In one embodiment of the invention, a blender blade ( 10 ) includes a body portion ( 12 ) having an upper surface ( 15 ) and a lower surface ( 16 ). The body portion includes an aperture ( 13 ) effectively defining an axis of rotation for the blender blade ( 10 ). A first blade wing ( 21 ) extends from the body portion ( 12 ) and has an upper surface ( 23 ) and a lower surface ( 25 ). A second blade ( 22 ) wing extends from the body portion ( 12 ) and has an upper surface ( 24 ) and a lower surface ( 26 ). A leading edge ( 41 ) is provided on the first blade wing ( 21 ) and a leading edge ( 42 ) is provided on the second blade wing ( 22 ), the leading edges ( 41, 42 ) being adapted to cut through a working medium during rotation of the blender blade ( 10 ). At least one wing flap ( 51, 52 ) extending outwardly, selectively from the first blade wing ( 21 ) and the second blade wing ( 22 ).
1. A blender blade for comminuting solid material in a blender pitcher, the blender blade comprising a first wing, a second wing opposed to said first wing, said first wing and said second wing not being coplanar and defining a one-piece metal blade capable of being mounted to the interior base of a blender pitcher for rotation about a vertical axis, a leading edge and a trailing edge located along each said wing, said leading edges facing the direction of rotation for comminuting a solid material, and a wing flap extending downwardly from each said trailing edge at an angle relative to said wing defining a flap angle, said wing flap canted radially inwardly relative to each said leading edge to define a canted angle, wherein said flap angle controls axial flow of said comminuted solid material and said canted angle controls radial flow of said comminuted solid material.
2. A blender blade for comminuting solid material in a blender pitcher, the blender blade comprising a first wing positioned in a substantially horizontal plane, a second wing opposed to said first wing and positioned in a plane angled above said horizontal plane, said first wing and said second wing defining a one-piece metal blade capable of being mounted to the interior base of a blender pitcher for rotation about a vertical axis, a leading edge and a trailing edge located along each said wing, said leading edges facing the direction of rotation for comminuting a solid material, and a wing flap extending downwardly from each said trailing edge at an angle relative to said wing defining a flap angle, said wing flap canted radially inwardly relative to each said leading edge to define a canted angle, wherein said flap angle controls axial flow of said comminuted solid material and said canted angle controls radial flow of said comminuted solid material.