Mixing appliance for food preparations with blade locking mechanism in the jug

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the field of apparatus or instruments for beating / mixing food, aiming to improve safety, facilitate the connection of the parts of the apparatus and extend the shelf life of the equipment. The present invention relates to an appliance comprising a base on which a pre-assembled set of jug and blade base is mounted. The jug has an open bottom in which the blade base is fitted. The base has at least one stop for locking the blade base, and the blade base has at least one fin to touch at least one stop when rotating thereof, wherein the direction of rotation for locking the blade base into the open bottom of the jug is opposite to the direction of rotation for locking the jug onto the base.

Description

MIXING DEVICE FOR FOOD PREPARATIONS WITH BLADE LOCKING MECHANISM IN THE JAR Field of Application

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of devices or instruments for beating / mixing food, aiming to improve safety, facilitate the connection of the parts of the device and extend the useful life of the equipment. Introduction

[0002] The present invention relates to a mixing and blending apparatus for liquid or pasty food preparations, these devices being commonly called a "blender".

[0003] The present invention relates more particularly to an apparatus of the above-mentioned type comprising a removable blade assembly.

[0004] The main objective of the invention is to ensure the correct assembly and locking of its parts, aiming at its correct functioning in order to avoid unintentional disassembly during its use, improving safety and increasing the useful life of the equipment. State of the Art

[0005] Such apparatus is well known in the prior art; they traditionally comprise a jar, a blade assembly, a locking ring for the blade assembly in the jar and a motor base to which the pre-assembled assembly consisting of the jar, the blade assembly and the locking ring is engaged. The motor base comprises a motor that drives a shaft provided with a coupling system that cooperates with a complementary coupling system. on the blade assembly, when attaching the pre-assembled assembly to the motor base.

[0006] In some of these devices, safety issues are observed. Indeed, during the rotation of the blade assembly driven at high speed by the motor, the locking ring can rotate with the blade assembly, which can have the effect of this locking ring being released from the jar when the user removes the jar after mixing a preparation.

[0007] Another problem occurs during the movement to lock the jar into the body, as there is no mechanism at this point to ensure the positioning of the knife base in the jar, often allowing the equipment to work even when the knife base is incorrectly positioned in the jar. Therefore, the liquid or pasty preparation can spread on the base of the motor and damage it or even create a risk of electrocution for the user. When it comes to hot preparations, such as soups, the user can also suffer burns.

[0008] Documents FR 1 270 285, CN 2 657 555 U and CN 103099550A are known to provide for a locking of the locking ring on the motor base during engagement of the pre-assembled assembly on this base. This prevents the locking ring from unlocking during rotation of the motor-driven blade assembly.

[0009] In document FR 1 270 285, the jar is screwed with the locking ring. This locking ring comprises, on its outer contour, a recess into which a projection arranged on the inner contour of a housing in the base engages, when the pre-assembled assembly is fitted into this housing. This blocks the rotation of the locking ring. locking and the jar screwed into it during the rotation of the blade assembly.

[0010] In document CN 2 657 555 U, the jar is screwed with the locking ring. This locking ring has on its external contour grooves, while the base has a housing comprising on its internal contour shims, the grooves and the shims allowing the implementation of a bayonet locking system between the locking ring and the base.

[0011] In document CN 103099550A, the container is mounted with the locking ring by a first bayonet locking system. Furthermore, the locking ring itself is mounted to the base by a second bayonet locking system.

[0012] Some risks of disassembly of the locking ring relative to the jar still remain with the devices described in these documents FR 1 270 285, CN 2 657 555 U and CN 103099550A. Indeed, they do not prevent the user against an unexpected disassembly of the locking ring relative to the jar in cases where the said user does not initially properly assemble the locking ring on the jar.

[0013] Documents EP3624657 and EP3624656B1 present differences in the structure of the knife base and, in the bottle locking movement, there is no mechanism that guarantees the correct positioning of the knife base, which may cause the knife base to become detached or leak inside the equipment, in addition to being much more complex solutions than the one that will be proposed below.

[0014] The document WO2019237880A1, despite having grooves to lock the knife base and the jar, their connection and locking is not guaranteed by the rotation of the jar when locked into the blender body.

[0015] The user may actually thread the locking ring incorrectly onto the jar or incorrectly set the bayonet locking system between the locking ring and the jar. Summary of the Invention

[0016] As seen above, the main disadvantage of the state of the art lies in the fact that the coupling of the knife base to the jar is visually correct, but operationally incomplete. As a result, the user is forced to operate a deficient device.

[0017] The present invention solves the disadvantages mentioned above as it ensures that the knife base is correctly positioned and properly locked when the jar locks onto the base of the appliance.

[0018] To solve the above problems, the present invention presents a mixing apparatus for food preparations, equipped with locking mechanisms, a stopper and flap mechanism between the knife base and the base of the apparatus, and with opposite locking directions, which ensure the correct locking of the knife base in the jar when the jar is locked in the base of the apparatus.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the knife base is locked in the jar when rotated in a certain direction, and the jar plus knife base assembly is locked in the base of the appliance when rotated in a direction opposite to the locking of the knife base in the jar. The knife base and the base of the appliance are equipped with stops and fins that ensure that the knife base is 100% locked at the end of the rotation movement for locking the jar in the blender base. Therefore, First, the knife base is mounted on the jar by rotation and then the jar (with the knife base attached to it) is locked onto the blender body by rotation. Furthermore, the locking of the knife base to the jar is such that after use, the knife base remains locked onto the jar even when the jar is detached from the blender base, thus preventing the contents of the jar from leaking. In other words, the force required to remove the jar from the base is much less than the force required to remove the knife base from the jar.

[0020] As such, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the mixing and blending apparatus for food preparations comprises: a jar with an open bottom, a knife base comprising a set of rotating blades and comprising at least one fin, a base comprising an actuation button, in which the base presents at least one stop; wherein: - the knife base is configured to be attached to the bottom of the jar by means of a first mounting system; - at least one fin of the knife base rests against the stop of the base of the appliance; and where the jar is locked to the base by rotation and the direction of rotation for locking the knife base to the jar is opposite to the direction of rotation for locking the jar to the base, so as to ensure that the knife base is locked to the jar when the jar is locked to the base of the appliance.

[0021] Preferably, the direction of rotation for locking the knife base in the jar is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blades.

[0022] Preferably, the knife base is first mounted on the jar and then the jar (with the knife base attached) is mounted on the base.

[0023] Preferably, contact between the at least one stop and the at least one fin occurs when the jar is rotated on the base, locking the knife base completely into the jar.

[0024] Preferably, the stopper applies a force to the fin that is contrary to the rotation of the jar during locking of the jar to the base.

[0025] Preferably, the force exerted by the stops on the fins prevents the knife base from rotating in the same direction as the jar, allowing the knife base to rotate only in the locking direction and completely locking the knife base in the jar.

[0026] Preferably, the base has at least two stops. More preferably, the base has two opposing stops.

[0027] Preferably, the knife base has at least two fins. More preferably, the knife base has two opposing fins. Most preferably, the knife base has four fins that are evenly spaced around the coupling member.

[0028] Preferably, the base comprises a motor that drives the upper drive member.

[0029] Preferably, the rim extends lower than the open bottom.

[0030] Preferably, the first mounting system comprises at least one hook in cooperation with at least one bayonet on the jar, and the second mounting system comprises at least one hook in cooperation with at least one bayonet on the jar. More preferably, the bayonets are provided on the inner face of the rim.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the knife base has at least one stop while the appliance base has at least one fin.

[0032] Thus, once the jar is mounted on the base, the base stops rest against the fins of the knife base, preventing the knife base from rotating together with the jar during its circular locking movement on the base, eliminating any existing clearance from poor positioning of the knife base on the jar and ensuring that the knife base is locked into the jar when the jar is locked onto the base.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first mounting system of the knife base on the jar may be of the screw or bayonet type. However, a screw-type mounting system may be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0034] According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the first mounting system, which couples the knife base to the jar, comprises at least one hook, preferably four hooks, arranged on the external contour of the knife base and at least one protruding tooth-shaped element, popularly known as a bayonet, preferably four, on the internal contour of the jar for receive the said hook by a rotational movement of the knife base in the jar.

[0035] Preferably, the first mounting system comprises at least two hooks on the outer contour of the knife base and at least two projecting elements on the inner contour of the jug arranged symmetrically. Each of the projecting elements engages, respectively, with one of the hooks. According to a preferred embodiment, the first mounting system comprises four projecting elements / bayonets and four hooks / fittings uniformly distributed, respectively, on the outer contour of the knife base and on the inner contour of the cup. The four hooks / fittings engage, respectively, with the four projecting elements / bayonets.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second system for mounting the jar on the blender base may be of the threaded or bayonet type. Likewise, a second screw-type mounting system may be considered, without departing from the scope of the invention. In the second mounting system, the jar (containing the knife base) is connected to the blender base, preferably screwed onto the blender base until the jar is completely locked.

[0037] According to this embodiment, the second mounting system comprises at least one fin, preferably four fins, arranged on an external contour of the knife base and at least one stop arranged on the base in the jar fitting region. According to a preferred embodiment, said at least one fin comes directly from the knife base. In a preferred embodiment, the second mounting system comprises two fins and two stops arranged symmetrically, respectively, on the contour of the inside of the base in the region of the blade base zone. This offers two possible positions of the pre-assembled assembly on the base. According to a preferred embodiment, the two fins are directly on the blade base.

[0038] As the jar rotates on the blender base, the blade base fins come into contact with the stops on the blender base. When the jar is rotated to lock it onto the blender base, the stops exert a force that opposes the rotation of the blade base, preventing the blade base from rotating with the jar. In this way, the blade base rotates in the opposite direction to the jar, eliminating any gap between the blade base and the jar, and consequently, ensuring that the blade base is 100% locked onto the jar. When the jar is locked onto the blender base, the assembly will be completely locked, preventing leaks during use and fluid from running into the equipment's motor, thus preventing more serious accidents. Brief description of the figures

[0039] Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

[0040] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective of the disassembled equipment, comprising the jar, the knife base and the blender body.

[0041] Figure 3 illustrates a knife base configuration in accordance with the present invention.

[0042] Figure 4 illustrates a top view of a blender base configuration in accordance with the present invention.

[0043] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view on line CC of the lower part of the jar already connected to the knife base, showing a space until the final assembly and locking position;

[0044] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of the blender base assembled with the blade base, showing the relationship between the fins and the stops.

[0045] Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the blender base, with the jar and blade base assembly connected and locked in the correct operating position. The detail shows the correct locking between the jar and the base, and the blade base and the jar, as well as the contact of the blade base fins with the blender base stop.

[0046] Figures 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate the steps for locking the blender jar to the base and show the correct locking of the knife base in 8C.

[0047] Figure 9 is a more detailed view of Figure 8B, showing in detail the contact of the fin with the stop.

[0048] Figure 10 is a more detailed view of Figure 8C, showing in detail the contact of the fin with the stop and the correct positioning of the knife base in the jar. Detailed description of the invention

[0049] The following description details only some of the numerous ways of carrying out the present invention, so it should not be considered limiting. Any modifications and variants not described that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are part of the present invention.

[0050] The following description relates to an embodiment of the mixing and blending apparatus for liquid or liquid food preparations. pasty, hot or cold, such as soups or milkshakes, and this device is generally called a "blender". In the rest of the description, the term "device" will be used.

[0051] In the remainder of the description, the same references are used to designate the same characteristics, unless otherwise indicated.

[0052] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 1 comprises a base 2 on which a pre-assembled jar 3 and knife base 4 assembly is positioned. The jar 3 has an open bottom 10 into which the knife base 4 is fitted. This fitting is exemplified by the hook / bayonet system, where the knife base 4 has hooks 15 and the jar 3 has bayonets 16.

[0053] The base 2 comprises, in particular, a control button 14 which makes it possible to actuate a motor 11, which drives in rotation, a first coupling piece 7, the base 2 having at least one stop 5 for abutting against the fin 6 of the knife base 4.

[0054] The knife base 4 has at least one fin 6, and may have two fins 4, preferably having four fins 4, to rest against at least one stop 5 when it is rotated, and when there is more than one fin 6, they are preferably arranged symmetrically, more preferably opposite each other. The knife base 4 comprises blades 8 mounted in a rotatable manner, spaced regularly around a coupling member 9 fixed to the blades 8. Also in Figure 1 it is possible to observe that the jar 3 has a rim 12 that surrounds the open bottom 10 of the jar 3, with the rim 12 extending lower than the open bottom 10, which serves to lock the jar 3 to the base 2 of the blender, through a system hook / bayonet, where hook 13 is located at base 2 and the bayonet is located on the inside of edge 12.

[0055] Figure 3 shows details of the knife base 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The knife base 4 has a plurality of blades 8 that are used to crush or mix food and at least one fin 6 that is used to touch the stop 5 of the base 2. The hook 15 is the contact region of the knife base 4 with the jar 3. For correct operation of the appliance, it is necessary that the bayonet present in the jar 3 fits completely inside the hook 15 of the knife base 4, thus providing efficient locking and preventing the leakage of the contents of the jar 3.

[0056] Figure 4 shows a top view of the base 2 of the blender, comprising the actuation button 14 for actuating the motor 11 (not shown), the coupling piece 7 actuated by the motor 11, two hooks 13, and two stops 5.

[0057] Hook 13 is the space for fitting and movement of bayonet 16 on the inner face of edge 12 of jar 3, which provides for locking jar 3 on base 2. Complete accommodation of bayonet 16 on hook 13 indicates that jar 3 is locked.

[0058] The stop 5 is intended to make contact with the fins 6 of the knife base 4, preventing the knife base 4 from rotating together with the jar 3 when the bayonet 16 of the jar 3 is not fully engaged in the hook 15 of the knife base 4.

[0059] Figure 5 shows the jar 3 plus knife base 4 assembly after assembly. The sectional view on line CC at the bottom of jar 3 exemplifies an inefficient assembly of knife base 4. The space shown by the detail does not provide the proper locking of the knife base 4 in jar 3. Specifically, bayonet 16 is not fully housed within hook 15. It is important to note that the user has the false impression that knife base 4 is properly locked in jar 3, which will result in malfunction of the device, such as leakage of the jar contents, damaging the equipment and compromising user safety. It is precisely this space highlighted in the detail of Figure 5 that the present invention aims to eliminate in an efficient and innovative way, ensuring efficient locking in 100% of the operation.

[0060] Figure 6 shows how the knife base 4 must be correctly positioned on the base 2 after locking the jar 3 (not shown) on the base 2 of the blender, comprising the actuation button 14 for activating the motor 11, and two hooks 13. When the bayonet located on the inside of the rim 12 is housed in the hook 13, the jar 3 is locked on the base 2 and any upward movement to remove the jar 3 on the base 2 is prevented. Furthermore, it is also possible to see that the stops 5 come into contact with the fins 6 of the knife base 4. Upon reaching this position, the knife base 4 rotates in opposite relation to the direction of locking the jar 3 on the base 2 when there is some clearance between the contact of the knife base 4 and the jar 3.

[0061] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled and correctly locked apparatus. The marked details demonstrate the correct positioning of the fins 6 with the stops 5, and the contact of the knife base 4 with the contact surface of the jar 3. The housing of the jar fin 3 in the hook 13 is not visible in this figure. When all these contact points are present, there will be no leakage or any other risk to the user.

[0062] Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show the steps for assembling jar 3 on base 2 of the apparatus. In image 8A, S1 indicates the clockwise direction of locking jar 3 on base 2, S2 indicates the counterclockwise direction of locking knife base 4 on jar 3, and S3 indicates the clockwise direction of operation of the blades. It is also shown in P1 that bayonet 16 is not fully housed inside hook 15. As jar 3 rotates on base 2, fins 6 come into contact with stops 5. This contact is highlighted in P2 in Figure 8B. Figure 8C shows jar 3 already in its final position locked onto base 2. Note in detail P3 that bayonet 16 of jar 3 is now fully lodged in hook 15 of knife base 4 (note that the white surfaces of Figures 8A and 8B have disappeared in 8C), indicating that the system is fully locked.

[0063] Figure 9 represents a schematic drawing with details of Figure 8B. It can be seen that the jar 3 was rotated clockwise until the fin 6 of the knife base 4 came into contact with the stop 5. This contact prevents the knife base 4 from following the continued rotation of the jar 3, causing the knife base 4 to rotate counterclockwise in relation to the jar 3, housing the bayonet 16 in the hook 15 and completely locking the knife base 4 in the jar 3, eliminating the space left between the components, thus ensuring that the fluid present in the jar 3, during use of the appliance, does not leak or run into the internal part of the appliance, preventing it from reaching the motor and compromising the user's safety.

[0064] Figure 10 is a detailed view of Figure 8C, where jar 3 and knife base 4 are correctly assembled on base 2, with bayonet 16 fitted to hook 15, showing the contact points between stop 5 and fin 6, and the contact surface and jar 3.

[0065] Additionally, the appliance also has a safety system that prevents the appliance from starting if the jug 3 is not completely locked into the base 2, in the position shown in step C.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Mixing apparatus (1) for food preparations comprising: • a jar (3) with an open bottom, • a knife base (4) comprising a set of rotating blades (8) and comprising at least one fin (6), • a base (2) comprising an actuation button (14), wherein the base has at least one stop (5); characterized in that • the knife base (4) is configured to be coupled to the bottom of the jar (3) by means of a first assembly system; • the jar (3) is configured to be attached to the base (2) by means of a second mounting system; • at least one fin (6) of the knife base (4) rests against the stop (5) of the base (2) of the appliance, and where the jar (3) is locked onto the base (2) by rotation and the direction of rotation for locking the knife base (4) onto the jar (3) is opposite to the direction of rotation for locking the jar (3) onto the base (2).

2. Mixing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the direction of rotation for locking the knife base (4) in the jar (3) is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blades (8).

3. Mixing apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knife base (4) is first mounted on the jar (3) and subsequently the jar (3) is mounted on the base (2).

4. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact between at least one stop (5) and at least one vane (6), which occurs when the jar (3) is rotated on the base (2), locking the knife base (4) completely into the jar (3).

5. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the stop (5) applies a force to the fin (6), this force being contrary to the rotation of the jar (3) during the locking of the jar (3) on the base (2).

6. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the force exerted by the stops (5) on the fins (6) prevents rotation of the knife base (4) in the same direction as rotation of the jar (3) and allows rotation of the knife base (4) only in the locking direction and completely locks the knife base (4) in the jar (3).

7. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base (2) has at least two stops (5).

8. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base (2) has two opposing stops (5).

9. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the knife base (4) has at least two fins (6).

10. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the knife base (4) has two opposing fins (6).

11. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the knife base (4) It has four fins (6) that are regularly spaced around the coupling member (9).

12. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the base (2) comprises a motor (11) which drives the upper drive member (7).

13. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the edge (12) extends lower than the open bottom (10).

14. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first mounting system comprises at least one hook (15) in cooperation with at least one bayonet (16) on the jar (3).

15. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the second mounting system comprises at least one hook (13) in cooperation with at least one bayonet on the jar (3).

16. Mixing apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that bayonets are provided on the inner face of the rim (12).

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