Splash guard for a food mixer

• US 4,822,175 A
• Filed: 09/12/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Boozer, Richard D., Barnard, John K., Sankar, Sreenivasan
• Primary Examiner(s): JENKINS, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/243,262
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 366/349, 366/347, 366/601, 366/244, 366/245, 366/247, 366/249, 366/251, 366/206, 366/279, 366/286
• US Class Current: 366/347
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/60 Safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/601 Motor control

Abstract

A splash guard (10) for a food mixer (11) having a housing from which a food agitator (17) downwardly extends including a base plate (22) having an opening (24) therein. A ring member (23) is positioned above the base plate (22) and surrounds the agitator (17). Rod members (27) carry the base plate (22) and ring member (23) so that when a cup (C) is placed below the base plate (22) and moved vertically, the base plate (22) and ring member (23) move upwardly with the rod member (27) while the agitator (17) enters the cup (C).

Claims

1. A splash guard for a food mixer, the food mixer having a housing with an agitator extending downwardly therefrom, the splash guard comprising a base plate having an opening therein through which the lower end of the agitator may pass, a ring member positioned above said base plate and surounding the agitator, and means carrying said base plate and said ring member, said means being slidably attached to the housing so that said base plate and said ring member may be vertically moved with respect to the housing.

2. A splash guard according to claim 1 wherein said means includes rod members extending from the housing and engaging said base plate.

3. A splash guard according to claim 2 wherein said base plate is provided with holes through which said rod members pass, said rod members having notches therein to engage said base plate at the location of said holes.

4. A splash guard according to claim 3 wherein said ring member is connected to said base plate and has a flange extending laterally therefrom, said flange being provided with holes through which said rod members pass.

5. A splash guard according to claim 1 wherein the food mixer includes a motor for driving the agitator and a switch for activating the motor, said means including at least one rod member selectively engaging the switch to activate or deactivate the motor.

6. A splash guard according to claim 5, said rod member having a notch along a predetermined length thereof, the switch including a biased switch arm which can engage the rod at all locations except along the length of said notch.

7. A splash guard according to claim 1 wherein the food mixer is used to mix food in a cup, the cup having a predetermined height and an open top to be positioned adjacent said opening in said base plate, said ring member being of a predetermined height such that the top thereof is closer to the housing than the predetermined height of the cup so that the agitator will not pierce the bottom of the cup.

8. A splash guard according to claim 7 further comprising adapter means positioned above said ring member to add to the predetermined height of said ring member.