US 11,930,966 B1
Blender including an integrated smart scale and a recipe application
Michael Wayne Wallace, Vancouver, WA (US); and Philip Trevor Odom, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to Perfect Company, Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed by Perfect Company, Vancouver, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2017, as Appl. No. 15/675,449.
Int. Cl. B01F 15/00 (2006.01); A47J 43/07 (2006.01); B01F 7/16 (2006.01); B01F 7/20 (2006.01); B01F 13/10 (2006.01); G01G 19/52 (2006.01); G06F 3/048 (2013.01)
CPC A47J 43/0722 (2013.01) [A47J 43/0727 (2013.01); G01G 19/52 (2013.01); G06F 3/048 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mixing apparatus comprising:
a base comprising:
an integrated scale comprising a load cell and a scale plate; and
a motor;
an agitator;
a coupling unit comprising the agitator;
a vessel, wherein the vessel is configured for (i) engagement with the integrated scale and (ii) operative coupling of the agitator with the motor wherein the vessel comprises a first end that includes an opening configured for coupling to the coupling unit, and a second end configured for engagement with the integrated scale;
wherein the coupling unit is configured to engage the vessel with the base such that the motor is operatively coupled to the agitator, such that the coupling unit maintains a gap under the coupling unit and above the integrated scale, and such that the coupling unit does not contact the scale plate;
a microcontroller;
a user interface component that provides feedback from the integrated scale as ingredients are received in the vessel; and
a memory, wherein the memory includes a recipe application stored therein and executable by the microcontroller to provide, via the user interface component, at least one of (1) recipe steps to follow as ingredients are received in the vessel or (2) instructions to operate the apparatus.