Coffee bean grinding device with user motor control

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grinding apparatus comprising: a housing comprising a side wall; the grinding bowl is positioned in the shell; a cover cooperating with one of the housing and the grinding bowl, where the cover and the grinding bowl together define a grinding chamber; the blade is positioned in the grinding chamber; a motor positioned within the housing, operably connected with the blade and configured to rotate the blade; and a turntable substantially radially aligned with the sidewall of the housing, where the turntable is configured to control at least one operating parameter of the motor; and wherein the turntable rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to small kitchen appliances, and more particularly to coffee bean grinding devices. Background Art

[0002] Coffee bean grinding devices are used to grind whole coffee beans into powders (i.e., grinds) of varying coarseness. Typically, coffee beans are placed into a blade chamber of the coffee bean grinding device, and the rotation of the blades around the center of the chamber grinds the coffee beans into grinds. The duration of grinding and the speed of the blades have the greatest impact on the final coarseness of the coffee grinds.

[0003] It may be desirable to provide additional configurations for a coffee bean grinding apparatus, particularly to produce a desired amount and / or desired coarseness of grinds in a manner that is easily usable by a user. Summary of the invention

[0004] As a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a grinding device, comprising: a housing including a sidewall; a grinding bowl located within the housing; a cover mated with one of the housing and the grinding bowl, wherein the cover and the grinding bowl together define a grinding chamber; a blade located within the grinding chamber; a motor positioned within the housing, operably connected to the blade and configured to rotate the blade; and a rotating disk substantially radially aligned with the sidewall of the housing. The rotating disk is configured to control at least one operating parameter of the motor and rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

[0005] As a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to a grinding device, comprising: a housing including a side wall; a base located below the side wall; a grinding bowl located within the housing; a cover that cooperates with one of the housing and the grinding bowl, wherein the cover and the grinding bowl together define a grinding chamber; a blade located within the grinding chamber; and a motor positioned within the housing, operably connected to the blade and configured to rotate the blade. At least the grinding chamber defines a movable unit that is configured to move vertically between (a) a depressed position and (b) a raised position, in which the movable unit is close to the base of the housing and in which the movable unit is away from the base of the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a perspective side view of a grinding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0007] Figure 2 is based on Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a grinding device.

[0008] Figure 3 is based on Figure 1A side sectional view of a grinding device.

[0009] Figure 4 is based on Figure 3 A side cross-sectional view of a grinding device wherein the device is rotated 90 degrees along its vertical axis.

[0010] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the blade chamber and blades of a grinding device.

[0011] Figure 6 is based on Figure 1 A side cross-sectional view of a grinding device with the movable unit in a raised position.

[0012] Figure 7 is based on Figure 6 A side cross-sectional view of a grinding device with the movable unit in a depressed position.

[0013] Figure 8 is based on Figure 1 A perspective side view of the movable unit of the grinding device.

[0014] Fig. 9 is based on Figure 1 A perspective bottom view of the deactivation switch of the grinding device.

[0015] Fig.10 is based on Figure 1 A top cross-sectional view of a turntable of a grinding device, wherein the turntable plunger is in a set position.

[0016] Fig.11 is based on Fig.10 A top cross-sectional view of a turntable of a grinding device with the turntable plunger positioned between two set positions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, the present invention may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein may be combined in any manner and / or combination to provide many additional embodiments.

[0018] Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and different numbers of superscript indicator primes (e.g., 10, 10', 10") may be used to designate different embodiments of the same element. In the drawings, the sizes of certain lines, layers, components, elements, or features may be exaggerated for clarity. In addition, unless otherwise stated, dashed lines represent optional functionality or operations.

[0019] The terms used herein are only used for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein include technical and scientific terms and have the same meaning as those generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It will be further understood that those terms, such as those defined in common dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meanings in the context of the specification and the relevant field, and unless specifically defined in this article, should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0020] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish an element, component, region, layer, or part from another element, component, region, layer, or part. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the present invention, the first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below can be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer or section. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the order of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order shown in the claims or drawings.

[0021] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "include" and / or "comprise" specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or parts, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or collections thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items.

[0022] As used herein, phrases such as "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" should be interpreted to include X and Y. As used herein, phrases such as "between about X and Y" mean "between about X and about Y." As used herein, phrases such as "from about X to Y" mean "from about X to about Y."

[0023] It should be understood that when an element (e.g., a device, a circuit, etc.) is referred to as being "on another element," "attached to another element," "connected to another element," "coupled to another element," "in contact with another element," etc., it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or in contact with another element, or there may be intermediate elements. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, "directly on another element," "directly attached to another element," "directly connected to another element," "directly coupled to another element," or "directly in contact with another element," there are no intermediate elements. Those skilled in the art will also understand that reference to structures or features disposed "adjacent" another feature may have portions that overlap or are located below the adjacent feature.

[0024] Spatially relative terms, such as "below," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," "lateral," "left," "right," and the like may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another, as shown. It should be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figure is inverted, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will be oriented as "above other elements or features." The device can be oriented in other ways (rotated 90° or in other orientations), and the descriptors of relative spatial relationships used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0025] It will also be understood that as used herein, the terms "example," "exemplary," and their derivatives are intended to refer to non-limiting examples and / or variant embodiments discussed herein, and are not intended to indicate a preference for one or more embodiments discussed herein over one or more other embodiments.

[0026] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, one embodiment of the grinding device is Figure 1 and Figure 2 100. The exterior of the grinding device 100 includes a lid 102 and a housing 104. The housing 104 includes a grinding bowl housing 106, an inner housing 108, an outer housing 110, an upper turntable support 112, a turntable 116, and a base 128. The sidewall of the housing 104 mainly includes the inner housing 108 and the outer housing 110. The housing 104 can be provided with markings (not shown) to indicate the operating parameter setting position of the turntable 116. These markings can indicate the desired result (e.g., the desired grinding coarseness level and / or the amount of ground coffee beans).

[0027] from Figure 1As can be seen in the figures, each of the lid 102, grinding bowl housing 106, inner shell 108, outer shell 110, upper turntable support 112, and base 128 is generally cylindrical about the vertical axis A of the device and provides a substantially smooth outer surface to the housing 104. The turntable 116 is generally radially aligned with the inner shell 108 and outer shell 110 (i.e., the sidewalls) of the housing 104, and is generally cylindrical about the vertical axis A, with a ridged outer surface to provide an additional grip for the user when rotating the turntable 116. In addition, the turntable 116 has a tab 122, which is used to provide the user with an additional method of operating the turntable 116, and in some embodiments, to indicate the operating parameter setting position.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown, the upper turntable support 112 and the base 128 are connected internally through the hollow center of the turntable 116. The turntable 116 is sandwiched between the upper turntable support 112 and the base 128, thereby preventing the turntable 116 from separating from the rest of the housing 104; however, the turntable 116 is configured to be rotatable relative to the rest of the housing 104 about the vertical axis A (as shown in FIG. Fig.10 The upper turntable support 112 has a circular groove 114 on its bottom side that mates with a circular ridge 124 on the top side of the turntable 116. Similarly, the turntable 116 has a circular groove 126 on its bottom side that mates with a circular ridge 130 on the top side of the base 128. Because the turntable 116 is connected to the rest of the housing 104 in this manner, the turntable 116 can rotate relative to the rest of the housing 104 while still being operably connected to the rest of the housing 104.

[0029] The upper turntable support 112 is connected to the bottom of the inner shell 108. The outer surface of the inner shell 108 mates with the inner surface of the outer shell 110. A shorter ridge (not shown) extends vertically along the inner surface of the outer shell 110 and mates with a shallower groove (not shown) extending vertically along the outer surface of the inner shell 108. This engagement prevents the outer shell 110 from rotating relative to the inner shell 108.

[0030] The circular inner shell lip 109 extends radially outward around the upper edge of the inner shell 108. This configuration prevents the outer shell 110 from moving upward relative to the inner shell 108. Similarly, the circular upper turntable support lip 113 extends radially outward around the upper edge of the upper turntable support 112. This configuration prevents the outer shell 110 from moving downward relative to the inner shell 108.

[0031] The grinding bowl housing 106 is generally cylindrical about a vertical axis A. It mates with and is partially contained within the inner housing 108. The lid 102 mates with the grinding bowl housing 106 and, together with the grinding bowl 134 (which is located within the grinding bowl housing 106), defines a grinding chamber 132 (see FIG. Figure 6 ). In some embodiments, the cover 102 is made of a transparent material.

[0032] Figure 5 The grinding bowl 134, the blade 154 and the motor 182 are operably connected. Figure 6 ). The grinding bowl 134 has three grinding bowl support holes 136 and a rotor hole 138 extending vertically through its bottom surface. The upper grinding bowl support 140 and the lower grinding bowl support 144 are connected through the grinding bowl support holes 136, thereby providing a stable connection between the grinding bowl 134 and the housing 104 (see Figure 1 ). The upper grinding bowl support 140 and the lower grinding bowl support 144 are configured to provide a seal between the interior of the grinding bowl 134 and the interior of the housing 104.

[0033] The upper grinding bowl support 140 is configured with a rotor hole 142 extending vertically through its center. The lower grinding bowl support 144 is configured with a rotor hole 146 extending vertically through its center and three slots 147 equally spaced around its periphery. The slots 147 connect the lower grinding bowl support 144 to the grinding bowl housing 106 (see FIG. 1 ) by mating with three flanges (not shown) on the interior of the grinding bowl housing 106. Figure 2 ).

[0034] The motor 182 is operably connected to the blade 154 and is configured to rotate the blade through the rotor system. The blade rotor 156 passes through the rotor holes 138, 142, 146. The top end of the blade rotor 156 is fixed to the blade 154, and the lower end of the blade rotor 156 is connected to the motor rotor 158. When the motor 182 is working, it rotates the motor rotor 158 on the vertical axis A, which in turn rotates the blade rotor 156 and the blade 154.

[0035] like Figure 8As shown, the grinding bowl housing 106 is connected to the motor housing 176; in addition, the outer surface of the grinding bowl housing 106 is attached with a circuit board 164, a deactivation plunger 166, a deactivation plunger spring 168, a deactivation switch 170, and a deactivation switch housing 172. Similarly, the motor housing 176 has a movable unit switch 160, a movable unit switch housing 162, a circuit board 164, and three movable unit springs 174 attached to its outer surface. At its lower end, the circuit board 164 is mounted to a flange 177 protruding radially outward from the motor housing 176. At its upper end, the circuit board 164 is mounted between the body of the grinding bowl housing 106 and two fork-shaped pieces 105 extending downward from the grinding bowl housing 106.

[0036] Internally, such as Figure 6 As shown, the base of the motor housing 176 mates with the lower motor mount 180. Similarly, the upper motor mount 178 mates with the bottom of the grinding bowl housing 106. The motor 182 is mounted within the motor housing 176 and is sandwiched between the upper motor mount 178 and the lower motor mount 180.

[0037] Figure 5 and Figure 8 Components that together define the movable unit 148 are shown. In this embodiment, the movable unit 148 includes: the cover 102, the grinding bowl housing 106, the grinding bowl 134, the blades 154, the blade rotor 156, the motor rotor 158, the upper grinding bowl support 140, the lower grinding bowl support 144, the motor housing 176, the motor 182, the deactivation plunger 166, the deactivation plunger spring 168, the deactivation switch 170, the deactivation switch housing 172, the movable unit switch 160, the movable unit switch housing 162, the circuit board 164, the movable unit spring 174, and the upper motor mount 178 (see Figure 4 ) and lower motor mount 180 (see Figure 4 ). The movable unit 148 is capable of vertically moving relative to the rest of the grinding device 100.

[0038] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Vertical movement of the movable unit 148 is shown. Figure 6 The movable unit 148 is shown in a raised position, wherein the movable unit 148 is lifted (ie, away from the base 128 of the housing 104). Figure 7 The movable unit 148 is shown in a depressed position, wherein the movable unit 148 is lowered (i.e., close to the base 128 of the housing 104). The movable unit spring 174 is configured to press against the top of the base 128 when the movable unit 148 is depressed by the user. When the user releases the movable unit 148, the movable unit spring 174 pushes the movable unit 148 back to the raised position.

[0039] like Figure 8 As shown, the circuit board 164 (e.g., a control unit) is configured to control the operation and operating parameters of the motor 182. The circuit board 164 is configured to activate the motor 182 only when the lid 102 is properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106, and at the same time, the movable unit 148 moves from the raised position to the depressed position. If any of the above conditions are not met, the circuit board 164 does not activate the motor 182. In addition, if the lid 102 is removed while the motor 182 is running, the circuit board 164 is configured to immediately deactivate the motor 182.

[0040] The movable unit switch 160 is operably connected to the motor 182 and is configured to be in a depressed position ( Figure 7 ) is actuated, and when the movable unit 148 is in the raised position ( Figure 6 ). When the movable unit switch 160 is not actuated, it is configured to send no signal to the circuit board 164. When the movable unit switch 160 is actuated, it is configured to send a single, non-continuous "motor on" signal to the circuit board 164. If the lid 102 is properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106, the motor 182 begins to run. The motor 182 continues to run for a set length of time unless the lid 102 is removed. In some embodiments, while the motor 182 is running, if the movable unit 148 is moved from the raised position to the depressed position thereby depressing the movable unit switch 160, the motor 182 will turn off.

[0041] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 Components configured to de-energize the motor 182 when the lid 102 is not covering the grinding bowl 134 are shown. When the lid 102 is properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106, the deactivation plunger 166 is depressed, which actuates the deactivation switch 170. The deactivation switch 170 is operably connected to the motor 182 via the circuit board 164. When the deactivation switch 170 is actuated, it is configured to provide power to the circuit board 164. Conversely, when the lid 102 is removed or not properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106, the deactivation plunger 166 is pushed vertically upward by the deactivation plunger spring 168, which causes the deactivation plunger 166 to disengage from the deactivation switch 170. When the deactivation switch 170 is not actuated, no power is sent to the circuit board 164, and therefore, the motor 182 cannot operate.

[0042] The deactivation of the motor 182 can be an important safety feature when the lid 102 is not properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106. When the lid 102 is properly attached to the grinding bowl housing 106, the grinding chamber 132 is closed and does not present a risk of injury to the user. Without this feature, the user may begin the grinding process without the lid 102 in place, or they may inadvertently remove the lid 102 while the motor 182 is running. In this case, there is no barrier between the rotating blades 154 and the user, and therefore no protection against accidental injury to the user. Including the deactivation switch 170 can help prevent such injuries from occurring.

[0043] Fig.10 and Fig.11 The operation of the turntable plunger 184, the first gear 194 and the second gear 196, and the rotation of the turntable 116 are shown. The turntable plunger 184 is a cylinder having a hemispherical end and a circular ridge 186 around its center. The turntable plunger 184 is mounted within the housing 104, partially within the mounting seat 190, and partially extends radially outward from the mounting seat 190 toward the turntable 116. The mounting seat 190 is connected to the upper turntable support 112 (see Figure 4 ). A circular ridge 186 on the turntable plunger 184 prevents the turntable plunger 184 from disengaging from the mount 190. One end of a spring 188 is connected to the rear wall of the mount 190 and the other end is connected to the turntable plunger 184. In this configuration, the spring 188 pushes the turntable plunger 184 radially outward toward the turntable 116.

[0044] The turntable 116 is provided with a plurality of semicircular projections 118 on a portion of the circumference of its inner periphery. Between each semicircular projection 118 is a bowl-shaped depression 120. When the turntable 116 is rotated to the operating parameter setting, the outer end of the turntable plunger 184 engages with the bowl-shaped depression 120. When the turntable 116 is left in a position between the operating parameters, such as Fig.11 As shown, the spring 188 pushes the dial plunger 184 radially outward, which causes the dial 116 to rotate to the nearest setting. The circular edge and semicircular protrusion 118 of the dial plunger 184 help this effect, which are configured to provide minimal friction. When the dial plunger 184 moves into the bowl-shaped depression 120 when the dial 116 is rotated, the dial plunger 184 provides tactile feedback (and possible audible noise) to the user.

[0045] like Figure 7 As shown, the upper gear mount 191 is connected to the bottom of the upper turntable support 112 and is suspended thereon. The lower gear mount 192 is connected to the upper gear mount 191 and is suspended thereon. A gear system including a first gear 194 and a second gear 196 is mounted between the upper gear mount 191 and the lower gear mount 192. Figure 3As shown, the potentiometer 198 is mounted on the top of the upper gear mount 191 and extends partially through the upper gear mount. The second gear 196 is operably connected to the bottom of the potentiometer 198.

[0046] The turntable 116 is configured to control at least one operating parameter of the motor 182 through its operative connection with the first gear 194 and the second gear 196 and the potentiometer 198. The turntable 116 is configured with a plurality of gear teeth 121 on a circumferential portion of its inner circumference that does not include the semicircular protrusion 118 or the bowl-shaped depression 120. When the user rotates the turntable 116, the gear teeth 121 are configured to rotate the first gear 194, and the rotation rotates the second gear 196. The potentiometer 198 is configured to detect the degree of rotation of the second gear 196. The circuit board 164 is configured to measure the resistance of the potentiometer and use the measured value to identify the operating parameter to which the turntable 116 is set.

[0047] The turntable 116 is configured to modify the operation of the grinding device 100. The turntable 116 and / or the housing 104 are configured with markings (not shown) that communicate various turntable 116 settings to the user. The markings communicate the settings in terms of the desired grinding coarseness level and the number of coffee beans in the grinding chamber 132. At the lowest turntable 116 setting, the motor 182 will run for the shortest period of time relative to the other turntable 116 settings. Relative to the other settings of the turntable 116, this setting is used for the smallest amount of coffee beans in the grinding chamber 132 and when the user wants the coffee beans to be ground into coarse particles. At the highest turntable 116 setting, the motor 182 will run for the longest period of time relative to the other turntable 116 settings. Relative to the other settings of the turntable 116, this setting is used for the largest amount of coffee beans in the grinding chamber 132 and when the user wants the coffee beans to be ground into fine powder.

[0048] Grinding device 100 and similar devices are mainly used in the early morning and when the user needs an extra caffeine boost. In this case, the simplicity of user input is very important.

[0049] The operation of the dial 116 and the movable unit 148 is designed to be simple and intuitive. The dial 116 markings reduce the two parameters (coarseness and quantity of coffee beans) to a single sequence, thereby reducing the required user input to a single variable. Once the setting is selected, the grinding device 100 only requires the user to indicate when to start operation by depressing the movable unit 148 once.

[0050] In some prior art grinding devices, the device is configured to stop operating when the user is no longer interacting with it. In contrast, the grinding device 100 of the present invention is configured so that once the user depresses the movable unit 148, the grinding device 100 does not require additional user input. This may be beneficial because the user can cause the grinding device 100 to operate while performing other tasks.

[0051] The removable unit 148 can reduce the number of necessary external protrusions, giving the device's exterior profile a sleek cylindrical appearance. This design is aesthetically pleasing and can reduce the counter space a user needs to dedicate to the device. In addition, reducing the size of the exterior profile can reduce shipping costs due to the corresponding reduction in packaging size.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the housing 104 can take different forms and can have different configurations. For example, the inner housing 108 and the outer housing 110 can be a single component. Similarly, the upper turntable support 112 can be a portion of the inner housing 108, the outer housing 110, or a component composed of both. The grinding bowl 134 and the grinding bowl housing 106 can be a single component. In addition, the lid 102 can be directly mated with the grinding bowl 134, rather than mating with the grinding bowl housing 106. The grinding bowl housing 106 can also be configured so that no portion of it is partially contained within the inner housing 108.

[0053] The outer surface of any part of the housing 104 may not be smooth, and various aesthetic features may be added. For example, a brand name or logo may be painted, etched, or engraved on the top of the cover 102 or on the outer periphery of the housing 110.

[0054] In addition, the housing 104 can be easily configured so that the turntable 116 also serves as the base of the grinding device. In this configuration, the circular ridge 124 on the top of the turntable 116 and the circular groove 114 on the bottom of the upper turntable support 112 will be designed to prevent vertical movement of the turntable 116. This can be achieved in a variety of ways; for example, the circular ridge 124 on the top of the turntable 116 and the circular groove 114 on the bottom of the upper turntable support 112 can both have interlocking lips that snap into place during assembly.

[0055] The turntable 116 may also be located above the inner shell 108 and the outer shell 110. In this configuration, the upper turntable support 112 may be moved to connect to the bottom of the grinding bowl housing 106, or the bottom of the grinding bowl housing 106 may incorporate the circular groove 114 and connect directly to the turntable 116. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the turntable 116 may be configured without the tabs 122 or with a smooth outer surface.

[0056] Various features that limit the movement of the housing 110 may be modified. For example, the inner housing groove 115 and the housing ridge 111 that cooperate to prevent the housing 110 from rotating may be significantly shorter, rather than extending the entire height of the inner housing 108 and the outer housing 110. In such a configuration, the inner housing groove 115 and the housing ridge 111 may be configured so that they also prevent vertical movement of the outer housing 110 relative to the inner housing 108 in at least one direction. Such a configuration may make the circular inner housing lip 109 or the circular upper turntable support lip 113 unnecessary or redundant.

[0057] The internal support components may also be combined with each other or with different portions of the housing 104. For example, the lower grinding bowl support 144 may be configured as a portion of the grinding bowl housing 106 or as a portion of the inner shell 108. Similarly, the lower gear mount 192 may be configured as a portion of the base 128, and the upper gear mount 191 may be configured as a portion of the upper turntable support 112.

[0058] The number of movable unit springs 174 can be increased or decreased as needed to change the function. The same is true for the number of gears between the rotary disk 116 and the potentiometer 198.

[0059] It is understood that the movable unit 148 may include any number of components in different configurations. For example, the movable unit switch 160 may remain stationary by being connected to the inner housing 108 and configured to be actuated by a portion of the movable unit 148 when the movable unit 148 is lowered.

[0060] In one embodiment, the movable unit 148 may include only the grinding chamber 134, the upper grinding bowl support 140 and the lower grinding bowl support 144, the deactivation plunger 166, the deactivation plunger spring 168, the deactivation switch 170, and the deactivation switch housing 172. In this configuration, the blade 154 remains stationary. The vane rotor 156 may have such a length to allow the movable unit 148 to move vertically along the vane rotor without contacting the motor 182. The motor housing 176 may be connected to the inner wall of the inner shell 108 or to the base 128.

[0061] It will also be appreciated that the movable unit 148 can remain depressed while the motor 182 is running. In some embodiments, a spring-operated plunger (not shown) can grip the movable unit 148 until a release signal is sent from the circuit board 164 indicating that the desired grinding time has been reached. In this configuration, the "motor start" signal from the movable unit switch 160 to the circuit board 164 can be continuous when the movable unit switch 160 is actuated.

[0062] In other embodiments, the user may hold the movable unit 148 in the depressed position for a desired grinding time. In such a configuration, the movable unit switch 160 may be configured to send a continuous "motor on" signal to the circuit board 164 while the movable unit 148 is held in the depressed position. As long as the circuit board 164 continues to receive the "motor on" signal from the movable unit switch 160, the motor 182 may be configured to operate until the maximum grinding time. In some embodiments, the maximum grinding time is 45 seconds.

[0063] The deactivation switch 170 may be configured to send a continuous "motor start" signal to the circuit board 164. In such embodiments, the circuit board 164 may receive a power supply independent of its connection to the deactivation switch 170. The circuit board 164 may further be configured to operate only when receiving a "motor start" signal from the deactivation switch 170 and simultaneously receiving a single non-continuous "motor start" signal or a continuous "motor start" signal from the movable unit switch 160. Conversely, when the deactivation switch 170 is not actuated, it may be configured to stop sending a "motor start" signal to the circuit board 164, which may be configured to deactivate the motor 182 when a continuous "motor start" signal is not received from the deactivation switch 170.

[0064] In some embodiments, the turntable plunger 184 can be configured to not make audible noise when the turntable 116 rotates.

[0065] In addition, the motor 182 can be configured to change the blade speed during operation or even reduce the blade speed to zero before increasing the speed again. This "pulse" effect helps prevent the grind from clumping and ensures a more uniform grind. The turntable plunger 184 can be configured to modify any operating parameter of the motor, including grind duration, blade rotation speed, pulse frequency, pulse pattern, etc.

[0066] The foregoing is an explanation of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting it. Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made in the exemplary embodiments without substantially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Therefore, all of these modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. The present invention is defined by the appended claims, and the equivalents of the claims are included therein.

Claims

1. A grinding device, comprising: a housing, the housing comprising a side wall; a grinding bowl, the grinding bowl being located in the housing; a cover engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl, wherein the cover and the grinding bowl together define a grinding chamber; a blade positioned within the grinding chamber; a motor positioned within the housing, operably connected to the blade and configured to rotate the blade; a rotating disk generally radially aligned with a sidewall of the housing, wherein the rotating disk is configured to control at least one operating parameter of the motor; and Wherein the turntable rotates about a substantially vertical axis.

2. The grinding device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit, wherein the control unit is connected to the rotating disk and the motor.

3. The grinding device according to claim 1, wherein: The dial is configured to provide physical and / or audible feedback to a user to indicate that the dial has been rotated from one operating parameter to another operating parameter.

4. The grinding device of claim 3, further comprising a spring-operated plunger mounted within the housing, the spring-operated plunger engaging the rotating disk.

5. The grinding device of claim 1 further comprising a deactivation feature that de-energizes the motor when the cover is not engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl.

6. The grinding device according to claim 5, wherein: The deactivation feature is a switch operably connected to the motor and configured to be actuated when the lid is engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl.

7. The grinding device of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter controlled by the rotating disk is grinding duration.

8. The grinding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter controlled by the rotating disk is blade rotation speed.

9. The grinding device according to claim 1, wherein: The dial and the housing are provided with external markings to indicate the operating parameter settings.

10. The grinding device according to claim 9, wherein: The markings indicate the number of cups of beans in the grinding chamber and the desired coarseness of the ground beans.

11. The grinding device according to claim 1, wherein: At least the grinding chamber defines a movable unit, and wherein the movable unit is configured to move vertically between a depressed position and a raised position, wherein the movable unit is close to the base of the housing, and wherein the movable unit is away from the base of the housing.

12. The grinding device of claim 11, further comprising a switch, wherein the switch is operably connected to the motor, wherein movement of the movable unit actuates the switch to operate the motor.

13. A grinding device, comprising: A housing, the housing comprising a side wall and a base located below the side wall; a grinding bowl, the grinding bowl being located in the housing; a cover engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl, wherein the cover and the grinding bowl together define a grinding chamber; a blade positioned within the grinding chamber; a motor positioned within the housing, operably connected to the blade and configured to rotate the blade; wherein at least the grinding chamber defines a movable unit; and The movable unit is configured to move vertically between a depressed position in which the movable unit is close to a base of the housing and a raised position in which the movable unit is away from the base of the housing.

14. The grinding device of claim 13, further comprising a switch, wherein the switch is operably connected to the motor, wherein movement of the movable unit to the depressed position actuates the switch to operate the motor.

15. The grinding device of claim 13, further comprising a switch, wherein the switch is operably connected to the motor, wherein movement of the movable unit to the raised position opens the switch to operate the motor.

16. The grinding apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a deactivation feature that de-energizes the motor when the cover is not engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl.

17. The grinding device of claim 16, wherein the deactivation feature is a switch configured to be automatically actuated when the lid is engaged with one of the housing and the grinding bowl.

18. The grinding device of claim 13, further comprising at least one spring operably connected to the movable unit, wherein the at least one spring urges the movable unit toward the raised position.

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