Modular appliance system

• US 6,832,543 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Holmes Group Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Patterson, Justin C., Siano, Salvatore R., Jones, Edward M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US10/625,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20040129809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 993/39, 993/40, 994/92--94, 995/09--13, 994/84, 366/205, 366/291, 366/297-300, 366/314, 366/129, 366/601, 366/130, 241/37.5, 241/92, 241/100, 241/101.01, 241/282.1, 241/282.2, 241/101.2, 248/605, 248/612, 248/634
• US Class Current: 99/340
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2043/0738 Means for storing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/06 with a plurality of interchangeable working units , e.g. with a single driving-unit
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/082 for machines with tools driven from the upper side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence

Abstract

A modular kitchen appliance system includes a base having a first receptacle and a second receptacle formed in a top surface of the base, at least a first motor contained within the base, a vessel supported in the first receptacle of the base and a hand-held appliance removably supported in the second receptacle of the base. The vessel includes a blade assembly adapted for coupling to the first motor and the hand-held appliance has a first end for receiving a shaft of an appliance attachment.

Claims

1. A modular kitchen appliance system comprising:

a base having a first receptacle and a second receptacle formed in a top surface of said base;

at least a first motor contained within said base;

a vessel supported in said first receptacle of said base, said vessel including a blade assembly adapted for coupling to said first motor;

a hand-held appliance removably supported in said second receptacle of said base, said appliance having a first end for receiving a shaft of an appliance attachment; and

a flexible drive cable defining a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said second end being received by a second end of said hand-held appliance and being securable to said shaft of said appliance attachment for imparting a rotary motion to said appliance attachment.

2. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 1, wherein said first end of said flexible drive cable is coupled to said first motor, said first motor pivoting said flexible drive cable with respect to said longitudinal axis thereby imparting said rotary motion to said appliance attachment.

3. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second motor contained within said base, wherein said first end of said flexible drive cable is coupled to said second motor, said second motor pivoting said flexible drive cable with respect to said longitudinal axis thereby imparting said rotary motion to said appliance attachment.

4. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 1, wherein said base further includes an interior storage compartment for storing said flexible drive cable in a coiled retracted position.

5. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 4, wherein said interior storage compartment is provided with a cable retraction mechanism for alternately feeding and retracting the flexible drive cable to desired lengths outside of said base.

6. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 5, wherein said base includes a cable retraction button for activating said cable retraction mechanism.

7. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 4, wherein said interior storage compartment defines an opening in said base through which said flexible drive cable may be withdrawn and retracted, said storage compartment including a wiper bushing disposed in said opening for cleaning debris from said flexible drive cable during retraction of said cable into said interior storage compartment.

8. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 3, wherein said base includes a toggle switch for switching between said first and second motors.

9. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 1, wherein said hand-held appliance includes a handle having a first button for releasing said appliance attachment from said first end of said appliance and a second button for alternately starting and stopping said rotary motion imparted on said appliance attachment by said flexible drive cable.

10. A modular kitchen appliance system comprising:

a base having a first receptacle and a second receptacle formed in a top surface of said base;

at least a first motor contained within said base;

a vessel supported in said first receptacle of said base, said vessel including a blade assembly adapted for coupling to said first motor;

a hand-held appliance removably supported in said second receptacle of said base, said appliance having a first end for receiving a shaft of an appliance attachment; and

an appliance attachment including a shaft adapted to be removably received in said first end of said appliance, and wherein said base includes a third receptacle formed in said top surface thereof for supporting said appliance attachment.

11. A modular kitchen appliance system comprising:

a base having a first receptacle and a second receptacle formed in a top surface of said base;

at least a first motor contained within said base;

a vessel supported in said first receptacle of said base, said vessel including a blade assembly adapted for coupling to said first motor; and

a hand-held appliance removably supported in said second receptacle of said base, said appliance having a first end for receiving a shaft of an appliance attachment, and wherein said hand-held appliance includes a second motor contained therein for imparting a rotary motion to said appliance attachment.

12. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 11, wherein said hand-held appliance includes a power source for powering said second motor.

13. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 12, wherein said power source is a rechargeable battery.

14. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 12, wherein said base further includes a battery charging circuit contained therein, and said battery of said hand-held appliance being recharged by said battery charging circuit when said appliance is supported in said second receptacle of said base.

15. A modular kitchen appliance system comprising:

a base having a first receptacle and a second receptacle formed in a top surface of said base;

at least a first motor contained within said base;

a vessel supported in said first receptacle of said base, said vessel including a blade assembly adapted for coupling to said first motor; and

a hand-held appliance removably supported in said second receptacle of said base, said appliance having a first end for receiving a shaft of an appliance attachment, said hand-held appliance housing a drive assembly and a power source and said appliance being in electrical communication with said base, and wherein said drive assembly includes a motor and said power source includes a battery.

16. A modular kitchen appliance system as defined in claim 15, wherein said base further includes a battery charging circuit contained therein, and said battery of said hand-held appliance being recharged by said battery charging circuit when said appliance is supported in said second receptacle of said base.