Patent Application
20090260523
This invention generally relates to blenders. More specifically, this invention relates to a blender that combines heating and blending for making healthy foods, cold and/or hot, for children and adults, as well.
Traditional blenders include a jar for holding food, a blade device installed inside the jar for blending food, and a motor installed inside a base for driving the blade device. People use blenders for blending various foods, such as vegetables, fruits, or for making cold drinks, such as smoothies. Blenders are primarily used as a food-processing device for cold food.
However, many foods need to be heated after being blended, or need to be blended after being heated. Market investigation indicates that consumers desire a blender that can be used for heating food, as well, in addition to for blending food, or for making hot foods, such as sauces, soups, gravies, chocolate fondues, etc.
Sometimes, people use a blender to blend food after the food has been cooked, to make hot creamy food. This two-step process involves labor and skills. It is inconvenient to handle, and, sometimes, potentially unsafe to operate.
Blenders currently on the market are inconvenient for handling and for cleaning after use. Adding a heated bottom onto a regular blender would make the situation even worse, because food tend to be burned on the hot surface, especially when the food has been blended. In order for a heated blender to be easy for cleaning after use, it is desirable that the jar and the heated bottom are separable, or detachable. In this case, the safety of using the heated blender becomes a primary issue, because when the jar is removable, the blade device and the heated bottom would be directly exposed; which may cause significant injuries to its user, if, all of a sudden, the blade device starts to rotate, or the heated bottom starts to heat, due to an accidental wrong input by the user.
Therefore, it remains desirable to provide a blender that combines blending and heating for making healthy foods, cold and/or hot, for children and adults, as well, that is convenient for cleaning after use, and that is safe to operate.
Accordingly, the present invention is a blender. This blender comprises a jar having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a top cap for closing the open top of the jar, a heated bottom sealingly engaged with the lower end of the jar for forming a cooking chamber, blade or stirrer means installed inside the cooking chamber for blending or stirring food, an electrical heating tube fixedly installed on the bottom of the heated bottom for heating food, a blender base disposed underneath the cooking chamber for supporting the cooking chamber, a motor installed inside the blender base and operatively coupled with the blade means for driving the blade means, a jar base removably engaged with the lower portion of the jar for adapting the cooking chamber to removably stand on the blender base, and a safety device for user safety protection.
Accordingly, the followings are some of the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a blender that combines heating and blending into one single appliance for making healthy foods, cold and/or hot, for children and adults, as well.
It is a feature of the present invention that this blender includes a jar having a tubular configuration, which is highly convenient for cleaning after use and dishwasher safe. The lower portion of the jar is engaged with a jar base by means of threading, such that the jar can be removed from the jar base for cleaning after use.
It is another feature of the present invention that this blender includes a safety device for user safety protection. Only when the jar has been properly installed on the jar base, can the motor and the heater be activated.
It is an advantage of the present invention that this blender can be used for making many healthy foods, cold and/or hot, such as, smoothies, creamy soups, sauces, gravies, dips, etc., for children and for adults, as well. It is highly convenient for cleaning after use and it is safe to operate.
Further more features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description when considered in connection with the non-limiting accompanying drawings.
Reference is made to
Jar 102, having an open top and an open bottom, is provided for holding food. Jar 102 has a generally tubular configuration and is preferably made from a transparent material. Threading 102a is provided at both ends of jar 102 for engaging with other components. Other jar configurations are readily applicable, as known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this invention disclosure.
A top cap 104 is provided for closing up the open top of jar 102. Cap 104 engages with the upper portion of jar 102 by means of threading 102a for preventing cap 104 from dropping-off and for preventing food from splashing during the blending of food. Threading 102a can be a continuous one-piece thread, or segmented multiple pieces, or event a single small piece. A seal ring 103 is provided in between the upper end of jar 102 and the top of cap 104. As cap 104 is tightened onto jar 102, seal ring 103 is squeezed to generate a seal thereof.
A cylindrical wall 104a, emanating from the top of cap 104 upward to a predetermined distance, is provided for use of handling cap 104. A cylindrical inner wall 104b, emanating from the inside of cap 104 downward to a predetermined distance, is provided for diverting food downward to reduce food throw-out while food is being blended or stirred.
A venting device 105, installed on top of cap 104, is provided for venting steam generated during cooking. Venting device 105 may include filter means for filtering the vented steam, or for minimizing food throw-out.
A heated bottom 106, sealingly engaged with the lower end of jar 102, is provided for closing up the open bottom of jar 102 to form a cooking chamber 107. Heated bottom 106 has a, generally, cup-shaped configuration with the open side facing upward. A flat flange 106a is integrally formed around the open periphery for engaging jar 102. Heated bottom 106 is preferably made from a metal material of high thermal conductivity. Heated bottom 106 can be an integrally die-cast one-piece component or a multiple-piece assembly, e.g., a stainless main body with a clad aluminum plate having a heating tube welded on the bottom. Other configurations for heated bottom 106 are readily applicable to fulfill its functionality, for examples, a flat one or a reverse cup-shaped one, as known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this invention disclosure.
A sealing ring 108 is provided in between the lower end of jar 102 and flange 106a for sealing off the interface thereof. As jar 102 is tightened toward heated bottom 106, sealing ring 108 is squeezed to generate a seal thereof.
Ajar base 110, having a, generally, hollow cylindrical configuration, is provided for supporting cooking chamber 107. The upper end of jar base 110 is engaged with the lower portion of jar 102 by means of threading 102a and the lower end of jar base 110 is extended downward to a predetermined distance, such that cooking chamber 107 is adapted to stand on a blender base 112 for blending or cooking food or on a horizontal countertop or dinning table for serving food. Heated bottom 106 is supported inside jar base 110, fixedly or removably, around flange 106a.
Jar base 110 is provided also for enclosing the space underneath the bottom of heated bottom 106 into a protected area for safety considerations. Some windows or slots (not shown) may be opened on jar base 110 for venting heat, etc.
A blending/stirring device 114, extended into cooking chamber 107, is provided for blending or stirring food disposed inside cooking chamber 107. Device 114 is adapted to rotate at high speeds, e.g., over 8,000 rpm, for blending food. When rotating at lower speeds, e.g., below 2,000 rpm, device 114 serves as a stirrer for generating food movement within cooking chamber 107 to facilitate heat transfer and uniform heating of food. At least one cutting blade conforming the bottom of heated bottom 106 is highly preferred for reducing food deposit on the bottom when food is heated. When stirring food, device 114 is adapted to work intermittently, e.g., to work 1 second for every 10-30 seconds, to minimize the working load of the motor.
An electrical heating tube 116, having a, generally, circular configuration, is provided for heating food disposed inside cooking chamber 107. Heating tube 116 is fixedly installed on the outside surface of the bottom of heated bottom 106, inserted into a groove formed on the bottom, or directly welded on, or integrally cast-in, and disposed substantially close to the periphery of the bottom. The two electrical terminals of heating tube 116 extend downward to a predetermined distance and are adapted to removably engage with an electrical power supply, as cooking chamber 107 is installed in position on blender base 112. Heating tube 116 can be operatively connected with the electrical power supply disposed inside blender base 112 also by means of an electrical connector, as known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this invention disclosure.
There are significant advantages of installing heating tube 116 directly on the bottom of cooking chamber 107. These advantages include saving a significant amount of material for building a full heater that has a thermal diffusion plate, resulting in space and cost saving and higher heat transfer efficiency, etc.
A plurality of co-rotation prevention members 118 is integrally constructed inside jar 102, on the sidewall, for preventing food pieces from co-rotating with device 114, as device 114 rotates. Members 118 include an elongated member, preferably, rib-shaped, that extends generally vertical along the sidewall of jar 102. The upper ends of members 118 extend to the upper portion of jar 102. Members 118 protrude inward to a predetermined distance, away from the sidewall of jar 102. Member 118 acts as a deflector for deflecting liquid flow directions for facilitating blending of food when blender 100 is used for blending food.
A thermo plate 120, made from a metal material of high thermal conductivity, is fixedly installed on the bottom of heated bottom 106, at a location substantially close to heating tube 116, for removably engaging with a thermostat 122. Thermostat 122 is installed on top of blender base 112 and is engaged with thermo plate 120 for detecting the temperature of the bottom of heated bottom 106, as cooking chamber 107 is installed in position on blender base 112. Such temperature is used to control the electrical power to heating tube 116. The upper end of thermostat 122 protrudes upward above the upper surface of blender base 112 with pre-loading, e.g., biased via a spring member 122a. Thermostat 122 can be, alternatively, installed on a bracket that is biased by spring member 122a.
Thermostat 122 can be a digital sensor, such as a NTC or PTC, or an adjustable thermostat, or simply a temperature switch, as known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this invention disclosure.
Thermostat 122 can also be fixedly installed on the bottom of heated bottom 106, disposed at a location close to heating tube 116, as illustrated in
A thermal fuse 150 is directly installed on the bottom of heated bottom 106 by means of a clamp for preventing hazardous situation of excessive abnormal temperature rising of heated bottom 106 due to malfunction of blender 100. When such situation accidentally develops, fuse 150 will burn out to shut off the electrical power to heating tube 116.
Reference is made to
A motor 124 is installed inside blender base 112 for providing rotation power to device 114. Motor 124 is removablely coupled with the lower end of a drive shaft 126, as cooking chamber 107 is installed in position on blender base 112, and the upper end of shaft 126 is engaged with device 114.
Seal device 130, provided for sealing off the interface between shaft 126 and the bottom of heated bottom 106, comprises a bushing member 136 and a seal ring 138.
Bushing 136 is co-axial to shaft 126 and is fixedly and sealingly engaged with the bottom of heated bottom 106. Ring 138 is installed on drive shaft 126 and disposed in between device 114 and bushing 136. Ring 138 is adapted to be sealingly engaged with shaft 126 and bushing 136 to seal off the interface thereof. The clearance between bushing 136 and shaft 126 is minimized for ideal sealing performance. However, shaft 126 should be able to rotate with minimal friction resistance, which requires high precision of the fitting surfaces thereof.
Materials for ring 138 are extremely important when selecting the proper seal for an application. Basic requirements include heat resistance, abrasion resistance, elasticity, etc.
Coupling device 132 includes an upper coupling element 132a, which is engaged with the lower end of shaft 126, and a lower coupling element 132b, which is engaged with a motor shaft 134. A thermal insulation material 132c is provided in between element 132a and element 132b for preventing heat from being transferred from element 132a to motor shaft 134 through coupling device 132, such that heat transferred from the bottom of heated bottom 106 is prevented from passing through to motor 124 through motor shaft 134.
However, if a user fails to install jar 102 on jar base 110 first before installing jar base 110 onto blender base 112, device 114 and heated bottom 106 would be directly exposed. In the worst scenario, if, all of a sudden, motor 124 or heating tube 116 starts to work, due to an accidental wrong input by the user, the user would be at tremendous risk of injuries. An in-position detector 128 is provided to avoid this worst scenario, for user safety protection. Detector 128 makes sure that only when jar 102 has been installed onto jar base 110 properly, can motor 124 and heating tube 116 be connected to an electrical power.
Detector 128 is installed inside blender base 112 and is activated by an elongated driving member 140, e.g., an elongated rod. Driving member 140 is installed on the side of jar base 110, passing through a channel. A spring mechanism 142 is adapted to bias driving member 140 upward, such that the upper end of driving member 140 protrudes above the upper edge of jar base 110 for a predetermined distance. A circular rim 102b is integrally constructed on the lower portion of jar 102, at a location immediately above the upper edge of jar base 110. Jar 102 is allowed to turn all around with respect to jar base 110, without being obstructed by the upper end of driving member 140. When jar 102 is tightened onto jar base 110, the lower surface of rim 102b pushes against the upper end of driving member 140, such that the lower end of driving member 140 protrudes downward for a predetermined distance. When jar base 110, together with jar 102, is properly installed on blender base 112, the lower end of driving member 140, then, activates detector 128 to confirm that cooking chamber 107 is well positioned and jar 102 has been tightened onto jar base 110.
As shown in
Accordingly, as cooking chamber 107 is properly installed in position on blender base 112, motor 124 is coupled with device 114, thermostat 122 is engaged with thermo plate 120, or directly with the bottom of heated bottom 106, the electrical terminals of heating tube 116 are operatively connected with electrical port 112c, and detector 128 is activated to confirm that cooking chamber 107 is well in position.
Accordingly, readers will see that this blender of the present invention can be used to cook and/or to blend food to make various healthy foods, cold and/or hot, for examples, baby foods, or creamy soups, or sauces, or gravies, or dips, for children and adults, as well. The tubular design of the jar makes the blender highly convenient for cleaning after use. An attached electrical heating tube is highly efficient in heating food, thereby saving time and energy to consumers. The jar is removably engaged with a jar base, such that the jar can be separated or detached from the heated bottom for cleaning after use. The safety protection device makes sure that only when the jar has been properly installed onto the jar base, can the motor and the heater receive electrical power; which presents a superior safety feature of the present invention.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms and structures with a certain degree of particularity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.
Thus it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms can be changed in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
