Granted Patent B2

US 12,295,526 · App. 17/560,740 · Granted May 13, 2025

Inventors: John K. Barnard (Olmsted Township, OH); Eugene J. Kozlowski (Medina, OH)

Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

A47J43/046A47J43/042

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. A blending system for mixing a product with a blender base comprising:

a blade base comprising a blade and a housing, the blade base housing configured to attach to the blender base;

a removable inner liner comprising a rim, a bottom, and a sidewall extending between the rim and the bottom, the sidewall and the bottom defining an internal cavity, and the inner liner configured to contact the blade base such that the internal cavity is accessible to the blade; and

an outer sleeve configured for receiving the inner liner, the outer sleeve comprising:

an engaging portion configured for releasably coupling to the blade base to secure together the outer sleeve, the inner liner and the blade base; and

an annular shoulder offset from the engaging portion and configured to at least partially surround an exterior of the inner liner and contact the sidewall spaced from the rim when the inner liner is secured together with the outer sleeve and the blade base, the outer sleeve being spaced from the inner liner between the annular shoulder of the outer sleeve and the bottom of the inner liner.

2. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is made from a disposable material.

3. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the sidewall of the inner liner operatively mates with the annular shoulder.

4. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the rim defines an opening and operatively abuts against the blade base.

5. The blending system of claim 4 , wherein the rim is configured to abut against an open top end of the blade base.

6. The blending system of claim 1 , further comprising a reed switch in proximity to at least one recessed portion of the blender base, wherein when at least one interlock tab is engaged with the least one recessed portion of the blender base, a blender motor is engaged.

7. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the inner liner includes a size of at least one of 8, 12, and 16 fluid ounces.

8. The blending system of claim 7 , wherein the outer sleeve is configured to receive the inner liner that includes a size of 8 fluid ounces, 12 fluid ounces, and 16 fluid ounces.

9. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a cavity.

10. The blending system of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a closed end.

11. A blending system, comprising:

a blender base comprising a motor and a motor drive shaft;

a blade base, comprising a blade and a housing, wherein the housing is configured to connect to the blender base and wherein the motor drive shaft is configured to rotate the blade;

a container operatively coupled to the blade base, the container comprising:

an outer sleeve having an inner surface, an annular shoulder, and an engaging portion configured for engagement with the blade base and offset from the annular shoulder; and

a first inner liner and a second inner liner, wherein each of the first inner liner and the second inner liner comprises a wall that extends from a perimeter of a bottom to a rim, the wall defines a cavity to retain foodstuff to be blended,

wherein at least a portion of the wall spaced from the rim frictionally engages against a portion of the annular shoulder of the outer sleeve,

wherein the first inner liner and the second inner liner comprises different volumetric sizes,

wherein the outer sleeve is configured for receiving the first inner liner or the second inner liner, and further configured for releasably coupling to the blade base to secure together the outer sleeve, the first inner liner or the second inner liner and the blade base, and

wherein the outer sleeve is spaced from the first inner liner or the second inner liner between the annular shoulder of the outer sleeve and the bottom of the first inner liner or the second inner liner.

12. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the first inner liner and outer sleeve are not coupled through other mechanisms.

13. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the first inner liner comprises a disposable material and the outer sleeve comprises a different material and is non-disposable.

14. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the first inner liner is operatively threadedly engaged with the outer sleeve and the blade base.

15. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the blender base comprises at least one recess operatively receiving at least one interlock tab.

16. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the first inner liner comprises a release mechanism that includes at least one of a handle attached with the first inner liner, a push button on the outer sleeve, an aperture positioned on the outer sleeve sized to permit access to the first inner liner to disengage the first inner liner from the outer sleeve, or a tab on the first inner liner.

17. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a cavity.

18. The blending system of claim 11 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a closed end.

19. A blending system, comprising:

a blender base comprising a motor;

a blade base comprising blades capable of blending foodstuff;

a container directly and operatively coupled to the blade base, the container having a closed end opposite the blade base such that the container is configured as a drinking vessel and configured to have foodstuff blended therein;

a removable inner liner selectively positionable in the container, the removable inner liner comprising a rim, a bottom, and a sidewall extending between the rim and the bottom, and the removable inner liner configured to have foodstuff blended therein; and

an annular shoulder configured to at least partially surround an exterior of the removable inner liner and contact the sidewall spaced from the rim when the removable inner liner is secured together with the container and the blade base, the container being spaced from the inner liner between the annular shoulder of the outer sleeve and the bottom of the inner liner.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (262)