US 12,303,072 B2
Centering pad and removable enclosure for a blender
Phonesacksith Guy Kettavong, Medina, OH (US); Alan Pilch, Olmsted Township, OH (US); David Kanning, Valley City, OH (US); and Matthew John Dugan, Medina, OH (US)
Assigned to Vita-Mix Management Corporation, Olmsted Township, OH (US)
Filed by Vita-Mix Management Corporation, Olmsted Township, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 10, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/471,588.
Application 17/471,588 is a continuation of application No. 16/818,383, filed on Mar. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,426,032.
Application 16/818,383 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/799,317, filed on Oct. 31, 2017, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/817,636, filed on Mar. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/415,043, filed on Oct. 31, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0015578 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. A47J 43/07 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 43/0761 (2013.01) [A47J 43/0716 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blender assembly, comprising:
a base unit, the base unit housing a motor;
a pedestal extending from the base unit and defining a peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge includes a plurality of engagement members extending from the peripheral edge;
a container operatively positioned on the pedestal, the container comprising a blade assembly;
an enclosure providing a sound barrier and operatively attachable to said base unit, the enclosure comprising:
a body portion including sidewalls and a base portion that define a cavity, wherein the base portion includes an inner peripheral edge comprising a plurality of engagement channels, and wherein the container is configured to be operatively positioned within the cavity; and
a centering pad removably supported on the pedestal, the centering pad comprising:
one or more projections including a locking member that releasably interlocks with a corresponding member of the container via a twisting motion, the one or more projections formed of a first material; and
one or more inserts formed of a second material different from the first material, each one of the one or more inserts disposed within a corresponding one of the one or more projections;
wherein the base portion is configured to engage the pedestal such that the inner peripheral edge of the base portion circumscribes the peripheral edge of the pedestal, and wherein the enclosure is rotatable relative an axis defined by the pedestal between a locked and unlocked position to selectively secure the enclosure to the pedestal, wherein the plurality of engagement members are received by the plurality of engagement channels.