Beverage preparation unit with safety valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814347-B2
Application number	US-201515303407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 12, 2014
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Portable beverage preparation devices for preparing a beverage from an ingredients containing capsule are disclosed and include a beverage brewing unit and beverage dispensing means that includes a safety outlet valve. Also disclosed are systems that include the beverage preparation devices and receptacles for use with the beverage preparation devices.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A beverage preparation device for preparing a beverage from an ingredients containing capsule, the device comprising:
a beverage brewing unit for receiving the capsule and preparing the beverage from the ingredients within the capsule by means of injection of pressurized liquid into the capsule;
beverage dispensing means connected to the beverage brewing unit, the beverage dispensing means comprising:
a dispensing outlet for dispensing the resulting beverage from the device into a receptacle; and
a safety outlet valve adapted to selectively open a fluid communication from the beverage brewing unit to the dispensing outlet dependent on the presence and/or proximity of the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is equipped with activation means for the safety outlet valve; and

wherein the safety outlet valve is designed for being magnetically engaged by the activation means of the receptacle.

2. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the safety outlet valve is designed to open the fluid communication upon magnetic engagement by the activation means of the receptacle.

3. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the safety outlet valve is arranged below a support surface of the beverage preparation device for the receptacle.

4. The beverage preparation device according to claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the safety outlet valve is arranged movable in a direction essentially perpendicular to the support surface.

5. The beverage preparation device according to claim 3 , wherein the safety outlet valve is biased in a closing position in a direction away from the support surface.

6. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the safety outlet valve comprises a movable element having an essentially disc-shaped body with an inner liquid channel that is arranged moveable within an outer guiding element comprising radial flow passages.

7. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein a beverage dispensing outlet is arranged to protrude from the support surface of the device.

8. The beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , wherein the safety outlet valve is arranged within a removable lid member of the device.

9. A beverage preparation device for preparing a beverage from an ingredients containing capsule, the device comprising:
a beverage brewing unit for receiving the capsule and preparing the beverage from the ingredients within the capsule by means of injection of pressurized liquid into the capsule;
beverage dispensing means connected to the beverage brewing unit, the beverage dispensing means comprising:
a dispensing outlet for dispensing the resulting beverage from the device into a receptacle; and
a safety outlet valve adapted to selectively open a fluid communication from the beverage brewing unit to the dispensing outlet dependent on the presence and/or proximity of the receptacle, wherein the receptacle is equipped with activation means for the safety outlet valve; and

wherein the safety outlet valve comprises a plurality of alternating magnetic poles about a circumference of the safety outlet valve.

10. A system comprising:
a beverage preparation device according to claim 1 ; and
a receptacle comprising activation means designed to magnetically engage the safety outlet valve.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the activation means are arranged in a circumferential bottom portion of the receptacle.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the activation means comprise a plurality of alternating magnetic poles arranged about a circumference of the bottom portion of the receptacle.

13. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is equipped with a central valve means designed for engaging the dispensing outlet of the device.

14. A receptacle for use with a beverage preparation device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a circumferential bottom portion; and
activation means designed to magnetically engage the safety outlet valve of the beverage preparation device, wherein the activation means is arranged in the circumferential bottom portion.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Kollep Alexandre
• Dumur Philippe

Classifications

• A47J31/58 Primary

  Safety devices · CPC title

• A47J31/369

  Impermeable cartridges being employed · CPC title

• A47J31/368

  Permeable cartridges being employed · CPC title