Pod-based restrictors and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10442610-B2
Application number	US-201414205197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	Mar 11, 2014
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A single-serve beverage cartridge including a generally hollow body portion having a chamber, a sidewall, a first end, and a second end. A beverage component or precursor can be positioned in the chamber. Further, the second end can include at least one restricting orifice that can facilitate the creation of a predetermined amount of pressure in the chamber.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A single-serve beverage cartridge comprising:
a generally hollow body portion comprising a chamber defined by a sidewall, a first end, and a second end, the second end comprising a bottommost wall of the generally hollow body portion and at least one restricting orifice in the bottommost wall, the entire bottommost wall defined by a flat inner surface and a flat exterior surface extending along a single plane, each of the at least one restricting orifice comprises an inlet at the flat inner surface and an outlet at the flat exterior surface, the flat exterior surface forming a bottommost surface of the cartridge;
a beverage component or precursor disposed in the chamber;
a filter element within the chamber and joined to the flat inner surface of the bottommost wall, wherein the filter element is proximal to and spaced apart from the second end to form a flowpath in a gap between the filter element and the flat inner surface, the filter configured to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and
a baffle within the chamber and adjacent to the filter element such that the filter element is interposed between the baffle and the bottommost wall, the baffle configured to direct a flow of liquid around the baffle and through the filter element,
wherein the at least one restricting orifice is positioned such that, in use, the flow of liquid travels generally horizontally through the flowpath to reach the at least one restriction orifice under the baffle, and
wherein prior to brewing a beverage, the chamber is unobstructed between the first end and the beverage component or precursor.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first end is an open end.

3. The cartridge of claim 2 , further comprising a cover that covers the first end.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a radially outwardly extending lip.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the baffle is coupled to the filter element.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one restricting orifice comprises a single restricting orifice.

7. The cartridge of claim 6 , wherein the single restricting orifice is located at the center of the second end.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one restricting orifice comprises a plurality of restricting orifices.

9. The cartridge of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of restricting orifices is equidistant from the center of the second end.

10. The cartridge of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of restricting orifices is equidistant from a periphery of the second end.

11. The cartridge of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of restricting orifices comprises a first orifice, a second orifice, and a third orifice, the first orifice separated from the second orifice by a first distance, the second orifice separated by the third orifice by a second distance, the first distance being the same as the second distance.

12. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the at least one orifice has nozzle shape with a first diameter and a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the first diameter is closer to the filter element than the second diameter.

14. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the beverage component or precursor comprises espresso coffee grounds.

15. A method of preparing a single serving of a beverage, the method comprising:
providing a cartridge for insertion into a single-serve beverage machine, the cartridge comprising:
a generally hollow body portion comprising a chamber defined by a sidewall, a first end, and a second end, the second end comprising a bottommost wall of the generally hollow body portion and at least one restricting orifice in the bottommost wall, the entire bottommost wall defined by a flat inner surface and a flat exterior surface extending along a single plane, each of the at least one restricting orifice comprises an inlet at the flat inner surface and an outlet at the flat exterior surface, the flat exterior surface forming a bottommost surface of the cartridge;
a beverage component or precursor positioned in the chamber;
a filter element within the chamber and joined to the flat inner surface of the bottommost wall, wherein the filter element is proximal to and spaced apart from the second end to form a flowpath in a gap between the filter element and the flat inner surface, the filter configured to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and
a baffle within the chamber and adjacent to the filter element such that the filter element is interposed between the baffle and the bottommost wall, the baffle configured to direct a flow of liquid around the baffle and through the filter element,
wherein the at least one restricting orifice is positioned such that, in use, the flow of liquid travels generally horizontally through the flowpath to reach the at least one restriction orifice under the baffle, and
wherein prior to brewing a beverage, the chamber is unobstructed between the first end and the beverage component or precursor;

introducing liquid into communication with the beverage component or precursor to form a beverage; and
dispensing the beverage through the restricting orifice, wherein the restricting orifice increases a pressure in the chamber during dispensing of the beverage.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising introducing the liquid through a cover coupled with the first end of the body portion.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pressure in the chamber is at least 9 bar.

18. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one restricting orifice comprises a throat portion extending from the inlet and a conical portion extending from the throat portion to the outlet, the throat portion having a uniform diameter.

19. A single-serve beverage cartridge comprising:
a generally hollow body portion comprising a chamber defined by a sidewall, a first end that defines a top of the cartridge, and a second end that defines a bottom of the cartridge, the second end comprising a bottommost wall of the generally hollow body portion and at least one restricting orifice in the bottommost wall, the entire bottommost wall defined by a flat inner surface and a flat exterior surface extending along a single plane, each of the at least one restricting orifice comprises an inlet at the flat inner surface and an outlet at the flat exterior surface, the flat exterior surface forming a bottommost surface of the cartridge;
the chamber consisting of:
a beverage component or precursor;
a filter element joined to the flat inner surface of the bottommost wall, wherein the filter element is proximal to and spaced apart from the second end to form a flowpath in a gap between the filter element and the flat inner surface, the filter configured to allow liquid to pass therethrough, and
a baffle adjacent to the filter element such that the filter element is interposed between the baffle and the bottommost wall, the baffle configured to direct a flow of liquid around the baffle and through the filter element,

wherein the at least one restricting orifice is positioned such that, in use, the flow of liquid travels generally horizontally through the flowpath to reach the at least one restriction orifice under the baffle.

Assignees

• Starbucks Corp

Inventors

• Mack Adam Mekeel
• Manoux Philipe Roget

Classifications

• B65D65/466 Primary

  Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials · CPC title

• B65D85/8043 Primary

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title

• B65D85/8061

  Filters · CPC title

• B65D85/8055 Primary

  Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package · CPC title