EP3030120A1

EP3030120A1 - Electric mixer

Info

Publication number: EP3030120A1
Application number: EP14765982.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sivaprakash Shanmugam; Paul Palmer
Original assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Current assignee: Kenwood Ltd
Priority date: 2013-08-05
Filing date: 2014-08-05
Publication date: 2016-06-15
Also published as: GB201313955D0; GB2516892B; WO2015019075A1; CN105338867B; CN105338867A; GB2516892A

Abstract

An electric mixer comprises a base and a stand which supports an arm having a drive outlet for a mixing tool. The stand is formed with a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the arm, the arm being articulated to be folded towards and away from the stand, and similarly the base is formed with a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate the stand and arm, the stand being articulated to be folded towards and away from the base. Thus the mixer adopts a compact storage condition.

Description

ELECTRIC MIXER

This invention relates to kitchen equipment, and it relates especially, though not exclusively, to electric mixers, i.e. motor-driven kitchen machines used to mix, or otherwise process, ingredients in a bowl by powered movement of one or more tools. When configured as a stand mixer, for example, such machines typically employ at least one shanked tool which depends into the bowl from a head unit that carries a downwardly-facing drive outlet, powered by the motor, to which the shank of the tool is fitted for use.

Such mixers conventionally comprise a generally C-shaped casing which provides a pedestal-like support for a mixing bowl and a generally upright support portion supporting the head unit so that it extends, for operation, overhead of the bowl. Moreover, the powered movement of the shanked tool or tools is conventionally planetary in nature.

Stand mixers are versatile appliances, and typically provide at least one further drive outlet, in addition to the one that drives the shanked mixing tool, which presents a drive with different speed and/or torque characteristics, suitable for performing other tasks. Typically, such additional drive outlets may present drive characteristics suitable for powering the operating tool of a high speed food processor attachment, and/or a low-speed/high torque attachment, such as a mincer. Electric mixers of the kind described above are well known, and well established in use for many years, and they have been progressively adapted and developed so as to perform an ever broadening range of functions. Recently, for example, stand mixer arrangements have been developed to incorporate heating means, enabling ingredients in the bowl to be heated whilst being subjected to the mixing action. The degree of heating is selectable, allowing the ingredients to be completely cooked, partially cooked, or merely warmed, according to user requirements and/or the procedures dictated by individual recipes.

Whilst electric mixers have proved to be extremely valuable pieces of kitchen equipment, adherence to the structures and configurations typically used imposes limitations on the overall size and shape of such appliances. The dimensions of kitchen appliances are important, both because of the cubic footprint they require on and around a work surface during operation, and because they need to be stored when not in use. Storage space for appliances is at a premium in most kitchens, particularly with the current trend towards smaller properties that are easier and cheaper to maintain and run. Such properties tend to have compact kitchens in which the storage of kitchen appliances can present difficulties.

The present invention aims to address such difficulties by providing compact mixers which still provide a good range of operational capabilities. According to the invention there is provided an electric mixer comprising an electric motor, a base, a stand member and an arm member presenting at least one drive outlet for a mixing tool, said drive outlet being powered from said electric motor; the mixer further including first articulating means adapted to permit said arm member to be folded towards and away from said stand member, and second articulating means adapted to permit said stand member to be folded towards and away from said base; wherein the stand member is formed with a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate said arm member when folded fully against the stand member and wherein the base is formed with a receptacle dimensioned to accommodate said stand member; whereby, in a storage condition of said mixer, the receptacle in the base accommodates the stand member with the arm member accommodated in the receptacle in the stand member. By this means the mixer adopts an extremely compact storage condition.

Typically, the receptacles provided in said base and said stand member comprise apertures or pouch-like or pocket-like depressions. The type of receptacle provided in the base may differ from that of the receptacle provided in the stand member.

In order to convert the mixer from its storage condition into an operative condition, the stand member is folded out of its receptacle and away from the base, and the arm member is then folded out of its receptacle and away from the stand member. In some preferred embodiments, the stand member is folded out to a position at right angles to the base, or extending substantially upright, and the arm member is folded to a position at right angles to the stand member or extending substantially laterally and overlying the base.

It is preferred that temporary latching means are provided to latch the components securely in their operative position. In some preferred embodiments, the latching means comprises sprung bearings urged against arcuate tracks; the arcuate tracks terminating in respective hemispherical recesses adapted to accommodate said bearings. By this means, the mixer is stabilised in its operational condition with its principal components correctly engaged, and a user is provided with tactile reassurance of such engagement.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the folding movements of the arm member relative to the stand member and of the stand member relative to the base are performed by direct user manipulation of the components. By this means, the mixer is adapted to provide compact storage with good economy. The folding movements may be spring- assisted and/or damped. In other preferred embodiments of the invention, electric motor means are provided to implement one or both of said folding movements. The electric motor means for the or each folding movement may comprise a respective dedicated electric motor or a transmission system powered by said first-mentioned electric motor.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the arm unit supports at least one further drive outlet, powered from said motor; said further drive outlet having performance characteristics different from those of the first- mentioned drive outlet.

In some embodiments of the invention, the receptacle in said base consists of or is provided with an aperture through which the further drive outlet is exposed when the mixer is folded into its storage condition. By this means, the mixer can be inverted, in its storage condition, so that a food processor or a blender can be mounted thereon and powered thereby. In other embodiments of the invention, the arm member is formed into first and second sections capable of relative rotation about an axis extending along the arm member. In such embodiments, the first section is remote from the stand member and supports said drive outlets whereas the second section is foldably connected to the stand member. By this means, the first section of the arm member can be rotated relative to the second section, so as to interchange the position of the drive outlets. One benefit of such an arrangement is that the second drive outlet is exposed upwardly once the mixer has been folded into its storage condition. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the rotational movement of the first section of the arm member relative to the second section thereof is performed by direct user manipulation. By this means, the required movement is provided economically. In other preferred embodiments of the invention, electric motor means are provided to implement the relative rotational movement between the first and second sections of the arm member. The electric motor means for the rotational movement may comprise a respective dedicated electric motor or a transmission system powered by said first-mentioned electric motor.

In further preferred embodiments of the invention, the stand member comprises an upper section and a lower section; the upper section being articulated to said arm member by means of said first articulating means and the lower section being articulated to said base by means of said second articulating means; the upper and lower sections of said stand member being capable of relative rotational movement about an axis extending along said stand member. By this means, the upper section of the stand member can be rotated relative to the lower section thereof, so as to enable the arm member to be moved arcuately relative to the base, and thus allowing the drive outlets thereof to be presented at different locations around the mixer.

In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the rotational movement of the upper section of the stand member relative to the second section thereof is performed by direct user manipulation. By this means, the required movement is provided economically.

In other preferred embodiments of the invention, electric motor means are provided to implement the relative rotational movement between the upper and lower sections of the stand member. The electric motor means for such rotational movement may comprise a respective dedicated electric motor or a transmission system powered by said first-mentioned electric motor. Any apparatus feature as described herein may also be provided as a method feature, and vice versa. As used herein, means plus function features may be expressed alternatively in terms of their corresponding structure, such as a suitably programmed processor and associated memory.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Furthermore, any, some and/or all features in one aspect can be applied to any, some and/or all features in any other aspect, in any appropriate combination.

It should also be appreciated that particular combinations of the various features described and defined in any aspects of the invention can be implemented and/or supplied and/or used independently.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 shows, in perspective view, a stand mixer in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, set into an operational condition;

Figure 2 shows, in perspective view, the mixer of Figure 1 set into its storage condition; Figure 3 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 1 , the mixer in its operational condition with a bowl supported on the mixer base and a mixing tool attached to a drive outlet supported by an arm member of the mixer;

Figure 4 shows, in similar perspective view to Figures 1 and 3, how the arm member of the mixer can be rotated about an upright stand member of the mixer; Figure 5 shows how a blender goblet can be powered from the mixer whilst set into its storage condition;

Figure 6 shows how the mixer's arm member can be raised above the horizontal in order to facilitate insertion of the tool and/or the bowl; and

Figure 7 shows how the mixer can be configured to process ingredients in a bowl placed behind the mixer's base.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of a food mixer 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; the principal components of the mixer 10 comprising a base 20, a stand member 30 and an arm member 40.

As will be described, the arrangement is such that the various principal components of the mixer are designed so that they can be articulated about various axes in order to, on the one hand, configure the mixer for operation in a selected mode and, on the other hand, to configure the mixer into an extremely compact form for storage. In particular, the stand member 30 is hinged about a horizontal axis 22 relative to the base 20, which is formed with receptacle 24, comprising a pocket, pouch or aperture capable of accommodating the stand member 30 in a storage condition, and likewise the arm member 40 is hinged about a horizontal axis 32 relative to the stand member 30, which is formed with a receptacle 34, comprising a pocket, pouch or aperture capable of accommodating the arm member in the storage condition. In a preferred arrangement, as shown, each of the receptacles 24 and 34 comprises an aperture shaped to snugly accommodate, respectively, the stand member 30 and the arm member 40 in the storage condition.

In order to configure the mixer 10 for operation as a stand mixer, the base 20 is set on a suitable horizontal operating surface, such as a work-top, the stand member 30 is turned about the axis 22 relative to the base 20, using the aforementioned hinged connection, into an upright (substantially vertical) position. Likewise, the arm member 40 is turned about axis 32, relative to the stand member 30, into a horizontal position in which it overlies the base 20. The arm member 40 presents, in this condition, a downwardly-facing drive outlet 42 which can receive a shanked tool 50 for mixing or otherwise processing ingredients placed in a bowl 60 that is temporarily supported on the base 20. The outlet 42 may comprise either a simple rotary drive outlet, or a planetary drive outlet of the kind commonly used in stand mixers.

To configure the mixer 10 for storage, the bowl 60 and the shanked tool 50 are removed, and the arm member 40 is turned, about axis 32, towards the stand member 30, and thereby folded into the receptacle 34 provided for it in the stand member 30. Likewise, the stand member 30 (with the arm member 40 thus accommodated therein) is folded into the pocket, pouch or aperture 24 provided for it in the stand 20, providing an extremely compact unit, as shown in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that the basic conversion of the mixer 10, from operational to storage condition and vice-versa, merely requires ninety degrees of articulation between the stand member 30 and the base 20, and between the arm member 40 and the stand member 30 respectively. However, greater degrees of articulation may be provided, in either or both cases if desired or if necessary, for example in order to facilitate the introduction of the bowl 60 and/or the attachment of tools such as 50 to the drive outlet 42.

The articulating movements between the components 20, 30 and 30, 40 may be achieved in any convenient manner, and both movements need not necessarily be achieved in the same way. Typically, however, both movements are achieved simply by user manipulation and are permitted by the provision of simple hinges or swivel pins between the relevant components. However, either or both of such hinged movements may be assisted by springs if preferred, and associated damping of the spring- assisted movement may be provided also if required, for example by means of rotary viscous dampers. So-called "living hinges", utilising cams running against sprung cam-followers capable of providing variable resistance over the range of movement of the hinge can be used if desired. In more sophisticated arrangements, the articulating movements between the stand member 30 and the base 20 and/or between the arm member 40 and the stand member 30 may be motor-driven, either by dedicated motors or via transmission from a main motor used to power the drive outlet 42.

In any event, it is preferred that means are provided to clearly define the operational positions as adopted by the components 30 and 40 relative to the components 20 and 30 respectively, and to temporarily secure those components in their operational positions. In particular, where the movements are to be implemented manually by a user, it is preferred that tactile assurance is provided to the user to indicate when the operational positions, as shown in Figure 1 , are correctly achieved. In one example, such movement definition and tactile assurance is provided by means of spring-loaded ball bearings mounted to one component and moving in arcuate grooves in the other component; the bearings being urged by the spring-loading to run against the surfaces of the arcuate grooves. These grooves deepen, at the operational positions into hemispherical pockets dimensioned to receive the spring-loaded bearings, and the resilient urging of the bearings into the pockets provides both the temporary latching of the relevant components and the tactile assurance that the proper positioning has been achieved.

As described previously, the base 20 is the primary structural component, and it is configured to support, for operation, both the stand member 30 and the arm member 40. In this embodiment of the invention, the stand member 30 is hinged to one end of the base 20 so that it can rotate, about the aforementioned horizontal axis 22, relative to the base 20. This articulation about axis 22 effectively allows the stand member 30 to be raised up to the operating position in which the mixer 10 can be used as a stand mixer (as shown in Figure 1); or folded down, either for storage (as shown in Figure 2) or for use as a driver for a food processor or a blender (as shown in Figure 5) as will be described later. The movement of the stand member 30 about axis 22 relative to the base 20 can thus be restricted to 90 degrees but, as mentioned above, the articulation can be made to extend through a greater angle if preferred, depending upon the functionality and configuration required of the mixer 10.

In order to accommodate the stand member 30 in the folded form of the mixer 10, the base 20 is preferably of frame-like construction, so as to create the receptacle 24, with the arm 40 being similarly accommodated into the receptacle 34 in the stand member 30. The processing bowl 60 is preferably placed on a rim 26 of the base 20, and it is further preferred that the bowl 60 can be releasably locked to the base 20 by any known means. The base 20 and, in particular, its rim 26, can, if preferred, be lowered, or otherwise shaped, to accommodate a larger bowl and/or to facilitate the mounting of the bowl to the mixer 10. Moreover, the bowl 60 can placed anywhere around the mixer 10, according to the user's operational need and preference, as long as sufficient articulation is provided to allow such operation. As thus far described, the mixer 10 is capable of operation as a stand mixer and of being stored, by the double-folding procedure described, in an extremely compact form. Further versatility is optionally provided in some embodiments of the invention, however, by configuring the arm member 40 to present, in addition to the stand mixer drive outlet 42, a high speed food processor or blender drive outlet 44. As shown in the drawings, the drive 44 is located on the opposed surface of arm 40 to the drive outlet 42, and it will be appreciated that the outlet 44 will thus face outwardly when the arm member 40 is folded into its receptacle 34 in the stand member 30 and then downwards when the stand member 30 is folded down into its receptacle 24 in the base 20. Accordingly, provided that the drive outlet 44 is accessible through the receptacle 24 (for example by using an aperture as the receptacle, or by providing a strategically-placed aperture through part of the pocket or pouch if the receptacle 24 is so configured) the mixer 10 can be used to power a processor or blender simply by turning the base 20 over, to expose the drive outlet 44 facing upwards.

If preferred, however, the need to invert the base 20 can be avoided by constructing the arm member as two sections, namely an outer section 46 which houses the drive outlets 42 and 44, and a rear section 48 which is hinged to the stand member as described. The arrangement is such that the outer section 46 can be rotated relative to the rear section 48 about the longitudinal axis 41 of the arm member 40 itself, thereby allowing the drive outlet 44 to be positioned so that, when the double-folding procedure is used to place the mixer into the storage position, the drive outlet 44 faces upwards from the base 20, and so can be used to power a food processor or a blender, as shown in Figure 5. Like the aforementioned articulations of stand member 30 relative to base 20 and of the arm member 40 relative to the stand member 30, the relative rotation between the sections 46 and 48 of the arm member 40 about axis 41 can be achieved in any convenient manner. Typically this rotation is achieved by direct user manipulation, and it is permitted by the provision of simple swivel pin or other arrangements between the relevant sections. However, the rotational movement may be assisted by springs if preferred, and associated damping of the spring-assisted movement may be provided also if required, for example by means of rotary viscous dampers. In more sophisticated arrangements, the rotational movement between the sections 46 and 48 of the arm member 40 can be motor- driven, either by a dedicated motor, or via transmission from the main motor used to power the drive outlets 42 and 44. To provide further flexibility of operation of the mixer 10, the stand member 30 may, if preferred, be formed as two sections; an upper section 36 and a lower section 38; the latter being the section of stand member 30 that is articulated to the base 20. The upper section 36 is mounted for rotation relative to the lower section 38 about the a vertical axis 39 of the stand member 30, whereby the upper section 36 can be turned relative to both the lower section 38 and the base 20. This allows the arm member to be swung around the axis 39, which can be useful for various reasons.

One particularly beneficial arrangement afforded by rotating the outer section 46 of the arm member 40, about the longitudinal axis 41, relative to the arm member's rear section 48, provides a configuration in which the drive outlets 42 and 44 are positioned horizontally. This permits, with a suitable tool attached to one of the drive outlets, the mixer to be configured for direct serving into a bowl, placed beside the mixer and beneath the tool, to receive processed foodstuffs. In such a configuration, the tool is preferably operated within a special purpose housing provided with a closable exit aperture, so that the processed foodstuffs can be allowed to build up to a usable quantity within the housing before the exit aperture is opened to allow the foodstuffs to fall into the bowl.

It will be appreciated that the rotation of section 36, about axis 39, with respect to section 38 of the stand member 30 is similar to the relative rotation between the sections 46 and 48 of the arm member 40 about axis 41 and, similarly, can be achieved in any convenient manner. Typically this rotation is achieved by direct user-manipulation, and it is permitted by the provision of simple swivel pin or other arrangements between the relevant sections of the stand member 30. As before, the rotational movement may be assisted by springs if preferred, and associated damping of the spring-assisted movement may be provided also if required, for example by means of rotary viscous dampers. In more sophisticated arrangements, the rotational movement between the sections 36 and 38 of the stand member 30 can be motor-driven, either by a dedicated motor, or via transmission from the main motor used to power the drive outlets 42 and 44.

In this embodiment of the invention, the main electric motor (not shown in the drawings) used to power the drive outlets 42 and 44 is located in the rear section 48 of the arm member 40, as opposed to the more conventional practice of locating the motor in the upright stand member 30. However, the motor can be located in the stand member 30, or in the base 20, if preferred. Alternatively, a distributed motor/transmission system can be used. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the invention provides, inter alia, a readily transformable mixer, which is compact to store away and can quickly be converted into a mixer of choice, capable of being operated in various operational configurations to suit user convenience. It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An electric mixer comprising an electric motor, a base, a stand member and an arm member presenting at least one drive outlet for a mixing tool, said drive outlet being powered from said electric motor; the mixer further including first articulating means adapted to permit said arm member to be folded towards and away from said stand member, and second articulating means adapted to permit said stand member to be folded towards and away from said base; wherein the stand member is formed with a first receptacle dimensioned to accommodate said arm member when folded fully against the stand member and wherein the base is formed with a second receptacle dimensioned to accommodate said stand member; whereby, in a storage condition of said mixer, the second receptacle accommodates the stand member with the arm member accommodated in the first receptacle.

2. A mixer according to claim 1, wherein first and second receptacles each comprise either through-apertures or pouch-like or pocket-like depressions.

3. A mixer according to claim 2, wherein the first receptacle is of a type which differs from the second receptacle.

4. A mixer according to any preceding claim, wherein, the mixer is convertible from a storage condition into an operative condition, the stand member being is foldable out of the second receptacle and away from the base, the arm member then being foldable out of the first receptacle and away from the stand member.

5. A mixer according to claim 4, wherein the stand member is foldable out to a position substantially at right angles to the base and the arm member is foldable to a position substantially at right angles to the stand member and overlying the base.

6. A mixer according to claim 4 or claim 5, comprising temporary latching means to latch the stand member and the arm member securely in the operative condition.

7. A mixer according to claim 6, wherein the or each latching means comprises a sprung bearing urged against an arcuate track ; the arcuate track terminating in a substantially hemispherical recess adapted to accommodate said bearing.

8. A mixer according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm member relative to the stand member, and the stand member relative to the base, are foldable by direct user manipulation .

9. A mixer according to claim 8, wherein the or each articulating means is spring-assisted.

10. A mixer according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the or each articulating means is damped.

11. A mixer according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said articulating means further comprise electric motor means to implement said folding movements.

12. A mixer according to claim 11, wherein said electric motor means for each of said articulating means comprises a respective dedicated electric motor.

13. A mixer according to claim 11, wherein said electric motor means for each of said articulating means comprises a respective transmission system powered from said first-mentioned electric motor.

14. A mixer according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm unit supports at least one further drive outlet, powered from said motor; said further drive outlet having performance characteristics different from those of the first-mentioned drive outlet.

15. A mixer according to claim 14, wherein the second receptacle consists of or is provided with an aperture through which the further drive outlet is exposed when the mixer is folded into the storage condition, whereby the mixer can be inverted, in the storage condition, so that a food processor or a blender is mountable thereon and powered from said further drive outlet.

16. A mixer according to claim 14, wherein the arm member is formed into first and second sections capable of relative rotation about an axis extending along the arm member; the first section being remote from the stand member and supporting said drive outlet, and the second section being articulated to the stand member, whereby the first section of the arm member is rotatable relative to the second section, so as to interchange the position of the drive outlets.

17. A mixer according to claim 16, wherein the rotational movement of the first section of the arm member is rotatable relative to the second section thereof by direct user manipulation.

18. A mixer according to claim 16, wherein electric motor means are provided to implement the relative rotational movement between the first and second sections of the arm member.

19. A mixer according to claim 18, wherein the electric motor means for the rotational movement comprises a dedicated electric motor.

20. A mixer according to claim 18, wherein the electric motor means for the rotational movement comprises a transmission system powered from said first-mentioned electric motor.

21. A mixer according to any preceding claim, wherein the stand member comprises an upper section and a lower section; the upper section being articulated to said arm member by means of said first articulating means and the lower section being articulated to said base by means of said second articulating means; the upper and lower sections of said stand member being capable of relative rotational movement about an axis extending along said stand member, whereby the upper section of the stand member is rotatable relative to the lower section thereof, so as to enable the arm member to be moved arcuately relative to the base, and thus to allow the drive outlet or outlets thereof to be presented at different locations around the mixer.

22. A mixer according to claim 21, wherein the upper section of the stand member is rotatable relative to the second section thereof by direct user manipulation.

23. A mixer according to claim 21, wherein electric motor means are provided to implement relative rotational movement between the upper and lower sections of the stand member.

24. A mixer according to claim 23, wherein the electric motor means for such rotational movement comprises a dedicated electric motor.

25. A mixer according to claim 23, wherein the electric motor means for such rotational movement comprises a transmission system powered from said first-mentioned electric motor.

26. An electric mixer substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.