METHOD FOR BLENDING FOOD OR BEVERAGES
First Claim
1. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
- placing a container with food or beverage in a multiple lead screw elevator assembly;
using said elevator assembly to move said container upward so that said food or beverage is placed in contact with a blending tool;
while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said elevator assembly moves said container upward;
stopping the upward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container;
reversing the direction of said container so that the elevator assembly moves said container downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container;
stopping the downward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container;
stopping operation of said blending tool; and
,removing said container from said elevator assembly to allow the blended food or beverage in said container to be consumed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
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placing a container with food or beverage in a multiple lead screw elevator assembly; using said elevator assembly to move said container upward so that said food or beverage is placed in contact with a blending tool; while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said elevator assembly moves said container upward; stopping the upward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container; reversing the direction of said container so that the elevator assembly moves said container downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container; stopping the downward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container; stopping operation of said blending tool; and
,removing said container from said elevator assembly to allow the blended food or beverage in said container to be consumed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 18, 19)
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11. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
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placing a container or container section with food or beverage between an upper clamping jaw and a lower clamping jaw of a blender; moving said upper clamping jaw and lower clamping jaw together to secure said container; moving said clamping jaws and container upward so that said food or beverage is placed in contact with a blending tool of a spindle; while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said clamping jaws and container move upward; stopping the upward movement of said clamping jaws and container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container; reversing the direction of said clamping jaws and container so that they move downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container; stopping the downward movement of said clamping jaws and container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container; stopping operation of said blending tool; and
,causing the clamping jaws to separate so that the container with blended food or beverage can be removed from said clamping jaws and consumed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21)
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Specification