RU239736U1 - A container for a single-component beverage containing a flexible element, water, in the upper part, equipped with a lower support platform for the capsule seat, an adhesive layer, and a support for the capsule holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to beverage preparation devices. A container for a single-component beverage comprises a flexible element at its upper portion, which extends into a single capsule holder, which has a single opening of a shape and size suitable for inserting a capsule. The holder can be moved from its upper position to its lower position by means of said flexible element. The container is equipped with a piercer, which comprises a single piercing element located within the container and attached to the interior of the container. The piercer is positioned such that, when the holder is in its upper position, the piercing element does not interact with the capsule, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing element pierces the capsule. The container contains water for preparing the beverage. The capsule seat is equipped with a lower support pad, which provides support for the lower portion of the capsule. The capsule holder is equipped with an adhesive layer located in the area of contact with the capsule. The interior of the container is equipped with a capsule holder support, which is integral with the interior of the container's side wall. This improves the operational safety of the device. 3 fig.

Description

Field of technology

This utility model relates to beverage preparation devices, as well as specially adapted containers for these devices. The utility model can be used for operating the device in challenging conditions, such as by passengers in vehicles, particularly taxis.

State of the art

The prior art discloses containers for preparing and consuming beverages described in RU 218200 U1, 16.05.2023, RU 219996 U1, 18.08.2023, RU 221418 U1, 07.11.2023, RU 220130 U1, 28.08.2023, RU 220368 U1, 20.07.2023, RU 220129 U1, 28.08.2023, as well as in RU 229407 U1, 04.10.2024, RU 229400 U1, 04.10.2024, RU 228658 U1, 09.09.2024, and equipped with capsule holders, and also with piercing tools.

However, in known solutions, neither the capsule holders nor the piercers are movable; therefore, the capsule is pierced by the user when inserting it into the holder, immediately before preparing the drink.

Therefore, known solutions cannot be stored with capsules installed, and also require the user to properly install the capsules. Operating the coffee machine with incorrectly installed capsules can result in hot water splashing out, which can land on the passenger, burn them, and stain clothing and/or the car's interior.

Thus, the known designs are unsafe to operate.

The technical result achieved by the utility model consists in increasing the safety of operation of the device.

In order to achieve the technical result, a container for a single-component beverage is claimed, which in its upper part contains a flexible element that goes into a holder for one capsule, which has one opening, the shape and size of which allows a capsule to be installed in it, wherein by means of the said flexible element the holder can move from its upper position to its lower position, wherein the container is provided with a piercer containing one piercing element, which is located inside the container and is attached to the inside of the container, wherein the piercer is located in such a way that when the holder is in its upper position, the piercing element does not interact with the capsule, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing element pierces the capsule, wherein the container contains water for preparing the beverage, wherein the capsule seat is provided with a lower support platform that provides support for the lower part of the capsule, wherein the capsule holder is provided with an adhesive layer located in the area of contact with the capsule, wherein the inside of the container is provided with a support for the capsule holder, made inseparable from the inside of the side wall capacity.

The essence of the utility model is explained by illustrations:

Fig. 1 - device with installed capsule before capsule puncture. Side cross-sectional view.

Fig. 2 - The device with the capsule installed after puncture. Side cross-sectional view.

Fig. 3 - The device. Side sectional view. A - before installation in a car coffee machine. B - after installation in a car coffee machine.

At the same time

1 - Car coffee machine

2 - Capacity

3 - Flexible element

4 - Capsule holder

5 - Capsule

6 - Piercing element

7 - Puncturer

8 - Lower support platform of the capsule nest

9 - Water

10 - Adhesive layer

11 - Capsule holder support.

Implementation of a utility model

The body of the water container is designed with rigidity that ensures the possibility of using the device without its destruction during user manipulation of the declared device at all stages of the device's operation, including when placing the device on the lower receiving piercer.

The beverage container 2 comprises a flexible element 3 at its upper portion, which extends into a holder 4 for a single capsule 5, which has a single opening of a shape and size suitable for inserting a capsule. By means of said flexible element, the holder can be moved from its upper position to its lower position. The container is equipped with a piercer 7, comprising a piercing element 6, which is located within the container and attached to the interior of the container. The piercer is positioned such that when the holder is in its upper position, the piercing element does not interact with the capsule, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing element pierces the capsule.

To prepare a drink, water is forced under pressure through a substance contained in a capsule. To add water to the coffee machine, pour water from a bottle into the device. This requires opening the bottle, turning it upside down, and pouring the water into the device. In a moving vehicle, subject to shaking, braking, or sudden maneuvers, this operation could result in water spilling onto the user and/or interior components. To reduce the risk of this hazard, the device contains the water from which the drink is prepared.

The coffee machine is designed to receive water from the container using a receiving piercer, a pointed tube designed to pierce the lid. The piercer is lowered vertically to the bottom of the container, for example, by a lever or linear actuator, with the opening of the tube facing downwards, and a pump draws water out of the container. The water passes through the beverage preparation components and, through the upper piercer, is fed into the capsule. After passing through the capsule filler, it flows into the container as the finished beverage.

Water in the container ensures the functional integrity of the device and serves as a medium that functions as part of the device. Without water in the container, the functional integrity of the device is compromised, and the stated technical result—improved operational safety—would not be achieved, as preparing a drink requires pouring water into the coffee machine, which is inconvenient and unsafe in moving vehicles. Furthermore, the presence of water in the container for preparing the drink ensures procedural integrity. In this case, water is not simply a content, like water in a drinking glass; it is an active component of the technological process, representing an assembly operation, since the glass is filled with water directly during production, and then it is constantly present in the container until the beverage is produced. This eliminates the need for interaction with water, thereby increasing the operational safety of the device.

When pressurized water is injected into the capsule through a puncture in the top of the capsule, the water, as it passes through the beverage extract, creates pressure within the capsule body. This pressure creates tension on the capsule body walls, which can cause it to stretch and thin. This can lead to rapid rupture of the capsule body and an explosive spray of hot water under pressure from the ruptured capsule body. Such a pressurized capsule explosion can damage the inside of the cup, potentially causing hot liquid to splash onto the user. To reduce the likelihood of this hazard, the device includes a capsule seat with a lower support pad that provides support for the lower portion of the capsule. The pad is shaped like a flat ring, permanently connected via guides to any component of the device. The lower support platform is provided with an opening that allows for piercing the lower part of the capsule and the flow of the finished drink from the lower puncture of the capsule into the glass, wherein the location of the opening corresponds to the location of the lower piercing element and is designed to allow access of the lower piercing element to the capsule.

The capsule holder's design, supported by a lower support plate, helps contain the water pressure entering the capsule, preventing its expansion. Because the lower support plate absorbs some of the water pressure, it prevents the capsule body from expanding, weakening, or rupturing, thereby increasing the safety of the device.

When tilting the device while drinking, the liquid inside the device may press on the inserted capsule, causing the capsule to fall out of the capsule slot. This could result in hot beverage leaking through the unsealed capsule slot onto the user. To reduce the risk of this hazard, the capsule holder is equipped with an adhesive layer located in the capsule contact area, designed to adhere the capsule to the capsule slot.

The adhesive used is a food-grade hot-melt adhesive, such as silicone adhesive, epoxy resin, or other solvent-free adhesives that emit low levels of volatile organic compounds, making them safe for food contact. The adhesive layer is pre-applied to the finished product in a continuous layer or in dots.

The presence of an adhesive layer on the capsule seat where it contacts the device prevents capsules from falling out of the capsule socket. The adhesive layer in the capsule-lid contact area secures the capsule in the socket, preventing it from falling out and increasing the safety of the device.

The capsule holder moves from its upper position to its lower position, which is used to pierce the bottom of the capsule, when the upper capsule piercer, which is part of the beverage preparation device, is pressed onto the capsule. If the device is not installed evenly in the beverage preparation device, or if the capsule seat is deformed, for example, due to improper storage or transportation, or if the capsule piercer mechanism or the device holder in the coffee machine are deformed, for example, due to temperature effects from the environment and/or from beverage preparation device components, the capsule seat may end up higher than its normal position, i.e., closer to the capsule piercer. This may result in the capsule being crushed and the capsule seat being destroyed when the upper capsule piercer is lowered onto the capsule. This will result in water being sprayed under pressure into the capsule through the capsule piercer, which may burn the user, stain their clothing and/or the interior of the vehicle.

To reduce the likelihood of this situation, the device is equipped with a capsule holder support, a ring-shaped platform inseparably molded or bonded to the inside of the container sidewall. The capsule holder support is made of hard plastic and is designed to support the capsule holder in its lowered position. The capsule holder support has several through-holes to allow the beverage to flow when the container is tilted. These holes are designed so that when drinking, the entire beverage flows out of the glass through these holes. The capsule holder support is permanently positioned on the inside of the container wall and does not move when the upper capsule piercer is lowered. This increases the rigidity of the capsule seat in the lowered position, reducing the likelihood of damage to the capsule seat from excessive pressure from the upper capsule piercer, thereby improving the safety of the device.

The utility model works as follows:

The user can use a beverage container pre-packaged with a capsule corresponding to the beverage's recipe. Alternatively, the user can customize the container by inserting the appropriate capsules into the beverage container holder. It's important to note that the capsules are not punctured during installation.

The user then places the beverage container into the coffee machine, which, by moving the holder, pierces the capsules from below.

The coffee machine is designed to simultaneously pierce the capsule from above with the upper piercer and cut a drinking hole. For this purpose, the coffee machine is equipped with a knife, which is a component of the coffee machine designed to cut a drinking hole when the upper piercer is lowered onto the device.

The coffee machine then heats and forces water under pressure through the capsules into the container, thus providing the user with a finished drink, ready for consumption through the opening created by cutting the drinking hole.

Claims (1)

A container for a single-component beverage, which in its upper part contains a flexible element that passes into a holder of one capsule, which has one opening, the shape and size of which allows for the installation of a capsule in it, wherein by means of the said flexible element the holder can move from its upper position to its lower position, wherein the container is provided with a piercer containing one piercing element, which is located inside the container and attached to the inner part of the container, wherein the piercer is located in such a way that, when the holder is in its upper position, the piercing element does not interact with the capsule, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing element pierces the capsule, wherein the container contains water for preparing the beverage, wherein the capsule seat is provided with a lower support platform, providing a stop for the lower part of the capsule, wherein the capsule holder is provided with an adhesive layer, located in the area of contact with the capsule, wherein the inner part of the container is provided with a support for the capsule holder, made inseparable from the inner part of the side wall of the container.