GB2404375A

GB2404375A - Compact storage and transport container for appliance blades

Info

Publication number: GB2404375A
Application number: GB0416491A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michelle M Carillo; Howard Steinberg; David J Wanat
Original assignee: Conair Corp
Current assignee: Conair Corp
Priority date: 2003-07-25
Filing date: 2004-07-23
Publication date: 2005-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-23
Also published as: CA2475486A1; US20050042103A1; GB0416491D0; GB0416668D0; GB2404375B

Abstract

A storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a set of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door (14) is provided to enclosed the inside of the container. The blades may be locked in the platforms by spring tabs formed with the platforms. Struts may be positioned between and supporting the platforms and the door (14) may be hinged or may slide.

Description

Compact Storage and Transport Container for Appliance Blades The present

invention relates to appliances such as food appliances and, more particularly, to accessories for storing and transporting cutting blades of appliances.

Food processors and other known electronic appliances utilize interchangeable rotating, generally flat cutting blades. A user typically has more than one blade. Since the appliances use only one blade at a time, storage and transport of the blades that are not attached to the appliance must be handled with care in order to preserve and protect the condition of the blade edges and other features, as well as to provide safety to people handling the blades.

There is a need, therefore, for blade storage and transport containers that are compact, efficient and safe to use.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention described herein.

The present invention is directed to a storage and transport container for blades of the type used in an electric food processor. The container has a series of platforms adapted to horizontally accommodate a stack of a plurality of blade discs in a positively locked manner within the platforms. A door is provided to enclosed the inside of the container.

Fig. I is a perspective illustration of a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of a container according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial, front view of a container according to the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 4A is a partial front view of a component of the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 4B is a partial top view of a component of the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 5A is a bottom view, schematic of a blade disc of the type used with the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a side view, schematic of a blade disc of the type used with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic, partial view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

A container (10) according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-3. The container (10) has an outer housing (12) that is generally cylindrically shaped to accommodate the round shape of blades to be stored therein. The housing (12) may be of another shape, though it preferably is designed to conserve space and, thus, may conform closely to the shape of the blades to be stored therein.

The housing (12) is preferably a unitary piece that has a space on part of the sidewall to accommodate a hinged door (14). The door (14) and the housing (12) may be molded from plastic and the housing (12) may have hinge protrusions (16) that snap-fit with the door (14) to hold in it hinged relation. As shown in Fig. 2, the door (14) can be swung open. The door (14) is shown closed in Fig. 1. The edge (18) ofthe door (14) and the mating portion (20) of the housing (12) may be provided with wedge or press-fit latching means (not shown) of the type known to those skilled in the art to selectively secure the door (14) in the closed position.

Referring to Fig. 3, a partial front view, a rack (22) is fixed inside the housing (12). The rack (22) comprises a series of horizontally-aligned platforms (24) having spaces (26) therebetween. Each space (26) is designed to accommodate a blade disc to be stored therein. The platforms (24) are supported by struts (28) that hold them in spaced relation. The rack (22) may be fastened to the housing (12) by screws (not shown) positioned through holes (30). !

A close view of one of the platforms (24) is shown in Fig. 4A to more clearly show the spring-biased wedge lock (32) that locks a blade disc positioned in the rack (22). Referring to the top view of Fig. 4B, the wedge lock (32) is a flat spring-tab unitarily formed from the molded platform (24). A wedge tip (34) extends downwardly or beneath the platform (24) so that when a blade disc having a lip is slipped in the space (26) beneath the platform (24), the wedge rides over the lip and snaps back into un-biased position after the lip passes. The reverse action happens when the blade disc is pulled out. This serves as a lock to hold a blade disc in place within the container (10). For reference purposes, the side of the platform (24) that has the mating surfaces (44) shown faces front, and thus is the view in Fig. 3.

Figs. SA - SB illustrate a blade disc (36) of the type to be held in the container (10). The blade disc (36) has a raised center portion (38) and a disc body (40). The platforms (24) may be formed with mating surfaces (44) that contact corresponding surfaces (42) of the raised portion (38) when it is inserted into the rack (22).

An alternative embodiment container (100) is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the door (124) is a sliding door that nests inside a wall portion (122) of the housing body (120) when the door (124) is slid closed. The door (124) is slid opened or closed in the direction of the arrow (126) in Fig. 6.

Another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 7, wherein platforms (200) may be staggered laterally as shown, in order to accommodate multiple blade discs (202) in close vertical spaces. By staggering the platforms (200) inside the housing of the container, the platforms (200) may be positioned closer vertically than if they were not staggered since the center extending portions (204) of the discs (202) are alternately off-set eccentrically.

While the preferred present invention has been herein described, it is understood that various modification may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A container for cutting blades of appliances comprising: a

housing; a plurality of generally horizontally aligned platforms within the housing and being adapted to hold one or more of the blades; and a lock associated with each platform for securing a respective one of the blades.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a door for selectively opening and closing the housing to insert or remove the blades.
3. A container as claimed in claim 1, or claim 2 further comprising a plurality of struts positioned between and supporting the plurality of platforms.
4. A container as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the lock is a flat spring-tab unitarily formed with each of the platforms.
5. A container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lock further comprises a wedge tip extending downwardly beneath each of the platforms.
6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the housing is generally cylindrically shaped.
7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the door is a sliding door adapted to nest within a recess of the housing.
8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of platforms are staggered laterally.
9. A container for cutting blades of appliances, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.