Food processing appliance with indicator

Abstract

A food processing appliance for processing food stuff including a housing and an electric motor mounted within the housing. A bowl lid is removably mountable over the bowl. The bowl is mounted to the housing and the bowl lid is mounted over the bowl in a working position. A control mechanism is mounted to the housing and is operatively connected to the motor. A sensor is positioned on the housing and transmits a signal when the bowl and bowl lid are in the working position. An indicator includes a transparent plate mounted around a periphery of the control mechanism. The indicator visually indicates that the bowl and bowl lid are in the working position upon receiving the signal from the sensor such that power can be provided to the electric motor.

1 . A food processing appliance for processing foodstuff comprising: 
 a housing;    an electric motor mounted within the housing    a bowl removably mountable to the housing;    a bowl lid removably mountable over the bowl, the bowl being mounted to the housing and the bowl lid being mounted over the bowl in a working position to enable power to be applied to the motor;    a control mechanism mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the electric motor;    a sensor transmitting a signal when the bowl and bowl lid are in the working position; and    an indicator including a transparent plate mounted around a periphery of the control mechanism, the indicator visually indicating that the bowl and bowl lid are in the working position upon receiving the signal from the sensor.    
   
   
       2 . The food processing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism is comprised of a rotary switch including a dial exposed from a surface of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The food processing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes a light emitting device, a reflector and the transparent plate, the light emitting device mounted such that the reflector directs light from the light emitting device onto at least the transparent plate.  
   
   
       4 . The food processing appliance of  claim 3  wherein the transparent plate is generally annular.  
   
   
       5 . The food processing appliance of  claim 4  wherein the control mechanism is surrounded by the transparent plate.  
   
   
       6 . The food processing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a momentary switch that is mounted within the housing, the momentary switch being closed only when the bowl and bowl lid are in the working position.  
   
   
       7 . The food processing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism includes a generally disc-shaped dial exposed from a surface of the housing, the transparent plate being generally annular and being mounted to the housing around the dial.