Storage caddy for a food processor assembly

Abstract

A storage caddy ( 12 ) for storing food processor assembly components includes an upper platform ( 14 ) that defines an upper aperture ( 16 ), and a lower platform ( 18 ) that defines a lower aperture ( 20 ). A side interior receiving space ( 26 ) in communication with the upper and lower apertures ( 16, 20 ). The side wall ( 22 ) further includes an exterior surface ( 28 ) opposite the interior surface ( 24 ). A retention feature ( 38 ) is coupled to the exterior surface ( 28 ) of the side wall ( 22 ). A guide post ( 208 ) extends upward from the upper platform ( 14 ).

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A food processor assembly, comprising:
 a receptacle that includes a floor and a side wall that extends from the floor to a peripheral rim, wherein the receptacle defines a cavity configured to receive food for processing therein;   a lid operable between an open position, wherein access to the cavity is provided, and a closed position, wherein the lid is coupled with the peripheral rim; and   a storage caddy for storing a blade unit, a drive adaptor unit, a first processing disc unit, and a second processing disc unit, the storage caddy comprising:
 a body having a side wall that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; 
 an interior receiving space defined by the interior surface of the side wall of the body and configured to receive the blade unit for storage of the blade unit; 
 a retention feature that extends outward from the exterior surface of the side wall of the body away from the interior receiving space and configured to retain the drive adaptor unit for storage of the drive adaptor unit; and 
 a guide post that extends outward from the body configured for mating-engagement with the first processing disc unit for storage of the first processing disc unit and mating-engagement with the second processing disc unit for storage of the second processing disc unit, wherein, with the blade unit received within the interior receiving space, the drive adaptor unit engaged with the retention feature, and the first and second processing disc units matingly-engaged with the guide post, the storage caddy is operable to be stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle, such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position. 
   
     
     
         22 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the drive adaptor unit comprises:
 a proximal end;   a distal end that is distal from the proximal end; and   a first fitting configured to engage a hub of the first processing disc unit, the first fitting being positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the first fitting is positioned a first distance from the proximal end and a second distance from the distal end that is less than the first distance, and wherein, when the drive adaptor unit is retained by the retention feature for storage of the drive adaptor unit and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position, the distal end is horizontally-distanced from the proximal end further than the distal end is vertically-distanced from the proximal end.   
     
     
         23 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the drive adaptor unit comprises:
 a proximal end;   a distal end that is distal from the proximal end; and   a first fitting configured to engage a hub of the first processing disc unit, the first fitting being positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the first fitting is positioned a first distance from the proximal end and a second distance from the distal end that is less than the first distance, and wherein, when the drive adaptor unit is retained by the retention feature for storage of the drive adaptor unit and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position, a portion of the proximal end is positioned further than the distal end from the floor of the receptacle.   
     
     
         24 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first processing disc unit is a grating disc unit, the second processing disc unit is a slicing disc unit, and, when the first and second processing disc units are matingly engaged with the guide post and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position, the grating disc unit is positioned upward of the slicing disc unit. 
     
     
         25 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the floor defines an aperture, the blade unit defines an aperture, and the aperture defined by the blade unit is aligned with the aperture defined by the floor such that a vertical axis that extends through the aperture defined by the floor also extends through the aperture defined by the blade unit when the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position. 
     
     
         26 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the blade unit includes first and second blades that each have arched sharpened edges and that collectively form an s-style blade configuration, and wherein a first portion of the side wall of the body extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the first blade substantially parallel to the arch of the sharpened edge of the first blade, and a second portion of the side wall of the body extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the second blade substantially parallel to the arch of the sharpened edge of the second blade when the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space. 
     
     
         27 . The food processor assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the blade unit is a chopping blade unit, and the first and second blades are metal blades. 
     
     
         28 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the storage caddy further comprises:
 a blade shelf that extends outward from the interior surface of the side wall of the body beneath a blade of the blade unit when the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position.   
     
     
         29 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the guide post includes the upward-most portion of the storage caddy when the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position. 
     
     
         30 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the drive adaptor unit comprises:
 a proximal end; 
 a distal end that is distal from the proximal end; and 
 a first fitting configured to engage a hub of the first processing disc unit, the first fitting being positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the first fitting is positioned a first distance from the proximal end and a second distance from the distal end that is less than the first distance; 
   wherein the floor defines an aperture and the blade unit defines an aperture;   wherein the blade unit includes first and second blades that each have arched sharpened edges and that collectively form an s-style blade configuration; and   wherein, when the drive adaptor unit is retained by the retention feature for storage of the drive adaptor unit, the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space for storage of the blade unit, and the storage caddy is stowed within the cavity defined by the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position:
 the distal end is horizontally-distanced from the proximal end further than the distal end is vertically-distanced from the proximal end; 
 the aperture defined by the blade unit is aligned with the aperture defined by the floor such that a vertical axis that extends through the aperture defined by the floor also extends through the aperture defined by the blade unit; and 
 a first portion of the side wall of the body extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the first blade substantially parallel to the arch of the sharpened edge of the first blade, and a second portion of the side wall of the body extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the second blade substantially parallel to the arch of the sharpened edge of the second blade. 
   
     
     
         31 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a handle coupled to the receptacle, wherein the lid is pivotably coupled to the handle and operable to pivot between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         32 . The food processor assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the guide post includes a first member that is tubular. 
     
     
         33 . A storage caddy for storing a plurality of food processor components including a blade unit that includes first and second blades that each have arched sharpened edges and that collectively form an s-style blade configuration, the storage caddy comprising:
 a body having a side wall that includes an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface that defines an interior receiving space that is configured to receive the blade unit for storage therein, the side wall having a first portion that extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the first blade substantially parallel to the arch of the first sharpened edge and a second portion that extends along a majority of the arched sharpened edge of the second blade substantially parallel to the arch of the second sharpened edge while the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space for storage of the blade unit.   
     
     
         34 . The storage caddy of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a retention feature that extends outward from the exterior surface of the side wall of the body away from the interior receiving space and is configured to retain a drive adaptor unit for storage of the drive adaptor unit.   
     
     
         35 . The storage caddy of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a guide post that extends outward from the body configured for mating-engagement with a processing disc unit for storage of the processing disc unit.   
     
     
         36 . The storage caddy of  claim 35 , wherein the guide post includes the upward-most portion of the storage caddy. 
     
     
         37 . The storage caddy of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a blade shelf that extends outward from the interior surface of the side wall of the body beneath the first blade of the blade unit when the blade unit is received within the interior receiving space.   
     
     
         38 . A food processor assembly, comprising:
 a receptacle configured to receive food for processing therein;   a lid operable between open and closed positions;   a storage caddy for storing a blade unit, a drive adaptor unit, and a processing disc unit, the storage caddy comprising:
 a body having a side wall that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; 
 an interior receiving space defined by the interior surface of the side wall and configured to receive the blade unit for storage of the blade unit; 
 a retention feature that extends outward from the exterior surface of the side wall of the body away from the interior receiving space and configured to retain the drive adaptor unit for storage of the drive adaptor unit; and 
 a guide post that extends outward from the body configured for mating-engagement with the processing disc unit for storage of the processing disc unit, wherein, with the blade unit received within the interior receiving space, the drive adaptor unit engaged with the retention feature, and the processing disc unit matingly-engaged with the guide post, the storage caddy is operable to be stowed within the receptacle, such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position. 
   
     
     
         39 . The food processor assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the drive adaptor unit comprises:
 a proximal end;   a distal end that is distal from the proximal end; and   a first fitting configured to engage a hub of the processing disc unit, the first fitting being positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the first fitting is positioned a first distance from the proximal end and a second distance from the distal end that is less than the first distance, and wherein, when the drive adaptor unit is retained by the retention feature for storage of the drive adaptor unit and the storage caddy is stowed within the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position, the distal end is horizontally-distanced from the proximal end further than the distal end is vertically-distanced from the proximal end.   
     
     
         40 . The food processor assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the drive adaptor unit comprises:
 a proximal end;   a distal end that is distal from the proximal end; and   a first fitting configured to engage a hub of the processing disc unit, the first fitting being positioned between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the first fitting is positioned a first distance from the proximal end and a second distance from the distal end that is less than the first distance, and wherein, when the drive adaptor unit is retained by the retention feature for storage of the drive adaptor unit and the storage caddy is stowed within the receptacle such that the lid is operable to enter the closed position, a portion of the proximal end is positioned further upward than the distal end.