U.S. patent number RE45,655 [Application Number 13/893,531] was granted by the patent office on 2015-08-18 for sealing enclosure for a blender.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Vita-Mix Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is David J Kolar, Stephen P. Rukavina. Invention is credited to David J Kolar, Stephen P. Rukavina.
United States Patent |
RE45,655 |
Kolar , et al. |
August 18, 2015 |
Sealing enclosure for a blender
Abstract
An enclosure for a blender including a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base, and a cover pivotally attached to the body
portion. The body portion includes sidewalls, a back wall, and an
abbreviated top wall. The cover includes sidewalls, a front wall, a
top wall, and an abbreviated back wall. A flange extends outwardly
from the sidewalls and the top wall of the body portion and a
gasket is provided thereon to create a seal between the cover and
the body portion of the enclosure.
Inventors: |
Kolar; David J (Stow, OH),
Rukavina; Stephen P. (Rocky River, OH) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kolar; David J
Rukavina; Stephen P. |
Stow
Rocky River |
OH
OH |
US
US |
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|
Assignee: |
Vita-Mix Corporation (Olmsted
Township, OH)
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Family
ID: |
41139312 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/893,531 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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61189172 |
Aug 15, 2008 |
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61209063 |
Mar 2, 2009 |
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Reissue of: |
12460592 |
Jul 22, 2009 |
8087603 |
Jan 3, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
43/046 (20130101); A47J 43/0716 (20130101); A47J
2043/0738 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
43/046 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;241/285.3,282.1,282.2
;366/347 ;181/198 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 2005/051149 |
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Sep 2005 |
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WO |
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Other References
PCT International Preliminary Report and Written Opinion (7
pages--dated Feb. 24, 2011). cited by applicant .
Q Series--Blendtec (May 2006--2 pages). cited by applicant .
Xtreme--Waring (2006--2 pages). cited by applicant .
Blendtec Operations Manual--Blendtec (Apr. 2006--15 sheets). cited
by applicant .
Summit Operation Manual--Hamilton Beach (Nov. 2007--pp. 1, 4, 6, 7,
8. cited by applicant .
PCT International Search Report (9 pages--Oct. 26, 2009). cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Mark
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McDonald Hopkins LLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/189,172 filed Aug. 15, 2008, and U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/209,063 filed Mar. 2, 2009, both of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An enclosure for a blender comprising a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the blender, the body portion including
opposed sidewalls, a flange extending outwardly from each of said
sidewalls, a cover pivotally secured to said body portion and
movable between an open position and a closed position, and a
gasket positioned between said cover and said flanges on said body
portion when said cover is in the closed position.
2. The enclosure of claim 1 said gasket being made of a
thermoplastic elastomer material.
3. The enclosure of claim 1, said body portion including a rear
wall extending between said sidewalls, a top wall, and a foot
adapted to be secured to the base of the blender, said cover
including opposing sidewalls, a front wall extending between said
cover sidewalls, and a top wall.
4. An enclosure for a blender comprising a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the blender, a cover pivotally secured to
the said body portion and movable between an open position and a
closed position, and a sealing gasket, said cover including opposed
sidewalls having a rear edge, a front wall extending between said
sidewalls, and a top wall, said body portion including opposed
sidewalls having outwardly extending flanges shaped to mirror said
rear edges of said cover sidewalls, a rear wall extending between
said sidewalls, and a top wall, said gasket covering a portion of
said sidewalls and said top wall of said body portion and
positioned between said body portion and said cover when said cover
is in the closed position.
5. The enclosure of claim 4, said gasket having a lip positioned
over a front facing surface of said flanges on said body portion
sidewalls, wherein said rear edges of said cover are in contact
with said lip of said gasket when said cover is in the closed
position.
6. The enclosure of claim 5, said cover including a downwardly
extending rear flange extending from an edge of said top wall
opposite said front wall, said rear flange extending laterally
between said cover sidewalls.
7. The enclosure of claim 6, said top wall of said body portion
including an upwardly extending top flange, said gasket including a
top portion positioned over a rear facing surface of said top
flange, wherein said rear flange on said cover is in contact with
said top portion of said gasket when said cover is in the closed
position.
8. The enclosure of claim 4, said gasket being made of a
thermoplastic elastomer.
9. An enclosure for a blender comprising a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the blender, a cover pivotally secured to
.[.the.]. said body portion and movable between an open position
and a closed position, and a .[.sealing.]. gasket .Iadd.secured to
said body portion.Iaddend., said body portion including opposed
sidewalls.[.,.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a rear wall extending between
said sidewalls.[., and a top wall, said gasket covering a portion
of said sidewalls and said top wall of said body portion and
positioned between said body portion and said cover when said cover
is in the closed position.]., said gasket .[.including a bottom
portion.]. extending along .Iadd.a bottom portion of .Iaddend.said
body portion sidewalls and across .Iadd.a bottom portion of
.Iaddend.said rear wall.[., said bottom portion being adapted to
secure said gasket in position on said body portion.]..
10. An enclosure for a blender comprising a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the blender, said body portion including an
outwardly extending flange, a cover pivotally secured to said body
portion and movable between an open position and a closed position,
said cover including an inwardly extending flange, and a gasket
positioned on one of said outwardly extending flange and said
inwardly extending flange, said gasket being between and in contact
with both said outwardly extending flange and said inwardly
extending flange when said cover is in the closed position.
11. The enclosure of claim 10, said body portion including opposed
sidewalls, a rear wall extending between said sidewalls, and a top
wall, said outwardly extending flange extending from said sidewalls
and said top wall.
12. The enclosure of claim 11, said cover including opposing
sidewalls, a front wall extending between said sidewalls, and a top
wall, said inwardly extending flange extending from said cover
sidewalls and said cover top wall.
13. The enclosure of claim 12, said cover being pivotally connected
to said body portion by a socket extending outwardly from each body
portion sidewall, said sockets being received in apertures in each
of said cover sidewalls, said sockets and apertures defining a
pivot axis of said cover.
14. The enclosure of claim 13, said outwardly extending flange on
said body portion being divided into a top flange and a bottom
flange by said sockets, said top flange extending upward from said
sockets and said bottom flange extending downward from said
sockets.
15. The enclosure of claim 14, said inwardly extending flange on
said cover being divided into an upper flange and a lower flange by
said apertures, said upper flange extending upward from said
apertures and said lower flange extending downward from said
apertures.
16. The enclosure of claim 15, said gasket being positioned on a
front facing surface of said bottom flange and on a rear facing
surface of said top flange.
17. The enclosure of claim 10, said gasket being made of a
thermoplastic elastomer.
.Iadd.18. A blender comprising: a base member, said base member
housing a motor; an enclosure providing a sound barrier to said
base member, the enclosure comprising: a body selectively securable
to the base member; a cover coupled to the body, the cover moveable
between open and closed positions; and a gasket secured to one of
an outer sidewall surface of said body or an inner sidewall surface
of said cover, wherein said gasket is configured to prevent said
outer sidewall surface of said body from direct contact with said
inner sidewall of said cover. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. The blender of claim 18, wherein preventing direct
contact of said outer sidewall surface of said body with said inner
sidewall of said cover reduces vibration between said body and
cover created by said motor. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The blender of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of
said gasket extends along a bottom portion of sidewalls of said
body and across a bottom portion of a rear wall of said body.
.Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an enclosure such as those which house a
food processor to deaden the noise emanating therefrom. More
particularly, this invention relates to such an enclosure having a
main body and a cover, wherein the cover is hinged to the main body
and an elastomeric seal is provided on the main body to create a
sound reducing seal between the main body and the cover.
BACKGROUND ART
A common problem associated with electric food processors, or
blenders, is the noise generated when the food processor is
running. The amount of noise generated by these devices is a result
of both the blending taking place within the container of the
blender, often involving the crushing of ice, as well as the noise
vibrations that are generated by the electric motor of the blender.
The noise levels generated by the food processor are particularly
troublesome in commercial settings such as restaurants, food
stands, and coffee shops, especially where the food processor is
positioned near a customer service counter.
Enclosures are often provided for food processors to isolate the
container and reduce the noise levels during operation. Such
enclosures are well known in the art such as that shown, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. D427,016. These enclosures are designed
to muffle the noise of the food processor during operation. Most
enclosures are formed of two components, that is, a main body and a
cover. The cover is usually hingedly attached to the main body of
the enclosure which is attached to the base of the blender. The
main body of the enclosure may secured to the base by a number of
methods known in the art, such as, for example, by tongue and
groove attachment, mechanical fasteners, or by magnetic means such
as that disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/135,480. The base includes an electric motor and a control
module which allows a user to start, stop, and adjust the speed of
the food processor. When the container of the blender is positioned
on the base, it may be accessed by pivoting the enclosure cover
relative to its main body.
In many cases, conventional enclosures provide less than desired
results in suppressing the noise levels of the food processor. The
underperformance of the enclosure can be contributed at least, in
part, to an ineffective seal between the main body and the cover of
the enclosure. The lack of an effective seal allows noise to escape
the enclosure, while also allowing the cover to vibrate against the
main body, potentially creating an additional source of noise.
These vibrations are transferred from the electric motor in the
base member of the food processor to the base member, and then to
the main body of the enclosure.
Thus, the need exists for a food processor having an enclosure
which is effective at significantly reducing noise levels created
by operation of the food processor.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of one aspect of the present invention to
provide an enclosure for a food processor that reduces the noise
level of the food processor during operation.
It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to
provide an enclosure, as above, that provides a seal between the
body portion and the pivoting cover of the enclosure.
These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the
advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become
apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the
improvements hereinafter described and claimed.
In general, an enclosure for a food processor according to the
concepts of the present invention includes a body portion adapted
to be secured to a base of the food processor and a cover pivotally
secured to the body portion and movable between an open position
and a closed position. A gasket is positioned between the cover and
the body portion when the cover is in the closed position.
In accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention, an
enclosure for a food processor includes a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the food processor and a cover pivotally
secured to the the body portion and movable between an open
position and a closed position. The body portion includes opposed
sidewalls, a rear wall extending between the sidewalls, and a top
wall. A sealing gasket covers a portion of the sidewalls and the
top wall of the body portion and is positioned between the body
portion and the cover when the cover is in the closed position.
In accordance with at least one aspect of the present invention, an
enclosure for a food processor includes a body portion adapted to
be secured to a base of the food processor, the body portion having
an outwardly extending flange. A cover is also provided and is
pivotally secured to the body portion and is movable between an
open position and a closed position. The cover has an inwardly
extending flange. A gasket is positioned on the outwardly extending
flange or the inwardly extending flange and is between and in
contact with both the outwardly extending flange and the inwardly
extending flange when the cover is in the closed position.
A preferred exemplary enclosure for a food processor according to
the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in
the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the
various forms and modifications in which the invention might be
embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and
not by the details of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food processor and enclosure
according to one embodiment of the present invention showing the
enclosure in an open position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food processor of FIG. 1 with
the enclosure closed.
FIG. 3 is a section view of the food processor and enclosure of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cover of the enclosure for the
food processor shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a body portion of the enclosure for
the food processor shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a gasket of the enclosure for the
food processor shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a food
processor and enclosure according to the present invention showing
the enclosure in an open position.
FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the food processor enclosure
of FIG. 7 and showing the container portion of the food
processor.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally across line 9-9 of FIG.
8.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view like FIG. 9 showing the cover in a
closed position.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
One embodiment of an enclosure for a food processor made in
accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-6 and is
indicated generally by the numeral 10. The food processor includes
a base member, generally indicated by the numeral 12, which houses
a motor to operate the blender. Enclosure 10 includes a cover 16
and a body portion 18 that is designed to be attached to base
member 12. The food processor further includes a container (not
shown), which has a set of rotating blades therein, and which is
used to contain and mix ingredients. As such, the container of the
food processor is positioned on the base member 12 and housed
within enclosure 10 during blending to muffle the noise generated
by operation of the blender.
Base member 12 often includes a control panel 22 on one of its
surfaces where the blender can be turned on and off, and the speed
of rotation of the motor can be adjusted. An opening (not shown)
may also be provided in base member 12 so that an electric cord can
pass from within to provide power to the motor housed within base
member 12. Base member 12 also includes a raised pedestal 24 on a
top surface thereof, which is adapted to be received in a base
portion of the container. Pedestal 24 may include one or more pads
26 which, when received by the base portion of the container,
prevent the container from rotating when the motor within base
member 12 is actuated. In addition, pedestal 24 also receives a
splined end 28 of a rotating motor shaft therethrough. A splined
drive shaft, which extends from the blender blades within the
container, engages the splined end of the rotating motor shaft in
base member 12. Rotation of the motor shaft caused by actuation of
motor 14 is thereby transferred to the draft shaft and the blades
rotatably positioned within the container, as is well known in the
art.
Body portion 18 of enclosure 10 includes opposed sidewalls 30
spanned by a rear wall 32 and an abbreviated top wall 34 (FIG. 5).
Body portion 18 has an open front area opposed to rear wall 32,
which front area is closed by cover 16 to form enclosure 10. Cover
16 includes opposed sidewalls 36 spanned by a front wall 38, a top
wall 40, and an abbreviated back wall 42. Cover sidewalls 36, front
wall 38 and top wall 40 are sized and spaced laterally such that
cover 16 may fit over an overlap body portion sidewalls 30.
Cover 16 and body portion 18 may be made of a clear thermoplastic
material, such as polycarbonate or polyester, so that the container
of the blender can be viewed when positioned on the base member 12
with cover 16 in a closed position. Alternatively, windows 44 may
be provided in both cover 16 and body portion 18 to allow a
container within enclosure 10 to be viewed.
Cover 16 may be pivotally connected to body portion 18 by any
method known in the art, such that it can be moved from a closed
position to an open position, allowing access to the interior of
enclosure 10. As such, a hinge assembly may be formed by a pair of
sockets 46 on sidewalls 30 of body portion 18 and a pair of
corresponding apertures 48 in sidewalls 36 of cover 16. Apertures
48 are sized to fit over sockets 46. Thus, when sockets 46 are
positioned within apertures 48, cover 16 is rendered pivotable with
respect to body portion 18 on an axis defined by sockets 46.
Body portion 18 also includes a foot 50 at the bottom of sidewalls
30 and rear wall 32, foot 50 being adapted to secure enclosure 10
to the base member 12 of the food processor. Foot 50 may be secured
to the base member 12 by any method known to persons skilled in the
art, such as, for example, by tongue and groove attachment, with
the use of fasteners including thumb screws, or by magnetic means.
A vibration dampening seal may optionally be provided between foot
50 and base member 12 to reduce the vibrations transferred from
base member 12 to enclosure 10, thereby further reducing the noise
created by the food processor.
Each sidewall 30 of body portion 18 includes an outwardly extending
projection 54 thereon (FIG. 5). Each projection 54 travels upward
along the outer surface of sidewalls 30 and is configured to
generally parallel a rear edge 56 of sidewalls 36 of cover 16.
Thus, where the rear edges 56 of sidewalls 36 have a radiused
shape, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6, the projections 54
on sidewalls 36 also have a radiused shape. The mating shapes of
rear edges 56 of sidewalls 36 and projections 54 ensure that rear
edges 56 and projections 54 are in direct contact along the entire
length of the projections.
A gasket, generally indicated by the numeral 60 and best shown in
FIG. 6, is fitted over a portion of body portion 18 of enclosure 10
to create a seal when cover 16 is in a closed position. Gasket 60
includes side portions 62, a top portion 64 extending between
laterally spaced side portions 62, and may optionally include a
bottom portion 66. Gasket 60 is a single integral piece that is
molded to fit snuggly over body portion 18 and may be secured to
body portion 18 by any method known to those skilled in the art,
including, for example, by providing an adhesive between gasket 60
and body portion 18. Gasket 60 may be made of any material capable
of providing a sound and vibration dampening seal against cover 16,
such as, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer.
The side portion 62 of gasket 60 include a lip 68 extending
outwardly therefrom, and having a shape identical to projections 54
extending from body portion 18. When gasket 60 is positioned on
body portion 18, lip 68 abuts and is in contact with projection 54.
Such helps to ensure proper positioning of gasket 60, and also
provides a superior seal against back edge 56 of cover sidewalls
36, as will be hereinafter discussed. Side portion 62 of gasket 60
include aperture 70 sized and positioned to be aligned with
apertures 48 and cover 16, and to allow sockets 46 to extend
therethrough. Top portion 64 of gasket 60 extends across the
exterior of abbreviated top wall 34 of body portion 18. Bottom
portion 66 of gasket 60 extends around the outer, bottom edge of
sidewalls 30 and rear wall 32.
Gasket 60 provides a sealing surface for cover 16 of enclosure 10.
When cover 16 is in a closed position, the rear edges 56 of
sidewalls 36 contact lip 68 of gasket 60, thereby creating a seal
therebetween. In addition, the interior of sidewalls 36 are in
contact with the side portions 62 of gasket 60, thereby providing
an additional seal against noise generated within enclosure 10. Top
portion 64 of gasket 60 is engaged by abbreviated back wall 42 of
cover 16, providing a seal across the top of enclosure 10. A
complete seal is thus provided for enclosure 10 when cover 16 is in
a closed position inasmuch as no surface of cover 16 directly
contacts body portion 18. This significantly reduces the amount of
vibration transferred between body portion 18 and cover 16, and
also provides a much improved sound barrier against noises created
by the blending occurring within enclosure 10.
Another embodiment of an enclosure made in accordance with the
present invention is shown in FIGS. 7-10 and is indicated generally
by the numeral 110. Enclosure 110 is identical in most respects to
enclosure 10 discussed above, and like components will therefore be
numbered accordingly. The food processor includes a base member,
generally indicated by the numeral 112, which houses a motor to
operate the blender. Enclosure 110 includes a cover 116 and a body
portion 1 18 that is adapted to be attached to base member 112. The
food processor also includes a container 120, which has a set of
rotating blades therein, and which is used to contain and mix
ingredients. As such, the container 120 is positioned on the base
member 112 during operation of the food processor and is housed
within enclosure 110 to muffle the noise generated by the operation
of the food processor.
Base member 112 is identical to base member 12 discussed above, and
includes a control panel 122, a raised pedestal 124, and pads 126
on raised pedestal 124. A splined end of a rotating motor shaft
extends through pedestal 124 and is adapted to engage a splined
drive shaft extending from the blender blades within the container.
Thus, rotation of the motor shaft is transferred to the drive shaft
and the blades rotatably positioned within the container 120, as is
well known in the art.
Body portion 118 of enclosure 110 includes opposed side walls 130
spanned by a rear wall 132 and an abbreviated top wall 134. Body
portion 118 has an open front area opposed to rear wall 132 (FIG.
8), the front area being closed by cover 116 to form enclosure 110.
Cover 116 of enclosure 110 is pivotally secured to body portion 118
such that it can be moved from a closed position to an open
position, allowing access to the interior of enclosure 110. Cover
116 includes opposed side walls 136 spanned by a front wall 138, a
top wall 140, and an abbreviated back wall 142 (FIGS. 8 and 9).
Cover sidewalls 136, front wall 138 and top wall 140 are sized and
spaced laterally such that cover 116 may fit over and overlap body
portion sidewalls 130.
Cover 116 may be pivotally connected to body portion 118 by any
method known in the art, such as, for example, a hinge assembly
formed by a pair of sockets 146 on sidewalls 130 of body portion
118 and a pair of corresponding apertures 148 in sidewalls 136 of
cover 116. Cover 116 is thus pivotable with respect to body portion
118 on an axis defined by sockets 146.
Body portion 118 also includes a foot 150 at the bottom of
sidewalls 130 and rear wall 132, foot 150 being adapted to secure
enclosure 110 to the base member 112 of the blender. Foot 150 may
be secured to the base member 112 by any method known to those
skilled in the art, such as, for example, by tongue and groove
attachment, with the use of mechanical fasteners, or with the use
of magnets. A vibration dampening seal may optionally be provided
between foot 150 and base member 112 to reduce the vibrations that
are transferred from the base member to enclosure 110, thereby
further reducing the noise created by the blender.
Each sidewall 130 of body portion 118 of enclosure 110 includes a
top outwardly projecting sealing flange 152 and a bottom outwardly
projecting sealing flange 154, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Top
flange 152 extends from socket 146 to the top of body portion 118,
and bottom flange 154 extends from socket 146 to the bottom of body
portion 118. Although top flange 152 and bottom flange 154 are
shown as generally following the contours of sidewall 130 of body
portion 118, with both flanges curving toward socket 146, it will
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that top flange 152 and
bottom flange 154 may be provided in alternative configurations
without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For
example, top flange 152 and bottom flange 154 may alternatively be
provided as a substantially straight flange extending from the
front, bottom corner of sidewall 130 to the top, rear corner of
side wall 130, interrupted by socket 146. Top flange 152 and bottom
flange 154 extend outwardly at an approximately 90.degree. from
sidewalls 130 of body portion 118 only a small distance relative to
the overall size of enclosure 110. For instance, top and bottom
flanges 152 and 154 may extend outwardly from sidewalls 130 a
distance between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 inches.
A top gasket 156 is provided on the surface of top flange 152
facing rear wall 132. A bottom gasket 158 is similarly provided on
the surface of bottom flange 154 facing away from rear wall 132.
Top gasket 156 and bottom gasket 158 may be made of any material
known to persons skilled in the art that is capable of reducing
vibrations between cover 116 and body portion 118 and capable of
providing a sound reducing seal. For example, gaskets 156 and 158
may be made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Top and bottom flanges
152 and 154 and top and bottom gaskets 156 and 158 are
substantially identical on both sidewalls 130. Gaskets 156 and 158
may be secured to flanges 152 and 154, respectively, by any
adhesive known to persons skilled in the art.
An upwardly projecting back flange 160 is provided along the edge
of abbreviated top wall 134 of body portion 118 between the two top
flanges 152 on sidewalls 130. Back flange 160 is similar to top
flange 152 and bottom flange 154, and may project upwardly from top
wall 134 by a distance of between approximately 0.10 and 0.50
inches. Back flange 160 may also be integral with top flange 152 on
both sidewalls 130 so that, in effect, a continuous flange extends
from each socket 148, up sidewalls 130, and across abbreviated top
wall 134. A back gasket 162 is provided on back flange 160 on the
surface facing rear wall 132, the back gasket 162 being the same
material as top and bottom gaskets 156 and 158, and being attached
to the flange by the same method as the sidewall gaskets.
Sidewalls 136 of cover 116 each have an inwardly projecting upper
flange 164 and an inwardly projecting lower flange 166. Upper
flange 164 extends from aperture 148 to top wall 140 and lower
flange 166 extends from aperture 148 to the bottom of cover
sidewall 136. Upper flange 164 and lower flange 166 are
substantially identical to top, bottom, and back flanges 152, 154,
and 160 of body portion 118, projecting from sidewalls 136 a
distance of between approximately 0.10 and 0.50 inches. Upper
flange 164 and lower flange 166 on cover 116 also mirror the shape
of top flange 152 and bottom flange 154, and are positioned within
cover 116 so that upper flanges 164 mate with top gaskets 156, and
lower flanges 166 mate with bottom gaskets 158 when cover 116 is in
a closed position. At the same time, when cover 116 is closed, back
gasket 162 mates with abbreviated back wall 142 of cover 116 to
form a back seal. By positioning upper gasket 156 and back gasket
162 on the rear of top flange 152 and back flange 160, a flange may
be provided within cover 116 that creates a complete seal above the
pivot point of the cover without impeding the ability of the cover
to pivot. Similarly, by positioning bottom gasket 158 on the front
surface of bottom flange 154, an inner flange may be provided
within cover 116 that provides a complete seal without impeding the
ability of the cover to pivot.
The inclusion of flanges to support the gaskets of the enclosure is
an alternative to adhering gaskets only to the outer surface of
sidewall 130 or the inner surface of sidewalls 136. In addition,
due to the structure of the flanges and gaskets, the weight of
cover 116 acts to maintain a seal between the covers flanges and
the gaskets on the body portion of the enclosure when cover 116 is
closed.
It is thus evident that an enclosure for a food processor
constructed as described herein accomplishes the objects of the
present invention and otherwise substantially improves the art.
* * * * *