Blending blade
An improved blade assembly is provided for use in a cooking appliance such as a blender or a food processor. The bottom blade portions of the blade assembly include a geometry that provides an angled, sharpened portion on wing portions that extend downwardly from the bottom blade. The bottom blade's geometry, including the sharpened portions, help rotate the material so that it is blended upwardly to help prevent food from getting stuck in the void below the bottom blade, thus improving the blade's efficiency.
1. A blade assembly comprising:
a top blade;
a middle blade positioned below the top blade; and
a bottom blade positioned below the middle blade, the bottom blade comprising:
a flat base portion; and
first and second wing portions extending downwardly and outwardly from the base portion, wherein the first and second wing portions each include:
a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge includes an angled sharpened portion,
a proximal segment, wherein the proximal segment is bent at a first angle within a first range of 50 degrees to 80 degrees relative to a horizontal longitudinal axis of the blade assembly, and
a distal segment, wherein the distal segment is bent at a second angle within a second range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the blade assembly.
2. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the angled sharpened portion has an upward angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
3. The blade assembly of claim 2 , wherein the angled sharpened portion has an upward angle of 45 degrees.
4. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the leading edge is straight and the trailing edge is curved.
5. The blade assembly of claim 4 , wherein the trailing edge includes a first curvature on a proximal end thereof and a second curvature on a distal end thereof.
6. The blade assembly of claim 4 , wherein a radius of curvature of the trailing edge is from 0.240 to 0.290 inches.
7. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is 64 degrees and the second angle is 30 degrees.
8. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second wing portions have a proximal segment adjacent to the base portion, and wherein the first and second wing portions further include a connection segment connecting the proximal segment and the distal segment.
9. The blade assembly of claim 8 , wherein an angle formed between a sidewall of the base portion adjacent the leading edge of the bottom blade and the connection portion is from 70 degrees to 100 degrees.
10. The blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first wing portion opposes the second wing portion along a central vertical axis of the blade assembly.
11. A blending system comprising the blade assembly of claim 1 coupled to a rotatable shaft.
12. A blade stack for use in an appliance, the blade stack comprising:
a rotatable shaft;
a first blade in connection with the shaft;
a second blade in connection with the shaft, the second blade positioned below the first blade;
a third blade in connection with the shaft, the third blade positioned below the second blade, the third blade comprising:
a flat base portion; and
two wing portions, each wing portion extending downwardly from an end portion of the flat base portion and each wing portion including:
a proximal segment, wherein the proximal segment is bent at a first angle within a first range of 50 degrees to 80 degrees relative to a horizontal longitudinal axis of the blade assembly, and
a distal segment, wherein the distal segment is bent at a second angle within a second range of 15 degrees to 45 degrees relative to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the blade assembly, and
a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge includes an angled sharpened portion at a third angle within a third range of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
13. The blade stack of claim 12 , wherein the first blade comprises a flat base portion, and the second blade comprises a flat base portion, and wherein the base portions of the first, second, and third blades are parallel such that a lower face of the base portion of the first blade abuts an upper face of the base portion of the second blade, and an upper face of the base portion of the third blade abuts a lower face of the base portion of the second blade.
14. The blade stack of claim 12 , wherein the second blade is S-shaped.
15. The blade stack of claim 12 , wherein the first blade comprises a flat base portion and first and second wing portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the base portion.
16. The blade stack of claim 12 , wherein the angled sharpened portion has an angle of 45 degrees.
17. The blade stack of claim 12 , wherein the leading edge is straight and the trailing edge is curved.
18. The blade stack of claim 17 , wherein the trailing edge includes a first curvature on a proximal end thereof and a second curvature on a distal end thereof.