Single vertical motion feedtube protector and actuator for a food processor

In a food processor of the type including a housing containing an electric motor drive and control means for rendering said motor drive inoperative unless said control means is actuated, a bowl mountable on said housing for surrounding a rotary tool adapted to be driven by said electric motor drive and a removable cover for said bowl, a feedtube forming a passageway for feeding food items into said bowl with a feedtube protector including outer means positionable in a predetermined position relative to the feedtube carrying a food pusher captured in a telescoping relationship with respect to said outer means so that the pusher can be plunged longitudinally into said passageway for pushing food items toward the rotary tool in said bowl, said control means being actuated for rendering said motor drive operative when and only when said cover is properly positioned on said bowl and said outer means of the feedtube protector is positioned in said predetermined position relative to said feedtube, feedtube protector actuating means comprising:

• a laterally extending member pivotally mounted on the cover,
• said member becoming positioned above said control means when the cover is properly positioned on the bowl for becoming operatively associated with said control means when the cover is properly positioned, and
• said outer means including an element attached thereto which engages said pivotal member for swinging said member downwardly during a single downward movement of said outer means into said predetermined position for causing actuation of said control means by a single downward movement of said outer means into said predetermined position and for disengaging from said pivotal member during a single upward movement of said outer means away from said predetermined position for deactuating said control means by a single upward movement of said outer means,
• whereby a one-motion downward or upward movement of the outer means of the feedtube, respectively, into or away from said predetermined position relative to the feedtube controls the operation of the food processor, thereby permitting one-motion opening of the feedtube for convenient loading of the food processor.

In a food processor of the type including a housing containing an electric motor drive and control means for rendering said motor drive inoperative unless said control means is actuated, a bowl mountable on said housing for surrounding a rotary tool adapted to be driven by said electric motor drive and a removable cover for said bowl, a feedtube forming a passageway for feeding food items into said bowl with a feedtube protector including outer means positionable in a predetermined position relative to the feedtube carrying a food pusher captured in a telescoping relationship with respect to said outer means so that the pusher can be plunged longitudinally into said passageway for pushing food items toward the rotary tool in said bowl, said control means being actuated for rendering said motor drive operative when and only when said cover is properly positioned on said bowl and said outer means of the feedtube protector is positioned in said predetermined position relative to said feedtube, feedtube protector actuating means comprising:

• an arm member mounted for pivotal movement in a housing on said removable cover,
• said arm member coming into operative association with said control means when the cover is mounted on the bowl in proper position for operation of the food processor,
• an actuating leg on said outer means,
• said actuating leg engaging said arm member during the downward movement of said outward means to said predetermined position for swinging said arm downwardly for actuating said control means by a single downward movement of said outer means into said predetermined position, and said actuating leg disengaging from said arm member during the upward movement of said outer means away from said predetermined position for swinging said arm upwardly for deactuating said control means by a single upward movement of said outer means away from said predetermined position,
• whereby a one-motion, movement of the outer means of the feedtube into and away from said predetermined position relative to the feedtube controls the operation of the food processor, thereby permitting one-motion opening of the feedtube for convenient loading of the food processor.

A feedtube protector for use in a food processor of the type having an enlarged feedtube forming a food passageway for feeding food items toward a rotary tool in a bowl of the food processor, said feedtube protector comprising:

• an outer sleeve positionable in a predetermined position relative to an enlarged feedtube of a food processor,
• a food pusher captured in telescoping relationship with respect to said outer sleeve which, when said sleeve is in said predetermined position relative to an enlarged feedtube, said food pusher is plungable longitudinally into the food passageway of the feedtube,
• an actuating leg on said outer sleeve adapted to cause actuation of the food processor when said outer sleeve is in said predetermined position relative to an enlarged feedtube,
• and a movable manually releasable latching leg on said outer sleeve for holding said actuating leg in an actuated position until released.

In a food processor having a bowl cover with a feedtube defining a passageway of relatively large cross-sectional area and having control means for rendering the motor drive of the food processor inoperative unless said control means is activated by a member entering into an access opening near said control means and activating said control means, feedtube protector apparatus adapted to be placed into a predetermined position relative to the feedtube for protecting said large passageway from inadvertent entry, said feedtube protector apparatus comprising:

• a member movably mounted on the cover, said member being movable between first and second positions and said member normally remaining in said first position,
• said member entering said access opening near said control means when the cover is mounted in proper position on the bowl,
• outer means having an actuator element mounted thereon which moves said member into said second position for activating the control means when said outer means is placed into a predetermined position relative to the feedtube, and
• said member returning to said first position for deactivating the control means when said outer means is removed from said predetermined position.

In a food processor of the type including a housing containing an electric motor drive and control means for rendering said drive inoperative unless said control means is activated, a bowl mountable on said housing for surrounding a rotary tool adapted to be driven by said drive and a removable cover for said bowl, a feedtube forming a passageway for feeding food items into said bowl with a feedtube protector including outer means positionable in a predetermined position relative to the feedtube, said outer means carrying a captured food pusher so that the pusher can be plunged longitudinally in said passageway for pushing food items toward the rotary tool in said bowl when said outer means is in said predetermined position relative to the feedtube, said control means being activated for rendering said motor drive operative when and only when said cover is mounted in proper position on said bowl and said outer means of the feedtube protector is positioned in said predetermined position relative to the feedtube, feedtube protector actuating means comprising:

• a pivotal member swingable between first and second positions,
• said pivotal member normally being in said first position,
• said pivotal member being operatively associated with said control means when the cover is mounted, and
• said pivotal member being swung from said first into said second position by said outer means of said feedtube protector for causing actuation of said control means by a completion of the downward movement of to said predetermined position,
• said pivotal member being swung back from said second into said first position for deactivation of said control means during upward movement of said outer means, whereby a one-motion movement of the outer means of the feedtube protector into and away from said predetermined position relative to the feedtube controls the operation of the food processor, thereby permitting one-motion opening of the feedtube for convenient loading of the food processor.