Swivel lever handle and food processor with this swivel lever handle

Abstract

Swivel lever handle (1) for releasable positive locking fixation to a head of a swivel lever of a food processor with a mixing and cooking pot with a blade and a drive unit for driving the blade, characterized by a receiving space (5) for receiving, in particular for positive locking, the head of the swivel lever, wherein the receiving space (5) is bounded by a wall (4) with a non-rotationally symmetrical, preferably elongated, receiving opening (3) and wherein the swivel lever handle (1) has a handle element (7) for operating the swivel lever.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a swivel lever handle and a food processor with such a swivel lever handle.

[0002] The latest generation of the Thermomix TM7 features a swivel lever for decoupling the mixing bowl and cooking pot from the drive unit. This swivel lever protrudes radially from the contour of the drive unit at a slight distance and has a lever rod with a non-rotationally symmetrical head at its end. The swivel lever is made of plastic.

[0003] Due to the small protrusion of this swivel lever, operating the decoupling mechanism may be difficult.

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an attachable swivel lever handle for this type of swivel lever on a kitchen machine for home use.

[0005] The present invention solves this problem by means of a pivot lever attachment with the features of claim 1.

[0006] A swivel lever handle according to the invention is designed for releasable, positive-locking fixing to a head of a swivel lever of a kitchen machine with a mixing and cooking pot with a wing blade and a drive unit for driving the wing blade.

[0007] The swivel lever handle has a receiving space for receiving, in particular for the positive locking, of the head of the swivel lever.

[0008] The recording space is bounded by a wall with a non-rotationally symmetrical, preferably elongated, recording opening.

[0009] The swivel lever also features a handle for operating the swivel lever.

[0010] The non-rotationally symmetrical receiving opening allows the swivel lever handle to be engaged by rotation, thus creating a positive fit with the head of the swivel lever.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of this swivel lever attachment are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] It is advantageous for assembly if the swivel lever handle has one or more rotation stops within the receiving space.

[0013] To reduce the risk of breakage of the swivel lever in the area of ​​the usually rather thin swivel lever rod, it is advantageous for the wall to have an end face of the swivel lever handle oriented towards the food processor.

[0014] The handle element and the receiving chamber of the swivel lever handle are preferably part of a one-piece molded plastic component, in particular a thermoplastic molded plastic component. This results in particularly high mechanical strength and a gap-free, hygienic design.

[0015] To achieve a better grip, the handle element can have a sleeve-shaped elastomer molded part and / or a TPE molded part.

[0016] The receiving space is designed such that the swivel lever handle is secured to the head by a clamping fit. This prevents the swivel lever handle from unintentionally coming loose.

[0017] In a structurally uncomplicated manner, the wall with the receiving opening can have a thickening to create the clamping fit for rotation protection.

[0018] Good leverage is achieved when the axial extension of the swivel lever handle is at least 5 cm, preferably at least 8 cm.

[0019] The pivot lever handle can be designed in such a way that it can be guided radially over the head of a pivot lever and can be brought into engagement with the head by rotation relative to the head, whereby the engagement can be released by rotation in the opposite direction.

[0020] To avoid contamination, it is advantageous if the intake opening is the only opening of the intake space.

[0021] Furthermore, according to the invention, a kitchen machine of the generic type comprises a mixing and cooking pot with a blade, a drive unit for driving the blades, and a pivoting lever with a pivoting lever rod and a head arranged at the end of it, preferably non-rotationally symmetrical, for operating a decoupling mechanism between the drive unit and the mixing and cooking pot.

[0022] The present invention is based on the fact that the head is positively connected to a pivot lever handle according to the invention, such that the head is arranged in the receiving space of the pivot lever handle.

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 Perspective view of a swivel lever handle according to the invention; Fig. 2 Sectional view along the longitudinal axis through the swivel lever handle; and Fig. 3 Sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis through the swivel lever handle.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a swivel lever handle for attachment to the non-rotationally symmetrical head of a swivel lever of a food processor for chopping and / or heating food.

[0025] The food processor, in a manner familiar from other kitchen models, features a mixing and cooking bowl with an integrated blade for chopping food. The food processor includes a drive unit for rotating the blade.

[0026] To decouple the mixing and cooking bowl from its drive unit, for example for cleaning purposes, the food processor has a swivel lever. Swiveling the lever activates a decoupling mechanism that decouples the cooking bowl from the drive unit, allowing the bowl to be cleaned in a dishwasher. A similar mechanism is used in the Vorwerk TM7 appliance.

[0027] The pivot lever has a pivot rod and, to facilitate operation, a terminal head. This head is not rotationally symmetric in the strict sense. Rotationally symmetric means that the head would be mapped onto itself when rotated through any angle.

[0028] In this case, the head is elongated in its perpendicular extension to the pivot lever rod. This allows for a special type of fixation of the [part / position]. Fig.1-3 of the swivel lever handle shown 1.

[0029] The illustrated swivel lever handle 1 is placed radially over the head of the swivel lever with respect to the axis of rotation of the blades of the food processor. Due to the elongated shape of the swivel lever head, the swivel lever can be engaged with the head by rotating the swivel lever handle after it has been placed over the head.

[0030] For this purpose, the swivel lever handle 1 has an elongated receiving opening 3 on one of its end faces 2, which is inclined towards the food processor. Due to its elongated shape, the receiving opening has a greater length than width perpendicular to its length.

[0031] Beyond a wall 4 with an end face 3, the pivot lever handle has a receiving space 5 for receiving the head of the pivot lever. Within the receiving space, one or more rotation stops 6 are arranged, against which a side surface of the head of the pivot lever abuts after rotation of the pivot lever handle. Overall, the rotation creates a positive fit between the pivot lever handle and the head of the pivot lever. This positive fit can be released by rotation in the opposite direction.

[0032] In a variant not shown, the wall with the end face can also thicken in the direction of rotation, thus creating a clamping fit to prevent rotation. The swivel lever handle can only be released once the clamping forces are overcome.

[0033] Extending axially from the end face of the swivel lever handle, it has a grip element 7 beyond the receiving area, which preferably has a length of more than 5 cm, and particularly preferably more than 10 cm. The grip element 7 allows for a broad surface area for the operator's hand and increases the leverage of the swivel lever, thereby significantly reducing the force required to decouple the mixing and cooking pot from the drive unit.

[0034] Thanks to its detachable, form-fitting design, the swivel lever handle 1 can be easily removed and packed together with the food processor to save space, or it can be packaged separately and retrofitted as an additional operating aid. This component can also be cleaned in the dishwasher after removal, for example, after use with dirty hands (e.g., with dough residue or similar). Reference sign 1 swivel lever handle 2 Front surface 3 Intake opening 4 wall 5 Recording room 6 rotary stop 7 Handle element

Claims

[1] Swivel lever handle (1) for releasable positive locking fixation on a head of a swivel lever of a food processor with a mixing and cooking pot with a blade and a drive unit for driving the blade, characterized by a receiving space (5) for receiving, in particular for positive-locking, the head of the pivot lever, wherein the receiving space (5) is bounded by a wall (4) with a non-rotationally symmetrical, preferably elongated, receiving opening (3) and wherein the swivel lever handle (1) has a handle element (7) for operating the swivel lever. [2] Swivel lever handle according to claim 1, characterized by that the swivel lever handle (1) has one or more rotation stops (6) within the receiving space (5). [3] Swivel lever handle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the wall (4) has an end face (2) of the swivel lever handle (1) oriented towards the food processor. [4] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the handle element (7) and the receiving space (5) of the swivel lever handle (1) are part of a one-piece molded plastic part, in particular a thermoplastic molded plastic part. [5] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the handle element (7) has a sleeve-shaped elastomer molded part and / or TPE molded part. [6] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the receiving space (5) is designed such that the swivel lever handle (1) is secured against rotation by clamping. [7] Swivel lever handle according to claim 6, characterized by , that the wall (4) with the receiving opening (3) has a thickening to realize the clamping fit for rotation protection. [8] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the axial extension of the pivot lever handle (1) is at least 5 cm, preferably at least 8 cm. [9] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the pivot lever handle (1) can be guided radially over the head of a pivot lever and can be brought into engagement with the head by rotation relative to the head, wherein the engagement can be released by rotation in the opposite direction. [10] Swivel lever handle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the recording space (5) has the recording opening (3) as its only opening. [11] Food processor with a mixing and cooking pot with a blade, with a drive unit for driving the blades and a pivot lever with a pivot lever rod and a head arranged at the end thereof, preferably non-rotationally symmetrical, for operating a decoupling mechanism between the drive unit and the mixing and cooking pot, characterized by, that the head is positively connected to a pivot lever handle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, such that the head is arranged in the receiving space (5) of the pivot lever handle (1).

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