DESC:SAFETY LOCKING MECHANISM FOR MIXER/BLENDER

Field of invention:

The present invention generally relates to an electric blenders/mixers used in kitchen and more particularly, the present invention relates safety locking mechanism for mixer/blender.

Background of the invention:

Blenders/mixers are well known and comprise a base unit including a drive motor for rotating a number of blades in a container for holding the material to be blended. During operation of the blender/mixer, there is a potential danger if the blades can be rotated when the lid of the container is open. Further, there may be splatter of food/liquid outside the container if the blender/mixer is operated without proper fixing of the top lid of the container.

Various prior art is available for preventing the blender/mixer operation when the lid of the container is not fixed properly. However, the prior art mechanism does not ensure that the lid of the container is effectively closed. Further, the prior art mechanism also do not ensure that the container is properly fitted in the notch of the main body.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a safety locking mechanism for mixer/blender which overcomes abovementioned drawbacks.

Objects of the invention:

An object of the present invention is to prevent splatter of food out of container when mixer/ blender operate without LID of the container/jar.

Another object of the present invention is to allow hands free mixer operation.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention provides a mixer/blender with safety locking mechanism that comprises a jar and a main body. The jar comprises of a lid, a base for securely fitting the jar thereto and a handle operably secured to the jar. The jar is capable of removably securing to the main body for the purpose of blending/mixing with a help of a motor configured within the main body. The lid has a lid cap, a gasket allowing airtight fitment of the lid with the jar, a clamp holding the lid against a flange of the jar, a lid lever and a snap lock. The handle includes a lower handle portion, a compression spring, a handle housing and a push button arranged over the handle housing and operably communicated with the compression spring. An actuator is arranged along length of the handle and guided in the handle housing. The actuator has an actuator spring arranged on the base such that the actuator spring exerts pressure on the actuator to remain in position when the lid is not fixed on the jar. A limit switch is configured within the main body.

In an operation, when the lid is placed on the jar, the lid lever pushes the actuator downwards to trigger the limit switch to ON position, thereby starting motor operation of the mixer/blender. When the push button is pressed against the compression spring and the snap lock releases from its lock position such that the lid lever no longer exert downward pressure on actuator, thereby allowing the recoiling of compression spring. Thus, the lid raises upward by pushing the actuator upward, thereby disengaging contact with the limit switch to bring the mixer/blender in stop condition.

Brief description of drawings:

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a safety locking mechanism for a mixer/blender, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows OFF condition of the safety locking mechanism for the mixer/blender, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 shows ON condition of the safety locking mechanism for the mixer/blender, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of the safety locking mechanism for the mixer/blender, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides safety locking mechanism for mixer/blender which prevents splatter of food out of container when mixer/ blender operate without lid of the container/jar. The safety locking mechanism also allows hands free mixer operation.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description below. A following table provides a list of the reference numbers and their corresponding parts.

Reference Numbers Part Names
100 mixer/blender
10 jar
12 lid
12a lid cap
12b gasket
12c clamp
12d lid lever
12e snap lock
14 base
16 handle
16a lower handle portion
16b spring
16c handle housing
16d push button
16e two screws
16 handle
18 actuator
20 actuator spring
50 main body
52 limit switch

Referring now to figure 1-4, a mixer/blender (100) with safety locking mechanism is shown, in accordance with the present invention. The mixer/blender (100) comprises a jar (10) and a main body (50). The jar (10) is capable of removably securing to the main body (50) for the purpose of blending/mixing with a help of a motor (not numbered) configured within the main body (50).

The jar (10) comprises a lid (12), a base (14), and a handle (16). The lid (12) comprises a lid cap (12a), a gasket (12b), a clamp (12c), a lid lever (12d) and a snap lock (12e). The gasket (12b) allows airtight fitment of the lid (12) with the jar (10). Further, the clamp (12c) holds the lid (12) against the jar (10) flange during operation. Specifically, when the clamp (12c) is twisted to lock other side clamp under the jar flange, the lid (12) is hold in place due to inbuilt pressure of clamp (12c).

The jar (10) is secured fitted to the base (14). Further, the handle (16) is operably secured the jar (10). The handle (16) includes a lower handle portion (16a), a compression spring (16b), a handle housing (16c) and the push button (16d) configured over the handle housing (16c) which operably communicates with the compression spring (16b). The handle (16) further includes at least two screws (16e), wherein one screw is used for fixing the handle (16) with the jar (10) and another screw is used for guiding compression spring (16b).

The lid (12) when pressed down against jar (10), top edge locks the lid (12) within the inner periphery of the jar (10) due to backward pressure of the compression spring (16b) in the handle housing (16c).

The jar (10) further includes an actuator (18) mounted thereon. Specifically, the actuator (18) is configured along the length of the handle (16) and is guided in the handle housing (16c). An actuator spring (20) is configured on the jar base (14) such that the actuator spring (20) exerts pressure on the actuator (18) to remain in position when the lid (12) is not fixed on the jar (10).

The actuator (18) is capable of being actuating a limit switch (52) configured within the main body (50) when the jar (10) is placed and rotated on the main body of the mixer/blender and the lid (12) is placed on the jar (10) firmly.

More specifically, the actuator (18) provides safety feature to the mixer/blender unit. When the lid (12) is placed on the jar (10), the lid lever (12d) pushes the actuator (18) downwards to triggers the interlock switch/limit switch (52) to ON position thereby allowing starting motor operation of the mixer/blender as required by the user.

Further, the push button (16d) when pressed, works against the compression spring (16b) and releases the snap lock (12e) in the lid (12) from its lock position.

As the snap lock (12e) is released by the push button (16d), the lid lever (12d) no longer exert downward pressure on actuator (18). This allows the recoiling of compression spring (16b) thereby raising the lid (12) upward by pushing actuator (18) upward. This upward position of actuator (18) disengages contact with limit switch and brings the mixer/blender unit (100) in stop condition.

In an embodiment, even in the lid (12) is placed properly but jar (10) alignment is not in locking position, the motor of the mixer/blender (100) will not start as the alignment of the actuator (18) to the limit switch (52) will not occur to activate the limit switch (52).

Advantages of the invention:

1. The mixer/blender (100) of the present invention provides safety to the user by providing interlocking of motor operation.
2. The mixer/blender (100) of the present invention avoids food or liquid splatter as the mixer/ blender (100) cannot operate without LID.
3. The mixer/blender (100) of the present invention allows hands free operation.

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modifications and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
,CLAIMS:I claim:

1. A mixer/blender (100) with safety locking mechanism comprising:
a jar (10) having a lid (12), a base (14) for securely fitting the jar (10) thereto and a handle (16) operably secured to the jar (10); and
a main body (50), wherein the jar (10) is capable of removably securing to the main body (50) for the purpose of blending/mixing with a help of a motor configured within the main body (50);
characterized in that,
the lid (12) comprising,
• a lid cap (12a),
• a gasket (12b) allowing airtight fitment of the lid (12) with the jar (10),
• a clamp (12c) holding the lid (12) against a flange of the jar (10),
• a lid lever (12d), and
• a snap lock (12e);
the handle (16) including,
• a lower handle portion (16a),
• a compression spring (16b),
• a handle housing (16c), and
• a push button (16d) arranged over the handle housing (16c) and operably communicated with the compression spring (16b);
an actuator (18) arranged along length of the handle (16) and guided in the handle housing (16c), the actuator (18) having an actuator spring (20) arranged on the base (14) such that the actuator spring (20) exerts pressure on the actuator (18) to remain in position when the lid (12) is not fixed on the jar (10); and
a limit switch (52) configured within the main body (50),
wherein, in an operation, on placing the lid (12) on the jar (10), the lid lever (12d) pushes the actuator (18) downwards to trigger the limit switch (52) to ON position, thereby starting motor operation of the mixer/blender (100) and upon pressing the push button (16d) against the compression spring (16b) and the snap lock (12e) releases from its lock position such that the lid lever (12d) no longer exert downward pressure on actuator (18), allowing the recoiling of compression spring (16b) and raising the lid (12) upward by pushing the actuator (18) upward, thereby disengaging contact with the limit switch (52) to bring the mixer/blender (100) in stop condition.

2. The mixer/blender (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid (12) when pressed down against jar (10), a top edge locks the lid (10) within the inner periphery of the jar (10) due to backward pressure of the compression spring (16b) in the handle housing (16c).

3. The mixer/blender (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein as the clamp (12c) is twisted to lock other side clamp under the flange of the jar (10), the lid (12) is hold in place due to inbuilt pressure of clamp (12c).

Dated this 27th day of September 2019

Madhavi Vajirakar
(Agent for applicant)
(IN/PA-2337)