United States Patent [19]
`Karkos, Jr.
`
`US006164575A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,164,575
`Dec. 26, 2000
`
`[54] SELF-SEATING COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A
`REMOVABLE FOOD RECEPTACLE
`
`Primary Examiner—Mark Rosenbaum
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Foley, Hoag & Eliot LLP
`
`[75] Inventor: John F. Karkos, Jr., Lisbon Falls, Me.
`[73] Assignee: Island Oasis Frozen Cocktail
`Company, Inc., Walpole, Mass.
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A self-seating cover assembly for a removable food recep
`tacle for a food processing machine, the cover being mov
`ably mounted on a support structure attached to the machine
`and shaped so that, by the act of positioning the food
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/309,553
`receptacle into the machine, the cover is caused to seat itself
`[22] Filed:
`May 11, 1999
`in desired position atop and extending partially into the
`9
`7
`receptacle. The cover is preferably removably mounted on
`[51] Int. Cl.' .................................................... A47J 43/046
`the support Structure through &l?] aperture in the COVer, and
`[52] U.S. Cl. .................................. 241/199.12; 241/282.1;
`the structure and the cover are constructed to cooperatively
`e
`241/DIG. 17
`[58] Field of Search ............. 341 ºº. jº º º maintain the cover in a desired rotational position. The cover
`/
`• -> <- 2
`• -->
`-
`may be mounted on a chute through which food is delivered
`References Cited
`into the receptacle through the mounting aperture in the
`COWe?.
`
`[56]
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,786,002 11/1988 Mitsubayashi et al. ......... 241/DIG. 17
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`11 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
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`SS i |
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`LT-T-ul-L
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 001
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 1 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`F/G, J
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 002
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 2 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`~ + - – – — —
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`N N
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 3 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`@ ‘9/ -7
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`O/
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 004
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 4 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`AT/G, 4
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 005
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 5 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`A-ZG (25
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 006
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 6 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 007
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 7 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`F763. /0
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`/:/G. //
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`Hamilton Beach,
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`1005, p. 008
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 8 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`A-ZG /2
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 009
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 9 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 010
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 26, 2000
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`Sheet 10 of 10
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`6,164,575
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 011
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`

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`1
`SELF-SEATING COVER ASSEMBLY FOR A
`REMOVABLE FOOD RECEPTACLE
`
`6,164,575
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to machines for cutting or process
`ing food, and particularly to machines having a removable
`food receptacle in which food is processed and/or into which
`processed food is delivered by the machine. A cover assem
`bly incorporated in the machine, in cooperation with the
`action of moving the receptacle into position in the machine,
`causes a semi-rigid cover to seat itself on and partly within
`the top of the receptacle to prevent splashing or other
`unwanted discharge of food from the receptacle. In turn, as
`the receptacle is removed from the machine, the cover
`assembly causes the cover to be unseated from the recep
`tacle.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Many food processing machines include a removable
`receptacle in which food may be processed, and/or into
`which food that has been processed by the machine may be
`delivered. A well-known example of the former is a con
`ventional home blender, which includes a blender cup
`removably mountable on a base, and in which food may be
`mixed, chopped, or otherwise processed. An example of the
`latter type of apparatus is an ice shaver/blender machine for
`making frozen drinks. In such a machine, shaved ice is
`delivered to a receptacle removably mounted below the
`shaver mechanism. Further processing of the shaved ice and
`other drinkingredients is performed within the receptacle. In
`such machines, it is desirable to prevent unwanted splashing
`and discharge of food from the top of the receptacle, both
`during processing of the food while in the receptacle, and
`during delivery of food to the receptacle from another part
`of the machine.
`One machine that includes a cover assembly for a remov
`able food receptacle is a shaver/blender machine described
`in Mitsubayashi et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,002, entitled
`Method Of Making Soft Ice-Drink And Apparatus Of Mak
`40
`ing The Same. According to that patent, shaved ice is
`delivered to a container cup through a delivery chute, the ice
`and other drinkingredients then being mixed to make a soft
`ice-drink. In the Mitsubayashi et al. machine, a “soft” lid is
`detachably mounted to the lower end of the shaved ice
`discharge chute to cover the opening of the container and
`purportedly to prevent the ice granules and other ingredients
`from escaping the container as the drink is mixed. In that
`patent the soft lid appears to be a thin, flat, disc-shaped cover
`that merely sits on or near the top of the container cup.
`A “soft” and thin lid that sits atop the receptacle, like that
`mentioned in the Mitsubayashi et al. patent, does not
`adequately prevent unwanted splashing and discharge of the
`drink ingredients when the blender mechanism in an ice
`shaver/blender machine is operated.
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`a cover for a removable food receptacle, which cover will
`prevent splashing or discharge of the ingredients during
`processing of the food in the receptacle, and/or while food
`is delivered to the receptacle.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`cover assembly for a removable food receptacle that is
`convenient to use, relatively inexpensive to construct, and
`easy to maintain.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`receptacle cover that is semi-rigid in order to prevent ready
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`dislodgment, yet easily mountable on the machine and
`removable from the machine for cleaning or replacement.
`It is a still further object of the present invention to
`provide a self-seating cover assembly that seats the cover in
`proper position on the receptacle as the receptacle is posi
`tioned into the machine.
`It is yet another object of the invention to provide a cover
`assembly that includes a cover having a lower portion that
`extends partially but substantially into the receptacle to
`provide better protection against dislodgement, yet does not
`hamper ready removal of the receptacle from the machine.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The self-seating cover assembly of the present invention
`comprises a semi-rigid cover for a removable food
`receptacle, the cover being movably mounted on a support
`structure attached to the food processing machine and
`shaped so that, by the act of positioning the food receptacle
`into the machine, the cover is caused to seat itself in desired
`position atop and extending partially into the receptacle. As
`the receptacle is removed from the machine, the cover
`assembly causes the cover to be unseated from the recep
`tacle. Preferably, the cover is removably mounted on the
`support structure through an aperture in the cover, and the
`structure and the cover are provided with cooperating means
`to maintain the cover in a desired rotational position. In the
`preferred embodiment here described, the cover is mounted
`on a chute through which food is delivered into the recep
`tacle via the mounting aperture in the cover.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice shaver/blender
`apparatus and a blender cup, illustrating in dashed lines the
`position of the blender cup when mounted in the machine.
`FIG. 2 is a representational sectional view of the shaver/
`blender machine of FIG. 1, with the blender cup in position
`under the ice shaver chute, and the cover seated on and
`extending partly into the blender cup in accordance with the
`present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a representational top plan view of the final
`position of the blender cup after it has been fully slid into
`position in the machine, ready to receive shaved ice from the
`ice shaver mechanism.
`FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ice shaver
`chute and the cover positioned above the top of the blender
`Cup.
`FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the cover of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the cover of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the cover.
`FIG. 8 is a right side elevational view of the cover.
`FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cover taken along
`line 9–9 of FIG. 7.
`FIG. 10 is a side view of the cover in rest position,
`mounted on the ice shaver chute, prior to positioning of the
`blender cup in the machine.
`FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the cover in rest position
`on the ice shaver chute.
`FIG. 12 is a side view of the cover pushed up from its
`position in FIG. 10, having been moved upward on the chute
`by the rim of the blender cup as the cup is moved into
`position in the ice shaver/blender machine of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 13 is a side view of the position of the cover when
`the blender cup has been pushed in about half-way toward
`its final position in the machine.
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 012
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`6,164,575
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`3
`FIG. 14 is a side view of the cover in seated position on
`and extending into the blender cup, having dropped down
`from the position of FIG. 13 as the blender cup reaches its
`final position in the machine.
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`4
`drink ingredients. As seen in FIG. 2, the machine here
`described is designed and constructed so that, when blender
`cup 25 is in position, shaved ice chute 24 is not centered on
`blender cup 25 but rather is positioned slightly to the rear of
`center. Hence, aperture 40 in cover 30 is likewise off-center.
`Aperture 40 is generally circular except for an angled corner
`45 formed at the front side of the aperture. The front portion
`of chute 24 has a similarly angled, nose-like projection 47 at
`its front edge. (See FIG. 4). In cooperation, the angled corner
`45 of cover 30 and the nose-like projection 47 of chute 24
`ensure that the cover 30 may be mounted in only one
`orientation on chute 24—i.e., with angled corner 45 and
`projection 47 facing toward the front of the machine. It is
`easiest to fit cover 30 onto and remove it from chute 24 by
`first moving flexible ribs 42 past rigid lip 44 in the area of
`nose-like projection 47, and then pushing the remaining ribs
`past the lip. Once mounted, cover 30 may travel upward on
`chute 24 from its rest position, as the blender cup is slid into,
`or removed from, its proper position in the machine.
`FIG. 6 depicts the lower side of cover 30. As further seen
`in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lower portion 50 of cover 30 is gently
`rounded in front to permit the top edge of blender cup 25 to
`slide easily toward its final position, as cover 30 is pushed
`up in a camming action, as explained below. Cover 30 is
`preferably symmetrical about a plane running vertically
`through the center of angled corner 45 and to the back of the
`device, the upper portion 48 above circumferential rim 49
`being considerably greater in mass than lower portion 50.
`From the side view of FIG. 8, it may be seen that the cover
`is designed to be front loaded—i.e., there is much more
`material in front of the mounting aperture 40 than behind it.
`The cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 also demonstrates that
`the cover 30 is relatively heavily weighted toward the front.
`FIG. 9 illustrates that flexible ribs 42 lie in a plane that is
`not parallel with the plane of circumferential rim 49. As a
`result, when the cover 30 is mounted on chute 24 in its “rest”
`position—i.e., without the blender cup positioned in the
`machine—the front-loaded weight of cover 30 will ensure
`that flexible ribs 42 come to rest on lip 44 at the bottom edge
`of ice chute 24, and that circumferential rim 49 will lie in a
`plane angling downward from back to front. The rest posi
`tion of cover 30 is further illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 11
`provides a bottom view of the cover 30 mounted in rest
`position on ice chute 24, lip 44 (FIG. 4) retaining the cover
`on the machine.
`When the cover 30 is in rest position, its front edge will
`hang down at such a position that blender cup 25 cannot be
`slid into the machine without the front rim of the blender cup
`coming into contact with the front edge of cover 30. (See
`FIG. 2) As the blender cup 25 is brought into position in
`machine 10 by sliding it rearward on blender platform 35,
`the front rim of blender cup 25 will contact the front of
`rounded lower portion 50 of cover 30, as illustrated in FIG.
`12, causing the front of cover 30 to slide upward on ice chute
`24 in a camming action. As blender cup 25 continues to its
`final position, the lower portion 50 of cover 30 will continue
`to slide along the rim of blender cup 25 (FIG. 13), causing
`the entire cover 30 to be pushed upward, until the cup
`reaches approximately its final position (FIG. 14), at which
`point cover 30 will drop down into seated position, circum
`ferential rim 49 of cover 30 resting on the upper rim of the
`blender cup 25, and the lower portion 50 extending into the
`cup. The weight and shape of cover 30 and its semi-rigidness
`ensure that cover 30 will not be dislodged either when
`shaved ice is being provided to the blender cup through ice
`chute 24, or when the blender is activated to blend the
`ingredients in the cup.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`Machine 10 for making frozen drinks, depicted in FIGS.
`1 and 2, comprises an ice shaver shown generally at 12,
`mounted above a blender assembly shown generally at 14.
`A blender cup 25 may be positioned in machine 10 by
`sliding the base 28 of the blender cup toward the back of the
`blender platform 35. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, a
`shoulder 36 projecting upwardly around the perimeter of
`blender platform 35 has rounded outer ends 36a that coop
`erate with a flat area 28a on each side of blender cup base
`28 to guide blender cup 25 into proper position as it is slid
`into the machine. The shoulder 36 further includes straight
`sections 36b that cooperate with flat areas 28a on blender
`cup base 28 to prevent cup 25 from rotating when the
`blender is operated, and further includes inwardly curved
`portions 36c on each side near the back of the blender
`platform 35 to serve as a stop against further inward move
`ment of blender cup 25, thereby ensuring proper final
`positioning of the cup under ice chute 24. A drain hole 37 at
`the rear of blender platform 35 permits any spilled liquid to
`drain off through drain hose 38.
`Push-button control panel 13, along with associated elec
`tronics (not here described), controls the operation of the
`machine. Ice cubes or chips contained in hopper 16 are
`driven by rotating pusher blades 18 powered by motor 20,
`the ice cubes or chips striking shaving blade 22, all in known
`fashion. The shaved ice particles travel through attached
`chute 24 into blender cup 25 though an aperture 40 in the
`cover 30 (see FIG. 4) seated on blender cup 25. D.c. motor
`34 causes magnetizable disk 33, housed in blender cup base
`28 and axially attached to shaft 32, to rotate, causing
`impeller 31 attached to shaft 32 to likewise rotate within
`container 26 of blender cup 25, to blend the shaved ice
`particles and other drink ingredients that have been intro
`duced into the blender cup. Upon completion of the desired
`blending, blender cup 25 may be removed from the machine,
`and the blended drink served to customers.
`The instant invention relates to the cover assembly, shown
`in exploded perspective view in FIG. 4. Chute 24, which
`serves to guide the shaved ice particles into blender cup 25,
`is preferably molded from rigid plastic and includes a
`projecting surface 49 by which chute 24 may be affixed to
`the machine 10 just below shaving blade 22 (see FIG. 2) by
`means of conventional fasteners. Cover 30 may be readily
`mounted onto, and removed from, chute 24 by means of a set
`of elongated, thin, flexible ribs 42 extending outwardly from
`the inner wall 41 of cover mounting aperture 40 and sepa
`rated by gaps 43; ribs 42 may be bent or flexed to permit
`55
`ready introduction of cover 30 into position on chute 24. A
`rigid lip 44 extending outwardly from the bottom edge of
`chute 24 cooperates with flexible ribs 42 on cover 30 to
`retain the cover on chute 24 until such time as removal is
`desired. Collar 39, integrally formed as part of cover 30,
`projects upwardly to provide support for ribs 42 and aperture
`40.
`As seen in FIG. 5, in the particular embodiment here
`described, mounting aperture 40 in cover 30 is located
`off-center. It has been found desirable to have the shaved ice
`enter the blender cup at a location away from the center of
`the cup, so that impeller 31 may most efficiently blend the
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 013
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`In the preferred embodiment here shown, cover 30 is
`molded from EPDM rubber having a durometer of 60 SDH.
`It has been found that rubber of this durometer provides the
`desired rigidity for the cover, but also permits the ribs 42 to
`be appropriately flexible to permit ready mounting and
`dismounting of the cover on chute 24, yet sufficiently
`inflexible to retain the cover on the chute until removal is
`desired. The supplier of the material, Rubbercraft Corpora
`tion of Gardena, Calif., identifies this material as its com
`pound No. 8472M-11.
`10
`Cover 30 is about 6 inches in diameter and about 1%
`inches in height at its tallest point. Circumferential rim 49 is
`about Vs inch thick. Cover aperture 40, at its circular portion
`at the top of cover 30, is about 3% inches in diameter; the
`distance from angled corner 45 to the back of the aperture is
`about 3% inches. Flexible ribs 42 are about 3/32 inch thick at
`their outer edge, and project outwardly about 3/16 inch from
`the inner wall 41 of cover aperture 40. The gaps 43 that
`separate the flexible ribs 42 are each about 1/16 inch across.
`Thus in the plane of flexible ribs 42, the cover portion of the
`cover aperture is about 2 and /8 inches in diameter (3%
`inches minus (%6 plus 3/16 inches)), and about 3 and 3%
`inches from angled corner to back.
`The outer diameter of ice chute 24 at its circular portion
`is about 2% inches, and the exterior distance from nose-like
`projection 47 to the back of ice chute 24 is about 3 and Vs
`inches. Rigid lip 44 extends about 3/16 inches from the body
`of ice chute 24 and is about Vs inch high. The outer diameter
`of ice chute 24 at lip 44 is about 3 and Vis inches at its
`circular portion. The clearance between this outer diameter
`and the walls of aperture 40 is about 3/16 inch; the clearance
`between unflexed ribs 42 and the outer diameter of the chute
`above lip 44 is about Vs inch.
`Blender cup 25 has an outer diameter of 5% inches, and
`an internal cup diameter of 5% inches, at its upper edge.
`Including base 28, the blender cup is 8 inches tall. The base
`28 of the blender cup is about 1% inches high and 5% inches
`in diameter at its rounded portion. The distance between flat
`areas 28a is 5 inches, and each flat area is about 2% inches
`long.
`The distance between straight sections 36b of blender
`platform 35 is about 5 and Vs inches. Thus the only way
`blender cup 25 can be positioned in the machine is with flat
`areas 28a of the blender cup in parallel with straight sections
`36b. The straight sections 36b are about 3 inches long. The
`distance from the front of platform 35 to the rear of shoulder
`36 is about 7 inches.
`It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art
`that the present invention in its broader aspects is not limited
`to the specific embodiments herein shown and described.
`Accordingly, variations may be made from the embodiments
`described herein which are within the scope of the accom
`panying claims, without departing from the principles of the
`invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.
`I claim:
`1. In a food processing apparatus including a base unit and
`a removable receptacle for receiving and/or processing food,
`the improvement comprising a cover assembly for covering
`said receptacle while the receptacle is in position in the base
`unit, said cover assembly comprising support means
`attached to the base unit, and a semi-rigid cover movably
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`attached to the support means, said cover being shaped and
`sized so that, as the receptacle is moved into position in the
`base unit, the receptacle contacts the cover and the cover
`seats itself on the upper edge of the receptacle with a
`substantial portion of the cover extending into the
`receptacle, to prevent unwanted splashing or discharge of
`the food as it is delivered to and/or processed in said
`receptacle.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cover includes
`flexible attachment means for removably attaching the cover
`to the support means, and said support means includes
`retention means cooperating with said attachment means to
`retain the cover on the support means until removal is
`desired.
`3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said support means
`comprises a chute for delivery of food to the receptacle, and
`said cover has an aperture through which the food is
`delivered to the receptacle via the chute.
`4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said flexible attach
`ment means on said cover comprises a flexible rib projecting
`into the aperture, and said retention means comprises a lip
`on the chute to permit the cover to be removably attached to
`the chute by flexing the rib so that the lip may be passed
`through the aperture past the rib, and then may engage the
`rib when the rib returns to its unflexed position.
`5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cover comprises
`an upper portion, a lower portion, and a circumferential rim
`therebetween, said rim resting on the upper edge of the
`receptacle when in position in the base unit, and said lower
`portion of the cover extending into the receptacle.
`6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the flexible rib and
`the lip on the chute lie in parallel planes that are generally
`horizontal when the cover is attached to the chute, and the
`plane of the rim intersects those planes at an angle such that
`the plane of the rim points downward in the direction of
`removal of the receptacle.
`7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cover is in the
`shape of a fat disk, the aperture being positioned off-center
`toward the rear of the disk when the cover is mounted on the
`support means, so that the cover is more heavily weighted in
`the area toward the direction of removal of the receptacle.
`8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the lower portion of
`the disk that first contacts the receptacle as the receptacle is
`introduced into the base unit, has a curved surface extending
`downwardly from the rim of the cover, the surface being
`shaped to cause that portion of the cover to be immediately
`forced upward upon contact with the receptacle.
`9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cover and the
`chute include orientation means that cooperate to ensure that
`the cover is in proper orientation when attached to the chute.
`10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the aperture in the
`cover is generally circular, but includes an angled portion for
`receipt of a like-angled projection extending from the gen
`erally cylindrical chute in the area of the lip, the angled
`portion of the aperture cooperating with the angled projec
`tion to base unit the cover in proper orientation by prevent
`ing rotation of the cover on the chute.
`11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the angled portion
`of the aperture and the angled projection point toward the
`front of the machine when the cover is attached to the chute.
`
`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1005, p. 014