Blender container and cover

• US 20090238034A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation (Vita-Mix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Ulanski, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/341
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0727 Mixing bowls
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/51 characterised by their material

Abstract

A container (11) for a blender includes a base surface (13) and a blade (20) which is rotatable on an axis above the base surface (13). An arcuate wall (14) and two generally straight walls (15, 16) extend upwardly from the base surface (13) and terminate at the upper end of container (11). The axis of rotation of the blade (20) is closer to the arcuate wall (14) than it is to the generally straight walls (15, 16). A skirt (25) extends downwardly from the base surface (13) and has an opening. Sound baffling fingers (32) extend from the skirt (25) and into the opening. A spout (40) is formed at the intersection of two of the walls (14, 15, 16), the spout (40) having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of the walls (14, 15, 16) from the upper end of the container (11). A handle (34) is positioned opposite to the spout (40) and a cover (12) includes a plug (55) to close the spout (40).

Claims

1. A container for a blender comprising a base surface, a blade rotatable on an axis and positioned above said base surface, an arcuate wall extending upwardly from said base surface, and first and second generally straight walls extending upwardly from said base surface and intersecting each other, said first and second walls each intersecting said arcuate wall, said arcuate wall and said first and second walls being positioned such that the axis of rotation of said blade is closer to said arcuate wall than to said first second walls.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein said base surface slopes downwardly from said arcuate wall toward said first and second walls.

3. The container of claim 1 further comprising a spout formed at the intersection of two of said walls.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein said walls terminate as the upper end of the container, said spout having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of said walls from the upper end of the container.

5. The container of claim 1 further comprising a skirt extending downwardly from said base surface, and a sound muffler carried by said skirt.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein said skirt has an opening therein, said sound muffler including fingers extending from said skirt into said opening and being spaced from each other.

7. The container of claim 5 further comprising a spout formed at the intersection of two of said walls.

8. A container for a blender comprising a base surface, walls extending upwardly from said base surface, a skirt extending downwardly from said base surface, an opening in said skirt, and fingers extending from said skirt into said opening and being spaced from each other to baffle the noise of the blender.

9. The container of claim 8 further comprising a tab extending downwardly into said opening and being positioned at least partially over the space between said fingers.

10. The container of claim 9 further comprising a slot in said tab.

11. The container of claim 8 wherein said skirt includes a plurality of spaced lobes, said opening being in one of said lobes.

12. The container of claim 8 further comprising a spout formed at the intersection of two of said walls.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein said walls terminate as the upper end of the container, said spout having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of said walls from the upper end of the container.

14. The container of claim 8 further comprising a blade rotatable on an axis and positioned above said base surface, the axis of rotation of said blade being positioned closer to one of said walls than the other of said walls.

15. A container for a blender comprising a base surface, walls extending upwardly from said base surface and terminating as the upper end of the container, and a spout formed between two of said walls, said spout having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of the walls from the upper end of the container.

16. The container of claim 15 further comprising a cover positioned on top of said walls, said cover having a plug to close said spout.

17. The container of claim 16, said cover having a flap engaging said walls below the entry point of said spout to seal said spout.

18. The container of claim 16 further comprising a lip formed at said upper end of the container, said cover including at least one lock flap to engage said lip.

19. The container of claim 15 further comprising a handle carried by one of said walls opposite to said spout.

20. The container of claim 15 further comprising a blade rotatable on an axis and positioned above said base surface, the axis of rotation of said blade being positioned closer to one of said walls than the other of said walls.

21. The container of claim 15 further comprising a skirt extending downwardly from said base surface, and a sound muffler carried by said skirt.

22. A container for a blender comprising a base surface, a blade rotatable on an axis and positioned above said base surface, an arcuate wall extending upwardly from said base surface, first and second generally straight walls extending upwardly from said base surface and intersecting each other, said first and second walls each intersecting said arcuate wall, said arcuate wall and said first and second walls terminating as the upper end of the container and being positioned such that the axis of rotation of said blade is closer to said arcuate wall than said first and second walls, a skirt extending downwardly from said base surface, an opening in said skirt, fingers extending from aid skirt into said opening and being spaced from each other to baffle the noise from the blender, and a spout formed at the intersection between two of said walls, said spout having an entry point located approximately twenty to thirty percent of the height of said walls from the upper end of the container.