HK1088796B - Beverage preservation and distribution can, also usable for the extemporaneous preparation of beverages by extraction and/or infusion - Google Patents

Description

Beverage conservation and dispensing tank, also for the extemporaneous preparation of beverages by extraction and/or infusion

Technical Field

The present invention relates to beverage cans, i.e. containers of substances suitable for consumption, in which a beverage is sealed for preservation and mass distribution to the end user, which, in addition to performing said preservation and mass distribution functions of the food contained therein, also enable the production, in use, of an extracted and/or infused beverage by means of said can, the beverage thus formed being collected in a cavity inside the can for direct consumption therefrom.

Background

It has been shown in the data that coffee is one of the largest volume of beverages consumed worldwide, a coffee beverage being a beverage formed by soluble aroma substances contained therein when ground coffee is placed in hot water, and can be formed by the extraction action when a stream of water heated to a temperature close to its boiling point is passed through ground coffee, and by the infusion action when a measured quantity of ground coffee is left in water at a temperature close to its boiling point for several minutes.

In public places such as hotels, cafeterias, snack bars (for example in offices and stations), such beverages are generally produced by rather large equipment, known as "coffee machines" which require an operator.

In private premises, such beverages are generally prepared using a device known as a "coffee maker" made up of a considerable number of components; when required, the user fills the appropriate components with tap water and coffee powder, then assembles the components, places the combination on the heat source, waits for the coffee beverage to form and pour it into a cup, and finally separates and cleans the assembled parts to enable another beverage to be prepared. Many small coffee machines are also available for home use, these duplicating the coffee machines in public places in small sizes.

For many years, users have felt the need to be able to obtain beverages when needed, even if neither a coffee pot nor a large or small coffee machine is available; this occurs primarily when the user is away from home, such as when traveling, moving, or away from a residential center.

In an attempt to meet this demand, powders which are instant in water, such as those known by the trademark nestle, have been marketed, however the beverages thus obtained do not meet the user taste equally well as those produced by extraction or infusion. In any case, this expedient solution does not solve the problem of lack of water, which can occur especially when the user is far from the residential center (for example during hiking or on a ship), or even in certain countries where water is not readily available or the drinking quality of the water is uncertain.

In an attempt to overcome this drawback, cans containing already prepared coffee have been on the market for the same years, which the end user heats when required. However, it is well known that the taste of coffee can be significantly altered as a result of subsequent heating following the cooling experienced in preparing the beverage, which is shown by the low distribution that such beverages have experienced in commerce.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to satisfy the aforementioned needs and at the same time avoid the aforementioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention, which is also very important (and very useful), although stated after the first stated object, is to achieve a mass distribution (similar to that currently achieved with coca-cola) which allows a person located anywhere to enjoy the fresh quality of a real coffee beverage produced on the fly, provided that there is a heat source, and at the same time preserve the ingredients necessary for preparing the beverage until use.

A further object is to provide a tank which, in addition to enabling the production of real coffee beverages when required, can be used to produce other beverages, obtainable from different substances, by extraction and/or infusion.

According to the present invention, the aforementioned aim is achieved by a beverage can, i.e. a container of the type normally used for preserving and mass-distributing food and intended to be discarded after use, said can comprising a side wall, a bottom and a lid and allowing access to the food contained in the can by removing or perforating the lid, characterized in that:

immediately below the lid there is a first chamber which initially does not contain a usable beverage but is intended to receive an ingredient beverage, said first chamber being separated by a sealed partition from a second chamber which already contains an amount of drinkable liquid when the can is served to the user;

said sealing baffle presents a housing configured to sealingly receive the impermeable portion of a filtering device constituted by an enclosure enclosing an amount of substance that can produce a beverage by extraction and/or infusion and provided with a tube intended to be immersed inside a second chamber containing a liquid;

means are provided to enable a user to place the filtering device in a condition of use in which communication is established between the two chambers by said filtering device so that, when the tube is subjected to the action of the heat source, the liquid contained in the second chamber is transferred into the first chamber by passing through the substance contained in the filtering device when reaching a temperature close to the boiling point, thus causing the formation of a beverage.

The filter device is preferably already contained in the first chamber even if it is not in the position of use, which is then brought into the position of use by the user.

Different types of beverages that can be formed by extraction or infusion can be obtained in the same way with various substances (such as ground coffee and barley, tea, cola); the substance can be ground to different degrees of fineness, ranging from very fine powders to flakes and capable of being mixed with other foods (e.g. milk powder, sugar); hereinafter the term "beverage" will always be used for the final liquid product and "substance" for the substance contained in the filtering device and which can lead to the production of a beverage. In the same way, the drinkable liquid is most commonly water, but other liquids may be replaced by or added to other liquids (such as milk), resulting in the production of other beverages besides coffee, such as cappuccino; the final liquid product is known in all cases as a "beverage".

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first chamber intended to receive the finished beverage forms a single piece with the hollow chamber containing the liquid.

According to a variant of the invention, the first chamber for collecting the beverage and the second chamber containing the liquid form a single body with each other and have a sealed partition separating them.

According to another variant of the invention, the first collection chamber is surrounded by a container which is substantially cup-shaped and has its opening facing upwards, said container being shaped and sized so as to be inserted inside the lateral wall of the tank so as to form an internal space between said container and said lateral wall, into which a predetermined quantity of liquid has been placed when the tank is supplied to the user; the container and the side wall of the can have at least one peripheral area in contact and are sealingly joined at least in this peripheral area. It should be noted that in the example described, the walls of the cup-shaped container adjacent to the inner space, which constitutes the second chamber, act as partitions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tank has a filtering device to be inserted into a housing placed for this purpose on the partition, said housing being initially closed by an impermeable membrane. The filtering device can be sealingly inserted by a user into the housing to break the membrane and thus put it in working condition. The filtering device comprises a closed or closable enclosure in the form of a capsule intended to retain the substance, one end of said enclosure being provided with a tube intended to be immersed inside a second chamber containing the liquid, the other end of said enclosure giving at least one filtering area, i.e. allowing only the penetration of liquid so that the liquid that has passed through the ground substance can emerge in a first chamber that acts as a collecting chamber; at least a portion of the impermeable area of the filtering device is shaped to insertedly cooperate with a housing placed on said partition and vice versa.

If desired, the stability and sealing of the filter device at the periphery of the housing into which the device has been inserted can be ensured by suitable gaskets.

Conveniently, when the canister is supplied to the user, the filtering device is already contained in the first collection chamber so that the user can access the filtering device and can operate it to move it into the final working position, having removed or perforated the lid. Alternatively, the filter device may not already be located in the canister, but instead accompany it, for example having a filter device adjacent to it in a package containing the canister.

Conveniently, the filter device already contains a predetermined amount of the substance when the canister is supplied to the user. Alternatively, the quantity of substance can also not be contained in the filtering device, but can instead accompany it (for example suitably packaged in a collection chamber), in which case the filtering device must be openable to enable the user to place the substance therein. In particular, the substance can be packaged in a permeable wrapper (e.g. a small bag of filter paper) that can be inserted into the filtration device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the means for putting the substance contained in the filtering device in communication, in use, with the interior of the mass of liquid contained in the second chamber comprise:

a tube forming part of the filtering device, one end of the tube being free;

a region in which the sealing septum is pierceable by the free end of the tube by the intervention of the user;

and means for providing an external seal between the second chamber already containing the liquid and the tube when the tank is in use conditions.

According to a further variant of the invention, the means for putting the substance contained in the filtering device in communication, in use, with the interior of the mass of liquid contained in the second chamber comprise:

a housing placed on the sealed partition and comprising an circumscribed area that can be opened by a user, by lifting a tab or by piercing, to form a through hole between the second chamber already containing the liquid and the first chamber intended to contain the finished beverage, inside which the filtering device can be housed;

and means for providing an external seal between the second chamber already containing the liquid and the portion of the filtering device already placed in the through hole by the user.

Drawings

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of two embodiments, given by way of example. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a vertical axial section of a can according to a first embodiment of the invention, the can being in a condition of supply to a user;

figure 2 is a section similar to figure 1, but with the canister in a condition of use achieved by intervention of the user;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of a variant of the tank shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a shape corresponding to FIG. 1;

fig. 4 shows the same variant as fig. 3, but in a state corresponding to fig. 2;

figure 5 shows a detail of another variant of the tank shown in figures 1 and 2; and

fig. 6 shows a detail of another variant.

Detailed Description

As can be seen from fig. 1 and 2, the can 10, in particular designated by 10A in the state of fig. 1 and by 10B in the state of fig. 2, comprises a cup-shaped outer container 12 and an inner container 14, also substantially cup-shaped, the inner container 14 being inserted concentrically into the outer container 12. In the example shown, the two cups 12 and 14 are made of a suitable material (such as aluminium or plastic) so that the opposite upper edges can be turned over and riveted or welded together in a conventional manner (as schematically shown in the said figures) so as to obtain a seal between the two. A sealed intermediate chamber 16 is thus obtained, in which a large amount of liquid (for example water) is already contained. The inner container 14, the walls of which in this case act as partitions, defines an upper open cavity 38 at the sides and bottom to act as a cavity for containing the beverage produced in the can 10. As can be seen in fig. 1, an upper open coaxial conduit 20 extends downwardly from the bottom of the inner container 14 and is closed at the bottom by a sealing membrane (e.g. an aluminium sheet closing some of the toothpaste nozzles). As can be seen in fig. 1, a tube 22 formed of a suitable material, such as plastic, and forming part of a filtering device, generally designated 24, is partially inserted by being slightly forced into the conduit 20. The tube 22 has an outer diameter such that a force must be applied in order to insert the tube 22 into the catheter 20 that, in addition to serving to retain the tube 22 in the catheter 20 (the condition shown in figure 1), also forms the desired seal between the tube 22 and the catheter 20. Thus, by forcing the tube 22 of FIG. 1 down into the conduit 20, the user obtains the situation shown in FIG. 2, in which the lower end of the tube 22 (preferably formed as a notch as shown) has penetrated the sealing membrane 34 closing the lower end of the conduit 20. In addition to the tube 22, the filtering device 24 also comprises a hollow part shaped as a capsule 26 (substantially spherical in the specific example) already containing a determined quantity of substance 28 (for example ground coffee). The substance 28, which may also be in the form of granules or powder, cannot fall into the tube 22 because of the provision of a liquid-permeable barrier, indicated at 30 in figure 1 (for example formed by filter paper or a suitable mesh), at its upper mouth communicating with the spherical wall 26. As can be seen in fig. 1, the spherical part 26 of the filtering device 24 has a series of perforations 32 in its upper part to give the capsule a permeable area through which the final beverage can be discharged.

When the canister 10 is supplied to the user (i.e., when the user purchases it), the filter device 24 is in the 10A state shown in FIG. 1, as described above.

It should be noted that the can 10 can remain in the condition 10A shown in figure 1 even during use if the sealing diaphragm 34 is formed of a substance that enables subsequent heat dissipation. In that case, the intervention of the user is limited to the operation of subjecting the tank 10A to the action of the heat source. This is also the case if the sealing diaphragm consists of a membrane pierceable by the effect of the pressure rise created in the second chamber 38 containing the liquid when the tank is subjected to the action of the heat source; this diaphragm obviously has a lower resistance to pressure than the wall 16 of the cavity 38 and the diaphragm 14, and is also lower than the relief pressure of the safety valve (described below) with which the tank is provided. Again in this example, the intervention of the user is limited to the operation of subjecting the tank 10A to the action of the heat source.

The can 10A is conveniently provided with a removable lid 40; the edge of this lid, which can be for example provided with a known ring (not shown) for tearing off the lid, can be turned over and joined to the edges of the two containers 12 and 14 by riveting or welding. Alternatively, the can may be provided with a common cover plate (e.g. plastic) 42 which may be applied by pressure to the upper edge of the can 10. The tank can also be provided with a further cover plate on one of the above-mentioned parts (for example for hygienic reasons).

It is evident from the foregoing description that the tank is very simple and low cost (especially if constructed from aluminum and/or plastic). As will be readily apparent, it is important that the canister is not reusable in practice, and therefore is of disposable type and can be discarded after use.

It should be noted that the term "can" is generally used to define food containers constructed of materials other than tinplate in the form used for what is originally referred to as "tinplate cans" provided that the materials are suitable for food preservation, such as aluminum or plastic, and therefore can construction materials should be understood in the broadest sense in the present invention. For the same reason, the term "can" also denotes a container that is not exclusively cylindrical (for example of the shape of a parallel hexagon).

Although apparent from the foregoing description, a brief description of the use of the can 10 will now be given for clarity.

As described above, the user purchases the can 10 in the condition 10A in fig. 1. When he decides to use it to obtain the relevant beverage, he need only force the filtering device 24 inwards with the fingers after removing any cover plate so that the tube 22, which has not been fully inserted into the duct 20, enters it as far as possible. The result is that the notched end of tube 22 pierces sealing septum 34 until it reaches near the bottom of outer container 12 (the can now is in the condition 10B in figure 2) so that tube 22 is immersed in the volume of liquid (e.g. water) contained in second chamber 16. The filtering device 24 is advantageously constructed of a plastic material suitable for contact with food while being sufficiently rigid to enable the tube 22 to be forced into the duct 20, such forcing also ensuring the necessary seal between the tube 22 and the inner wall of the duct 20.

Having the can in condition 10B, which is subjected only to the action of the heat source (for example by placing it on a flame or in a microwave oven) until the liquid 18 contained in the chamber 16 boils, so that it rises along the tube 22, passes through the mass of substance 28 contained in the capsule 26, exits from the perforations 32 in the form of a beverage and is finally collected in the inner container 14, which acts as a beverage collection chamber as described previously; at this point, the user may also drink the beverage directly from the can, as is the case with other beverages (e.g., beer) that are typically dispensed in cans. The can may be discarded when the beverage has been consumed or used up.

It should also be noted that the canister 10 may also be sold without the filter device in the position shown in figure 1, if large enough, so long as it is in the inner container 14. In this case, the closure (for example a closure plate of the aforementioned type) prevents the accidental detachment of the filtering device from the upper mouth of the tank and at the same time retains its aroma. As an alternative to the above-described closure, but also for covering purposes, the can may be wrapped in a packaging material, for example a heat-shrinkable plastic. It should be noted that the filter device may also be placed outside any cover plate. If the filter device 24 is not already in the position of fig. 1, rupture of the septum 34 can occur in a pierceable region 34 that can be pierced by other means than the lower end of the tube 22, in particular by a plastic rod or needle with which the can be provided. Another variation is shown in fig. 5, where the conduit 220 extends slightly beyond the partition 214 (portion 220A), and a sealing membrane 234 is applied over the upper mouth of the portion 220A, which sealing membrane can be torn off by the user in use, this operation being facilitated by a gripping tab 235.

According to a particularly simple variant of the invention (fig. 6), the housing of the tube 22 and the pierceable region of the septum are obtained simply by providing a thin circular region 334 in the centre of the septum 314, apt to be pierced by the tube 22 or other means.

According to a further variant of the tank of the invention (partially shown in figures 3 and 4, the rest being similar to those of figures 1 and 2), the larger diameter upper part of the tube 122 has an external thread intended to engage with a female thread provided in the inner wall of the conduit 120. In fig. 3, the filter device 124 (in this case oval) is in a condition in which only a partially threaded portion of the tube 122 is threaded into the conduit 120.

When the user wishes to use this can, he simply screws the tube 122 completely into the guide tube 120, with the result that the lower concave holed end of the tube 122 pierces the sealing membrane 134, so as to obtain the condition shown in fig. 4, in which the lower end of the tube 122 is immersed in the liquid contained in the second chamber (not shown). This embodiment is also suitable for the case where the filtering device is made of a suitable plastic so that a seal can be obtained between the tube 122 and the duct 120 by suitably selecting the dimensions and material of the tube 122, and for the case where a suitable metal (such as aluminium) is used or a plastic for which said seal cannot be obtained. In the latter case, however, a sealing gasket (such as that indicated at 140 in fig. 3 and 4) must be used to provide the seal.

It should be noted that if, in addition to the filtering device 24 or 124, the two containers 12 and 14 are also constructed of a suitable plastic suitable for contact with food, the can would not be suitable for placing on a flame or an electric stove, but could be used by insertion into a microwave oven.

Finally, it should be noted that the tank of the invention, and in particular the second chamber already containing the liquid, can conveniently be provided with a safety valve. The latter can be conveniently arranged to open into the first chamber serving as the collecting chamber. In this way, external bulges are avoided, so that the can does not differ from a normal commercial food can in external shape and appearance and can be handled as it is.

For the substances used in the can of the invention to obtain the relative beverage, it is also possible to use, in addition to the crumbled or powdered substance, also substances in gel form (included in capsules), provided they are suitable for producing the desired beverage when placed in the filtering device.

Claims (17)

1. Beverage can, i.e. a container of the type normally used for preserving and mass distributing food and intended to be discarded after use, comprising a side wall, a bottom and a lid, and allowing access to the food contained in the can by removing or perforating the lid, characterized in that:

immediately below the lid of the can (10) there is a first chamber (38) which initially does not contain a usable beverage but is intended to receive a finished beverage, said first chamber being separated by a sealing partition (14; 214; 314) from a second chamber (16) which already contains an amount of drinkable liquid (18) when the can is served to a user;

said sealing partition having a housing (20; 120; 220; 334) configured to sealingly receive an impermeable portion of a filtering device (24; 124) constituted by an enclosure enclosing an amount of substance (28) that can produce the desired beverage by extraction and/or infusion and provided with a tube (22; 122) intended to be immersed inside said second chamber (16) containing the liquid (18);

means being provided for enabling a user to place the filtering device (24; 124) in a condition of use in which communication is established between said first and second chambers (38 and 16) via said filtering device (24; 124) so that, when the can is subjected to the action of the heat source, the liquid contained in said second chamber (16) is transferred into the first chamber (38) by passing through said substance (28), thus causing the formation of a beverage;

the first chamber (38) is defined by an upwardly open container (14), said container (14) being sized and positioned within a side wall (12) of the can (10) such that an interior space is formed between said container (14) and said side wall (12) which constitutes said second chamber (16) adjacent said first chamber (38) and into which an amount of liquid (18) has been placed when the can is supplied to a user, said side wall (12) and said container (14) located therein having at least one peripheral area of contact and being sealingly engaged at least in this peripheral area.

2. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the lid (40) closing the upper mouth of the first chamber (38) for receiving the beverage is independent of the can structure.

3. A beverage container (10) according to claim 2 wherein at least one other removable cover sheet (42) is positioned over the lid (40).

4. The beverage can (10) of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of its components are constructed of a plastic material.

5. A beverage can (10) according to claim 1 wherein the material of construction is suitable for use in a microwave oven.

6. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the filter device (24, 124) is contained within the first chamber (38) which functions as a beverage receptacle when the container is supplied to a user.

7. A beverage can (10) according to claim 1 wherein the housing intended to sealingly receive the impermeable portion of the filter device (24; 124) is constituted by a pierceable region (334) of the sealing septum (14; 314) into which said impermeable portion of the filter device can be inserted.

8. A beverage can (10) according to claim 1 wherein the housing for sealingly receiving the impermeable portion of the filter device (24; 124) comprises a through conduit (20; 120; 220) forming part of the sealing barrier (14; 114; 214) via which communication between the liquid (18) and the substance (28) contained in the filter device (24; 124) is prevented by means of the pierceable membrane (34; 134) or the removable membrane (234) when the can is supplied to a user.

9. A beverage can (10) according to claim 8 wherein at least a portion of the feed-through conduit (20; 120; 220) is threaded to engage a threaded portion of the filter device (24; 124).

10. A beverage can (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gasket (140) provides a seal between an impermeable portion of the filter device (24, 124) and a housing (20; 120; 220; 334) in which the filter device is located in an end use condition.

11. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the filter device (24; 124) already contains an amount of substance (28) enabling the desired beverage to be obtained by extraction and/or infusion at the time of supply to the consumer.

12. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1, wherein the substance (28) enabling the beverage to be obtained by extraction and/or infusion is ground coffee.

13. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the substance (28) enabling the beverage to be obtained by extraction and/or infusion is a soluble solid.

14. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber (16) containing the liquid (18) is provided with a safety valve.

15. A beverage container (10) according to claim 14 wherein the second chamber (16) is provided with a relief valve (36) opening into the interior of the first chamber (38).

16. A beverage container (10) according to claim 1 wherein the communication between the second chamber (16) containing the liquid (18) and the substance (28) contained in the filtering device (24, 124) is prevented by the edible thermosol film when the container (10) is supplied to the user, the intervention required by the user to put the filtering device (24; 124) in its condition of use thus comprising subjecting the container (10) containing said filtering device (24; 124) to a heat source.

17. A beverage container (10) according to claim 14 wherein communication between the second chamber (16) containing the liquid (18) and the substance (28) contained in the filter device (24, 124) is prevented when the container (10) is supplied to a user by a membrane which is pierceable by a pressure build-up formed in the second chamber (16) when the container is brought into contact with a heat source, the rupture pressure of the membrane being less than the release pressure of the safety valve (36), the intervention required by the user to place the filter device (24; 124) in its condition of use thus comprising exposing the container (10) containing said filter device (24; 124) to the heat source.