HK1167792B - Device for preparing a drink extracted from a capsule - Google Patents

Description

Device for preparing a beverage extracted from a container

Technical Field

The invention falls into the field of preparing a drink or beverage, for example a coffee-based drink or beverage, by extracting a concentrated portion, such as ground coffee, contained in a container. The invention relates more particularly to an apparatus using such a container.

Background

Containers and machines operating according to the aforementioned principles have been known for many years.

Patents US2899886, US2968560, US3403617 and US3607297 describe devices in which a container is initially pierced in several places and then pierced by pressurized water.

The container described in patent CH605293 or in patent EP0242556B1 has a septum at its bottom. Pressurized water is initially introduced into the top of the container causing the container to expand primarily in the region of the diaphragm. Above a certain pressure, the membrane is torn, so that the water-coffee mixture flows out.

Other containers with membranes are also described in the following patent documents: EP0468079A, EP0806373A, EP 0554469A.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention seeks to avoid the use of containers made of materials that deform on contact with the hot water. This is because this type of material can cause some devices to malfunction.

The object of the present invention is therefore a device for preparing a beverage extracted from a container, comprising a container support and a container closure, inside which there are at least a water inlet and means for piercing the container, characterized in that said closure is dimensioned in such a way as to: any receptacle disposed within the cover is at least partially deformed such that the receptacle is retained within the cover after contact with the hot water, the receptacle being made of a material that deforms upon contact with the hot water.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the inner wall of the cap comprises a recess in which a deformable element is housed, the deformable element having a stiffness coefficient greater than that of the material of which the container is made.

The recess may be in the form of an annular groove or one or more holes.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the inner wall of the enclosure comprises a flap-type pivoting element arranged to be completely accommodated within the wall of the enclosure if the stiffness coefficient of the container exceeds a set value, and to be at least partially exposed from said wall if the stiffness coefficient of the container does not exceed the set value.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the inner wall of the hood comprises a barbed hook type relief.

Finally, the inner wall of the cap may be in the form of a bell and have an internal volume greater than the volume of the container.

Drawings

Figures 1 to 6 show an example of a device according to the invention;

figures 7 to 12 show alternative forms of apparatus according to the invention;

figures 13 to 18 show another alternative form of device according to the invention;

figures 19 to 24 show a further alternative form of apparatus according to the invention;

figures 25 to 28 show a further alternative form of apparatus according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of some non-limiting embodiments shown in the following figures:

figures 1 to 6 show an example of a device according to the invention in which the inner wall of the cap 5 comprises a groove 6 in the form of an annular groove, the inside of the groove 6 being occupied by a slightly deformable element 7, for example an O-ring or a spring, the slightly deformable element 7 allowing a rigid container to be inserted into the cap 5 without deformation of the container 1 by allowing it to be compressed slightly. If the container 1 becomes soft due to contact with the hot water (see fig. 5 and 6), the side walls of the container 1 will deform in the area of the recess 6. Once the hot water is removed, the container 1 hardens and squeezes inside the cover 5, rendering the device inoperative.

It should be noted that the slightly deformable element 7 must be adapted so that it exerts a certain force towards the centre of the cap 5.

The alternative illustrated in fig. 13 to 18 operates in a similar manner to that illustrated in fig. 1 to 6. The only difference is that the recess is in the form of at least one cylindrical hole 8, in which cylindrical hole 8 a spring 9 is placed. Preferably, a plurality of holes 8 distributed around the container 1 are used.

The alternative shown in figures 7 to 12 also has a cap 5 with one or more grooves. In this case, however, the deformation element has the form of a flap 10, the flap 10 pivoting about a horizontal axis. When the container 1 is placed in the cover, the tab 10 is fully received in its recess. Once the container 1 is softened, each tab 10 sticks into the wall of the container 1. The geometry of the tab 10 has the effect of a barbed hook. As seen in fig. 11 and 12, the container 1 is held within the shroud 5.

The alternative form of fig. 19 to 24 features an inner wall of the mask 5 which includes a saw-tooth like relief in the form of barbed hooks 7. When the container 1 softens, some of its material becomes lodged between the serrations of the cover 5, thereby retaining the container 1 within the cover 5.

Finally, the alternative embodiment of fig. 25 to 28 shows a cap 5 in the form of a bell, the internal volume of the cap 5 being greater than the volume of the container. When hot water enters the tank, the tank is able to deform once it comes into contact with the hot water, this deformation being such that: its side walls may be broken (see fig. 27 and 28). Therefore, the container cannot be used.

Furthermore, once the hot water is removed, the container 1 is squeezed tightly inside the cover 5.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the examples shown in the drawings.

Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for preparing a beverage extracted from a capsule (1), comprising a capsule holder (4) and a capsule housing (5), inside said capsule housing (5) there being at least a water inlet and means for piercing the capsule,

characterized in that the dimensions of the cover (5) are set in the following manner: any container (1) placed inside the cover (5) is at least partially deformed by deformation means constituted on the inner wall of said cover, so that the container (1) is retained inside the cover (5) after contact with the hot water, said container (1) being made of a material which deforms once in contact with the hot water.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said deformation means are recesses (6, 8), inside which recesses (6, 8) there are housed deformable elements (7, 9), the rigidity coefficient of said deformable elements (7, 9) being greater than the rigidity coefficient of the material from which the container (1) is made.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the recess (6) is an annular groove.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the recess is a hole (8).

5. The apparatus of claim 4, comprising a plurality of grooves in the form of holes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said deformation means are pivoting elements of the flap (10) type, arranged so as to be completely housed within the wall of the hood (5) if the stiffness coefficient of the container exceeds a set value, and to be at least partially exposed from said wall if the stiffness coefficient of the container does not exceed the set value.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deformation means are undulations of the barbed hook (11) type.

8. An apparatus for preparing a beverage extracted from a capsule (1), comprising a capsule holder (4) and a capsule housing (5), inside said capsule housing (5) there being at least a water inlet and means for piercing the capsule,

characterized in that the dimensions of the cover (5) are set in the following manner: -at least partially deforming any container (1) placed inside a hood (5) so that the container (1) is held inside the hood (5) after contact with hot water, said container (1) being made of a material that deforms upon contact with the hot water, wherein the inner wall of said hood (5) is in the form of a bell (12) and has an inner volume that is greater than the volume of the container.