U.S. patent application number 10/297956 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for working container for receiving and processing foodstuffs.
Invention is credited to Pearanda, Mariano, Rebordosa, Antonio, Roman, Jose Luis, Safont, Vicenc.
Application Number | 20030132236 10/297956 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7647253 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030132236 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Safont, Vicenc ; et
al. |
July 17, 2003 |
Working container for receiving and processing foodstuffs
Abstract
The invention relates to a working container (1) which is used
to receive and process foodstuffs. The working container (1) is
provided with a bottom (3) on which a bearing journal (11) can be
placed for rotationally mounting a working tool (34) which
processes the foodstuffs. According to the invention, a recess (20)
is embodied in the bottom (3) of the container. The bearing journal
(11) extends into said recess, whereby food which is not to be
comminuted in the receiving area (32) by the usual working tool
(34) can be processed, for example, by a working tool (56) of a rod
mixer (57) or another working tool of a hand mixer, said working
tools (56) not being able to come into contact with the bearing
journal (11).
Inventors: |
Safont, Vicenc; (Barcelona,
ES) ; Roman, Jose Luis; (Barcelona, ES) ;
Rebordosa, Antonio; (Barcelona, ES) ; Pearanda,
Mariano; (Barcelona, ES) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert C Nabinger
Fish & Richardson
225 Franklin Street
Boston
MA
02110-2804
US
|
Family ID: |
7647253 |
Appl. No.: |
10/297956 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
May 23, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP01/05905 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/890 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/0727
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/890 |
International
Class: |
B65D 090/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 29, 2000 |
DE |
100 31 753.7 |
Claims
1. A working container (1) for receiving and processing foodstuffs,
having a container bottom (3) that delimits the receiving area
(32), on which a bearing journal (11) onto which the working tool
(34) for processing foodstuffs can be placed is secured,
characterised in that the container bottom (3) has an annular
recess (20) in which the bearing journal (11) is located.
2. The working container according to claim 1, characterised in
that the radial width (b) of the recess (20) and the length of the
bearing journal (11) are calculated to ensure that upon removal of
working tool (34), which engages with bearing journal (11) and
working container (1) and subsequent insertion of working tool
(40), which is conformed on a hand-held mixer, preferably a stick
blender, the working tool (40) thereof cannot come into significant
contact with the bearing journal (11) when it is positioned on the
container bottom (3).
3. The working container according to claim 1, characterised in
that a blind hole (13) in which the bearing journal (11) is secured
non-detachably and non-rotatably is conformed in recess (20).
4. The working container according to claim 1, characterized in
that a blind hole (13) is conformed in recess (20) as a seating
socket and that a bearing journal seating (12) is inserted securely
in blind hole (13), to which bearing journal seating in turn
bearing journal (11) is secured non-detachably and
non-rotatably.
5. The working container according to claim 3, characterised in
that the free end (22) of the U-shaped end section (21) of blind
hole (13) does not protrude beyond the border (23) of the container
base (5).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a working container for receiving
and processing foodstuffs as described in the pre-characterising
clause of claim 1.
[0002] Working containers of such kind are known in the art, for
instance from DE 41 28 456 A1. This working container includes a
journal that protrudes from bottom into the interior and on which a
working tool is mounted to allow rotation. The end of the working
tool proximal to the journal is furnished with an engaging
mechanism that establishes a rotationally locked connection with a
corresponding engaging mechanism on the lid when the working
container is closed. The corresponding engaging mechanism is
connected to a drive shaft that protrudes upwardly out of the lid
and that may be connected with a driving component, preferably a
hand-held mixer, a stick blender or other such device. In this way,
the working tool that is placed rotatably on the journal in the
working container may be rotated when the driving component is
switched on. Since cutting devices or other devices for processing
foodstuffs are conformed on the working tool, the foodstuffs are
mixed and chopped accordingly. After the foodstuffs have been
chopped, they may be left in the working container after the
working tool has been removed, or may also be removed for further
processing or consumption.
[0003] The object of the invention is therefore an improved working
container for receiving and processing foodstuffs in accordance
with the pre-characterising clause of claim 1, such that on the one
hand foodstuffs may be processed with a working tool that is
located on the journal, but on the other hand even when the working
tool is removed from the working container, foodstuffs that are
also in the working container may be chopped using a working tool
that is conformed on a mechanism, in such manner that the journal
does not obstruct the working tool.
[0004] The object is solved according to the invention by the
characterising features of claim 1. Because the journal is inserted
or embedded in the bottom of the working container, when the
working tool has been removed from the journal in the working
container, the working tool of a stick blender or a hand-held
mixer, for example, may be inserted into the working container
until it touches the bottom of the working container. The device
may now be switched on and the foodstuffs in the working container
may be chopped and/or blended by the working tool of the stick
blender or hand-held mixer. According to the invention, it is thus
possible not only to process foodstuffs with the working tool that
is normally located on the journal in the working container, but
also to chop the foodstuffs by inserting an external chopping
device and the working tool thereof into the working container.
[0005] The invention extends the range of uses for the working
container, i.e. the working container may be used, for example, to
chop herbs such as parsley, dill, or other vegetables such as
onions, carrots with the knife located on the journal. When the
working has been removed from the working container, foodstuffs may
also be pureed and chopped in the same working container using a
stick blender. However, it is also possible to whip cream to
stiffness with a whisk in the working container, while ensuring
that the whisk on the device does not come into damaging contact
with the journal.
[0006] The invention serves to prevent damage to the working
container and the working tool of the device. This further serves
to avoid injury to the operator.
[0007] According to the features described in claim 2, a working
tool of a domestic appliance cannot come into contact with the
journal if, depending on the length of the journal, both the depth
and the radial width (diameter) of the recess are small enough at
the transition to the edge area of the container bottom to ensure
that the working tool cannot be inserted into the recess or
depression, but is always kept at a distance from the journal by
the bottom area surrounding the recess.
[0008] According to the features described in claim 3, special
sealing elements are not required, since the recess is formed by a
blind hole. The journal is secured against rotation in the blind
hole for example by adhesive bonding, pressing, or by a screwed
fixture or similar means.
[0009] According to the features described in claim 4, the journal
is pressed in the blind hole by means of a bush. This has the
advantage that compressive forces are not transferred directly to
the material of the working container, but instead through a bush
that is made from more resilient material than that of the working
container. The bush itself may then be secured in the recess at the
bottom of the working container by adhesive bonding or with the
application or less pressure.
[0010] Here it should be noted that of course it is also
conceivable to secure the journal detachably to the bottom of the
working container; however, the drawback of such an arrangement is
that if the operator neglects to remove the journal, the working
tool of the stick blender or hand-held mixer may be damaged. This
solution is therefore not particularly practical.
[0011] The features described in claim 5 enable stable positioning
of the working container on a work surface.
[0012] An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and
will be described in detail in the following. In the drawing:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a working
container with lid and having a working tool centrally positioned
on the journal in the interior of the working container,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a working container without lid or working
tool,
[0015] FIG. 3 is an enlarged section Z from FIG. 2 and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a working container with lid removed and working
tool taken out, but with the blending rod of a stick blender
inserted.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an essentially cylindrical working container 1,
that includes a container wall 2, a handle 33 conformed on the side
of container wall 2, and a container bottom 3. Working container 1
is supported on container base 5. Container base 5, container
bottom 3, container wall 2, and handle 33 are made from a single
plastic moulded part.
[0018] When ready for operation, working container 1 may be closed
at its upper, open end 26 (FIG. 2) by a container lid 4 (FIG. 1).
Container lid 4 is slightly tapered and is furnished at its middle
with a cylindrical projection 27. This projection 27 includes a
drive shaft 16 that incorporates a drive unit 28. Drive shaft 16 is
rotatably supported above a bearing point 18 on projection 27 and
above a hole 29 conformed in a driven shaft 30. Driven shaft 30 in
turn is supported above bearing point 31, which is a part of
container lid 4. Driven shaft 30 continues into receiving area 32
of working container 1 and has a connection fitting 17 at its free
end.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, a bearing journal 11 having a rounded
head 10 is provided in container bottom 3 and is concentric with
driven shaft 30. Bearing journal 11 is accommodated by a bearing
journal seating, which is held in turn by a seating socket 13 that
is conformed as a blind hole in container bottom 3. A working tool
34 that is furnished with tool shaft 6 is retained between the
downwardly flared connection fitting 17 and bearing journal 11, and
has at its upper end a connector 15 that has the form of an
engaging member, the fins 35, 36 of which are arranged in a cross
formation and engage detachably but non-rotatably with
corresponding engaging members 37, 38 of connection fitting 17.
Together with the corresponding walls of connection fitting 17, the
rounded outer edges of engaging arrangement 35, 36, 37, 38 create
contact points that serve as upper bearing point 39 of working tool
34.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of tool shaft 6 is
conformed by moulding as sickle-shaped knives that project from
tool shaft 6 into receiving area 32 at different levels. A mixing
vane 41 is conformed on tool shaft 6 above the knives 7. Tool shaft
6 is configured as a hollow shaft having reinforcing ribs 8
arranged on the inside along its longitudinal axis and in the
example illustrated is made from a suitable thermoplastic material.
The lower end of tool shaft 6 terminates in a ball and socket joint
socket 9, as shown in FIG. 1 by means of which it is supported to
allow tilting and rotation on head 10 of bearing journal 11.
[0021] In FIGS. 1 to 4, the container bottom includes an annular
and horizontally aligned outer section 19 and a recess 20 that
extends from the centre and is concentric with container wall 2,
and that is adjoined from below by a U-shaped central end section
21. The recess has radial width b and depth t. End section 21
incorporates blind hole 13, in which bearing journal seating 12 is
secured. The U-shaped end section 21 terminates externally with a
frontal surface 22, which does not extend beyond border 23 of
container base 5, as is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. This means that
border 23 always lies flush on a work surface 24, so that working
container 1 does not wobble.
[0022] However, if recess 25 in container base 5 is terminated by a
bottom cover 42, as is shown in FIG. 1, the bottom-most line or the
lowest standing area 43 constitutes the point of contact with work
surface 24. Bottom cover 42 is securely attached to container base
5 via locking members 55.
[0023] Working container is again illustrated in FIG. 4 in the
condition also shown in FIG. 2, and here too working tool 34 (FIG.
1) has been removed from working container 1. The shaft 44 of an
electrically powered stick blender 57 is inserted into the open end
26 of working container 1. For the sake of clarity, the drive unit
of the stick blender, i.e. the motor housing at the top of shaft 44
is not shown here, it has been detached in the figure. A
bell-shaped attachment 45 that is open facing bottom 3 is connected
to the bottom of shaft 44, and in which a working tool 56 of stick
blender 57 that is conformed with knives 46 is rotatably attached.
Working tool 56 is non-rotatably attached to drive shaft 47 that
extends down the middle of shaft 44 and that may be connected to
the motor shaft (not shown) of stick blender 57 via carrier lugs
48. Drive shaft 47 penetrates a cover 49 secured inside bell-shaped
attachment 45 through a hole 50 to such that a seal is created.
This ensures that foodstuffs cannot infiltrate interior area 51 of
shaft 44.
[0024] As is further shown in FIG. 4, working tool 56 of stick
blender 57 is arranged at a distance from the free end 52 of
bell-shaped attachment 45, so that it cannot strike bearing journal
11 that is conformed in recess 20. Indeed, the free end of head 10
of bearing journal 11 protrudes slightly into processing area 53 of
bell-shaped attachment 45, but the distance from working tool 56 is
still such that contact is precluded. Free end 52 of bell-shaped
attachment 45 is supported on exterior section 19 of container
bottom 3, so that working tool 46 can never approach free end 10 of
journal 11. It is also impossible for free end 52 of bell-shaped
attachment 45 to be inserted into the area 54 formed by recess 20
because the free diameter of recess 20, or radial width b, is
significantly smaller than free diameter B of bell-shaped
attachment in the region of free end 52.
[0025] The working container functions as follows:
[0026] After working tool 34 has been centred on bearing journal
11, container lid 4 is placed over the open end 26 of working
container 1. This causes connector 15, which is conformed on the
top end of working tool 34, to be centred on connection fitting 17,
so that working tool 34 now extends essentially lengthwise along
the centre line of working container 1. A drive unit--not shown in
the drawing--is now placed on top of projection 27 and engages
non-rotatably with drive shaft 16.
[0027] When the electric drive unit is switched on, driven shaft 30
is driven by drive unit 28 via drive shaft 16 and in turn rotates
working tool 34. Foodstuffs that are located in working container 1
are chopped by knives 7 of working tool 34, and are also mixed with
the other foodstuffs by mixing vanes 41. When the food processing
operation is complete, container lid 4 may be removed from working
container 1 again and working tool 34 may be taken out. Now the
foodstuffs are freely accessible and may be removed either by
pouring from the working container 1 or by some other means such as
a spoon.
[0028] If the operator now wishes to puree foodstuffs or whip
cream, for example, the processing part of a kitchen appliance may
now be inserted into receiving area 32 of working container 1 and
the foodstuffs in working container 1 may be chopped using working
tool 56 of stick blender 57 without any risk that working tool 56
will come into contact with bearing journal 11. Thus the invention
enables different foodstuffs to be processed in the working
container by various means and using a variety of tools. Foodstuffs
that may be processed in this manner include for instance whipped
cream, pureed potatoes, strawberries, etc., or chopped parsley,
dill, chives, etc.
* * * * *