BLENDER CONTROL PANEL
A control panel for a blender assembly is shown and described. The control panel may include a body integrated with controls. The body may also be integrated with circuitry, such as a printed circuit board. The controls may interact with the printed circuit board to control operation of the blender assembly.
1 . A control panel for a blender assembly, the control panel comprising:
a body comprising a first side and a second side;
at least one input/output device operatively disposed at the first side; and
at least one connection port operatively disposed at the second side, wherein the connection comport operatively couples to a blender base of the blender assembly.
2 . The control panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a printed circuit board coupled to the body at the second side.
3 . The control panel of claim 2 , wherein the printed circuit board is in operative communication with the at least one input/output device.
4 . The control panel of claim 2 , wherein the printed circuit board is operatively coupled to the at least one connection port.
5 . The control panel of claim 2 , wherein the printed circuit board is in operative communication with the at least one input/output device.
6 . The control panel of claim 2 , further comprising at least one tack switch extending from the printed circuit board.
7 . The control panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input/output device comprises at least one switch.
8 . The control panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input/output device comprises at least one knob.
9 . The control panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input/output device comprises at least one touch sensor.
10 . A control panel for a blender assembly comprising a motor, the control panel comprising:
a body comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is exposed when the body is operatively attached to the blender assembly;
at least one input/output device disposed on the first side; and
a printed circuit board disposed on the second side and in communication with the at least one input/output device,
wherein the at least one input/output device controls operation of the motor.
11 . The control panel of claim 10 , wherein the printed circuit board comprises a first connection port operatively electrically connecting the printed circuit board to the motor.
12 . The control panel of claim 11 , wherein the printed circuit board comprises a second connection port operatively electrically connecting the printed circuit board to the at least one input/output device.
13 . The control panel of claim 10 , wherein the at least one input/output device comprises a touch screen.
14 . The control panel of claim 10 , wherein the at least one input/output device comprises an interchangeable input/output device.
15 . A blender comprising:
a motor operatively coupled to a mixing member;
a housing operatively enclosing at least a portion of the motor;
a control panel operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the control panel comprises:
at least one input/output device; and
a printed circuit board in operative communication with the at least one input/output device, the printed circuit board comprising an electrical connector that operatively connects the printed circuit board to the motor.
16 . The blender of claim 15 , wherein the at least one input/output device controls operation of the motor.
17 . The blender of claim 16 , wherein the at least one input/output device controls a speed of motor.
18 . The blender of claim 16 , wherein the at least one input/output device controls a mode of the motor.
19 . The control panel of claim 16 , further comprising at least one gasket operatively disposed between the control panel and the blender housing.
20 . The control panel of claim 19 , wherein the gasket comprises an elastomeric material.