Blender for blending foodstuff

• US 7,942,570 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Hanes, Adam, Pryor, Ernest B. Jr., Steiner, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin; Walter D
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANDEUSEN, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US11/555,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20080098905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 366/197
• US Class Current: 366/197
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/34 Supports for cooking-vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/085 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/087, A47J43/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/207 with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air

Abstract

A blender for blending foodstuff comprising a motor housing that encloses an electric motor and has a first end and a second end. An upper housing is attached to the first end of the motor housing. The motor housing includes a fan driven by the motor controlled by a plurality of switches positioned behind a flexible cover. A transparent base having translucent base feet and an open bottom partially surrounds the motor housing and has a first end. The first end of the base is clamped between the upper housing and the first end of the motor housing to thereby solely suspend the motor housing from the first end of the base. A shroud is positioned partially around the motor within the motor housing. The fan draws air through the open bottom of the base into the second end of the motor housing and then around and outside of the shroud into the open top of the shroud to thereby cool the motor. The air is then directed out through the open side portion of the shroud and then sealingly vented to atmosphere.

Claims

1. A blender for blending foodstuff, the blender for being positioned on a support surface, said blender comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor and having a first end, a second end and a first distance between the first and second ends, the second end of the motor housing having an intake vent opening, the motor housing enclosing a fan driven by the motor, the fan being located between the motor and the intake vent opening;

an upper housing attached to the first end of the motor housing;

a base partially surrounding the motor housing and having a first end, a second end and a second distance between the first and second ends of the base, the second end of the base engaging the support surface during use, the first end of the base being clamped between the upper housing and the first end of the motor housing such that at least a portion of the upper housing extends through an opening in the first end of the base and that at least a portion of the upper housing is fixedly secured to a portion of the motor housing, the first distance being less than the second distance such that the second end of the motor housing is spaced from the support surface during use to thereby solely suspend the motor housing from the first end of the base further comprising;

a mounting plate extending from a top of the motor proximate the first end of the motor housing;

a plurality of mounting fingers extending downwardly from the upper housing through the opening in the first end of the base into engagement with the mounting plate; and

a corresponding plurality of screws downwardly extending through holes in the mounting plate into the mounting fingers to secure the motor to the upper housing.

2. The blender of claim 1, wherein the second end of the base is open to expose the second end of the motor housing.

3. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of a transparent material.

4. The blender of claim 1, wherein the base is comprised of a translucent material.

5. The blender of claim 1, wherein one of the base and the motor housing includes a light mounted thereto.

6. The blender of claim 1, wherein a light is disposed within the upper housing.

11. The blender of claim 1, further comprising:

a shroud positioned at least partially around the electric motor within the motor housing, the shroud having an open top and a closed bottom.

7. A blender for blending foodstuff, the blender for being positioned on a support surface, said blender comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor and having a first end and an opposing second end, a light extending through at least a portion of the second end of the motor housing to illuminate the support surface, a lens being positioned over the light to enclose the light between the second end of the motor housing and the lens, the lens being translucent to conceal the light while allowing light rays from the light to pass through the lens;

an upper housing attached to the first end of the motor housing;

a base having a first end and an opposing second end, the base at least partially surrounding the motor housing and being constructed of a transparent material to view the illuminated support surface beneath the base, the second end of the base engaging the support surface during use, the first end of the base being clamped between the upper housing and the first end of the motor housing such that at least a portion of the upper housing extends through an opening in the first end of the base and that at least a portion of the upper housing is fixedly secured to a portion of the motor housing; and

a jar releasably positioned on the base and having a rotatable blending tool therein operatively engaged with the electric motor for being driven by the electric motor when the jar is positioned on the base further comprising;

a mounting plate extending from a top of the motor proximate the first end of the motor housing;

a plurality of mounting fingers extending downwardly from the upper housing through the opening in the first end of the base into engagement with the mounting plate; and

a corresponding plurality of screws downwardly extending through holes in the mounting plate into the mounting fingers to secure the motor to the upper housing.

8. The blender of claim 7, wherein the base completely surrounds the motor housing.

9. The blender of claim 7 wherein the base is formed by a molding process such that it is substantially transparent.

12. The blender of claim 7, further comprising:

a shroud positioned at least partially around the electric motor within the motor housing, the shroud having an open top and a closed bottom.

10. A blender for blending foodstuff comprising:

a motor housing enclosing an electric motor and having a first end and a second end, the motor housing including a fan driven by the motor, the fan being positioned proximate the second end, the second end of the motor housing including intake vent openings;

a shroud positioned partially around the motor within the motor housing and positioned between the fan and the second end of the motor housing, the shroud having a side wall, an open top facing towards the first end of the motor housing, a completely closed bottom extending laterally from opposing portions of the side wall and located between the fan and the second end of the motor housing, and an open side portion;

a base having a side wall defining an exterior of the blender, the side wall of the base partially surrounding and laterally spaced from the motor housing and having an open bottom, the side wall of the base having an outtake vent in fluid communication with the open side portion of the shroud; and

a jar releasably positioned on the base and having a rotatable blending tool therein operatively engaged with the electric motor for being driven by the electric motor when the jar is positioned on the base wherein the fan draws air through the open bottom of the base into the motor housing through the intake vent openings and then around an outside of the shroud into the open top of the shroud to thereby cool the motor and then against the closed bottom of the shroud and then out through the open side portion of the shroud and then through the outtake vent to atmosphere.

13. The blender of claim 10, further comprising:

first and second side extensions extending perpendicularly from opposing sides of the motor housing, the first side extension providing an open fluid passageway from the motor housing to a distal end of the first side extension; and

a control switch for controlling the electric motor being positioned within the exterior side wall of the base and vertically aligned with the second side extension of the motor housing.