Vita-mix Corporation

Michael D Anton

Richard D Boozer

David J Kolar

Jonathan M Katz

Brent A Miller

Robert M Ulanski

John K Barnard

Curt M Geideman

Paul K Foisy

Frank P Barnard

Sreenivasan Sankar

A container () for a blender () includes a bottom surface () having a non-symmetrically shaped perimeter. A side wall () extends upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom surface (). A mixing blade assembly () having a plurality of blades () is located above the bottom surface () and is rotatable on an axis which is displaced from the center of the bottom surface (). Nonuniform spaces () are thus created between the ends of the blades () and the side wall (). The bottom surface () is inclined at an angle relative to the plane normal to the axis of rotation of the blade assembly (), and it, as well as the side wall (), may be provided with a plurality of spaced vanes ().

Container for a blender

The open top of a blender container () is closed by a cover (). The cover () is provided with an internal vane () which extends downwardly from the top wall () of the cover () and inwardly from the sidewall () of the cover (). The vane () disrupts any turbulence which might be created by a fluid being mixed in the container ().

Turbulence-reducing blender lid and method of operation

Blender container

A system () for attaching a cover () to a container () and for closing an opening () in the cover () with a plug () utilizes a container () having an upper lip (). The cover () is made of an elastomeric material and has handles () each having a notch () therein to receive the lip () of the container (). A ridge () depends from the periphery of the opening () in the cover (). The ridge () is generally square having sides () and corners (). The ridge () includes a notch () formed in each side (), and ribs () are positioned at each side of the notches (). The plug () has a generally cylindrical stem () whose diameter approximates the length of a side () of the ridge (). Diametrically opposed tabs () are positioned on the stem (). By aligning the tabs () with the corners () of the ridge (), the stem () can pass through the opening (). Then rotating the plug () allows the tabs () to pass over the ribs () and into opposed notches ().

Interlocking blender container, cover and cover plug

In one embodiment of the invention, a blender blade () includes a body portion () having an upper surface () and a lower surface (). The body portion includes an aperture () effectively defining an axis of rotation for the blender blade (). A first blade wing () extends from the body portion () and has an upper surface () and a lower surface (). A second blade () wing extends from the body portion () and has an upper surface () and a lower surface (). A leading edge () is provided on the first blade wing () and a leading edge () is provided on the second blade wing (), the leading edges () being adapted to cut through a working medium during rotation of the blender blade (). At least one wing flap () extending outwardly, selectively from the first blade wing () and the second blade wing ().

Blender blade

Blender container with off center blade assembly

Blade for a blender

A blade () for a blender includes a center portion () which includes the axis of rotation. Blade wings () extend outwardly from the center portion () and wing tips () are positioned at the end of the wings (). The wings () and wing tips () having leading edges () and trailing edges (). The portion of the leading edges () along the wings () have beveled edges (A,A) at the bottom surface thereof, and the portion of the leading edges () along the wing tips () have beveled edges (A,A) formed at the top surfaces thereof. Each of the wings () has an effective width to length ratio of greater than 0.287, the length being measured between the axis of rotation and the distal ends of the wing tips ().

Blade for a food blender

Disposable agitator for a blender

Agitator for a blender

A dispenser according to the invention is capable of dispensing fluid food products from selected bags through nozzles attached thereto. An actuator plate has one edge provided with V-shaped slots. A push rod carries the actuator plate and positions a selected V-shaped slot adjacent to the selected nozzle. The other end of the actuator plate is in engagement with a cam assembly driven by a motor. The rod can be pushed to engage a switch to activate the motor which moves the actuator plate so that a V-shaped slot engages a nozzle to dispense the selected fluid food. A return spring assures that the actuator plate is in constant engagement with the cam assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Olmsted Township, OH, United States of America

Michael D Anton