a handheld kitchen appliance;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one engagement element moveably guided by the body structure and being movable between a first position (P1), in which the engagement element is to engage a locking element of an insert end of the accessory or the main part inserted into the opening to provide axial fixation of the insert end in relation to the body structure, and a second position (P2), in which the engagement element is to be disengaged from said locking element to allow axial displacement of the insert end in relation to the body structure;
wherein the activation device comprises a single button for applying a manual release force by the user for releasing the insert end by acting on the locking device;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one holding bracket supported by the body structure at a fixation point such that, during an activation of the interface, the fixation point remains stationary relative to the body structure;
wherein the at least one holding bracket comprises a bendable part on which the at least one engagement element is provided; and
wherein the manual release force causes a bending of the holding bracket effecting a radially directed movement of the at least one engagement element from the first position to the second position.

2. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 wherein the holding bracket is fixedly connected to the body structure in the fixation point in a non-displaceable manner.

3. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 wherein the at least one holding bracket includes a fixed end connected to the body structure at the fixation point- and a free end which the manual release force acts when pressing the single button, said free end cantilevering freely from the fixation point throughout the free end.

4. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1
where the at least one holding bracket has an open ring shaped structure and
disposed opposite to the single button.

5. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 where the at least one holding bracket comprises a ring shaped structure having an open portion disposed between first and second ends,
the single button including a chamfered insertion portion having an increasing width for effecting a widening of the opening portion when the single button is depressed.

6. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 where the at least one holding bracket comprises a ring shaped structure having an open portion disposed between first and second ends,
the single button including a tapered recess with a decreasing width for effecting a closing of the opening portion when the single button is depressed, said closing causing a contracting radial translation of the at least one engagement elements.

7. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 where the at least one holding bracket comprises a ring shaped structure having a cross section that is adapted to adjusting the bending force against which the force applied by the single button acts.

8. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 where the at least one holding bracket has an open ring-shaped structure and a support structure is provided on an outside of the ring shaped structure for adjusting a bending moment of said ring shaped structure.

9. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 8 where the support structure comprises a spring element.

10. The handheld kitchen appliance interface according to claim 1 where the at least one holding bracket comprises first and second stiff members pivotably connected to the fixation point.

11. A handheld kitchen appliance, comprising:
a main part; and
an accessory part;
wherein the main part comprises a motor in a housing for driving the accessory part;
wherein one of the main part and the accessory part is provided with a handheld kitchen appliance interface comprising:
a body structure;
an insertion opening;
a locking device; and
an activation device;
wherein the insertion opening is provided in the body structure for inserting an insert end of an accessory or of a main part of a handheld kitchen appliance;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one engagement element moveably guided by the body structure and being movable between a first position (P1), in which the engagement element is to engage a locking element of an insert end of the accessory or the main part inserted into the opening to provide axial fixation of the insert end in relation to the body structure, and a second position (P2), in which the engagement element is to be disengaged from said locking element to allow axial displacement of the insert end in relation to the body structure;
wherein the activation device comprises a single button for applying a manual release force by the user for releasing the insert end by acting on the locking device;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one holding bracket supported by the body structure at a fixation point such that, during an activation of the interface, the fixation point remains stationary relative to the body structure;
wherein the at least one holding bracket comprises a bendable part on which the at least one engagement element is provided;
wherein the manual release force causes a bending of the holding bracket effecting a radially directed movement of the at least one engagement element from the first position to the second position; and
wherein the other one of the main part and the accessory part is provided with a coupling element releasably engaged by the at least one engagement element of the locking device.

12. A handheld kitchen appliance according to claim 11 where the accessory part comprises a rotatable working component and where a driving coupling is provided between the motor and the accessory part when the coupling element is engaged by the at least one engagement element.

13. A method for releasing an accessory part from a main unit of a handheld kitchen appliance, said method comprising:
a) pressing a single button of a handheld kitchen appliance interface comprising:
a body structure:
an insertion opening;
a locking device; and
an activation device;
wherein the insertion opening is provided in the body structure for inserting an insert end of an accessory or of a main part of a handheld kitchen appliance;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one engagement element moveably guided by the body structure and being movable between a first position (P1), in which the engagement element is to engage a locking element of an insert end of the accessory or the main part inserted into the opening to provide axial fixation of the insert end in relation to the body structure, and a second position (P2), in which the engagement element is to be disengaged from said locking element to allow axial displacement of the insert end in relation to the body structure;
wherein the activation device comprises the single button for applying a manual release force by the user for releasing the insert end by acting on the locking device;
wherein the locking device comprises at least one holding bracket supported by the body structure at a fixation point

Assignees

• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Brenna Claudio

Classifications

• Y10T403/591

  having operating mechanism · CPC title

• A47J43/0705 Primary

  for machines with tools driven from the upper side (A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47J43/0711 Primary

  mixing, whipping or cutting tools · CPC title

• A47J43/082

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

• A47J43/07

  Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools · CPC title