U.S. patent application number 09/810115 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-01 for electric salad spinner.
Invention is credited to Ancona, Bruce, Varakian, Robert A..
Application Number | 20010035101 09/810115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26889199 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010035101 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ancona, Bruce ; et
al. |
November 1, 2001 |
Electric salad spinner
Abstract
An electric salad spinner device which is designed for ease of
use and allows for efficient drying of salad greens, leafy
vegetables and the like. The device comprises a base component, a
generally cylindrical basket component, a generally cylindrical
basket component, a sealable lid having a handle, an on/off switch
and a drive motor. Optionally, the device also comprises a liquid
dispenser assembly which may also be motorized to provide agitation
and may also comprise a sheer assembly to allow for slicing in of
hard vegetables such as, for example, cucumbers, carrots, celery
and the like.
Inventors: |
Ancona, Bruce; (New York,
NY) ; Varakian, Robert A.; (Chicago, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark Montague, Esq.
Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C.
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-6799
US
|
Family ID: |
26889199 |
Appl. No.: |
09/810115 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60193635 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
99/495 ;
99/511 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/25 20130101;
A47J 43/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
99/495 ;
99/511 |
International
Class: |
A23N 001/00; A47J
043/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electric salad spinner, comprising: a generally cylindrical
base component having a closed bottom and an open top, a mating
open top generally cylindrical basket component insertable into the
base component, and a sealable lid component fitted to the top of
the base component, said sealable lid component having a handle
assembly comprising a motorized drive assembly with a drive
shaft/gear means extending therethrough, such that the drive
shaft/gear means of the drive assembly slidingly engages the inner
top rim of the cylindrical basket so as to enable the rotation of
the cylindrical basket about is axis when the electric motor is
activated by depressing an on/off located on the handle
assembly.
2. An electric salad spinner according to claim 1, wherein said
sealable lid also comprises a sealing port having a sealable
closure.
3. An electric salad spinner according to claim 1, which also
comprises a slicing blade assembly.
4. An electric salad spinner according to claim 1, which also
comprises a liquid dispenser.
5. An electric salad spinner according to claim 4, wherein the
liquid dispenser comprises a generally cylindrical shaped
container, having a sealable top to receive liquids, a dispensing
opening for distributing liquids and an end which matingly engages
with the port in the sealable lid.
6. An electric salad spinner according to claim 5, wherein the
liquid dispenser also comprises a motorized agitation means for
mixing the liquid to be dispensed.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/193,635, filed Mar. 31, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to kitchen
appliances and more, particularly, to an electric salad spinner
device, which is designed for ease of use and provides the user
with a more efficient way of carrying out the drying of wet salad
greens, leafy vegetables, and the like, as well as to provide
various optional functions as desired by the user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] While a variety of salad spinners are known in the art, none
are available which provide the user with the ease and simplicity
of an electric motor-driven device, such as is the subject of the
present invention. Also, while numerous food processor devices
exist, which are electrically driven, none provides the user with
the benefits afforded by a conventional hand-operated salad
spinner.
[0004] A number of prior art references are available in the art,
each of which references is directed to some specific discreet
elements of the device which is described and claimed in the
present invention. However, none of the references is directed to
the totality of the combination, or its use and function in the
manner described and claimed herein.
[0005] The following prior art references are known:
[0006] Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,641 discloses an
electrically-operated multi-functional processing machine capable
of various functions, such as soy bean, rice and coffee milling as
well as pressing and mixing juice and cutting slices;
[0007] Rebel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,070 discloses an
electrically-operated food processor capable of cutting, stirring,
kneading and centrifuging;
[0008] Lin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,084 discloses a crank-operated food
processor having a work basket, a food processing member, and a
seasoning aperture for dispensing seasoning and/or vegetable oils
into the work bowl. The food processing member can comprise a
drainer basket, a slicer member, or a mixing element;
[0009] Ferrera, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,805 discloses a potato chip
maker including an apparatus for centrifugally removing cooking oil
from any product. The device includes a slicer mechanism for
slicing potatoes and other vegetables, fish, chicken, etc.,
inserted through an opening, and a basket for centrifugally
extracting liquid from the contents of the basket; and
[0010] Sontheimer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,162 discloses an
electrically-driven salad spinner, which is an attachment for an
existing food processor;
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an
electric salad spinner which provides the user with a device which
requires less effort to use than conventional, manually operated
salad spinner.
[0012] It is also an object of the present invention to provide an
electric salad spinner which affords the user a more efficient
manner of carrying out the drying of wet salad greens, leafy
vegetables and the like.
[0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an electric salad spinner which provides the user with various
optional functions to allow such user to enhance the salad greens
or other leafy vegetables which are being dried by adding
additional components such as salad dressings, oils, vinegars and
similar items.
[0014] These and other objects of the invention will become more
apparent from the discussion below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention provides for an electric salad spinner
device which is designed for ease of use and provides the user with
a more efficient way of carrying out the drying of wet salad
greens, leafy vegetables and the like. Further, the electric salad
spinner device of the present invention provides the user with a
variety of optional functions which allow the user to enhance the
salad or other leafy greens which are being prepared, for example,
by the addition of salad dressings, oils, vinegars, and similar
liquids, or by slicing in other hard vegetables such as, for
example, carrots, celery and radishes.
[0016] The construction and obvious advantages of the device
provided for by the present invention will be more clearly
understood from the following description of the various specific
embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The foregoing objects and advantages of the present
invention may be more readily understood by one skilled in the art
with reference being had to the following detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein like elements are designated by
identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and in
which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the
electric salad spinner device of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the top section of another
embodiment of the electric salad spinner device of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of the top section shown in FIG. 2;
[0021] FIGS. 4 and 5 are each a lateral cross-sectional view of the
embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0022] FIGS. 6 and 6A are perspective view and a cross-sectional
view, respectively, of a slicer dish useful according to the
invention; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a detail showing the configuration of the
invention having a salad dressing container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention is directed to an electric salad
spinner device which is designed for ease of use and provides the
user with a more efficient manner of carrying out the task of
drying wet salad greens, leafy vegetables and the like. In its most
preferred embodiment the electric salad spinner device of the
present invention comprises a generally cylindrical base component
having an open top and a closed bottom, in which is inserted a
mating, generally cylindrical open top basket component having
drainage holes throughout the surface thereof, the open top of the
base component being fitted with a sealable lid component. The
salad spinner is provided with a handle assembly having a motorized
drive assembly extending therethrough such that a drive shaft/gear
means of the drive assembly slidingly engages the top of the
cylindrical basket to enable rotation of the cylindrical basket
about its axis when the electric motor is activated by the user
depressing a switch located in the handle assembly. Optionally,
vegetables can be sliced into the basket and/or salad dressing or
the like can be added mechanically.
[0025] The invention can perhaps be better appreciated from the
drawings. In FIG. 1, which is a front perspective view of an
embodiment of the electric salad spinner device of the present
invention, a generally cylindrical base component 2 is depicted
with the sealable lid 4 affixed in the engaged position. Port 6 is
shown in its closed position with a sealing closure 8, which
sealing closure 8 is removable for the addition of liquids.
[0026] Affixed to the top of sealable lid 4 is a handle assembly
10, having an on-off switch 12, through which handle assembly 10
passes an electrical supply cord 14 which in turn supplies
electricity to a drive motor. Hard vegetables or other food items
to be sliced by an optional slicing blade assembly, can be inserted
into cylindrical opening 16. Base component 2 is provided with
three or more rubberized feet 18 around the circumference of the
bottom edge thereof.
[0027] In FIGS. 2 and 3 the top portion 20 of another embodiment of
the invention comprises a handle assembly 22 positioned atop a
cover section 24. An on-off switch 23 is located at the upper
surface of handle assembly 22, and a speed selector knob 26 is
located on the upper surface of cover section 24. The upper surface
of cover section 24 also comprises a receptable 36 to mount a salad
dressing vessel. Handle assembly 22 comprises an opening 28 to
insert vegetables and the like. Opposite of opening 28 handle
assembly 22 comprises motor housing 30 having vents 32. An electric
cord 34 extends from cover section 24.
[0028] Alternative configurations of an embodiment of the invention
are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, motor housing 30 in handle
assembly 22 houses a motor 40 that is operatively connected,
preferably by one or more gears, to a drive shaft 42. A perforated
salad spinner 44 is rotably positioned within bottom section 46,
wherein salad spinner 44 has an indentation 48 that cooperates with
a protrusion 50. Salad spinner 44 has holes or perforations to
allow water or other liquids to pass through when salad spinner 44
is rotated.
[0029] A cover lid 52 is removably and sealingly attached to the
upper surface of salad spinner 44. Cover lid 52 has a relatively
thicker midsection 54 that engages drive shaft 42.
[0030] Cover lid 44 52 can contain slicing or cutting means for
vegetables, for example, as described below. When it is desired to
use cover lid 52 without salad spinner 44, a support rod 58 can be
used to support cover lid 52, as shown in FIG. 5. Support rod 58
has one cavity 60 that engages drive shaft 42 and another cavity 62
that engages protrusion 50.
[0031] Cover lid 52 can be seen in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 6A
where one surface 68 of cover lid 52 may contain protrusions 70.
Also, cover lid 52 may contain at least one slicing means. Here, in
a preferred embodiment, cover lid 52 comprises slicing section 72
with grating projections 74 and slicing section 76 with slicing
slot 78.
[0032] FIG. 7 represents a typical salad dressing dispenser 80 that
may be attached to cover 20 at receptable 36. Dispenser 80 has a
removable top 82 and a recess 84 that engages receptable 36.
Preferably dispenser 80 and receptable 36 are configured so that
salad dressing dispenses through opening 86 into salad spinner 44.
Optionlly dispenser 80 and/or receptable 36 are mechanically
connected to motor 40 so that an agitator 86 is rotated and/or
salad dressing is positively dispensed.
[0033] It will be further apparent to one skilled in this art that
the improvements provided for in the present invention, while
described with relation to certain specific physical embodiments
also lend themselves to being applied in other physical
arrangements not specifically provided for herein, which are
nonetheless within the spirit and scope of the invention taught
here.
* * * * *