Blender with quiet shield
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blenders are noisy due to the lack of sound enclosures, which is a result of limited counter space in most homes and the additional cost of providing such enclosures, making upwardly pivoting doors inoperable in consumer settings.
Innovation Solution
A blender design featuring a housing with a shield that pivots vertically using an overcenter cam mechanism, allowing the shield to automatically close and open, providing access to the blender jar assembly while minimizing noise through a built-in muffler system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sound enclosure is added to reduce noise, then noise emission is reduced, but the device height increases making upwardly pivoting doors inoperable in consumer kitchens
Solution Approach 1:
The shield pivots horizontally rather than vertically, changing the dimension of movement from vertical (which would increase device height) to horizontal (which maintains compact footprint). This allows the shield to open and close while keeping the blender height suitable for consumer kitchen cabinet spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The overcenter cam mechanism provides automatic self-latching and self-unlatching functionality. When the shield is pushed to the closed position, the cam mechanism automatically engages to secure it; when pulled to the open position, it automatically disengages. This eliminates the need for manual latching operations while maintaining a compact design.
2Ease of operation
If an upwardly pivoting door is used to access the blender jar assembly, then access is provided, but the door becomes inoperable in consumer homes with limited headspace above the blender
Solution Approach 1:
The shield pivots horizontally on a side-mounted axis rather than vertically on top of the blender. This dimensional change allows the shield to swing open to provide access to the blender jar assembly without requiring vertical headspace, making it compatible with consumer kitchen cabinet installations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the conventional upwardly pivoting door that requires vertical space, the invention inverts the approach by using a horizontally pivoting shield that swings from side to side, providing the same access function without the vertical space requirement.
3Area of stationary object
If retail blenders are placed under kitchen cabinetry to save counter space, then counter space is optimized, but headspace above the blender is greatly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal pivoting mechanism changes the dimension of shield movement from vertical to horizontal, allowing the blender to be installed under kitchen cabinets with limited vertical headspace while still providing full access to the blender jar assembly through horizontal shield movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield transitions from a static cover to a dynamically movable component that can pivot horizontally. This dynamic design allows the shield to provide access when needed while maintaining a compact, space-saving profile when closed, optimizing both counter space utilization and operational accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces noise emission by using a muffler to direct and alter airflow, and enhances usability by allowing for easy access to the blender jar without increasing the blender's height, addressing the noise issue and space constraints.
Implementation Method 1
The pivot point comprises an overcenter cam that urges the shield toward the closed position when the shield is positioned between the closed position and a maximum displacement point of the overcenter cam and that urges the shield toward the open position when the shield is positioned between the open position and the maximum displacement point of the overcenter cam.
Implementation Method 2
The overcenter cam may comprise a top cam portion, a cooperating bottom cam portion, and a spring that urges the top cam portion and the bottom cam portion toward each other.
Implementation Method 3
The design reduces noise emission by using a muffler to direct and alter airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A blender comprises a housing and a shield. The housing has a first portion enclosing a motor and a second portion for selectively receiving a blender jar assembly. The second portion defines an opening through which the blender jar assembly is selectively received. The shield is selectively coupled to the second portion via a substantially vertical pivot point that enables the shield to be selectively pivoted between a closed position closing off the opening in the second portion and an open position enabling the blender jar assembly to be inserted into or removed from the second portion. The pivot point comprises an overcenter cam that urges the shield toward the closed position when the shield is positioned between the closed position and a maximum displacement point of the overcenter cam and that urges the shield toward the open position when the shield is positioned between the open position and the maximum displacement point.