Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.

Hamilton Beach/proctor-silex, Inc.

Benjamin Henry Branson, Iii

Brian Paul Williams

Ernest B Pryor, Jr

John Robert Bohannon, Jr

Atle Larsen

Michael S Garman

Brian C Bock

Koen Aidan Ambrose

George William Stamper, Iii

David Matthew Schandel

Larry R Olson

Paul Diaz

Mark C Steiner

Mark K Romandy

James Robert Gaynor

Michael G Sandford

Ann Marie Blackmon

A stand mixer includes: a lower assembly comprising a base and a lower support arm extending upwardly from the base; an upper assembly comprising a generally horizontal head positioned above the base and an upper support arm extending downwardly from the head, the lower and upper support arm assemblies forming a generally vertical support arm, the head configured to provide a mounting location for a beater; and a head-raising mechanism that moves the head relative to the base between raised and lowered positions, the head remaining generally horizontal in the raised position.

Stand mixer with mechanism to lift head

A blender jar assembly comprises a container portion having an open end for receiving the foodstuff to be blended and for dispensing the foodstuff after blending and a base portion selectively coupled to the container portion. The base portion comprises a floor and a sidewall connected to and extending from the floor to form a chamber for receiving at least a portion of the foodstuff during a blending operation. The chamber has an open end in fluid communication with the open end of the container portion when the container portion and the base portion are selectively coupled. The base further comprises one or more rotatable blades that are fully contained within the chamber formed by the floor and the sidewall and do not extend beyond a rim of the sidewall.

Blender jar assembly and associated blender

A stand mixer includes: a base, the base including a bowl lift framework having first lift features; a support arm attached to the base and extending upwardly therefrom; a head attached to an upper end of the support arm and extending generally horizontally therefrom above the base; and a bowl assembly comprising a bowl and a skirt mounted to the bowl, the skirt including second lift features. The first lift features interact with the second lift features such that, when the bowl assembly is rotated relative to the bowl lift framework, the bowl assembly changes elevation relative to the base between raised and lowered positions.

Stand mixer with bowl lift

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.

Blender with quiet shield

An automated mix in-cup apparatus includes a frame having a cup-holder to secure a tapered cup selectively placed therein, and a first motor operatively connected to the cup-holder to rotate the cup-holder. A reciprocating carriage is axially supported by the frame and supports a second motor and a rotatable mixing blade to mix a consumable material. The mixing blade is secured to a shaft axially extending from the second motor, the shaft defining a longitudinal axis and the second motor configured to rotate the shaft and the mixing blade. Reciprocal movement of the carriage axially translates the mixing blade into and out of the tapered cup in the cup-holder. The cup-holder and the first motor are oriented at an incline, defining a tilt angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, whereby the shaft and the rotatable blade are positioned off-center relative to the tapered cup in the cup-holder.

Automated mix in-cup apparatus

The present disclosure describes an automated blend in-cup apparatus and the related method of operation. The disclosure relates generally to the field of mixing consumable material. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a mixer that is automatically operable to lower a mixing blade into a cup or vessel that contains material to be blended/mixed. A carriage reciprocates on a frame. A pulley system is also located on the frame and a power cord is routed through the pulley system. A moveable pulley in the pulley system moves in the opposite direction of the reciprocating carriage. The apparatus further comprises a well with an inlet manifold and a drain and a fixed but removable cup-receiving holder. Overall, the apparatus is effective, fast, easy to operate, safe, and clean.

Automated mix in-cup apparatus and the method of operating the same

The present disclosure describes an automated blend in-cup apparatus and the related method of operation. The disclosure relates generally to the field of mixing consumable material. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a mixer that is automatically operable to lower a mixing blade into a cup or vessel that contains material to be blended/mixed. A shield is automatically lowered to at least partially isolate the cup. The apparatus further comprises a well with an inlet manifold and a drain and a fixed but removable cup-receiving holder. The shield can include a magnetic portion that is detected by a first sensor on the apparatus. A safety interlock prevents the actuation of the mixing blade in the event that the magnetic portion is not proximate to the first sensor. Overall, the apparatus is effective, fast, easy to operate, safe, and clean.

The disclosed apparatus, system and method relate to a shaft-actuated spindle mixer where the spindle mixer includes a motor and at least one motor switch enclosed in a mixer housing. A spindle shaft extends from the housing and is mechanically connected to the motor. The motor is mounted to a moveable mixer component such that the spindle shaft can be displaced to thereby causing the associated movement of the enclosed motor and moveable mixer component to which the motor is mounted. Movement of the movable mixer component actuates a switch. Actuating the switch causes the selective activation of the mixer motor. Activating the mixer motor rotates the spindle shaft. The disclosed apparatus and method provide for the optional one-handed operation of a spindle mixer, eliminate the need for a user or a cup to directly contact a switch to engage the spindle mixer, and further provides for the sanitary operation of a spindle mixer.

Shaft-actuated spindle mixer

The present disclosure describes an automated blend in-cup apparatus and the related method of operation. The disclosure relates generally to the field of mixing consumable material. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a mixer that is automatically operable to lower a mixing blade into a cup or vessel that contains material to be blended/mixed. A shield is automatically lowered to at least partially isolate the cup. After mixing, the shield and blade are automatically retracted, and the cup is removed from the apparatus. The shield and blade may be automatically lowered again for a cleaning operation. Overall, the apparatus contains various structural and safety elements that provide a unique construction and method of operating the apparatus.

The invention relates to an interlock assembly for a spindle mixer where the interlock assembly includes a cup guide, an actuator pin, and an interlock mechanism. Placing a cup within the cup guide actuates the actuator pin that, in turn, engages the interlock mechanism. Engagement of the interlock mechanism selectively activates an electric motor. The pin moves through thebody ofthe guide. The guide can be selectively removed from the mixer, and the pin, in one embodiment, is selectively removed from the guide. An optional bypass switch can be included to allow for the direct engagement of the motor.

Spindle mixer with interlock assembly

The present disclosure describes an automated blend in-cup apparatus and the related method of operation. The disclosure relates generally to the field of mixing consumable material. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a mixer that is automatically operable to lower a mixing blade into a cup or vessel that contains material to be blended/mixed. A shield is automatically lowered to at least partially isolate the cup. After mixing, the shield and blade are automatically retracted, and the cup is removed from the apparatus. The shield and blade may be automatically lowered again for a cleaning operation. Use of the apparatus can be accomplished with one hand. Overall, the apparatus contains various structural and safety elements that provide a unique construction and method of operating the apparatus. The apparatus is effective, fast, easy to operate, safe, and clean.

The blender includes a motor housing that has an outer surface surrounding an electric motor. The motor housing has a first end and a second end. The outer surface has a first mounting member. The motor housing includes a control electrically connected to the motor. A jar has an open end and a blending end and an interior surface. The jar includes a blade assembly proximate to the blending end. The jar is removably mountable to the first end of the motor housing in a operable position. The interior surface of the jar has a second mounting member. The second mounting member is in releasable registry with the first mounting member when the open end of the jar is placed over the first end of the motor housing in a storage position such that the motor housing is at least partially contained within the jar.

Blender having an invertable jar for compact storage

A blender jar defines a geometry to impart vertical movement to material being processed in the blender jar, and, alternatively or in combination, improves the horizontal movement to the blended material. By configuring one or more agitators on the floor of a jar, laminar flow or symmetric flow of material around the jar is disrupted. The material is forced in an upward direction in the jar and, therefore, into more frequent contact with the cutter blades rotating in the jar. A dispensing blender jar includes a hole in the jar wall that leads to a dispensing spout. The hole is positioned, at least in part, on the leading edge of a vertical bump in the sidewall of the jar.

Dispensing blender jar

The invention relates to an interlock assembly for a spindle mixer where the interlock assembly includes a cup guide, an actuator pin, and an interlock mechanism. Placing a cup within the cup guide actuates the actuator pin that, in turn, engages the interlock mechanism. Engagement of the interlock mechanism selectively activates an electric motor. The pin moves through the body of the guide. The guide can be selectively removed from the mixer, and the pin, in one embodiment, is selectively removed from the guide. An optional bypass switch can be included to allow for the direct engagement of the motor.

Growing community of inventors

Mechanicsville, VA, United States of America

Benjamin Henry Branson, Iii