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A blending appliance includes a housing with a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base. A blender jar includes a base portion and a receptacle portion, and is configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area of the housing. A magnetic coupling system i

A blending appliance includes a housing with a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base. A blender jar includes a base portion and a receptacle portion, and is configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area of the housing. A magnetic coupling system includes an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar and a lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing. The upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled to one another for driving a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar. A brake mechanism is disposed on the upper magnetic coupler and is configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area.

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1. A blending appliance, comprising: a housing having a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base laterally extending from a motor compartment having a motor disposed therein;a blender jar having a base portion and a receptacle portion, the blender jar configured to be l

1. A blending appliance, comprising: a housing having a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base laterally extending from a motor compartment having a motor disposed therein;a blender jar having a base portion and a receptacle portion, the blender jar configured to be laterally received within the jar receiving area;a magnetic coupling system including an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar and a lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing, wherein the upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled using one or more permanent magnets defining upper and lower magnetic arrays when the blender jar is received in the jar receiving area, and further wherein the lower magnetic coupler is configured to rotate the upper magnetic coupler within the base portion of the blender jar as powered by the motor;a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar, the blade assembly operably coupled to a drive shaft which is further coupled to the upper magnetic coupler for rotation therewith; anda mechanical brake mechanism configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area by imparting frictional contact on the upper magnetic coupler. 2. The blending appliance of claim 1, wherein the upper magnetic coupler includes a disc having a metallic backing plate, and further wherein the upper magnetic array is coupled to the metallic backing plate of the upper magnetic coupler. 3. The blending appliance of claim 2, wherein the lower magnetic coupler includes a disc having a metallic backing plate, and further wherein the lower magnetic array is coupled to the metallic backing plate of the lower magnetic coupler. 4. The blending appliance of claim 1, including: a belt drive system having first and second pulleys operably coupled to one another by a belt, wherein the first pulley is operably coupled to the motor by a motor drive shaft having upper and lower portions, and further wherein the second pulley is operably coupled to the lower magnetic coupler to rotate the lower magnetic coupler as driven by the motor. 5. The blending appliance of claim 4, including: a fan member disposed on one of the upper portion and lower portion of the motor drive shaft, the fan member configured to draw air through the motor compartment when the motor is in use. 6. The blending appliance of claim 1, including: one or more nonmagnetic layers disposed between the upper and lower magnetic couplers. 7. The blending appliance of claim 6, wherein the one or more nonmagnetic layers includes one or more nonmagnetic layers selected from the group consisting of a bottom wall of the base portion of the blender jar, a receiving deck disposed in the jar receiving area, and an air gap. 8. The blending appliance of claim 1, including: a bearing assembly disposed about the drive shaft between the upper magnetic coupler and the blade assembly, the bearing assembly including a first brake surface; anda second brake surface disposed on the upper magnetic coupler, the second brake surface configured to contact the first brake surface when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area. 9. The blending appliance of claim 8, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is moveable between an engaged position where the first and second brake surfaces are in contact with one another, and a disengaged position wherein the first and second brake surfaces are spaced-apart from one another. 10. The blending appliance of claim 9, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is biased towards the engaged position. 11. The blending appliance of claim 10, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is moved to the disengaged position when the blender jar is received in the jar receiving area by the magnetic coupling between the upper and lower magnetic couplers. 12. A blending appliance, comprising: a housing having a jar receiving area defined between an upper housing and a support base;a blender jar having a base portion and a receptacle portion, the blender jar removeably received within the jar receiving area;an upper magnetic coupler disposed in the base portion of the blender jar for rotation therein, the upper magnetic coupler being vertically movable between engaged and disengaged positions along a drive shaft;a bearing assembly disposed about the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft couples the upper magnetic coupler to a blade assembly disposed in the receptacle portion of the blender jar, the bearing assembly including a first brake surface;a second brake surface disposed on the upper magnetic coupler, the second brake surface configured to contact the first brake surface when the blender jar is removed from the jar receiving area and the upper magnetic coupler is in the engaged position; anda lower magnetic coupler disposed in the support base of the housing for rotation therein, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is magnetically coupled to the lower magnetic coupler for rotation therewith when the upper magnetic coupler is in the disengaged position. 13. The blending appliance of claim 12, wherein the bearing assembly includes a biasing mechanism to bias the upper magnetic coupler towards the engaged position. 14. The blending appliance of claim 13, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is moved downward towards the disengaged position when the blender jar is received in the jar receiving area by the magnetic coupling between the upper and lower magnetic couplers. 15. The blending appliance of claim 12, including: one or more nonmagnetic layers disposed between the upper and lower magnetic couplers. 16. The blending appliance of claim 15, wherein the one or more nonmagnetic layers includes one or more nonmagnetic layers selected from the group consisting of a bottom wall of the base portion of the blender jar, a receiving deck disposed in the jar receiving area, and an air gap. 17. A magnetic coupling system for a blending appliance, comprising: an upper magnetic coupler and a lower magnetic coupler, wherein the upper and lower magnetic couplers are magnetically coupled using one or more permanent magnets defining upper and lower magnetic arrays, and further wherein the lower magnetic coupler is configured to rotate the upper magnetic coupler using magnetic torque;a blade assembly coupled to a drive shaft which is further coupled to the upper magnetic coupler for rotation therewith; anda brake mechanism configured to stop rotation of the upper magnetic coupler by frictional contact between the upper magnetic coupler and a bearing assembly disposed between the upper magnetic coupler and the blade assembly. 18. The magnetic coupling system of claim 17, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is disposed within a base portion of a blender jar, and further wherein the upper magnetic coupler is vertically moveable along the drive shaft. 19. The magnetic coupling system of claim 18, wherein the brake mechanism includes a first brake surface disposed on the bearing assembly and a second brake surface disposed on the upper magnetic coupler. 20. The magnetic coupling system of claim 19, wherein the upper magnetic coupler is vertically biased towards an engaged position wherein the first and second brake surfaces are in contact with one another, and further wherein the upper magnetic coupler is magnetically drawn to the disengaged position when the upper magnetic coupler is magnetically coupled to the lower magnetic coupler.