Juicer accessory, juicer and use method of juicer accessory

Abstract

A juicer accessory (100) for a handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system is provided. The juicer accessory comprises a food shredding member (102) arranged to be rotated by a motorized drive system. The juicing accessory also includes a feed tube (104) in which the food may be received. The feed tube may mate with, for example, a hand-held kitchen appliance, such that the feed tube may be moved with the hand-held kitchen appliance. Food may be delivered through the feed tube toward the food shredding member. The juicer accessory also includes a food support (106) receivable in the feed tube to support food. The feed tube is movable relative to the food support such that food in the feed tube is pressed against the food shredding member by the food support to release juice from the food when the hand-held kitchen appliance having the feed tube cooperating with the hand-held kitchen appliance is moved to bring the food shredding member toward the food support. A juicer including the juicer accessory and a method of juicing using such a juicer accessory are also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a juicer accessory for a handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system, and a juicer comprising the juicer accessory and the handheld kitchen appliance. The present invention also relates to a method for extracting juice using such a juicer accessory. Background Art

[0002] The term '5 a day' promotes healthy nutrition, meaning that people should consume five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

[0003] Making juice from fruit and / or vegetables can provide consumers with a straightforward way to help them consume their '5 a day'.

[0004] Consumers may wish to drink clear juice or smoothies with fiber particles suspended in the juice. Screening can be a very important step for those who do not like smoothies and / or prefer to make so-called 'power drinks'. Power drinks are healthy juices that contain relatively small amounts of ginger, curcumin and / or turmeric. Such ingredients may include hard fibers, which are usually desirable to remove before drinking the juice.

[0005] To prepare clear juices and smoothies, consumers often need to keep multiple devices on their countertops, such as juicers, blenders, and citrus juicers, which makes storage difficult.

[0006] It would be desirable to find a way to allow consumers to prepare fresh fruit and vegetable beverages, such as relatively small quantities of such beverages, for consumption on the go in a relatively simple and low-cost manner that minimizes the addition of new equipment to the consumer's kitchen pantry. Summary of the invention

[0007] The invention is defined by the claims.

[0008] According to an example of one aspect of the present invention, a juicer accessory for a handheld kitchen appliance with a motorized drive system is provided, the juicer accessory comprising: a food chopping member, which is arranged to be rotated by the motorized drive system; a feed tube, in which food can be received, the feed tube being cooperable with the handheld kitchen appliance so that the feed tube can be moved together with the handheld kitchen appliance and the food can be delivered toward the food chopping member through the feed tube; and a food support, which can be received in the feed tube to support the food, wherein the feed tube is movable relative to the food support so that when the handheld kitchen appliance with the feed tube cooperating with the handheld kitchen appliance is moved to bring the food chopping member toward the food support, the food in the feed tube is pressed against the food chopping member by the food support to release juice from the food.

[0009] Juicer accessories enable juice extraction using a handheld kitchen appliance. The handheld kitchen appliance is relatively compact and can provide a variety of food processing functions depending on the accessories selected to be rotated by a motorized drive system. Juicer accessories can help in terms of adding juicing functionality while minimizing the loss of kitchen storage space.

[0010] By cooperating the feeding tube with the handheld kitchen appliance, for example by attaching the feeding tube to the handheld kitchen appliance, the handheld kitchen appliance can be advanced together with the feeding tube toward a food support (eg, a statically mounted food support).

[0011] This can be thought of as a contrasting approach to that used in conventional juicers, where a pusher is used to press food in a feed tube onto a statically mounted chopping member that is rotated by a drive system included in a non-handheld base unit.

[0012] In at least some embodiments, the handheld kitchen appliance can move downwardly toward the food support together with the feeding tube. Therefore, the weight of the handheld kitchen appliance can help press the food against the food chopping member.

[0013] It should be noted that the movability of the feeding tube relative to the food support may be achieved by the food support being slidably received in the feeding tube.

[0014] The feed tube can have any suitable capacity. In some non-limiting examples, the feed tube has a capacity of at least 200 mL, for example 200 mL to 300 mL, such as about 250 mL.

[0015] Such feed tube capacities may enable the juicer accessory to be used to provide a so-called "juice drink" from a single fill of the feed tube.

[0016] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes a juice permeable wall extending around the food mincing member to receive the juice thereon, the juice permeable wall including a filter.

[0017] In such embodiments, the juice permeable wall may be arranged to be rotated by a motorized drive system to facilitate passage of juice received thereon through the filter.

[0018] Therefore, the centrifugal juicing function can be provided by the juicer accessory.

[0019] A fixed minimum spacing may be defined between the feed tube and the food mincing member to permit juice and pulp to reach the juice permeable wall.

[0020] In some embodiments, the food chopping member and the juice permeable wall are integrated in a single part.

[0021] This may facilitate assembly / disassembly of the juicer accessories.

[0022] In other embodiments, the food chopping member and the juice permeable wall may be different components of the juicer accessory.

[0023] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes a drive transmission assembly configured to couple the motorized drive system with the food chopping member and the juice permeable wall to enable independent control of rotation of the food chopping member and rotation of the juice permeable wall.

[0024] Such independent control may, for example, allow the food chopping member to rotate at a different speed than the juice permeable wall.

[0025] Alternatively or additionally, the food chopping member and the juice permeable wall may rotate at different times.

[0026] For example, the food chopping member may rotate in a first step to chop food while the juice permeable wall is not controlled to rotate, wherein the juice permeable wall is subsequently rotated in a second step to filter juice while the food chopping member is not controlled to rotate.

[0027] Such independent control may be implemented in any suitable manner, such as by a drive transfer assembly including a gear and / or clutch assembly through which torque from the motorized drive system may be transferred to the food chopping member and / or the juice permeable wall.

[0028] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes a pulp containing wall arranged to extend around an outer surface of the feed tube, wherein the arrangement of the pulp containing wall adjacent to the juice permeable wall defines a pulp receiving space bounded by the outer surface of the feed tube, the inner surface of the pulp containing wall, and the inner surface of the juice permeable wall.

[0029] Thus, the pulp from which the juice has been separated by the filter of the juice permeable wall can be collected in the pulp receiving space.

[0030] The pulp receiving space may have a volume of 350 mL to 500 mL, such as about 370 mL.

[0031] Combined with a 200mL to 300mL capacity feed tube, this volume allows multiple juice extractions without the need to empty the pulp receiving space.

[0032] In some embodiments, the juice permeable wall and the pulp receiving wall cooperate with each other such that the pulp receiving wall can rotate with the juice permeable wall.

[0033] In some embodiments, a juicer accessory includes a vessel having a bottom portion and a sidewall, a feed tube and the sidewall extending from the bottom portion to define a space between the sidewall and the feed tube.

[0034] The vessel may provide a convenient way to mount the feed tube.For example, the vessel may be mounted in a container, such as in a further vessel and / or in a juice collection container.

[0035] In some embodiments, a pulp-receiving wall may be disposed in the space between the side wall and the feed tube, wherein a gap permitting passage of juice is defined between an outer surface of the pulp-receiving wall and an inner surface of the side wall.

[0036] Thus, the pulp may be collected in the pulp receiving space, while the filtered juice may be received in the gap between the outer surface of the pulp containing wall and the inner surface of the side wall of the vessel.

[0037] In some embodiments, one or more holes may be provided in the vessel for permitting juice received in the gap to flow out of the vessel, for example to another vessel and / or a juice collection container.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, a gap defined between an outer surface of the pulp-receiving wall and an inner surface of the side wall may help prevent rotation of the pulp-receiving wall from being transferred to the vessel along with the juice-permeable wall.

[0039] In some embodiments, the side wall is removable from the feed tube.

[0040] This may facilitate cleaning of the vessel.In such embodiments, the above-mentioned pulp containment wall may for example be omitted.

[0041] For example, a first portion of the bottom portion extending from the side wall is detachably coupled to a second portion of the bottom portion extending from the feed tube.

[0042] Thus, the side wall and the feed tube may be detachably coupled to each other via a detachable coupling between the first part and the second part of the bottom portion of the vessel.

[0043] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes an elongated member on which the food support is supported, the elongated member being mountable on a tabletop such that the elongated member stands upright away from the tabletop to support the food support above the tabletop.

[0044] Thus, the handheld kitchen appliance can be advanced together with the feeding tube downwards towards the food support, wherein the weight of the handheld kitchen appliance helps to press the food against the food chopping member.

[0045] In some embodiments, the feeding tube has a hollow cylindrical shape, wherein the outer surface and the inner surface of the feeding tube have circular cross-sections.

[0046] In such embodiments, the food support may also be rounded so as to slide along the cylindrical interior of the feed tube so as to be able to press the food onto the food chopping member.

[0047] Nevertheless, it should be noted that other suitable cross-sectional shapes of the feed tube and the food support are contemplated, such as polygonal, for example square, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.

[0048] Such polygonal cross-sectional shapes may help minimize or prevent unintended rotation of components of the juicer accessory relative to each other.

[0049] More generally, polygonal or non-rotationally symmetrically shaped component(s) and / or rotation-lock coupling system(s) included in a juicer accessory can help minimize or prevent inadvertent rotation of juicer accessory components relative to each other.

[0050] In some embodiments, the food support is push fit into the feed tube.

[0051] Such a push fit may enable food to be loaded into the feed tube and onto the food support without the feed tube moving, eg sliding, relative to the food support during such loading.

[0052] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes an additional vessel having a bottom portion and a side portion, wherein the elongated member and the side portion extend from the bottom portion to define a recess between the elongated member and the side portion.

[0053] The further vessel may provide a convenient way of mounting the elongate member.

[0054] For example, the bottom portion of the additional vessel may allow the additional vessel to rest on a table top.

[0055] In other examples, the additional vessel may be mounted in a container, such as a juice collection container, having a base that enables the container to rest on a tabletop.

[0056] In some embodiments, the elongated member protrudes beyond an upper end of a side portion of the further vessel so as to support the food support.

[0057] This may facilitate positioning of the food support in the feed tube.

[0058] In some embodiments, the feed tube and the vessel may be received in the recess between the elongated member and the side portion when the food mincing member is moved toward the food support.

[0059] In embodiments where the pulp containing wall is included in a juicer accessory, the feed tube, vessel and pulp containing wall may be received together in the recess when the food mincing member is moved toward the food support.

[0060] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes a juice collection container, such as a cup or bottle, for collecting juice.

[0061] One or more holes may be provided in the further vessel for allowing juice received in the recess to enter the juice collection container.

[0062] In other embodiments, the juice is collected in a separate vessel and no additional juice collection container is included with the juicer accessory.

[0063] In an alternative embodiment, a juice collection container is included in the juicer accessory, but no additional vessel is included.

[0064] In such embodiments, the food support may be mounted to the juice collection container.

[0065] Mounting of the food support to the juice collection container may be implemented in any suitable manner, such as by an upstanding protrusion projecting from the base of the juice collection container being received in and engaging a recessed portion provided at the end of the elongated member opposite the end where the food support is provided.

[0066] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory includes a housing surrounding the food chopping member, wherein the feed tube is matable with the handheld kitchen appliance via the housing.

[0067] The housing can help protect the user from the rotating food chopping member, while also helping to keep the juice within the juice extractor accessory. In some embodiments, the housing can also extend around the juice permeable wall.

[0068] In some embodiments, the housing and the sidewall contact each other to transmit movement of the handheld kitchen appliance to the feed tube.

[0069] The housing may include an interface arranged to mate with the handheld kitchen appliance, for example to mate with at least a portion of a housing of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0070] Since the housing of the handheld kitchen appliance cannot be rotated by a motorized drive system mounted in the housing, the mating of the shell with the housing may mean that the shell cannot be rotated by the motorized drive system.

[0071] The engagement of the motorized drive system with the food chopping member, and in some embodiments with the juice permeable wall, may mean that the food chopping member rotates (one or more times) within the non-rotatable housing, and as the case may be, the food chopping member and the juice permeable wall.

[0072] Thus, the motor drive system cannot rotate the housing, and the gap defined between the outer surface of the pulp containment wall and the inner surface of the side wall also means that rotation of the pulp containment wall and the juice permeable wall together is not transmitted to the vessel. For example, this can be combined with the above-mentioned polygonal or non-rotationally symmetrical shaped component(s) and / or rotation locking coupling system(s) for minimizing or preventing accidental rotation of components of the juicer accessory relative to each other.

[0073] According to another aspect, a juicer is provided, the juicer comprising a handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system, and a juicer accessory according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0074] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory and / or the juicer comprises a safety mechanism arranged to prevent the food chopping member from rotating when the housing and the side wall of the vessel are not in contact with each other.

[0075] According to another aspect, a method for extracting juice using a juicer accessory is provided, the juicer accessory having a food chopping member, a feed tube and a food support, the method comprising: receiving food in the feed tube; engaging the feed tube with a handheld kitchen appliance; rotating the food chopping member using the handheld kitchen appliance; and moving the handheld kitchen appliance together with the engaged feed tube toward the food support so that the food received in the feed tube is pressed against the rotating food chopping member by the food support to release juice from the food.

[0076] The juicer accessory may be according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0077] The embodiments described herein in relation to the method may be applicable to a juicer accessory and a juicer, and the embodiments described herein in relation to a juicer accessory or a juicer may be applicable to the method.

[0078] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0079] For a better understanding of the invention, and to more clearly show how the same may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0080] Figure 1A cross-sectional view of a juicer accessory according to an example is provided;

[0081] Figure 2 Provided Figure 1 An exploded view of the juicer accessories shown;

[0082] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Provided to be included Figure 1 and Figure 2 A view of the food chopping member and juice permeable wall in the juicer accessory shown;

[0083] Figure 4 Shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The vessel of the juicer accessory shown;

[0084] Figure 5A and Figure 5B Provided Figure 1 and Figure 2 A view of the pulp containment wall of the juicer accessory shown;

[0085] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B Provided that you are accepted in Figure 4 The vessel shown Figure 5A and Figure 5B A view of the pulp container wall shown;

[0086] Fig. 7A and Figure 7B Provided Figure 1 and Figure 2 A view of an additional vessel of the juicer accessory is shown;

[0087] Figure 8 shows a further vessel as shown in FIG. 7 received in the juice collection container;

[0088] Fig. 9 Another vessel according to another example is shown;

[0089] Fig.10 A juice collection container according to another example is shown;

[0090] Fig.11 Shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 The housing of the juicer accessory shown;

[0091] Fig.12 Shown with Fig.11 The handheld kitchen appliance with the housing docked as shown;

[0092] Fig.13 and Fig.14 Schematically depicts the Figure 1 and Figure 2 Operation of the juicer with the juicer accessories shown;

[0093] Fig.15 A juicer according to an example is shown;

[0094] Fig.16 Describes the use Fig.15 The juicer shown extracts juice; and

[0095] Fig.17 A flow chart of a method according to an example is provided. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0096] The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0097] It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, although indicating exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system and method, are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the apparatus, system and method of the present invention will become better understood based on the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and are not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that in all drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0098] A juicer accessory for a handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system is provided. The juicer accessory includes a food chopping member arranged to be rotated by the motorized drive system. The juicer accessory also includes a feed tube in which food can be received. The feed tube can cooperate with the handheld kitchen appliance, for example, can be attached to the handheld kitchen appliance so that the feed tube can move with the handheld kitchen appliance. Food can be delivered toward the food chopping member through the feed tube. The juicer accessory also includes a food support that can be received in the feed tube to support the food. The feed tube can move relative to the food support so that when the handheld kitchen appliance having the feed tube cooperating therewith is moved to bring the food chopping member toward the food support, the food in the feed tube is pressed against the food chopping member by the food support to release juice from the food. A juicer including a juicer accessory is also provided, as well as a method of juicing using such a juicer accessory.

[0099] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A view of a juicer accessory 100 according to an example is provided. The juicer accessory 100 includes a food chopping member 102 arranged to be driven by a motorized drive system (in a Figure 1 and Figure 2 (not visible in the image) rotation.

[0100] The juicer accessory 100 includes a feed tube 104, a food (in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The feeding tube 104 may be received in the handheld kitchen appliance. The feeding tube 104 may cooperate with the handheld kitchen appliance so that when the user moves the handheld kitchen appliance, for example, downwardly in the direction of the kitchen countertop, the feeding tube 104 also moves with the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0101] The feeding tube 104 may have any suitable capacity, so long as the feeding tube 104 can be moved by a user along with the handheld kitchen appliance when filled with food.

[0102] In some embodiments, the feed tube 104 has a capacity of at least 200 mL, for example 200 mL to 300 mL, such as about 250 mL.

[0103] The capacity of such a feed tube 104 may enable the juicer accessory 100 to be used to provide a so-called “juice drink” from a single fill of the feed tube 104 .

[0104] The juicer accessory 100 also includes a food support 106 for supporting the food when the food is located in the feed tube 104. The feed tube 104 is movable relative to the food support 106, so that when a user moves the handheld kitchen appliance and the feed tube 104 in the direction of the food supported on the food support 106, such as by moving the handheld kitchen appliance downward in the direction of the food and the kitchen countertop, the food supported by the food support 106 and received in the feed tube 104 can be closer to the rotating food chopping member 102 and then contact the rotating food chopping member.

[0105] In this manner, juice may be released from food within the feed tube 104 that is squeezed between the food support 106 and the rotating food chopping member 102 .

[0106] This method of juice release can be considered as a contrast to the method used in conventional juicers, in which a pusher is used to squeeze food in a feed tube onto a statically mounted chopping member that is rotated by a drive system included in a non-handheld base unit.

[0107] Downward advancement of the handheld kitchen appliance together with the feed tube 104 toward the food support 106 may facilitate juicing, as the weight of the handheld kitchen appliance may help press the food against the food chopping member 102 .

[0108] The juicer accessory 100 can add a juice extraction function to, for example, an existing handheld kitchen appliance, thereby minimizing the loss of kitchen storage space.

[0109] It should be noted that the food mincing member 102 is preferably detachable from the motorized drive system.

[0110] The disassembly of the food chopping member 102 may enable the handheld kitchen appliance to be used to provide one or more different food processing functions, such as blending, chopping, etc., by attaching an alternative rotatable tool(s). Alternatively or additionally, such disassembly of the food chopping member 102 may facilitate cleaning of the food chopping member 102 after juicing.

[0111] In at least some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the food support 106 is slidably received within the feed tube 104 .

[0112] This may facilitate movement of the feed tube 104 relative to the food support 106 .

[0113] In some embodiments, food support 106 is push-fit into feed tube 104 .

[0114] Such a push fit may enable food to be loaded into the feed tube 104 and onto the food support 106 without the feed tube 104 moving, eg, sliding, relative to the food support 106 during such loading.

[0115] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the feed tube 104 has a hollow cylindrical shape, wherein the outer surface 104A and the inner surface 104B of the feed tube 104 have circular cross-sections.

[0116] In such embodiments, the food support 106 may also be circular so as to slide along the cylindrical interior of the feed tube 104 so as to be able to press the food onto the food chopping member 102 .

[0117] It should be noted, however, that other suitable cross-sectional shapes of the feed tube 104 and food support 106 are contemplated, such as polygonal shapes, eg, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc.

[0118] Such polygonal cross-sectional shapes may help minimize or prevent unintentional rotation of the components of juicer accessory 100 relative to each other.

[0119] Furthermore, other rotation stops are possible, such as fins protruding from the cylindrical feed tube 104 .

[0120] More generally, polygonal or non-rotationally symmetrically shaped component(s) and / or rotation-lock coupling system(s) included in juicer accessory 100 may help minimize or prevent components of juicer accessory 100 from inadvertently rotating relative to each other.

[0121] In at least some embodiments, food support 106 is statically mounted.

[0122] In other words, during the pressing of food onto the rotating food mincing member 102, the food support 106 does not move.

[0123] The food chopping member 102 may have any suitable design as long as the food chopping member 102 is capable of cutting, grinding and / or chopping food pressed against it to release juices from the food, particularly when the food chopping member 102 is rotated by a motorized drive system of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0124] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the food chopping member 102 comprises a support plate, such as a circular support plate, having a food contact surface 102A from which a plurality of protrusions 102B protrude, wherein the protrusions 102B are arranged to chop food when the support plate is rotated by a motorized drive system of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0125] The plurality of protrusions 102B may be arranged on the food contact surface 102A in any suitable manner, such as in the form of concentric rings of protrusions 102B. An example of this is shown in Figure 3B is shown in .

[0126] The food mincing member 102, including, for example, the support plate and the protrusion 102B, may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, and / or metal alloy.

[0127] In some embodiments, the food mincing member 102 is made of stainless steel.

[0128] Stainless steel may be a suitable sturdy material for chopping different types of foods, and may also be relatively resistant to corrosion, particularly in view of the relatively acidic environment caused by the release of juices.

[0129] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes a juice permeable wall 108 extending around the food mincing member 102 to receive juice released from food thereon, in other words, on an inner surface 108A of the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0130] During rotation of the food mincing member 102, juice and pulp may be flung towards the juice permeable wall 108, in other words, be flung towards the juice permeable wall by the action of centrifugal force.

[0131] To this end, the juice permeable wall 108 may extend annularly around the food mincing member 102 .

[0132] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the juice permeable wall 108 extends annularly around the support plate of the food mincing member 108 and away from the food contact surface 102A to define a cavity 109 bounded by the food contact surface 102A of the food mincing member 102 and the inner surface 108A of the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0133] A fixed minimum spacing may be defined between the feed tube 104 and the food mincing member 102 to permit juice and pulp to reach the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0134] The juice permeable wall 108 includes a filter and is arranged to be rotated by a motorized drive system to facilitate juice received on the inner surface 108A of the juice permeable wall 108 to pass through the filter, leaving any pulp and uncut, unground and / or unchopped food on the inner surface 108A of the juice permeable wall 108.

[0135] Thus, centrifugal juicing functionality may be provided by the juicer accessory 100 .

[0136] Any suitable type of filter is contemplated as long as the juice permeable wall 108 is capable of filtering juice.For example, the juice permeable wall 108 may include or be defined by one or more mesh / screen portions.

[0137] The juice permeable wall 108 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, and / or metal alloys.

[0138] In some embodiments, the juice permeable wall 108 is made of stainless steel, for example such that the juice permeable wall 108 takes the form of a stainless steel screen.

[0139] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the food chopping member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 are integrated into a single part, such as a single stainless steel part. This can facilitate assembly / disassembly of the juicer accessory 100.

[0140] In other embodiments, the food mincing member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 are distinct components of the juicer accessory 100, or are at least detachable from one another.

[0141] This may facilitate cleaning of the food mincing member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0142] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the food mincing member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 are coupled to one another and are arranged to be rotated at the same speed as one another by a motorized drive system.

[0143] In such embodiments, the motorized drive system may be configured to rotate the food chopping member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 at a rotational speed between 10,000 and 40,000 revolutions per minute, preferably between 20,000 and 30,000 revolutions per minute.

[0144] Such rotational speeds may provide effective cutting, grinding, and / or mincing of the food to release juice therefrom and centrifugally separate the juice through the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0145] It should be noted that the speed of rotation may depend at least in part on the diameter of the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0146] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the embodiment shown, the diameter of the juice permeable wall 108 is 50 mm to 100 mm.

[0147] For example, such diameters may be particularly suitable for disposable juicers / hand blender driven juicers.

[0148] The diameter may be measured from a point on the outer surface 108C of the juice permeable wall 108 to a diametrically opposed point on the outer surface 108C of the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0149] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 3B In the illustrated embodiment, the juice permeable wall 108 has a frusto-conical shape.

[0150] In such embodiments, and more generally, when the juice permeable wall 108 does not have a single uniform diameter, the diameter of the juice permeable wall 108 may be the average of the largest measured diameter and the shortest measured diameter.

[0151] In some embodiments, juicer accessory 100 includes a drive transfer assembly (not visible) configured to couple a motorized drive system with food mincing member 102 and juice permeable wall 108 .

[0152] For example, the drive transmission assembly may be arranged to rotate the food mincing member 102 together with the juice permeable wall 108 at a rotational speed of between 10,000 and 40,000 revolutions per minute, preferably between 20,000 and 30,000 revolutions per minute.

[0153] In an alternative embodiment, the drive transmission assembly is configured to be able to independently control the rotation of the food mincing member 102 and the rotation of the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0154] Such independent control may, for example, enable the food mincing member 102 to rotate at a different speed than the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0155] Alternatively or additionally, the food mincing member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 may rotate at different times.

[0156] For example, the food chopping member 102 may rotate in a first step to chop food while the juice permeable wall 108 is not controlled to rotate, wherein the juice permeable wall 108 is subsequently rotated in a second step to filter juice while the food chopping member 102 is not controlled to rotate.

[0157] Such independent control may be implemented in any suitable manner, such as by a drive transfer assembly including suitable gear and / or clutch assemblies through which torque from the motorized drive system may be transferred to the food mincing member 102 and / or the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0158] In embodiments where rotation of the food chopping member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108 are independently controlled, the motorized drive system and drive transmission assembly are configured to rotate the juice permeable wall 108 at 500 to 5000 revolutions per minute, preferably between 3000 to 4000 revolutions per minute.

[0159] Such rotational speeds may provide effective filtration of the juice through the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0160] In such embodiments, the motorized drive system and drive transmission assembly may be configured to rotate the food chopping member 102 at a rotational speed of between 8,000 and 20,000 revolutions per minute, preferably between 9,000 and 12,000 revolutions per minute.

[0161] Such rotational speeds may provide effective cutting, grinding and / or mincing of food to release juices.

[0162] In some embodiments, the drive transmission assembly includes a planetary gear assembly.

[0163] Such a planetary gear assembly may provide a simple and efficient way to rotate the juice permeable wall 108 while also allowing the food mincing members 102 to rotate, for example, at different rotational speeds relative to one another.

[0164] In some embodiments, the drive transfer assembly includes a planetary gear assembly and a coupler releasably engageable with the planetary gear assembly, wherein the coupler is arranged to transfer drive from the planetary gear assembly to the juice permeable wall 108 when the coupler is engaged by the planetary gear assembly.

[0165] In such embodiments, the planetary gear assembly may rotate about a drive shaft, which may be driven by a motorized drive system.

[0166] In such embodiments, the coupling is releasably engaged by the planetary gear assembly, such as by the planetary gear assembly moving relative to the coupling along an axis of rotation about which the drive shaft rotates.

[0167] In the first configuration, the planetary gear assembly is disengaged from the coupler so that the coupler is not engaged by the planetary gear assembly. In this first configuration, the juice permeable wall 108 is not rotated by the motorized drive system via the drive transmission assembly, but the food chopping member 102 is rotated by the motorized drive system via the drive transmission assembly.

[0168] In the second configuration, the coupler is engaged with the planetary gear assembly and the juice permeable wall 108 is rotated by the motorized drive system through the drive transfer assembly.

[0169] In some embodiments, when the planetary gear assembly transmits drive to the juice permeable wall 108, such as when the coupler is engaged by the planetary gear assembly, the gear ratio of the planetary gear assembly causes the juice permeable wall 108 to rotate slower than the drive shaft.

[0170] It should be noted that in other embodiments, the coupling between the motorized drive system and the juice permeable wall 108 and / or the food mincing member 102 is achieved via a magnetic coupling.

[0171] The clutch function can also be achieved by an overrunning clutch, which is arranged so that when the motor of the motorized drive system rotates in a first direction, only the drive shaft with the food chopping member 102 rotates at a first rotational speed, and when the motor of the motorized drive system rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the planetary gear assembly and therefore the juice permeable wall 108 rotates at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed.

[0172] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 6B In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes a pulp containment wall 110 that is arranged to extend around an outer surface 104A of the feed tube 104 .

[0173] In some embodiments, and as Figure 5BAs best shown in FIG. 1 , the pulp containment wall 110 is an annular pulp containment wall 110 that extends around a perimeter of an outer surface 104A of the feed tube 104, which is a circular perimeter in this non-limiting example.

[0174] The pulp receiving wall 110 may define an opening OP through which the feed tube 104 may pass, such that the pulp receiving wall 110 is disposed around an outer surface 104A of the feed tube 104 .

[0175] In such embodiments, and if Figure 1 and Figure 2 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the arrangement of the pulp containing wall 110 adjacent the juice permeable wall 108 defines a pulp receiving space 111 bounded by the outer surface 104A of the feed tube 104, the food contact surface 102A of the food mincing member 102, the inner surface 110A of the pulp containing wall 110, and the inner surface 108A of the juice permeable wall 108.

[0176] Thus, any pulp and uncut, unground and / or unchopped food separated from the juice by the filter of the juice permeable wall 108 may be collected in the pulp receiving space 111 .

[0177] The pulp receiving space 111 may have a volume of 350 to 500 mL, such as about 370 mL.

[0178] Combined with a 200 mL to 300 mL capacity feed tube 104 , such a volume allows multiple juice extractions without the need to empty the pulp receiving space 111 .

[0179] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 6B In the illustrated embodiment, the pulp-receiving wall 110 extends to an edge 110C that is configured, for example, shaped, to mate with the end 108B of the juice-permeable wall 108 .

[0180] In some embodiments, the cooperation between the edge 110C and the end 108B enables the pulp-receiving wall 110 to rotate with the juice-permeable wall 108 .

[0181] Alternatively or additionally, such fit may help retain any pulp and uncut, unground and / or unchopped food within the pulp receiving space 111 .

[0182] For example, edge 110C and end 108B have complementary shapes such that end 108B mates with and engages edge 110C.

[0183] In other more preferred embodiments, the pulp-receiving wall 110 is statically positioned, in other words, does not rotate with the juice-permeable wall 108 .

[0184] The space between the juice permeable wall 108 and the pulp containing wall 110 may be as small as possible and constructed in such a way that no or only a negligible amount of pulp may contaminate the juice.

[0185] The pulp-receiving wall 110 may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic.

[0186] Making the pulp-receiving wall 110 from plastic may help make this component of the juicer accessory 100 lighter and thus easier to move with the handheld kitchen appliance to squeeze food between the food support 106 and the food mincing member 102 .

[0187] It should be noted that in some embodiments, the plastic pulp-receiving wall 110 may help compensate for the added weight of the juicer accessory 100 due to the inclusion of the stainless steel food chopping member 102 and / or the stainless steel juice permeable wall 108 .

[0188] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 6B In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes a vessel 112 having a bottom portion 114 and a side wall 116 , with a feed tube 104 and the side wall 116 extending from the bottom portion 114 to define a space 118 therebetween.

[0189] In such embodiments, the feed tube 104 may be included in the vessel 112, such as being integrated with the vessel.

[0190] In particular, and as Figure 4 As best shown in FIG. 1 , space 118 is defined by an inner surface 116A of sidewall 116 and at least a portion of an outer surface 104A of feed tube 104 .

[0191] The vessel 112 may provide a convenient means of mounting the feed tube 104 .

[0192] The vessel 112 and the feed tube 104 can be formed of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the vessel 112 and / or the feed tube 104 are made of plastic.

[0193] Making the vessel 112 from plastic, including the feed tube 104 for example, can help make such component(s) lighter and thus easier to move with the handheld kitchen appliance to squeeze food between the food support 106 and the food chopping member 102, and can compensate for the added weight associated with including a stainless steel food chopping member 102 and / or a stainless steel juice permeable wall 108, for example.

[0194] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 6BIn the illustrated embodiment, the pulp receiving wall 110 may be disposed in the space 118 between the side wall 116 and the feed tube 104 , wherein a gap 120 defined between an outer surface 110B of the pulp receiving wall 110 and an inner surface 116A of the side wall 116 permits passage of juice.

[0195] Alternatively or additionally, a gap 120 defined between the outer surface 110B of the pulp receiving wall 110 and the inner surface 116A of the sidewall 116 may help prevent rotation of the pulp receiving wall 110 from being transferred to the vessel 112 along with the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0196] In some embodiments, the side wall 116 is detachable from the feed tube 104. This may facilitate cleaning of the vessel 112. In such embodiments, the pulp-receiving wall 110 described above may, for example, be omitted.

[0197] For example, a first portion of the bottom portion 114 extending from the side wall 116 is detachably coupled to a second portion of the bottom portion 114 extending from the feed tube 104. Thus, the side wall 116 and the feed tube 104 may be detachably coupled to each other via a detachable coupling between the first and second portions of the bottom portion 114 of the vessel 112.

[0198] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3A , having passed through the filter of the juice permeable wall 108, reaches the outer surface 108C of the juice permeable wall 108 and can be centrifuged onto the inner surface of the housing 136. From there, the juice can enter the gap 120 between the outer surface 110B of the pulp receiving wall 110 and the inner surface 116A of the side wall 116 of the vessel 112.

[0199] Any pulp and uncut, unground and / or unchopped food may be collected in the pulp receiving space 111 , while the filtered juice flows into the gap 120 outside the pulp receiving space 111 .

[0200] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 6B In the illustrated embodiment, one or more holes 121 are provided in the vessel 112, in other words defined by the vessel, for allowing the juice received in the gap 120 to flow out of the vessel 112, for example to another vessel and / or a juice collection container, which will be described in more detail below.

[0201] In some embodiments, and as Figure 4 As best shown in FIG. 1 , one or more holes 121 are provided in the bottom portion 114 of the vessel 112 , in other words, are defined by the bottom portion of the vessel.

[0202] Thus, the filtered juice may flow out of the bottom portion 114 of the vessel 112 .

[0203] Specific reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Fig. 7A , Figure 7B and Figure 8 , the juicer accessory 100 can include an elongated member 122 on which the food support 106 is supported, such as mounted.

[0204] The elongated member 122 may be mounted on a tabletop or countertop such that the elongated member 122 stands upright away from the tabletop / countertop to support the food support 106 above the tabletop / countertop.

[0205] Thus, the handheld kitchen appliance may be advanced together with the feed tube 104 downwardly toward the food support 106 , wherein the weight of the handheld kitchen appliance thereby helps to press the food against the food chopping member 102 rotated by the motorized drive system of the kitchen appliance.

[0206] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated member 122 is a cylindrical member 122 , preferably a hollow cylindrical member 122 for reasons of weight reduction, wherein one of the circular bases of the cylindrical member 122 defines the food support 106 .

[0207] In such embodiments, the feed tube 104 may have the circular cross-section described above in order to receive the cylindrical member 122 .

[0208] Other shapes for the elongated member 122 are also contemplated, such as the polygonal cross-sectional shape described above, so long as the elongated member 122 and the food support 106 can be accommodated within the feeding tube 104 .

[0209] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes an additional vessel 124 having a bottom portion 126 and a side portion 128 , wherein the elongated member 122 and the side portion 128 extend from the bottom portion 126 to define a recess 130 between the side portion 128 and the elongated member 122 .

[0210] In particular, and as Fig. 7A As best shown in , recess 130 is defined by inner surface 128A of side portion 128 and at least a portion of outer surface 122A of elongated member 122 .

[0211] The additional vessel 124 may provide a convenient way to mount the elongated member 122, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0212] In such embodiments, the elongated member 122 may be included in the additional vessel 124, such as being integrated with the additional vessel.

[0213] The further vessel 124 and the elongated member 122 may be formed of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the further vessel 124 and / or the elongated member 122 are made of plastic.

[0214] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated member 122 protrudes beyond an upper end 128B of a side portion 128 of the additional vessel 124 to support the food support 106 .

[0215] This may facilitate positioning of the food support 106 within the feed tube 104 .

[0216] In some embodiments, and with reference to Figure 1 The feed tube 104 and the vessel 112 may be received in the recess 130 between the elongated member 122 and the side portion 128 when the food crushing member 102 moves toward the food support 106 to press the food supported by the food support 106 against the food crushing member 102 .

[0217] In such Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, where the pulp receiving wall 110 is included in the juicer accessory 100 , the feed tube 104 , the vessel 112 , and the pulp receiving wall 110 may be received together in the recess 130 when the food mincing member 102 is moved toward the food support 106 .

[0218] In such embodiments, it may be desirable for the feed tube 104, vessel 112, and pulp-receiving wall 110 to all be made of plastic.

[0219] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes a juice collection container 132, such as a cup or bottle, for collecting juice.

[0220] In embodiments where an additional vessel 124 is included in the juicer accessory 100 , the additional vessel 124 may be mounted in such a juice collection container 132 .

[0221] The juice collection container 132 may have a base 132A configured to allow the juice collection container 132 to rest on a tabletop / countertop, for example, so that the elongated member 122 stands upright away from the tabletop / countertop. An example of this is Figure 8 is best shown in .

[0222] In some embodiments, the base 132A of the juice collection container 132 includes a mounting portion, such as a non-slip portion (not visible), such as rubber feet, for contacting a kitchen countertop or table.

[0223] The additional vessel 124 may be mounted within the juice collection container 132 in any suitable manner.

[0224] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, the juice collection container 132 has a rim 132B extending around the opening of the juice collection container 132, and the upper end 128B of the side portion 128 is defined by a lip that is arranged to cooperate with the rim 132B of the juice collection container 132, such as resting on the rim of the juice collection container.

[0225] In embodiments where the juicer accessory 100 includes the further vessel 124 , one or more apertures 134 may be provided in the further vessel 124 , in other words defined by the further vessel 124 , for allowing juice received in the recess 130 to enter the juice collection container 132 .

[0226] In some embodiments, such as Fig. 7A , Figure 7B and Figure 8 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the one or more holes 134 are provided in the bottom portion 126 of the further vessel 124 , in other words, are defined by the bottom portion of the further vessel.

[0227] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 8 In the illustrated embodiment, filtered juice that flows from the gap 120 through the one or more apertures 121 to the recess 130 may then flow out of the recess 130 and into the juice collection container 132 through the one or more apertures 134 .

[0228] refer to Figure 1 , when the further vessel 124 is mounted in the juice collecting container 132 , the juice collecting container 132 has a juice collecting volume CV, in which juice JU , for example filtered juice JU , can be collected.

[0229] In an alternative embodiment, such as Fig. 9 In the illustrated embodiment, juice (eg, filtered juice) is collected in an additional vessel 124 , and an additional juice collection container is not included with the juicer accessory 100 .

[0230] In such alternative embodiments, the bottom portion 126 of the additional vessel 124 may, for example, enable the additional vessel 124 to rest on a tabletop / countertop, for example, so as to allow the elongated member 122 to stand upright away from the tabletop / countertop.

[0231] In such embodiments, the bottom portion 126 of the additional vessel 124 may include a mounting portion, such as including a non-slip portion (not visible), such as rubber feet, for contacting a kitchen countertop or table.

[0232] In other embodiments, such as Fig.10 In the illustrated embodiment, a juice collection container 132 is included in the juicer accessory 100, but no additional vessels are included.

[0233] In such cases, the food support 106 may be mounted to the juice collection container 132, in other words, may be mounted directly to the juice collection container 132 without the need for an additional vessel 124 in between.

[0234] The food support 106 may be mounted to the juice collection container 132 in any suitable manner.

[0235] In some embodiments, such as Fig.10 In the illustrated embodiment, the food support 106 is mounted to the juice collection container 132 via an upstanding protrusion 135A protruding from the base 132A of the juice collection container 132, which is received in and engages with a recessed portion 135B provided at the end of the elongated member 122 opposite the end where the food support 106 is provided.

[0236] Alternative ways of mounting the food support 106 to the juice collection container 132 are contemplated, such as by the end of the elongated member 122 including a protrusion, with the recessed portion defined by the base 132A of the juice collection container 132 .

[0237] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 11 In the illustrated embodiment, the juicer accessory 100 includes a housing 136 surrounding the food chopping member 102 , wherein the feed tube 104 can be mated with the handheld kitchen appliance via the housing 136 .

[0238] The housing 136 may help protect a user from the rotating food mincing member 102 while also helping to retain juice within the juicer accessory 100 during juicing.

[0239] In embodiments where the juicer accessory 100 includes a juice permeable wall 108, the housing 136 may extend around the juice permeable wall 108 and around the food chopping member 102. Thus, the housing 136 may capture / retain juice that is centrifuged through the juice permeable wall 108. An example of this is shown in FIG. Figure 1 is best shown in .

[0240] Although not visible in the figures, housing 136 may house at least a portion of the drive transmitting assembly.

[0241] In some embodiments, and with reference to Fig.11 The housing 136 includes an interface 136A arranged to mate with the handheld kitchen appliance, for example, to mate with at least a portion of a housing of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0242] The interface 136A may include or be defined by a recess defined in the housing 136 that receives at least a portion of a housing of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0243] Fig.12 The housing 136 is shown mating with the outer shell of the handheld kitchen appliance via the interface 136A.

[0244] Since the housing of the handheld kitchen appliance cannot be rotated via the motorized drive system 202 , the mating of the shell 136 with the housing means that the shell 136 cannot be rotated by the motorized drive system 202 .

[0245] The engagement of the motorized drive system 202 with the food chopping member 102, and in some embodiments, with the juice permeable wall 108, may mean that the food chopping member 102, and as the case may be, the food chopping member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108, rotate (one or more times) within the non-rotatable housing 136.

[0246] Thus, the housing 136 may not be rotated by the motorized drive system, and the gap 120 defined between the outer surface 110B of the pulp containment wall 110 and the inner surface 116A of the side wall 116 may also mean that rotation of the pulp containment wall 110 together with the juice permeable wall 108 is not transferred to the vessel 112. For example, this may be combined with the polygonal or non-rotationally symmetrically shaped component(s) and / or rotationally locking coupling system(s) described above to minimize or prevent unintentional rotation of the components of the juicer accessory 100 relative to each other.

[0247] In some embodiments, the housing 136 and the sidewall 116 of the vessel 112 contact each other to transfer movement (eg, downward movement) of the handheld kitchen appliance to the feed tube 104 .

[0248] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 12 In the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 116 of the vessel 112 extends to an edge 116B that projects laterally away from the feed tube 104 , which edge 116B itself extends to an upstanding lip 116C that projects away from the bottom portion 114 of the vessel 112 .

[0249] In such embodiments, the end 136B of the shell 136 engages the edge 116B-upstanding lip 116C arrangement such that the shell 136 mates with the vessel 112 and, in such instances, is attached to the vessel 112 .

[0250] In this way, the feed tube 104 cooperates with, and in particular is attached to, the handheld kitchen appliance via the vessel 112 and the housing 136. The handheld kitchen appliance itself can be attached to the housing 136 via engagement with a drive transmission assembly mounted on the housing 136 and / or cooperation of the housing 136 with at least a portion of the housing of the handheld kitchen appliance.

[0251] The present disclosure more generally contemplates providing (e.g., supplying) a juicer accessory 100 to a user together with a handheld kitchen appliance. Fig.13 and Fig.14 One aspect of the present disclosure provides a juicer 200 , which includes a juicer accessory 100 and a handheld kitchen appliance.

[0252] In some embodiments, motorized drive system 202 includes a DC motor, such as a brushless DC motor.

[0253] Operation of such a brushless DC motor has been found to be particularly effective in rotating the food mincing member 102 and, in some embodiments, the juice permeable wall 108 .

[0254] In at least some embodiments, the motorized drive system 202 of the handheld kitchen appliance is housed within an elongated housing having an outer surface that includes a handle portion for a user to grasp.

[0255] At least a portion of the elongated housing may mate with the interface 136A of the housing 136, such as by being received in a recess defined by the housing 136, as previously described.

[0256] In some embodiments, the handheld kitchen appliance is in the form of a stick blender.

[0257] In some embodiments, the juicer accessory 100 and / or the juicer 200 includes a safety mechanism arranged to prevent the food mincing member 102 from rotating when the housing 136 and the sidewall 116 of the vessel 112 are not in contact with each other.

[0258] Such a safety mechanism may include or be defined by a micro switch (not visible) mounted on the side wall 116, for example, mounted on an edge of the side wall 116, such as mounted on edge 116B and / or upstanding lip 116C. Such a micro switch is activated, thereby contacting, for example, cooperating with the side wall 116 of the vessel 112, such as becoming attached to the side wall 116 of the vessel 112, through the housing 136, permitting the food chopping member 102 to rotate.

[0259] Alternatively or additionally, the safety mechanism may include a mechanical bridge arranged to actuate a microswitch included in the motorized drive system 202 to permit the food chopping member 102 to rotate in response to contact of the housing 136 with the side wall 116 of the vessel 112 (e.g., engaging with the side wall 116 of the vessel 112, such as becoming attached to the side wall 116 of the vessel 112).

[0260] Fig.13 The illustrated juicer 200 may be operated by mating the housing of the handheld kitchen appliance with the casing 136 and engaging the motorized drive system 202 of the handheld kitchen appliance with the food mincing member 102 and the juice permeable wall 108, such as via a drive transmission assembly.

[0261] In this example, the food support 106 is located in a juice collection container 132, such as a cup or bottle, and the food support 106 and the juice collection container 132 are not movable during juicing. In other words, in this example, the food support 106 is statically mounted.

[0262] The feed tube 104 together with the vessel 112 and pulp containing wall 110 can be loosely positioned on the food support 106 and the feed tube 104 (eg having a capacity of about 250 mL) can be filled with food, such as a juice beverage, that the user desires for his / her juice beverage.

[0263] The handheld kitchen utensil and the feeding tube 104 can then be engaged with each other, in this case, by positioning the shell 136 on the side wall 116 of the vessel 112 and securing the shell 136 to the side wall 116, for example by means of an end 136B of the shell 136 engaging an edge 116B-upright lip 116C of the side wall 116.

[0264] The safety mechanism can ensure that the handheld kitchen appliance can only rotate the food chopping member 102 when the housing 136 is located on the side wall 116 of the vessel 112 mounted with the feed tube 104. The components of the juicer accessory 100 are designed so that they cannot rotate relative to each other, as previously described.

[0265] refer to Fig.14, as indicated by arrow RO, the motorized drive system 202 of the handheld kitchen appliance is activated, in other words, turned on.

[0266] exist Fig.14 In the movement indicated by "1", the handheld kitchen appliance, such as a stick blender, is pushed downward. The movement indicated by "2" corresponds to the feeding tube 104 being pushed downward by the housing 136, in particular, by the end 136B of the housing 136, as described above.

[0267] The feed tube 104 and the rotating chopping member 102 cooperate with each other and do not move axially relative to each other. Instead, the feed tube 104 and the rotating chopping member 102 move axially toward the food support 106 at the same speed and in the same direction, as shown in FIG. Fig.14 As shown in “3” in the figure.

[0268] In this example, the food support 106 is mounted statically in the juice collection container 132, in other words, does not move, such as Fig.14 The spatial distance "A" between the food support 106 and the food chopping member 102 gradually decreases. The food such as fruits and / or vegetables are accordingly pushed by the food support 106 toward the rotating food chopping member 102, thereby releasing juice.

[0269] In this non-limiting example, the pulp is centrifuged by the rotation of the juice permeable wall 108. The juice passes through the filter with the assistance of the rotation of the juice permeable wall 108 and flows downward to be collected in the juice collection container 132. The pulp, in other words, the dry pulp, can be collected by the pulp containing wall 110.

[0270] For emptying and cleaning, the parts can be separated from each other, for example rinsed under a tap.Since a relatively large opening OP is left once the feed tube 104 has been separated from the pulp containment wall 110, the pulp containment wall 110 can be relatively easy to clean.

[0271] Fig.15 The juicer 200 is shown with the feed tube 104 filled with food FD and juice dripping JU from the vessel 112 (more specifically, from the gap 130 ) into the further vessel 124 .

[0272] Fig.16 The above steps are shown in relation to preparing juice from a single fill of the feed tube 104 .

[0273] Since the capacity of the feed tube 104 may be at least 200 mL, for example 200 mL to 300 mL, such as approximately 250 mL, a single filling of the feed tube 104 may enable the user to prepare approximately 100 mL of juice.

[0274] Since the pulp receiving space 111 may have a volume of 350 mL to 500 mL, such as about 370 mL, the user may continuously squeeze juice several times without emptying the pulp receiving space 111 .

[0275] Juicing can be performed several times in succession by pulling up the feed tube 104, including the vessel 112, for example, releasing the handheld kitchen appliance from the feed tube 104, refilling the feed tube 104 with food, engaging the handheld kitchen appliance with the feed tube 104, and repeating the juicing.

[0276] Fig.17 A flow chart is provided of a method 300 of juicing using a juicer accessory having a food chopping member, a feed tube, and a food support. The method 300 may be implemented using a juicer accessory 100 according to any embodiment described herein.

[0277] The method 300 includes receiving 302 food in a feed tube, such as on a food support and within the feed tube, engaging 304 the feed tube with a handheld kitchen appliance, rotating a food chopping member using the handheld kitchen appliance, and moving 308 the handheld kitchen appliance with the engaged feed tube toward the food support so that the food received in the feed tube is pressed by the food support against the rotating food chopping member to release juice from the food.

[0278] Based on a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments in practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0279] The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. If the term "suitable for" is used in the claims or the description, it should be noted that the term "suitable for" is intended to be equivalent to the term "configured to". If the term "device" is used in the claims or the description, it should be noted that the term "device" is intended to be equivalent to the term "system" and vice versa.

[0280] Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A juicer accessory (100) for a handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system, the juicer accessory comprising: a food chopping member (102) arranged to be rotated by the motorized drive system; a feeding tube (104) in which food can be received, the feeding tube being capable of cooperating with the handheld kitchen appliance so that the feeding tube can move together with the handheld kitchen appliance and the food can be delivered through the feeding tube toward the food chopping member; as well as A food support (106) is receivable in the feeding tube to support the food, wherein the feeding tube is movable relative to the food support so that when the handheld kitchen utensil engaged with the feeding tube is moved to bring the food chopping member toward the food support, the food in the feeding tube is pressed against the food chopping member by the food support to release juice from the food.

2. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 1, comprising a juice permeable wall (108) extending around the food chopping member (102) to receive the juice thereon, the juice permeable wall comprising a filter, wherein the juice permeable wall is arranged to be rotated by the motorized drive system to facilitate passage of the juice received thereon through the filter.

3. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 2, comprising a drive transmission assembly configured to couple the motorized drive system with the food chopping member (102) and the juice permeable wall (108) to enable independent control of rotation of the food chopping member and rotation of the juice permeable wall.

4. The juicer accessory (100) according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a pulp containing wall (110), which is arranged to extend around the outer surface of the feed tube (104), and the arrangement of the pulp containing wall adjacent to the juice permeable wall (108) defines a pulp receiving space (111) defined by the outer surface (104A) of the feed tube, the inner surface (110A) of the pulp containing wall and the inner surface (108A) of the juice permeable wall.

5. The juicer accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a vessel (112) having a bottom portion (114) and a side wall (116), wherein the feed tube (104) and the side wall extend from the bottom portion to define a space (118) between the side wall and the feed tube; optionally, wherein the side wall is removable from the feed tube.

6. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, wherein the pulp containing wall (110) is arrangeable in the space (118) between the side wall (116) and the feed tube (104), and wherein a gap (120) permitting passage of the juice is defined between an outer surface (110B) of the pulp containing wall and an inner surface (116A) of the side wall.

7. The juicer accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an extension member (122), the food support (106) being supported on the extension member, the extension member being mountable on a tabletop so that the extension member stands upright away from the tabletop to support the food support above the tabletop.

8. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 7, comprising an additional vessel (124) having a bottom portion (126) and a side portion (128), the elongated member (122) and the side portion extending from the bottom portion to define a recess (130) between the elongated member and the side portion.

9. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 8 when dependent on claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the feed tube (104) and the vessel (112) are receivable in the recess (130) when the food chopping member (102) is moved towards the food support (106).

10. The juicer accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a juice collecting container (132), wherein the juice collecting container is used to collect the juice.

11. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 10 when dependent on claim 8 or claim 9, wherein one or more holes (134) are provided in the further vessel (124) for allowing juice received in the recess (130) to enter the juice collecting container (132).

12. The juicer accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a housing (136) surrounding the food chopping member (102), the feeding tube (104) being capable of cooperating with the handheld kitchen appliance via the housing.

13. The juicer accessory (100) of claim 12 when dependent on any one of claims 5, 6 and 9, wherein the housing (136) and the side wall (116) contact each other to transmit movement of the handheld kitchen appliance to the feed tube (104).

14. A juice extractor (200), comprising: A handheld kitchen appliance having a motorized drive system (202); as well as The juicer accessory (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method (300) of extracting juice using a juicer accessory having a food chopping member, a feed tube, and a food support, the method comprising: receiving (302) food in the feed tube; Engaging the feeding tube with the handheld kitchen appliance (304); using (306) the handheld kitchen appliance to rotate the food chopping member; as well as The handheld kitchen appliance together with the feeding tube engaged therewith is moved toward the food support (308) so that the food received in the feeding tube is pressed by the food support against the rotating food chopping member to release juice from the food.

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