Food processor

• US 8,733,239 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands Incorporated (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Allen, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPURLOCK, BRETT SHANE
• Application Number:
  US12/504,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 99537-538, 995/84, 995/95, 241151-159, 366/150.1, 838/65
• US Class Current: 99/537
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/046 with tools driven from the bottom side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0716 for machines with tools driven from the lower side A47J43/0727 - A47J43/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/023 With infeeding of work

Abstract

A food processor includes a base, a container having a side wall and an open end including a rim, and a lid for engaging the open end of the container in an operating position and a storage position. The lid has a top wall with a first and second principal surface, an annular ledge with a first and second side, and a food chute extending from the first principal surface generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top wall. The food chute has a length and extends away from the container with the second side of the annular ledge contacting the rim of the container when the lid is in the operating position. When the lid is in the storage position, the food chute extends into an interior of the container with the first side of the annular ledge contacting the rim of the container.

Claims

1. A food processor including a base, a container having a side wall and an open end including a rim, and a lid for engaging the open end of the container in an operating position and storage position, the lid comprising:

a top wall having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, the first principal surface comprising a diameter that is less than a diameter provided by the open end of the container;

a sidewall with an outer periphery, the sidewall further comprising an annular ledge having a first side and a second side, the annular ledge extending radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the sidewall; and

a food chute extending from the first principal surface of the top wall generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top wall, the food chute having a length and extending away from the container with the second side of the annular ledge contacting a top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the operating position, and the food chute extending into an interior of the container with the first side of the annular ledge contacting the top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the storage position.

2. The food processor of claim 1 wherein the food chute surrounds a first aperture formed in the top wall.

3. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the container accommodates the entire length of the food chute when the lid is in the storage position.

4. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the first principal surface of the lid is tapered inwardly, such that when the lid is on the container in the storage position, the first principal surface fits comfortably within the interior of the container.

5. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the top wall of the lid is disposed completely within the container when the lid is in the storage position.

6. The food processor of claim 1, wherein a drive shaft extends through a second aperture formed in the top wall when the lid is in the storage position.

7. The food processor of claim 1, wherein one or more processing tools may rest at least partially within the lid when the lid is in the storage position.

8. The food processor of claim 7, wherein the processing tools include at least one of a food pusher and processing disc.

9. The food processor of claim 1, wherein the annular ledge first edge and second edge define a generally flat surface.

10. A food processor including a base, a container having a side wall and an open end including a rim, and a lid for engaging the open end of the container, the lid comprising:

a top wall having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, the first principal surface comprising a diameter that is less than a diameter provided by the open end of the container;

an annular ledge having a first side and a second side;

a food chute extending from the first principal surface of the top wall generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top wall, the food chute having a length and extending away from the container with the second side of the annular ledge contacting a top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the operating position, and the food chute extending into an interior of the container with the first side of the annular ledge contacting the top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the storage position;

a drive shaft extends through a second aperture formed in the top wall when the lid is in the storage position; and

a locking member is secured to the drive shaft to secure the lid in the storage position.

11. The food processor of claim 10, wherein the container accommodates the entire length of the food chute when the lid is in the storage position.

12. The food processor of claim 10, wherein the outer periphery of the first principal surface of the lid is tapered inwardly, such that when the lid is on the container in the storage position, the first principal surface fits comfortably within the interior of the container.

13. A food processor including a base, a container having a side wall and an open end including a rim, and a lid for engaging the open end of the container in an operating position and storage position, the lid comprising;

a top wall having a first principal surface, a second principal surface and an outer periphery of the first principal surface of the lid that is tapered inwardly, the first principal surface comprising a diameter that is less than a diameter provided by the open end of the container;

an annular ledge having a first side and a second side;

a food chute extending from the first principal surface of the top wall generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top wall, the food chute having a length and extending away from the container with the second side of the annular ledge contacting a top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the operating position, and the food chute extending into an interior of the container with the first side of the annular ledge contacting the top surface of the rim of the open end of the container when the lid is in the storage position; and

wherein the first principal surface fits comfortably within the interior of the container when the lid is on the container in the storage position and wherein at least one of a food pusher and a processing disk are at least partially within the lid when the lid is in the storage position.