U.S. patent application number 10/898903 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-24 for compact storage and transport container for appliance blades.
Invention is credited to Carillo, Michelle M., Steinberg, Howard, Wanat, David J..
Application Number | 20050042103 10/898903 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32927768 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050042103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carillo, Michelle M. ; et
al. |
February 24, 2005 |
Compact storage and transport container for appliance blades
Abstract
A storage and transport container for blades of the type used in
an electric food processor has a series of platforms adapted to
horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a
positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided
to enclosed the inside of the container.
Inventors: |
Carillo, Michelle M.;
(Monroe, CT) ; Steinberg, Howard; (Shelton,
CT) ; Wanat, David J.; (Meridan, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN A. GARNER
CONAIR CORPORATION
ONE CUMMINGS POINT ROAD
STAMFORD
CT
06902
US
|
Family ID: |
32927768 |
Appl. No.: |
10/898903 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60490181 |
Jul 25, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
416/146R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/07 20130101;
A47J 2043/0738 20130101; A47J 47/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/146.00R |
International
Class: |
F04D 029/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container for cutting blades of appliances comprising: a
housing; a plurality of generally horizontally aligned platforms
within said housing and being adapted to hold one or more of said
blades; and a lock associated with each platform for securing a
respective one of said blades.
2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a door for
selectively opening and closing said housing to insert or remove
said blades.
3. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality
of struts positioned between and supporting said plurality of
platforms.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein said lock is a flat
spring-tab unitarily formed with each of said platforms.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said lock further
comprises a wedge tip extending downwardly beneath each of said
platforms.
6. A container according to claim 1, wherein said housing is
generally cylindrically shaped.
7. A container according to claim 1, wherein said door is a sliding
door adapted to nest within a recess of said housing.
8. A container according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of
platforms are staggered laterally.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/490,181 filed on Jul. 25, 2003,
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to appliances such as food
appliances and, more particularly, to accessories for storing and
transporting cutting blades of appliances.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Food processors and other known electronic appliances
utilize interchangeable rotating, generally flat cutting blades. A
user typically has more than one blade. Since the appliances use
only one blade at a time, storage and transport of the blades that
are not attached to the appliance must be handled with care in
order to preserve and protect the condition of the blade edges and
other features, as well as to provide safety to people handling the
blades.
[0006] There is a need, therefore, for blade storage and transport
containers that are compact, efficient and safe to use.
[0007] These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention described herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a storage and transport
container for blades of the type used in an electric food
processor. The container has a series of platforms adapted to
horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a
positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided
to enclosed the inside of the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a container
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a container
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial, front view of a container according to
the preferred embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 4A is a partial front view of a component of the
preferred embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a partial top view of a component of the
preferred embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 5A is a bottom view, schematic of a blade disc of the
type used with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a side view, schematic of a blade disc of the
type used with the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic, partial view of another alternative
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] A container (10) according to a first embodiment of the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The container (10) has an
outer housing (12) that is generally cylindrically shaped to
accommodate the round shape of blades to be stored therein. The
housing (12) may be of another shape, though it preferably is
designed to conserve space and, thus, may conform closely to the
shape of the blades to be stored therein.
[0019] The housing (12) is preferably a unitary piece that has a
space on part of the sidewall to accommodate a hinged door (14).
The door (14) and the housing (12) may be molded from plastic and
the housing (12) may have hinge protrusions (16) that snap-fit with
the door (14) to hold in it hinged relation. As shown in FIG. 2,
the door (14) can be swung open. The door (14) is shown closed in
FIG. 1. The edge (18) of the door (14) and the mating portion (20)
of the housing (12) may be provided with wedge or press-fit
latching means (not shown) of the type known to those skilled in
the art to selectively secure the door (14) in the closed
position.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 3, a partial front view, a rack (22) is
fixed inside the housing (12). The rack (22) comprises a series of
horizontally-aligned platforms (24) having spaces (26)
therebetween. Each space (26) is designed to accommodate a blade
disc to be stored therein. The platforms (24) are supported by
struts (28) that hold them in spaced relation. The rack (22) may be
fastened to the housing (12) by screws (not shown) positioned
through holes (30).
[0021] A close view of one of the platforms (24) is shown in FIG.
4A to more clearly show the spring-biased wedge lock (32) that
locks a blade disc positioned in the rack (22). Referring to the
top view of FIG. 4B, the wedge lock (32) is a flat spring-tab
unitarily formed from the molded platform (24). A wedge tip (34)
extends downwardly or beneath the platform (24) so that when a
blade disc having a lip is slipped in the space (26) beneath the
platform (24), the wedge rides over the lip and snaps back into
un-biased position after the lip passes. The reverse action happens
when the blade disc is pulled out. This serves as a lock to hold a
blade disc in place within the container (10). For reference
purposes, the side of the platform (24) that has the mating
surfaces (44) shown faces front, and thus is the view in FIG.
3.
[0022] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a blade disc (36) of the type to be
held in the container (10). The blade disc (36) has a raised center
portion (38) and a disc body (40). The platforms (24) may be formed
with mating surfaces (44) that contact corresponding surfaces (42)
of the raised portion (38) when it is inserted into the rack
(22).
[0023] An alternative embodiment container (100) is shown in FIG.
6, wherein the door (124) is a sliding door that nests inside a
wall portion (122) of the housing body (120) when the door (124) is
slid closed. The door (124) is slid opened or closed in the
direction of the arrow (126) in FIG. 6.
[0024] Another alternative embodiment of the present invention is
shown in FIG. 7, wherein platforms (200) may be staggered laterally
as shown, in order to accommodate multiple blade discs (202) in
close vertical spaces. By staggering the platforms (200) inside the
housing of the container, the platforms (200) may be positioned
closer vertically than if they were not staggered since the center
extending portions (204) of the discs (202) are alternately off-set
eccentrically.
[0025] While the preferred present invention has been herein
described, it is understood that various modification may be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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