Blending system with a liner for blending container

Abstract

A blending container for retaining foodstuff to be blended by a blender, the blending container may include an outer sleeve having an inner surface and at least one interlock tab extending therefrom. An inner liner having a wall that extends from a perimeter of a bottom to define a cavity to retain the foodstuff to be blended, wherein at least a portion of the wall of the inner liner frictionally engages against a portion of the inner surface of the outer sleeve. The inner liner may be made from a disposable material. The inner liner may include a rim that defines an opening such that the rim is configured to abut against a blade base. The inner liner may include a size of at least one of 8, 12, and 16 fluid ounces and the outer sleeve may be configured to receive the inner liner of various sizes.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A blending container for mixing a product with a blender base, the blending container comprising:
 an inner liner for containing a product to be mixed therein; and   an outer sleeve for receiving the inner liner therein, the outer sleeve having an interlock feature.   
     
     
         2 . The blender container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is made from a disposable material. 
     
     
         3 . The blender container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner includes a radial bulbous portion that is configured to frictionally abut an inner surface of the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The blender container of  claim 3 , wherein the inner surface of the outer sleeve comprises an annular shoulder extending into an inner cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The blender container of  claim 4 , wherein a wall of the inner liner operatively mates with the annular shoulder. 
     
     
         6 . The blender container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner is operatively removable from the outer sleeve . 
     
     
         7 . The blender container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner liner includes a rim that defines an opening and operatively abutting against a blade base. 
     
     
         8 . The blender container of  claims 7 , wherein the rim is configured to abut against an open top end of a blade base. 
     
     
         9 . The blender container of  claims 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes at least one interlock tab configured to engage at least one recessed portion of a blender base for toggled control of a blender motor. 
     
     
         10 . The blender container of  claims 1  wherein the inner liner includes a size of at least one of 8, 12, and 16 fluid ounces. 
     
     
         11 . The blender container of  claim 10 , wherein the outer sleeve is configured to receive the inner liner that includes a size of 8 fluid ounces, 12 fluid ounces, and 16 fluid ounces. 
     
     
         12 . A blending container for retaining foodstuff to be blended by a blender, the blending container comprising:
 a blender base comprising a motor;   a blade base;   a container operatively coupled to the blade base, the container comprising:
 an outer sleeve having an inner surface and at least one interlock tab extending therefrom; and 
 an inner liner having a wall that extends from a perimeter of a bottom, the wall defines a cavity to retain the foodstuff to be blended, wherein at least a portion of the wall of the inner liner frictionally engages against a portion of the inner surface of the outer sleeve. 
   
     
     
         13 . The blender assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner liner and outer sleeve are not coupled through other mechanisms. 
     
     
         14 . The blender assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner liner comprises a disposable material and the outer liner comprises a different material and is non-disposable. 
     
     
         15 . The blender assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner liner is operatively threadedly engaged with the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The blender assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the blade base comprises at least one recess operatively receiving the at least one tab. 
     
     
         17 . The blender assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inner liner comprises a release mechanism that includes at least one of a handle attached with the inner liner, a push button on the outer sleeve, an aperture positioned on the outer sleeve sized to permit access to the inner liner to disengage the inner liner from the outer sleeve, or a tab on the inner liner. 
     
     
         18 . A method of mixing a product within a container, the steps comprising:
 inserting an inner liner into an outer sleeve;   inserting foodstuff to be blended into the inner liner;   engaging a blade base to the inner liner and the outer sleeve; and   attaching the blade base and outer sleeve to a blender base for selectively blending the foodstuff therein.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, removing said inner liner from the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising inserting an other inner liner into the outer sleeve.