Modular appliance device configured for multiple attachments

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular appliance device for use in the preparation of food products. The modular appliance device may have a housing to accommodate internal components. The housing may contain a motor, a controller, and electronic circuitry. On a bottom portion of the housing, there may be at least one base contact. An attachment may be fixed to the bottom portion of the housing and contain at least one attachment contact. An electrical connection between the at least one base contact and the at least one attachment contact may be interpreted by the controller to determine an operating speed of the motor. Depending on the type of attachment fixed to the housing, various different combinations of electrical connections may be made to operate the motor at different speeds to meet the requirements of food preparation for a particular attachment.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Patent Applications and Priority Claims

[0002] This PCT patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62 / 776,252, filed on December 6, 2018, and titled "Modular Appliance Apparatus Configured for Multiple Attachments", the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field Background Art

[0003] Kitchen appliances come in many different forms, and most kitchen appliances are only suitable for a single use. For example, if a user wants an appliance for chopping nuts, the user will have to buy a separate appliance solely for the purpose of chopping nuts. If the user then wants an appliance for mixing purposes, the nut - chopping appliance will not be sufficient, and the user will have to buy another appliance solely for the purpose of mixing. Additionally, if the user wants an appliance for shredding salad, both the nut cutter and the mixer will be insufficient, and the user will have to buy another appliance for shredding salad. The number of single - use - designed appliances available for consumers to obtain and purchase is very large. Moreover, the process of buying and using single - use appliances becomes time - consuming, expensive, and wastes kitchen space. What is needed is a way to make one appliance attachable to multiple other appliances and usable as multiple other appliances. Such a device would reduce the cost of multiple devices, reduce the space required to store multiple devices, and simplify the kitchen appliance shopping process, thus saving consumer time.

[0004] However, one problem to be overcome with such a device is that the speeds at which various devices operate are very different. For example, peeling and mashing devices operate at low speeds, and low speeds are not suitable for tasks such as mixing or whipping. Similarly, devices for mixing or whipping operate at high speeds, and using such devices for mashing or peeling may cause damage to the device, the food, or the user. Variable - speed devices can be employed to overcome this problem, but such devices themselves also have problems.

[0005] Even if the device operates at variable speeds, the wide variation in the speeds at which the device will have to operate will make it difficult for the consumer to select the appropriate speed themselves. Additionally, the consumer may accidentally select the wrong speed, which could result in injury to the consumer, the appliance, or the food product being prepared. Accordingly, what is needed is a way to preset speed selections for multiple appliances for each device such that there is no risk of the consumer causing injury to themselves, the appliance, or the food preparation process through manual speed selection. The automatically selected speed will also simplify the consumer experience by contributing to the ease of use of the device and ensuring the best speed is selected for each device (which eliminates guesswork for the user). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a modular appliance device that overcomes these problems. The modular appliance device has electrical contact points that allow the modular appliance device to be attached to various attachments, thus meeting a variety of kitchen needs. Accordingly, the modular appliance device can be connected to other devices that serve as the aforementioned devices. Additionally, the user can grasp the modular appliance device and press a switch that activates the modular appliance device at a set speed that corresponds to the appropriate operating speed of the attachment to which it is connected. When different attachments are connected via the electrical contacts, once the switch is activated by the user, the circuitry within the modular appliance device allows a microprocessor or circuitry within the modular appliance device to determine the correct functional speed for the particular attachment. Accordingly, the user has the advantage of allowing the internal circuitry of the modular appliance device to determine the optimal settings for the functionality of the attachment. This contributes to ease of use and increases consumer safety when using the device.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments, as well as the structure and operation of the various elements of the disclosed embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The drawings incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate the disclosed embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain certain inventive principles. In the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1 An example modular appliance device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0010] Figure 2 A top view of the bottom surface of an example modular appliance device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] Figure 3 An example base having a plurality of base contacts on a modular appliance device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0012] Figure 4Shows an example attachment base with multiple attachment contacts to be attached to a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 5 Shows a table of various speed settings for each combination of activated controls determined by multiple base contacts on a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Figure 6 Shows a table of different speeds available for each speed setting of a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 7 Shows an electrical schematic of the control circuit of a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 8 Shows a flowchart of the digital motor control of a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 9 Shows an electrical schematic of a circuit for motor speed control for attachment drive using a static resistor within a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 10 Shows an electrical schematic of a circuit for motor speed control for attachment drive using a variable resistor within a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 11 Shows an example of a modular appliance device connected to an attachment, which is a nut chopper, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 12 Shows an example of another attachment connected to a modular appliance device, which is an immersion blender, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 13 Shows an example of yet another attachment connected to a modular appliance device, which is a mixer, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] Figure 14 Shows an example of yet another attachment connected to a modular appliance device, which is a salad shredder, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 15 Shows an example of yet another attachment connected to a modular appliance device, which is a spiral grater, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 16 Shows an example of another attachment connected to a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the another attachment is a pasta maker.

[0025] Figure 17 Shows an example of another attachment connected to a modular appliance device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and the another attachment is a juicer. Detailed Description

[0026] Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 An example modular appliance device 100 is shown. Figure 1 The modular appliance device 100 shown includes a housing 105. Inside the housing 105, an electronic circuit for operating the modular appliance device and motor components may be positioned. Figure 1 The housing 105 in includes a top end 110 and a bottom end 115. Figure 1 The top end 110 and the bottom end 115 of the housing 105 shown are connected by a shaft portion 125 of the housing 105. The housing 105 also includes a power base 120. As seen in Figure 1 , the modular appliance device 100 is cordless to provide power, but it should be understood that the modular appliance device 100 may be configured to have a cord attached to a power source. It should also be understood that the cordless embodiment may also include a battery located inside the housing 105, but the battery is not shown in the figures. In some embodiments, the battery may be rechargeable and permanently installed inside the housing 105. However, in other embodiments, the battery may be removable and replaceable. Figure 1 The housing 105 in may also include a mechanical switch 130 on its surface.

[0027] Figure 1 The mechanical switch 130 shown is located on the shaft portion 125 of the modular appliance device 100, but the mechanical switch 130 may be located at another position on the housing 105. For example, the mechanical switch 130 may be located at the top surface 135 of the housing 105. Figure 1 The mechanical switch 130 shown is depicted as a power button, but the mechanical switch 130 may be any type of mechanical switch. For example, the mechanical switch 130 may be a power knob or another type of actuation switch for operating the modular appliance device 100. In some embodiments, a speed knob (not shown) may also be present on the shaft portion 125 of the housing 105. The speed knob may allow the user to manually adjust the speed of the modular appliance device 100 to override the stored operating speeds determined by the programming of the modular appliance device 100.

[0028] Figure 1The housing 105 shown can be composed of any material. For example, the housing 105 can be composed of plastic, metal, some combination of the two, or any other suitable material that can produce a sufficiently rigid and strong structure for the modular appliance apparatus 100. Figure 1 The housing 105 is shown as including a single shaft, but the power base 120 may include other parts. For example, but not limitation, the power base 120 may be composed of multiple shafts or may include a handle. Figure 1 The top end 110 and bottom end 115 of the housing 105 are shown, with the bottom end 115 having a power base 120 .

[0029] Figure 2 A top view of the bottom surface 210 of the power base 120 of the modular appliance device 100 is shown. The bottom surface 210 located on the underside of the power base 120 may include a plurality of base contacts 200. The plurality of base contacts 200 may be connected to similar contacts on the attachment to complete a circuit within the modular appliance device 100, thereby powering the device. A drive mechanism 205 is also located on the underside of the power base 120. The drive mechanism 205 may be mechanically attached at one end to a similar drive coupling on the attachment to drive operation of the attachment through the modular appliance device 100. At the other end, the drive mechanism 205 may be attached to a drive shaft and in turn to a motor contained within the housing 105 to drive both the modular appliance device 100 and the fixed attachment when the power switch 130 is activated by the user.

[0030] Figure 3 An example layout 300 of a plurality of base contacts 200 on a power base 120 of a modular appliance apparatus 100 is shown. Figure 3 A plurality of pedestal contacts 200 are shown aligned in a single row, but the pedestal contacts 200 may be arranged in any configuration. For example, but not limited to, the pedestal contacts 200 may be arranged in two rows (three rows) or three rows (two rows). Figure 3 The base contact 200 is also shown as having four sides in a rectangular shape 305, but the base contact 200 can be composed of any number of sides and can have any shape. For example, but not limitation, the base contact 200 can be circular. Figure 3 A row of six base contacts 200 on the power base 120 is shown, but there may be any number of base contacts 200 on the power base 120. The plurality of base contacts 200 are aligned so that one of the base contacts is connected to power (power contact 310), one of the base contacts is connected to ground (ground contact 315), and the other base contacts are control contacts 320 to control the operating speed of the motor.

[0031] Each control contact 320 can be in an "on" or "off" state. When connected to a power source, the control contacts 320 convey their state to a controller, such as a microprocessor, located within the housing 105 of the modular appliance device 100. Figure 3 Four control contacts 320 are shown for a total of sixteen speed selections. The Figure 5 and Figure 6 show in more detail the different speed rates for each of the control communications. However, the quantity of base contacts 200 and the rate of speed are not limited by the quantity given in Figures 5 to 6 and can be any quantity desired by the user and the quantity of binary combinations provided by the number of control contacts 320. The uses for the different speeds are not limited by the applications shown in Figure 6 and can be for any other suitable use.

[0032] Figure 4 An example of the layout of a plurality of base contacts 400 on an attachment 405 connected and in electrical communication with the power base 120 of the modular appliance device 100 is shown. Figure 4 A plurality of attachment contacts 400 are shown aligned in a single row, but the attachment contacts 400 can be arranged in any configuration. For example, but not limited to, the attachment contacts 400 can be arranged in two rows (three in a row) or three rows (two in a row). Figure 4 The attachment contacts 400 are also shown slightly raised in a semi-circular configuration 410. The raised semi-circular configuration can help ensure electrical communication between the attachment contacts 400 and the base contacts 200 of the modular appliance device 100. Additionally, the attachment contacts 400 can have four sides in a rectangular shape, but the attachment contacts 400 can consist of any number of sides and can have any shape. For example, but not limited to, the attachment contacts 400 can be circular and can protrude like spring pins to facilitate connection with the plurality of base contacts 200. The arrangement and shape of the attachment contacts 400 on the appliance will be based on the arrangement and shape of the plurality of base contacts 200 on the power base 120 of the modular appliance device 100. This is to facilitate connection with the plurality of base contacts 200.

[0033] The attachment 405 may also have a drive coupler (not shown) that can be connected to the drive mechanism 205 of the modular appliance device 100. The drive coupler can cooperate with the drive mechanism to effect movement of the mechanical components housed within the attachment 405. The attachment may also have a locking mechanism (not shown) that can mechanically couple the attachment to the power base 120 of the modular appliance device 100 such that the attachment 405 does not shift or allow the base contacts 200 and the attachment contacts 400 to disconnect during use of the modular appliance device 100. Depending on the desired speed of the attachment 405, the attachment may have additional circuitry that connects the necessary attachment contacts 400 to the ground contact 315, thereby allowing the controller to determine the desired operating speed of the modular appliance device 100.

[0034] Now turning to Figure 5 , a reference table 500 of various speed settings for each combination of activated controls can be seen, the activated controls being determined by a plurality of base contacts in combination with a plurality of attachment contacts. The memory may store this table of various speed settings in a controller (such as a microprocessor) or in the motor controller of the modular appliance device. Based on the binary state of the control contacts 320, the processing logic can look up the reference table 500 in the memory to output the correct speed. For example, if there are four control contacts 320, sixteen position operating states can be stored in and accessed from the reference table 500 in the memory for motor speed control.

[0035] If the control contacts 320 are in electrical communication with their corresponding attachment contacts 400 to produce a "0000" state 505, the motor of the modular appliance device does not operate. If the control contacts 320 are in electrical communication with their corresponding attachment contacts 400 to produce a "1111" state 580, the same result can be achieved. Each of these states is a safety mechanism to prevent the modular appliance device 100 from operating under unsafe conditions, such as when there is no attachment or when the power base 120 contacts a conductive surface that may inadvertently form an electrical circuit between the base contacts 200.

[0036] When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0001" state 510, the first operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0010" state 515, the second operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0011" state 520, the third operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0100" state 525, the fourth operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0101" state 530, the fifth operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0110" state 535, the sixth operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "0111" state 540, the seventh operating speed of the modular appliance device 100 can be achieved.

[0037] Additionally, one of the control contacts 320 can control whether the power signal is transferred from the controller or the motor power supply to the attachment 405. In this type of example, the attachment 405 can have an energized component that requires a power input to operate, such as a timer or a light. If the power control contact is in the "on" state, power can flow to the attachment 405. For example, if the power contact is active in the "on" state while the other control contacts are in the "off" state to produce a "1000" state 545, the modular appliance device 100 may not operate. This is an additional safety measure to prevent accidental operation of the modular appliance device 100.

[0038] When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1001" state 550, a first operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1010" state 555, a second operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1011" state 560, a third operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1100" state 565, a fourth operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1101" state 570, a fifth operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved. When the control contact 320 is electrically connected to its corresponding attachment contact 400 to produce a "1110" state 575, a sixth operating speed for providing power to the attachment 405 can be achieved.

[0039] As Figure 6 shown, a speed legend 600 for the operation of a modular appliance device is provided. The speed legend 600 can be stored in the memory of a controller or another component of the modular appliance device 100 and is accessed by a processing application based on a detected operating state determined by the connection between the base contact 200 and the attachment contact 400. The speed legend 600 provides a revolutions per minute speed output generated by a motor and output to a drive shaft to operate a drive mechanism 205.

[0040] For each of the associated operating speeds of modular appliance device 100, the maximum and minimum revolutions per minute can vary. This operating range is acceptable for the intended use of modular appliance device 100 with attachment 405 in a particular food preparation method. For a first speed 605, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 50 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 150. The first speed 605 can be used for slow stirring applications of food products or peeling operations, such as peeling fruit. For a second speed 610, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 500 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 750. The second speed 610 can be used for spiral slicing of vegetables, using modular appliance device 100 as a hand mixer, a low speed blender setting, or for mashing or grinding potatoes. For a third speed 615, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 400 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 1000. The third speed 615 can be used for crushing ice operations. For a fourth speed 620, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 1000 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 1500. The fourth speed 620 can be used for whipping operations. For a fifth speed 625, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 4000 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 8000. The fifth speed 625 can be used for food processing operations or medium to high speed blender operations. For a sixth speed 630, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 7000 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 9000. The sixth speed 630 can be used for immersion blender type operations. For a seventh speed 635, the motor can output a normal revolutions per minute of 12000 and a maximum revolutions per minute of 12000. The seventh speed 635 can be used for sonic knife operations or high speed blender operations. As can be seen from the many example food operations discussed above, modular appliance device 100 can be used in a variety of food operations in many different ways. However, it should be understood that this list of food preparation operations is in no way limiting. Alternative food preparations can be performed and one of the desired speeds of modular appliance device 100 can also be used for alternative food preparations.

[0041] An example of an electronic circuit 700 for motor speed control for attachment drive is shown Figure 7 in Figure 7It includes a motor control circuit 705. The motor control circuit communicates with a controller 710 and obtains a speed setting from the controller 710. A motor 730 is also connected to the motor control circuit 705 to provide a speed output determined by the motor control circuit 705. A power supply 735 is also provided, and the power supply is connected to the electronic circuit 700 to drive the overall operation of the electronic circuit 700. The power supply 735 can provide AC power or DC power according to other components of the electronic circuit 700. The controller 710 can be a microprocessor with a memory. The memory can store a reference table 500 and a speed legend 600. The controller 710 can also have a plurality of pins, and the plurality of pins can be connected to additional components of the electronic circuit 700. One pin of the controller 710 can be connected to the power supply 735 to supply power to the controller. Another pin of the controller 710 can be connected to the motor control circuit 705 to provide an output speed to the motor 730 via the motor control circuit 705. Yet another pin of the controller 710 can be connected to a trigger switch 745. The trigger switch 745 is activated by a user pressing a mechanical switch 130 on the housing 105 of the modular appliance device 100, thereby connecting the circuit to allow a signal to be transmitted into the controller 710. The ground pin 725 of the controller is connected to the ground contact 315 in the base contact 200. The ground pin 725 is connected to provide a power ground for the electronic circuit 700. The ground pin 720 is connected to the power contact 310 in the base contact 200. The control pin 740 is connected to their corresponding control contacts 320 in the base contact 200.

[0042] As further seen in Figure 7 the base contact 200 on the power supply base 120 is connected to different attachments. A sample attachment 715 is shown in Figure 7 . Contrary to the attachment 405 shown in Figure 4 , the sample attachment 715 only has three attachment contacts 400 to complete the circuit. The reference table 500 gives examples of speed rates for different combinations of contacts that convey an "on" state to the controller 710. In the example of Figure 7 , the "on" contacts 1 and 3 (connected to pins 2 and 4) are connected to ground to complete the circuit of the sample attachment 715. This configuration sends a "1010" state 555 to the controller 710 that controls the motor speed. The motor speed of this sample attachment will be the second speed that supplies power to the power pin 720 and will be used by the sample attachment 715. According to Figure 6 , the speed of the motor can be output at a conventional 500 revolutions per minute and a maximum of 750 revolutions per minute. The second speed 610 can be used for spiral slicing of vegetables, using the modular appliance device 100 as a manual mixer, a low-speed blender setting, or for potato mashing and potato milling.

[0043] In Figure 8An example of a control flow diagram 800 for digital motor control is shown. Figure 8 The example given starts with inserting the modular appliance device 100 at step 805. In this sense, inserting the modular appliance device 100 means mating and fixing the modular appliance device 100 with the attachment 405 to connect the plurality of base contacts 200 to the plurality of attachment contacts 400 on the attachment 405. Once the attachment 405 is attached, at step 810, the controller 710 queries and receives whether any of the pins are enabled. If no pins are enabled, the controller 710 records a read of the "0000" state 505. According to Figure 5 the reference table 500 in Figure 5 , the motor is set to motor off. At this point, at step 815, the motor is disabled until the pin state changes. If at least one pin is enabled, then at step 820, the controller 710 then queries and receives whether all the pins are enabled. If all the pins are enabled, the controller records a read of the "1111" state 580. According to Figure 5 the reference table 500 in

[0044] In Figure 9An example of an analog control system 900 with a static resistor for a modular appliance device 100 is shown. Different from a digital control system, the analog control system implements motor speed control 915 through a plurality of diodes 925 and a static resistor 930. According to the attachment contact 400, mating with the base contact 200 forms a complete circuit to output speed control to the motor 935. The base contact 200 cooperates with the attachment contact 400 to form a set of switches 950. Each switch 950 is formed by pairing the corresponding base contact 200 with the attachment contact 400. When connected, each static resistor 930 and diode 925 that allows current to flow through a representative path provides a current output to the motor, and the current output is different from the amount of connection activated in a specific case. Then, the motor 935 will output the correct speed to the drive mechanism 205 based on the received current. The power supply 905 can provide AC power or DC power according to other components of the electronic circuit. There is also a trigger switch 910. The trigger switch 910 is activated by the user pressing a mechanical switch 130 on the housing 105 of the modular appliance device 100, thereby connecting the circuit to allow power to be transferred into the speed control 915. In this analog embodiment, the trigger switch 910 can be connected to the ground pin of the base contact 200 that is no longer used for grounding. Then, the ground pin will cooperate with the corresponding attachment contact 400 to cause power to be transferred through the attachment 405, and then back to the speed control 915 based on other contact combinations properly positioned between the base contact 200 and the attachment contact 400.

[0045] In addition, the power transfer to the attachment 405 is implemented in a different way using an analog circuit design. Power is supplied from the power supply 905 to the transformer 940. If there is a connection between the representative base contact 200 and the attachment contact 400 of the attachment 405, then the output of the transformer 940 can transfer power to the attachment power supply 955. In this way, power is supplied to the attachment 405.

[0046] In Figure 10 an example of an alternative analog control system 1000 with a variable resistor for the attachment 405 is given. Different from Figure 9 , Figure 10 a variable resistor 1005 is used, which is configured to change the resistance value based on the number of contact connections between a plurality of base contacts 200 and a plurality of attachment contacts 400. According to the number of contact connections, the variable resistor 1005 will output an adjusted current to the motor 1025 for the operation of the modular appliance device 100. The variable resistor 1005 will cause the current from between a plurality of base contacts 200 and a plurality of attachment contacts 400 as Figure 9The resistance set values for different combinations of contact points activated as shown are equal. Each attachment 405 will have different combinations of contact points activated, and each combination will have an output current based on the variable resistor in motor 1025. In this alternative analog circuit, variable resistor 1005 will serve as the speed control for motor 1025. Figure 10 Start with power supply 1010. Power supply 1010 can provide AC power or DC power depending on other components of the electronic circuit. There is also trigger switch 1015. Trigger switch 910 is activated by the user pressing mechanical switch 130 on housing 105 of modular appliance device 100, thus connecting the circuit to allow power transfer into variable resistor 1005. Figure 10 Trigger switch 1015 is shown in the "off" position. In this position, the circuit is not fully connected and no power is transferred from power supply 1010 to variable resistor 1005. In this state, the motor will not run. In this analog embodiment, trigger switch 1015 can be connected to the ground pin of base contact 200 that is no longer used for grounding. Then, the ground pin will mate with the corresponding attachment contact 400 to allow power transfer through attachment 405 and then back into variable resistor 1005 based on other contact combinations properly positioned between base contact 200 and attachment contact 400.

[0047] Additionally, power transfer to attachment 405 is achieved in a different manner using an alternative analog circuit design. Power is supplied from power source 1010 to transformer 1020. If there is a connection between representative base contact 200 and attachment contact 400 of attachment 405, then the output of transformer 1020 can then transfer power to attachment power supply 1030. In this way, power is supplied to attachment 405.

[0048] Figure 11 An example embodiment of an attachment for modular appliance device 100 is shown. Figure 11 The example embodiment shown is nut chopper 1100. Figure 11 Nut chopper 1100 in has housing 1105. Figure 11 Housing 1105 in includes top end 1110 and bottom end 1115. Top end 1110 of housing 1105 has hole 1120 that is large enough to fit rotary blade 1125. Top end 1110 and bottom end 1115 of housing 1105 are connected by boundary 1130. Boundary 1130 is used to create a bounded area for holding nuts and prevent nuts from escaping outside the containment area during all stages of the chopping function. Boundary 1130 also ensures that nuts are kept within the range of blade 1125 so that the nuts can be repeatedly chopped until they reach the desired size instead of flying away after the initial chop. Figure 11The shown boundary 1130 is circular, but the boundary can be of any shape. Figure 11 The shown boundary 1130 is transparent, but the boundary is not limited to a transparent boundary. In fact, the boundary 1130 can be made of a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastic or glass.

[0049] Figure 11 The shown nut chopper 1100 has a nut chopping rotary blade 1125. The rotary blade 1125 has a plurality of cutting edges 1135 located at the bottom end of the rotary blade 1125 and a blade shaft 1140 extending upward from the plurality of cutting edges 1135. The blade shaft 1140 is assembled through a hole 1120 in the top end 1110 of the nut chopper housing 1105. Figure 11 The shown rotary blade 1125 does not show the number of cutting edges 1135, but the rotary blade 1125 is not limited to any number of cutting edges.

[0050] At the top end of the housing 1105, there can be a plurality of attachment contacts (not shown). These attachment contacts cooperate with a plurality of base contacts 200 on the modular appliance device 100 to complete the circuit of the modular appliance device 100. The top end of the housing 1105 can also have a drive coupler (not shown). Inside this drive coupler, the drive mechanism 205 of the modular appliance device 100 can be attached to the attached nut chopper 1100 and operably drive the nut chopper.

[0051] The nut chopper 1100 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler, and engaging the mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler can be done simultaneously and can be accomplished by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the nut chopper 1100 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will speed up the spin until the speed selected by one of the above methods, and the nuts can be chopped inside the housing 1105.

[0052] Figure 12 An example implementation of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100 is shown. Figure 12 The shown example implementation is an immersion blender 1200. The immersion blender 1200 consists of a rotary blade 1205. The rotary blade 1205 consists of a top section 1210 and a bottom section 1215. The top section 1210 includes a shaft, and the bottom section 1215 includes a plurality of cutting edges. Figure 12The rotary blade 1205 in [the device] is not shown with the number of cutting edges, but the rotary blade 1205 is not limited to any number of cutting edges. The rotary blade 1205 can be made of various materials, including but not limited to plastic or metal. Similar to the previous embodiments, a plurality of attachment contacts (not shown) and a drive coupler (not shown) can be located on the rotary blade 1205 to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the immersion blender.

[0053] The immersion blender 1200 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting a drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler, and engaging a mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler can be done simultaneously and can be accomplished by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the immersion blender 1200 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will accelerate the spin until a speed selected by one of the above methods, and various items can be stirred.

[0054] Figure 13 An example embodiment of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100 is shown. Figure 13 The example embodiment shown is the mixer 1300. Figure 13 The mixer 1300 shown includes a housing 1305. The housing 1305 of the mixer 1300 includes a main body 1310 and a handle 1315. The main body 1310 of the housing 1305 includes a top end 1320, a bottom end 1325, and a cylindrical base 1330. The top end 1320 of the main body 1310 is connected to the handle 1315 of the housing 1305. The bottom end 1325 of the main body 1310 has a raised point 1335. The raised point 1335 includes a mechanical mixing blade 1340. Figure 13 Two raised points 1335 containing two mixing blades 1340 are shown, but the main body 1310 of the housing 1305 is not limited to two raised points 1335 containing two mixing blades 1340.

[0055] In the embodiment shown, each mixing blade 1340 includes a shaft 1345 and three mixing sub - blades 1350 that rotate around the shaft 1345. The mixing blade 1340 is not limited to three mixing sub - blades 1350 and can have more or fewer mixing sub - blades. However, in other embodiments, the mixing blade can take other forms. For example, but not limited to, the mixing blade can be a large whisk or a dough hook. The mixing blade 1340 can be constructed of various materials, including but not limited to plastic or metal. The cylindrical base 1330 of the housing 1305 is the central part of the housing 1305. The cylindrical base 1330 is connected to the handle 1315, the modular appliance device 100, and the raised point 1335 at different positions.Figure 13 The handle 1315 of the housing 1305 of the mixer 1300 in [reference] is connected to the main body 1310 of the housing 1305 at the top end 1320 of the main body 1310. The handle 1315 extends outward from the main body 1310 and includes a curved surface design for grasping. Similar to the previous embodiments, a plurality of attachment contacts and drive couplings (both not shown) may be located on the attachment to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the mixer.

[0056] The mixer 1300 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupling, and engaging the mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupling can be done simultaneously and can be accomplished by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the mixer 1300 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will accelerate to spin until the speed selected by one of the above methods, and various items can be mixed.

[0057] Figure 14 is an exemplary embodiment of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100. Figure 14 The exemplary embodiment shown is a salad shredder 1400. Figure 14 The salad shredder shown includes a housing 1405. The housing 1405 includes a base end 1410, a connection point 1415 to the modular appliance device 100, an insertion opening 1420, and a shredding opening 1425. The base end 1410 of the housing 1405 includes a flat bottom 1430 for support and a curved cylindrical wall 1435. The curved cylindrical wall 1435 is connected to the section of the shredding opening 1425 of the housing 1405 at the top end of the base end 1410. The connection point 1415 to the modular appliance device 100 includes a cylindrical ring. The cylindrical ring contains a mechanical connection point to the modular appliance device 100. The insertion opening 1420 includes a circular opening at the top of the housing 1405. The insertion opening 1420 is not limited to a circular shape and can be any shape. The insertion opening 1420 is designed to fit a pushing device 1440 that will push the desired item into the shredding opening 1425. The shredding opening 1425 contains a rotary salad shredder 1445. The rotary salad shredder 1445 rotates at the speed provided by the modular variable speed appliance to shred the salad. Then, the shredded salad exits through the circular opening in the shredding opening 1425. Similar to the previous embodiments, a plurality of attachment contacts and drive couplings (both not shown) may be located on the attachment to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the salad shredder 1400.

[0058] The salad shredder 1400 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting a drive mechanism 205 into a drive coupler, and engaging a mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler can be done simultaneously and by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the salad shredder 1400 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will accelerate its spin until a selected speed via one of the above methods, and the salad can be shredded.

[0059] Figure 15 It is an exemplary implementation of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100. Figure 15 The illustrated exemplary implementation is the spiral grater 1500. Figure 15 The illustrated spiral grater 1500 includes a housing 1505. The housing 1505 includes a top end 1510 and a bottom end 1520. The top end 1510 of the housing 1505 contains a mechanical connection point 1525 to connect the spiral grater 1500 to a modular variable-speed appliance. The bottom end 1520 of the housing 1505 includes a flat surface 1530 for support. The top end 1510 and the bottom end 1520 of the housing 1505 are connected by a body 1535. The body 1535 of the housing curves along the outside. The upper end of the body 1535 is the narrowest end of the body 1535. As the body 1535 advances towards the bottom end 1520 of the housing 1505, the body 1535 continuously becomes a wider curve. The upper end of the housing 1505 contains a blade (not shown) for spiral rotation inside the housing. Once the motor is activated in the modular appliance device 100, the blade for spiral rotation rotates. Similar to the previous implementation, a plurality of attachment contacts 400 and a drive coupler (both not shown) can be located on the attachment to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the spiral grater 1500.

[0060] The spiral grater 1500 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting a drive mechanism 205 into a drive coupler, and engaging a mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler can be done simultaneously and by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the spiral grater 1500 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will accelerate its spin until a selected speed via one of the above methods, and various food products can be spirally rotated.

[0061] Figure 16 It is an exemplary implementation of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100. Figure 16The exemplary embodiment shown is a pasta maker 1600. Figure 16 The pasta maker 1600 shown includes a housing 1605. The housing 1605 includes a bottom section 1610 and a rotating upper section 1615. The bottom section 1610 is a support section and is flat at the bottom. The sides of the support section flow upward to the bottom of the rotating upper section 1615, where the bottom section 1610 is connected to the upper section 1615. At the connection point, there is an elongated blade 1620 that extrudes the pasta as it rolls through the rotating upper section 1615. The upper section 1615 includes a left end 1625 and a right end 1630. The left end 1625 and the right end 1630 are connected by a rotating body cylinder 1635. One of the ends of the rotating upper section includes a mechanical connection point 1640 that connects the housing 1605 to the modular appliance device 100. The other end of the rotating upper section includes an end base 1645. When the motor from the modular appliance device 100 is activated by the user, the rotating body cylinder 1635 that connects the two ends rotates. Then, the pasta is extruded through the elongated blade 1620 while being fed via the rotating body cylinder 1635. Similar to the previous embodiments, a plurality of attachment contacts 400 and drive couplings (both not shown) may be located on the attachment to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the pasta maker 1600.

[0062] Figure 17 is an exemplary embodiment of an attachment for the modular appliance device 100. Figure 17 The exemplary embodiment shown is a juicer 1700. The juicer consists of a housing 1705. The housing includes a base 1710, a container 1730 for storing juice, and a faucet 1720. The housing base 1710 includes a bottom 1725 for support and a container 1730 for storing juice. The container 1730 for storing juice shown in the exemplary embodiment is transparent, but the container 1730 for storing juice is not limited to transparent materials. The container 1730 for storing juice can be made of various materials, including but not limited to plastic or glass. The housing base 1710 also contains a mechanical connection point 1735 to the modular appliance device 100. The mechanical connection point 1735 can extrude the remainder of the food product used by the juicer 1700. The chamber 1740 for juicing is located at the top of the housing base. The chamber for juicing contains an opening for the food to be juiced. The faucet 1720 of the juicer 1700 is located on the upper side of the housing base 1710. The faucet 1720 allows the juice to be discharged from the container 1730 for storing juice in the housing base 1710. Similar to the previous embodiments, a plurality of attachment contacts 400 and drive couplings (both not shown) may be located on the attachment to assemble and mate with the modular appliance device 100 to allow operation of the juicer 1700.

[0063] The juicer 1700 can be operated by connecting a plurality of attachment contacts 400 to a plurality of base contacts 200, inserting a drive mechanism 205 into a drive coupler, and engaging a mechanical switch 130. Forming the contact connection and inserting the drive mechanism 205 into the drive coupler can be performed simultaneously and can be accomplished by the same action, but the connection can also be achieved by independent actions. Once the juicer 1700 has been attached to the modular appliance device 100 and the mechanical switch 130 is engaged, the motor will accelerate its spin until a selected speed via one of the above methods, and various food products can be juiced.

[0064] Embodiments are selected and described in order to best explain the basic principles and their practical applications, so that those skilled in the art can best utilize the present invention in various embodiments and make various modifications suitable for a particular intended use.

[0065] Since various modifications can be made to the structures and methods described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For example, the design of the modular appliance device, different attachments, and different electronic circuits within the modular appliance device can be employed, but the same functions of the basic invention can be achieved. Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited to any of the above exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A modular appliance device, the modular appliance device comprising: A housing having a top end and a bottom end; A motor located within the housing; An operation controller located within the housing and in electronic communication with the motor, the operation controller storing and determining a plurality of operating speeds of the motor; A switch located on the housing and in communication with the operation controller, the switch being actuatable between an on position and an off position; A plurality of base contacts located on the bottom end of the housing; A drive mechanism located on the bottom end of the housing and in mechanical communication with the motor; A disconnect electronic circuit connecting the plurality of base contacts, the switch, the operation controller, and the motor, the disconnect electronic circuit preventing operation of the motor when the switch is actuated to the on position or the off position; A food preparation attachment configured to be movably secured to the bottom end of the housing, the food preparation attachment having at least one attachment contact positioned to contact at least one of the plurality of base contacts to form an electrical connection when the food preparation attachment is secured to the bottom end of the housing; And Wherein when the switch is actuated to the on position, an electrical connection between the at least one attachment contact of the food preparation attachment and the at least one of the plurality of base contacts on the bottom end of the housing forms a closed electronic circuit connecting the plurality of base contacts, the switch, the operation controller, the motor, and the at least one attachment contact, the closed electronic circuit causing the motor to operate at a stored operating speed via the operation controller; And Wherein the operation controller has a plurality of pins and the operation controller controls the motor by the states of the pins; wherein, if none of the pins of the operation controller are enabled or if all of the pins of the operation controller are enabled, the motor is disabled until the states of the pins change; if at least one but not all of the pins are enabled, it is determined whether a power pin is enabled, if the power pin is enabled, power is transmitted to the food preparation attachment, if the power pin is not enabled, the speed of the motor is adjusted to a corresponding speed among the stored operating speeds, and when the switch is actuated to the on position, the motor is accelerated to a speed limit.

2. The modular appliance device according to claim 1, the modular appliance device further comprising a power supply, the power supply providing operating power to the disconnect electronic circuit and the connect electronic circuit.

3. The modular appliance device according to claim 2, wherein the power supply is a battery located within the housing.

4. The modular appliance device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of base contacts include a ground contact, a power contact, and at least one control contact.

5. The modular appliance device according to claim 4, wherein, The food preparation attachment has a plurality of attachment contacts, and the at least one attachment contact is an attachment contact among the plurality of attachment contacts; and Wherein, when the switch is in the on position, the at least one control contact forms at least part of the electrical connection with a corresponding attachment contact of the plurality of attachment contacts to cause the motor to operate at the stored operating speed determined by the operation controller.

6. The modular appliance device according to claim 4, wherein the power contact provides an electrical signal to the food preparation attachment to drive the energized components of the food preparation attachment.

7. The modular appliance device according to claim 1, wherein the operation controller includes a controller having a memory, the memory storing a reference table related to the states of the plurality of base contacts and a speed legend related to the plurality of operating speeds at which the motor can operate.

8. The modular appliance device according to claim 7, the electrical connection being a plurality of electrical connections; the at least one attachment contact being an attachment contact among the plurality of attachment contacts of the food preparation attachment; and the controller interprets the number of electrical connections of the plurality of electrical connections between the plurality of attachment contacts and the plurality of base contacts to determine the state of the modular appliance device, and wherein the controller determines the stored operating speed of the state of the plurality of base contacts by accessing the reference table and the speed legend and transmits the stored operating speed to the motor.

9. The modular appliance device according to claim 7, wherein the controller transmits the stored operating speed to a motor control circuit to set the motor to the selected speed.

10. A method of operating a modular appliance device, the method comprising: Obtain the modular appliance device housing, the housing including a motor, an operation controller, and a disconnect electronic circuit between the motor and the operation controller; Position at least one base contact on a bottom end of the housing, the at least one base contact being part of the disconnect electronic circuit that communicates with the motor and the operation controller; Movably secure a food preparation attachment having at least one attachment contact to the bottom end of the housing having the at least one base contact, wherein movably securing to the food preparation attachment facilitates an electrical connection between the at least one base contact and the at least one attachment contact; Via the electrical connection between the at least one attachment contact and the at least one base contact, form a connect electronic circuit connecting the at least one base contact, the operation controller, the motor, and the at least one attachment contact; Process a selected speed by the operation controller based on the electrical connection to operate the motor; and Actuate a switch on the housing via electronic communication with the disconnect electronic circuit and the connect electronic circuit, wherein the switch is actuated by the connect electronic circuit to operate the motor at the selected speed determined by the operation controller; Wherein the operation controller has a plurality of pins and the operation controller controls the motor by states of the pins; wherein if none of the pins of the operation controller are enabled or if all of the pins of the operation controller are enabled, the motor is disabled until the states of the pins change; if at least one but not all of the pins are enabled, determine whether a power pin is enabled, if the power pin is enabled, transfer power to the food preparation attachment, if the power pin is not enabled, adjust the speed of the motor to a corresponding speed in stored operating speeds, and when the switch is actuated to an on position, cause the motor to accelerate to a speed limit.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: Movably secure a plurality of base contacts including the at least one base contact located on the bottom end of the housing of the modular appliance device to a plurality of attachment contacts including the at least one attachment contact of the food preparation attachment; Via contact between each base contact of the plurality of base contacts and a corresponding attachment contact of the plurality of attachment contacts of the food preparation attachment, form a plurality of electrical connections; Wherein when none of the plurality of base contacts are in contact with at least one attachment contact of the plurality of attachment contacts, the disconnect electronic circuit remains open and the motor can be operatively disabled; and Wherein when all of the plurality of base contacts are in contact with any one attachment contact of the plurality of attachment contacts, via the operation controller, the disconnect electronic circuit transitions to the connect electronic circuit but the motor can be operatively disabled.

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