Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpook Corporation

Paul S Paget

Michael P Conti

Mitchell L Robertson

Thomas Allen Gillette

Jeremy T Wolters

Steven C Drees

Timothy E Heater

Edward Haney

Terence M Duncan

Wayne W Conard

Steve C Drees

Timothy Patrick Vanantwerp

Bernard J Brotzki

Nicholas Stuart

Brandon T Mock

Leif A Norland

Kevin James Beber

Arren J McCormick

Christopher J Eaton

Fred Bournay, Jr

Dan Christian Barfus

Robert T Carr

David M Neidlinger

Ping Zhang

James R Devlaminck

Kevin J Beber

A bearing assembly for a blender jar assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall that defines an opening. A retainer is positioned within the blender jar and defines a receiving space in communication with the opening. A jar collar is positioned exterior of the blender jar and is operably coupled with the retainer. A bearing housing is positioned within the receiving space and is spaced apart from the retainer by a first spacing. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is at least partially received by the receiving space. The nut is spaced apart from the retainer by a second spacing. A gasket is positioned to maintain at least one of the first and second spacings of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the retainer.

Bearing assembly for a blender jar

A blender assembly includes a blender jar having a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes first and second surfaces opposing one another and an interior edge defining an opening. A bearing housing is positioned at least partially within the opening and is spaced apart from the first surface of the bottom wall and the interior edge of the bottom wall. A nut is operably coupled with the bearing housing and is spaced apart from a second surface of the bottom wall. A gasket assembly is positioned to maintain a spacing of the bearing housing and the nut relative to the bottom wall. The gasket assembly is positioned over the interior edge of the bottom wall.

Bearing housing assembly for a blender jar

A blending appliance includes a housing with a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base. A blender jar includes a base portion and a receptacle portion, and is configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area of the housing. A magnetic coupling system includes an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar and a lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing. The upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled to one another for driving a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar. A brake mechanism is disposed on the upper magnetic coupler and is configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area.

Magnetic disc coupler

A blending appliance includes a housing having a motor compartment and a jar receiving portion spaced laterally therefrom. The jar receiving portion is disposed below an upper housing. A motor is disposed in the motor compartment is adapted to drive a blade assembly of the jar through a magnetic coupling system. The motor is connected to a blade assembly disposed within the jar through a series of gears or belts, and finally through a magnetic coupler. The magnetic coupler is configured such that it stores kinetic energy while the motor is running at a high speed, and releases the stored energy when the motor is running at a slower speed.

Magnetic disk coupler for blending apparatus with energy storage

A blending appliance includes a housing having a jar receiving portion defined between an upper housing and a base portion laterally extending from the housing. A blender jar is adapted to be laterally received within the jar receiving portion and includes a jar base and a receptacle portion. A stator is disposed in the base portion of the housing and is adapted to create an electromagnetic field to drive a rotatable magnetic coupler disposed in the jar base as part of a magnetic coupling system. The rotatable magnetic coupler is coupled to a drive shaft that is further coupled to a blade assembly disposed within the receptacle portion of the blender jar. The blade assembly is configured to process ingredients within the receptacle portion of the blender jar as coupled to the rotatable magnetic coupler.

Low profile motor for portable appliances

A jar retainer mechanism for a blending appliance includes an articulating arm pivotally coupled to a housing of the blending appliance. The articulating arm is operable between engaged and disengaged positions and includes a latch member disposed on a first end of the articulating arm. The latch member is configured to engage an engagement tab disposed on a blender jar when the articulating arm is in the engaged position and the blender jar is received laterally in a jar receiving portion. A push member is disposed on a second end of the articulating arm and is configured to displace the blender jar when the articulating arm is moved towards the disengaged position.

Anti-rotational latch for a blending appliance

A bowl liner for a mixing bowl of a stand mixer includes a shell and a rim secured an upper end of the shell. The shell is sized to be received in the mixing bowl, and is formed from an elastomeric material. The shell has a mixing chamber defined therein. The rim includes an outer perimeter surface that has a keyed surface section to locate the liner relative to the stand mixer.

Mixing bowl liner and lid

A food blending appliance includes a housing with a motor therein. A food blending chamber having an inner wall surface is located proximate the housing. A wiper assembly is operably coupled to the motor and has a wiper blade that includes a tapered forward portion and a tapered rearward portion. The wiper blade includes an arced exterior surface that includes a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as a radius of curvature of the inner wall surface. The operable coupling between the motor and the wiper assembly can be accomplished by a magnetic drive member in the housing and a magnetic blade member in the wiper assembly. The operable coupling between the motor and the wiper assembly results in rotation of the wiper blade when the motor is activated, which removes food from the inner wall surface of the food blending chamber during rotation.

Food blending appliance with wiper assembly

A blending appliance having a housing includes a motor compartment and a jar receiving portion spaced laterally from the motor compartment. The housing includes an upper retaining member and a support pad extending outwardly from the housing, such that a jar receiving portion is defined therebetween. A motor is disposed in the motor compartment. A jar includes a lid with a feed chute. Together, the jar and lid are configured for reception in the jar receiving portion of the housing. The lid is vertically secured onto the jar by the upper retaining member upon reception of the jar into the jar receiving portion.

Low profile side drive blending appliance

A food processing machine, having a jar with a base and at least one sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a top opening. A lid has a bottom surface with a downwardly depending sealing wall. An outer surface of the downwardly depending sealing wall corresponds to the top opening. A resiliently collapsible locking ring is removably positionable radially inward from the sealing wall and applies a radially outwardly directed force against the sealing wall when positioned radially inwardly therefrom. The resiliently collapsible locking ring is collapsed and then positioned in a receiving portion radially inward from the sealing wall. The lid is then positioned at the top opening of the jar, with the sealing wall inserted into the top opening. The sealing wall applies a radially outwardly directed force against the at least one wall to seal the lid to the jar.

Locking ring

A warming containerincludes a mixing bowl and a heating cradle configured to receive the mixing bowl. The warming containeralso includes a shell having an inner facing surface and which is coupled to a bottom edge of the heating cradle at a seat. The seat is configured to receive a base of the mixing bowl. A cavity is defined between the heating cradle and the shell and a conductive heating structure is disposed within the cavity. The conductive heating structure includes a plurality of conductive longitudinal flanges. A wire heating element is disposed about the plurality of conductive longitudinal flanges, wherein the wire heating element is disposed about the conductive heating structure in a sinusoidal configuration. The wire heating element is in thermal communication with the heating cradle via the conductive longitudinal flanges.

Precision warming bowl

A cooking appliance kit includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining a heating cavity. A cooking vessel is configured to be inserted into the heating cavity. The cooking vessel includes a first rounded end, a second rounded end, and an intermediate necked portion that defines first and second wells that at least partially intersect. First and second distinct heater plates are disposed in the first and second wells, respectively. First and second drive arms are removable coupled to the housing in an operable communication with the drive system. The first drive arm includes a flipping wand and the second drive arm includes a stirring wand.

Cooking and mixing appliance kit

A cooking appliance kit includes a housing having a plurality of walls defining a heating cavity and a cooking vessel that is configured to be inserted into the heating cavity. The cooking vessel includes a first rounded end, a second rounded end, and an intermediate necked portion that define first and second wells that at least partially intersect. First and second distinct heater plates are disposed in the first and second wells, respectively. An arcuate dividing wall is disposed in the heating cavity and is removably engaged with the intermediate necked portion between the first and second distinct heater plates. The arcuate dividing wall defines a circular cooking zone and a crescent cooking zone. A drive arm is removably coupled to the housing and extends over the circular cooking zone. The drive arm includes one of a flipping wand and a stirring wand.

Growing community of inventors

Benton Harbor, MI, United States of America

Paul S Paget