Adapter for blender pitcher

• US 7,275,666 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
• Inventors: Katz, Jonathan M., Ulanski, Robert M., Boozer, Richard D., Rukavina, Stephen P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jacyna; J. Casimer
• Application Number:
  US10/851,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20050258197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 222/571, 222/465.1, 222/570, 222/566, 222/567, 222/108, 222/569, 220/731, 220/733, 996/45, 366/347
• US Class Current: 222/570
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/045 of slush-ice, e.g. semi-frozen beverage

Abstract

A container adapter (10) includes lower sidewalls (42, 43, 44, 45) and upper sidewalls (56, 57, 58, 59) separated by a rim (40). The lower side walls (42, 43, 44, 45) may be received within a pitcher (12), and the rim (40) is positioned on the upper open end (16) of the pitcher (12). The upper sidewalls (56, 57, 58, 59) increase the height of the pitcher (12) so that it can interface with a splash shield (33) of an ice chute (32) of a drink blending machine (20). Side clamps (50) assist in maintaining the adapter (10) on the pitcher (12), and a pouring spout (62) is provided at the junction of two of the upper sidewalls (58, 59).

Claims

1. A container adapter adapted to be removably attached to a blender pitcher, which can be used with a drink blending machine, the pitcher having sidewalls that terminate to form an open end, and a handle adapted to facilitate pouring of a working medium from the blender pitcher, the adapter comprising

lower sidewalls, each said lower sidewall being connected to adjacent of said lower sidewalls;

upper sidewalls, each said upper sidewall being connected to adjacent of said upper sidewalls;

a lip at the bottom of said lower sidewalls and adapted to engage the inside of the pitcher sidewalls;

a rim effectively separating said lower sidewalls from said upper sidewalls;

at least one side clamp extending downwardly from said rim adjacent one of said lower sidewalls; and

a pouring spout provided along the connection of two of said upper sidewalls.

2. A container adapter according to claim 1, where said upper sidewalls are adapted to raise the effective vertical height of the blender pitcher.

3. A container adapter according to claim 2, wherein the upper extremities of said upper sidewalls include an inclined surface formed therearound, said inclined surface being capable of interfacing with the drink blending machine.

4. A container adapter according to claim 1, wherein, when the container adapter is positioned on the blender pitcher, said rim is positioned on the upper extremities of the sidewalls of the blender pitcher, and said lower sidewalls of said container adapter are positioned within the interior of the blender pitcher.

5. A container adapter according to claim 1, wherein said pouring spout formed along said connection of said two of said upper sidewalls includes a pouring channel.

6. A container adapter according to claim 5, wherein said connection between said two of said upper sidewalls is smoothly contoured to form said pouring channel.

7. A container adapter according to claim 6, wherein the inner surfaces of said two of said upper sidewalls are indented to form transition areas leading to said pouring channel.

8. A container adapter adapted to be removably attached to a blender pitcher, which can be used with a drink blending machine, the pitcher having sidewalls that terminate to form an open end, and a handle adapted to facilitate pouring of a working medium from the blender pitcher, the adapter comprising

lower sidewalls, each said lower sidewall being connected to adjacent of said lower sidewalls, said lower sidewalls expanding slightly outward from top to bottom, said lower sidewalls forming a frusto-pyramidal configuration sized slightly smaller than the open end of the blender pitcher;

upper sidewalls, each said upper sidewall being connected to adjacent of said upper sidewalls;

a rim effectively separating said lower sidewalls from said upper sidewalls;

at least one side clamp extending downwardly from said rim adjacent one of said lower sidewalls; and

a pouring spout provided along the connection of two of said upper sidewalls.

9. A container adapter according to claim 8, wherein, when the container adapter is positioned on the blender pitcher, said lower sidewalls are biased outwardly to press against the inner surfaces of the sidewalls of the blender pitcher.

10. A container adapter adapted to be removably attached to a blender pitcher, which can be used with a drink blending machine, the pitcher having sidewalls that terminate to form an open end, and a handle adapted to facilitate pouring of a working medium from the blender pitcher, the adapter comprising

lower sidewalls, each said lower sidewall being connected to adjacent of said lower sidewalls, said lower sidewalls expanding slightly outwardly from top to bottom;

upper sidewalls, each said upper sidewall being connected to adjacent of said upper sidewalls;

a rim effectively separating said lower sidewalls from said upper sidewalls;

at least one side clamp extending downwardly from said rim adjacent one of said lower sidewalls; and

a pouring spout provided along the connection of two of said upper sidewalls;

wherein at least one recess is formed between said at least one side clamp and said adjacent one of said lower sidewalls, said lower sidewalls pressing against the inner surface of the sidewalls of the blender pitcher, and at least one of said sidewalls of the blender pitcher positioned within said at least one recess, when the container adapter is positioned on the blender pitcher.

11. A container adapter adapted to be removably attached to a blender pitcher, which can be used with a drink blending machine, the pitcher having sidewalls that terminate to form an open end, and a handle adapted to facilitate pouring of a working medium from the blender pitcher, the adapter comprising

lower sidewalls, each said lower sidewall being connected to adjacent of said lower sidewalls;

upper sidewalls, each said upper sidewall being connected to adjacent of said upper sidewalls;

a rim effectively separating said lower sidewalls from said upper sidewalls;

at least one side clamp extending downwardly from said rim adjacent one of said lower sidewalls;

a pouring spout provided along the connection of two of said upper sidewalls; and

a handle cover adapted to cover the handle of the blender pitcher, the container adapter being properly positioned on the blender pitcher when said handle cover is positioned over the handle.

12. A container adapter according to claim 11, wherein said handle cover is formed opposite said pouring spout.