Method for blending food or beverages
First Claim
1. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
- placing a container with food or beverage in a variable separation clamping jaw of a motorized, multiple lead screw elevator assembly;
using said multiple lead screws of said elevator assembly to move said container upward to both close said clamping jaw and place said food or beverage in contact with a blending tool;
while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said elevator assembly moves said container upward;
stopping the upward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container;
reversing the direction of said container so that the multiple lead screws of said elevator assembly move said container downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container;
stopping operation of said blending tool when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container;
opening said clamping jaw using said multiple lead screws; and
,removing said container from said clamping jaw to allow the blended food or beverage in said container to be consumed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for blending food or beverages, preferably using a blender that is compact enough for home use, rugged enough to blend frozen beverages, simple to use and safe. The blender includes an upper housing, with a front housing door, that covers the moving blending machinery. The blender also includes a cupholder receiving area which allows the user to safely insert a frozen beverage cup inside a cupholder for blending. After the start button is pressed, a cupholder lip will be grasped by the clamping jaw of an elevator assembly to lift the cupholder up. As the cupholder is lifted upward, a cover will be pressed over the top opening of the inserted cup to prevent spillage during blending. The elevator assembly will then continue to lift the cupholder upward until the rotating cutter blades of a spindle assembly cut through successive layers of the frozen beverage.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
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placing a container with food or beverage in a variable separation clamping jaw of a motorized, multiple lead screw elevator assembly; using said multiple lead screws of said elevator assembly to move said container upward to both close said clamping jaw and place said food or beverage in contact with a blending tool; while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said elevator assembly moves said container upward; stopping the upward movement of said container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container; reversing the direction of said container so that the multiple lead screws of said elevator assembly move said container downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container; stopping operation of said blending tool when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container; opening said clamping jaw using said multiple lead screws; and
,removing said container from said clamping jaw to allow the blended food or beverage in said container to be consumed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for blending food or beverage in a blender comprising the steps of:
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placing a container with food or beverage below a movable container cover as well as between an upper clamping jaw and a lower clamping jaw of a blender; using a motor to move said upper clamping jaw and lower clamping jaw together to attach said cover to said container and secure said container; moving said clamping jaws, container cover and container upward so that said food or beverage is placed in contact with a rotatable blending tool of a spindle; while keeping said blending tool in a vertically stationary position, using said blending tool to blend successively lower layers of said food or beverage in said container as said clamping jaw, container cover and container move upward; stopping the upward movement of said clamping jaws, container cover and container when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the bottom of said container; reversing the direction of said clamping jaws, container cover and container so that they move downward while said blending tool blends successively higher layers of said food or beverage in said container; stopping operation of said blending tool when said blending tool is blending food or beverage at or near the top of said container; using said motor to cause said clamping jaws to separate so that the container cover detaches from the container and the container with blended food or beverage can be removed from said clamping jaws and consumed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification