IMPROVED FOOD PROCESSOR BOWL COVER DYNAMIC SEALING ASSEMBLY

ENSEMBLE AMELIORE D'ETANCHEITE DYNAMIQUE POUR COUVERCLE DE BOL DE ROBOT CULINAIRE

English Abstract

A food processor bowl 1 has a pouring lip 2, a sidewall 4, a handle 5, a floor 6 and bowl neck 7 with an opening 3. The bowl 1 has an upper rim 8 and pair of hinge slots 9, 10 adapted to receive corresponding hinge pins 17, 18 that are attached to the cover 13. The bowl neck 7 is adapted to receive a driven motor shaft (not shown) through its opening 3. A conventional blade assembly (not shown) is mounted to the driven shaft to rotate therewith in order to chop and mix food product.

French Abstract

Bol de robot culinaire (1) doté d'un bec verseur (2), d'une paroi latérale (4), d'une poignée (5), d'un fond (6) et d'un goulot de bol (7) comportant une ouverture (3). Le bol (1) présente une bordure supérieure (8) et une paire de fentes pour charnières (9, 10) adaptée pour accueillir des tiges pour charnières (17, 18) correspondantes rattachées au couvercle (13). Le goulot de bol (7) est adapté pour accueillir un arbre moteur entraîné (non illustré) dans son ouverture (3). Un ensemble de lames conventionnel (non illustré) est fixé à l'arbre moteur pour y effectuer une rotation afin de hacher et de mélanger les produits alimentaires.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:


1. A food processor bowl cover sealing assembly that enables a single lid to
functionally cover a plurality of food processor bowls of varying sizes when
used
either alone or used simultaneously in nested fashion, said assembly
comprising
a lid adapted to cover a food processor bowl;
a flexible sealing ring that is mounted to a lower surface of said lid, along
the perimeter of said lid, said sealing ring being adapted to contact and
compress
against the upper lip of a food processor bowl, and
a plurality of folds in said sealing ring, said folds adapted to flex in a
bellows fashion so that it may be compressed vertically and will return to
original
shape, when released from compression, by the material's spring force.


2. An assembly according to Claim 1, further comprising
a cover comprising a food chute, a flat portion, a circumferential wall,
drainage holes, and hinge pins, said cover being adapted to open and close in
a
pivoting manner by connecting said hinge pins to corresponding hinge pin
receiving slots on said bowl.


3. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein
said sealing ring and said bowl have approximately equal diameter
dimensions.


4. An assembly according to Claim 2, wherein
said sealing ring is made of a flexible material.


5. An assembly according to Claim 4, further comprising
a steel reinforcing wire embedded in said sealing ring.

page 6

Description

CA 02714771 2010-09-17
IMPROVED FOOD PROCESSOR BOWL COVER DYNAMIC SEALING
ASSEMBLY
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to and claims priority from United States
Provisional Application 61/243826.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to food preparation appliances and, more
particularly, to countertop food processor appliances.
Description of Related Art
Countertop food processor appliances generally comprise a base, a motor
housed in the base, a bowl mounted on the base for receiving food product to
be
,
mixed or chopped, a blade rotationally driven by the motor and positioned in
the
bowl for rotation therein, and a cover or lid for the bowl. An electrical cord

extends from the base and is adapted to be plugged into an external electrical

source such as a wall socket to deliver electrical energy to the motor.
Countertop food processors typically include a lid that must be locked into
place on the bowl in order to activate a switch enabling operation of the
motor.
This is a safety precaution, though certain sizes and configurations of food
processor are inherently safe without such locking a switching arrangement.
Another reason lit is desirable to lock lids to food processor bowls is to
store and
protect food contents inside a bowl without the possibility of the lid falling
off or
opening. Because of the rigid nature and fixed size of food processor bowls
and,
if applicable, the locking and switching mechanisms that are part of such
bowls, it
is necessary for each bowl to have its own lid in order to achieve a secure
locking fit. It would be convenient and efficient, however, to provide a
single lid
that functionally covers more than one size bowl, particularly a plurality of
bowls
that are nested during use with a food processors.
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CA 02714771 2013-07-23
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a food processor bowl
cover sealing assembly that enables a single lid to functionally cover more
than one size bowl, particularly a plurality of bowls that are nested during
use
with a food processors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a lid adapted to cover a food
processor bowl has a flexible sealing ring that is mounted to a lower surface
of
the lid, along the perimeter. The sealing ring has folds that flex in a
bellows
fashion so that it may be compressed vertically and will return to original
shape
by the material's spring force. Thus, during use, it will compress and relax
in
order to provide a downwardly biased force between the sealing ring and the
upper lip of a bowl to which the lid is mounted.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided
a food processor bowl cover sealing assembly that enables a single lid to
functionally cover a plurality of food processor bowls of varying sizes when
used either alone or used simultaneously in nested fashion, said assembly
comprising a lid adapted to cover a food processor bowl; a flexible sealing
ring that is mounted to a lower surface of said lid, along the perimeter of
said
lid, said sealing ring being adapted to contact and compress against the upper

lip of a food processor bowl; and a plurality of folds in said sealing ring,
said
folds adapted to flex in a bellows fashion so that it may be compressed
vertically and will return to original shape, when released from compression,
by the material's spring force.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Figure 1A is a perspective view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1B is a side view of a bowl according to a first preferred
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CA 02714771 2013-07-23
..
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1C is a front view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1D is a rear view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure lE is a bottom view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1F is a top view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1G is a partial, side view of a bowl according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
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CA 02714771 2010-09-17
,
Figure 2A is a perspective view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2B is a top view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 20 is a bottom view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2D is a side view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2E is a side view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2F is a partial, side view of a cover according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3A is a partial, perspective view of a seal according to a first
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3B is a partial, top view of a seal according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 30 is a partial, side view of a seal according to a first preferred
embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE
PRESENT INVENTION
Referring to the Drawing Figures, according to the present invention a
food processor bowl 1 comprises a pouring lip 2, a sidewall 4, a handle 5, a
floor
6 and bowl neck 7 with an opening 3. The bowl 1 has an upper rim 8 and pair of

hinge slots 9, 10. Each hinge slot extends radially from the outside diameter
of
the bowl 1. They are adapted to receive corresponding hinge pins 17, 18 that
are attached to the cover 13. The bowl neck 7 is adapted to receive a driven
motor shaft (not shown) through its opening 3, as is conventionally known. A
conventional blade assembly (not shown) is mounted to the driven shaft to
rotate
therewith in order to chop and mix food product.
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CA 02714771 2010-09-17
A cover 13 comprises a chute 12, a flat portion 14, a circumferential wall
15, drainage holes 16, and hinge pins 17, 18. The cover 13 is adapted to
attach
to the top of the bowl 1 during use. The chute 12 is adapted to enable food
product to be introduced into the bowl 1 while the cover 13 is on and in a
closed
position, as is known generally. The drainage holes 16 enable water and debris

to drain through during cleaning, including dishwasher cleaning. The drainage
holes 16 are not functional during food processing operations, as they are
isolated from the food product by the seal (described below). The hinge pins
17,
18 correspond to and cooperate with the hinge slots 9, 10 on the bowl 1 so
that
the cover 13 can be removably mounted on the bowl 1 and, while mounted, can
be hingedly opened and closed relative to the bowl 1. A conventional latch
mechanism (not shown) can be provided on the cover 13 opposite the hinges 13
in order to lock the cover 13 closed when locking is desired.
A ring-shaped, bellows seal 19 is attached to the underside of the cover
13. The seal 19 has a circumference that is generally the same as the bowl 1.
Thus, when the cover 13 is closed, the underside of the seal 19 contacts the
upper rim 8 of the bowl 1. The closing of the cover 13 relative to the bowl 1
compresses the seal 19 between the two.
Figures 3A - 30 illustrate the seal 19. In these Drawing Figures the
bellows features, 21 -23, are intentionally removed from sections of the seal
19
for illustrative purposes. They are continuous, in 360 degree fashion. The
bellows shape and material selection of the seal 19 give it spring properties
so
that will compress vertically and then return to shape when released. This
permits the seal to by used in this manner with various bowl configurations.
For
example, a user may use bowls of different heights, or a plurality of nested
bowls, where each different configuration might result in a different rim
height.
Despite this variation in rim height, the seal 19 accommodates each bowl and
seals. The seal 19 is made of a flexible material such as, for example,
silicone or
urethane. A steel reinforcing wire 20 may be embedded or attached to the seal
for added strength. The seal 19 may be attached to the cover 13 by a snap ring

or other means. The seal 19 has a plurality of accordion-like folds, 21-23.
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CA 02714771 2010-09-17
While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been
disclosed herein, it is understood that various modification can be made
without
departing from the scope of the presently claimed invention.
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Representative Drawing