Blender for Blending Foodstuff

• US 20080098905A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Steiner, Mark C., Hanes, Adam, Pryor, Ernest B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/451
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/34 Supports for cooking-vessels
• 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 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/207 with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air

Abstract

A blender for blending foodstuff comprising a motor housing that encloses an electric motor and has a first end and a second end. An upper housing is attached to the first end of the motor housing. The motor housing includes a fan driven by the motor controlled by a plurality of switches positioned behind a flexible cover. A transparent base having translucent base feet and an open bottom partially surrounds the motor housing and has a first end. The first end of the base is clamped between the upper housing and the first end of the motor housing to thereby solely suspend the motor housing from the first end of the base. A shroud is positioned partially around the motor within the motor housing. The fan draws air through the open bottom of the base into the second end of the motor housing and then around and outside of the shroud into the open top of the shroud to thereby cool the motor. The air is then directed out through the open side portion of the shroud and then sealingly vented to atmosphere.

Claims

1. A blender for blending foodstuff, the blender for being positioned on a support surface, said blender comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor and having a first end, a second end and first distance between the first and second ends;

an upper housing attached to the first end of the motor housing;

a base partially surrounding the motor housing and having a first end, a second end and a second distance between the first and second ends of the base, the second end of the base engaging the support surface during use, the first end of the base being clamped between the upper housing and the first end of the motor housing, the first distance being less than the second distance such that the second end of the motor housing is spaced from the support surface during use to thereby solely suspend the motor housing from the first end of the base.

2. The blender of claim 1, wherein the second end of the base is completely open to expose the second end of the motor housing.

3. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of a transparent material.

4. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of a translucent material.

5. The blender of claim 1, wherein one of the base and the motor housing includes a light mounted thereto.

6. The blender of claim 1, wherein a light is disposed within the upper housing.

7. A blender for blending foodstuff, the blender for being positioned on a support surface, said blender comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor;

a base at least partially surrounding the motor housing and being constructed of a transparent material, the base engaging the support surface during use; and

a jar releasably positioned on the base and having a rotatable blending tool therein operatively engaged with the electric motor for being driven by the electric motor when the jar is positioned on the base.

8. The blender of claim 7, wherein the base is comprised of a translucent material.

9. The blender of claim 7, wherein one of the base and motor housing includes a light mounted thereto.

10. The blender of claim 7, wherein the base completely surrounds the motor housing.

11. The blender of claim 7 wherein the base is formed by a molding process such that it is substantially transparent.

12. A blender for blending foodstuff comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor and having a first end and a second end, the motor housing including a fan driven by the motor, the fan being positioned proximate the second end, the second end of the motor housing including intake vent openings;

a shroud positioned partially around the motor within the motor housing and positioned between the fan and the second end of the motor housing, the shroud having an open top facing towards the first end of the motor housing and an open side portion;

a base having a side wall partially surrounding and spaced from the motor housing and having an open bottom, the side wall of the base having an outtake vent in fluid communication with the open side portion of the shroud; and

a jar releasably positioned on the base and having a rotatable blending tool therein operatively engaged with the electric motor for being driven by the electric motor when the jar is positioned on the base wherein the fan draws air through the open bottom of the base into the motor housing through the intake vent openings and then around an outside of the shroud into the open top of the shroud to thereby cool motor and out through the open side portion of the shroud and then through the outtake vent to atmosphere.

13. A blender for blending foodstuff, the blender for being positioned on a support surface, said blender comprising:

a base having a transparent wall for surrounding an electric motor, the housing having an open bottom with an exposed bottom edge, the bottom edge including an opening formed therein;

a plurality of base feet constructed of a translucent elastomeric material and being in the form of a strip having a thickness less than a thickness of the wall of the base, the base feet having a first end and a second end, the first end at least partially positioned within the opening in the bottom edge, the second end extending outwardly from the bottom edge for engaging the support surface.

14. The blender of claim 13, wherein the base feet are curved to fit along the corners of the bottom edge of the base.

15. The blender of claim 13, wherein the base feet are co-molded into the bottom edge of the base.

16. The blender of claim 13, further including a jar releasably positioned on the base and having a rotatable blending tool therein operatively engaged with the electric motor for being driven by the electric motor when the jar is positioned on the base.