Blending jar having a vortex shifting means

Abstract

A blending apparatus includes an articulable housing operatively coupled to one or more switches to actuate a blending motor. Upon mounting a mixing jar and associated lid on top of the housing, downward pressure is placed on the lid/jar assembly which places, in turn, downward pressure on the housing. Such downward pressure on the housing causes the housing to articulate and actuate the switch, which in turn provides power to the motor to rotate the blade mounted within the mixing container at a first rotational speed. In one embodiment, the switch is interposed between the housing and a stationary base. A second switch may also be utilized to rotate the blade at a second, increased rotational speed upon additional articulation of the housing.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A blending container comprising: 
 a mixing blade which rotates on an axis;    a bottom positioned below the mixing blade; and    a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall each of which extends upward from the bottom and is planar;    wherein the first wall faces the third wall and the second wall faces the fourth wall;    wherein an area where the second wall meets the third wall forms an at least substantially right angle; and    wherein an area where the first wall meets the fourth wall is positioned closer to the axis than the area where the second wall meets the third wall.    
   
   
       21 . The blending container of  claim 20  wherein an area where the first wall meets the second wall forms an at least substantially right angle and an area where the third wall meets the fourth wall forms an at least substantially right angle.  
   
   
       22 . The blending container of  claim 20  comprising a handle positioned adjacent to the area where the first wall meets the fourth wall.  
   
   
       23 . The blending container of  claim 20  comprising a handle having a vertically oriented aperture that extends through the handle.  
   
   
       24 . The blending container of  claim 20  wherein the area where the first wall meets the fourth wall is planar.  
   
   
       25 . A blending container comprising: 
 a mixing blade which rotates on an axis;    a bottom positioned below the mixing blade;    a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall each of which extends upward from the bottom and is planar; and    means for moving the vortex created when liquid is blended inside the blending container away from being over the axis;    wherein the first wall faces the third wall and the second wall faces the fourth wall.    
   
   
       26 . The blending container of  claim 25  wherein the means for moving the vortex extends upward from the bottom and is positioned between the first wall and the fourth wall.  
   
   
       27 . A stack of blending containers comprising two of the blending containers recited in claim  48  wherein each of the blending containers further comprises a handle and wherein the two blending containers are stacked one inside the other so that the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall from one blending container are positioned adjacent to the first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall, respectively, of the other blending container and so that the handle from the one blending container is positioned at least in part in the handle of the other blending container.