IP Library Granted Patent US 7,878,021
Granted Patent B2
US 7,878,021 · App. 11/816,118 · Granted Feb 1, 2011

Simplified ice-cream maker

Assignee: Seb S.A.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,878,021
App. No.
11/816,118
Granted
Feb 1, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ice-cream maker including a blade ( 30 a ) arranged in a double-walled container ( 20 a ), and a housing ( 1 ) containing a driving mechanism ( 10 ) that can generate a blade-rotating movement ( 30 a ) in relation to the double-walled container ( 20 a ), the double-walled container ( 20 a ) being composed of an external wall ( 23 ) and an internal wall ( 24 ) defining a housing ( 25 ) containing a phase changing mixture having a fusion range extending at least partially below 0° C. The inner wall ( 24 ) forms a vat ( 26 ), and the blade ( 301 a ; 30 b ′) is used to scrape the inner wall ( 24; 24 ′). The blade ( 30 a ) forms a spoon.

Claims (45)

1. Ice-cream maker comprising:

a double-walled container;

a blade arranged in said container; and

a case containing a drive mechanism adapted to generate a rotational movement of the blade relative to the double-walled container,

the double-walled container having an outside wall and an internal wall, the outside wall and internal wall defining a housing containing a phase changing mixture having a melting range extending at least partially below 0° C.,

the internal wall forming a vat having a central axis, said vat having a lower half that presents an annular path,

the blade being provided to scrape clean the internal wall and the blade having a handle and a concave part connected to the handle and disposed at least partially in the vat, wherein the concave part forms a spoon having a bowl to obtain and taste the frozen preparation, wherein the blade presents an end configured to scrape clean the annular path, and

the handle being mounted in a position that is eccentric relative to the central axis of the vat, and only one lateral edge of the blade being placed in proximity to the internal wall of the container.

2. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the concave part presents two symmetrical lateral edges.

3. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein:

the case forms a base and has a support organ extending above the base;

the drive mechanism includes a drive output arranged on the base and cooperating with a drive organ for rotating the double-walled container; and

the handle is mounted on the support organ.

4. Ice-cream maker comprising:

a double-walled container;

a blade arranged in the double-walled container; and

a case containing a drive mechanism adapted to generate a rotational movement of the double-walled container, the double-walled container having an outside wall and an internal wall, the outside wall and an internal wall defining a housing containing a phase changing mixture having a melting range extending at least partially below 0° C., the internal wall forming a vat, the blade being provided to scrape clean the internal wall, the case forming a base, and the drive mechanism including a drive output arranged on the base and cooperating with a drive organ of the double-walled container, wherein the case includes a support organ extending above the base, the blade is mounted on the support organ, and the blade is blocked against rotation relative to the support organ, wherein the support organ comprises a work retaining conformation and the blade has a handle adapted to be engaged in the work retaining conformation, the work retaining conformation and the handle are configured to block the handle in position transversely and axially relative to the work retaining conformation, and further wherein the drive mechanism engages the container to rotate the container about an axis, and the handle is engaged in the work retaining conformation transversely relative to the axis of rotation of the container.

5. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the support organ is formed by a support arm.

6. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the case presents with respect to the base a lateral opening provided for the installation and removal of the double-walled container.

7. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the case presents with respect to the base an upper opening provided for the installation and removal of the blade.

8. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the blade presents a form conjugated to the form of the internal wall.

9. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the blade is oriented in the double-walled container with an angle (A) that is acute relative to the perpendicular to the internal wall.

10. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the outside wall and the internal wall are made of plastic.

11. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the volume of the vat is less than or equal to 200 ml.

12. Ice-cream maker according to claim 11 , wherein the volume of the vat is comprised between 80 and 120 ml.

13. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , further comprising a second double-walled container and a second blade arranged in the second double-walled container, and wherein the drive mechanism is adapted to produce a rotational movement of the second blade relative to the second double-walled container.

14. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is associated with a motor arranged in the case.

15. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the blade is mounted in a position that is eccentric relative to the double-walled container.

16. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the blade presents a form conjugated to the form of the internal wall.

17. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein a lower half of the vat presents an annular path and the blade presents an end configured to scrape clean the annular path.

18. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the blade is oriented in the double-walled container with an angle (A) that is acute relative to the perpendicular to the internal wall.

19. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the handle comprises means for blocking the blade axially relative to the case.

20. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the handle comprises means for blocking the blade transversely relative to the case.

21. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the volume of the vat is less than or equal to 200 ml.

22. Ice-cream maker according to claim 21 , wherein the volume of the vat is comprised between 80 and 120 ml.

23. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein said ice-cream maker further comprises a second blade arranged in a second double-walled container, and the drive mechanism is adapted to produce a rotational movement of the second blade relative to the second double-walled container.

24. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the drive mechanism is associated with a motor arranged in the case.

25. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said container is open at the top while ice cream is being made.

26. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said case is constructed to allow observation by a user of the production of ice cream in said container.

27. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said case is constructed to allow said container to be inserted into said case when said blade is removed from said container, without requiring any disassembly of said case.

28. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said blade is supported by said case.

29. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said double-walled container is arranged on said case, and said drive mechanism is adapted to drive said double-walled contained in rotation.

30. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein said blade forms a spoon having a bowl.

31. Ice-cream maker according to claim 4 , wherein the work retaining conformation has a side opening allowing insertion of the handle in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the container.

32. Ice-cream maker according to claim 1 , wherein said vat has a bottom and said annular path forms part of said bottom and has a concave form.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2008
From: PERRIER, MATTHIEU; ROUCHES, ALEXANDRE; CYPRES, REGIS; FIEDOS, HERVE
To: SEB S.A.
Reel/Frame 020780/0864 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 05 01573 · Feb 16, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080282723A1 · Nov 20, 2008