Food or beverage capsule with built-in foaming capabilities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9821950-B2
Application number	US-201414910457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 7, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a container (C) for the preparation of flowable food or beverage compositions, adapted to be functionally inserted in a food or beverage preparation machine (M), said container comprising walls defining at least one cavity ( 27 ) for containing at least one precursor ingredient, and a dispensing channel ( 15 ) through which the food or beverage composition can flow to a consumer receptacle, characterized in that it further comprises a foaming whisk element ( 29 ) located at least partially into the dispensing channel ( 15 ) so as to be able to whip said product when the latter exits said channel ( 15 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A container for the preparation of flowable food or beverage compositions and adapted to be functionally inserted in a food or beverage preparation machine, the container comprising:
walls defining at least one cavity for containing at least one precursor ingredient;
a dispensing channel through which the flowable food or beverage compositions can flow to a consumer receptacle; and
a foaming whisk element comprising a longitudinal rod and at least one blade, located at least partially into the dispensing channel to whip a product when the product exits the dispensing channel, the foaming whisk element comprises at least one elastically deformable curved spring that extends downwardly from an upper part of the longitudinal rod.

2. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the foaming whisk element is an elongated element having a longitudinal axis that can rotate about the longitudinal axis.

3. The container according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the foaming whisk element is actuated by a flow of the product dispensed through the dispensing channel.

4. The container according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade is a double curvature blade.

5. A container for the preparation of flowable food or beverage compositions and adapted to be functionally inserted in a food or beverage preparation machine, the container comprising:
walls defining at least one cavity for containing at least one precursor ingredient;
a dispensing channel through which the flowable food or beverage compositions can flow to a consumer receptacle; and
a foaming whisk element comprising a longitudinal rod and at least one blade, located at least partially into the dispensing channel to whip a product when the product exits the dispensing channel, wherein the foaming whisk element comprises a plug having shapes and dimensions adapted to close the dispensing channel when the plug is located within the dispensing channel, the foaming whisk element further comprising at least one elastically deformable curved spring able to link the foaming whisk element to the container in a movable manner between:
a closed position where pressure within the container cavity is below a first predetermined pressure, the at least one elastically deformable curved spring is at rest, and the plug seals against a sealing portion of walls of the channel, and
a dispensing position where pressure within the container cavity is equal or superior to the first predetermined pressure, the whisk spring is elastically deformed, and the whisk plug is moved away from the walls of the channel so that the flowable food or beverage compositions can flow outside of the container through the dispensing channel.

6. The container according to claim 1 , which is a rigid or semi-rigid capsule.

7. The container according to claim 1 , which is for the preparation of a beverage selected from the group consisting of coffee, tea, chocolate, and fruit based beverage.

8. A container for the preparation of flowable food or beverage compositions and adapted to be functionally inserted in a food or beverage preparation machine, the container comprising:
walls defining at least one cavity for containing at least one precursor ingredient;
a dispensing channel through which the flowable food or beverage compositions can flow to a consumer receptacle; and
a foaming whisk element comprising a longitudinal rod and at least one blade, located at least partially into the dispensing channel to whip a product when the product exits the dispensing channel, wherein the foaming whisk element comprises a plug at a lowermost distal end of the longitudinal rod, and the plug is configured to deviate a flow of liquid flowing through the dispensing channel and create a tube-like flow by pressing the liquid in a space between an internal surface of the dispensing channel and an external surface of the plug.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Talon Christian

Classifications

• 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

• A47J43/127

  Devices using a rotary mixing element, e.g. driven by the gas · CPC title

• B65D85/73

  with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head · CPC title