Wireless blending device and system

• US 10,363,530 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Inventors: Kolar, David, Sems, Paul G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatia, Anshu
• Application Number:
  US15/095,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20160220973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 366205
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/042 Mechanically-driven liquid shakers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/08 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/1805 Kitchen, household equipment for mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/212 of the driving system data, e.g. torque, speed or power data
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2205 Controlling the mixing process from a remote server, e.g. by sending commands using radio, telephone, internet, local network, GPS or other means
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2206 Use of stored recipes for controlling the computer programs, e.g. for manipulation, handling, production or composition in mixing plants B01F33/846 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/2209 Controlling the mixing process as a whole, i.e. involving a complete monitoring and controlling of the mixing process during the whole mixing cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/221422 Speed of rotation of the mixing axis, stirrer or receptacle during the operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/20 characterised by the transmission technique; characterised by the transmission medium
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/281 indicating a format for calling an appliance service function in a home automation network for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A blending device includes a motor, a motor controller, and a wireless controller configured to receive a wireless signal. The motor controller may be configured to alter the operations of the motor based the wireless signal. The wireless signal may include a blending program to be carried out by the blending device. The blending device may include one or more sensors configured to sense parameters of the blending device. The wireless signal may include information related to the sensed parameters. A blending device network may be formed by providing a second blending device having a wireless controller in communication with the first blending device wireless controller. The first and second blending devices may share information over the network.

Claims

1. A blending device comprising:

a blender base comprising a housing, a motor having a drive shaft, at least one sensor, and a wireless controller disposed within the housing and operatively communicating via a wireless signal, and wherein the at least one sensor is disposed within or on the housing; and

a container operatively coupled to the blender base, wherein the container is coupled with a blade assembly comprising a splined coupler that is operatively driven by the drive shaft, and

wherein the at least one sensor measures a weight of an ingredient added to the container when the container is coupled to the blender base, and

wherein the wireless controller operatively sends, receives, or sends and receives the wireless signal to or from a wireless device according to a communications protocol.

2. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of a smartphone, computer, tablet computer, personal computer, or near field communication point.

3. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises data describing a blender program.

4. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises data describing a system setting of the blending device.

5. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal comprises data describing a recipe.

6. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the blender base further comprises a display.

7. The blending device of claim 6, wherein the display, in response to the wireless controller receiving the wireless signal, updates displayed information based on data received from the wireless signal.

8. The blending device of claim 7, wherein the data comprises a recipe, and wherein the display displays information associated with the recipe.

9. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless controller comprises a near field communications wireless controller.

10. The blending device of claim 9, wherein the wireless controller operatively detects whether the wireless device is within a coverage area of the near field communications wireless controller.

11. The blending device of claim 10, wherein the wireless controller communicates with the wireless device when the wireless device is within the coverage area.

15. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the wireless controller comprises a Bluetooth device.

16. The blending device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned beneath the container when it is coupled to the blender base.

12. A blending system comprising:

a blending device comprising;

a blender base, the blender base comprising a housing, a motor and a first wireless controller, wherein the motor is disposed within the housing, and the first wireless controller is disposed on or within the housing;

a blade removably coupled to said motor;

a container for receiving ingredients to be blended and operatively attachable to the blender base in at least one position; and

a handheld wireless device comprising a second wireless controller, wherein the second wireless controller operatively communicates with the first wireless controller to receive real-time information from the blender base regarding ingredients received by the container, and

wherein the handheld wireless device comprises at least one of a smartphone, tablet computer, or a near field communication point.

13. The blending system of claim 12, wherein the first wireless controller and the second wireless controller operatively communicate via a communications network.

14. The blending system of claim 13, wherein the communications network comprises at least one of the Internet, a Wi-Fi network, a Bluetooth network, or a near field communication network.