FOOD PREPARATION APPLIANCE FOR USE WITH A REMOTE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20150305564A1
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jimenez, Rolando Antonio Cavazos, Krebs, Joseph V., Saunders, James Stuart, Van Haren, Emily
• Granted Patent: US 11,272,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2043/0733 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0092 Nutrition

Abstract

One example food preparation appliance includes a base having a motor and an adaptor, a weight sensor coupled to the adaptor, and a communication component. The adaptor is configured to support a food preparation accessory. The weight sensor is configured to detect a weight applied to the adaptor. The communication component is configured to transmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor. An example remote communication device includes a display device, a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor. The remote communication device is configured to display a first instruction on the display device, the first instruction including a first target weight of a first substance; receive a measurement from a food preparation appliance indicative of a weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparation appliance; and display a second instruction when the weight is substantially equal to the first target weight.

Claims

1. A food preparation appliance comprising:

a base having a motor and being configured to support a food preparation accessory;

a weight sensor coupled to the base and configured to detect a weight applied to the food preparation accessory; and

a communication component configured to transmit data associated with a weight detected by the weight sensor to a remote communication device.

2. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the communication component is further configured to transmit operational data of the food preparation appliance, the operational data being selected from the group of operational data comprising:

temperature data relating to a component of the food preparation appliance;

temperature data relating to an ingredient;

speed data relating to a component of the food preparation appliance; and

error message data.

3. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the communication component is further configured to transmit statistical data to the remote communication device, the statistical data including data associated with at least one of the food preparation appliance and the food preparation accessory, the statistical data being selected from the group of statistical data comprising:

an amount of time the food preparation appliance has operated;

a number of times the food preparation appliance has been cycled on and off;

error message data; and

maintenance data

4. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the weight sensor is a piezoelectric weight sensor.

5. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, further comprising a display device, the display device being configured to:

receive weight data;

determine a unit of measurement for the weight data; and

display the weight data using the determined unit of measurement.

6. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the food preparation accessory is removable.

7. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the base includes an adaptor configured to support the food preparation accessory.

8. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the food preparation appliance is configured to generate an audible signal based on the weight detected by the weight sensor.

9. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, further comprising a data store configured to store at least one of measurements, weight data, weights, recipes, types of food preparation accessories, type of food items, types of liquids, error messages, and maintenance data.

10. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the food preparation appliance is a blender, a food processor, or a mixer.

11. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the communication component is further configured to receive data, wherein the data comprises at least one of a control signal for controlling operation of the food preparation appliance and recipe data.

12. The food preparation appliance of claim 11, wherein the recipe data comprises at least one instruction to add a specific amount of an ingredient to the food preparation appliance at a specific time, and the food preparation appliance is configured to display the instruction based on the specific time.

13. The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the communication component includes at least one of a radio frequency transceiver, a short-range communication device, a Wi-Fi transceiver, a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, and an infrared (IR) transceiver.

14. A food preparation appliance for transmitting data associated with a weight to a remote communication device, the food preparation appliance comprising:

a base having a motor and an adaptor, the adaptor being configured to support a food preparation accessory;

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a signal proportional to the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance;

determine the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance based, at least in part, on the signal; and

transmit an indication of the determined weight to the remote communication device.

15. The food preparation appliance of claim 14, wherein the food preparation accessory is removable and the base includes an adaptor configured to support the food preparation accessory.

16. The food preparation appliance of claim 14, the memory further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive data, wherein the data comprises at least one of a control signal for controlling operation of the food preparation appliance and recipe data.

17. A remote communication device for displaying an instruction, the remote communication device comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

display a first instruction on the display device, the first instruction including a first target weight of a first substance;

receive a measurement from a food preparation appliance indicative of a weight applied to an adaptor of the food preparation appliance;

determine when the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance is substantially equal to the first target weight; and

display a second instruction associated with the first instruction on the display device when the weight applied to the adaptor of the food preparation appliance is substantially equal to the first target weight.

18. The remote communication device of claim 17, the memory further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive recipe data from a data store.

19. The remote communication device of claim 17, the memory further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit data received from the food preparation appliance to a data store.

20. The remote communication device of claim 17, wherein the remote communication device is a mobile phone.