The invention generally relates to techniques for blending food and beverages, and in particular techniques for producing blended products from pre-packed capsules.

There are many machines in both the home and commercial environments that are specially designed to make the preparation of a number of food and drink products quick and simple for a user. Examples of well-known machines that are designed for specific food preparation tasks include toasters and coffee machines.

However, there are still some areas of food and drink preparation which do not have dedicated machines designed specifically for the task. One of these areas is the preparation of smoothies. A smoothie is typically a thick beverage consisting of fresh fruit, vegetables and/or other foodstuff pureed with ice cream, yoghurt, milk, fruit juice, water and/or other liquid.

At present, smoothies are generally prepared using some form of blending apparatus. Current blending apparatuses generally comprise a base, a removable jug with a lid, and a blade. The base of the general blender will house a high speed motor which is used to drive the blades. The removable jug is attached to the base using any suitable attachment means, such as being screwed on to the base. The jug includes a set of blades inside the jug at the base of the jug. The blades are typically wide and flat so that they extend horizontally across a large portion of the base of the jug. Power from the motor is transmitted from the base to the blades using a suitable coupling arrangement. Typically, the blade is coupled to the motor via a gear. The gear of the blade engages with a corresponding gear that is attached to a drive shaft. The drive shaft transmits the power from the motor to the blades. The gear on the blade will be shaped to complement the gear on the drive shaft so that they fit together snuggly. In use, the ingredients are added to the jug and the jug is sealed with a lid. The motor will then turn the gear on the drive shaft which will turn the gear on the blade, causing the blades to rotate. A set of controls on the base of the blender allows the user to adjust the speed of the blade.

The traditional method of making smoothies using current blending apparatuses involves blending a variety of ingredients together in a jug. This involves finding the appropriate ingredients which then need to be washed, peeled and cut up into suitable sized pieces for blending. Once the smoothie has been made, there are many pieces of equipment to wash and put away, including the preparation utensils, the blender and all its parts, as well as the cup containing the finished smoothie. Thus, the traditional method of making a smoothie may take up to 5 minutes and involve 12 to 14 different steps.

The demand for healthy, freshly made smoothies is currently on the rise. However, making smoothies remains a difficult and complex task, particularly in environments which are not designed for food preparation; it is messy, requires the preparation of many ingredients, can be wasteful, and is also time consuming as there are many steps during preparation, making the smoothie, and cleaning up afterwards.

Many businesses (cafes, bars, restaurants, gyms, retail outlets, work places etc.) are therefore facing a challenge when it comes to smoothie making. Businesses know there is already significant demand for smoothies and there are significant profit margins to be made selling them. However most businesses do not have the time, expertise, staff, or physical space to be able to make them on a large scale. As a result many businesses have chosen not to sell smoothies as it is not commercially viable. Businesses that do try and provide smoothies often find they are committing more resources than is necessary in order to produce a suitable product. In addition, the current method of making a smoothie requires a specific blender, designed for making smoothies. In order for a business to produce large quantities of smoothies they will need to have several smoothie makers available. This may be expensive and take up a lot of valuable surface space.

As a result, there is a need for a device that is able to produce blended food products quickly and easily. There is also a need for a device that is able to produce blended food products in conjunction with a pre-existing blender, reducing the overall equipment needed to make a blended food product.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a blade assembly

comprising:

a blade configured for blending consumable products;

a cap arranged to be detachably connected to a neck of a container;

an engagement means configured for engagement with a rotating component of a blending apparatus; and

a shaft passing through the cap which connects the blade to the engagement means, wherein the blade comprises at least one pivotable arm. The present invention may provide the advantage that, by providing a blade assembly which can attach to the neck of a container and engage with a blending apparatus, it may be possible to blend the consumable product within the container. Furthermore, by providing the blade with at least one pivotable arm, it may be possible to insert the blade into a container with a narrow neck, such as a standard PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle. This can allow pre-packaged containers of consumable products, such as food and/or drink products, to be blended using an existing blender, without the need for the products to be emptied into a separate jug.

The blade may further comprise a hinge portion, and the at least one arm may be arranged to pivot about the hinge portion. In this case the hinge portion may be attached to the shaft.

The at least one arm may be configured to unfold from a closed position to an open position. This may allow the blade to be inserted into the container, and then open up once inserted. The closed position may be, for example, substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, while the open position may be substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Thus, the arm may be configured to pivot through an angle of substantially 90 °. This arrangement may allow the blade to be inserted through an narrow opening, while also providing a relatively wide blade for blending. However, depending on the circumstances and the size of the container with which the blade assembly is to be used, it may be possible for the arm to pivot through angles other than 90°, for example, angles less than 90°.

Preferably the blade is arranged to be inside the container when the cap is connected to the container. For example, the blade may be at a point inside the container which is beyond the neck of the container. This may facilitate blending of the consumable product inside the container.

Preferably the blade is spaced axially from the engagement means. For example, where the blade comprises a hinge portion, the hinge portion may be spaced away from the cap such that, when the cap is attached to the neck of a container, the hinge portion is located at a position inside the container which is beyond the neck of the container. Thus, the shaft may have a length which is approximately equal to or greater than the length of the neck of the container. This may allow the pivot point of the arm to be inside the container, which may allow the arm to pivot from a closed position to an open position once the blade has been inserted. Preferably the blade comprises at least two pivotable arms. For example, the blade may comprise two pivotable arms positioned substantially opposite each other. In this case each arm may be arranged to pivot about a hinge portion. This may help to ensure that the blade is balanced, and may facilitate the blending process by providing a plurality of cutting surfaces. Alternatively, the blade may comprise some other number of arms, such as three, four or more, each of which may be arranged to pivot about a hinge portion. Each arm may be substantially the same or different to each other.

The cap may be arranged to connect to the container using a connection mechanism which is also used to connect a lid to the container. For example, the cap may comprise a screw thread arranged for engagement with a screw thread on the neck of the container. This can allow the blade assembly to be used with a standard container such as a bottle which already has a connection mechanism for connecting a lid.

The screw thread on the cap may be an internal screw thread. This may allow the cap to screw onto a container having a neck with an external screw thread, such as a bottle. For example, the screw thread on the cap may be arranged for engagement with a container comprising a 42mm neck or a 65mm neck (which are standard bottle sizes), although it will be appreciated that other sizes could be used instead.

The engagement means may comprise a gear or any other suitable coupling means for coupling the blade assembly to an impeller, such as that of a blender.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blending system comprising a container and a blade assembly in any of the forms described above.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blending system comprising: a container pre-packaged with a consumable product, the container comprising an opening arranged to be sealed with a container lid; and

a blade assembly, the blade assembly comprising:

a cap arranged to be detachably connected to the container to seal the opening; a blade configured for blending the consumable product;

an engagement mechanism configured for engagement with a rotating

component of a blending apparatus; and a shaft passing through the cap which connects the blade to the engagement mechanism.

This aspect of the invention may provide the advantage that a pre-packaged consumable product in a container may be blended in the container without spillage and without the need to transfer the product to a separate jug.

In this aspect of the invention, the blade may take various different forms. For example, the blade may comprise a strip of material arranged in a loop. Alternatively, the blade may comprise at least one pivotable arm, for example, in any of the forms described above.

Preferably the container is a container for storing, blending, and consuming food and beverage products. The container may have a neck, and the cap may be arranged to be detachably connected to the neck of the container. For example, the container may be a bottle, such as a standard PET bottle.

The container may comprise a connection mechanism for connecting the lid to the container, and the cap may be arranged to connect to the container using the same connection

mechanism. For example, the container may comprise a threaded neck, and the cap may comprise a screw thread for engagement with the threaded neck. This may allow a standard container such as a bottle to be used without the need to provide a separate connection mechanism for the blade assembly.

Preferably, once the blade assembly has been attached to the container, a sealed unit is formed. This may help to prevent leakage of the product during blending.

At least part of the container may be substantially frustoconical in shape. For example, the container may have a neck, a shoulder, and side walls which taper inwards away from the neck. This may facilitate blending by providing a greater volume of product for the blade to move through, in comparison to a cylindrical container. Furthermore, tapered sidewalls may help to ensure that a frozen product remains in place when the container is inverted.

The container may comprise at least one disruptive feature, such as an interior ridge or groove. This may facilitate blending, by introducing turbulence. The blending system may further comprise a container lid, which may be arranged to seal the container during storage and transport of the product.

The blending system may further comprise an adapter configured to be detachably coupled to a base of a blender. The adapter may be configured to support the container during attachment of the blending system to a blender. By using an adaptor to support the container, it may be possible to use a standard container such as a bottle which is not specifically designed to be used with the blender.

The adapter may comprise a base at one end of the adapter, a support frame at another end of the adapter and at least one wall connecting the base to the support frame. The adapter may be configured to surround a portion of the driving mechanism in a base of a blender. The adapter may be coupled to a base of a blender using a screw mechanism.

The blending system may further comprise a removable insert. The removable insert may be arranged to be inserted into the container such that, when the container is inverted and frozen, the insert passes through the consumable product. This may provide a hole in the product once the insert is removed, which may facilitate insertion of a liquid and/or the blade into the container.

This aspect of the invention may also be provided independently, and thus, according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blending system comprising:

a container pre-packaged with a consumable product, the container comprising an opening arranged to be sealed with a container lid; and

a removable insert, the removable insert arranged such that when the container is inverted, the insert passes through the consumable product.

By "inverted" it is preferably meant that the container is orientated with the opening or neck at the bottom. In this state the product may sink under gravity towards the end of the container with the opening.

Preferably the system is arranged such that, when the consumable product is frozen and the insert removed, a hole is left through the consumable product. The hole may allow the insertion of a liquid and/or the blade into the container. The blade may comprise at least one pivotable arm, and the blade may be arranged to be inserted into the hole with the arm in a closed position. The blade may be arranged such that the pivotable arm opens under centrifugal force during rotation, thereby coming into contact with the frozen product. This may allow the blade to shave or grind the frozen product.

Advantageously, the centrifugal force may push the arm against the product with a considerable force that may help in the process of shaving or grinding the frozen product. Furthermore, this configuration may also help to retain the frozen product and avoid it moving around inside the container.

Preferably the removable insert comprises a tapered main body. For example, the main body may taper inwards as it extends into the container away from the opening. This may facilitate removal of the insert, in particular from a frozen product. For example, the main body may be substantially conical or frustoconical in shape. However, the main body may be some other shape, such as cylindrical.

The removable insert may comprise a flange to prevent complete insertion of the insert into the container. The flange may engage with a neck of the container.

Corresponding methods may also be provided. Thus, according to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of blending a consumable product, the method comprising: connecting a blade assembly in any of the forms described above to a container containing the consumable product;

engaging the engagement means of the blade assembly with a rotating component of a blending apparatus; and

rotating the blade using the blending apparatus.

Preferably, when the blade rotates, at least one pivotable arm pivots from a closed position to an open position under centrifugal force.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of blending a

consumable product, the method comprising:

providing a container pre-packaged with the consumable product, the container comprising an opening sealed with a container lid;

removing the container lid;

connecting a blade assembly to the container, the blade assembly comprising: a cap arranged to be detachably connected to the container to seal the opening; a blade configured for blending the consumable product;

an engagement mechanism configured for engagement with a rotating

component of a blending apparatus; and

a shaft passing through the cap which connects the blade to the engagement mechanism ;

engaging the engagement mechanism with a blending apparatus; and

blending the consumable product with the blade.

The container may comprise a removable insert, and the method may further comprising freezing the consumable product, and removing the insert to leave a hole through the consumable product. The method may further comprise inserting liquid into the container through the hole. The method may further comprise inserting the blade into the hole, and blending the consumable product with the blade.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a blade assembly comprising a blade configured for blending food and/or liquid products, a cap arranged to be detachably connected to a neck of a container, an engagement means configured for engagement with a rotating component of a blending apparatus, and a shaft passing through the cap which connects the blade to the engagement means.

In this specification, a blended food product is preferably a blend of at least one solid and at least one liquid food product. Blended food products include products such as smoothies, soups, and shakes.

The present invention may provide the advantage that the blade assembly can be used to blend products within a container, such as a bottle. This may provide the advantage that the blended food product may be made inside the container which contains the raw ingredients for the blended food product. This can allow pre-packaged containers of food products to be blended without the need for the food products to be emptied into a separate jug. An important advantage of some embodiments of the invention is that the product may be blended inside the container even if the product is frozen and forms a single block of frozen product. Furthermore, the motor of a pre-existing blending apparatus already owned by a user may be used to drive the blade of the blade assembly. This means that a user can use a piece of equipment that they already own to power a blade, rather than needing to buy additional equipment for different tasks. Thus, the motor of one blending apparatus can be used for multiple functions, and a preexisting blending apparatus may be used to blend product contained within the container.

The cap may comprise a screw thread arranged for engagement with a screw thread on the neck on a container. This may allow the blade assembly to screw onto a container with a threaded neck, such as a bottle. The screw thread on the cap may be an internal screw thread, in order to allow the cap to screw on to an external screw thread on the container. Preferably the screw thread on the cap is arranged for engagement with the neck of a standard bottle, such as a 42mm neck or a 65mm neck, although any other size of bottle neck may be used instead. This may provide a convenient way of attaching the blade assembly to the container, and may allow a standard container, such as a standard bottle, to be used. However other fastening mechanisms, such as a bayonet mount, may be used instead, and the blade assembly may be used with containers other than standard bottles.

The blade may be arranged to be inside the container when the cap is connected to the container. This may allow the blended food product to be produced inside the container rather than needing to transfer the raw ingredients from the container to another separate container that is suitable for blending.

The engagement means may be a gear, or any other suitable coupling means. The

engagement means may be provided in different versions that are able to engage with the main makes and models of blending apparatus so that the blade assembly may be connected to any blender that a user might already own.

The blade may comprise a base, a tip, and at least one arm configured to connect the base to the tip. The connected base, tip, and at least one arm may define an enclosed area. In one embodiment the blade may be formed from a strip of material such as metal arranged in a loop. This may allow the blade to cover a larger volume of space. This may improve the blending process as the blade may be able to come into contact with a greater portion of the food and/or liquid products.

The blade may have an elongated shape. Thus the length of the blade is preferably greater than its width. For example, the length of the blade may be at least 1 .5 times or at least twice the width of the blade. Preferably the length of the blade is at least 50% or at least 75% of the length of the container with which it is to be used. Using a long blade may provide a large cutting surface which will help break up the food and beverage products. Using a long blade may also help ensure that the entire length of the container is used for blending. This may provide the advantage that the depth of the liquid is substantially the same as the length of the blade which, in turn, may provide the advantage that the tip of the blade reaches the surface of the liquid product to be blended. Ensuring that the tip of the blade reaches the surface of the liquid may allow the food products at the surface of the liquid to be agitated throughout the blending process, reducing the likelihood of food products near the surface of the liquid remaining stationary. A long blade may also provide the advantage that blending is achieved along substantially the entire length of the container. Thus the blended food product is blended as a whole instead of in sections. Thus, a long blade may ensure that all the ingredients are blended properly, improving the blending process.

The blade may have a substantially oval shape. The at least one arm of the blade may be curved. The blade may have a convex shape.

The base of the blade may comprise at least one partial rotation. The partial rotation may be a rotation of substantially 180 °, although a rotation of less than or more than this amount could be used instead. The partial rotation may be in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. The base of the blade may comprise at least one complete rotation. The base of the blade may have a propeller-like construction. This may help the blade draw liquid towards the base of the blade which will help ensure that all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.

The blade is preferably made of a strong, rigid material, such as metal, although other materials such as plastic could be used instead. Using a rigid material may help the blade withstand high rotation speeds without deforming.

The blade may be a single continuous piece of material. Using a single, continuous piece of material to construct the blade may help reduce the number of potential weak points in the blade which may help make the blade stronger.

The blade may further comprise at least one reinforcing rod. Reinforcing structures may help prevent the blade from deforming during the blending process.

Preferably the tip of the blade may be rounded, although the tip may be other suitable shapes such as pointed or flat. Preferably the blade may comprise a smooth surface with no sharp edges. This design may allow the blade to be grabbed by the user's hand without risk of injury. A simple, smooth design may also help ensure that the fibre of the fruit and vegetables does not get tangled in the blade. This may improve the ease with which the blade may be cleaned up after the blended food product has been made.

The at least one arm may comprise a front edge and a rear edge. Preferably the front and rear edges may be tapered or bevelled. Tapered or bevelled edges may help the arms of the blade break up the frozen food products.

The at least one arm may be flat. Preferably the at least one arm comprises at least one partial rotation. The partial rotation may be a rotation of substantially 180 °, although rotations of more than or less than this amount could be used instead. The partial rotation may be in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. The at least one arm may comprise at least one complete rotation. The rotation may help draw liquid towards the blade during the blending process.

In one embodiment the blade may be coupled to the shaft using a screw thread or any other suitably firm coupling mechanism such as a snap fit mechanism. This may provide a secure means of attaching the blade to the blade assembly. This may ensure that a large proportion of the rotational movement of the shaft is transferred to the blade. This may also ensure that the blade is secured firmly to the rotation mechanism which may help to reduce the risk of injury.

In another embodiment the blade may be coupled to the shaft of the blade assembly using a hinge. Preferably the at least one arm may be coupled to the shaft of the blade assembly using a hinge joint. Thus, the at least one arm is configured to pivot about the base of the blade. The at least one arm may be configured to pivot about the base through an angle of approximately 90° (for example, at least 80 ° or 85° and/or less than 100 ° or 95°). The at least one arm may unfold about the base from a closed position, initial position to an open, operative position. This may provide the advantage that when the blade is not in use, the blade is slim and when the blade is in use, the blade becomes much wider. This may allow the blade to be inserted into blending containers that have relatively narrow openings.

The blade may comprise two arms. The two arms may be configured to pivot about the base. The two arms may be positioned substantially opposite each other. The length of each arm may be substantially the same. Preferably the length of each arm is at least 50% or at least 75% of the radius of the container with which it is to be used. Using a blade with longer arms may help ensure that the entire width of the container is used for blending. Longer arms may also provide a larger cutting surface which may help ensure that all the ingredients are blended, improving the blending process.

The blade assembly may comprise a bearing. The bearing may be a ball bearing. The bearing may be a bush. The bearing may be any other suitable mechanism. The presence of a bearing may allow the blade and engagement mechanism to rotate independently of the cap.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a blending system comprising a container and a blade assembly in any of the forms described above. The container is preferably a bottle, and may be a standard, mass produced bottle such as a PET bottle. The container may be pre-packaged with at least some of the products that are to be blended. Preferably the container has a threaded neck. For example, the container may have a standard threaded neck, such as a 42mm neck or a 65mm neck.

The blending system may further comprise an adapter configured to be detachably coupled to a base of blender. The adapter may be configured to guide the container and engagement means during attachment with a blender. This provides the advantage that only one container, or capsule, is needed for storing the blended food product ingredients, producing the blended food product, and consuming the end product. This configuration may also provide the advantage that a blended food product can be made in the same container, or capsule, that contains the raw ingredients for the blended food product. Thus this may greatly reduce the amount of equipment needed to make blended food products. This may also provide the advantage that a blender already owned by the user may be used instead of requiring the user to purchase bespoke equipment. The adapter may help ensure that a container and blade assembly are connected correctly to a base of a blender. If the blade assembly and blender base are not connected properly then there may be an increased risk of injury to the user. In addition, the blender may not be able to transfer power efficiently to the blade assembly.

Preferably the container has a generally conical shape, although any other suitable shape could be used instead. For a given volume of liquid, a container with a relatively wide base and a relatively narrow opening may have a reduced depth compared to a container with a constant cross section throughout its length. Therefore a conical shaped container may facilitate insertion of a blade compared to a rectangular shaped container as there is less liquid for the blade to move through. When the conical container is inverted the depth of the liquid may be relatively higher compared to a container with a constant cross section throughout its length. This may help ensure that the blade is submerged so that the full length of the blade is used for blending.

The container may comprise a base and an opening wherein the opening is substantially opposite the base. The container may comprise at least one wall. The at least one wall may be configured to connect the base of the container to the opening of the container. The container may comprise a plurality of walls. Preferably the at least one wall comprises at least one disruptive feature. The disruptive feature may comprise at least one groove. The disruptive feature may comprise at least one protrusion. The at least one protrusion and/or groove may be formed along the entire length of the container. The at least one protrusion and/or groove may be formed along a portion of the length of the container. The at least one protrusion and/or groove may form at least one horizontal ring around the circumference of the container. The at least one protrusion and/or groove may be vertical. The disruptive features may help create turbulences within the liquid because the movement of liquid will be interrupted when it reaches the disruptive features. The disruptive features may therefore help improve the blending process.

If a blade assembly is attached to the container a sealed unit may be formed. The container may comprise a lid. The lid may allow the user to seal the container, once the blended food product has been made inside the container, and save the blended food product for later. This may provide the advantage that the user does not have to find another, separate container into which to pour the blended flood product. The blended food product may be consumed directly from the container. The lid may also provide the advantage that the frozen raw ingredients may be transported within the container. This may reduce the need for separate containers for transporting the ingredients of the blended food product and making the blended food product.

The container may be configured to blend the contents of the container in an inverted position. The blade of the blade assembly may be configured to blend the contents of a container while the container is in an inverted position.

The container may have at least one marker on an external surface of the container. The container may have two markers on an external surface of the container. The at least one marker may be used to indicate the maximum and/or minimum level of liquid to add to the container for making a blended food product. The at least one marker may help the user adjust the consistency of the blended food product.

The container may be configured for storing, blending, and consuming the food and drink products. This may provide that advantage that the user does not need to use many different, separate containers to prepare the blended food product, blend the product, and consume the end product. One container may be used to carry out all three functions. This may reduce the amount of overall equipment used, which may also reduce the complexity of the task of producing a blended food product.

The adapter may comprise a base at one end of the adapter, a support frame at another end of the adapter, and at least one wall connecting the base to the support frame.

Preferably the adapter is configured to surround a portion of the driving mechanism in a base of a blender. For example, the adapter may be cylindrical in shape although any other suitable shape may be used instead. The adapter may be a jug although any other suitable device may be used. This may allow the adapter to act as a safety shield preventing the user from accidently coming into contact with moving parts of a blender.

In one embodiment the base of the adapter may comprise screw holes. The screw holes may be positioned on the adapter base so that they line up with screw threads present on a base of the blender. This may allow a screw to pass through the screw thread in the adapter base and the blender base. Thus, the adapter may be screwed onto a base onto a base of a blender. In some embodiments the base of the adapter may comprise an external screw thread in order to allow the base of the adapter to screw on to an internal screw thread on a base of a blender. Other suitable detachable coupling means may be used instead such as a bayonet mount.

The detachable coupling means on the adapter may be provided in different versions that are able to couple to any existing blender using the coupling mechanism already present on the base of the blender. This may provide the advantage that the adapter may be connected to any blender that a user might already own. A detachable coupling mechanism may allow the user to remove the adapter from a base of a blender when the user is not using the adapter to make blended food products. Thus the adapter may be attached and removed as necessary. The base of the adapter may comprise an internal perimeter shaped to correspond to an external perimeter of a blade assembly. Preferably the base of the adapter comprises an internal perimeter shaped to correspond to an external perimeter of a cap of the blade assembly. For example, the internal perimeter of the base of the adapter may be hexagonal, although the internal perimeter of the base of the adapter may be any other shape, such as rectangular. This may provide the advantage that the blade assembly is held firmly in place by the adapter base. Thus, the blade assembly will not be able to rotate inside the base of the adapter during the blending process.

Preferably, the support frame of the adapter comprises an internal perimeter shaped to correspond to an external perimeter of a container. For example the internal perimeter of the support frame of the adapter may be rectangular, although the internal perimeter of the support frame may be any other shape. This may provide the advantage that a container is held firmly in place by the adapter which may prevent the container from rotating during the blending process.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of blending food and/or drink products comprising the steps of providing a container containing food and/or drink products, providing a blade assembly in any of the forms described above, connecting the blade assembly to a neck of the container, and engaging the engagement means of the blade assembly with a rotating component of a blending apparatus. This may provide the advantage that only one container, or capsule, is needed for storing the blended food product ingredients, producing the blended food product, and consuming the end product. Thus this may greatly reduce the amount of equipment needed to make blended food products. The process of making a blended food product may also be quicker as the user does not need to wash and prepare the ingredients for the blended food product as they are already pre-prepared in the container. Thus, the overall time to prepare blended food products may be reduced from a 5 minute, 12 to 14 step process to a 30 second, 4 to 5 step process. Thus, as well as being quicker, the process of making a smoothie may be much simpler for the user to carry out.

The method may further comprise the steps of providing an adapter, and connecting the adapter to a base of a blender, wherein the adapter guides the container and engagement means during attachment with the blender. The steps of storing, blending, and consuming the food and drink products may take place within the container. This may provide the advantage that only one container is needed for storing the ingredients for the blended food product, producing the blended food product, and consuming the blended food product.

Features of one aspect of the invention may be provided with any other aspect. Apparatus features may be provided with method aspects and vice versa.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figu -e 1 i s front view of a capsule;

Figu -e 2 i s a perspective view of a capsule containing food products for blending;

Figu -e 3 i s an exploded view of a blade assembly;

Figu 'e 4 i s a perspective view of a blade assembly and a capsule;

Figu 'e 5 i s a cross sectional view of a blade assembly and a capsule;

Figu -e 6 i s a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a capsule;

Figu ^■ el\ s a schematic view of a capsule and a blade assembly;

Figu -e 8 i s a schematic view of a capsule and a blade assembly;

Figu -e 9 i s a perspective view of a blending apparatus;

Figu -e 10

Figu -e 1 1

Figu -e 12

Figu -e 13

Figu -e 14

Figu -e 15

invention;

Figu -e 16 is a

Figu -e 17 is a

Figu -e 18 is a

Figu -e 19 is a

Figu -e 20 is a

Figu -e 21 is a

Figu -e 22 is a

Figu -e 23 is a Figure 24 is a cross sectional view of a blending apparatus;

Figures 25a-c are cross sectional views of an alternative embodiment of a blade;

Figure 26 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a blade;

Figure 27 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a blade;

Figure 28 is a partial view of an alternative embodiment of a blade;

Figure 29 is shows a cross section through a container in another embodiment;

Figure 30 shows a view of the container prior to insertion an insert;

Figure 32 shows the container after it has been inverted and frozen;

Figure 33 shows the container with the insert removed;

Figure 34 illustrates a process of pouring liquid into the container;

Figure 35 illustrates a blade assembly and container prior to connection;

Figure 36 illustrates a blending system with a blade assembly connected to the container;

Figure 37 illustrates the container and blade assembly as the blade is rotated;

Figure 38 and 39 show an example of a pivotable arm ; and

Figure 40 illustrates a process of cutting ice and evacuating the flakes.

Overview

Smoothie consumption is on the rise, so much so that interest in smoothies in the UK has grown by a factor of 4 in recent years. However current techniques for making smoothies are messy, time consuming, require many ingredients and are wasteful. The problem is acute for businesses given that making smoothies absorbs precious staff time and space, and many forgo selling smoothies for this very reason.

The challenge for businesses is that they know their customers would like to buy smoothies and there are significant profit margins in selling them, but either they do not have the time, expertise, staff and/or physical real estate space to be able to make them or they are currently committing more resources to making smoothies than they need to.

Embodiments of the present invention provide correctly portioned, pre-packed capsules of frozen fruit and vegetables and a specialist blending machine that allow consumers and businesses alike to make a range of healthy smoothies quickly, easily and cleanly. This can greatly simplify the smoothie making process for businesses and consumers alike by providing healthy freshly made smoothies in locations which previously were not able to provide them due to lack of time, space or resources. The techniques disclosed herein apply new technologies to an existing area (traditionally blending ingredients in a jug to make smoothies). The focus of the present disclosure is a novel capsule, blade and adaptor. This consists of a pre-portioned capsule of frozen fruit and/or vegetables, which takes a novel screw-in blade. This is then inserted into an existing blender using an adapter.

The new product disclosed herein may reduce traditional smoothie blending (taking up to 5 minutes and involving 12 to 14 different steps) to a 30 second, 4 to 5 step process. The novel design concept is less complex and more effective than existing equivalents - an order of magnitude lower cost and easier to use.

Existing solutions to the problem involve dedicated machines that are expensive to develop, and which sell at a high unit cost. That creates a barrier of entrance for adoption. By contrast, embodiments of the present invention provide a system that:

• is cheap to develop and manufacture;

• is easy to adopt, use, and learn;

• is cheap to buy;

• solves most of the problem at low cost.

In embodiments of the present invention a supply of containers, or capsules, containing foodstuffs are used to make blended food products. The capsules can be attached to any blender base using a specially designed blade assembly and adapter.

In embodiments of the present invention, the general process of making a blended food product consists of providing a pre-portioned capsule of frozen fruit and/or vegetables, onto which is attached a blade assembly. The blade assembly and capsule are then inserted into an existing blender using the help of an adapter.

The first step of the process is to attach the adapter to the blender. The adapter serves several functions, such as holding the capsule in place during the blending process and acting as a safety shield so that the user's hands cannot come into contact with the blade. As there are many different brands of blender, a different adapter will be available for each major brand of blender. As the adapter is not permanently attached to the blender it can be attached and removed as necessary, allowing the existing blender to be used for many different purposes.

The next step of the process is to open the pre-packed capsule and add the liquid which will form the smoothie. The user will be able to see through the walls of the capsule so that they know how much liquid they are adding. This will help the user adjust the thickness of the smoothie to their taste.

Once the liquid has been added, the blade is inserted into the capsule and connected to the capsule.

The capsule and connected blade can then be connected to the existing blender using the adapter to guide the blade and capsule into the correct position. The user can then turn the blender on and wait for the smoothie to be produced.

Once the blending has finished, the capsule and connected blade are disconnected from the blender. The blade can then be disconnected from the capsule and the smoothie is ready to drink from the capsule, pour into a glass, or sealed with a lid and taken away.

The only part that needs to be cleaned after the smoothie has been made is the blade. This can simply be rinsed under the tap and it is ready to be used again to make another smoothie. Thus, if a user wants to make a large number of smoothies they can simply reattach the blade to a new pre-packed capsule and connect it to the existing blender. Unlike with current smoothie making methods, there is no need to wash the capsule and prepare additional ingredients. The pre-packed capsules are already suitably prepared. Preparing smoothies in large volumes is therefore very quick and simple.

Blending system

Figure 1 shows an example of a capsule 6 for use in embodiments of the invention. The capsule 6 is a bottle with an opening 1 1 at one end and a base 30 at another end. The capsule has a neck 46 at the end comprising the opening 1 1 . The capsule 6 may be a plastic bottle, and may be made of PET or any other suitable material. The capsule 6 is preferably made of a material that is cheap to produce and is capable of being recycled. The capsule 6 may be manufactured using standard processes and technology, for example by blow moulding. The capsule 6 may, in some embodiments, have the shape of a standard off the shelf water bottle, or it may have a uniquely designed shape.

With reference to Figure 2, the capsule 6 has a lid 10 which can be secured to the capsule 6, forming a sealed unit. A screw thread 51 is present on the external perimeter 50 of the capsule opening 1 1 and on the internal perimeter of the lid 10. This allows the lid 10 to be screwed onto the opening 1 1 of the capsule 6. In alternative embodiments, the lid 10 may be secured to the capsule opening 1 1 using any other appropriate mechanism, such as push fit mechanism.

The capsule 6 is used to store and transport individually portioned, pre-packed fruit and vegetables which will make up the ingredients of the blended food product. Figure 2 illustrates a capsule 6 containing pre-packed fresh fruit and vegetables but IQF (individually quick frozen) foods may be used instead.

The capsule 6 may be rectangular or cylindrical in shape. In an alternative embodiment, the capsule 6 may be substantially conical in shape, as illustrated in Figures 6-8.

With reference to Figures 3 to 8, the blended food products are blended inside the capsule 6 using a blade 8. The blade 8 is attached to the capsule 6 using a blade assembly 100, which can be seen in Figure 3. The blade assembly 100 includes a blade 8 and a cap 16. The cap 16 is used to connect the blade assembly to the capsule 6. The blade assembly 100 also includes an engagement mechanism 32. The engagement mechanism 32 is used to connect the blade assembly 100 to the driving mechanism of a blender, which will power the blade 8.

The blade 8 is attached to one side of the cap 16 and the engagement mechanism 32 is attached to the other side of the cap 16, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The blade 8 is attached to the cap 16 using a shaft 66. The shaft 66 has a first end 67 and a second end 69. The blade has a base 17 at one end of the blade 8. The first end of the shaft 67 is firmly attached to the base of the blade 17. The first end of the shaft 67 is attached to the base of the blade 17 using a screw thread. Other suitable attachment mechanisms may also be used, for example a snap fit mechanism.

The length of the shaft 66 is determined by the length of the neck 46 of the capsule 6. At one end of the neck 46 is a shoulder portion. Here, the diameter of the capsule 6 dramatically increases to form the main body of the capsule 6. The length of the shaft 66 needs to ensure that the blade 6 will be positioned in the main internal body of the capsule 6, past the shoulder, so that there is sufficient room for the blade 8 to blend the frozen ingredients. A longer shaft 66 will allow the blade 8 to be inserted further into the main body of the capsule 6.

The second end of the shaft 69 is firmly attached to the engagement mechanism 32. Any suitable attachment mechanism may be used to attach the second end of the shaft 69 to the engagement mechanism 32, such as a snap fit mechanism or a screw thread. The attachment mechanism needs to ensure that any rotational movement by the engagement mechanism 32 is transferred to the shaft 66 and to the blade 8. In other words, the shaft 66 and the blade 8 should not rotate independently of the engagement mechanism 32. The engagement mechanism 32, shaft 66, and the blade 8 should all rotate together.

In between the engagement mechanism 32 and the blade 8 is the blade cap 16. The blade cap 16 has a passageway 70 passing through the centre of the cap 16 so that the shaft 66 can pass through the cap 16. Within the central passageway 70 of the cap 16 is a bearing 72. The bearing 72 also has a central passageway 74 so that the bearing 72 may be connected to the shaft 66. The shaft 66 therefore passes through both the bearing 72 and the cap 16. The bearing 72 allows the shaft 66 to rotate inside the cap 16 while the cap 16 remains stationary. That is, that cap 16 is not designed to rotate while any of the engagement mechanism 32, the shaft 66, or the blade 8 are rotating. In some embodiments the bearing 72 is a metallic ball bearing. In other embodiments the bearing 72 is a plain bearing, such as a bush. Any other suitable bearing may be used.

A sealing ring 76 is also attached to the shaft 66, as illustrated in Figure 3. The sealing ring 76 is attached to the shaft 66 between the base of the blade 17 and the bearing 72. The sealing ring 76 ensures that the mechanism is watertight and does not get damaged by the blended food products. A plurality of washers 78, or spacers, are also present. The washers 78 are placed between the engagement mechanism 32 and bearing 72 and between the bearing 72 and the blade 8, as shown in Figure 3.

The cap 16 has an annular groove 80 on one side of the cap. The groove 80 is on the side of the cap 16 that is attached to the blade 8. The groove 80 includes an internal screw thread which corresponds to the external screw thread on the capsule opening 1 1 . The cap 16 of the blade assembly 100 can then be screwed onto the opening 1 1 of the capsule 6. Other mechanisms may be used to attach the blade assembly 100 to the capsule 6 such as a push fit mechanism, bayonet mechanism, or any other suitable mechanism. Once the blade 8 is attached to the capsule 6 a sealed unit is formed, as shown in Figure 5.

The cap 16 is configured to be attached to a capsule opening 1 1 having a diameter of 42.1 mm. In other embodiments the cap 16 is configured to be attached to a capsule opening 1 1 having a diameter of 65 mm. The cap 16 may be configured to attach to a capsule opening 1 1 having any other diameter.

The blade 8 for blending the foodstuffs is made from a material that is suitable for blending frozen food products, such as metal. The blade 8 may be formed from a sheet of metal that has been bent into the desired shape. The blade 8 may also have been formed using high pressure die casting in which molten metal under high pressure is forced into a mould cavity. In other embodiments, the blade 8 may be made from plastic. The blade 8 is made from a rigid material so that it can withstand the high rotation speeds required in the blending process without deforming.

In one embodiment, the blade 8 is made up of two side arms 22, a tip 20, and a base 17. The tip 20 is substantially opposite the base 17 of the blade 8. The tip 20 and the base 17 are connected to each other using the two side arms 22. The blade 8 has an elongated shape, such as a truncated oval shape as can be seen in Figures 4 and 5. The oval is truncated at the base 17 of the blade 8. The blade 8 is formed from a single, continuous piece of material.

The tip 20 of the blade 8 is generally pointed. In some embodiments the tip 20 of the blade 8 is a slightly rounded point. In other embodiments the tip 20 of the blade 8 is truncated so that the tip 20 is flat.

The arms 22 of the blade 8 are slightly curved. This gives the blade 8 a generally convex shape. In another embodiment, the arms 22 of the blade 8 may be straight so that the blade 8 has a generally triangular shape.

The arms 22 of the blade 8 have an internal surface 21 and an external surface 23 which are joined together by a front edge 25 and a rear edge 27. The internal 21 and external 23 surfaces of the blade are parallel to each other. The front 25 and rear 27 edges of the blade 8 will provide the cutting surface which will break up the frozen food products during the blending process.

The front and rear edges 25, 27 of the blade 8 are generally tapered to help the blade 8 break up the frozen food products. Tapered front and rear edges 25, 27 will also help the blade 8 move through the blended food product during the blending process. The front and rear edges 25, 27 of the blade 8 can be bevelled. However in other embodiments the front and rear edges 25, 27 of the blade 8 may be flat, giving the arms 22 of the blade 8 a generally rectangular cross section.

The external surface 23 of the blade arm 22 is directed away from the centre 29 of the blade 8 and the internal surface 21 of the blade arm 22 is directed towards the centre 29 of the blade 8. Thus, the arms of the blade 22 are not rotated about a vertical axis. In another embodiment, the arms of the blade 22 are partially rotated, or twisted, about a vertical axis. The arms 22 may be partially rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

The blade 8 has a longitudinal axis 41 from the base 17 to the tip 20. The base of the blade 17 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 41 . The base of the blade 17 has an internal surface 45 and an external surface 43. The internal surface of the blade 45 is directed towards the tip of the blade 20 and the external surface 43 is directed away from the tip 20, in the opposite direction. Thus, the base of the blade 17 is flat.

In another embodiment, the base of the blade 17 has at last one partial rotation, or twist. The blade 8 has a centre point 47, with a left portion 48 and a right portion 49 on either side of the centre point 47. The left portion 48 may be partially rotated. The right portion 49 may also be partially rotated. The left and right portions 48, 49 of the base may be rotated partially in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. Thus, the base of the blade 17 may have a propellerlike construction. This helps the blade 8 draw the liquid towards the base of the blade 17, which will help ensure that all the frozen food products are thoroughly blended.

In some embodiments, the blade 8 may also include a central rod. The rod will join the base of the blade 17 to the tip of the blade 20 and is parallel to the longitudinal axis 41 of the blade 8. The central rob will help to reinforce the blade 8 so that it can withstand the high rotation speeds used in blending without deforming. In other embodiments, other reinforcing structures may be used instead of a central rod. Other reinforcing structures may also be used in addition to a central rod. There may be a plurality of reinforcing rods. The plurality of reinforcing rods may connect the arms of the blade 22 to the base of the blade 17 and/or to the tip of the blade 20.

In order to prepare the blended product, the lid 10 of the capsule 6 is unscrewed and a suitable liquid for making the blended product is added to the capsule 6 through the opening 1 1 .

Common liquids for making blended food products include water, apple juice, milk, and soya drinks. The capsule 6 may have several markers on the side of the capsule to help ensure the user has added an appropriate amount of liquid to the capsule 6, as illustrated in Figure 1 . The markers may indicate maximum 12 and minimum 14 levels of liquid so that the user may adjust the thickness of their blended food product. Less liquid will result in a thicker product.

The liquid being added will generally be at room temperature or refrigeration temperature. This means that when the liquid is added to the capsule 6, the liquid will start to heat up the frozen fruit and vegetables, melting some of the ice. This will help separate the individual pieces of fruit and vegetables 24, 26 which will then be able to float around in the liquid, as can be seen in Figure 6. Once the individual pieces of fruit and vegetables 22, 24 are floating, they are able to move around inside the capsule 6. Individual pieces of fruit and vegetables 22, 24 that are floating in liquid are much easier to manipulate compared to individual pieces of fruit and vegetables 22, 24 that are separated but are not surrounded by liquid, for example resting on an internal surface of the base of the capsule 30. Thus, the liquid will facilitate insertion of the blade 8 as it will be easier to push the blade 8 through individual, floating pieces of fruit and vegetables 22, 24 rather than through a frozen mass.

The pointed tip 20 of the blade 8 and the curved arms 22 will further facilitate insertion of the blade 8 into the ingredients. This is because the curved shape of the blade 8 will help push the ingredients out of the way of the blade 8.

When the blade 8 is inserted into the mixture of ingredients, it is an advantage to have the level of liquid as low as possible. This is because it is easier to push the blade 8 through less liquid as less force is required.

For a given volume of liquid, a capsule 6 with a relatively wide base 30 and a relatively narrow opening 1 1 will have a reduced depth compared to a capsule 6 with a constant cross section throughout its length, as shown in Figure 7. Thus, the level of liquid in a capsule 6 with a relatively wide base 30 and a relatively narrow opening 1 1 will be lower, and so the surface of the liquid will be lower, compared to a capsule 6 with a constant cross section throughout its length. Thus the conical shaped capsule 6 in Figures 6-8 facilitates insertion of the blade 8 compared to a rectangular shaped capsule 6 because the depth, and therefore surface level of the liquid, is relatively lower.

Once the liquid has been added, the blade 8 is inserted into the capsule 6 through the opening 1 1 and connected to the capsule using the blade assembly 100.

Once the cap 16 is attached to the capsule opening 1 1 , the longitudinal axis of the blade 41 may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the capsule. Thus, the blade 8 may be perpendicular to the base of the capsule 30. In another embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the blade 41 may be at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the capsule.

In order to blend the ingredients the capsule 6 needs to be inverted, as shown in Figure 8. This is because the blade 8 is inserted through the opening 1 1 of the capsule 6 which is opposite the base 30 of the capsule 6.

For a capsule 6 with a conical shape, when the conical capsule 6 is inverted for blending, the depth of the liquid will be relatively higher compared to a capsule 6 with a constant cross section throughout its length, such as a rectangle, as illustrated in Figure 8. Thus, the level of liquid in a capsule 6 with a relatively wide base 30 and a relatively narrow opening 1 1 will be higher, and so the surface of the liquid will be higher, compared to a capsule 6 with a constant cross section throughout its length. There is, therefore, a greater change in the relative surface level of the liquid before and after inversion for capsules 6 with non-constant cross sections, such as conical shaped capsules 6.

Having a relatively higher surface level of liquid after the capsule 6 has been inverted will help ensure that the elongated blade 8 is almost completely submerged. Thus, the depth of the liquid is substantially the same as the length of the elongated blade 8. This is important for several reasons.

Firstly, a problem that occurs using conventional blending apparatus is that any food near the surface of the blended food product mixture remains relatively stationary, forming a food dome at the surface of the liquid. As mentioned previously, conventional blenders typically comprise a wide, flat blade positioned at the bottom of the blending jug. Thus, the fruit and vegetables close to the blade are blended but the fruit and vegetables near the surface are not being blended and so do not get broken down very well. Current blenders have tried to solve this problem by providing a stick with the blending apparatus that can be used to move the food products around. Typically, the blending process is paused so that the user can take off the lid of the blending jug without risk of injury. The user will then use the blending stick to agitate the partially blended food products and push down any food products at the surface of the liquid which have not yet been blended. The user can then replace the lid of the blending jug and resume blending. This process may need to be repeated several times to ensure that all food products have been broken down sufficiently. This can be time consuming.

Instead, by ensuring that the depth of the liquid is substantially the same as the length of the blade 8, the tip of the blade 20 reaches the surface of the blended food product mixture, as shown in Figure 17. This prevents the fruit and vegetables 22, 24 at the surface from remaining stationary, helping ensure that the contents are thoroughly blended. This also provides the advantage that the blended food product can be blended in one go. That is, the blended food product is blended as a whole, rather than blending particular portions of the blended food product. The user also does not need to interfere with the blending process. Instead, the blending process will be able to go to completion without any further interaction from the user.

Secondly, by ensuring that the elongated blade 8 is submerged after inverting the capsule, the full length of the blade 8 is used for blending. This will also help ensure that the whole food and beverage mixture is blended in one go.

The length of the capsule 6 will determine what length of blade 8 is appropriate to use. The length of blade 8 is at least 50% of the length of the capsule 6, as can be seen in Figure 5. In some embodiments the blade 8 is 70 mm long. A long blade 8 allows the arms 22 of the blade 8 to have a large cutting surface, helping to ensure that the ingredients are broken down properly. A long blade 8 that uses a large proportion of the length of the capsule 6 also helps to ensure that the ingredients are being blended along the whole length of the capsule 6. This reduces the chance of some ingredients not being blended properly. A long blade will therefore ensure that the tip of the blade is able to agitate the surface of the blended food product, preventing the formation of a food dome. In general, the longer the capsule 6 is, the longer the blade 8 will be. Once the blade 8 has been connected to the capsule 6, the blade assembly 100 can be attached to any pre-existing blender 2 that the user already has available to them. This means that the user does not need to buy a separate piece of equipment for making blended food products. Thus one piece of equipment already owned by the user can be used for multiple applications. This will help reduce the amount of space taken up by appliances.

The blade assembly 100 can be attached to any conventional blender 2 using the engagement mechanism 32 and the adapter 4, as shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In order to make a blended food product, such a smoothie, using a pre-existing blender 2 the user can simply remove the components of the blender 2 that are not needed (such as any mixing jars/containers, blades, and lids) and replace them with the adapter 4, blade assembly 100, and capsule 6 containing the ingredients that are ready to be blended.

The adapter 4 is attached to the blender before the blade assembly is connected to the blender. The adapter 4 can be more clearly see in Figures 1 1 and 12. The adapter 4 is hollow and generally cylindrical in shape. The adapter 4 has a base 36 at one end and a support frame 38 at the other end.

The base 36 of the adapter 4 is attached to the base of the blender, as shown in Figure 13. The adapter 4 fits over the top of the gear mechanism in the base of the blender and surrounds the mechanism.

In some embodiments the base of the adapter 36 will include several threaded slots 82, suitable for receiving a screw. The placement of the screw holes 82 will be such that they line up with screw holes already present on the base of the blender. The screw holes 82 present on the base of the blender would have been used to secure the blending jug to the base of the blender using screws. The adapter is then screwed into the base of the blender.

In other embodiments, the external perimeter of the adapter base will include a screw thread. This screw thread will be configured to engage with a similar screw thread on the internal perimeter of the blender base 2. This internal screw thread would have been used to screw in the blending jug, without the need for additional screws, as the screw thread is present on the jug itself. The adapter 4 can then be screwed onto the base of the blender. The adapter 4 is attached to the base of the blender 2 using any suitable attachment means that allows the user to easily attach and detach the adapter 4. Thus, any other attachment means could be used. For example the adapter could be clipped into the blender base using engaging grooves and protrusions. Thus, the specific type of attachment means will depend on the make and model of the blender 2 being used.

The inner perimeter 37 of the base 36 of the adapter 4 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the external perimeter of the blade cap 16. The inner perimeter 39 of the support frame 38 of the adapter 4 is shaped to correspond to the shape of the external perimeter of the capsule 6. This means that when the capsule 6 and blade 8 are inserted into the adapter 4, they are held firmly in place, as shown in Figure 15.

The adapter 4 helps ensure that the engagement mechanism 32 engages with the blender 2 correctly. The adapter 4 is able to guide the capsule 6 and the engagement mechanism 32 into their correct place and ensure that the engagement mechanism 32 connects properly with the engagement mechanism in the base of the blender.

The adapter 4 will also prevent the capsule 6 from rotating when the blender 2 has been turned on. This is because the capsule 6 will be held firmly in place around the cap 16 of the blade 8 and around the outside surface capsule 6. This can be clearly seen in Figure 15.

In one embodiment, the cap 16 of the blade 8 has a hexagonal shape and the corresponding inner perimeter 37 of the base 38 of the adapter 4 is hexagonal in shape, as illustrated in Figure 14. Any other shape of the cap and corresponding shape of the inner perimeter of the adapter base could be used. In one embodiment, the outer perimeter of the capsule 6 is rectangular in shape and the corresponding inner perimeter 39 of the support frame 38 of the adapter 4 is rectangular in shape. Any other shape of the capsule and corresponding shape of the inner perimeter of the support frame could be used.

Every conventional blender 2 will have its own particular mechanical coupling mechanism that is used to connect the rotating blades to the blender motor. Generally, the coupling mechanism includes a gear and a drive shaft which is connected to a motor.

The engagement mechanism 32 is shaped so that the blade 8 can be used instead of the blade that comes with the blender 2. In some embodiments, the engagement mechanism 32 is a gear. The gear 32 comprises a plurality of teeth 34 with are designed to engage with the teeth of the gear in the blender base. The gear 32 may be made of any suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, or metal. Any other suitable engagement mechanism 32 may be used instead of a gear, depending on the mechanism that is present in the blender base.

Many different shapes of adapter 4 and blade engagement mechanism 32 may be provided so that there is an engagement mechanism 32 and adapter 4 that is suitable to be used with any mainstream blender. The capsule shape does not depend on the make or model of the blender 2 being used. The motor in the base of the conventional blender 2 will be used to drive the blade 8 of the present invention.

When the blender 2 is not being used for making blended food products, the adapter 4 may be detached from the blender 2 so that the original blending components may be used.

Once the blade 8 starts rotating a vortex may be created in the centre of the capsule. This will push the liquid and ingredients to the side of the capsule 6, leaving a space in the centre. The curved arms 22 of the blade 8 that extend along the length of the capsule 6 ensure that ingredients forced away from the centre of the capsule 6 are still blended. This is shown in Figure 16.

As well as improving the taste of the blended food product, the liquid helps with the blending process. The liquid is important for cavitation. This is when, during the blending process, small bubbles are formed in the liquid. These bubbles eventually collapse, or implode, which sends a Shockwave through the liquid. The implosion will surround the ingredients and help to break them up.

To further help the blending process, the inside walls of the capsule 6 may be arranged to create turbulence in the blended mixture. For example, the inside walls may have protrusions 40 or grooves 42, as illustrated in Figure 18. The protrusions 40 or grooves 42 may be formed along the entire length of the capsule 6 or only along a portion of the length of the capsule 6. The protrusions 40 or grooves 42 may form horizontal rings around the circumference of the capsule 6. The protrusions 40 or grooves 42 may be vertical. These features create turbulences within the liquid because the movement of liquid will be interrupted when it reaches these features. Thus these features will help improve the blending process. Once the ingredients have been blended sufficiently, the user can disconnect the blade assembly 100 from the blender. The cap 16 can then be unscrewed from the capsule 6 and the blended food product is ready to drink straight from the capsule 6. Alternatively, the user may seal the capsule 6 using the lid 10 and save the blended food product for later, or pour the blended food product into another drinking container.

Being able to consume the blended food product from the capsule 6 provides the advantage that if multiple blended food products are to be made, the capsule 6 does not need to be washed and cleaned before another blended food product is made. Instead the user can simply connect a different capsule 6 and blade 8 combination, which is prepacked with frozen blended food product ingredients, and immediately start making a second blended food product. This saves a lot of time which is important for large businesses that may receive requests to make large numbers of blended food products in a short space of time.

In addition, the blended food product may be stored for short periods of time in the capsule 6 which would not be practical using a conventional blender 2 with a jug.

Pivotable arm

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the blade 8 may comprise two pivotable or foldable arms 44, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. The two arms 44 are separate from each other. The foldable arms 44 are made from a rigid material which is suitable for blending frozen food products, such as metal or plastic. This allows the foldable arms 44 to withstand high rotation speeds without deforming. The foldable arms 44 may be formed from a sheet of metal that has been cut into the desired shape. The foldable arms 44 may also have been formed using high pressure die casting. Each arm 44 may be formed from a single piece of material.

Each foldable arm of the blade 44 has a tip 52, a base 54, and a longitudinal axis 56. The two foldable arms 44 are positioned substantially opposite each other so that the longitudinal axis 56 of one arm 44a is in line with the longitudinal axis 56 of the other arm 44b. The tip of each arm 52 is substantially opposite the base of each arm 54.

The tips of each arm 52 are generally pointed. In some embodiments the tip of the arms 52 are slightly rounded point. In other embodiments the tips 52 are truncated so that the tips 52 are flat. Each foldable arm 44 has an internal surface 58 and an external surface 60 which are joined together by a front edge 62 and a rear edge 64. The front and rear edges 62, 64 of each arm 44 form the cutting surface which will break up the frozen food products during the blending process.

The front and rear edges 62, 64 of the foldable arms 44 are generally tapered to help the foldable arms 44 break up the frozen food products. Tapered front and rear edges 62, 64 will also help the blade arms 44 move through the blended food product during the blending process. The front and rear edges 62, 64 of the blade can be bevelled. In some embodiments the front and rear edges 62, 64 of the blade are flat, giving the foldable arms 44 of the blade a generally rectangular cross section.

Each foldable arm 44 is generally tapered towards the tip 52. Thus each arm of the blade has a generally triangular internal and external surface. Each arm of the blade 44 has a flat internal 58 and flat external 60 surface. Thus, the foldable arms 44 are generally flat.

In another embodiment, each foldable arm of the blade 44 may comprise at least one partial rotation, or twist. The first and second foldable arm 44a, 44b may be rotated partially in a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction. Thus, the foldable arms of the blade 44 may have a propeller-like construction. This will helps the blade 8 draw the liquid towards the base of the blade 54, which will help ensure that all the frozen food products are thoroughly blended. In another embodiment, each foldable arm of the blade 44 may have a plurality of partial rotations.

The foldable arms 44 may have a smooth surface without any sharp edges which helps reduce the risk of injury to the user.

The foldable arms of the blade also make up part of the blade assembly 102. The foldable blade is attached to the shaft 66 of the blade assembly at the base of the arms. The first end of the shaft 67 is attached to the base 54 of each of the foldable arms 44 using a hinge 55, as can be seen in Figures 25. In this embodiment, the hinge portion 55 has a generally annular shape with a central passageway. At one end of the hinge portion there are two curved arms 55a, 55b. Each arm 55a, 55b is curved inwardly towards the central passageway of the hinge portion 55. Each curved arm 55a, 55b defines an engaging space 57 between the curved arm 55a, 55b and the hinge portion 55. The two spaces 57a, 57b are positioned substantially opposite each other. The central passageway is between the two spaces 57a, 57b. Each base of the foldable arms 54 comprises a pin 53 configured to engage with the space 57 of the hinge portion. Each blade arm 44 is connected to the hinge portion 55 by inserting the pin 53 into the engaging space 57, as illustrated in Figure 26a.

Once each blade arm 44 has been connected to the hinge portion 55, the first end 67 of the shaft 66 is inserted into the central passageway of the hinge portion 55, as illustrated in Figure 26b. The first end 67 of the shaft 66 abuts an external surface of each curved arm 55a, 55b, as shown in Figure 26c. The foldable arm 44 can then rotate about the pin 53 so that it can fold and unfold, as shown in Figure 27. Additional coupling means such as screws may be used to connect the hinge portion 55 to the shaft 66 to ensure that rotational movement of the shaft 66 is transferred to the blade 8.

When the blade 8 is inserted into the opening 1 1 of the capsule 6, the foldable arms 44 of the blade 8 are in a closed position, shown in Figures 21 and 22. In the closed position, the longitudinal axis 56 of each foldable arm 44 is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the shaft 66, as depicted by the line 63a in Figure 28.

As can be seen in Figures 26 and 28, each curved hinge arm 55a, 55b extends inwardly towards the central passageway. Thus, there is an extended ledge portion 61 at the end of each curved arm 55a, 55b. The extended ledge portion 61 prevents each foldable arm 44 from rotating inwardly towards the central passageway. If the ledge portion 61 was not present, each blade arm 44 would be able to over-rotate towards the centre of the hinge portion 55, as illustrated by line 63b in Figure 28. The extended ledge portion 61 therefore helps to keep the arms 44 stable while the blade 8 is being inserted into the capsule 6.

Once the capsule 6 and blade assembly 102 are inverted for attachment to the existing blender, the arms 44 of the blade 8 unfold to form a horizontal blade, as shown in Figures 23 and 24. This configuration is an open, operative position. Here, the longitudinal axis 56 of each foldable arm 44 is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft 66, as depicted by the line 65a in Figure 28.The arms 44 will unfold due to gravity. Once the blade starts rotating, the centrifugal force will also cause the arms 44 to unfold, if they had not already unfolded by this point.

The hinge portion 55 includes an outer lip 59 at the base of each curved arm 55a, 55b. When the arms 44 of the blade 8 unfold to form a horizontal blade, the external surface of the arm 60 will come into contact with the outer lip 59. Thus, in the open position, the arm 44 of the blade 8 will rest on the outer lip 59.

The outer lip 59 and ledge portion 61 define the range of movement through which the foldable arms 44 can rotate. As can be seen in Figure 28, each blade arm 44 can rotate through 90 ° between the closed and open positions. If the lip 59 was not present, each blade arm 44 would be able to over-rotate towards the shaft 66, as illustrated by line 65b in Figure 28. Thus, the unfolded blade would be able to come into contact with the internal surface of the capsule 6. This would be potentially problematic as once the blades start to rotate, they may scratch the surface of the capsule, damaging both the blade and the capsule.

The length of each foldable arm 44 is at least 50% of the radius of the capsule base 30, as can be seen in Figure 23. A wider foldable arm 44 provides a large cutting surface, helping to ensure that the ingredients are broken down properly. A wide blade also uses a large proportion of the width of the capsule 6 which will help to ensure that the all ingredients are blended. The wider the capsule 6 is, the wider the foldable blade will be. Thus, the width of the capsule 6 will determine what size of foldable blade is appropriate to use.

The wider the diameter of the blade 8, the faster the tips 52 of the foldable arms 44 travel during the blending process. This improves the blending process as there is more cavitation which helps to break up the ingredients. A wider blade 8 also uses less power and takes less time to blend ingredients.

The use of foldable arms 44 means that the width of the blade 8 is not limited by the width of the capsule opening 1 1 . Instead, the blade can be made as wide as necessary. For a capsule 6 with a conical shape, the arms 44 of the blade 8 could be made to extend across a substantial portion of the base 30 of the capsule 6 rather than be limited by the narrow opening 1 1 . The blade 8 may extend across the entire base 30 of the capsule 6.

Frozen product

The embodiments described above are designed to blend frozen pieces of food, such as fruit or vegetables, floating in a liquid. In alternative embodiments, the blending system is adapted to work with a block of frozen product, such as a frozen liquid, mash or puree. Figure 29 is shows a cross section through a container in this embodiment. Referring to Figure 29, the container 70 is a bottle comprising a neck 71 , shoulder 72, sidewall 73, and base 74. The neck 71 defines an opening 75 which is sealed by a lid 76. Any suitable form of securing mechanism, such as a push-fit or screw thread, may be used to secure the lid 76 to the neck 71 . As in the previous embodiments, the container 70 and lid 76 may be made from any suitable material such as PET.

In the arrangement of Figure 29, the container holds a consumable product 78. In this embodiment, the consumable produce is stored in liquid form, above its freezing point. The consumable product 78 may be, for example, a liquid, paste or puree of fruit and/or vegetables, or other food or beverage product.

Also shown in Figure 29 is an insert 80 which is inserted into the container 70. The insert has a collar 81 , a main body 82, a tip 83, and a flange 84. The collar 81 is substantially cylindrical in shape, and is designed to engage with the inside of the neck 71 of the container 70. The main body 82 is substantially cylindrical or frustoconical in shape and extends into the container. The tip 83 provides a rounded or dome-like end to the insert, to allow easy insertion through the product 78. The flange 84 engages with the neck 72 of the container to prevent complete insertion of the insert into the container. The insert is made from any suitable material such as PET.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 29, the insert extends into the container 70, and partially into the product 78. Figure 30 shows a view of the container 70, lid 76 and insert 80 prior to insertion of the insert into the container.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 29 and 30 the insert 80 is a separate item which is not part of the lid or container. However, the insert 80 could alternatively be provided as part of the lid. This arrangement is shown in Figure 31 , in which the insert 80' is provided as an integral part of the lid 76'.

In use, the container 70 containing the product 78 is stored and transported either chilled or at ambient temperature. Once the container is in the location where it is to be used, it is turned upside down. This causes the product 78 to sink to the other side of the container 70, against the shoulder 72. The inverted container is then placed in a freezer, in order to freeze the product 78. Figure 32 shows the container 70 once it has been turned upside down and frozen. The insert 80 is arranged such that it extends through the product 78 when the container is inverted. As a consequence, when the product 78 is frozen, it forms a doughnut-like ring around the insert 80.

When it is desired to consume the product, the container 70 containing the frozen product is removed from the freezer, and re-inverted. The lid 76 is then removed from the container 70, followed by the insert 80. Alternatively, if the lid and insert are provided as an integral part, they are removed together. Removal of the insert may be facilitated by arranging the main body 82 of the insert to taper inwards as it extends from the collar 81 to the tip 83.

Figure 33 shows the container with the insert removed. Removal of the insert leaves a ring of frozen product 78, with a hole 86 through the middle. In this embodiment the sidewall 73 of the container tapers inwards away from the shoulder 72, in order to prevent the frozen product 78 from sinking to the bottom of the container. Alternatively other features, such as one or more ridges or steps in the sidewall 73, could be provided to achieve the same result.

Once the lid 76 and insert 80 have been removed, liquid is inserted into the container through the opening 75. Figure 34 illustrates a process of pouring liquid into the container. The hole 86 in the frozen product left by the insert allows the liquid 88 to flow through the product 78 to the bottom of the container 70. The temperature of the liquid (not frozen) helps with the process of blending, and to determine the final taste and texture of the drink.

Once the liquid has been inserted, a blade assembly is connected to the container. Figure 35 illustrates a blade assembly 90 and container 70 prior to connection. The blade assembly 90 comprises a cap 92, a blade 94, a shaft 96 and an engagement mechanism 98. In this example, the blade 94 comprises a hinge portion 93, and two pivotable arms 95. The shaft 96 connects the hinge portion 93 to the engagement mechanism 98. The blade assembly 90 may be similar to or the same as the blade assembly 102 described above with reference to Figures 19 to 28. Alternatively, other types of blade assembly, such as the loop blade assembly 100 described above with reference to Figures 3 to 17, could be used instead.

Figure 36 illustrates the blending system with the blade assembly 90 connected to the neck of the container 70. The pivotable arms 95 are introduced into the container through the hole 86 left by the insert in the frozen product 78. In this state the pivotable arms 95 hang down under the force of gravity, so that they are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. This reduces the diameter of the arms, allowing them to be inserted into the hole.

In order to blend the frozen product and the liquid, the container and blade assembly are again inverted, so that the blade assembly 90 is at the lower end of the container. The blade assembly is then connected to a blender using any of the techniques described above in the previous embodiments.

Figure 37 illustrates the container and blade assembly as the blade is rotated by the blender. As the blade starts to rotate, the pivotable arms 95 start to open under centrifugal force, as illustrated by the arrows. This pushes the arms against the frozen product 78, starting a process of cutting, grinding and/or scratching the ice. This in turn converts the ice into ice flakes that mix with the liquid, producing a fluid that is liquid but with a lowered temperature (for example, just above freezing). As an example, this innovation could produce a final product with texture similar to that of a slush drink. The arms will eventually open up to reach the horizontal position and "grid" all the ice block. The remaining ice in the borders will be broken due to the turbulence produced by the blade and the liquid.

Features such as protrusions or grooves may be provided in the container to prevent rotation of the frozen product. For example, Figure 18 shows an embodiment where the container has grooves. When the product is frozen inside a container with protrusions or grooves, this will help to prevent the frozen block formed by the product from rotating inside the container when the blade shaves or grinds it.

In the present embodiment, the movement of the pivotable arms 95 under centrifugal force pushes the arms against the ice block, thereby shaving or grinding the ice. Various different shapes of pivotable arm may be used to achieve this.

Figure 38 shows one example of a pivotable arm for use with the present embodiment. A cross section through the arm is shown in Figure 39. In this example, the arm has a shape similar to that of a razor cartridge.

Referring to Figures 38 and 39, the arm 95 is designed to attach to a hinge portion, in a similar way to the arms 44 described above with reference to Figures 19 to 28. However, in this embodiment the arm 95 has a cutting edge 104 that "shaves" the ice. The flake created is evacuated through a hole 106 in the arm. Figure 40 illustrates the process of the blade cutting the ice and evacuating the flakes.

Using a block of frozen product in the way described above, rather than individual items of food product, may provide at least some of the following advantage:

• Fruit puree is considerably less expensive than pieces of fruit, and thus the overall cost can be reduced.

• The system can be used to make other kind of drink as Slush.

• The product can be shipped and stored either chilled or at ambient temperature, and only frozen when it is to be consumed. This may provide significant savings in the cost of shipping, storage and logistics.

In some countries (for example, some Asian countries) is quite normal to use ice grinders (or ice shavers) to product ice flakes that are later are mixed with a flavouring. The present system allows a similar product to be created, but directly inside of the container. This allows ice flakes to be produced with less mess, time and effort.

The concepts described above can use any type of container such as a bottle or jar, which may be a standard product, or specially made for the purpose.

Embodiments of the invention have been described above by way of example only, and modifications in detail will be apparent to the skilled person. For example, whilst embodiments have been described with references to smoothies, the invention could be used with any other blended food product such as soups and shakes.