U.S. patent application number 13/327554 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for system, capsule and method for preparing a beverage.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sara Lee/DE B.V.. Invention is credited to Arend Cornelis Jacobus Biesheuvel, John Henri Flamand, Ralf Kamerbeek, Hendrik Cornelis Koeling, Angenita Dorothea Post van Loon.
Application Number | 20120251671 13/327554 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41663780 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120251671 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamerbeek; Ralf ; et
al. |
October 4, 2012 |
SYSTEM, CAPSULE AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE
Abstract
A system including a capsule is usable for preparing a
predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using
an extractable product. The system includes a substantially rigid
circumferential wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at
a first end, and lid of a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or
porous material closing the circumferential wall at a second, open,
end opposite the bottom. The circumferential wall, the bottom and
the lid enclose an inner space include the extractable product, and
the lid includes an impermeable outer circumferential area and an
exit area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential
area such that, in use, the prepared beverage is drained from the
capsule through the exit area. The invention further relates to a
method for preparing said beverage using the above system.
Inventors: |
Kamerbeek; Ralf; (De Meern,
NL) ; Flamand; John Henri; (Lunteren, NL) ;
Post van Loon; Angenita Dorothea; (Utrecht, NL) ;
Koeling; Hendrik Cornelis; (Amersfoort, NL) ;
Biesheuvel; Arend Cornelis Jacobus; (Werkendam, NL) |
Assignee: |
Sara Lee/DE B.V.
|
Family ID: |
41663780 |
Appl. No.: |
13/327554 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/NL2009/050821 |
Dec 30, 2009 |
|
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13327554 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
426/77 ; 426/431;
99/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8043 20130101;
A47J 31/407 20130101; A47J 31/368 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/77 ; 99/295;
426/431 |
International
Class: |
B65B 29/02 20060101
B65B029/02; A23L 2/38 20060101 A23L002/38; A47J 31/00 20060101
A47J031/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 17, 2009 |
EP |
EP09163008.7 |
Claims
1. A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage
suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle
for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device
for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure
to the exchangeable capsule, wherein the exchangeable capsule
comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the
circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the
circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein
the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the
extractable product, wherein the fluid dispensing device is
arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through
the bottom for forming the beverage, wherein the receptacle
comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule is arranged to
at least partly abut against the support surface for draining the
prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the
support surface, wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped
perforate and/or porous material and the system comprises an outlet
which, in use, is in fluid communication with the lid for draining
the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage
to a container such as a cup, wherein the lid comprises an
impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being
enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that
the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit
area.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet-shaped
perforate and/or porous material is a flexible foil, such as a
polymeric film, at least partly provided with a plurality of exit
openings.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the flexible foil is a multilayer
foil of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET-P) and chlorinated
polypropylene (CPP).
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the foil comprises a first layer
of polyethyleneterephthalat (PET-P) with a thickness of
approximately 15 .mu.m and a second layer of chlorinated
polypropylene (CPP) of approximately 30 .mu.m.
5. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of exit openings is
provided in a centre area of the lid, wherein the impermeable outer
circumferential area of the lid does not comprise any exit
opening.
6. The system of claim 2, wherein on a side of the lid facing the
support surface of the system an additional substantially annular
sealing member is provided that forms the impermeable outer
circumferential area of the lid.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the lid and the annular sealing
member are of the same material.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the annular sealing member is of
a resilient material such as a plastic, for instance PE or a
rubber.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the impermeable outer
circumferential area extends from the circumferential wall radially
inward, preferably over a radial distance between 1 mm-5 mm from
the circumferential wall.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule comprises an
outwardly extending rim, wherein the lid is attached to the
outwardly extending rim.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein a radial length of the outwardly
extending rim at a side facing the lid is approximately 4.7
mm.+-.0.1 mm.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the exit area comprises 75-170
openings, preferably 90-150, more preferably 100-125 openings,
wherein an opening diameter is between 0.4 mm.+-.0.05 mm and 0.2
mm.+-.0.05 mm, preferably approximately 0.3 mm.+-.0.05 mm.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the capsule is
permeable to liquid.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the bottom of the capsule is
perforate and/or porous.
15. A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage
suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
a substantially rigid circumferential wall, a bottom closing the
circumferential wall at a first end, and lid of a flexible
sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material closing the
circumferential wall at a second, open, end opposite the bottom,
wherein the circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid enclose an
inner space comprising the extractable product, wherein the lid
comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit
area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area
such that, in use, the prepared beverage is drained from the
capsule through the exit area.
16. The capsule of claim 15, wherein the capsule is the capsule of
the system according to claim 1.
17. A use of a capsule for preparing a beverage using the apparatus
of the system of claim 1.
18. A method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage
suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
providing an exchangeable capsule, comprising a circumferential
wall, a bottom closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and
a lid closing the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the
bottom, wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space
comprising the extractable product, providing an apparatus
comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, a
fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as
water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet
which, in use, is in fluid communication with the capsule for
draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the
beverage to a container such as a cup, wherein the receptacle
comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule at least
partly abuts against the support surface for draining the prepared
beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the support
surface, wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped
perforate and/or porous material and the apparatus comprises an
outlet which is in fluid communication with the lid for draining
the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage
to a container such as a cup, wherein the lid comprises an
impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being
enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that
the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit
area, wherein the method further comprises supplying the fluid to
the extractable product for preparing the beverage.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid dispensing device is
arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through
the bottom for forming the beverage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Patent
Application No. PCT/NL2009/050821, filed Dec. 30, 2009, which
claims priority to European Patent Application No. 09163008.7,
filed Jun. 17, 2009, both of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of The
invention relates to a system for preparing a predetermined
quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable
product, comprising an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus
comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a
fluid dispensing device for supplying an amount of a fluid, such as
water, under pressure to the exchangeable capsule, wherein the
exchangeable capsule comprises a circumferential wall, a bottom
closing the circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing
the circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom,
wherein the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising
the extractable product, wherein the fluid dispensing device is
arranged for supplying the fluid to the extractable product through
the bottom for forming the beverage, wherein the receptacle
comprises a support surface, and wherein the capsule is arranged to
at least partly abut against the support surface for draining the
prepared beverage from the capsule through the lid and through the
support surface, wherein the lid comprises a flexible sheet-shaped
perforate and/or porous material and the system comprises an outlet
which, in use, is in fluid communication with the lid for draining
the prepared beverage from the capsule and supplying the beverage
to a container such as a cup.
[0003] Such a system using a capsule of which the lid comprises
openings for draining prepared beverage from the capsule and
supplying the beverage to a container is known per se. These
capsules are known as open capsules, since the capsule itself has
perforate or porous sections, thus, prior to use, being open to
ambient atmosphere (although the open capsule can be contained in
an e.g. airtight outer package). When using the open capsule in the
apparatus of the system in the extended position, thus the position
ready to supply fluid to the extractable product in the capsule,
the open capsule is positioned in the receptacle, wherein the lid
of the capsule faces the support surface and the bottom of the
capsule faces the fluid dispensing device.
[0004] A drawback of the abovementioned system using an open
capsule is that during fluid supply under pressure already prepared
beverage may bypass the outlet of the system after passing the
sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous lid. This means that part of
the prepared beverage, possibly mixed with air available between
the lid and the outlet of the system, may try to pass between the
capsule and the support surface even though the capsule is pressed
against the support surface.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
system according to the above described type, wherein the
advantages of the known system are maintained and the disadvantages
of the known system are at least partly overcome. More in
particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a system
for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage wherein the risk
of bypassing of the prepared beverage after passing the
sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material is minimized.
[0006] Thereto, according to a first aspect of the invention, the
above described system is characterized in that the lid comprises
an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit area being
enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area such that
the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through the exit
area.
[0007] By providing an impermeable outer circumferential area
around an exit area intended for draining the prepared beverage
from the capsule, the prepared beverage is actively forced to pass
the exit area and subsequently the outlet of the system.
Consequently, the risk of prepared beverage trying to pass between
the lid of the capsule and the support surface of the receptacle is
minimized. Thus, instead of for instance pressing the receptacle to
the support surface with a higher pressing force, the system
according to the present invention may more exactly guide the
prepared beverage from the capsule towards the outlet of the
system.
[0008] Preferably, according to a further aspect of the invention,
the flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material is a
flexible foil, such as a polymeric film, at least partly provided
with a plurality of exit openings. Such flexible foil may for
instance be a multilayer foil of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET-P)
and chlorinated polypropylene (CPP) and according to further aspect
of the invention comprise a first layer of PET-P with a thickness
of approximately 15 .mu.m and a second layer of CPP of
approximately 30 .mu.m. The multilayer foil may also comprise a
first layer of PET-P with a thickness of approximately 12 .mu.m and
a second layer of CPP of approximately 30 .mu.m.
[0009] In further elaboration of the invention, the plurality of
exit openings is provided in a centre area of the lid, wherein the
impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid does not comprise
any exit opening. Hence, the lid comprising the exit area and the
impermeable outer circumferential area can be provided in a simple
manner.
[0010] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, on a side of
the lid facing the support surface of the system, an additional
substantially annular sealing member may be provided that forms the
impermeable outer circumferential area of the lid. Such an annular
sealing member can be easily attached to an outer surface of the
lid after attaching the lid to the capsule. According to a further
aspect of the invention, the lid and the annular sealing member may
be of the same material. For instance an annular sealing member of
the multilayer foil as described before may be connected, for
instance by means of an adhesive or sealing it, to an outer side of
the lid of the multilayer foil.
[0011] In another embodiment of the invention, it is also possible
that the annular sealing member is of a resilient material such as
a plastic, for instance PE or a rubber. The annular sealing member
may be connected to a side of the lid facing the support surface of
the receptacle by means of a suitable adhesive. Such a resilient
sealing member can be used to advantage because upon closing of the
receptacle, thus pressing the capsule against the support surface,
the sealing member may be impressed a little thereby providing a
tight seal between the lid and the support surface.
[0012] In order to further prevent the bypass between the support
surface and the capsule it is advantageous according to a further
aspect of the invention if the impermeable outer circumferential
area extends from the circumferential wall radially inward,
preferably over a radial distance between 1 mm-5 mm from the
circumferential wall. Such a dimension of the impermeable outer
circumferential area provides sufficient prevention against bypass
of the prepared beverage and at the same time provides a
sufficiently large exit area suitable to drain the prepared
beverage from the capsule.
[0013] In further elaboration of the invention, the capsule
preferably comprises an outwardly extending rim, wherein the lid is
attached to the outwardly extending rim. Such a rim may have a
radial length at a side facing the lid of approximately 0.2
mm.+-.0.025 mm. Alternatively, such a rim may have a radial length
at a side facing the lid of approximately 4.7 mm.+-.0.1 mm The
radial length can be defined as the dimension of the rim between an
inner side of the circumferential wall of the capsule and the outer
circumferential edge of the rim. Due to such a rim the upper part
of the receptacle can easily press the capsule and thus the lid
against the support surface of the receptacle upon displacement of
the upper part of the receptacle towards the support surface.
[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the exit
area may comprise 75-170 openings such as 100-170 openings,
preferably 90-150 openings such as 110-150, more preferably 100-125
openings. Alternatively, the exit area may have approximately 145
openings. An opening diameter may be between 0.4 mm.+-.0.05 mm and
0.2 mm.+-.0.05 mm, preferably approximately 0.3 mm.+-.0.05 mm. Due
to said openings, the prepared beverage will leave the capsule with
a desired speed such that the preparation time will not be too
long, for instance no more than 40 seconds, preferably no more than
30 seconds. Such openings with such diameters also prevent roasted
and ground coffee particles from leaving the capsule.
[0015] Optionally, the bottom of the capsule is permeable to
liquid. Preferably, the bottom of the capsule is perforate and/or
porous.
[0016] The invention further relates to a capsule according to
claim 15, wherein the capsule may be a capsule of the above
described system. The invention further relates to the use of a
capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage in an
apparatus of such a system.
[0017] The invention also relates to a method for preparing a
predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using
an extractable product, comprising: providing an exchangeable
capsule, comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom closing the
circumferential wall at a first end, and a lid closing the
circumferential wall at a second end opposite the bottom, wherein
the wall, bottom and lid enclose an inner space comprising the
extractable product, providing an apparatus comprising a receptacle
for holding the exchangeable capsule, a fluid dispensing device for
supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under pressure to
the exchangeable capsule, and an outlet which, in use, is in fluid
communication with the capsule for draining the prepared beverage
from the capsule and supplying the beverage to a container such as
a cup, wherein the receptacle comprises a support surface, and
wherein the capsule at least partly abuts against the support
surface for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule through
the lid and through the support surface, wherein the lid comprises
a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material and the
apparatus comprises an outlet which is in fluid communication with
the lid for draining the prepared beverage from the capsule and
supplying the beverage to a container such as a cup, wherein the
lid comprises an impermeable outer circumferential area and an exit
area being enclosed by said impermeable outer circumferential area
such that the prepared beverage is drained from the capsule through
the exit area, wherein the method further comprises supplying the
fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage.
[0018] Such a capsule and such a method provide similar advantages
and effects as described with the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention will now be further elucidated by means of,
non-limiting, examples referring to the drawing, in which
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a system for preparing a beverage according to
a first embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a system according to
the invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic cross sectional view of a
capsule according to the invention; and
[0023] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross sectional view of a second
embodiment of a capsule according to the invention.
[0024] It is noted that identical or corresponding elements in the
different drawings are indicated with identical or corresponding
reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a system 1 for preparing a predetermined
quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable
product according to a first embodiment of the invention. The
system 1 comprises an apparatus 4 comprising an exchangeable open
capsule 2. The apparatus 4 comprises a receptacle 3 for holding the
exchangeable open capsule 2. Commonly, the receptacle 3 has a shape
at least partly complementary to the shape of the capsule 2. The
apparatus 4 further comprises a fluid dispensing device 5 for
supplying an amount of a fluid, such as water, under a pressure, of
e.g. 9 bars, to the exchangeable capsule 2.
[0026] The exchangeable open capsule 2, as provided in the
receptacle 3 of the apparatus 4, comprises a substantially rigid
circumferential wall 6, a bottom 7 closing the circumferential wall
6 at a first end 8, and a lid 9 closing the circumferential wall 6
at a second end 10 opposite the bottom 7. The circumferential wall
6, the bottom 7 and the lid 9 enclose an inner space 11 comprising
the extractable product. Preferably, the extractable product
comprises an amount of roasted and ground coffee. In this example,
the exchangeable capsule 2 comprises an amount of extractable
product, e.g. approximately 5.0-6.5 grams of roasted and ground
coffee, preferably of approximately 5.2.grams.+-.0.15 grams,
suitable for preparing a single portion of the beverage, preferably
a single cup of the beverage, e.g. from 30-200 ml of the prepared
beverage.
[0027] In the shown embodiment of the system 1, the bottom 7, more
specifically an entrance area 15 thereof, of the capsule 2 is
adapted to, in use, being pierced by bottom piercing means 12 to
provide a pierced opening 13 in the bottom 7. In use, fluid from
the fluid dispensing device 5 is provided via bore 14 through the
pierced opening 13 in the inner space 11 of the capsule.
[0028] According to the invention, the lid 9 of the capsule 2
comprises a flexible sheet-shaped perforate and/or porous material,
in this embodiment a flexible foil such as a polymeric film with a
plurality of openings 23 through which the beverage can drain from
the capsule 2. The flexible foil may be a multilayer foil of a
polyethyleneteraphtalate (PET-P) layer of approximately 15 .mu.m
and a chlorinated plypropylene (CPP) layer of approximately 30
.mu.m. Alternatively, The flexible foil may be a multilayer foil of
a PET-P layer of approximately 12 .mu.m and a chlorinated CPP layer
of approximately 30 .mu.m. Furthermore, the lid comprises an
impermeable outer circumferential area 30 that encloses an exit
area 32. The exit area 32 is adapted to drain prepared beverage
from the capsule 2 to the outlet 26 of the system 1. Such a
construction of the lid 9 prevents prepared beverage from bypassing
the outlet 26 of the system (indicated by arrows 40) by guiding the
prepared beverage through the exit area 32 and subsequently trough
the outlet 26.
[0029] The impermeable outer circumferential area 30 of the lid 9
is formed by an additional substantially annular sealing member 31
that is attached to the side of the lid 9 facing the support
surface 3b, for instance by gluing, welding and the like. In the
shown embodiment, the annular sealing member is of a resilient
material such as a plastic, for instance PE or a rubber. The
annular sealing member 31 extends from the circumferential wall 6
radially inward, preferably over a radial distance L (see FIG. 3)
between 1 mm-5 mm from the circumferential wall 6. The capsule 2
comprises an outwardly extending rim 24 to which the lid 9 is
attached, for instance by gluing, welding and the like. A radial
length 1 of the rim 24 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at a side facing the lid
9 is approximately 4.7 mm.+-.0.1 mm.
[0030] The apparatus 4 further comprises lid piercing means 22,
here embodied as protrusions, intended for piercing the lid of a
prior art closed capsule (not shown). According to the invention,
the lid 9 is sufficiently strong and sufficiently stiff not to be
pierced by the lid piercing means 22 of the system 1 under the
influence of the pressure inside the capsule 2. Under influence of
the pressure inside the capsule 2, lid 9 may deform against the lid
piercing means 22, but it may not tear, rupture or be pierced by
the lid piercing means, the lid 9 may stay intact under influence
of the pressure. The bottom piercing means 12 and the upper part 3a
of the receptacle as shown in FIG. 1 are in an extended position
thereby pressing the capsule 2 against the support surface 3b of
the receptacle 3.
[0031] The system 1 as shown in FIG. 1 is operated as follows for
preparing a cup of coffee, wherein the extractable product is
roasted and ground coffee.
[0032] The capsule 2 is placed in the receptacle 3. The upper part
3a of the receptacle 3 is extended towards the support surface 3b
of the receptacle 3. Due to the displacement of the upper part 3a
of the receptacle, the extended bottom piercing means 12 are
activated to pierce the bottom 7 of the capsule 2 in order to
provide an opening 13 in the bottom 7 as shown in FIG. 1. Upon
displacement of the upper part 3a of the receptacle, the rim 24 of
the capsule 2 and thus also the lid 9 connected thereto is pressed
against the support surface 3b of the receptacle 3 of the apparatus
4. Then the fluid, here hot water under pressure, is supplied to
the extractable product in the inner space 11 through the opening
13 via the bore 14 provided in the piercing means 12. The water
will wet the coffee grounds and extract the desired substances to
form the coffee beverage. The prepared coffee will drain from the
capsule 2 through the exit area 32 of the lid 9 being guided by
means of the impermeable outer circumferential area 30 towards
openings 26 of the support surface 24, and may be supplied to a
container such as a cup (not shown).
[0033] In FIG. 2, a system 1 according to the invention is shown.
For the sake of clarity, only the elements that differ from the
system 1 as shown and described with FIG. 1 will be described here
in detail.
[0034] The open capsule 2 comprises, according to the second
embodiment of the invention, an entrance filter 15 in the bottom 7
of the capsule 2. The entrance filter 15 comprises an amount of
openings 17 for supplying fluid from the fluid dispensing device 5
of the apparatus 4 to the inner space 11 of the capsule. Thus, the
fluid is supplied to the extractable product via the plurality of
entrance openings, which causes the extractable product to be
wetted over substantially the entire cross section of the capsule
2. Hence, a very homogeneous supply of fluid to the extractable
product is obtained. It will be appreciated that thus the bottom 7
is perforate and hence permeable to liquid. Alternatively, the
bottom might be porous.
[0035] The open capsule has a height h1 of approximately 23.7
mm.+-.0.2 mm seen in an axial direction. Consequently, the entrance
filter 15 in the bottom 7 is not pierced by the bottom piercing
means 12 of the system 1 of the invention. The thickness t of the
bottom 7 may be approximately 0.7 mm.+-.0.05 mm.
[0036] During preparing of the beverage, the fluid from the fluid
dispensing device 5 enters the cavity 44 provided between the
receptacle 3 and the open capsule 2 through the bore 14. The
entrance filter 15 is adapted to drain fluid from the cavity 44 to
the inner space 11 of the open capsule 2 for extracting desired
substances from the extractable product.
[0037] Thus, more in general, in the example of FIG. 1, the bottom
7 comprises an entrance area 16, formed by the entrance filter 15
which is positioned at a distance from the bottom piercing means
12. The apparatus 4 is arranged for bringing the fluid dispensing
device 5 in fluid connection with the entrance area for supplying
the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage. In
another (not shown) embodiment of the invention, the entrance
filter 15 may be formed by a filtering paper, a flexible foil or
the like material.
[0038] The circumferential wall 6 of the capsule 2 shown in FIG. 2
may e.g. comprise a plastics material and may be formed by e.g.
injection moulding, vacuum-forming, thermoforming or the like.
Also, in the example of FIG. 2, the circumferential wall 10 is
frusto-conical, but other shapes are also possible. For example,
the circumferential wall may be cylindrical or pyramidal. In the
capsule 2 according to the system 1 of the invention, the
impermeable outer circumferential area 30 is part of the lid 9 of
the flexible foil which part does not comprise any exit opening.
The impermeable outer circumferential area 30 may be formed by
temporarily melting part of the perforated lid 9 such that the
openings 23 that are located near the circumferential wall 6
closed. The impermeable outer circumferential area 30 may instead
be provided by only providing openings 23 in the exit area 32 of
the lid. Thus, the impermeable outer circumferential area 30 is
provided in an easy manner. This integrated impermeable outer
circumferential area 30 may comprise similar dimensions and
materials as the annular sealing member 31 as described with FIG.
1.
[0039] In FIGS. 3 and 4, two further embodiments of the capsule 2
according to the invention are shown. Said capsules 2 can be used
in a system 1 according to the invention. For the sake of clarity,
only the elements that differ from the system 1 as shown and
described with FIGS. 1 and 2 are described here in detail. The
capsule of FIG. 3 comprises an entrance filter 15 as described with
the capsule 2 as shown in FIG. 2 and an impermeable outer
circumferential sealing member 30 as described with the capsule 2
as shown in FIG. 1. The capsule of FIG. 4 comprises a bottom 7
intended to be pierced upon use as described with the capsule 2 as
shown in FIG. 1 and an integrated impermeable outer circumferential
area 30 as described with the capsule 2 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0040] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been
described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the
invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications
and changes may be made therein without departing from the broader
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended
claims.
[0041] It is for instance possible that the entrance area of the
capsule comprises different kinds of entrance filters. The capsule
and parts thereof may be made of various materials, or various
combinations of various materials. Also, the capsule may have
various shapes. For example, the circumferential wall of the
capsule may have any shape such as cylindrical, frustoconical or
polygonal, such as hexagonal or octagonal. Also the bottom and the
lid may have various shapes, including non flat shapes. Furthermore
the receptacle may have different constructions as long as the
upper part of the receptacle can be displaced to and retracted from
the support surface such that the capsule can be pressed against
the support surface and subsequently be released. The apparatus of
the system can also have different support surfaces, for instance
without protrusion but with a substantially flat surface or with
surface having a three dimensional pattern or the like. The
apparatus furthermore can have different fluid dispensing device
adapted to supply fluid to the inner space of the capsule in
different ways.
[0042] However, other modifications, variations and alternatives
are also possible. The specifications, drawings and examples are,
accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a
restrictive sense.
[0043] In the claims, any reference signs placed between
parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word
`comprising` does not exclude the presence of other features or
steps then those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words `a` and
`an` shall not be construed as limited to `only one`, but instead
are used to mean `at least one`, and do not exclude a plurality.
The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually
different claims does not indicate that a combination of these
measures cannot be used to advantage.
* * * * *