Blender with varying internally and externally shaped container

• US 8,550,695 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Conti, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo, Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhatia, Anshu
• Application Number:
  US13/241,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20130077433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 366/205, 241/282.2, 192/69.81, 215/383, 215/DIG.8, 384/130
• US Class Current: 366/205
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/0727 Mixing bowls
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/90 with paddles or arms
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8305 Devices with one shaft, provided with mixing and milling tools, e.g. using balls or rollers as working tools; Devices with two or more tools rotating about the same axis
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/83611 by cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/5312 with vertical baffles mounted on the walls

Abstract

A blender includes a container having a plurality of substantially triangular shaped ribs projecting into a processing zone of the container. The plurality of spaced ribs each include a width and a depth that taper from a top end section adjacent a teardrop shaped opening of the container to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent a bottom wall of the container. A side wall of the container continuously tapers from the teardrop shaped opening to a substantially square shaped bottom end portion including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another at respective rounded corners. A blade assembly is coupled to the container and includes a plurality of blades angled at different planes with respect to a horizontal plane. Each of the blades includes a beveled leading edge, resulting in a downward suction force that draws ingredients down into the blade for processing.

Claims

1. A blender container comprising:

a processing zone defined by a side wall and a bottom wall, the side wall including;

a top portion defining an upper opening to the processing zone, the top portion including a pour spout formed therein;

an outer portion;

a handle attached to the outer portion opposite the pour spout, the handle configured to be gripped by a user;

an inner portion within the processing zone;

a plurality of substantially polygonal shaped, spaced ribs projecting into the processing zone from the inner portion of the side wall, each of the plurality of spaced ribs including a width and a depth, wherein both the width and the depth taper from a top end section adjacent the upper opening to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent the bottom wall;

a Substantially square shaped bottom end portion of the side wall including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another through respective rounded corners, wherein the rounded corners are spaced from each of the plurality of spaced ribs; and

the upper opening is substantially teardrop shaped and a narrow portion of the teardrop shape defines the pour spout, wherein the substantially teardrop shape includes a large convex curve interconnected with substantially linear inwardly converging edges to the pour spout.

2. The blender container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spaced ribs are substantially triangular in cross-section.

3. The blender container of claim 2, wherein the plurality of spaced ribs constitute four ribs.

4. The blender container of claim 1, wherein the side wall continuously and gradually transitions from the substantially square shaped bottom end portion to the substantially teardrop shaped upper opening.

5. The blender container of claim 1, wherein each of the spaced ribs has a maximum depth of approximately 13.5 mm and a maximum width of approximately 23.4 mm.

6. The blender container of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth side wall sections of the substantially square shaped end portion is approximately 62.8-82.8 mm in length.

7. The blender container of claim 1, further comprising:

a blade assembly coupled to the container, wherein the blade assembly comprises a blade set including a plurality of blades, and wherein each of the plurality of blades extends at a different angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

8. The blender container of claim 7, wherein the plurality of blades constitute four blades which extend at angles of 75-80°

, 50-55°

, 19-25° and

15-18°

respectively from the horizontal plane.

9. The blender container of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of blades includes a leading edge that is beveled on a bottom surface thereof such that, during use, the beveled edges provide a downward suction force to draw ingredients down into the blade for processing.

10. A blender comprising:

a base section including a plurality of control elements; and

a blender container configured to set upon the base section, said blender container including;

a circular base configured to engage the base section;

a processing zone extending upwardly and separate from the circular base, the processing zone defined by a side wall and a substantially square bottom wall, wherein the side walls extend asymmetrically upward from the square bottom wall, the side wall including;

a top portion defining an upper opening to the processing zone, the top portion including a curved pour spout formed therein;

an outer portion;

an inner portion within the processing zone;

a plurality of substantially polygonal shaped, spaced ribs projecting into the processing zone from the inner portion of the side wall, each of the plurality of spaced ribs including a width and a depth, wherein both the width and the depth taper from a top end section adjacent the upper opening to a more narrow bottom end section adjacent the bottom wall;

a substantially square shaped bottom end portion of the side wall including first, second, third and fourth side wall sections connected to one another through respective rounded corners, wherein a transition from the square shaped bottom end portion extends asymmetrically to the top portion, wherein the rounded corners are spaced from each of the plurality of spaced ribs; and

the upper opening is substantially teardrop shaped and a narrow portion of the teardrop shape defines a curved pour spout, wherein the substantially teardrop shape includes a large convex curve interconnected to the curved pour spout with converging edges.

11. The blender of claim 10, wherein the plurality of spaced ribs constitute four ribs.

12. The blender of claim 10, wherein the side wall continuously and gradually transitions from the substantially square shaped end bottom portion to the substantially teardrop shaped upper opening.

13. The blender of claim 10, wherein each of the spaced ribs has a maximum depth of approximately 13.5 mm and a maximum width of approximately 23.4 mm.

14. The blender of claim 10, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth side wall sections of the substantially square shaped end portion is approximately 62.8-82.8 mm in length.

15. The blender of claim 10, further comprising:

a handle attached to the outer portion opposite the pour spout, the handle configured to be gripped by a user.

16. The blender of claim 10, further comprising:

a blade assembly coupled to the container, wherein the blade assembly comprises a blade set including a plurality of blades, and wherein each of the plurality of blades extends at a different angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

17. The blender of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of blades includes a leading edge that is beveled on a bottom surface thereof such that, during use, the beveled edges provide a downward suction force to draw ingredients down into the blade for processing.

18. A method of processing ingredients in a blender including a base having at least one control element, a blender container supported on the base, and a blade set attached to the blender container, the method comprising:

inserting ingredients into a processing zone of the blender container;

initiating a processing event utilizing the control element such that the blade set rotates and establishes a downward suction force to draw the ingredients down into the processing zone, while also causing the ingredients to be effectively mixed by movement across a plurality of polygonal shaped spaced ribs projecting into the processing zone from an inner side wall portion of the blender container and tapering in both width and depth from a top end section adjacent an opening of the blender container to a more narrow bottom end section, that is substantially square shaped, adjacent a bottom wall of the blender container, wherein the inner side wall portion of the blender container extends asymmetrically upward from a circular base section to the square shaped bottom wall to the top end section;

the opening of the blender container is substantially teardrop shaped and a narrow portion of the teardrop shape includes a lame convex curve interconnected with converging edges to the pour spout; and

terminating the processing event after a desired processing time has elapsed.