Food-processing device

Abstract

A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods. The device comprises a container, a removable base, and a blender base. The container comprises a locking member located at the periphery of the container. The container has an opening. The removable base comprises a blade member and is removably affixable to the opening of the container. The blender base comprises a motor and a recessed well. The recessed well comprises a pressure-activated switch and an interior wall having a locking surface formed therein. The removable base is adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that such that the locking member of the container is capable of both engaging the switch to activate the motor and capable of biasing against the locking surface, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.

1 . A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods, the device comprising:
 a container comprising a locking member, the locking member located at the periphery of the container, the container having an opening;   a removable base comprising a blade member, the removable base removably affixable to the opening of the container; and   a blender base comprising a motor and a recessed well, the recessed well comprising a pressure-activated switch and a locking groove, the removable base adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that when the locking member of the container engages the switch, the downward movement of the switch activates the motor, wherein the container can be rotated to allow the locking member to engage the locking groove, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.   
     
     
         2 . The food-processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of locking members that are spaced about the periphery of the container, and the recessed well comprises a plurality of switches and locking grooves such that the locking members can contact and depress the respective switches and can engage the respective locking grooves. 
     
     
         3 . The food-processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the blender base further comprises an impeller, the motor operatively coupled to the impeller, the removable base adapted to fit within the recessed well and to operatively couple with the impeller. 
     
     
         4 . The food-processing device of  claim 1 , wherein the blender base further comprises a plurality of bushings that are located about the periphery of the recessed well. 
     
     
         5 . The food-processing device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of bushings comprise a substantially resilient material. 
     
     
         6 . A food-processing device for chopping, mixing, or liquefying foods, the device comprising:
 a container comprising a locking member, the locking member located at the periphery of the container, the container having an opening;   a removable base comprising a blade member, the removable base removably affixable to the opening of the container; and   a blender base comprising a motor and a recessed well, the recessed well includes a pressure-activated switch and an interior wall having a locking surface formed therein, the removable base adapted to removably fit within the recessed well such that the locking member of the container is capable of both engaging the switch to activate the motor and capable of biasing against the locking surface, thereby permitting continuous operation of the motor without requiring a user to exert a constant force on the container.   
     
     
         7 . The food-processing device of  claim 6 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of locking members that are spaced about the periphery of the container, and the recessed well comprises a plurality of switches and a plurality of locking surfaces such that the locking members can engage the respective switches and can bias against the respective locking surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The food-processing device of  claim 6 , wherein the blender base further comprises an impeller, the motor operatively coupled to the impeller, the removable base adapted to fit within the recessed well and to operatively couple with the impeller. 
     
     
         9 . The food-processing device of  claim 6 , wherein the blender base further comprises a plurality of bushings that are located about the periphery of the recessed well. 
     
     
         10 . The food-processing device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of bushings comprise a substantially resilient material.