Field of the invention

This invention relates to a blender jug, as well as to a blender assembly of which the jug forms a part. Background of the invention

Blenders typically include a motorised base onto which a jug is detachably mounted. A set of blades is fitted rotatably to the base of the jug. The motorised base may include a controller with an interface providing a user with a selection of blending options. A speed control is also typically provided. This allows the user to carry out a wide range of blending operations for various recipes for smoothies, soups, granitas, dips, milkshakes and the like.

The performance of the blender is dependent on many variables, including the size and power of the motor, the number and configuration of the blades, and the shape of the jug. Blending performance generally can be improved by using a larger and more powerful motor. However, this may create motor overheating issues, as well as having cost implications. Increasing the number of blades may also improve performance, but this in turn may require a larger, more powerful motor with the associated disadvantages above.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention In one aspect there is provided a blender jug comprising: a base portion; a top portion defining an upper opening; at least three side walls extending upwardly from the base portion towards the top portion; a handle extending from an outer portion of the jug; a chamfered portion extending between adjacent side walls; and a supplementary upwardly extending and inwardly projecting rib carried on the chamfered portion.

Four side walls may extend upwardly from the base portion towards the top portion.

In one form of the invention, at least one inwardly projecting rib extends upwardly along at least one of the inner faces of at least one of the side walls. An inwardly projecting rib may extend upwardly along an inner face of each of the side walls.

At least one of the ribs, such as the supplementary rib, may extend closer to the center axis of the jug than the other ribs.

The four side walls may be joined by four rounded corners and the ribs may extend upwardly along the inner faces of each of the side walls mid-way between the corners.

The handle may be recessed and may extend over the chamfered portion, and the pouring spout may be defined by a corner portion opposite the handle.

The handle may have opposite ends joined to or adjacent an outer face of the

chamfered portion. The ribs and the supplementary ribs may have a delta-shaped profile.

The supplementary rib may taper outwardly at an angle of 1 -5 degrees from the vertical, more specifically at an angle of 2.5-3.5 degrees from the vertical.

The chamfered portion may be formed with an inner substantially planar face, which may taper outwardly at an angle of 1 -5 degrees, or 2.5-3.5 degrees from the vertical. The chamfered portion may taper outwardly at substantially the same angle as the supplementary rib.

The length of the chamfered portion may be 30-40% of the length of each of the wall portions. Faces of the supplementary rib may be angled at 60 degrees to 80 degrees relative to one another, and the supplementary rib may project 8-12 mm from the chamfered portion.

The blender jug may include a blade assembly mounted rotatably to the base portion of the jug. There is further provided a blender jug comprising: a base portion; a top portion defining an upper opening; at least three side walls extending upwardly from the base portion towards the top portion; a handle extending from an outer portion of the jug; at least one rib projecting inwardly and upwardly along at least one of the inner faces of at least one of the side walls; and at least one supplementary rib projecting inwardly and upwardly from a corner portion between the side walls, wherein the supplementary rib projects further towards a central axis of the jug than the at least one rib.

There is also provided a blender assembly including a blender jug as described above and a motorised blender base to which the blender jug is detachably mountable, the blender base including a user interface for controlling operation of the blender assembly. As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of a first embodiment of a blender assembly;

Figure 2 shows a top plan view of a first embodiment of a blender jug; Figure 3 shows a cross sectional side view along the line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side view of the blender jug; Figure 5 shows a cross sectional plan view along the line D-D of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows a top plan view of a second embodiment of a blender jug; Figure 7 shows a top plan view of a third embodiment of a blender jug; Figure 8 shows a top plan view of a fourth embodiment of a blender jug; and Figure 9 shows a top plan view of a fifth embodiment of a blender jug. Referring first to Figure 1 , a blender assembly 10 comprises a motorised base 12 upon which a blender jug 14 is detachably mounted. The motorised base 12 carries a motor, with output power typically ranging between 1200 and 2400 watts, and includes a controller having a control panel 16. The control panel 16 includes a variable speed dial 18 for varying the speed of the motor, say, from 4000-15000 rpm. An array of buttons 20 is situated above the dial 18 and allows the user to select a range of preprogrammed functions such as "slow start", "smoothie" and "ice-crush". The jug 14 is typically moulded from a tough transparent plastics material such as BPA-free co- polyester sold by the Eastman Chemical Company under the brand Tritan™. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the jug may be formed from a range of other suitable transparent plastics materials, as well as glass. An integral handle 22 projects from one corner 24 of the jug, which has a substantially square profile with four side walls 26, 28, 30 and 32 and corresponding rounded corners 24, 34, 36 and 38. The jug 14 has an uppermost rim 40, with the rim and corner 36 defining a pouring spout opposite the handle 22.

Figures 2 and 3 show further details of the jug 14. A blade assembly 42 extends through an aperture defined in a socket portion 44 in a base wall 46 of the jug. The blade assembly 42 includes a four-way blade 48 carried on a shaft 50 which is journalled to a shaft mount 52. The shaft 50 terminates in a splined coupler 54 which mates with the corresponding splined socket (not shown) carried on a shaft of the motor in the motorised base 12. The four-way blade 48 comprises two opposed major blades 56 and two opposed minor blades 58 in a cruciform configuration. It can clearly be seen from Figure 3 how the minor blades 58 are angled upwardly more steeply than the major blades 56. The jug 14 is formed with a peripheral skirt which projects below the level of the base wall portion 46 and defines a recess for accommodating an upper portion of the motorised base 12. As is clear from Figure 2, ribs 60, 62, 64 and 66 extend upwardly and project outwardly from the inner surfaces of the respective walls 32, 26, 28 and 30. Each of the ribs are located mid-way along the respective side walls, and have a delta-shaped profile, with side faces 68 and 70 meeting at a curved apex 72. The included angle between the side faces 68 and 70 decreases from 137 degrees at the base of each rib to 70 degrees at the top of each rib, which terminates short of the rim 40 to permit the accommodation of a lid.

A chamfered portion 74 extends across the corner portion 24 from side wall 32 to side wall 26. As is clear from Figure 3 the chamfered portion defines a recessed wall 76 with which opposite ends of the handle 22 are integrally moulded. The recessed handle provides the advantage of a jug with a smaller footprint, which is always desirable in the case of countertop appliances where space is at a premium. A supplementary rib 78 projects from the chamfered portion 74. The rib 78 similarly has a delta- or arrowhead-shaped profile, with side faces 80 and 82 meeting at a radiused apex 84 at substantially constant angle of approximately 72 degrees which is greater than the average angle of the other four ribs. It will be appreciated that the angle could vary from 60-85 degrees, preferably 65-80 degrees, more preferably 70-75 degrees. The supplementary rib 78 commences just above the base wall 46, and terminates at 86, just above the level of the other ribs. The supplementary rib 84 tapers outwardly at an angle of 3-3.5 degrees to the vertical. The other ribs also taper outwardly, but at angle of 1 .5 degrees. As can be seen in Figure 2, the major blades 56 describe a sweep or circular locus which is approximately 10 millimetres from the ribs 60, 62, 64 and 66, and 7 millimetres from the supplementary rib 78. It will be appreciated that variations in distance are possible, say from 9-1 1 mm from the ribs and 6-8 mm from the supplementary rib, with the supplementary rib generally being closer to the major blades. As can be seen in Figure 3 the base wall has a substantially flat surface lying directly beneath the locus of the blade assembly. Upwardly curved portions 88 transition between the base wall and the side walls.

Tests

A series of tests was conducted using the Sunbeam PB 9800 production blender and the Prototype Studio jug which represented a modified version of the PB9800 with the insertion of the chamfered portion and supplementary rib. 300 grams of carrots were chopped into chunks of approximate size 15 mm and were deposited in each of the blenders being tested together with 500 grams of water. The blenders were activated for 10 seconds at 15000 rpm. The blended carrots were then passed through a sieve having an average square hole size of 1 .5 mm. The results are set out in the table below. Sunbeam Prototype Prototype with Prototype

PB9800 Studio Jug minimal chamfer Studio Jug with Production with 4 draft and variable 6 Blades

Blender Blades rib projection

1 2 3 4

% carrots that

passed through 91 .3.% 97.3% 70.1 % 73.7%

sieve

Peak Power 1278 W 1272 W

during 1 cycle

carrot test

(3/5 jug capacity

water, 2/5

chopped carrot)

Average Power 870 W 900 W

During 1 cycle

of carrot test

It is clear from the results that the Prototype Studio jug with 4 blades (column 2) which had a configuration substantially the same as illustrated in Figures 1 -5 produced the best overall results with 97.3% of blended carrots passing through the sieve. The peak power drawn through one cycle of the test was 1272 watts and the average power during the cycle of the test was 900 watts. This was not significantly in excess of the 870 watts which was the average power consumed for one cycle of the test using a production model Sunbeam PB9800 blender. It was found that adding additional blades to the prototype jug for a total of 6 blades decreased performance to 73.7% (column 4). In addition, altering the draft or angle of taper of the surface of the chamfered face as well as the supplementary rib also decreased the performance to 70.1 % (column 3).

Referring now to Figure 6, a second embodiment of a blender jug 90 is shown having a six-sided hexagonal profile with a hexagonal base 92 and six side walls 34, 96, 98, 100, 102 and 104 extending upwardly from the base 92. A chamfered portion extends between the side walls 94 and 96, with a supplementary rib 108 projecting from the chamfered portion. Intermediate ribs 1 10 project upwardly and outwardly mid-way along each of the side walls 94 to 104. It can clearly be seen how the supplementary rib 108 is angled more steeply and projects further towards a central axis of the jug and closer to the four-way blade 48 than the intermediate ribs 1 10. A handle 1 12 projects from a corner portion 1 14 of the jug between the side walls 104 and 94. Alternatively, the handle 1 12 may project from corner portion 1 16 adjacent to the chamfered portion 106 so that the handle can be recessed as per the first embodiment, with the jug having a smaller footprint. Referring now to Figure 7, a further embodiment of a hexagonal jug 1 18 is shown which is substantially identical to the jug 90 of Figure 6, save that there are no intermediate ribs formed on the side walls 94 and 96. It will be appreciated that the number of intermediate ribs may be varied over and above the embodiments that have been illustrated. For example, more or fewer intermediate ribs may be provided on the side walls.

Referring now to Figure 8, a further embodiment of a blender jug 120 is shown which has similar square configuration to the jug of Figures 1 -4. However, in addition to chamfered portion 74 and corresponding supplementary rib 78, further chamfered portions and supplementary ribs 74.1 and 78.1 , 74.2 and 78.2, and 74.3 and 78.3 are provided at each of the respective corner portions 38, 36 and 34 of the jug. The supplementary ribs may be radiused rather than pointed, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the supplementary ribs 78, 78.1 , 78.2 and 78.3 extend further towards the central axis and four-way blade 42 than do the intermediate ribs 68, 66, 64 and 62.

It will be appreciated that the number of chamfered portions and corresponding supplementary ribs may be varied so that a total of 1 -4 chamfered portions and corresponding ribs may be provided. In addition, chamfered portions may be provided without ribs. For example, in a variation of the jug 120 of Figure 8, one or more of the ribs 78.1 , 78.2 and 78.3 may be eliminated so that only the chamfered portions are present. It will also be appreciated that the number of intermediate ribs 62, 64, 66 and 68 may be varied, from no intermediate ribs being provided to, for example, two intermediate ribs per wall being provided for each side wall of the jug.

Referring now to Figure 9, a still further embodiment of a blender jug 122 is shown which has a substantially triangular configuration, with three side walls 125, 125.1 and 125.2 projecting upwardly from a triangular base 126. A chamfered portion 106.1 extends between adjacent side walls 125 and 125.2 across corner portion 126, with a supplementary rib 108.1 extending inwardly from the chamfered portion 106.1 . Handle 1 12 extends outwardly from the corner portion 126 over the chamfered portion 106.1 so that it may be recessed relative to the corner portion 126 and provide a smaller foot-print for the jug. The jug may be formed with a pouring spout (not shown) opposite the handle 1 12 midway along the wall 125.1 . Intermediate ribs 124 extend inwardly from the walls 125, 125.1 and 125.2 and are located midway along each wall. It will be appreciated that the number and location of the intermediate ribs may be varied. For example, each of the walls 125, 125.1 and 125.2 may carry from 0-3 inwardly projecting ribs. In addition, chamfered portions similar to chamfered portions 106.1 may extend between adjacent walls 125 and 125.1 , as well as between walls 125.1 and 125.2. Each chamfered portion may optionally be provided with a supplementary rib similar to supplementary rib 108.1 .

It will be appreciated that further variations are possible. For example, more or less than four blades may be provided. It will also be appreciated that the chamfer is not confined to a chamfer having an internal planar face. Curved or concave faces may also be provided, with the result that the supplementary rib will project further inwards. A drawback of this embodiment is that the handle cannot be recessed as far. With the provision of substantially concave faces the supplementary rib may effectively extend from a corner rather than a chamfered portion.

In addition, the number of ribs may vary from zero per wall to one or two or even three per wall. At least one of the ribs, typically the supplementary rib, may be closer to the central axis of the jug than the other ribs.

Further, the top portion of the jug may be formed with a circular, oval or teardrop- shaped profile, with the multi-sided lower portion of the jug transitioning to this profile.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.