US-12622548-B2 - Hand-held mixer

Abstract

A hand-held mixer includes a housing, a pillar coupled to the housing at a pillar proximal end and extending to a pillar distal end, a motor within at least one of the housing and the pillar, a first beater hub removably receiving a first beater, and a battery receptacle at the pillar distal end. The battery receptacle receives a battery pack with a battery for powering the motor such that the battery pack is operable between a docked condition and an undocked condition. In the docked condition, the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor. In an undocked condition, the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle. The battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially perpendicular to a first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition.

Inventors

• Antonius K. Aditjandra
• Rex D. Wilson
• Richard D. Arnold
• Lynsey A. Howse
• Rebecca K. Kasner
• Joy Kathleen Kempic
• Brandon Tyler Mock
• John Jay Myers
• Nicholas Hill Schutte
• Yifan Wang

Assignees

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230227

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A hand-held mixer, comprising: a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side; a pillar that is coupled to the housing at a pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a pillar distal end; a second pillar that is coupled to the housing at a second pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a second pillar distal end; a motor that is positioned within at least one of the housing and the pillar; a first beater hub removably receiving a first beater having a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head, the first beater hub being operably engaged with the motor such that, in an engaged condition of the first beater, operation of the motor drives rotation of the first beater about a first beater axis of rotation; and a battery receptacle extending between the pillar distal end and the second pillar distal end to form a loop defining a handle aperture, the battery receptacle being and configured to receive a battery pack having a battery for powering the motor such that the battery pack is operable between a docked condition, wherein the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor, and an undocked condition, wherein the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle, and wherein the battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially parallel to the first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition.
2. 2 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the first beater is operable between an engaged condition, wherein the shaft is partially inserted into a first aperture defined by the first beater hub and exposed on the front side of the housing so as to be operably engaged with the motor, and a disengaged condition, wherein the shaft is removed from the first aperture so as to be operably disengaged from the motor.
3. 3 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , further comprising: a second beater hub removably receiving a second beater having a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head, the second beater hub being operably engaged with the motor such that, in an engaged condition of the second beater, operation of the motor drives rotation of the second beater about a second beater axis of rotation.
4. 4 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , further comprising: a gearbox having a plurality of gears disposed within at least one of the housing and the pillar and being operably coupled to the motor, wherein the first beater hub is operably engaged with the motor via the gearbox.
5. 5 . The hand-held mixer of claim 4 , wherein the motor includes a drive shaft that is operably coupled with the gearbox and configured to rotate about a drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the first beater axis of rotation.
6. 6 . The hand-held mixer of claim 5 , wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the battery pack axis.
7. 7 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack includes a bottom surface that is configured to rest upon a level surface to maintain said hand-held mixer in an upright position, wherein the first beater axis of rotation extends substantially horizontally.
8. 8 . The hand-held mixer of claim 7 , wherein the motor includes a drive shaft configured to rotate about a drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially vertical in the upright position of said hand-held mixer.
9. 9 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is the farthest portion of said hand-held mixer from the housing in the docked condition of the battery pack.
10. 10 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the battery receptacle includes at least one notch that engages with at least one spring-loaded tab of the battery pack, wherein the at least one spring-loaded tab is biased outwardly and configured to be moved inwardly by initial engagement with the at least one notch in the battery receptacle as the battery pack is moved toward the docked condition.
11. 11 . The hand-held mixer of claim 10 , wherein the at least one tab is configured to resiliently rebound outward to fix the battery pack in the docked condition.
12. 12 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the pillar at least partially houses the motor.
13. 13 . The hand-held mixer of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a 12-volt battery.
14. 14 . A hand-held mixer, comprising: a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side; a first pillar that is coupled to the housing at a first pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a first pillar distal end; a second pillar that is coupled to the housing at a second pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a second pillar distal end; a motor that is positioned within at least one of the housing and the second pillar; a first beater having a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head, the first beater being operably engaged with the motor in a removably engaged condition of the first beater with the housing, such that operation of the motor is configured to drive rotation of the first beater about a first beater axis of rotation; a battery receptacle extending between the first pillar distal end and the second pillar distal end to form a loop defining a handle aperture; and a battery pack having a battery for powering the motor, the battery pack being operable between a docked condition, wherein the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor, and an undocked condition, wherein the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle, and wherein the battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially parallel to the first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition.
15. 15 . The hand-held mixer of claim 14 , wherein the motor includes a drive shaft that is operable to rotate about a drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the first beater axis of rotation.
16. 16 . The hand-held mixer of claim 15 , wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the battery pack axis.
17. 17 . The hand-held mixer of claim 14 , wherein the battery pack includes a bottom surface that is configured to rest upon a level surface to maintain said hand-held mixer in an upright position, wherein the first beater axis of rotation extends substantially horizontally.
18. 18 . The hand-held mixer of claim 17 , wherein the motor includes a drive shaft configured to rotate about a drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the drive shaft axis of rotation is substantially vertical in the upright position of said hand-held mixer.
19. 19 . The hand-held mixer of claim 14 , wherein the second pillar at least partially houses the motor.
20. 20 . A hand-held mixer, comprising: a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side; a first pillar that is coupled to the housing at a first pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a first pillar distal end; a second pillar that is coupled to the housing at a second pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a second pillar distal end, wherein the second pillar is nearer than the first pillar to the front side of the housing; a motor that is positioned within at least one of the housing and the second pillar, the motor being configured to drive rotation of a drive shaft about a drive shaft axis of rotation; a gearbox having a plurality of gears disposed within at least one of the housing and the second pillar and being operably coupled to the motor; a first beater having a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head, the first beater being operable between an engaged condition, wherein the shaft of the first beater is partially inserted into a first aperture defined by the front side of the housing and operably engaged with the motor via the gearbox, such that rotation of the drive shaft about the drive shaft axis of rotation causes the first beater to rotate about a first beater axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis of rotation, and a disengaged condition, wherein the shaft of the first beater is not operably engaged with the motor via the gearbox and is removable from the first aperture defined by the housing; a battery receptacle coupled to the second pillar distal end; and a battery pack configured for 12-volt operation to power the motor and being operable between a docked condition, wherein the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor, and an undocked condition, wherein the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle, and wherein the battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially parallel to the drive shaft axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition wherein the battery pack includes a bottom surface that is configured to rest upon a level surface to maintain said hand-held mixer in an upright position, wherein the first beater axis of rotation extends substantially horizontally in the upright position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/315,346, filed on Mar. 1, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/376,174, filed on Sep. 19, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a hand-held mixer, and more specifically to a battery-powered hand-held mixer. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a hand-held mixer includes a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side. A pillar is coupled to the housing at a pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a pillar distal end. A motor is positioned within at least one of the housing and the pillar. A first beater hub removably receives a first beater having a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head. The first beater hub is operably engaged with the motor such that, in an engaged condition of the first beater, operation of the motor drives rotation of the first beater about a first beater axis of rotation. A battery receptacle is disposed at the pillar distal end and configured to receive a battery pack that has a battery for powering the motor such that the battery pack is operable between a docked condition and an undocked condition. In the docked condition, the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor. In an undocked condition, the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle. The battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition. According to another aspect of the disclosure, a hand-held mixer includes a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side. A first pillar is coupled to the housing at a first pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a first pillar distal end. A second pillar is coupled to the housing at a second pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a second pillar distal end. A motor is positioned within at least one of the housing and the second pillar. A first beater has a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head. The first beater is operably engaged with the motor in a removably engaged condition of the first beater with the housing, such that operation of the motor is configured to drive rotation of the first beater about a first beater axis of rotation. A battery receptacle is disposed at the second pillar distal end. Further, a battery pack has a battery for powering the motor and is operable between a docked condition and an undocked condition. In the docked condition, the battery pack is engaged with the battery receptacle to provide power to the motor. In the undocked condition, the battery pack is disengaged from the battery receptacle. The battery pack moves along a battery pack axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first beater axis of rotation from the undocked condition to the docked condition. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a hand-held mixer includes a housing having a front side and a rear side opposite the front side. A first pillar is coupled to the housing at a first pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a first pillar distal end, and a second pillar is coupled to the housing at a second pillar proximal end and extends outward therefrom to a second pillar distal end. The second pillar is nearer than the first pillar to the front side of the housing. A motor is positioned within at least one of the housing and the second pillar and is configured to drive rotation of a drive shaft about a drive shaft axis of rotation. A gearbox has a plurality of gears disposed within at least one of the housing and the second pillar and is operably coupled to the motor. A first beater has a beater head and a shaft coupled to the beater head. The first beater is operable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. In the engaged condition of the first beater, the shaft of the first beater is partially inserted into a first aperture defined by the front side of the housing and operably engaged with the motor via the gearbox, such that rotation of the drive shaft about the drive shaft axis of rotation causes the first beater to rotate about a first beater axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the drive shaft axis of rotation. In the disengaged condition of the first beater, the shaft of the first beater is not operably engaged with the motor via the gearbox and is removable from the first aperture defined by the housing. A battery receptacle is coupled to the second pillar distal end. Further, a battery pack is configured for 12-volt operation to power the motor and is operable between a docked condition and an undocked condition. In the docked condition