US 11,701,788 B2
Food processor with adjustable blade assembly
Kevin James Beber, Granger, IN (US); Alex R. Oliveira, Lauro de Freitas (BR); Fernando R. Oliveira, Lauro de Freitas (BR); Eric Tauzer, Louisville, KY (US); Joao Paulo M. Goncalves, Midland, MI (US); David J. Gushwa, Mishawaka, IN (US); Yung Leong Hin, Tuen Mun (HK); Jeffrey Carl Loebig, New Territories (HK); Euan Skinner MacLeod, New Territories (HK); Qu Zhi Jie, Ji An (CN); Michael P. Conti, St. Joseph, MI (US); Thomas Allen Gillette, Stevensville, MI (US); Brent A. Rowland, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Jeremy T. Wolters, Stevensville, MI (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/236,786.
Application 14/220,203 is a division of application No. 12/769,746, filed on Apr. 29, 2010, granted, now 8,720,325, issued on May 13, 2014.
Application 15/000,712 is a division of application No. 14/000,416, granted, now 9,265,381, issued on Feb. 23, 2016, previously published as PCT/CN2011/001487, filed on Sep. 1, 2011.
Application 17/236,786 is a continuation of application No. 16/566,959, filed on Sep. 11, 2019, granted, now 11,007,664.
Application 16/566,959 is a continuation of application No. 15/370,434, filed on Dec. 6, 2016, granted, now 10,449,685, issued on Oct. 22, 2019.
Application 15/370,434 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/220,203, filed on Mar. 20, 2014, granted, now 10,105,864, issued on Oct. 23, 2018.
Application 15/370,434 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/000,712, filed on Jan. 19, 2016, granted, now 10,582,808, issued on Mar. 10, 2020.
Application 15/370,434 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/000,413, granted, now 9,655,474, issued on May 23, 2017, previously published as PCT/CN2011/000311, filed on Feb. 25, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0237303 A1, Aug. 5, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B26D 7/26 (2006.01); A47J 43/07 (2006.01); B26D 1/29 (2006.01); A47J 43/046 (2006.01); B26D 7/01 (2006.01)
CPC B26D 7/2628 (2013.01) [A47J 43/046 (2013.01); A47J 43/0722 (2013.01); B26D 1/29 (2013.01); B26D 7/01 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A food processor comprising:
a base having a motor;
a bowl removably coupled to the base;
a lid removably coupled to the bowl so as to define a processing chamber, the lid having a feed tube that opens into the bowl;
a cutting assembly positioned in the processing chamber and driven by a rotational force of the motor to cut food items advanced through the feed tube, the cutting assembly including a rotating member and a blade having a cutting edge that is spaced an adjustable vertical distance from an upper surface of the rotating member, the cutting edge being positionable between a plurality of user-selected cutting positions relative to the upper surface of the rotating member to adjust the vertical distance to produce cut food items of varying thicknesses corresponding to vertical distances; and
an adjustment assembly comprising a lift device that is isolated from the rotational force of the motor such that the lift device is not driven along with the cutting assembly, the lift device including a first member that is fixed relative to the base and a second member that threadably engages the first member such that the second member moves upwardly and downwardly when the second member is rotated in first and second directions, respectively, relative to the first member, the adjustment assembly further comprising a control lever operably coupled to the second member such that movement of the control lever rotates the second member and moves the cutting edge between the plurality of cutting positions to adjust the vertical distance while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor.