Container and system for holding a cutting tool of a food processing device

Abstract

A container and system for holding a cutting tool of a food processing device is disclosed. The container includes a shell defining a chamber sized to receive one of at least a first cutting tool and a second cutting tool. The shell has a slot that receives a stem of the first cutting tool when the first cutting tool is positioned in the chamber and another slot that receives a stem of the second cutting tool when the second cutting tool is positioned in the chamber. The shell also has a plurality of openings that are sized to permit fluid to pass into the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container to hold a cutting tool comprising:
 a base and a top that form a chamber configured to receive a cutting tool, the base and the top having a coupled position wherein the base is coupled to the top and an uncoupled position wherein the base is not coupled to the top;   the base comprising upwardly extending tabs configured to engage with the cutting tool to position the cutting tool within the chamber; and   both the base and the top comprising a plurality of openings sized to permit passage of fluid into the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 ,
 the base further comprising a hub, a body extending radially outward from the hub, and a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body;   wherein, the upwardly extending tabs extend upwardly from the hub.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 ,
 the hub of the base including a slot defined therein.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 ,
 wherein, the plurality of openings of the base are defined in the body of the base and each opening of the plurality of openings extends radially outward from the hub toward the rim of the base.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 ,
 the rim of the base further including a plurality of openings also configured to permit the passage of fluid into the chamber.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 ,
 the top further comprising a cylindrical slot.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 ,
 the top further comprising a hub with the cylindrical slot defined therein, a body extending radially outward from the hub, and a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 ,
 wherein, the plurality of openings are defined in the body of the top, and each opening of the plurality of openings extend outward from the hub toward the rim.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 ,
 either the top or the base includes a tab and the other of the top or the base that does not include the tab includes a groove;   wherein, in the coupled position, the groove receives the tab to secure the base to the top.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 ,
 the base further comprising a hub with a cylindrical slot defined therein, a body extending radially outward from the hub, and a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body, the rim having an outer surface with the groove defined therein; and   the top further comprising a hub with the cylindrical slot defined therein, a body extending radially outward from the hub, a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body, and a flange extending downwardly from the rim, the tab inwardly extending from the flange;   wherein, the upwardly extending tabs extend upwardly from the hub of the base.   
     
     
         11 . A container for holding a cutting tool of a food processing device, the container comprising:
 a shell defining a chamber sized to receive one of at least a first cutting tool and a second cutting tool, the shell comprising:
 a first outer surface, 
 a second outer surface positioned opposite the first outer surface, and 
 a side wall extending between the first outer surface and the second outer surface, 
   wherein the shell has (i) a first slot defined in the first outer surface, the first slot receiving a stem of the first cutting tool when the first cutting tool is positioned in the chamber, (ii) a second slot defined in the second outer surface that is aligned with the first slot, the second slot receiving a stem of the second cutting tool when the second cutting tool is positioned in the chamber, and (iii) a plurality of openings defined in the first outer surface, each opening being arranged circumferentially around the first slot and being sized to permit fluid to pass into the chamber; and   wherein the shell includes a first piece including the first slot, and a second piece removably coupled to the first piece, the second piece including the second slot.   
     
     
         12 . A cutting tool system for a food processing device comprising:
 a cutting tool container comprising a base and a top defining a chamber;
 the top having a hub with a cylindrical slot defined therein, a body extending radially outward from the hub, and a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body of the top; 
 the base having a hub, a body extending radially outward from the hub, a rim extending vertically from an outer perimeter of the body of the base, and a plurality of alignment tabs extending upwardly from the hub; 
   a cutting blade unit disposed in the chamber of the cutting tool container, the cutting blade unit including:
 a stem disposed within the cylindrical slot of the hub of the top of the cutting tool container and engaged with the plurality of alignment tabs of the base to position the cutting blade unit within the chamber; and 
 at least one cutting blade extending outwardly from the stem; and 
   both the body of the top and the body of the base further including a plurality of openings defined therein configured to permit passage of fluid into the chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 the hub of the base of the cutting tool container further including a cylindrical slot defined therein; and   the cutting blade unit further including a second stem secured to the stem, and the second stem is disposed within the cylindrical slot of the hub of the base.   
     
     
         14 . The cutting tool system of  claim 13 ,
 the stem and the second stem of the cutting blade unit each having an outer diameter, and the outer diameter of the second stem is less than the outer diameter of the stem.   
     
     
         15 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 each opening of the plurality of openings of the top extend radially outward from the hub of the top toward the rim of the top; and   each opening of the plurality of openings of the base extend radially outward from the hub of the base toward the rim of the base.   
     
     
         16 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 the rim of the base having a plurality of openings defined therein that are configured to permit the passage of fluid into the chamber of the cutting tool container.   
     
     
         17 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 the cutting tool container having a locked state, and in the locked state the base and the top are releasably coupled to each other;   the base further including a groove defined in an outer surface of the rim of the base;   the top further including a flange extending downwardly from the rim, the flange including a tab extending inwardly from the flange; and   wherein, the groove of the base receives the tab of the top to releasably couple the top and the base.   
     
     
         18 . The cutting tool system of  claim 17 ,
 the cutting tool container further having an unlocked state, wherein the top and the base are not coupled together, and the tab of the top is not disposed within the groove of the base.   
     
     
         19 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 wherein, the top of the cutting tool container is formed of more than one part, each of which are hinged to the base.   
     
     
         20 . The cutting tool system of  claim 12 ,
 the hub of the top of the cutting tool container extends upward from the body of the top.