Household food preparation appliance such as a multi-function food processor comprising a bearing means for the rotary working assembly

• US 6,089,746 A
• Filed: 07/22/1998
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SEB SA
• Original Assignee: SEB SA
• Inventors: Martin, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles E.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,027
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 366/129, 366/130, 366/331, 366/342, 366/343, 99/348, 416/69, 416/70 R, 416/76, 416/77
• US Class Current: 366/129
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/044 with tools driven from the top side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0705 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0727 Mixing bowls

Abstract

A household food preparation appliance composed of: a working container (1) having a bottom wall (3); a rotary working assembly (5, 6, 7) driven by a motor unit; and a bearing member secured to, and freely rotatable in relation to, the working assembly. The working assembly is composed of a drive shaft (5) capable of supporting a working attachment (7) and is capable of being positioned in the container (1) with the bearing member substantially against the bottom wall (3) of the container (1). The bearing member (8) forms an element for centering the shaft (5) relative to the bottom wall (3).

Claims

1. Household food preparation appliance comprising:

a working container (1) having a bottom wall (3);

a rotary working assembly (5, 6,

     7) driven by a motor unit; and

bearing means secured to, and freely rotatable in relation to, the working assembly, wherein

the working assembly comprises a drive shaft (5) capable of supporting a working attachment (7),

the working assembly is capable of being positioned in the container (1) with the bearing means substantially against the bottom wall (3) of the container (1),

the container has a shaped portion (15) arranged in the bottom wall (3), and

the bearing means (8) and the shaped portion together form a means for centering the shaft (5) relative to the bottom wall (3).

2. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that the bearing means (8) is formed by a base (9) freely rotatable at the extremity of the working assembly by the intermediary of a journal (10).

3. Appliance according to claim 2 characterized in that the journal (10) is fitted into the base (9).

4. Appliance according to claim 2 characterized in that the base (9) is a disk, made of a supple material.

5. Appliance according to claim 4 wherein the disk is substantially circular.

6. Appliance according to claim 2 characterized in that the base (9) comprises at its lower face, intended to come in contact with the bottom wall (3) of the container (1), a series of notches (18) to increase adherence.

7. Appliance according to claim 2 characterized in that the working assembly comprises a hub (6) in which the journal (10) is freely rotatable.

8. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that the working assembly comprises a hub (6), said hub (6) supporting the working attachment.

9. Appliance according to claim 8 wherein the hub (6) is fitted on the extremity of the shaft (5).

10. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that the bearing means (8) is formed by a base (9) freely rotatable at the extremity of the working assembly by the intermediary of a journal (10) and the shaped portion is formed by a ring (16) at a different height with respect to the bottom wall (3).

11. Appliance according to claim 10 characterized in that the ring (16) is an integral part of the container (1) and of a dimension and shape adapted to the base (9) so that this base (9) comes to be blocked in a fixed position on the ring (16), by interlocking.

12. Appliance according to claim 1 characterized in that the container (1) is of glass.

13. Household food preparation appliance comprising:

a working container (1) having a bottom wall (3) and lateral walls (2);

a rotary working assembly (5, 6,

     7) driven by a motor unit; and

bearing means secured to, and freely rotatable in relation to, the working assembly, wherein

the working assembly comprises a drive shaft (5) capable of supporting a working attachment (7),

the working assembly is capable of being positioned in the container (1) with the bearing means substantially against the bottom wall (3) of the container (1), and

the bearing means (8) are formed to be guided by at least one part of the lateral walls (2) of the container (1) so that the bearing means (8) and the at least one part of the lateral walls (2) of the container (1) together form a means for centering the shaft (5) relative to the bottom wall (3).

14. Appliance according to claim 13 characterized in that the bearing means (8) is formed by a base (9) freely rotatable at the extremity of the working assembly by the intermediary of a journal (10).

15. Appliance according to claim 14 characterized in that the journal (10) is fitted into the base (9).

16. Appliance according to claim 14 characterized in that the base (9) is a disk made of a supple material.

17. Appliance according to claim 16 wherein the disk is substantially circular.

18. Appliance according to claim 14 characterized in that the working assembly comprises a hub (6) in which the journal (10) is freely rotatable.

19. Appliance according to claim 13 characterized in that the working assembly comprises a hub (6), said hub (6) supporting the working attachment.

20. Appliance according to claim 19 wherein the hub (6) is fitted on the extremity of the shaft (5).

21. Appliance according to claim 13 characterized in that the container (1) is of glass.