Beverage blender

• US 5,833,362 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Shepard
• Original Assignee: James Shepard
• Inventors: Shepard, James
• Primary Examiner(s): SOOHOO, TONY GLEN
• Application Number:
  US08/852,133
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 366/108, 366/110, 366/111, 366/112, 366/114, 366/116, 366/197, 366/202, 366/208, 366/209, 366/210, 366/212, 366/218, 366/219, 366/237, 366/239, 366/240
• US Class Current: 366/111
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/23 Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/201 Holders therefor

Abstract

A beverage blender including a beverage support section and a base section, the beverage support section positioned in spaced-apart relation above the base section by at least one support structure disposed therebetween. The support structure maintains the beverage support section in the spaced-apart relation above the base section while also permitting relative movement between the beverage support section and the base section, the relative movement including a high frequency, low turbulence vibration of the beverage support section such that a beverage container positioned atop the beverage support section is correspondingly vibrated to thoroughly blend its contents. Additionally, a containment portion is disposed on the beverage support section to retain the beverage container thereon.

Claims

1. A beverage blender comprising:

a beverage support section,

a base section,

said beverage support section disposed in a spaced-apart, generally horizontal relation above said base section,

at least one support structure disposed between said beverage support section and said base section, said support structure maintaining said beverage support section in said spaced-apart relation above said base section and permitting relative movement between said beverage support section and said base section,

a containment portion disposed on said beverage support section and structured to retain a beverage container thereon,

at least a first motor and a second motor cooperatively disposed with said beverage support section,

an axle of said first motor and an axle of said second motor being structured to rotate in opposite directions from each other so as to vibrate said beverage support section in relation to said base section in a substantially stable and balanced manner, and so as to correspondingly vibrate the beverage container disposed thereon and thoroughly blend a contents of the beverage container, and

powering means structured to provide operating power to said first and second motors.

2. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 including an off-center weight secured to said axle of at least said first motor such that the rotation of said axle of said first motor causes said beverage support section to vibrate relative to said base section.

3. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said axles of said first motor and said second motor are generally aligned with one another.

4. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises:

a bolt extending from said beverage support section to said base section, and

a spring disposed about said bolt and structured to exert an upwardly biased force on said beverage support section so as to maintain said beverage support section in said spaced-apart position above said base section and permit said beverage support section to vibrate relative to said base section.

5. A beverage blender as recited in claim 4 further including four support structures.

6. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 further including mounting means for securing said beverage blender to a countertop.

7. A beverage blender as recited in claim 6 wherein said mounting means are structured to secure said beverage blender to said countertop such that said beverage support section of said beverage blender is flush with a top of said countertop.

8. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said containment portion includes a ring structured to extend upwardly from said beverage support section and retain the beverage container therein.

9. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said containment portion includes an indentation in said beverage support section structured to retain the beverage container thereon.

10. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 further including an actuation switch structured to permit a user to selectively turn said beverage blender on or off.

11. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 further including a weight-sensitive actuation switch structured to automatically turn said beverage blender on when a weight substantially equivalent to the beverage container in a filled state is exerted on said beverage support section, and automatically turn said beverage blender off when said weight substantially equivalent to the beverage container in said filled state is removed from said beverage support section.

12. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 further including control means structured and disposed to permit a user to regulate an intensity of said vibration of said beverage support section.

13. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said base section is substantially heavy so as to prevent undue horizontal movement of said beverage blender during use.

14. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 further including:

a first pair of substantially parallel side walls structured to extend from said base section towards said beverage support section, and

a second pair of substantially parallel side walls structured to extend from said base section towards said beverage support section.

15. A beverage blender as recited in claim 1 wherein said beverage support section includes an overhanging portion disposed at an outer perimeter of said beverage support section and structured to direct any accidental spillage away from an interior region of said beverage blender.

16. A beverage blender comprising:

a beverage support section and a base section,

said beverage support section being structured to support a beverage container thereon,

said base section including at least one upwardly extending side wall, and at least one support ledge positioned generally at a top of said side wall and extending in a generally horizontal direction,

said beverage support section structured to be supported on said ledge of said base section such that said beverage support section is permitted to vibrate relative to said base section,

at least a first motor and a second motor cooperatively disposed with said beverage support section,

an axle of said first motor and an axle of said second motor being structured to rotate in opposite directions from each other so as to vibrate said beverage support section in relation to said base section in a substantially stable and balanced manner, and so as to correspondingly vibrate the beverage container disposed thereon and thoroughly blend a contents of the beverage container, and

powering means structured to provide operating power to said first and second motors.

17. A beverage blender as recited in claim 16 including an off-center weight secured to said axle of at least said first motor such that a rotation of said axle of said first motor causes said beverage support section to vibrate relative to said base section.

18. A beverage blender as recited in claim 16 wherein said axles of said first motor and said second motor are generally aligned with one another.

19. A beverage blender as recited in claim 16 wherein:

said beverage support section includes at least one downwardly depending peg,

said support ledge of said base section includes at least one peg receiving holes therein, and

said downwardly depending peg is structured to be matingly received into said peg receiving hole such that said beverage support section is free to vibrate relative to said support ledge of said base section.

20. A beverage blender comprising:

a beverage support section and a base section, said beverage support section disposed in a spaced-apart generally horizontal relation above said base section,

at least one support structure disposed between said beverage support section and said base section and structured to support said beverage support section in said spaced-apart distance above said base section so as to permit said beverage support section to vibrate relative to said base section,

said support structure being secured to said beverage support section and said base section,

at least a first motor and a second motor,

an axle of said first motor and an axle of said second motor being structured to rotate in opposite directions from each other so as to vibrate said beverage support section in relation to said base section in a stabilized and balanced manner,

an upper liner structured to be removably secured on top of said beverage support section, said upper liner including a containment portion disposed therein and structured to retain a beverage container thereon,

powering means structured to provide operating power to said first and second motors.

21. A beverage blender as recited in claim 20 wherein:

said beverage support section includes a plurality of peg receiving holes therein,

said upper liner includes a plurality of downwardly depending pegs structured to be matingly received into said peg receiving holes of said beverage support section.

22. A beverage blender as recited in claim 20 including an off-center weight secured to said axle of at least said first motor such that the rotation of said axle of said first motor causes said beverage support section to vibrate relative to said base section.

23. A beverage blender as recited in claim 20 wherein said axles of said first motor and said second motor are generally aligned with one another.