Capsule for beverage preparation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016137402-A1
Application number	US-201414904186-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2014
Priority date	Jul 10, 2013
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is directed to container ( 11 ) for food or beverage preparation, comprising walls ( 12 ) defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, said walls ( 12 ) comprising at least one fluid connection portion ( 20 ) for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion ( 31 ) of a food or beverage preparation machine ( 1 ) having at least one source ( 3, 28 ) of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within said compartment ( 11 ) by mixing said mixing ingredient with said precursor ingredient, said container ( 11 ) further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall ( 16, 17 ), characterized in that said container ( 11 ) comprises built-in pump means ( 10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 29 ) suitable for pumping said mixing ingredient from said source ( 3, 28 ) when said container ( 11 ) is fluidly connected to said machine ( 1 ), and for generating a fluid circulation within said at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through said delivery wall ( 16, 17 ).

First claim

1 . A container for food or beverage preparation, comprising walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls comprising at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the compartment by mixing said the mixing ingredient with the precursor ingredient, the container further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall, the container comprises a built-in pump made of a closed but deformable volume of the container, that is able to alternatively expend and retract, hence suitable for pumping the mixing ingredient from the source when the container is fluidly connected to the machine, and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the delivery wall.

2 . A container according to claim 1 , wherein the pump is a closed volume of the capsule which comprises:
at least one stretchable or deformable portion of the capsule upper injection wall, which is capable of being alternatively outwardly, then inwardly, elastically stretched or deformed by an outside thrust actuator of the machine, without tearing or breaking, such that the capsule volume alternatively increases then decreases in pumping cycles; an admission opening that provides a fluid connection between the machine and the closed volume, more precisely, from the source of water towards the interior of the capsule closed volume; and an exit opening that allows a fluid connection from the interior towards the outside of the closed volume.

3 . A container according to claim 2 , wherein the admission opening consists of an inlet check valve, and/or the exit opening comprises an outlet check valve.

4 . A container according to claim 3 , wherein the check valve is selected from the group consisting of list of: duckbill valve, ball valve, umbrella valve, peristaltic valve, and combinations thereof.

5 . A container according to claim 2 , wherein the stretchable or deformable wall portion comprises a mechanical connection suitable to be mechanically connected to corresponding mechanical connection of the pump actuator of the machine.

6 . A container according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanical connection of the container comprises a rigid catching circular protrusion able to slide into, or otherwise catch, a cooperating connection groove of the pump actuator.

7 . A container according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid connection portion is adjacent to, or integrated with the mechanical connection.

8 . A container according to claim 1 , which is a rigid or semi-rigid capsule,

9 . A container according to claim 1 , which is a soft pod, or a sachet.

10 . A food or beverage preparation system comprising:
a container comprising walls defining at least one compartment adapted for containing at least one precursor ingredient, the walls comprising at least one fluid connection portion for fluidly coupling to a cooperating fluid connection portion of a food or beverage preparation machine having at least one source of a fluid mixing ingredient, whereby a food or beverage product is prepared within the compartment by mixing the mixing ingredient with the precursor ingredient, the container further comprising at least one food or beverage delivery wall, the container comprises a built-in pump made of a closed but deformable volume of the container, that is able to alternatively expend and retract, hence suitable for pumping the mixing ingredient from the source when the container is fluidly connected to the machine, and for generating a fluid circulation within the at least one compartment, such that a food or beverage product is prepared and expelled through the delivery wall; and a food or beverage preparation machine having a mixing fluid reservoir, a fluid pipe system, a member for connecting the fluid connection portion of the container to the machine pipe system, and further comprising a mechanical actuator and mechanical connection member for connecting mechanically the actuator to the elastically stretchable or deformable wall portion of the container.

11 . A system according to claim 10 , wherein the fluid connection portion of the capsule is adjacent to, or integrated with, the mechanical connection member of the capsule.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Talon Christian
• Odet Samuel
• Denisart Jean-Paul
• Rognon Vincent

Classifications

• A47J31/407

  with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means · 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

• B65D85/8046

  Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material · CPC title

• A47J31/3623

  Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652) · CPC title

• A47J31/303

  classical type of espresso apparatus, e.g. to put on a stove, i.e. in which the water is heated in a lower, sealed boiling vessel, raised by the steam pressure through a rising pipe and an extraction chamber and subsequently is collected in a beverage container on top of the water boiling vessel · CPC title