Abstract
This application is for an improved juicer that can process a foodstuff to produce a juice and a pulp. The improved juicer can prevent the produced pulp from interfering with the functionality of the improved juicer by preventing the pulp from impacting critical areas within the improved juicer. The improved juicer can block the pulp from impacting and disrupting airtight seals that otherwise would allow air to escape and juice to escape during processing. A method of manufacturing the improved juicer is also described.
Claims
1. A juicer for a processing of a foodstuff to produce a pulp and a juice, said juicer comprising: a motor base, said motor base having a motor; a juicer bin with an open top, said juicer bin having: an inner juicer bin wall; and an outer juicer bin wall; wherein said motor base is adapted to receive said juicer bin; a sieve basket, said sieve basket having: a sieve basket bottom; and a sieve wall; wherein said sieve basket is adapted to be coupled with said motor; a juicer bin lid adapted to form a seal with said juicer bin, said juicer bin lid having: a feeding tube; and an inner juicer bin lid wall extending from the bottom of said juicer bin lid; and, a pusher for pushing said foodstuff down said feeding tube during said processing; wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall is positioned to block said pulp produced during said processing from impacting said seal formed by said juicer bin lid and said juicer bin.
2. The juicer according to claim 1, wherein the area inside said inner juicer bin wall defines a juice collection chamber; wherein the area inside said outer juicer bin wall and outside said inner juicer bin wall defines a pulp collection chamber; wherein said inner juicer bin wall is adapted to surround said sieve basket.
3. The juicer according to claim 2, wherein said motor rotates said sieve basket when said sieve basket is coupled to said motor and said motor is operated; wherein said rotation of said sieve basket creates a centrifugal force; wherein said centrifugal force moves said juice produced during said processing through said sieve wall to said juice collection chamber; wherein said centrifugal force moves said pulp produced during said processing to said pulp collection chamber.
4. The juicer according to claim 1, wherein said sieve wall is in a frustoconical shape with a sieve wall bottom end fitted around said sieve basket bottom; and a sieve wall top end with a circumference larger than the circumference of said sieve basket bottom.
5. The juicer according to claim 1, wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall has a circumference larger than the circumference of said inner juicer bin wall; wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall has a circumference smaller than the circumference of said outer juicer bin wall.
6. The juicer according to claim 1, wherein said pusher is fitted to the approximate size and shape of said feeding tube.
7. The juicer according to claim 1, said juicer bin further comprising a spout.
8. The juicer according to claim 7, wherein said spout is an anti-drip spout.
9. The juicer according to claim 1, wherein said sieve basket bottom is grated.
10. The juicer according to claim 1, said juicer bin further comprising a bail handle.
11. The juicer according to claim 10, wherein said bail handle locks said juicer bin lid onto said juicer bin by rotating from a first bail handle position to a second bail handle position.
12. The juicer according to claim 11, whereby moving said bail handle from said first bail handle position to said second bail handle position triggers a microswitch that actuates the motor for operation.
13. The juicer according to claim 12, wherein said first bail handle position being a horizontal bail handle position and said second bail handle position being a vertical bail handle position.
14. The juicer according to claim 1, said juicer further comprising: a motor base adapter, said motor base adapter adapted to enable said motor base to receive said juicer bin.
15. A juicer for a processing of a foodstuff to produce a pulp and a juice, said juicer comprising: a motor base, said motor base having a motor; a juicer bin with an open top, said juicer bin having: a spout; an inner juicer bin wall; and an outer juicer bin wall; wherein said motor base is adapted to receive said juicer bin; wherein the area inside said inner juicer bin wall defines a juice collection chamber; wherein the area inside said outer juicer bin wall and outside said inner juicer bin wall defines a pulp collection chamber; a sieve basket, said sieve basket having: a sieve basket bottom, said sieve basket bottom being grated; and a sieve wall, said sieve wall being in a frustoconical shape with a sieve wall bottom end fitted around said sieve basket bottom and a sieve wall top end with a circumference larger than the circumference of said sieve bottom end; wherein said sieve basket is adapted to be coupled with said motor; wherein said inner juicer bin wall is adapted to surround said sieve basket; wherein said motor rotates said sieve basket when said sieve basket is coupled to said motor and said motor is operated; wherein said rotation of said sieve basket creates a centrifugal force; wherein said centrifugal force moves said juice produced during said processing through said sieve wall to said juice collection chamber; wherein said centrifugal force moves said pulp produced during said processing to said pulp collection chamber; a juicer bin lid adapted to form a seal with said juicer bin, said juicer bin lid having: a feeding tube; and an inner juicer bin lid wall extending from the bottom of said juicer bin lid; wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall has a circumference larger than the circumference of said inner juicer bin wall; wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall has a circumference smaller than the circumference of said outer juicer bin wall; and a pusher for pushing said foodstuff down said feeding tube during said processing; wherein said pusher is fitted to the approximate size and shape of said feeding tube; wherein said inner juicer bin lid wall is positioned to block said pulp produced during said processing from impacting said seal formed by said juicer bin lid and said juicer bin.
16. The juicer according to claim 15, wherein said spout is an anti-drip spout.
17. The juicer according to claim 15, said juicer further comprising a bail handle.
18. The juicer according to claim 17, wherein said bail handle locks said juicer bin lid onto said juicer bin by rotating from a first bail handle position to a second bail handle position; whereby moving said bail handle from said first bail handle position to said second bail handle position triggers a microswitch that actuates the motor for operation.
19. The juicer according to claim 15, said juicer further comprising: a juicer adapter base, said juicer adapter base adapted to enable said motor base to receive said juicer bin.
20. A method of manufacturing a juicer for processing a foodstuff to produce a pulp and a juice and capable of blocking said pulp from interfering with said processing, the method comprising: producing a motor base; producing a juicer bin with an open top; producing a sieve basket with a grated sieve basket bottom; producing a juicer bin lid sized to form a seal with said juicer bin, said juicer bin lid produced to have: a feeding tube; and an inner juicer bin lid wall extending from the bottom of said juicer bin lid for blocking said pulp produced during said processing from interfering with said seal; producing a pusher for pushing said foodstuff down said feeding tube; and manufacturing said motor base, said juicer bin, said sieve basket, said juicer bin lid, and said pusher to be assembled together.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view a first embodiment of an improved juicer.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the improved juicer of FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a front perspective exploded view of the improved juicer of FIG. 1.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a front perspective cutaway view of the improved juicer of FIG. 1.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a juicer bin lid with an inner juicer bin lid wall of the improved juicer of FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the juicer bin lid of FIG. 5.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the juicer bin lid of FIG. 5.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a side perspective cutaway view of the juicer bin lid of FIG. 5.
[0040] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the improved juicer.
[0041] FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the improved juicer of FIG. 9.
[0042] FIG. 11 is a front perspective exploded view of the improved juicer of FIG. 9.
[0043] FIG. 12 is a front perspective cutaway view of the improved juicer of FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] FIGS. 1 through 4 demonstrate a first embodiment of an improved juicer 1 from various perspectives.
[0045] FIG. 1 demonstrates a motor base 2 supporting a juicer bin 10. A bail handle 6 is shown attached to the motor base 2 rotated to a vertical bail handle position where it rests within bail handle rests 39. An actuation dial 8 is shown on the outer surface of the motor base 2 and can be used by a user to control the operation of the improved juicer 1. For example, the actuation dial 8 can activate the motor within the motor base 2 or control the speed of the motor.
[0046] FIG. 1 further demonstrates the juicer bin 10 shown with an outer juicer bin wall 12 that defines the outer surface of the juicer bin 10. Further within the juicer bin 10 is an inner juicer bin wall 14. The volume defined by the space between the outer juicer bin wall 12 and the inner juicer bin wall 14 is the pulp collection chamber 50. The pulp collection chamber 50 is the volume in which pulp produced is collected and stored until later removed and cleaned by a user. The volume defined by the space encompassed by the inner juicer bin wall 14 is the juice collection chamber 52. The juice collection chamber 52 is the volume in which juice produced is collected and stored until a user chooses to withdraw it, such as by actuation of a spout 16. The spout 16 as shown attached to the juicer bin 10 is an anti-drip spout.
[0047] FIG. 1 further demonstrates a sieve basket 20. The sieve basket 20 is shown with a sieve wall 22 in an embodiment with a frustoconical shape. In this form, the sieve basket 20 tapers from an open top end to a sieve basket bottom 24. The sieve wall 22 is shown with various sections that can be a mesh matrix encompassing interwoven materials. For example, the mesh matrix can encompass metal wires of a desired thickness interwoven to create a desired density for a semipermeable surface that allows liquids such as juice to pass through and solids such as pulp to be blocked from passing through. The sieve basket bottom 24 can have designs and materials for processing foodstuff. For example, the sieve basket bottom 24 can be grated, have teeth, have serrated edges, and/or other materials or designs for processing foodstuff. The open top end of the sieve basket 20 is shown to have a sieve basket top lip 26 on top of the sieve wall 22. The volume defined by the space encompassed within the sieve wall 22, sieve basket bottom 24, and sieve basket top lip 26 is the processing area 28. The sieve basket top lip 26 as shown is adjacent to the top surface of the inner juicer bin wall 14. The sieve basket 20 as shown encloses the juice collection chamber 52. Materials moving from the processing area 28 to the juice collection chamber 52 must move through the semipermeable surface of the sieve wall 22.
[0048] FIG. 1 further demonstrates a juicer bin lid 30, a feeding tube 32, an outer juicer bin lid wall 34, an inner juicer bin lid wall 36, and a pusher 40. The juicer bin lid 30 is shown in a resting position on top of the juicer bin 10 at a juicer bin top recess 18 forming a juicer bin seal 54 between the juicer bin lid 30 and the juicer bin 10. The juicer bin seal 54 as shown is airtight so that air does not escape and juice does not leak during foodstuff processing or other activities. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown having a circumference larger than the circumference of the inner juicer bin wall 14 and the circumference of the sieve basket top lip 26. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown with a vertical length that extends below the juicer bin seal 54. The pusher 40 is shown inside the feeding tube 32 in a position extended down such that the bottom of the pusher 40 touches the sieve basket bottom 24. The bail handle rest 39 supports the bail handle 6 when the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, and juicer bin lid 30 are assembled and the bail handle 6 is moved into a vertical bail handle position.
[0049] Foodstuff enters the processing area 28 through feeding tube 32. When the motor in motor base 2 rotates the sieve basket 20, the foodstuff within the processing area 28 (ideally between the sieve basket bottom 24 and the pusher 40) is processed to produce juice and pulp. The rotation of the sieve basket 20 by the motor creates a centrifugal force that projects the processed materials in a radially outwards direction from approximately the center of the sieve basket 20. The produced juice and pulp are projected against the sieve wall 22. The produced liquid juice passes through the sieve mesh of the sieve wall 22 and enters the juice collection chamber 52. The pulp is blocked by the sieve mesh of the sieve wall 22 and does not enter the juice collection chamber 52. Juice remaining in the pulp can be further extracted by the centrifugal force being applied to the pulp to be forced against the sieve wall 22.
[0050] The centrifugal force also projects the pulp out of the sieve basket 20 and into other areas of the juicer bin 10, such as the pulp collection chamber 50. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is positioned such that pulp projected from the sieve basket 20 will impact the inner juicer bin lid wall 36 and fall down into the pulp collection chamber 50. Without the inner juicer bin lid wall 36, the pulp could be projected throughout the juicer bin 10 and the outer juicer bin wall 12. Moreover, the pulp could potentially impact and disrupt airtight seals such as the juicer bin seal 54. Disrupting the juicer bin seal 54 can cause air to escape from the juicer bin 10 and juice to leak. This can cause the loss of valuable juice produced from foodstuff, damage to the machinery, and the spillage of juice and other foodstuff products.
[0051] FIG. 2 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 from a side view perspective. The bail handle 6 is shown in a vertical bail handle position. In this position the bail handle 6 has been rotated upwards or clockwise from a horizontal bail handle position with the bail handle 6 rotating about bail handle pivot points 7 connected to the motor base 2. The bail handle 6 is shown in a vertical bail handle position where it rests within the bail handle rest 39. The bail handle 6 and the bail handle rest 39 in this position secure the assembly of the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, and juicer bin lid 30. Securing the assembly of the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, and juicer bin lid 30 can better ensure the aforementioned assembly remains in place and safe operation of the improved juicer 1. Additionally, the motor base 2 can have one or more microswitches that can be used to enable the motor to be activated. The bail handle 6 can actuate a microswitch that enables the motor to be activated when rotated from a lower horizontal bail handle position to a higher vertical bail handle position. Such a configuration can include multiple microswitches. Such a configuration can also be used with a motor base adapter enabling the motor base 2 and motor to be used with other devices that can actuate one or more microswitches for a similar motor enablement. This can provide additional safety to the improved juicer 1.
[0052] FIG. 3 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 in a front perspective exploded view with the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, sieve basket 20, juicer bin lid 30, and pusher 40 in an assembly order. A motor base coupling 3 is shown on top of the motor base 2 and under the juicer bin 2. The motor base coupling 3 can be coupled with the sieve basket 20 to enable the sieve basket to be rotated by the motor within the motor base 2. Alternatively, a motor base adapter can also be fitted between the motor base coupling 3 and the sieve basket 20.
[0053] FIG. 4 demonstrates a cutaway front perspective view of the improved juicer 1 with the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, sieve basket 20, juicer bin lid 30, and pusher 40 assembled. The springs shown attached to the bail handle pivot points 7 create tension with the bail handle 6 in the vertical bail handle position resting on top of bail handle rest 39. The sieve basket top lip 26 is shown adjacent to the top surface of the inner juicer bin wall 14. The outer juicer bin lid wall 34 is shown fitted inside the outer juicer bin wall 12 at juicer bin top recess 18. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown extending from the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30. The bottom of the inner juicer bin lid wall 36 extends beyond the bottom of the outer juicer bin lid wall 34. The bottom of the inner juicer bin lid wall 36 also extends beyond the top of the inner juicer bin wall 14 and the sieve basket top lip 26.
[0054] FIGS. 5 through 8 demonstrate the juicer bin lid 30 and the inner juicer bin lid wall 36 for blocking pulp as part of the improved juicer 1 shown from various perspectives.
[0055] FIG. 5 demonstrates the juicer bin lid 30 and the feeding tube 32. The juicer bin lid 30 as shown is designed to be rested on top of the juicer bin 10. The outer juicer bin lid wall 34 is shown extending from the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30. The outer juicer bin lid wall 34 is shown with a circumference defining the outer edge of the juicer bin lid 30. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown extending from the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 as shown is designed to block pulp from impacting and interfering with the seal formed between the juicer bin lid 30 and the juicer bin 10. The feeding tube 32 is designed to accept and guide foodstuff such as an apple to the processing area 28 of the improved juicer 1. The feeding tube 32 as shown is complimentary to the pusher 40 for pushing foodstuff down the feeding tube 32. Also shown is a feeding tube guide tab 38 protruding from the inner surface of the feeding tube 32. The feeding tube guide tab 38 guides the pusher 40 down feeding tube 32. The bail handle rest 39 is also shown on the upper and outer surface of the juicer bin lid 30.
[0056] FIG. 6 demonstrates the juicer bin lid 30 from a top perspective view. The feeding tube 32 is shown in the center of the juicer bin lid 30 with feeding tube guide tab 32 protruding from the inner surface of the feeding tube 32. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown with a circumference larger than the circumference of the feeding tube 32. The outer juicer bin lid wall 34 is shown with a circumference larger than the circumference defined by the inner juicer bin lid wall 36. The bail handle rests 39 are shown positioned near the outer juicer bin lid wall 34.
[0057] FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively demonstrate a side perspective view and a side perspective cutaway view of the juicer bin lid 30. The side perspective view of FIG. 3 shows the feeding tube 32 having a vertical length extending from beyond the top surface of the juicer bin lid 30 to beyond the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30. The outer juicer bin lid wall 34 is shown extending from the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30 with a length that does not reach the bottom of the feeding tube 32. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown extending from the bottom surface of the juicer bin lid 30 with a length that is longer than the length of the outer juicer lid wall 34. The inner juicer bin lid wall 36 is shown to also have a length that does not reach the bottom of the feeding tube 32. The side perspective cutaway view of FIG. 8 shows the feeding tube 32, outer juicer bin lid wall 34, inner juicer bin lid wall 36, and feeding tube guide tab 38. The bail handle rest 39 shown in both FIGS. 7 and 8 is near the outer juicer bin lid wall 34. The perspective view of the juicer bin lid 30 between FIGS. 7 and 8 is rotated 90 degrees to better display the feeding tube guide 38 and the bail handle rest 39.
[0058] FIGS. 9 through 12 demonstrate a second embodiment of the improved juicer 1 from various perspectives.
[0059] FIG. 9 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 from a front perspective view. The motor base 2, juicer bin 10, sieve basket 20, juicer bin lid 30, and pusher 40 are shown assembled. An actuation button assembly 9 is shown on the outer surface of the motor base 2 and can be used by a user to control the operation of the improved juicer 1. For example, the actuation button assembly 9 actives the motor within the motor base 2 or control the speed of the motor.
[0060] FIG. 10 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 from a side perspective view. The motor base 2, juicer bin 10, sieve basket 20, juicer bin lid 30, and pusher 40 are shown assembled with the bail handle 6 in a vertical bail handle position within bail handle rest 39. FIG. 11 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 from a front perspective exploded view with the motor base 2, juicer bin 10, sieve basket 20, juicer bin lid 30, and pusher 40 in an assembly order. FIG. 12 demonstrates the improved juicer 1 from a front perspective cutaway view. A narrow pusher 42 and a narrow pusher chute 44 are shown inside the feeding tube 32. The narrow pusher chute 44 narrows the effective cavity area of the feeding tube 32 and the narrow pusher 42 is fitted to push foodstuffs down the pathway created by the narrow pusher chute 44. This assembly can better process smaller foodstuffs such as those significantly narrower than the effective cavity area of the feeding tube 32.
