Patent Application
20250031908
The present subject matter relates generally to whisk attachments for stand mixer appliances, particularly whisk attachments with improved cleanability.
Stand mixers are generally used for performing automated mixing, churning, or kneading involved in food preparation. Typically, stand mixers include a motor configured to provide torque to one or more driveshafts. Users may connect various attachments to the one or more driveshafts to perform a variety of functions. The attachments, such as a beater, whisk, or hook, may be removably mounted to the driveshafts, such that the attachments may rotate within a bowl to beat, whisk, knead, etc. material within the bowl.
The attachments may be shaped in various ways to perform the desired operation, such as a whisk having multiple tines spaced apart in order to mix ingredients together quickly or to incorporate air into the ingredients being whisked. The various shapes of attachments can often be difficult to clean after use, even requiring deformation of the attachment in order to properly clean the attachment. An attachment for a stand mixer that is easily cleaned without requiring deformation of the attachment would be advantageous.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one example embodiment, a stand mixer defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical direction, the lateral direction, and the transverse direction are mutually perpendicular. The stand mixer includes a base, a support column attached to the base and extending upwardly from the base, and a head attached to an upper end of the support column and extending from the support column above the base. The head includes a drivetrain inside an interior of the head. The stand mixer also includes a shaft positioned at a bottom end of the head and extending downwardly between the head and the base. The shaft is rotatably connected to the drivetrain in the head, and the drivetrain is configured to rotate the shaft about the vertical direction. A whisk is configured to couple to the shaft. The whisk defines an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction. The whisk includes a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk. The mounting socket extends along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub. The mounting socket is configured to attach to the shaft of the stand mixer. The whisk also includes a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub. Each tine of the plurality tines includes a first radial segment extending out from the first portion of the hub along the radial direction, a first linear segment extending approximately along the axial direction, a first fillet between the first radial segment and the first linear segment, and an arcuate segment curving radially inward to an inflection point at a bottom end of the whisk. The arcuate segment of each tine of the plurality tines curves radially outward from the inflection point of the arcuate segment to a second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines. The second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines extends from the arcuate segment to a second fillet. The second fillet extends between the second linear segment and a second radial segment. The second radial segment extends inward along the radial direction to the hub. Each second radial segment ends at the second portion of the circumference of the hub at an opposing side of the hub from a respective first radial segment. The whisk also includes a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub, and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub. The first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub.
In another example embodiment, a whisk is configured to attach to a stand mixer. The whisk defines an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction. The whisk includes a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk. The mounting socket extends along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub. The mounting socket is configured to attach to a shaft of the stand mixer. The whisk also includes a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub. Each tine of the plurality tines includes a first radial segment extending out from the first portion of the hub along the radial direction, a first linear segment extending approximately along the axial direction, a first fillet between the first radial segment and the first linear segment, and an arcuate segment curving radially inward to an inflection point at a bottom end of the whisk. The arcuate segment of each tine of the plurality tines curves radially outward from the inflection point of the arcuate segment to a second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines. The second linear segment of each tine of the plurality tines extends from the arcuate segment to a second fillet. The second fillet extends between the second linear segment and a second radial segment. The second radial segment extends inward along the radial direction to the hub. Each second radial segment ends at the second portion of the circumference of the hub at an opposing side of the hub from a respective first radial segment. The whisk also includes a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub, and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub. The first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub.
In another example embodiment, a whisk is configured to attach to a stand mixer. The whisk defines an axial direction, a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and a circumferential direction extending around the axial direction. The whisk includes a mounting socket at a top end of the whisk. The mounting socket extends along the axial direction from the top end of the whisk to a hub. The mounting socket is configured to attach to a shaft of the stand mixer. The whisk also includes a plurality of tines arrayed along a first portion and a second portion of a circumference of the hub, a first gap in a third portion of the circumference of the hub, and a second gap in a fourth portion of the circumference of the hub. The first and second gap extend between the first and second portion on opposing sides of the hub.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and. together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.” Similarly, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially,” are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In at least some instances, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value. For example, the approximating language may refer to being within a ten percent (10%) margin. The term “radially” refers to the relative direction that is substantially perpendicular to an axial centerline of a particular component, the term “axially” refers to the relative direction that is substantially parallel and/or coaxially aligned to an axial centerline of a particular component, and the term “circumferentially” refers to the relative direction that extends around the axial centerline of a particular component.
Stand mixer 100 may include a casing 101. Casing 101 may include a motor housing 102, a base 104, and a column 106. Motor housing 102 may house various mechanical and/or electrical components of stand mixer 100, which will be described in further detail below. For example, as shown in
A drivetrain 110 may be provided within motor housing 102 and is configured for coupling motor 112 to a shaft 109 (e.g., a mixer shaft), such that shaft 109 is rotatable via motor 112 through drivetrain 110. Drivetrain 110 may include gearbox 114, bevel gearbox 116, etc. An opening 132 for a horizontal accessory shaft 130 may align with the rotational axis of motor 112. Mixer shaft 109 may be positioned above mixing zone 105 on motor housing 102, and an attachment 200, such as a beater, whisk, or hook, may be removably mounted to mixer shaft 109. Attachment 200 may rotate within a bowl (not shown) in mixing zone 105 to beat, whisk, knead, etc. material within the bowl during operation of motor 112. Attachment 200 will be further described hereinbelow.
As noted above, motor 112 may be operable to rotate mixer shaft 109. Motor 112 may be a direct current (DC) motor in certain example embodiments. In alternative example embodiments, motor 112 may be an alternating current (AC) motor. Motor 112 may include a rotor and a stator. The stator may be mounted within motor housing 102 such that the stator is fixed relative to motor housing 102. and the rotor may be coupled to mixer shaft 109 via drivetrain 110. A current through windings within the stator may generate a magnetic field that induces rotation of the rotor, e.g., due to magnets or a magnetic field via coils on the stator. The rotor may rotate at a relatively high rotational velocity and relatively low torque. Thus, drivetrain 110 may be configured to provide a rotational speed reduction and mechanical advantage between motor 112 and mixer shaft 109.
Stand mixer 100 may include a controller 122 provided within casing 101. For example, controller 122 may be located within motor housing 102 of casing 101. Controller 122 may be a microcontroller, as would be understood, including one or more processing devices, memory devices, or controllers. Controller 122 may include a plurality of electrical components configured to permit operation of stand mixer 100 and various components therein (e.g., motor 112). For instance, controller 122 may be a printable circuit board (PCB), as would be well known.
As used herein, the terms “control board,” “processing device,” “computing device,” “controller,” or the like may generally refer to any suitable processing device, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a logic device, one or more central processing units (CPUs), a graphics processing units (GPUs), processing units performing other specialized calculations, semiconductor devices, etc. In addition, these “controllers” are not necessarily restricted to a single element but may include any suitable number, type, and configuration of processing devices integrated in any suitable manner to facilitate appliance operation. Alternatively, controller 122 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND/OR gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
Controller 122 may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements or non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, EPROM, flash memory devices, magnetic disks, or other suitable memory devices (including combinations thereof). These memory devices may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. In addition, these memory devices can store information and/or data accessible by the one or more processors, including instructions that can be executed by the one or more processors. It should be appreciated that the instructions can be software written in any suitable programming language or can be implemented in hardware. Additionally, or alternatively, the instructions can be executed logically and/or virtually using separate threads on one or more processors.
As shown in
In general, the plurality of tines 210 may be arrayed along the first portion 220 and the second portion 222 of a circumference of hub 204. For example, each tine of the plurality of tines 210 may be equidistantly spaced twelve degrees (12°) apart in the circumferential direction C, from each tine within the first and second portion 220, 222. As seen in
In general, a second arcuate segment 217 of each tine of the plurality tines 210 may curve radially outward from inflection point 218 to a second linear segment 215 of each tine of the plurality tines 210. The second linear segment 215 of each tine of the plurality tines 210 extend from the second arcuate segment 217 to a second fillet 232. The second fillet 232 may extend between the second linear segment 215 and a second radial segment 213. The second radial segment 213 may extend inward along the radial direction R, to hub 204. The second radial segment 213 may end, or terminate, at the second portion 222 of the circumference of hub 204 at an opposing side of hub 204 from the first radial segment 212, as seen in
Furthermore, whisk 200 may include a first gap 240 defined in third portion 224 of the circumference of hub 204, and a second gap 242 defined in the fourth portion 226 of the circumference of hub 204. The first and second gap 240, 242 may extend between the first and second portion 220, 222 on opposing sides of the hub, with respect to the circumferential direction C. For example, the first and second gap 240, 242 may be no less than two centimeters (2 cm) and no more than three centimeters (3 cm) in the circumferential direction C. Particularly, first and second gaps 240, 242 in the plurality of tines 210 along with the curvature of the plurality of tines 210 of the whisk 200 form an oval-shaped hole through an interior 206 of whisk 200. As such, first and second gaps 240, 242 may increase the cleanability of whisk 200 than other attachments without first and second gaps 240. 242, because various kitchen tools may be inserted into the interior 206 of whisk 200 for cleaning, e.g., to remove or retrieve a finished product from within the interior 206 of the whisk 200. Additionally, such tools, e.g, spoons, spatulas, etc., may be inserted into the interior 206 of whisk 200 to scoop out the finished product without deforming (e.g., bending) or displacing any of the tines.
In the present example embodiment, the plurality of tines 210 includes a central tine 250 that defines the center of the first and second portions 220, 222. Central tine 250 may be the longest tine of the plurality of tines 210, e.g., central tine may extend the longest in the radial direction R and axial direction A. In some example embodiments, central tine 250 may include a snap bend 252, as seen in
As may be seen from the above, gaps in the plurality of tines of the whisk form an ovalized hole through the center of the whisk. The spacing of these tines and accompanying centralized hole allows ingredients to easily fall out and/or be removed from the interior of the whisk. This provides improved mixing performance, cleanability and volumetric benefits. Correspondingly, this design provides better accessibility for kitchen tools, such as scrapers, spatulas, or spoons to be inserted into the interior of the whisk for cleaning.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
