Blender apparatus having manual preset timer actuating device
[75] Inventor:  
 United States Patent 1191 Draghi 1 BLENDER APPARATUS HAVING MANUAL PRESET TIMER ACTUATING DEVICE James A. Draghi. Canton. Conn.  
 [73] Assignee: M. H. Rhodes. Inc., Avon. Conn.  
 [22] Filed: June 13. 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369.450  
 [52] US. Cl. 200/35 R; 200/38 A [51] Int. Cl. H01h 43/14 [58] Field of Search 200/33. 35. 38 R. 38 A.  
 200/38 F-38 FB. 38 B. 38 BA. 38 C. 38 CA. 39 R. 39 A. 5 EB; 116/67 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.274.635 3/1942 Rhodes 200/35 H X 2.789.168 4/1957 Laviana 200/35 R 2.937 247 5/1960 Laviana ct a1. 200/38 A 2961.989 1 1/1960 Laviana 1 16/67 [451 Apr. 22, 1975 3.288.951 l 1/1966 Doyle et al 200/38 R X 3.288.953 11/1966 Swankc 200/35 R 3.322.908 5/1967 Woodward... 200/5 EB 3.581.028 5/1971 Valbona 200/38 R 3.609.491 9/1971 Swanke et al 200/5 EB X Primary E.\&#39;uminer.lames R. Scott Armrney. Agent, or Firm-Prutzman. Hayes. Kalb &amp; Chilton [57] ABSTRACT A blender base having a multiple push button switch and a knob set timer actuating device for presetting the time interval of operation of the blender and for actuating a switch slide to deenergize the blender at the end of the preset interval. The timer actuating device may also be knob set in an inactive mode for permitting indeterminate operation of the blender and in a hold mode for automatically returning a depressed switch push button when it is manually released.  
 10 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures BLENDER APPARATUS HAVING MANUAL PRESET TIMER ACTUATING DEVICE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to timer actuating devices of the type adapted to actuate an associated mechanism such as an electric switch upon the expiration of a predetermined time interval.  
  It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device useful with an independently operable two position device such as an electric switch to return the two position device to a first position thereof after a predetermined time interval after it has been actuated to its other position. For example, in accordance with the present invention the timer actuating device is useful for turning off a switch after a predetermined time interval after it was turned on.  
  It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved time actuating device of the type described which also has a zero time or hold operating mode which permits the associated two position device to be manually operated and held in one position thereof and which automatically returns the device to its other position when released.  
  It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device for a blender switch for turning off the blender after a preselected time interval of operation.  
  It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device for a blender switch for manually presetting the time interval of operation of the blender and which is interlocked such that the time interval begins when the blender switch is switched on. In accordance with the present invention, the timer actuating device also has a zero time mode of operation wherein the timer actuating device provides for automatically returning a manually depressed push button of a multiple push button blender switch to an off position when released such that flash or momentary blender operation may be obtained by momentarily depressing the desired push button.  
  It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device having a knob which may be angularly preset to preestablish the desired time interval and wherein the preset time inter val does not commence until an associated device is operated in a predetermined manner.  
  It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device useful for actuating an associated device to terminate an operational cycle of the device after a predetermined time interval and having additional modes of operation permitting indeterminate length and hold operational cycles of te associated device.  
  It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved timer actuating device having a compact and economical construction and providing reliable service over a long useful life.  
  Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.  
  A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing of illustrative applications of the invention.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the Drawing:  
  FIG. 1 is a front elevation view, partly broken away, of a blender base incorporating a timer actuating device of the present invention;  
  FIGS. 2 and 4 are enlarged rear elevation views of one embodiment of the timer actuating device of FIG. 1; and  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation view of another embodiment of the timer actuating device.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals are used to represent like parts, a timer actuating device 10 is shown employed in a blender base assembly 12 of otherwise generally conventional construction and having a switch 14 with a plurality of aligned speed push buttons 15 for operating the blender electric motor (not shown) at different speeds and an off push button 17 for turning the blender motor off. In a known manner, the switch 14 comprises a cam interlock slide 16 which is cam actuated to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 by depressing any one of the speed push buttons 15 and is cam actuated to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 to retract the depressed push button (and thereby deenergize the blender motor) by depressing the off push button 17. Also, the cam interlock slide 16 is contoured such that only one speed push button 15 may be depressed at any one time and such that when any push button 15 or 17 is depressed any other previously depressed button is thereupon retracted.  
  The timer actuating device 10 comprises a timer 20 of the type shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,961,989 of Lawrence J. Laviana, dated Nov. 29,1960 and entitled Timer Switch and is therefore not shown and described in detail herein. Briefly, however, the timer 20 has a main shaft 22 to which a timer control knob 24 is affixed. The timer knob 24 and main shaft 22 are shown in the drawing in their Off or zero time position, and the timer knob 24 is adapted to be rotated clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 to rotate the shaft 22 counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 to set the desired time interval. A suitably calibrated scale 25 may be provided on the face of the blender base to show the preset and remaining time interval in seconds of operation. A timer mechanism having a main spring operated clock motor with an escapement wheel 28 provides for rotating the main shaft 22 and knob 24 in the reverse angular direction. As will be explained more fully hereinafter, the escapement wheel 28 is adapted to be selectively locked against rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 to selectively lock the timer mechanism against operat1on.  
  A pair of coaxial control cam discs 30, 31 are mounted on the rear end of the shaft 22 for operating a control lever 34 pivotally mounted on the clock motor frame 36 (FIG. 2) or 37 (FIG. 3) by a pivot pin 38. Although the control levers 34 in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are mounted on the respective clock motor frames 36, 37 somewhat differently, the operation of each control lever 34 by the cam discs 30, 3I is the same in each embodiment and substantially as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.  
 2,961,989. The outer slightly smaller diameter cam disc 30 is fixed to the main shaft 22 and the inner slightly larger diameter cam disc 31 is rotatable on the shaft 22 and is connected to the cam disc 30 by a lost motion coupling 40 comprising an angularly extending slot 41 in the inner cam 31 and an axially inwardly projecting boss or pin 42 integrally formed on the outer carn disc 30. When the knob 24 is rotated from its zero position in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to preset the time interval, a cam shoulder 44 of the outer cam disc 30 engages a follower pin 46 on the control lever 34 to pivot the lever 34 outwardly against the bias of a return or power spring 48 (FIG. 2) or 49 (FIG. 3). The inner cam disc 31 is picked up by the outer cam disc 30 via the lost motion coupling 40 as the follower pin 46 reaches the outer edge of the disc 30. The discs 30, 31 thereafter rotate together as the knob 24 is rotated to set the time interval with the follower pin 46 riding on the slightly larger inner disc 31. As the main shaft 22 is rotated in the opposite direction in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the clock motor, the inner disc 31 remains stationary until the lost motion of the coupling 40 is taken up whereupon the discs 30, 31 rotate together (in their angular relationship shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) until the follower pin 46 is suddenly released from the outer edge of the cam 31 into the cooperating pockets formed in the cam discs. The clock motor is thereupon locked by the follower pin 46 against further rotation. However, the main shaft 22 may be manually rotated by the knob 24 further in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3&#39;to position the follower pin 46 in a peripheral pocket 56 in the inner disc 31 to position the control lever 34 in an intermediate outer position as shown in FIG. 4.  
  In accordance with the present invention, a control mechanism 60 (FIG. 2) or 90 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the respective timer frame 36 or 37 for timely releaseing the escapement wheel 28 and for connecting the timer actuating device for actuating an associated device in the shown embodiment for connecting the timer actuating device for actuating the interlock slide 16 of the push button switch 14.  
  Referring now specifically to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the control mechanism 60 comprises a reciprocable actuator slide 61 having a pair of generally aligned elongated slots 63, 64 which respectively receive a first fixed pin 66 and a second control pin 67 of the lever 34 and which collectively provide for mounting the slide 61 for substantially rectilinear reciprocable movement. The power spring 48 is connected between the pins 66, 67 to bias the control lever 34 inwardly against the cams 30, 31 and to act through the control pin 67 to bias the slide 61 to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. Thus, the power spring 48 holds the slide 61 in its retracted position shown in FIG. 2 while the control lever 34 is in its retracted position also shown in FIG. 2. Additionally, the elongated slot 64 permits the control lever 34 to be pivoted outwardly to its extended position by manual rotation of the knob 24 without withdrawing the slide 61 to the right as seen in FIG. 2. The slot 64 and control pin 67 thereby provide a lost motion connection between the control lever 34 (and the power spring 48) and the slide 61.  
  A second coil spring70- is mounted on an upstanding pin 71 of the slide 61. One end 72 of the coil spring 70 engages the edge of a bumper 74 of the actuator slide 61 and the other end 76 of the coil spring forms a leaf spring 78 which engages an upstanding tang 80 of the timer frame 36 to provide a relatively light bias for retaining the slide 61 in its retracted position shown in FIG. 2 when the control lever 34 is retracted. An outer inturned end portion 82 of the leaf spring 78 engages the periphery of the escapement wheel 28 to restrain the escapement wheel 28 against rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 while the slide 61 is in its retracted position shown in FIG. 2. The slide 61 is mounted so that it is adapted to be shifted to the right as seen in FIG. 2 by the cam interlock slide 16 when one of the speed push buttons 15 is depressed, whereupon the inturned end portion 82 of the leaf spring 78 is pivoted outwardly by the tang 80 and thereby withdrawn from the escapement wheel 28 to release the escapement wheel for operation of the timer motor.  
  In operation, the timer actuating device 10 is mounted such that the end bumper 74 of the actuator slide 61 engages the end of the cam interlock slide 16 of the switch 14. Rotation of the timer control knob 24 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 to set the desired time interval pivots the control lever 34 outwardly, but the timer motor remains locked against operation by the engagement of the inturned end portion 82 of the leaf spring 78 with the escapement wheel 28. Subsequently, the desired speed push button 15 is depressed to energize the blender motor and the actuator slide 61 is thereupon shifted by the cam interlock slide 16 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 to release the escapement wheel 28 and thereby initiate the preset time interval. Thus, even if the timer knob 24 is preset substantially in advance of depressing a &#39;blender push button 15, the time interval nonetheless commences when the push button is depressed to accurately time the blender operation. Also, if the off push button 17 is depressed before the time interval is completed, the slide 61 will thereupon be released to return to its retracted position to relock the timer motor. In either event, upon completion of the preset time interval of operation of the blender, the control lever 34 is suddenly released to be returned to its retracted position by the relatively strong power spring 48.  
  With the control lever 34 in its fully extended position and with the actuator slide 61 in its fully extended position in engagement with the fixed pin 66, there is still some lost motion between the control lever pin 67- and the slide 61 such that the lever pin 67 under the force of the power spring 48 suddenly impacts the actuator slide 61 with considerable force when the control lever 34 is released. The control lever 34 thereby quickly returns the actuator slide 61 to its normal retracted position to shift the cam interlock slide 16 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 to retract the depressed push button and deenergize the blender motor.  
  If the control knob 24 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1 to position the follower pin 46 in the pocket 56, the bias of the relatively strong power spring 48 would be removed from the actuator slide 61 and such that the blender operation would be controlled entirely by the push buttons 15, 17. Thus, even though depressing one of the speed push buttons 15 would provide for shifting the actuator slide 61 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, the relatively light return bias provided by the leaf spring 78 would not be sufficient to return the cam interlock slide 16 when the push button is released. Also, although the timer motor escapement wheel 28 would be released to permit operation of the timer motor, the pocket 56 is designed to lock the disc 31 against rotation by the timer motor. Also, a suitable shaft limit stop (not shown and which for example could be like that shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 2,961,989) is preferably provided.  
  With the knob 24 in its zero position shown in FIG. 1, when a speed push button 15 is manually depressed, it would shift the actuator 61 to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 against the bias of the relatively strong power spring 48 such that the push button 15 would be automatically retracted by the power spring 48 when released. Thus, a speed&#34; push button 15 could be momentarily depressed for flash&#34; or momentary operation of the blender. This latter mode of operation would, however, be accompanied by release of the timer motor balance wheel 28 and therefore limited operation of the timer motor and such if the speed&#34; push button 15 were held depressed, for example for more than several seconds, the cam 31 would then hold the control lever 34 outwardly to deactivate the power spring 48.  
  A modified timer control mechanism 90 is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, a separate escapement wheel lock 92 is p&#39;ivotally mounted on the timer frame 37 and biased into engagement with the escapement wheel 28 by a light tension spring 94 to restrain the escapement wheel against rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. the reciprocable actuator slide 91 (which corresponds to the actuator slide 61 in the embodiment of FIG. 2) has a pair of elongated slots 97, 98 which respectively receive a fixed pin 100 and the control lever pin 67. The relatively strong lever power spring 49 is connected between the control lever pin 67 and an upstanding tang 101 of the timer frame 37. A second spring 103 is mounted on upstanding tang 101 with its end portion 102 in engagement with an inclined tang 104 of the actuator slide 91 to bias the actuator slide 91 to its retracted position shown in FIG. 3. Thus, with the control lever 34 in its outer or extended position in engagement with the outer edge of the inner cam disc 31, the light leaf spring 102 permits the actuator slide 91 to be shifted to the right as seen in FIG. 3 by the switch interlock slide 16 when a push button 15 is depressed. Also, as with the embodiment of FIG. 2, at the end of a preset time interval when the control lever 34 is suddenly released to be returned to its retracted position by the power spring 49, the slide 91 is impacted by the lever pin 67 with a substantial force to shift the interlock slide 16 and retract any depressed push button to deenergize the blender.  
 The actuator slide 91 has a forward depending end or nose 106 which is engageable with an upstanding tang 108 of the balance wheel lock 91 only when the control lever 34 is in its outer pivotal position where the follower pin 46 rides on the outer edge of the inner disc 31. Thus, with the control lever 34 in its retracted position shown in FIG. 3 or with the control lever 34 in its partially extended position with the follower pin 46 received within the pocket 56 of the inner cam disc 31, the actuator slide 91 cannot be shifted to engage and release the balance wheel lock 92. The foregoing control of the engagement of the nose 106 of the actuator slide 91 with the pivotal lock 92 is provided by the inclination of the slot 98 in the actuator slide 91 and such that the nose 106 of the actuator slide is lowered sufficiently to engage the tang 108 of the pivotal lock 92 only when the lever 34 is pivoted outwardly sufficiently for the follower pin 46 to ride on the outer circumferential edge of the inner disc 31.  
  Consequently, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the knob 24 can be initially preset to establish a desired time interval and when a selected speed push button 15 is then depressed the interlock slide 16 shifts the actuator slide 91 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 to engage and then release the escapement wheel lock 92 to begin the timing cycle. At the end of the preset time interval, the lever 34 is suddenly released to permit the power spring 49 to retract the actuator slide 91 and the depressed push button 15 and simultaneously release the escapement wheel lock 92. Also, with the control lever 34 in its retracted position shown in FIG. 3, a speed&#34; push button 15 can be depressed to shift the actuator slide 91 against the bias of the power spring 49 which then provides for returning the actuator slide 91 and interlock slide 16 to retract the depressed push button 15 when the push button is released. The fixed pin provides a limit stop for the actuator slide 91 such that the control lever 34 cannot be pivoted outwardly sufficiently to permit the actuator slide 91 to engage the pivotal lock 92. Thus, with the knob 24 in its zero position, operation of the actuator slide 91 by depressing a speed push button 15 does not release the escapement wheel 28 and the power spring 49 remains fully operable after any interval to return the actuator slide 91 and depressed push button when the push button is released. Similarly, when the knob 24 is rotated to deactivate the timer by positioning the control lever follower pin 46 in the pocket 56, the actuator slide 91 can be shifted against the light bias of the leaf spring 102 without engaging the escapement wheel lock 92 and therefore without activating the timer motor. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 3 provides for three modes of operation: (a) a preset time mode with the knob 24 used to preset the time interval; (b) a hold or zero time mode (with the knob 24 in its zero position shown in FIG. 1) wherein the power spring 49 retracts the depressed push button 15 when released; and (c) an indefinite time mode wherein the blender motor remains energized after a push button 15 is depressed and until the stop button 17 is depressed.  
  As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.  
 1 claim:  
  1. In a timer actuating device for being activated by and for actuating another associated device, comprising a shiftable controller mounted to be shifted between first and second positions thereof, drive spring means biasing the controller to its first position, a timer mechanism connected to the shiftable controller and settable to preset an established time interval and thereupon shift the controller from its first position to its second position against the bias of the drive spring means, the timer mechanism being selectively activatable to initiate the preset time interval and having timer mechanism controlled means for shifting the controller from its second position to its first position with the drive spring means at the end of the established time interval, the improvement whereupon the timer actuating device further comprises a shiftable actuator mounted to be shifted in one direction thereof from a first position to a second position thereof by the associated device and to be shifted in the opposite direction to its first position to thereupon actuate the associated device, and interconnecting means for interconnecting the controller, actuator and timer mechanism, the interconnecting means comprising first connection means connecting the shiftable actuator and timer mechanism operative for activating the timer mechanism when the shiftable actuator is shifted from its first position to its second position and second connection means connecting the actuator and controller operable for shifting the actuator from its second position to its first position with the drive spring means for actuating the associated device when the controller is shifted with the drive spring means from its second position to its first position, the second connection means permitting independent shifting of the shiftable actuator between its first and second positions with the controller in its second position to permit the timer mechanism to be initially preset and then subsequently activated by shifting the actuator from its first to its second position with the associated device, and the second connection means permitting the controller to be shifted from its first position against the bias of the drive spring means by the actuator as the actuator is shifted from its first position to its second position with the associated device.  
  2. A timer actuating device according to claim 1 wherein the first connection means comprises releasable locking means for selectively locking the timer mechanism against operation and releasable by the shiftable actuator to activate the timer mechanism when the actuator is shifted from its first position to its second position.  
  3. A timer actuating device according to claim 2 wherein the releasable locking means is mounted on the shiftable actuator to lock the timer mechanism when the shiftable actuator is in its first position and to unlock and thereby activate the timer mechanism when the shiftable actuator is shifted to its second position.  
  4. A timer actuating device according to claim 1 wherein the first connection means comprises a releasable lock for the timer mechanism for selectively locking the timer mechanism against operation and engageable by the shiftable actuator to release the lock and thereby activate the timer mechanism when the actuator is shifted from its first position to its second position.  
  5. A timer actuating device according to claim 1 wherein the first connection means connects the contoller and actuator to permit the shiftable actuator to be shifted to its second position to activate the timer mechanism with the controller in its second position and to prevent such activation of the timer mechansim by the shiftable actuator with the controller in its first position 6. A timer actuating device according to claim 1 wherein the first connection means comprises a lost motion connection between the controller and shiftable actuator permitting the controller to be shifted from its first to its second position without shifting the shiftable actuator and operable to shift the actuator from its second position to its first position when the controller is shifted from its second position to its first position.  
  7. A timer actuating device according to claim 6 wherein the lost motion connection is a slot and pin connection.  
  8. A timer actuating device according to claim 7 wherein the slot is arranged to provide for displacing the shiftable actuator from a first inactive condition to a second active condition as the controller is shifted from its first to its second position to thereby condition the shiftable actuator for activating the timer mechanism when the actuator is shifted from its first to its second position.  
  9. A timer actuating device according to claim 6 wherein the drive spring means is operable through the lost motion connection to shift the acutator from its second position to its first position.  
  10. In a switch operated device having a two position switch for selectively energizing and de-energizing the device and having a shiftable switch member shifted in one direction when the switch is operated to energize the device and shiftable in the opposite direction to operate the switch to de-energize the device, and a timer actuating mechanism for shifting the shiftable switch member in its said opposite direction for de-energizing the device after a predetermined time interval, the improvement wherein the timer actuating mechanism comprises a shiftable actuator mounted to be shifted in one direction thereof from a first position thereof to a second position thereof by the shiftable switch member when it is shifted in its said one direction and to be shifted in the opposite direction from its second position to its first position to actuate the switch member in its opposite direction to de-energize the device, a shiftable controller mounted to be shifted between a first position thereof and a second position thereof, drive spring means biasing the controller to its first position, a timer mechanism presettable to establish a predetermined time interval and connected to shift the controller to its second position against the bias of the drive spring means when preset to establish a predetermined time interval and adapted to be selectively activated to shift the controller from its second position to its first position with the drive spring means after the predetermined time interval, and interconnecting means interconnecting the shiftable actuator, timer mechanism and controller comprising first connection means operable for activating the timer mechanism when the shiftable actuator is shifted from its first posi-&#39; tion to its second position, and second connection means operable for shifting the actuator from its second position to its first position with the drive spring means for de-energizing the switch operated device when the controller is returned to its first position with the drive spring means and which permits independent shifting of the actuator between its first and second positions with the controller in its second position to permit the timer mechanism to be initially preset and then subsequently activated by the switch when the switch is operated to energize the device and whereby the device will then be automatically de-energized after the predetermined time interval established by the timer mechanism.