System, capsule and method for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10231571-B2
Application number	US-201113326291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 14, 2011
Priority date	Jun 17, 2009
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A capsule for holding an extractable product for dispensing a beverage is disclosed. The capsule comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, and an entrance opening portion and an exit opening portion for letting fluid in the capsule and draining prepared beverage from the capsule, respectively, of which at least one opening portion is closed to prevent fluid from passing. The circumferential wall, the bottom and the lid of the capsule enclose an inner space that comprises an extractable product, and the capsule further comprises at least one moveable portion of the capsule that extends at a distance from a respective opening portion, and that is arranged to open the respective opening portion by being moved with respect to the respective opening portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for preparing a predetermined quantity of a beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, the system comprising:
an exchangeable capsule comprising a circumferential wall, a bottom, a lid, an entrance opening portion for letting fluid into the exchangeable capsule, and an exit opening portion for dispensing the fluid from the exchangeable capsule, wherein the exchangeable capsule is sealed prior to use, and wherein the circumferential wall, the bottom, and the lid enclose an inner space comprising extractable product, wherein the exit opening portion is provided in the lid of the exchangeable capsule and the entrance opening portion is provided in the bottom of the exchangeable capsule; wherein the exit opening portion provided on the lid of the exchangeable capsule is arranged such that fluid is dispensed from the exchangeable capsule in a direction perpendicular to the lid of the exchangeable capsule;
an alternative capsule different from the exchangeable capsule and 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 circumferential wall, the bottom, and the lid enclose an inner space comprising extractable product;
an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding either the exchangeable capsule comprising its lid in a first configuration or the alternative capsule comprising its lid in a second configuration, a fluid dispensing device arranged for in use supplying an amount of fluid, such as water, to the exchangeable capsule in the first configuration and the alternative capsule in the second configuration, and an outlet arrangement for supplying the beverage to a container, such as a cup;
wherein in the first configuration the fluid dispensing device is in fluid connection with the entrance opening portion of the exchangeable capsule, when in use, for supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage;
wherein in the first configuration the outlet arrangement is in fluid communication with the exit opening portion of the exchangeable capsule when in use for draining the prepared beverage from the exchangeable capsule; and
wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises at least one moveable portion arranged for creating at least one fluid passage opening in at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion by being moved with respect to said at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion, wherein the moveable portion of the exchangeable capsule comprises piercing elements, wherein the lid of the alternative capsule is free from piercing elements;
wherein the receptacle comprises a lid piercing device configured to, in the second configuration, rupture the lid of the alternative capsule for creating at least one exit opening through which the beverage can drain from the alternative capsule, when the lid of the alternative capsule is sufficiently pressed against the lid piercing device under the influence of pressure in the alternative capsule, and wherein the fluid dispensing device includes a bottom piercing portion configured to, in the second configuration, pierce a bottom of the alternative capsule for providing an opening in the bottom of the alternative capsule for supplying the fluid to the extractable product for preparing the beverage, said bottom piercing portion being separate from the lid piercing device, and
wherein the lid piercing device and the exchangeable capsule of the system are adapted to each other such that the lid of the exchangeable capsule, during drainage of the beverage from the exchangeable capsule in the first configuration, is not pierced by the lid piercing device when the lid of the exchangeable capsule is coupled to the circumferential wall of the exchangeable capsule.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable portion extends at a distance from the at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion is arranged so that the at least one fluid passage opening that is created by moving the moveable portion is of approximately predetermined size and is provided at a predetermined location.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion comprises a cut out for determining the size and location of a fluid passage opening.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movable portion comprises cut outs, wherein movable portion support parts are provided between the cut outs, the movable portion support parts being breakable for moving the movable portion.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises at least one of an entrance filter and an exit filter for letting fluid pass through while maintaining the extractable product inside the exchangeable capsule.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable portion comprises a moveable piercing part that is arranged to pierce through the at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable portion comprises an internal movable portion that extends in the inner space of the exchangeable capsule.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable portion is provided by the circumferential wall, and the at least one fluid passage opening is created by deforming the circumferential wall so that by said deformation a tension is created in the opening portion which makes the opening portion break open.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion is the exist opening portion and the at least one fluid passage opening is created in the exit opening portion by at least partly deforming the lid so that a tension is created in the exit opening portion, which tension makes the exit opening portion break open.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable capsule is arranged so that the moveable portion is moved with the aid of the bottom piercing device.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the moveable portion is arranged to create the at least one fluid passage opening in both the entrance opening portion and the exit opening portion.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable capsule comprises a relatively rigid rim that projects towards an outside of the exchangeable capsule from an edge of the circumferential wall, and the circumferential wall is substantially rigid so that, in use, deformation of the circumferential wall with respect to the receptacle is prevented.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the exchangeable capsule is conceived to be opened by means of manually actuating the movable portion.

Assignees

• Wong Kon Euan Gerard
• Brandt Guido
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis
• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Biesheuvel Arend Cornelis Jacobus
• Douwe Egberts Bv

Inventors

• Wong Kon Euan Gerard
• Brandt Guido
• Koeling Hendrik Cornelis
• Kamerbeek Ralf
• Biesheuvel Arend Cornelis Jacobus

Classifications

• A47J31/057

  with water container separated from beverage container, the hot water passing the filter only once {i.e. classical type of drip coffee makers} · CPC title

• A47J31/368

  Permeable cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/3676 Primary

  Cartridges being employed · CPC title

• B65D77/38

  Weakened closure seams · CPC title

• A47J31/3695 Primary

  Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet (cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673) · CPC title