阅读说明：本技术 可从多个抓持位置操纵的具有触发器的浸没式搅拌器 (Submersible mixer with trigger operable from multiple gripping positions ) 是由 约瑟夫·R·艾略特 于 2019-08-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种浸没式搅拌器,包括：壳体；位于所述壳体内的驱动马达；轴,其附接至所述马达并且构造成相对于所述壳体旋转；刀片,其附接至所述轴并能够与所述轴一起旋转；附接至所述壳体的手柄,所述手柄包括第一段以及附接至所述第一段和所述壳体的第二段；以及触发器,其附接至所述手柄并与所述马达操作性地相关联。所述触发器包括大体与所述手柄的第一段平行的第一段以及大体与所述手柄的第二段平行的第二段。通过用户与所述触发器的第一段或所述触发器的第二段的接合致使所述驱动马达使所述轴和所述刀片旋转。(An immersion agitator comprising: a housing; a drive motor located within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section and the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor. The trigger includes a first section generally parallel to the first section of the handle and a second section generally parallel to the second section of the handle. Causing the drive motor to rotate the shaft and the blade by engagement of a user with either the first segment of the trigger or the second segment of the trigger.)

1. An immersion agitator comprising:

a housing;

a drive motor located within the housing;

a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing;

a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft;

a handle attached to the housing, the handle comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section and the housing;

a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor, the trigger including a first segment generally parallel to the first segment of the handle and a second segment generally parallel to the second segment of the handle;

wherein engagement of a user with the first segment of the trigger or the second segment of the trigger causes the drive motor to rotate the shaft and the blade.

2. The submersible mixer of claim 1, wherein the second section of the handle is a generally vertical front section, and wherein the handle further comprises a generally vertical third rear section attached to the housing and the first section of the handle.

3. The submerged agitator of claim 2, further comprising: an interlock button operatively associated with the drive motor, wherein initial rotation of the shaft by the motor requires engagement of the interlock button and the trigger.

4. A submersible mixer according to claim 3, wherein the interlock button is mounted on a rear section of the handle.

5. The submerged agitator of claim 1, further comprising: a first capacitive switch operatively associated with a first segment of the trigger; and a second capacitive switch operatively associated with a second segment of the flip-flop.

6. The submerged agitator of claim 1, further comprising: a power button mounted on an upper surface of the housing.

7. The submerged agitator of claim 1, further comprising: a drive speed dial mounted near an apex between the first and second sections of the handle.

8. The submersible blender of claim 7, wherein the drive speed dial is configured to rotate about an axis that is generally orthogonal to the first and second segments of the handle.

9. The submersible mixer of claim 2, wherein the forward section of the handle is disposed at an angle of between about 45 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the shaft.

10. An immersion agitator comprising:

a housing;

a drive motor located within the housing;

a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing;

a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft;

a handle attached to the housing, the handle comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section and the housing;

a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor,

wherein engagement of a user with the trigger causes the drive motor to rotate the shaft and the blade; and

a drive speed dial mounted to the handle proximate the trigger for rotation about an axis generally orthogonal to the first and second sections of the handle, the drive speed dial operatively associated with the motor and configured such that rotation of the dial adjusts the rotational speed of the blade.

11. The submersible blender of claim 11, wherein the drive speed dial is positioned to be manipulated by a user's thumb when the user grasps the first segment of the handle or the second segment of the handle.

12. A submersible mixer as recited in claim 12, wherein the first section of the handle is a generally horizontal section and the second section of the handle is a generally vertical front section.

13. The submersible mixer of claim 13, wherein the handle further includes a third, generally vertical rear section attached to the housing and to the first section of the handle.

14. The submerged agitator of claim 14, further comprising: an interlock button operatively associated with the drive motor, wherein initial rotation of the shaft by the motor requires engagement of the interlock button and the trigger.

15. A submersible mixer according to claim 15, wherein the interlock button is mounted on a rear section of the handle.

16. The submersible blender of claim 11, wherein the trigger comprises a first segment that is substantially parallel to a first segment of the handle and a second segment that is substantially parallel to a second segment of the handle.

17. The immersion agitator of claim 11, wherein the drive speed turntable further includes an illumination source.

18. The immersion agitator of claim 18, wherein the drive speed dial further includes indicia relating the angular position of the drive speed dial to a drive motor speed.

19. The immersion agitator of claim 18, wherein the illumination source is a polychromatic illumination source.

20. The immersion agitator of claim 11, wherein the drive speed dial is operatively associated with the motor via a potentiometer.

21. An immersion agitator comprising:

a housing;

a drive motor located within the housing;

a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing;

a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable therewith;

a handle attached to the housing, the handle including a detachable cover;

a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor; and

a power cord electrically connected with the motor, the power cord mounted on a cover of the handle.

22. An immersion agitator as claimed in claim 22, wherein the power cord is electrically connected to the motor via a connector configured to enable the power cord to be detached from and reattached to the motor.

23. The submersible mixer of claim 23, wherein the cover is attached to the handle via a single reusable fastener.

24. A submersible mixer according to claim 24, wherein the connector is located within the handle.

25. A submersible mixer according to claim 21, wherein the handle includes a first generally horizontal section and second and third generally vertical sections attached to the first section and the housing, and wherein the cover is attached to the third section and the trigger is mounted to at least one of the first and second sections.

26. The submerged agitator of claim 26, further comprising: a wire clamp mounted to the second section.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to food processing, and more particularly to immersion blenders.

Background

A submerged mixer (also known as a rod mixer or a wand mixer) is a kitchen blade mill used to mix foodstuffs or purees in a vessel in which they are prepared. Typical uses include sauces and emulsified sauces.

The rod agitator includes an electric motor that drives a rotating cutting blade at the end of a shaft. The shaft and blades are submerged in the food product being blended. The drive motor is located within a housing that can be held by hand, typically via an attached handle. Some immersion blenders may be used when a pan, pot, or the like is located on a stove or other cooking surface. Immersion blenders can be distinguished from table blenders and food processors, which typically require the food to be placed in a special container for processing.

Submerged mixers, particularly commercial sized submerged mixers, are subject to various regulations promulgated by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. guarantor laboratory (UL), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). For example, UL regulations require that submerged agitators include: (a) a power switch that energizes the agitator; and (b) a trigger that engages the motor and blade along with an interlock switch, and (c) an interlock switch that must be initially engaged for the trigger to actuate the blade. The required interaction between the trigger and the interlock switch ensures that the unit is not inadvertently activated.

In view of the different safety regulations covering a submerged mixer, it may be necessary to provide different configurations that facilitate use while still meeting the relevant regulations.

Disclosure of Invention

As a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention relate to an immersion agitator including: a housing; a drive motor located within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section and the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor. The trigger includes a first section generally parallel to the first section of the handle and a second section generally parallel to the second section of the handle. Causing the drive motor to rotate the shaft and the blade by engagement of a user with either the first segment of the trigger or the second segment of the trigger.

As a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention relate to a submerged agitator comprising: a housing; a drive motor located within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle comprising a first section and a second section attached to the first section and the housing; and a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor. Engagement of the trigger by a user causes the drive motor to rotate the shaft and the blade. The agitator further comprises: a drive speed dial mounted to the handle proximate the trigger for rotation about an axis generally orthogonal to the first and second sections of the handle. The drive speed dial is operatively associated with the motor and configured such that rotation of the dial adjusts the rotational speed of the blade.

As a third aspect, embodiments of the present invention are directed to an immersion agitator including: a housing; a drive motor located within the housing; a shaft attached to the motor and configured to rotate relative to the housing; a blade attached to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft; a handle attached to the housing, the handle including a detachable cover; a trigger attached to the handle and operatively associated with the motor; and a power cord electrically connected to the motor, the power cord being mounted on the cover of the handle.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an immersion agitator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the housing and handle of the immersion blender of fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the housing and handle of FIG. 2 showing a cross-sectional view of the entire handle and housing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial side cross-sectional view of the housing and handle of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a further enlarged partial sectional view of the handle of fig. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the drive speed dial of the immersion agitator of FIG. 1, with the engagement cylinder shown transparent.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the housing and handle of fig. 2.

FIG. 8 is a further enlarged perspective cut-away view of the handle and power cord of the blender of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side partial cross-sectional view of the blender of FIG. 1 with a user's hand gripping a forward section of the handle.

FIG. 10 is a side partial cross-sectional view of the blender of FIG. 1 with a user's hand gripping a horizontal segment of the handle.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wiring arrangement of the blender of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements throughout. The thickness and dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated for clarity.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be further understood that: terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that: the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the expression "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Additionally, spatially relative terms, such as "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s), as illustrated. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2a submersible mixer, generally designated 10. The blender 10 includes a housing 12, a grip portion 13 attached to a lower end thereof, a shaft sleeve 14 extending from a lower end of the grip portion 13, a shaft 16 housed within the shaft sleeve 14, and a blade 18 mounted at an end of the shaft 16. A drive motor 20 is located within the housing 12 and is connected to the shaft 16 to rotate the shaft 16, and in turn the blades 18, to process (e.g., chop, dice, mix, stir, etc.) the food product. The configuration of the motor 20, shaft sleeve 14, shaft 16, and blade 18 may be conventional and need not be described in detail herein. Exemplary submerged agitators are discussed in U.S. patent No.6,974,244 to Lin and U.S. patent No.8,033,712 to Calange, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the handle 30 extends upwardly from the housing 12. the handle 30 is generally U-shaped having a rear section 34, a front section 36, and a horizontal section 32 spanning the upper ends of the rear and front sections 34, 36. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the rear section 34 is slightly inclined at an acute angle α (typically between about 1 and 45 degrees) relative to the axis 16 such that the upper end of the rear section 34 is slightly rearward of the housing 12. the front section 36 is also inclined rearwardly at an angle β (typically between about 1 and 45 degrees) relative to the axis 16. the horizontal section 32 is not perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing 12, but rises slightly during extension from the rear section 34 to the front section 36, forming an angle δ (typically between about 45 and 90 degrees) with the axis 16.

Still referring to fig. 3, a power button or switch 40 is mounted on the upper surface 38 of the housing 12. The power button 40 (which may be of conventional construction) is electrically connected to a printed circuit board 42 within the housing 12 via wiring 43 extending from terminals 44 of the power button 40. The motor 20 is also electrically connected to the PCB 42 via wiring 45 (see fig. 11).

An L-shaped activation trigger 50 is mounted to the upper front portion of the handle 30. More specifically, the vertical leg 51 of the trigger 50 is positioned rearward of the upper end of the front section 36, and the horizontal leg 52 of the trigger 50 is positioned below the front end of the horizontal section 32. A first capacitive switch 53 is mounted in front of the vertical leg 51 of the trigger 50 and a second capacitive switch 54 is mounted above the horizontal leg 52 of the trigger 50. The capacitance switches 53, 54 are electrically connected to the PCB 42 via wirings 55, 56 (see fig. 11). The capacitive switches 53, 54 are sufficiently sensitive that gentle pressure applied by a user's finger to the vertical leg 51 or the horizontal leg 52 of the trigger 50 can actuate the corresponding switch 53, 54.

An interlock button 60 is mounted on the front face of the rear section 34. The capacitive switch 61 is mounted behind the interlock button 60 and is electrically connected to the PCB 42 via wiring 62.

Referring now to fig. 1, 2 and 8, a power cord 70 is mounted to the upper rear portion of the rear section 34 of the handle 30. The power cord 70 is mounted to an L-shaped cover 71, said cover 71 being attached to the rear section 34 via a single screw 72 inserted into a hole 34a in the rear section 34. A flexible strip 74 is attached to an overmolded boot 75 on the power cord 70; the strip 74 includes a plug 76 at one end that is configured to fit within the aperture 34 a. Within the handle 30, the power cord 70 is fitted with fittings 78 (held in place by screws 79) and connected with one or more connectors 77. The wiring 92a is routed from the connector 77 to the terminal 46 of the power button 40, and the wiring 92b is routed from the connector 77 to the PCB 42 (see fig. 11).

The illustration and arrangement of the power cord 70 described above may facilitate replacement of the power cord 70. It has been found that most failures in immersion blenders are caused by power cord problems. Such a failure typically requires replacement of the entire blender or extensive maintenance to remove the power cord and re-route the new cord. In contrast, if the power cord 70 fails, the cover 71 may be removed by unplugging the plug 76 from the hole 34a and removing the single screw 72. The power cord 70 may then be disconnected from the connector 77, and after removing the screw 79 from the fitting 78, the power cord 70 may be removed. Replacement of the power cord 70 simply requires reconnecting the connector 77 to the new power cord 70, reattaching the new power cord 70 to the fitting 78 with the screw 79, reattaching the cover 71 with the screw 72, and inserting the plug 76 of the new power cord 70 into the hole 34 a.

As discussed above, regulations require that the submersible mixer 10 be designed such that the motor 20 begins to rotate the shaft 16 and blade 18 only when (a) the power button 40 is actuated and (b) the interlock button 60 and trigger 50 are pressed. Compliance with these requirements is controlled by the PCB 42, the PCB 42 including logic circuitry that enables actuation of the motor 20 only under appropriate conditions. The design and operation of the circuitry of PCB 42 that performs this control function will be understood by those skilled in the art and need not be described in detail herein. In some embodiments, once the interlock button 60 is pressed for a minimum duration (e.g., two seconds), the user may release the interlock button 60 and as long as the trigger 50 remains pressed, the motor 20 continues to rotate the blade 18, thereby releasing one hand of the user to grasp another portion of the blender 10 (typically the grip 13).

Note that the L-shaped configuration of trigger 50 enables a user to press trigger 50 from either of two different gripping positions. First, the user may lift the blender 10 by placing one hand on the horizontal segment 32 of the handle 30 with the thumb facing forward and the fingers curled under the horizontal segment 32 (typically the user's other hand will be placed on the grip portion 13). In this position, the user can squeeze the horizontal leg 51 of the trigger 50 with his index finger to keep the motor 20 in an operational state. Second, the user may lift the blender 10 by placing one hand on the front section 36 of the handle 30 with the thumb extending upward and the fingers curling around the back side of the front section 36 (again, typically the user's other hand would be placed on the grip portion 13). In this position, the user may squeeze the vertical leg 52 of the trigger 50 with his index finger to maintain the motor 20 in an operational state.

Referring now to fig. 4 and 5, a drive speed dial 80 is mounted near the junction or apex of the forward section 36 and the horizontal section 32 of the handle 30. The drive speed dial 80 includes a translucent/transparent cylindrical indicator sleeve 81. The indicator sleeve 82 may be frosted or otherwise treated to enhance the desired lighting effect. Opaque markings 83 (shown here as a series of fingers that gradually increase in length as they extend from the end of sleeve 82) are affixed to the inner surface of sleeve 81. An LED 84 (which may be multi-colored) is mounted at one end within the sleeve 81. A potentiometer 85 is mounted to the opposite end of the sleeve 82 and is electrically connected to the PCB 42 via wiring 88 and to the LED 84 via wiring 87 (see fig. 11). The sleeve 81 is mounted within the boss 39 in the handle 30 and is rotatable therein about an axis a which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve 81 and generally perpendicular to the front section 36 and the horizontal section 32.

Rotation of the drive speed dial 80 causes the potentiometer 85 (through wiring 88 and PCB 42) to send a signal to the motor 20 to adjust its speed. Light from the LED 84 illuminates the sleeve 81. The markings 83 block light from the LED 84 and are arranged to indicate to the user the relative speed of the motor 20 (e.g., more light visible to the user due to less blockage by the shorter markings 83 may indicate a higher motor speed, while less light due to more blockage, or vice versa).

It should be noted that the position and operation of the drive speed dial 80 facilitates operation of the blender 10. More specifically, the position of the drive speed dial 80 enables the user to easily reach and manipulate the drive speed dial 80 with his thumb to adjust the speed. The drive speed dial 80 is readily accessible to a user, whether the user grasps the blender 10 by the front section 36 of the handle 30 or by the horizontal section 32; in either case, the user's thumb is positioned near the drive speed dial 80 and can be used to adjust the drive speed dial 80.

Further, in some embodiments, the use of multi-colored LEDs 84 may allow the drive speed dial 80 to provide information about the operating status via different colors. For example, green may indicate normal operation, red may indicate overheating, blue may indicate continuous operation, and so on. Alternatively or additionally, the LED 84 may remain constantly (solid), flash, or follow another illumination pattern or sequence (e.g., alternating shorter and longer flashes) to indicate an operating state. Other possibilities will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In addition, a clip 90 is located on the front side of the housing 12 and is configured to closely receive a portion of the power cord 70 in a recess 91 therein. The clip 90 may serve to secure the position of the power cord 70 when the blender 10 is not in use; the power cord 70 may be wrapped around the housing 12 with the last "wrap" of the cord 70 inserted into the recess 91 to hold the cord 70 in place.

Additionally, when the user grasps the blender 10 on the front section 36 with one hand, the blender is generally oriented relative to the container containing the food material to be mixed such that the rear of the blender 10 faces the container. Thus, in this orientation, the power cord 70 faces away from the user and may be at risk of hanging in the receptacle where it may undesirably engage food in the receptacle or be struck by one of the blades 18 therein. To prevent this, the user may bend the power cord 70 forward and insert it into the recess 91 of the jig 90, thereby keeping the power cord 70 unaffected by the mixing operation.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the blender 10 may take other forms. For example, the handle 30 may have more or fewer segments. As one example, the rear section may be omitted such that the blender has an L-shaped or inverted V-shaped handle that includes a dual section trigger. The segments of the handle may be disposed at different angles relative to the shaft and/or to each other. One or more of the segments of the handle may be arcuate. Other variations will be apparent to the skilled person.

Additionally, trigger 50 may signal motor 20 to rotate shaft 16 in different ways. By way of example, the capacitive switches 53, 54 may be replaced with spring-loaded pressure switches, other displacement switches, and the like.

In further embodiments, the power button 40 and/or the interlock button 60 may be positioned differently. For example, both may be located on the upper surface of the housing 12, both may be located on one of the segments of the handle 30, or their positions may be reversed (i.e., the power button is located on the handle and the interlock switch is located on the housing).

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.