Enclosure for food processor

• US 20040211850A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: Wanat, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,063,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/285.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence

Abstract

An enclosure for a food processor having a lower portion for cooperating with a control and/or operational base assembly of a food processor, a central portion for holding matter to be processed, an upper portion with one or more openings for receiving the matter into the central portion, and a safety actuator, is provided. The openings being relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close or cover said one or more openings. The openings is capable of cooperating with various accessories and/or of facilitating matter being introduced in a variety of different amounts and forms.

Claims

1. An enclosure for a food processor, comprising:

a lower portion for cooperating with a control and/or operational base assembly of a food processor;

a central portion for holding matter to be processed;

an upper portion with one or more openings for receiving said matter into said central portion,

wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the food processor to operate safely without the need to close or cover said one or more openings.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

3. The enclosure of claims 1, wherein said one or more openings take the form of a relatively shallow hollow tube or chute extending from said upper portion.

4. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least two of said one or more openings are of different size.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said one or more openings have a grating surface.

6. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more openings is variable in size.

7. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said one or more openings are formed in a funnel portion of said upper surface.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said one or more openings are formed in a sift portion of said upper surface.

9. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories can be any of a variety of different shapes, sizes and/or configurations for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

10. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories have one or more apertures.

11. The enclosure of claim 9, wherein at least two of said one or more apertures are of differing size.

12. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories have a grating portion with at least one aperture.

13. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories have an aperture variable in size, shape, or both.

14. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a flat plate, a flat plate with one or more apertures, a flat plate with a grating portion, a reversible flat plate with different surface configurations on either side thereof, a flat plate with a sifting portion, and any combinations thereof.

15. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a funnel, a funnel with one or more apertures, a funnel with a sifting portion, a funnel with a grating portion and any combinations thereof.

16. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a disc, a disc with one or more apertures, a disc with a grating portion, a reversible disc with differing surface configurations on either side thereof, a disc with a sifting portion, a rotating disc with one or more apertures, a rotating disc with an array of apertures, a rotating disc with at least two apertures of differing size, a rotating disc with at least one aperture of varying size, and any combinations thereof.

17. The enclosure of claim 2, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of an annular cone, an annular cone with one or more apertures, a rotating an annular cone with an array of apertures, an annular cone with a sifting portion, an annular cone with a grating portion, a rotating an annular cone with at least two apertures of differing size, a rotating an annular cone with at least one aperture of varying size, and any combinations thereof.

18. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a safety actuator.

19. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein said safety actuator has a cam, a spring, and a rod.

20. The enclosure of claim 19, wherein said cam, said rod and said spring cooperate such that when said cam is caused to act on said rod, the bias of said spring is overcome and said rod is caused to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

21. The enclosure of claim 19, wherein said cam is a device selected from the group consisting of sliding rod, a rotating knob, a pivoting lever, and a push button.

22. The enclosure of claim 18, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

23. The enclosure of claim 22, wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close said one or more openings.

24. The enclosure of claims 23, wherein said one or more openings take the form of a relatively shallow hollow tube or chute extending from said upper portion.

25. The enclosure of claim 22, wherein said one or more accessories can be appropriately shaped, sized or configured for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

26. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said upper portion is a removable cover.

27. The enclosure of claim 26, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

28. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close said one or more openings.

29. The enclosure of claims 28, wherein said one or more openings take the form of a relatively shallow hollow tube or chute extending from said upper portion.

30. The enclosure of claim 27, wherein said one or more accessories can be any of a variety of different shapes, sizes and/or configurations for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

31. The enclosure of claim 26, further comprising a safety actuator.

32. The enclosure of claim 31, wherein said safety actuator has a cam, a spring, and a rod.

33. The enclosure of claim 32, wherein said cam, said rod and said spring cooperate so that when said cam is caused to act on said rod, the bias of said spring is overcome and said rod is caused to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

34. The enclosure of claim 32, wherein said cam is a sliding rod, a rotating knob, a pivoting lever, or similar mechanism.

35. The enclosure of claim 32, wherein said cam is integral with said removable cover.

36. The enclosure of claim 35, wherein when said removable cover is properly and securely positioned said cam simultaneously acts on said rod to cause said rod to overcome the bias of said spring and to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

37. An enclosure for a food processor, comprising:

a lower portion for cooperating with a control and/or operational base assembly of a food processor;

a central portion for retaining matter to be processed;

an upper portion with an opening for receiving said matter into said central portion, said opening forming a hollow tube or chute with a relatively low profile,

wherein said tube or chute extends from said upper portion less than about 4 inches.

38. The enclosure of claim 37, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

39. The enclosure of claim 37, wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close said one or more openings.

40. The enclosure of claim 37, wherein said one or more openings have a grating surface.

41. The enclosure of claim 37, wherein at least one of said one or more openings is variable in size.

42. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories can be any of a variety of different shapes, sizes and/or configurations for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

43. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories have one or more apertures.

44. The enclosure of claim 43, wherein at least two of said one or more apertures are of differing size.

45. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories have a grating portion with at least one aperture.

46. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories have an aperture variable in size, shape, or both.

47. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a flat plate, a flat plate with one or more apertures, a flat plate with a grating portion, a reversible flat plate with different surface configurations on either side thereof, a flat plate with a sifting portion, and any combinations thereof.

48. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a funnel, a funnel with one or more apertures, a funnel with a sifting portion, a funnel with a grating portion and any combinations thereof.

49. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form selected from the group consisting of a disc, a disc with one or more apertures, a disc with a grating portion, a reversible disc with differing surface configurations on either side thereof, a disc with a sifting portion, a rotating disc with one or more apertures, a rotating disc with an array of apertures, a rotating disc with at least two apertures of differing size, a rotating disc with at least one aperture of varying size, and any combinations thereof.

50. The enclosure of claim 38, wherein said one or more accessories are in the form of an annular cone, an annular cone with one or more apertures, a rotating an annular cone with an array of apertures, an annular cone with a sifting portion, an annular cone with a grating portion, a rotating an annular cone with at least two apertures of differing size, a rotating an annular cone with at least one aperture of varying size, and any combinations thereof.

51. The enclosure of claim 37, further comprising a safety actuator.

52. The enclosure of claim 51, wherein said safety actuator has a cam, a spring, and a rod.

53. The enclosure of claim 52, wherein said cam, said rod and said spring cooperate so that when said cam is caused to act on said rod, the bias of said spring is overcome and said rod is caused to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

54. The enclosure of claim 52, wherein said cam is a device selected from the group consisting of a sliding rod, a rotating knob, a pivoting lever, and a push button.

55. The enclosure of claim 51, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

56. The enclosure of claim 55, wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close said one or more openings.

57. The enclosure of claims 56, wherein said one or more openings take the form of a relatively shallow hollow tube or chute extending from said upper portion.

58. The enclosure of claim 55, wherein said one or more accessories can be shaped, sized or configured for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

59. The enclosure of claim 37, wherein said upper portion is a removable cover.

60. The enclosure of claim 59, wherein said one or more openings cooperate with one or more accessories.

61. The enclosure of claim 60, wherein said one or more openings are relatively small to allow for the safe operation of the food processor without the need to close said one or more openings.

62. The enclosure of claims 61, wherein said one or more openings take the form of a relatively shallow hollow tube or chute extending from said upper portion.

63. The enclosure of claim 60, wherein said one or more accessories can be any of a variety of different shapes, sizes and/or configurations for complimenting or facilitating said variety of differing processing operations.

64. The enclosure of claim 59, further comprising a safety actuator.

65. The enclosure of claim 64, wherein said safety actuator has a cam, a spring, and a rod.

66. The enclosure of claim 65, wherein said cam, said rod and said spring cooperate so that when said cam is caused to act on said rod, the bias of said spring is overcome and said rod is caused to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

67. The enclosure of claim 65, wherein said cam is a sliding rod, a rotating knob, or a pivoting lever.

68. The enclosure of claim 65, wherein said cam is integral with said removable cover.

69. The enclosure of claim 68, wherein when said removable cover is properly and securely positioned said cam simultaneously acts on said rod to cause said rod to overcome the bias of said spring and to either directly or indirectly activate a switch, which switch activation allows the food processor to operate.

70. An enclosure for a food processor, comprising:

a lower portion for cooperating with a control and/or operational base assembly of a food processor;

a central portion for holding matter to be processed;

an upper portion with one or more openings for receiving said matter into said central portion,

wherein said one or more openings are in an upper surface of said upper portion and are adjustable to facilitate a variety of different processing operations.

71. The enclosure of claim 70, wherein said one or more openings of said upper surface form a hollow tube or chute that is telescopically adjustable.

72. The enclosure of claim 70, wherein said one or more openings are adjusted via one or more accessories.