Food processor and sidewall cleaning mechanism therefor

• US 10,638,884 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: Zakowski, Joseph W., Hotaling, Bryan, Naples, Matthew, Macneill, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Self, Shelley M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bapthelus, Smith Oberto
• Application Number:
  US15/015,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20170224167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 241 92, 241100, 2411012, 2412781
• 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 43/0727 Mixing bowls

Abstract

A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl mounted on the base for containing food items, a lid for covering the bowl and having an opening therein, and a sidewall cleaning mechanism operable to scrape an interior sidewall of the bowl while the lid is engaged with the bowl.

Claims

1. A food processor, comprising:

a base;

a motor disposed within said base;

a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said drive shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor;

a bowl mounted on said base for containing food items;

a lid for covering said bowl and having an opening therein; and

a sidewall cleaning mechanism includes a rotatable knob and being operable to scrape an interior sidewall of said bowl while said lid is engaged with said bowl;

wherein said sidewall cleaning mechanism includes a drive gear operatively attached to the rotatable knob, a first annulus configured to be rotatably driven by said drive gear, a second annulus engageable with said first annulus, at least one wiper blade attached to said second annulus and configured to contact said interior sidewall of the bowl;

wherein said rotatable knob, said drive gear and said first annulus form a part of said lid, said second annulus including said at least one wiper blade are received within said bowl;

wherein said drive gear has a plurality of teeth that project radially outward from a periphery thereof and mesh with a first plurality of teeth that project radially inward from the first annulus; and

wherein said first annulus has a second plurality of teeth that project substantially downward therefrom and are configured to mesh with a third plurality of teeth that project substantially upward from the second annulus when said lid is engaged with said bowl.

2. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said lid includes a retaining plate that retains said drive gear and said first annulus within said lid.

3. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said at least one wiper blade is three wiper blades spaced evenly about a periphery of said second annulus.

4. The food processor of claim 3, wherein:

said wiper blades are formed at least partially from rubber.

5. The food processor of claim 3, wherein:

said wiper blades are removable from said second annulus.

6. A sidewall cleaning mechanism for a food processor, comprising:

an actuator;

a drive gear operatively attached to said actuator;

a first annulus configured to be rotatably driven by said drive gear;

a second annulus engageable with said first annulus; and

at least one wiper blade attached to said second annulus and configured to

contact an interior sidewall of a bowl of said food processor to scrape food therefrom;

wherein said actuator is offset from the center of a lid received on top of said bowl and wherein said actuator is a rotatable knob protruding from an upper surface of said lid of said food processor

wherein said rotatable knob, said drive gear and said first annulus form a part of said lid;

wherein said second annulus includes said at least one wiper blade are received within said bowl

wherein said drive gear has a plurality of teeth that project radially outward from a periphery thereof and mesh with a first plurality of teeth that project radially inward from the first annulus; and

wherein said first annulus has a second plurality of teeth that project substantially downward therefrom and are configured to mesh with a third plurality of teeth that project substantially upward from the second annulus when said lid is engaged with said bowl.

7. The sidewall cleaning mechanism of claim 6, wherein:

said lid includes a retaining plate that retains said drive gear and said first annulus within said lid.

8. The sidewall cleaning mechanism of claim 6, wherein:

said at least one wiper blade is three wiper blades spaced evenly about a periphery of said second annulus.

9. The sidewall cleaning mechanism of claim 8, wherein:

said wiper blades are formed at least partially from rubber.

10. The sidewall cleaning mechanism of claim 8, wherein:

said wiper blades are removable from said second annulus.