Foods and beverages: apparatus – Means to treat food – Automatic control or time means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-09-23
2004-06-15
Simone, Timothy F. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Means to treat food
Automatic control or time means
C099S342000, C099S348000, C099S493000, C099S510000, C241S037500, C241S092000, C366S314000, C366S601000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748853
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to food processing machines, and in particular to relatively small machines for use domestically and otherwise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Food processors of the general type relating to the present invention, generally comprise a main body portion, having a motor, and a base portion extending laterally from the lower part of the main body. A drive shaft extends upwardly from the base portion and a bowl sits on the base portion having locking members which engage in the main body portion. Unless correctly installed, and locked, the motor cannot be energized. The shaft extends up through the bowl inside a tubular member of the bowl. A first rotating member, which may be a cutter, drops over the drive shaft and engages with it, for rotation by the motor. The cutter normally has an inner tubular member which fits over the drive shaft and inside the tubular member of the bowl. A further outer tubular member on the cutter fits outside the tubular member of the bowl. A cutter has blades at the lower end of the outer tubular member, in the proximity of the bottom of the bowl.
A lid fits on top of the bowl in locking engagement therewith, and the cover also has locking members which must be engaged correctly with the main body portion, before power can be supplied.
For slicing or shredding material a disc cutter can be mounted at the upper part of the apparatus. In some instances an extension shaft is positioned on the upper end of the drive shaft for reception and driving of the disc cutter.
The lid normally has a feed tube in the top. A delivery chute can be supplied whereby sliced or grated material can be ejected from the machine for collection. This is obtained by a further disc having ribs on its upper surface, which is positioned just below the disc cutter. Alternatively, leaving out the further disc, sliced or shredded material can fall into the bowl.
Various disadvantages occur with present food processors. Alignment of the bowl to the main body can be difficult. Alignment of any further bowl, and the lid can present further problems, and interlocking of the various members of the apparatus can therefore be difficult. On occasion, alignment can appear to be in order, with interlocking, but no power to the motor is obtained. There is no indication that interlocking is not present, other than lack of power.
There is normally only one rotational position of the bowl relative to the main body. This is usually adapted to be convenient for right handed uses -i.e. a handle on the bowl is positioned so that it is to the right side when the bowl is correctly positioned on the base.
If an extension shaft is used, and an auxiliary bowl, then more parts must be stored.
Various other disadvantages occur with present processors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a food processor having various features which provide improvements over previous processors. In the present invention easy alignment of the bowl with the main body, is easily obtained and this can be obtained for two alternative rotational positions of the bowl. A single drive shaft is provided with cutter engaging formations at the lower part which prevent lifting of the cutter when in operation. Further formations at the upper end of the shaft engage with a disc cutter, for slicing or shredding, and a displacement disc can be mounted on the shaft a short distance below the disc cutter for ejection of sliced or shredded material out of a delivery shoot at the side of the machine.
The lid forms a hollow chamber at the top, in which the disc cutter, and displacement disc, are positioned. The lid has a normal feed tube for feeding of material into the machine, and may include a discharge chute for discharge of sliced or shredded material, when the displacement disc is in position. A further small orifice can be provided for adding material, such as oils etc., in controlled amounts.
To assist in ensuring that correct positioning of the various parts occur, with the necessary final interlocking with the main body, an indicator light can be provided, which will indicate that all parts are correctly positioned.
A retractable information tab or panel member may be incorporated into the processor. In one embodiment, this panel or tab swings in and out and carries operating instructions or other information. Since a typical processor includes a drive unit having a housing for the motor, and the housing normally includes a base member for mounting a bowl, the retractable or displaceable tab or panel member can be incorporated into either the main housing beneath the motor or into the base member. The invention contemplates that the panel member can be mounted on the underside of either the base member or the motor housing, or into the body of either one of these. The panel member can be either pivotally mounted or may be arranged to slide on tracks. When not required it can be retracted back to its storage position.
In general terms, the food processor of the present invention has a body housing and a base member extending laterally at the base of the body housing, with a bowl positioned on the base member. Locking formations on the cooperating surfaces of the base member and the bowl act to provide orientation of the bowl on the base member. The hollow lid fits on an upper rim of the bowl, with frictionally interengaging formations for interlocking the lid and the bowl. A drive shaft extending up from the base member through the bowl has lower frictionally interengaging surfaces at a lower part of the shaft and upper frictionally interengaging surfaces at an upper part of the shaft. The upper part of the shaft extends into the hollow lid. A lower cutter is positionable on the drive shaft on the lower interengaging surfaces and a disc cutter is positionable on the upper part of the drive shaft in engagement with the upper interengaging surfaces. The lid has a feed tube and also at one side a delivery chute. Interengaging locking formations are provided on the bowl, the lid and the body member for providing a mechanical locking of bowl and the lid to the body member. When the parts are locked together and when a part of the bowl/lid assembly engages the interlock assembly this will permit supply of power to a drive motor.
One feature of one embodiment of the invention is cooperating or locking formations on the base member and the bowl which are positioned to permit two alternative rotational orientations of the bowl, relative to the base member.
Yet a further feature in another embodiment, there is provided a tab or panel member pivotally mounted in the bottom of the base member, the tab or panel member being retractable into the base member.
In a further feature of the invention, a signal device or indicator light is positioned in a top surface of the body member, for indicating correct locking of the bowl to the base member and the lid to the bowl.
In still a further feature of certain embodiments of the invention, is the provision of a power cord that extends from the base of the body member and is retractable into the base of the body member.
In yet another feature of the invention, the lower interengaging surfaces on the lower part of the drive shaft form a helix such that when the food processor is being used there is a tendency to urge the lower cutter in a downward direction.
Having regard to the above, according to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a food processor, comprising a drive unit comprising a housing including a base member and a motor housing on the base member, the base member extending laterally of the motor housing for mounting a bowl, a bowl positioned on the base member, orientation indicators on the base member and on the bowl to provide orientation of the bowl on the base member, a closure lid fitting on the bowl, the lid having a feed tube, a drive shaft extending upwardly from the base member through the bowl and into engagement with the closure lid, the drive shaft having lower cooperating engaging surfaces at a lower part thereof and upper coopera
Brady Martin
Mauch Jeffrey T.
O'Flynn Brian J.
Williams Brian P.
Dybvig Roger S.
Hamilton Beach, Proctor-Silex, Inc.
Simone Timothy F.
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