Blending apparatus and methods
AssigneeIdeya Labs, LLC
InventorsThomas D. Dickson, Jr., C. David Voorhees, Javier E. Jimenez, Tyson D. Triplett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Blending devices can be used to blend material in a container such as a reusable container or a disposable liner, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a reusable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter. In further instances, the reusable container can selectively couple a liner or multiple different sizes of liners to the adapter. The food product can be blended within the liner without any of the food product coming into contact with an interior of the container.
Claims28
A blending apparatus comprising:
- a container comprising an interior surface that defines a chamber;
- a blender base comprising a motor;
- an adapter configured to be releasably coupled with the container and the blender base, the adapter comprising:
- a blade assembly configured to interface with and be actuated by the motor when the adapter is coupled with the blender base;
- and
- a connection interface configured to cooperate with a connection interface of the container to couple the adapter with the container;
- and
- a sealing member;
- wherein the blending apparatus is configured to operate in either a direct blending mode or a lined blending mode;
- wherein, in the direct blending mode, a food product is positioned within the chamber of the container, the container is pressed against the sealing member to form a liquid-tight seal, and the food product comes into contact with the interior surface of the container as the food product is blended via the blade assembly;
- wherein, in the lined blending mode, a disposable liner is positioned within the chamber of the container, the container presses the liner into contact with the sealing member to form a liquid-tight seal, and the liquid-tight seal prevents the food product from coming into contact with the interior surface of the container;
- and
- wherein, the adapter comprises a sidewall that is positioned between an open end of the container and a blade portion of the blade assembly when the container is coupled with the adapter, the sidewall being configured to shield the liquid-tight seal.
A method of blending a food product, the method comprising:
- providing a blending apparatus configured to operate in either a direct blending mode or a lined blending mode, the lined blending mode comprising:
- inserting a liner into a chamber defined by an interior surface of a container, the liner comprising an exterior surface and the container comprising an interior surface;
- coupling the container and the liner to an adapter that comprises a blade assembly, wherein the liner includes the food product therein when coupled with the adapter;
- coupling the adapter to a blender base comprising a motor, the adapter comprising a connection interface configured to cooperate with a connection interface of the container to couple the adapter with the container;
- pressing the liner into contact with a sealing member via the container to form a fluid-tight seal to prevent fluid communication between a region between the exterior surface of the liner and the interior surface of the container;
- and
- actuating the blade assembly via the motor of the blender base to blend the food product without introducing any portion of the food product into the region between the exterior surface of the liner and the interior surface of the container;
- wherein the adapter comprises a sidewall that is positioned between an open end of the container and a blade portion of the blade assembly when the container is coupled with the adapter, the sidewall being configured to shield the fluid-tight seal;
- wherein, in the direct blending mode, a food product is positioned within the chamber of the container, the container is pressed against the sealing member to form a liquid-tight seal, and the food product comes into contact with the interior surface of the container as the food product is blended via the blade assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.