Food processor and modular lid assembly therefor

• US 10,827,880 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Issued: 11/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conair LLC (Conair Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Conair Corporation
• Inventors: Zakowski, Joseph W., Hotaling, Bryan, Naples, Matthew, Macneill, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Ket D
• Application Number:
  US15/014,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 99337, 99353, 99348, 99495, 99509-511, 99492, 241 36, 241 375, 241 92, 2412821, 2412822, 24119912, 366601, 366205, 366206
• 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

Abstract

A food processor includes a base, a motor disposed within the base, a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor and extending outwardly from the base, the output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of the motor, a bowl mounted on the base for containing food items, a modular lid for covering the bowl and having an opening therein, and a removable attachment receivable by the opening.

Claims

1. A food processor, comprising:

a base;

a motor disposed within said base;

a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor;

a bowl mounted on said base for containing food items;

a modular lid for covering said bowl and having an opening therein;

a knob associated with the lid, the knob being rotatable to drive a wiper element within the bowl for scraping the food items from an inner periphery of the bowl; and

a removable attachment receivable by said opening;

said removable attachment comprising a feed tube includes a nestable pusher assembly including a first pusher nestable within and removable from said feed tube, a second pusher nestable within and removable from said first pusher, and a third pusher nestable within and removable from said second pusher; and

wherein said first pusher is removable from said feed tube when said removable attachment is received by said opening and said lid is mounted to said bowl.

2. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said removable attachment is one of a cover configured to completely close off said opening, a feed tube having a generally oval feed tube aperture and a spiral feed tube having a generally cylindrical feed tube aperture.

3. The food processor of claim 2, wherein:

said first pusher has a first pusher aperture therethrough and said second pusher has a second pusher aperture therethrough;

wherein said feed tube aperture has a greater cross-sectional area than said first pusher aperture; and

wherein said first pusher aperture has a greater cross-sectional area than said second pusher aperture.

4. The food processor of claim 2, wherein:

each of said cover, said feed tube and said spiral feed tube include an optical channel configured to establish an optical interlock with a corresponding optical channel on the bowl when said lid is received atop said bowl and said cover, said feed tube and said spiral feed tube, respectively, are received by said opening in said lid.

5. The food processor of claim 2, further comprising:

a pushbutton positioned on said lid and being selectively actuatable to release said cover, said feed tube or said spiral feed tube from engagement with said lid.

6. The food processor of claim 1, wherein:

said opening is generally oval in shape.

7. The food processor of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing implement mounted to said drive shaft within said bowl.

8. A modular lid for a food processor, comprising:

a body configured to be received atop a bowl;

an opening formed in said body and being configured to allow passage of food items into said bowl, said opening being further configured to removably receive one of a cover configured to completely close off said opening, a feed tube having a generally oval feed tube aperture, and a spiral feed tube having a generally cylindrical feed tube aperture; and

a knob associated with the lid, the knob being rotatable to drive a wiper element within the bowl for scraping the food items from an inner periphery of the bowl; and

wherein said feed tube includes a nestable pusher assembly including a first pusher nestable within and removable from said feed tube, a second pusher nestable within and removable from said first pusher, and a third pusher nestable within and removable from said second pusher; and

wherein said first pusher is removable from said feed tube when said body is received atop said bowl and said first pusher is aligned for movement within said feed tube.

9. The modular lid of claim 8, wherein:

said lid is generally oval in shape.

10. The modular lid of claim 8, wherein:

said first pusher has a first pusher aperture therethrough and said second pusher has a second pusher aperture therethrough;

wherein said feed tube aperture has a greater cross-sectional area than said first pusher aperture; and

wherein said first pusher aperture has a greater cross-sectional area than said second pusher aperture.

11. The modular lid of claim 8, wherein:

each of said cover, said feed tube and said spiral feed tube include an optical channel configured to establish an optical interlock with a corresponding optical channel on the bowl when said lid is received atop said bowl and said cover, feed tube and spiral feed tube, respectively, are received by said opening in said lid.

12. The modular lid of claim 8, further comprising:

a pushbutton, said pushbutton being selectively actuatable to release said cover, said feed tube or said spiral feed tube from engagement with said lid.

13. A food processor, comprising:

a base;

a motor disposed within said base;

a drive shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor;

a bowl mounted on said base for containing food items;

a modular lid for covering said bowl and having an opening therein;

a knob associated with the lid, the knob being rotatable to drive a wiper element within the bowl for scraping the food items from an inner periphery of the bowl; and

a housing including a feed tube opening for selectively accommodating a first pusher assembly, said first pusher assembly being selectively removable from said housing when said modular lid is mounted on said bowl and said first pusher assembly is aligned with said feed tube; and

a second pusher assembly removably nested within said first feed tube and a third pusher assembly removably nested within said second pusher assembly.