Granted Patent B2

US 10,172,496 · App. 14/549,715 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. A retaining element for coupling a blade assembly to a container of a blender, the retaining element comprising:

a radial surface operatively adjacent to the container;

a main body portion;

an overmolded portion;

a threaded portion for threadably coupling the blade assembly to the retaining element about a rotational axis to couple the blade assembly to the container;

at least one curved protrusion that extends from the main body in a first direction, and

a locking projection extending from the radial surface in a second direction that is opposite the first direction, and configured to inhibit rotation of the retaining element about the rotational axis when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element,

wherein the overmolded portion comprises the locking projection, and

wherein the locking projection operatively extends in a direction towards the container and opposite a splined coupler of the blade assembly.

2. The retaining element of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion comprises steel and the overmolded portion comprises an elastic polymer.

3. The retaining element of claim 1 , wherein the overmolded portion comprises a seal portion configured to provide a seal between the retaining element and the container when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element and the retaining element is rotated in a tightening direction.

4. The retaining element of claim 1 , wherein the locking projection is configured to engage a rib portion of a container when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element.

5. The retaining element of claim 1 , wherein the locking projection is configured to provide greater resistance to rotation of the retaining element in a loosening direction than in a tightening direction of rotation.

6. The retaining element of claim 5 , wherein the locking projection comprises a vertical surface and a sloped surface that is non-vertical and non-horizontal, further wherein the rotational axis defines a vertical direction.

7. The retaining element of claim 6 , wherein the container comprises a rib portion and the vertical surface and sloped surface are configured such that when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element and the retainer element is rotated in the tightening direction, the rib portion will engage the sloped surface and then pass over the vertical surface.

8. The retaining element of claim 7 , wherein the vertical surface and sloped surface are configured such that when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element and the retaining element is rotated in the loosening direction, the rib portion will engage the vertical surface and then pass over the sloped surface.

9. The retaining element of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of locking projections configured to inhibit rotation of the retaining element about the rotational axis when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element.

10. The retaining element of claim 9 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of rib portions and the plurality of locking projections are circumferentially spaced about the rotational axis such that when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element, a subset of the plurality of locking projections will engage the plurality of rib portions simultaneously as the retaining element is rotated about the rotational axis.

11. The retaining element of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of locking projections are circumferentially spaced about the rotational axis such that when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element, at least one of the plurality of locking projections will engage one of the plurality of rib portions as the retaining element is rotated in increments of 7.5°.

12. A retaining element for coupling a blade assembly to a container of a blender, the retaining element comprising:

a main body portion comprising a radial portion and at least one curved protrusion extending from the main body;

an overmolded portion overmolding the at least one curved protrusion of the main body; and

a threaded portion for threadably coupling the blade assembly to the retaining element about a rotational axis to couple the blade assembly to the container,

wherein the overmolded portion comprises a seal portion configured to provide a seal between the retaining element and the container when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element and the retaining element is rotated in a tightening direction,

wherein the at least one curved protrusion is disposed generally coaxial with a rotational axis of the blade assembly; and

wherein the retaining element further comprises a radial surface extending across the radial portion of the main body and wherein the seal portion comprises two annular projections that extend from the radial surface and define an annular groove there between.

13. The retaining element of claim 12 , wherein the overmolded portion further comprises a locking projection extending in a direction generally opposed to the at least one curved protrusion configured to inhibit rotation of the retaining element about the rotational axis when the blade assembly is coupled to the container with the retaining element.

14. The retaining element of claim 12 , wherein the main body portion comprises steel and the overmolded portion comprises an elastic polymer.

Assignments (8)