U.S. patent application number 13/122071 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-01 for capsule for preparing a beverage.
Invention is credited to Alain Mariller.
Application Number | 20110212225 13/122071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723048 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110212225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mariller; Alain |
September 1, 2011 |
CAPSULE FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE
Abstract
The invention relates to a capsule for preparing a beverage, for
example coffee, comprising a hollow element intended to contain a
metered amount, for example of ground coffee, said hollow element
including a side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall comprising an
extraction membrane; the top wall comprising, on the inner surface
thereof, a weakened area capable of moving when an external element
exerts a force thereon, thereby providing a passage for the liquid
to flow between the outside and the inside of the capsule
Inventors: |
Mariller; Alain; (Le
Mont-Pelerin, CH) |
Family ID: |
41723048 |
Appl. No.: |
13/122071 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
October 2, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2009/054314 |
371 Date: |
May 3, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 65/466 20130101;
B65D 85/8043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/80 |
International
Class: |
B65B 29/02 20060101
B65B029/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 8, 2008 |
IB |
PCT IB2008/054130 |
Claims
1. A capsule (1) for preparing a beverage, for example coffee,
comprising a hollow element intended to contain a portion, e.g. of
ground coffee, said hollow element comprising a side wall (2), a
top wall (3) and a bottom wall (4) comprising an extraction
membrane; the top wall (3) comprising on its internal face a
weakened zone (11) designed to undergo a movement when an external
element (12) applies force to it, thus offering a passage via which
liquid can flow between the outside and the inside of the capsule
(1).
2. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which said weakened zone
is in the form of beading the edges of which are of a thickness
less than the mean thickness of the top wall.
3. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, in which the cross section of
the weakened zone is greater than the cross section of said
external element.
4. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, comprising lateral cavities
with which internal protrusions are associated.
5. The capsule as claimed in claim 1, comprising elements which
reinforce its rigidity.
6. The capsule as claimed in claim 5, in which said reinforcing
elements are positioned on the top wall of the capsule.
7. The capsule as claimed in claim 5, in which said reinforcing
elements are positioned on the side wall of the capsule.
8. A capsule for preparing a beverage, for example coffee, which
capsule is made of a biodegradable material containing the
following elements: starch (>70%), fibers, proteins, lipids and
at least one biodegradable resin.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention falls within the field of the
preparation of beverages, e.g. coffee-based beverages, by
extraction of a concentrated portion, e.g. of ground coffee,
contained in a capsule. It relates more specifically to the
portions used for this purpose and to the devices that use such
portions.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Capsules and machines operating on the abovementioned
principle have been in existence for many decades.
[0003] Patents U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,886, U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,560,
U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,617 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,607,297 describe
devices in which the capsule is first of all perforated at several
points, then has water pass through it under pressure.
[0004] The capsule described in patent CH 605 293 or in patent EP 0
242 556 B1 comprises a membrane in its lower part. Water under
pressure is first of all introduced into the top part of the
capsule, after said capsule has been pierced by means of a cutting
element (e.g. a blade), and this causes the capsule to swell,
mainly in the region of the membrane. Beyond a certain pressure,
the membrane tears, thereby allowing a water-coffee mixture to flow
out.
[0005] Other capsules equipped with a membrane are described in the
following patent documents: EP 0 468 079 A, EP 0 806 373 A, EP 0
554 469 A.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention comprises a number of improvements
over the capsules of the prior art. Specifically, it relates to a
capsule for preparing a beverage, for example coffee, comprising a
hollow element intended to contain a portion, e.g. of ground
coffee, said hollow element comprising a side wall, a top wall and
a bottom wall comprising an extraction membrane; the top wall
comprising on its internal face a weakened zone designed to undergo
a movement when an external element applies force to it, thus
offering a passage via which liquid can flow between the outside
and the inside of the capsule.
[0007] One of the advantages offered by the present invention lies
in the possibility of forming liquid outflow passages of
sufficiently wide cross section. That is particularly true of
capsules made of a biodegradable material. This material has a
tendency to swell in the presence of liquid. If the weakened zone
is not of sufficiently wide cross section then the piercing of the
capsule by a cutting element will not allow the liquid to flow out
sufficiently through the pierced zone.
[0008] By providing the capsule according to the invention with a
weakened zone of wide cross section, it is possible to guarantee
that there will be outflow space.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by
means of some nonlimiting examples illustrated by the following
figures:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of a capsule according to
the invention
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative form of the top part of
the capsule of FIG. 1
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative form of the top part
of the capsule of FIG. 1
[0013] FIG. 4 shows the inside of the capsule of FIG. 1
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates an enlargement of part of the inside of
the capsule of FIG. 1
[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates a depression on the external face of the
side wall
[0016] FIG. 7 shows a second example of a capsule according to the
invention
[0017] FIG. 8 shows a third example of a capsule according to the
invention
[0018] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the weakened zone positioned on
the internal face of the top wall
[0019] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the rupturing of the weakened
zone.
[0020] List of numerical references used in the figures: [0021] 1.
capsule [0022] 2. side wall [0023] 3. top wall [0024] 4. bottom
wall [0025] 5. cavity [0026] 6. top wall stiffening element [0027]
7. side wall stiffening element [0028] 8. top edge stiffening
element [0029] 9. internal protrusion [0030] 10. beading [0031] 11.
weakened zone [0032] 12. piercing element
[0033] The following features associated with the capsule according
to the invention are worthy of particular note: [0034] a) The top
part of the capsule is reinforced by an architecture known as an
"exposed beams", "reinforcing" or "framework" architecture the
purpose of which is to reinforce the capsule in its ability to
withstand the pressure of the water and at the time of its
perforation. It is also possible to obtain a reinforced structure
using folds of material. The rigidity may also be reinforced using
an architecture of the "exposed beams" or "framework" type which is
concave in relation to the capsule (see FIG. 2).
[0035] Using this structure, it is possible to reduce the amount of
material used, e.g. the amount of biodegradable material, of fine
material of the PET or metal type or any other
petroleum-derivative-based material. [0036] b) The inside of the
capsule has projecting internal elements or a circumferential rim
the purpose of which is to prevent the empty capsules from becoming
wedged together before they are filled at the factory. These same
projecting elements also provide the capsule with lateral
reinforcement (see FIG. 4). [0037] c) On the outside of the
capsule, opposite each projecting element or opposite a
circumferential rim, a cavity is created which strengthens the
lateral parts of the capsule through a framework effect while at
the same time saving on material (see cross section) and in
particular allows the use of biodegradable material and fine
materials of the PET or metal type or any other petroleum-derived
material. The lateral reinforcement of the capsule may also be
created by folds of the material (see FIGS. 5-6). [0038] d) The
outer lateral part of the capsule has facets which may extend as
far as the vicinity of the bottom part of the capsule or over a
certain distance in the heightwise direction. In this alternative
form also, it is therefore possible to save on material while at
the same time reinforcing the lateral parts of the capsule (see
FIGS. 7-8).
[0039] To sum up, all the reinforcing systems mentioned hereinabove
allow rigidity to be achieved using less material and make it
possible to make advantageous use of biodegradable materials or of
any other material of the (PET, metal) type, or of any other
petroleum- derived material.
[0040] The internal top part of the capsule is provided with a
beading of material in the region of the elements that pierce the
capsule (see FIG. 4).
[0041] Rupture initiators are positioned along the side edges of
the beading. When a piercing element applies sufficient pressure to
the region of the beading, the rupture initiators yield and this
has the effect of allowing water to enter the capsule (see FIGS.
9-12).
[0042] The invention is not restricted to the examples
illustrated.
[0043] Any reinforcing structure whatever is conceivable.
[0044] For preference, the capsule is made of a biodegradable
material.
[0045] Advantageously, the biodegradable material may be of plant
origin.
[0046] According to an alternative form, the material comprises the
following components: starch (>70%), fibers, proteins, lipids,
glycerin of plant origin, biodegradable resins.
[0047] According to another alternative form, the material
comprises the following components: starch (>70%), fibers,
proteins, lipids, biodegradable resin, inorganic coloring.
[0048] Finally, it should be pointed out that the capsule according
to the invention can also be used with devices of the state of the
art which are equipped with blades for letting water into the
capsule.
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