# US 12,329,324 B2 · Food preparation appliance with multi-part attachment part > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,329,324 B2 - Document ID: US12329324B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/847,844 - Filed: 2022-06-23 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2025-06-17 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-14 - Assignees: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH - Applicants: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH - Inventors: Andreas Heynen; Kai Landsecker; Frank Starflinger; Philipp Charopoulos; Sigurd Wojke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12329324B2 ## CPC - A47J 43/0777: {in which the activating element on the cover transmits a signal to a safety device in the base element via the mixing bowl removably seated on this base element, e.g. pin on the cover moves a pushrod in the bowl handle to operate safety switch in the base element} - A47J 43/046: with tools driven from the bottom side - A47J 43/06: with a plurality of interchangeable working units {, e.g. with a single driving-unit} - A47J 43/0722: {Mixing, whipping or cutting tools} - A47J 43/0772: {activated by the proper positioning of the cover} - A47J 43/0783: {activated by the proper positioning of a separate food chute on the cover} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A food preparation appliance includes a food preparation vessel, a lid, an attachment part, a locking device, and a plurality of sensors. The lid may be placed on the food preparation vessel. The attachment part may be placed on the food preparation vessel instead of the lid. The locking device is for locking the lid placed on the food preparation vessel and for locking the attachment part placed on the food preparation vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A food preparation appliance comprising: a food preparation vessel; a lid which can be placed on the food preparation vessel; an attachment part which can be placed on the food preparation vessel instead of the lid, the attachment part comprising a first part and a second part; a base part for receiving the food preparation vessel, the base part comprising a locking device for locking the lid placed on the food preparation vessel and for locking the attachment part placed on the food preparation vessel, wherein, in a locked state, the lid or the attachment part which has been locked to the food preparation vessel cannot be removed from the food preparation vessel; and a sensor which is triggered when the placed lid is locked by the locking device or when the placed attachment part is locked by the locking device, wherein the sensor is not triggered when only one part of the attachment part is placed on the food preparation vessel and locked, and wherein the sensor includes an electrical switch with a rocker arm on which the attachment part rests when the attachment part is placed on the food preparation vessel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the locking device is such that the attachment part in the placed state is moved by the locking from an initial position to an end position, and the sensor is triggered when the attachment part is in the end position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The food preparation appliance of claim 2, wherein the locking device is such that the first part of the attachment part is moved from the initial position to the end position by the locking, and the first part is such that it moves the second part of the attachment part from the initial position to the end position by the locking, and the second part is such that it has triggered the sensor when the second part is in its end position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The food preparation appliance of claim 3, wherein the second part is a container and the first part is a cover for the container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The food preparation appliance of claim 4, wherein the container has on its upper side, at least in sections, a laterally projecting edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The food preparation appliance of claim 5, wherein the sensor is triggered by the projecting edge of the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The food preparation appliance of claim 4, wherein the container comprises on its upper side at least one upwardly and/or laterally projecting handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The food preparation appliance of claim 4, wherein the attachment part includes a rotatable chopping tool for chopping foods, and wherein the chopping tool is arranged or arrangeable relative to the container such that a food, after being chopped by means of the chopping tool, falls down by gravity to be collected in the container of the attachment part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the attachment part is located between two locking elements of the locking device when the attachment part is placed on the food preparation vessel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein a locking element of the locking device is an arm rotatable about its longitudinal axis, wherein the arm can be rotated from an open position to a locking position and back, and wherein the rotatable arm is rotated by an electric drive of the food preparation appliance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable mixing tool for mixing and/or chopping a food in a bottom region of the food preparation vessel, a control unit configured to set the rotational speed for the mixing tool, wherein the control unit is configured to set the rotational speed of the mixing tool at one of at least 2000 revolutions per minute, at least 5000 revolutions per minute, and at least 8000 revolutions per minute. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the attachment part comprises a container and a cover for the container, wherein the cover is configured to be inserted into an opening of a handle of the container when the cover covers the container, and wherein the container comprises a laterally projecting upper edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The food preparation appliance of claim 1, wherein the attachment part is a chopping tool. ### Claim 14 A method for chopping a food using a food preparation appliance, wherein the food preparation appliance includes: a food preparation vessel, a lid which can be placed on the food preparation vessel, an attachment part which can be placed on the food preparation vessel instead of the lid, the attachment part comprising a first part and a second part, a base part for receiving the food preparation vessel, the base part comprising a locking device for locking the lid placed on the food preparation vessel and for locking the attachment part placed on the food preparation vessel, wherein, in a locked state, the lid or the attachment part cannot be removed from the food preparation vessel, a sensor including an electrical switch with a rocker arm on which the attachment part rests when the attachment part is placed on the food preparation vessel, the method comprising: placing the lid or the attachment part on the food preparation vessel of the food preparation appliance; locking, after placing, the lid or the attachment part to the food preparation vessel; triggering the sensor when the lid is locked to the food preparation vessel; not triggering the sensor when only one of the parts of the attachment part is locked to the food preparation vessel; triggering the sensor when both the first part and the second part of the attachment part are locked to the food preparation vessel; and chopping a food using the locked attachment part after the sensor has been triggered. ### Claim 15 A food preparation appliance comprising: a food preparation vessel; a lid which can be placed on the food preparation vessel; an attachment part placeable on the food preparation vessel instead of the lid, the attachment part including a first part and a second part and configured to chop or blend a food in the food preparation vessel; a base part for receiving the food preparation vessel, the base part comprising a locking device for locking the lid placed on the food preparation vessel and for locking the attachment part placed on the food preparation vessel, wherein, in a locked state, the lid or the attachment part which has been locked to the food preparation vessel cannot be removed from the food preparation vessel; and a sensor configured to permit activating the attachment part, in response to both the first part and the second part of the attachment part being placed on the food preparation vessel and locked, and prevent activating the attachment part, in response to only one of the first part and the second part of the attachment part being placed on the food preparation vessel and locked, wherein the sensor includes an electrical switch with a rocker arm on which the attachment part rests when the attachment part is placed on the food preparation vessel.