AU693743B2 - Blending apparatus and method for blending - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 BREVILLE PTY LTD

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title.

Blending apparatus and method for blending The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- 'u'i 2 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a bln1dillg apparatus and to a method of blending.

Background of the Invention 5 Blending apparatus. also known as blenders, are used for making milk shakes, fruit smoothies and tlie like. Fruit smoothies are normally made from a blend of real fruit, a liquid, which is usually milk, and, optionally, ice cream and/or honey. Existing blenders include a jug and a set of rotatable blades disposed on a shaft, at the base of tle jug. The shaft is rotated by an electric motor which is usually located on a stand, on which, in use, the jug i is engaged.

A problem with making fruit smioothies with existing blenders is that i. it is difficult to achieve thorough blending of the ingredients and, in I I particular, complete pureeing of tlie fruit. One aspect of this problem is that ji 15 when tle fruit and licquid are placed in tle jug for blending, the fruit has a I tendency to rise to the top of the liquid. As Ilie blades in conventional blenders are located towards tile base of lihe jug, wlien the jug is correctly located on the stand, aly fruit which rises to the top of the surface of tihe liquid before it has been cut or pureed by tihe blades, is unlikely to be properly cut. Of course, there is some circulation of liquid and fruit inside the blender however it is not always sufficient to ensure that the fruit is ii sufficiently pureed to make a s. isfactory fruit smoothie. Another aspect of the problem which occurs is that as the jug being placed on the stand the i relative movement between the blades and the base of the jug can compress fruit beneath the blades. between,the blades and the base of the jug. The compressed pieces of fruit tends to stick to each other and to the base of the jug, do not circulate and therefore do not get pureed.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the abovementioned i problems.

Summary of the Invention Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention diere is provided a blending apparatus comprising: a holder for receiving a container, the holder including a head from which a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis depends with a blade assembly located at or adjacent a lower distal end of the shaft; S3 means for locating and supporting a container beneath the hi the shaft and blade assembly located in the container, and with the assembly located at or close to a base of the container; wherein the blade assembly includes at least blade, defining I 5 end and an other end which is pivoted about an axis which is gene perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and wherein the blade is generally planar except that a tip portio blade defined at the distal end of the blade is upturned towards thi end of the shaft to define an angle of 120" to 150", with the planer the blade.

ead, with Sblade a distal rally n of the e upper portion of i 1 1 a the arrangement being such that, in use, the container containing fruit and liquid can be inserted onto the holder, with the at least one blade oriented pointing generally upwardly, and when the shaft is rotated, centrifugal force tends to force the distal end of the blade away from the shaft thus orienting the blade generally perpendicular to the shaft.

It is preferred that two blades are provided in the blade assembly, both blades being journalled about the same pivot axis located on the shaft.

It is preferred that the container has a generally flat base. With this arrangement, when the blades are rotated, the blades tend to cause fruit pieces to flow to the base of the container, up one side of the container and then back towards the blades at the center of the container which creates a flow path which ensures effective pureeing of the fruit.

It is preferred that the base of the container defines one or more, preferably two, upwardly extending ribs which extend away from the walls of the container. The ribs should not be so large that they contact the blades.

The ribs tend to cause fruit to flow towards the blades by preventing circumferential flow of fruit around the base of the container. Fruit contacting the ribs tends to be cut by shearing.

In a preferred embudiment, the housing includes a cut-off switch means which cooperates with the container and is arranged so that the motor which rotates the blades cannot be operated unless the container is correctly located in the housing.

The invention also provides a method of making a drink comprising the steps of: adding liquid to a container; locating fruit or the like, to be pureed in the container; disposing a blade assembly disposed on a rotatable shaft on top of or in the fruit, the blade assembly including at least one blade which is mounted on a pivot on the shaft and arranged to pivot or fold for insertion into the fruit and expand upon rotation of the shaft under the influence of centrifugal force and which is generally planar but has an upturned tip portion distal from the pivot; and operating the blade to puree the fruit and mix the pureed fruit and liquid without moving the distal end of the shaft relative to the container.

Ff 41 4 operating the blade to puree the fruit and iiix the pureed fruit and liquid without moving the distal cnd of the shaft relative to the container.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Brief Description of tie Drawings Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a blending apparatus embodying the present invention showing a jug containing fruit located on a holder: Figure 2 is a similar schematic side view of the apparatus as that shown in Figure 1 in which the jug is shown being placed on tile holder: and Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the blending apparatus of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a blending apparatus, or blender assembly, generally indicated at 10. The blender 10 includes a holder 11 comprising, base 12 which is generally C-shaped in plan view (see Figure and a curved stem 14 which extends upwardly from the base. The top of the stem 14 supports a motor housing 16. Depending from the motor housing is a shaft 18. At the lower end of the shaft, there is a set of blades A container 22 is retained on the holder.

The container/jug 22, has a generally flat base 24 which defines an annular foot 26 which is serrated, for grip. The walls 28 of the container are gently curved and taper outwards at a slight angle. Two elongate ribs extend from the base of the container almost to the top of the container and project into the container. The ribs are diametrically opposed either side of the container. A handle 32 is provided on the container. The top of the container defines a rill 34.

Turning to consider the features of the holder 11 in more detail, it can be seen that an on/off switch 40, is disposed towards the lower end of the stem 14.

The stem curves away from the base initially at an angle of about to 15" to the vertical before curving back over Ihe base. The stem is curved for two reasons, the first reason is to accommodate the container, and the second is so that the motor housing 16 which is supported at the end of the stem, can be located generally above the middle of the base 12 so that the blender assembly 10 is stable.

Towards the lower end of the stem, there is a ledge 42. The ledge defines a recess 33 in which the foot 26 of the container 22 fits when the container is correctly located on the assembly.

ii A safety switch, generally indicated at 50, is provided in the stem 14.

The safety switch includes a shaft 52 which carries a contact strip 54 part Sway along its length. The distal end of the shaft is located in a hole provided i in a fixed support 56. A spring 58 is disposed around the shaft 52, between Sthe support 56 and the contact 54. A switch 60 is also disposed adjacent the contact. When no other forces are present, the spring 58 holds contact strip S 10 54 away from the switch 60 so that the switch is OFF. If the shaft 52 is pushed upwardly the contact is moved towards switch 60 and the switch is ON.

1 When the container is correctly located in the holder, the rim 34 of the container abuts the shaft 52, to move the switch to the ON position, to enable the motor to be controlled by the ON/OFF switch 40 on the base when the container is put on the holder.

At the top of the shaft 18 there is a gripping means 80 which comprises Sa flat plate having ribbed surfaces, which can be used to pull the shaft to i disengage the shaft from a coupling connecting it to the drive assembly, for S 20 washing of the shaft and blades.

Two stainless steel blades (90A, 90B) are mounted at the lower, distal end of the shaft about a pivot 92, along an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 18. The two blades are disposed on opposite Ssides of the shaft. The blades are generally flat with their tip portions 94A, 94B upturnd at an angle of about 450 to the horizontal. The internal angle defined by the blade is 135' although any angle from 1200 to 1500 could be used. They blades are free to rotate about the pivot 92 between a position where there are perpendicular to the shaft (see Figure 1) and a position in which they are oriented almost parallel to the shaft (see Figure 2).

In use, referring to Figure 2, fruit 96 and liquid, say milk, is put in the container and the container is put under and around the shaft and moved to located the container in position on the holder. At this time the blades will be forced into the fruit and will adopt the position shown in Figure 1, where they are "folded upwards" which makes it easier for the blades to penetrate the fruit and inhibits compression of the fruit against the base of the container which could happen with standard fixed blades.

V (G The rim 34 of the jug operates the safety switch so that the main switch is operative.

SWhien the blending apparatus is switched on, the shaft rotates and centrifugal force causes the blades to move outwards and downwards to the position shown in Figure 2. This movemeint of the blades also assists in chopping the fruit.

The ribs assist is chopping fruit. Not only do they tend to hamper circumferential movement of fruit, but also, fruit which impacts the ribs can be sheared. The container is 149mm high but is only filled to the miaximum line at 70min fromn the base (about half the height of the jug). This obviates the need for a lid.

The blades are located about 15nm from the base of the container and the tips of the blades, when rotating, travel close, within 5m11, of the ribs. When fully extended, as shown in Figure 1, the blades are 471mn inl length from tip to tip i.e. each blade is about 24m11 long. The proportions of the jug and the location of the various components assist in providing effective blending.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadlv described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (9)

1. A blending apparatus comprising: a holder for receiving a container, the holder including a head from which a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis depends with a blade assembly located at or adjacent a lower, distal, end of the shaft; means for locating and supporting a container beneath the head, with the shaft and blade assembly located in the container, and with the blade assembly located at or close to a base of the container; wherein the blade assembly includes at least blade, defining a distal end and an other end which is pivoted about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and wherein the blade is generally planar except that a tip portion of the blade defined at the distal end of the blade is upturned towards the upper end of the shaft to define an angle of 120' to 1500, with the planer portion of the blade. the arrangement being such that, in use, the container containing fruit and liquid can be inserted onto the holder, with the at least one blade oriented pointing generally upwardly, and when the shaft is rotated, centrifugal force tends to force the distal end of the blade away from the shaft thus orienting the blade generally perpendicular to the shaft.

2. A blending apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein two blades are provided in the blade assembly, both blades being journalled about the same pivot axis located on the shaft.

3. A blending apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the angle defined between the planar portion and the upturned portion of the blade is 1350.

4. A blending apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shaft defines a gripping means comprising a flat plate having ribbed surfaces, which can be used to pull the shaft, to disengage the shaft from a coupling connecting it to a drive assembly for turning the shaft, for washing of the shaft and blades. A blending apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the container is generally circular in cross-section and has a generally flat base.

6. A blending apparatus as claimed claim 5 wherein the walls of the container are gently curved and taper outwards at a slight angle and two elongate ribs extend from the base of the container towards the top of the RA(, 8 container and project into the container so that in use when the blades are Soperated to puree a mixture of fruit and liquid in the container, the ribs act to it hamper circumferential movement of fruit around the container and cause ifruit imnpacting on the ribs to be sheared.

7. A blending apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a i maximum fill line is defined on the container at a level of about, or less than, Shalf the height of the container to obviate the need for a lid for the container in use.

8. A blending apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blades are located about 10 to 20mm, preferably about 151nm, from the base of the container and the tips of the blades, when rotating, travel within 5mnm, of the ribs and wherein when each blade is about 24mm in length. i9. A blending apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the P'4 housing includes a cut-off switch means which cooperates with a rim of the container and is arranged so that the motor which rotates the blades cannot be operated unless the container is correctly located in the housing. A method of making a drink comprising the steps of: adding liquid to a container; locating fruit or the like, to be pureed in the container; disposing a blade assembly disposed on a rotatable shaft on top of or in the fruit, the blade assembly including at least one blade which is mounted on a pivot on the shaft and arranged to pivot or fold for insertion into the fruit and expand upon rotation of the shaft under the influence of centrifugal force and which is generally planar but has an upturned tip portion distal from the pivot; and operating the blade to puree the fruit and mix the pureed fruit and liquid without moving the distal end of the shaft relative to the container.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 using a blending apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9. S 30 12. A blending apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. I

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this twenty-second day of April 1998 BREVILLE PTY LTD Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. r "Si 1 Fi li i1 1 ABSTRACT A blender is disclosed which includes a holder for receiving a container. The h lder includes a head from which a shaft rotatable about its longitudinal axis depends, with a blade assembly located at the lower end of the shaft. A container is located beneath the head, with the rotatable blade and shaft assembly located in the container, and with the blade assembly located at or close to the base of the container. The blade assembly includes two blades. one end of each of which is pivoted about an axis which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In use. the container containing fruit and liquid can be inserted onto the holder, with the blads oriented with their distal ends or tips pointing generally upwardly, and when the shaft is rotated, centrifugal force tends to force the distal ends, of the blades away from the shaft thus orienting the blades, generally perpendicular to the shaft. This pivoting action avoids compressing fruit beneath the blades and allows the blender to be operated in a manner in which the blades puree the fruit and mix the pureed fruit and liquid, wiihout moving the distal end of the shaft relative to the container.