US 2,009,213,685 · Filed 2006-07-14

The Hand Mixer Safety Lock That Stops Accidental Startup

Imagine a hand mixer that won't turn on unless you press two separate buttons with your fingers. This patent protects that dual-switch safety system, so you can't accidentally fire up the beaters by bumping just one switch. It's a simple idea that prevents kitchen injuries.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a handheld kitchen appliance—primarily a hand mixer—that uses two independent switches to operate: a safety switch that must be manually actuated by the user, and a main power switch. What's protected here is the specific design where the main switch remains electronically locked until the safety switch is first engaged by finger pressure. The combination of these two separate manual controls, arranged so that accidental contact with one switch alone cannot start the motor, is what the patent guards.

Why it matters

This patent represents a practical safety improvement for household kitchen tools. By requiring two deliberate actions instead of one, it significantly reduces the risk of unintended motor startup—a hazard that could cause injury, especially around mixing blades and beaters. For a manufacturer like BSH Bosch und Siemens, embedding this safety feature into a product line protects both consumers and the company from liability claims tied to accidental activation injuries.

Real-world use

When you pick up a hand mixer to blend cake batter, you have to press and hold the safety button before the speed dial will work—two separate hand movements that prevent the beaters from suddenly spinning if someone grabs it carelessly.

Original USPTO abstract

An electric-motor kitchen appliance, in particular an electric-motor handheld device, preferably a hand mixer, includes a switch. The invention also relates to a finger-actuated electric control for the switch, and to a method for switching on/off a kitchen appliance. The switch is unlocked when the safety switch is actuated by the finger of a user. The safety switch is electronically switched. The possibility of unintentionally operating the electric-motor of the kitchen appliance is reduced due to the manual operation of the two separate switches. As a result, the safety of the electric-motor kitchen appliance in the household is significantly increased.

Patent details

Publication number: US 2,009,213,685
Filing date: 2006-07-14
Grant date: Application — not yet granted
Assignee: Bsh Bosch Und Siemens Haugerate Gmbh
Inventor(s): MAK MARJAN, OGRIZEK DARKO, SEDOVSEK ALEKSANDER, SEMEJA UROS
CPC class: A47J43/0755

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