Food processor

• US 5,921,485 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
• Original Assignee: HP Intellectual Corp.
• Inventors: Holbrook, Paul, Plavcan, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hong, William
• Application Number:
  US09/058,148
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 241/92, 241/282.1, 241/282.2, 241/37.5
• US Class Current: 241/282.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/07 Parts or details, e.g. mixing tools, whipping tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0777 in which the activating element on the cover transmits a signal to a safety device in the base element via the mixing bowl removably seated on this base element, e.g. pin on the cover moves a pushrod in the bowl handle to operate safety switch in the base element

Abstract

A first embodiment of a food processor 30 includes a base housing 32, a bowl 34, an implement 132 and a lid 36 formed with a two chute unit 201 and a food pusher 208 for facilitating the introduction of foodstuff into the bowl. A second embodiment of a food processor 230 further includes a small bowl 234 and a lid 236 therefor. A motor 38 is contained within the base housing 32 and selectively drives a shaft 40 which is coupled to the implement 132 for rotation thereof.

Claims

1. A food processor, which comprises:

a base housing,

a bowl;

the base housing formed with a first housing structure and the bowl formed with a first bowl structure which facilitate placement of the bowl onto the base housing for movement of the bowl circumferentially relative to the base housing in a first and proper direction toward a final food processing position thereof, and in a second and improper circumferential direction toward the food processing position;

the base housing formed with a second housing structure which cooperates with a second bowl structure formed on the bowl for precluding movement of the bowl relative to the base housing into the food processing position thereof when the bowl is being moved in the second and improper circumferential direction.

2. The food processor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first housing structure comprises:

a side wall formed on the base housing; and

a ledge formed outward from the side wall of the base housing; and

wherein the first bowl structure comprises;

a rib formed on the bowl in a location for positioning thereof onto the ledge when the bowl is positioned on the base housing.

3. The food processor as set forth in claim 2 wherein the ledge is a first ledge, which further comprises:

a second ledge formed outward from the side wall of the base housing at a level lower than a level of the first ledge;

the level of the second ledge being a level at which the bowl is assembled with the base housing when the bowl is moved in the first and proper direction for operation of the food processor; and

a ramp which extends from an end of the first ledge to a portion of the second ledge, over which the rib travels during assembly of the bowl with the base housing.

4. The food processor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second housing structure of the base housing comprises:

a side wall formed on the base housing and having a first section thereof formed in a generally circular configuration; and

the side wall formed with a second section which extends gradually radially outward from the generally circular section; and

the second bowl structure comprises;

the bowl formed in a generally circular configuration complementary to the circular configuration of the first section of the side wall of the base housing; and

the bowl formed with wedging structure which engages the second section of the side wall of the base housing when the bowl is moved in the second or improper direction to preclude further movement of the bowl relative to the base housing.

5. The food processor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the wedging structure of the bowl includes a rib formed on the bowl in a radially inward direction.

6. The food processor as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

a hub mounted on the base housing;

the bowl having an opening formed through a bottom floor thereof and at least one projection extending laterally therefrom into the opening;

the opening of the bowl being locatable about the hub and the bowl being mountable on the base housing;

the hub formed with structure for receiving the projection of the bowl as the bowl is being assembled with the base housing and configured to facilitate gradual movement of the bowl into assembly with the base housing and about the hub.

7. The food processor as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises:

a shaft extending upward from the base housing and into the bowl; and

a shaft-mountable food processing implement formed with a uniform surface structure over a first section thereof and a second structure having a structure which is radially offset from the plane of the uniform surface structure formed in a second section thereof to allow a user to obtain a firm grip of the implement during handling thereof.

8. The food processor as set forth in claim 7, which further comprises:

a hub mounted on the base housing;

the bowl having an opening formed through a bottom floor thereof and at least one projection extending laterally therefrom into the opening;

the opening of the bowl being locatable about the hub and the bowl being mountable on the base housing;

the hub formed with structure for receiving the projection of the bowl as the bowl is being assembled with the base housing and configured to facilitate gradual movement of the bowl into assembly with the base housing and about the hub.

9. A food processor, which comprises:

a base housing;

a hub mounted on the base housing;

a bowl having an opening formed in a bottom thereof and at least one projection extending laterally therefrom into the opening;

the opening of the bowl being locatable about the hub and the bowl being mountable on the base housing;

the hub formed with structure for receiving the projection of the bowl as the bowl is being assembled with the base housing and configured to facilitate gradual and rotational movement of the bowl into assembly with the base housing and about the hub;

a shaft extending upward from the base housing and into the bowl; and

a shaft-mountable food processing implement formed with a uniform surface structure over a first section thereof and a second structure which is radially offset from the plane of the uniform surface structure formed in a second section thereof to allow a user to obtain a firm grip of the implement during handling thereof.

10. The food processor as set forth in claim 9, wherein the structure of the hub comprises a slot formed in the hub and into which the projection is positioned to facilitate the gradual and rotational movement of the bowl.

11. The food processor as set forth in claim 10, wherein the slot comprises:

a leg of the slot formed in an exterior side wall of the hub at an angle with respect to the axis of the hub and having an upper end and a lower end; and

the leg of the slot being formed with a bearing wall upon which the projection engages, at the upper end, and travels over, to the lower end, at the formed angle of the leg to impart downward and rotary motion to the bowl.

12. The food processor as set forth in claim 11, wherein the leg is a first leg of the slot, and the slot further comprises:

a second leg of the slot formed transaxially in the exterior wall of the hub;

a first end of the second leg being located at a communicating juncture with the lower end of the first leg; and

a second end of the second leg of the slot being spaced from the first end thereof and formed with a stop wall which precludes further movement of the bowl relative to the base housing and the hub.

13. A food processor, which comprises:

a base housing;

a bowl mountable on the base housing and formed with an opening in a bottom floor thereof;

a shaft extending upward from the base housing, through the opening and into the bowl; and

a food processing implement, mountable onto the shaft within the bowl, formed with a uniform surface structure over a first section thereof and a second structure which is radially offset from the plane of the uniform surface structure formed in a second section thereof to allow a user to obtain a firm grip of the implement during handling thereof.

14. The food processor as set forth in claim 13, wherein the second structure is a depression formed in the uniform surface structure to be radially offset therefrom and thereby provide a facility for the user to obtain the firm grip of the implement.

15. The food processor as set forth in claim 13, wherein the second structure is an opening formed in the implement which provides facility for the user to obtain the firm grip of the implement.

16. The food processor as set forth in claim 15, wherein the second structure is a depression formed in the uniform surface structure, surrounding the opening to be radially offset therefrom and thereby provide a facility for the user to obtain the firm grip of the implement.

17. The food processor as set forth in claim 13, wherein the food processing implement comprises:

a post having smooth exterior surface and formed in the shape of an inverted cone;

the inverted cone shape of the post being large at a bottom thereof, and narrow at a top thereof;

a portion of the post immediately adjacent the narrow top thereof formed with a surface structure for gripping the implement.