Rotational restraint methodology in a frozen mixing system and container

Abstract

A container for containing food and/or beverage ingredients is described. The container is of a type which may be supported in a support while the ingredients inside the container are processed, such as by a rotating blade or other mechanism. The container includes anti-rotation elements positionable in anti-rotational contact with a corresponding protruding portion in a container support in a manner which restricts rotational movement of the vessel relative to the container support.

1 . A method for rotationally restraining a vessel on a holder during processing of the contents of the vessel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a vessel having a side wall and a bottom wall having a first plurality of anti-rotation features laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the vessel;   providing a support having a least one second anti-rotation element;   positioning the vessel on the support such that only one of the first plurality of anti-rotation features and only one of the second anti-rotational elements are in anti-rotational contact with one another; and   processing ingredients within the vessel using a rotating element, wherein contact between the first plurality of anti rotation elements and second anti-rotation features prevents rotation of the vessel relative to the support.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is provided to have only one second anti-rotation element. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is provided to have only two anti-rotation elements. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein positioning the vessel positions the vessel such that the second anti-rotation element is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein no two of the first plurality of anti-rotation elements are offset from one another by an angle of 180°. 
     
     
         6 . A method for providing a food product and rotationally restraining a cup containing the product against a torque generated by a food preparation device used to prepare the food product, the method comprising:
 providing the cup, the cup comprising a cup wall that defines an interior and a cup bottom, the cup having an opening through which a blade may pass to prepare the food product;   providing the food product in a frozen state within the interior of the cup; and   providing an anti rotation mechanism formed within the cup bottom, the anti rotation mechanism configured to mate with a cup holder of the food preparation device, the anti rotation mechanism comprising:
 a first structural element having a first pattern and formed in the cup bottom of the cup wall to engage the container product within a cup holder associated with the food preparation device so as to prevent rotation of the cup during processing; 
 a second structural element within a volume formed by the first pattern and comprised of the frozen food or beverage material within the interior, 
   the first pattern comprising a plurality of vanes, the plurality of vanes comprising a greater number of vanes than a group of one or more stationary mating elements of the cup holder, the first pattern arranged such that only one of the plurality of vanes makes contact with a stationary mating element of the cup holder.   
     
     
         7 . A method for providing a food product and rotationally restraining a cup containing the product against a torque generated by a food preparation device used to prepare the food product, the method comprising:
 providing a cup having an open top, a sidewall, and a bottom; and   providing a group of vanes formed within the bottom of the cup, the group of vanes configured to seat within a cup holder that comprises two or more elements radiating from a central point,   the vanes of the cup arranged such that only one vane of the group may seat against and contact a radial element of the cup when the cup is inserted into the cup holder.   
     
     
         8 . A method for providing a food product and rotationally restraining a cup containing the product against a torque generated by a food preparation device used to prepare the food product, the method comprising:
 providing the cup, the cup comprising a cup wall that defines an interior and a cup bottom, the cup having an opening through which a blade may pass to prepare the food product;   providing the food product in a frozen state within the interior of the cup;   providing an anti rotation mechanism formed within the cup bottom, the anti rotation mechanism comprising a plurality of vanes radiating from a central location; and   providing a food preparation machine comprising:
 a cup holder having a plurality of ridges extending radially from a central location; and 
 a rotating blade that enters the cup to blend the frozen food product, wherein the blade creates a torque upon the cup, 
 and wherein the rotation of the blade causes a single vane of the anti rotation mechanism to contact a single ridge of the plurality of ridges of the cup holder. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the vanes of the anti rotation mechanism are spaced approximately 120 degrees apart. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ridges of the cup holder are spaced approximately 180 degrees apart. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein no two of the vanes are spaced 180 degrees apart. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising rotating the cup no more than 65 degrees before a vane of the cup makes contact with a ridge of the cup holder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the vanes of the cup provided allow no more than 65 degrees of rotation before a vane of the cup makes contact with a ridge of the cup holder. 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing a food product and rotationally restraining a cup containing the product against a torque generated by a food preparation device used to prepare the food product, the method comprising:
 providing the cup, the cup comprising a cup wall that defines an interior and a cup bottom, the cup having an opening through which a blade may pass to prepare the food product;   providing the food product in a frozen state within the interior of the cup;   providing an anti rotation mechanism formed within the cup bottom, the anti rotation mechanism, the anti rotation mechanism comprising a first plurality of vanes radiating from a central location; and   providing a cup holder of the food preparation device comprising a second plurality of ridges radiating from a central location, the second plurality of ridges configured to sit between the vanes of the first plurality and to prevent rotation of the cup when a vane is rotated into a ridge, wherein only one of the plurality of vanes may seat upon one of the plurality of ridges when the cup is inserted into the cup holder.   
     
     
         15 . A method for providing a food product, the method comprising:
 providing a cup, the cup comprising a cup wall that defines an interior and a cup bottom, the cup having an opening through which a blade may pass to prepare a food product within the cup;   providing the food product in a frozen state within the interior of the cup;   providing an anti rotation mechanism formed within the cup bottom, the anti rotation mechanism, the anti rotation mechanism comprising a first plurality of vanes radiating from a central location;   providing a cup holder comprising a second plurality of ridges radiating from a central location, the second plurality of ridges configured to sit between the vanes of the first plurality, the first and second pluralities arranged to allow no more than 65 degrees of rotation of the cup before a vane of the first plurality is rotated into a ridge of the second plurality, and thereafter to prevent rotation of the cup.