IP Library Granted Patent US 12,349,840
Granted Patent B2
US 12,349,840 · App. 17/285,668 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

In-container inductive heating for a blender

Inventors: Mark Fleming (Olmsted Township, OH); Saifur Tareen (Wadsworth, OH)
Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
A47J43/0716A47J27/004A47J36/321A47J43/0465A47J43/085H05B6/10H05B6/108H05B6/109H05B6/12A47J2202/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,349,840
App. No.
17/285,668
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A blending system includes a container or housing, a blade assembly, and an insert are described herein. The insert is disposed in or on the container or housing. The blade assembly includes a drive shaft. The drive shaft is rotatable. A magnet is attached to the drive shaft. Rotation of the magnet induces current in the insert. The current induces heat.

Claims (34)

1. A blending system for blending foodstuff, comprising:

a blender base having a motor;

a container selectively attachable to the blender base;

a blade assembly operatively attached to the container, the blade assembly comprising a drive shaft that is operatively driven by the motor to blend the foodstuff; and

an insert embedded within the container, wherein rotation of the drive shaft operatively induces current within the insert.

2. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises at least one blade, and wherein the blade is magnetized.

3. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises at least one magnet operatively attached to the drive shaft.

4. The blending system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wireless communication device.

5. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the insert is hermetically sealed.

6. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a clutch configured to selectively induce heat in the insert by driving the drive shaft.

7. The blending system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor.

8. The blending system of claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

9. A blending system for blending foodstuff, comprising:

a blender base having a motor;

a container selectively attachable to the blender base;

a blade assembly operatively attached to the container, the blade assembly comprising a drive shaft that is operatively driven by the motor to blend the foodstuff; and

an insert embedded within the container, wherein rotation of the drive shaft relative to the insert operatively induces heat in the container.

10. The blending system of claim 9 , wherein the insert is magnetized.

11. The blending system of claim 9 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises at least one blade, and wherein the blade is magnetized.

12. The blending system of claim 9 , further comprising at least one wireless communication device.

13. The blending system of claim 9 , wherein the insert is hermetically sealed.

14. The blending system of claim 9 , further comprising at least one sensor.

15. The blending system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor is a temperature sensor.

16. The blending system of claim 9 , wherein the container further comprises a clutch configured to selectively induce heat in the insert by driving the drive shaft.

17. A blender container for blending foodstuff, comprising:

a container body having at least one sidewall defining a cavity;

a lid operatively attachable to the container body;

a blade assembly disposed within the cavity, the blade assembly comprising one or more blades and a rotatable drive shaft, wherein the rotatable drive shaft drives the one or more blades to blend the foodstuff contained in the blender container; and

an insert disposed within the blender container, wherein rotation of the rotatable drive shaft operatively induces current within the insert.

18. The blender container of claim 17 , wherein the blade assembly comprises at least one magnetized blade.

19. The blender container of claim 17 , wherein the blade assembly further comprises at least one magnet operatively coupled to the drive shaft.

20. The blender container of claim 17 , wherein the container further comprises a clutch capable of selectively coupling the insert to the rotatable drive shaft.

21. The blender container of claim 17 , wherein at least one blade of the blade assembly is configured to interact with the insert to inductively heat foodstuff within the cavity.

22. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein at least one blade of the blade assembly is configured to interact with the insert to inductively heat foodstuff within the container.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2023
From: TAREEN, SAIFUR
To: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064609/0320 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: FLEMING, MARK
To: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064420/0715 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064425/0099 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62745543 · Oct 15, 2018
Provisional Application 62779852 · Dec 14, 2018
Related Publication 20210315421A1 · Oct 14, 2021
References Cited (17)
US 1008622A · Thomson · 1911 [cited by examiner]
US 2585255A · Kocner et al. · 1952 [cited by applicant]
US 2912552A · Baermann · 1959 [cited by applicant]
US 3085142A · Baermann · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3294946A · Baermann · 1966 [cited by examiner]
US 3742178A · Harnden, Jr. · 1973 [cited by examiner]
US 3742179A · Harnden · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 4600821A · Fichtner · 1986 [cited by examiner]
US 4678881A · Griffith · 1987 [cited by examiner]
US 5012060A · Gerard et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 20020141285A1 · Williams et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20100326284A1 · Volz · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20170071413A1 · Park · 2017 [cited by examiner]
CN 106580134A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
GB 2572937A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015106762A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion mailed Jan. 13, 2020; International Application No. PCT/US2019/056256 filed on Oct. 15, 2019. ISA/US. [cited by applicant]