Patent Application
20110188340
This invention relates to a blender container and cover. More particularly, this invention relates to such a cover which has an opening which is closable by a plug which is tethered to the cover.
Blender containers, which have a rotatable blade to mix food products placed therein, utilize covers to maintain the food products therein while they are being mixed. Typically such covers are provided with an opening so that food ingredients may be added during mixing if desired. However, such an opening must be small so that hands or fingers cannot be exposed to the rotating blade. In addition, when ingredients are not being added, the opening should preferably be closed so that the food being mixed does not escape. In the past, separate plugs have been provided to be inserted into an opening typically formed in the center of the cover. But such plugs tend to become lost, or at least temporarily misplaced, allowing the cover to be disadvantageously open during operation of the blender.
The need exists, therefore, for a blender container which has a cover with an opening therein which can be closed with a plug connected to the cover.
It is thus an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender container which includes a strap that carries a plug to close an opening in the cover.
It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a cover for a blender, as above, in which the plug and strap are integrally formed with the cover.
These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
In general, an apparatus for closing the open top of a blender container made in accordance with the present invention includes a cover to close the open top with an opening being formed in the cover. A plug is integrally formed with the cover and is adapted to be received in the opening.
A cover for a blender container having an open top and made in accordance with the present invention includes a surface adapted to close the open top of the container. An opening is formed in the surface, and a plug is integrally formed with the surface and is adapted to be received in the opening.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention an apparatus for closing the open top of a container includes a cover to close the open top, the cover having an opening therein. A plug is sized to be received in the opening and a strap connects the plug to the cover.
The invention also contemplates the combination of a blender container and cover. The container has an open top and a rotatable blade therein. The cover closes the open top but has an opening therein so that an item can be placed in the container when the cover is on the container. A plug is integrally formed with the cover and is adapted to close the opening.
A preferred exemplary cover for a blender container is shown according to the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.
A blender container and cover assembly made in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by the numeral 10. Assembly 10 includes a container, generally indicated by the numeral 11, and a cover generally indicated by the numeral 12.
Blender container 11 is typically made of a clear plastic material and includes a bottom surface 13 having sidewalls 14 extending upwardly from bottom surface 13 to form an open top adapted to be closed by cover 12. A handle 15 is typically formed on a sidewall 14, and a pouring spout 16 is formed on a sidewall near the top thereof and opposed to handle 15. A skirt 17 extends downwardly from bottom surface 13 and is adapted to be received around a pedestal of a conventional blender base (not shown). The blender base houses a motor which rotates a shaft 18 that carries a blender blade 19 which is spaced above bottom surface 13.
Cover 12 is typically molded of an elastomeric material and includes a top surface 20 which is adapted to close the open top of container 11. A flange 21 extends downwardly from top surface 20 and is sealingly received within the open top of container 11. A lip 22 can be provided such that when cover 12 is on container 11, lip 22 will close spout 16 to prevent the accidental discharge of material from container 11. Top surface 20 includes a peripheral rim 23 which extends outward of flange 21 and is adapted to rest on the top of container sidewalls 14 when cover 12 is on container 11. A generally circular grip member 24, which can have a fluted outer surface, may be provided extending upwardly from generally the center of the top surface 20 to assist the user in removing cover 12 from container 11.
In order to permit the user to add materials to the blender container 11 without removing cover 12, an opening 25 is formed in top cover surface 20. Opening 25 is typically small, on the order of no more than one inch in diameter, to comply with safety requirements to prevent a human hand or fingers access to reach blade 19 while it is operating. While opening 25 is shown as preferably being formed into surface 20 between grip member 24 and rim 23, it could be formed anywhere in top surface 20 including that portion within grip member 24. A plug 26, formed of a size to fit snugly in opening 25, is carried by a strap 27 which is connected to top surface rim 23. Strap 27 is prefereably integrally formed with rim 23 and plug 26 is preferably integrally formed with strap 27. Plug 26 is thus tethered to cover top surface 20 and cannot be misplaced when needed. A notch 28 may be formed in rim 23 to receive the tether strap 27 when plug 26 is positioned in opening 25. As such, strap 27 is recessed safely within the periphery of rim 23 when the plug 26 is in opening 25.
In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that a blender and cover assembly 10 as described herein accomplishes the objects of the invention otherwise substantially improves the art.
