Food processor

1. A food processor base comprising:

a housing configured to be coupled to a food processor container, wherein the housing is constructed and arranged such that the food processor container is coupleable to the housing:

a motor within the housing, the motor configured to drive a blade assembly within the food process;

a switch within the housing, the switch constructed and arranged to permit activation of the motor; and

wherein the housing includes at least one receptacle having a pathway configured to receive a container actuator of the food processor container, wherein the at least one receptacle includes an open side portion such that the food processor container can be coupled to the base when the container actuator is in both a first retracted position and a second extended position.

2. The food processor base of claim 1 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes an open top portion.

3. The food processor base of claim 1 , wherein the pathway is configured for rotational movement of the container actuator such that the food processor container can be rotatably coupled to the base.

4. The food processor base of claim 1 , in combination with a food processor container.

5. The food processor base and container combination of claim 4 , wherein the container actuator is configured to actuate the switch, the container actuator being moveable between a first position and a second, extended position, wherein the container is coupled to the base and actuator is in the second, extended position, the container actuator is configured to actuate the switch to permit activation of the motor.

6. The food processor base and container combination of claim 5 , further compromising a base actuator positioned within the at least one receptacle, wherein the container actuator is configured to contact the base actuator where the container actuator is in the second, extended position to permit the activation of the motor.

7. The food processor base and container combination of claim 6 , wherein the base actuator has a ramped upper surface.

8. The food processor base and container combination of claim 6 , wherein the base actuator is spring biased in a direction toward the container.

9. The food processor base and container combination of claim 5 , wherein the container actuator is spring biased in the first position.

10. The food processor base and container combination of claim 5 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle, each configured to selectively receive the container actuator such that the container may be rotatably coupled to the base in the first orientation with the container actuator in the first receptacle and in the second orientation with the container actuator in the second receptacle.

11. The food processor base and container combination of claim 4 , further compromising a blade assembly positioned within the container, wherein the blade assembly is configured to rotate when the motor is activated.

12. The food process base and container combination of claim 5 , further comprising a lid configured to be coupled to a top of the container.

13. The food processor base and container combination of claim 12 , wherein the lid has a handle movable between a first position and a second position, and the lid further has a lid actuator, wherein when the lid is coupled to the container, movement of the handle into the second position moves the lid actuator into contact with the container actuator to permit activation of the motor.