RU240478U1 - A container for a two-component drink, containing a flexible element in the upper part, water, equipped with a side wall of a capsule nest, an adhesive layer - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to beverage preparation devices, as well as containers specially adapted for specific products. The utility model can be used to operate the claimed device in challenging conditions, such as by passengers in vehicles, particularly taxis. A container for a two-component beverage, which in its upper part contains a flexible element that passes into a holder for two capsules, which has two sockets, the shape and size of which allow the capsules to be installed therein, 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 two piercing elements, which is located inside the container and is attached to the inner part of the container, wherein the piercer is arranged in such a way that, when the holder is in its upper position, the piercing elements do not interact with the capsules, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing elements pierce the capsules, wherein the container contains water for preparing the beverage, wherein the capsule socket is provided with a side wall, the shape of the inner surface of which repeats the shape of a part of the outer side surface of the capsules, wherein the capsule holder is provided with an adhesive layer located in the area of contact with the capsules. The technical result achieved by the utility model consists in increasing the operational safety of the claimed device. 3 ill.

Description

Field of technology

The utility model relates to beverage preparation devices, as well as containers specially adapted for specific products. The utility model can be used to operate the claimed 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, existing solutions require two capsules to prepare a two-component drink: one containing, for example, coffee, and the other powdered milk or sugar. To do this, after using the first capsule, remove it from the capsule slot, discard it, and insert the second capsule in its place.

In addition, neither the capsule holders nor the piercers are movable, so the capsule is pierced by the user when inserting them 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 operational safety of the claimed device.

In order to achieve the technical result, a container for a two-component drink is claimed, which in its upper part contains a flexible element, which passes into a holder for two capsules, which has two sockets, the shape and size of which allow the capsules to be installed in them, 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 two piercing elements, which is located inside the container and is 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 elements do not interact with the capsules, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing elements pierce the capsules, wherein the container contains water for preparing the drink, wherein the capsule socket is provided with a side wall, the shape of the inner surface of which repeats the shape of a part of the outer side surface of the capsules, wherein the capsule holder is provided with an adhesive layer, located in the area of contact with the capsules.

The essence of the claimed utility model is explained by illustrations:

Fig. 1 - The claimed device with the capsule installed before puncture of the capsule. Side cross-sectional view.

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

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

In this case:

1 - Car coffee machine

2 - Capacity

3 - Flexible element

4 - Capsule holder

5 - Capsules

6 - Piercing elements

7 - Puncturer

8 - Side wall of the capsule nest

9 - Water

10 - Adhesive layer

Implementation of a utility model

The body of the water tank is made with rigidity that ensures the possibility of using the declared device without its destruction during user manipulation of the declared device at all stages of the declared device's operation.

To prepare a two-component drink, two capsules are required: one containing, for example, coffee, and the other, powdered milk or sugar. To do this, after using the first capsule, remove it from the capsule slot, discard it, and insert the second capsule in its place. However, after using the first capsule, the glass already contains liquid. Removing the capsule leaves the liquid open, which could result in liquid splashing onto the passenger and/or the vehicle interior while the vehicle is moving, during sudden maneuvers, or when braking. Furthermore, the removed capsule may leak from the punctures, and the liquid from the capsule could stain the passenger or the vehicle. To reduce the likelihood of this hazard, the holder of this device contains two capsule slots, allowing two capsules to be inserted simultaneously. This solution eliminates the need to remove the first capsule and keeps the liquid inside the glass closed at all stages of operation, improving the safety of the device.

The beverage container 2 comprises a flexible element 3 at its upper portion, which extends into a holder 4 for two capsules 5, which has two recesses of a shape and size suitable for inserting capsules. 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 containing two piercing elements 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 elements do not interact with the capsules, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing elements pierce the capsules.

To prepare the drink, water is forced under pressure through the substance contained in the capsules. To add water to the coffee machine, you need to 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, where there may be shaking, braking, or sudden maneuvers, this operation could result in water spilling onto the user and/or interior components of the vehicle. To reduce the risk of this hazard, the device contains 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 drawing water out of the container. The water passes through the beverage preparation components and, through the upper piercer, is fed into the capsules. 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 claimed device.

When pressurized water is injected into the capsules through punctures in the top of the capsules, 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 them 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 capsule explosion under pressure can damage the inside of the glass body, potentially causing hot liquid to splash onto the user. To reduce the likelihood of this hazard, the claimed device includes a capsule nest with a sidewall whose inner surface matches the shape of a portion of the outer side surface of the capsules.

The side wall of the housing can be made cylindrical, tapered towards the bottom, with the possibility of contact with the side surface of the capsule (capsule compression), repeating in shape part of the side surface of the capsule.

The presence of an additional inclined plane, formed by the capsule nest body and repeating the shape of the side wall of the capsules, provides reinforcement of the side walls of the capsules, which helps contain the pressure of water entering the capsules, preventing stretching of their walls, their thinning and rupture, thus increasing the safety of operation of the declared device.

When tilting the device while drinking, the liquid inside the device may press on the installed capsules, causing the capsules to fall out of the capsule holder. This could result in the hot beverage leaking through the unsealed capsule holder 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 capsules to the capsule holder.

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 capsules in the socket, preventing them from falling out and increasing 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 drink by inserting the appropriate capsules into the beverage container holder. Importantly, the capsules are not punctured during installation, and the user does not need to change the capsule to obtain a two-component beverage.

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 capsules from above with the upper piercers 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 piercers are lowered onto the device.

The coffee machine then heats and forces pressurized water through the capsules into the container, resulting in a ready-to-drink beverage for the user, which is then dispensed through the opening created by the cutting of the drinking hole. Thus, the claimed utility model improves the safety of the device.

Claims (1)

A container for a two-component beverage, which in its upper part contains a flexible element, which passes into a holder of two capsules, which has two sockets, the shape and size of which allow the installation of capsules in them, wherein by means of the mentioned flexible element the holder can move from its upper position to its lower position, wherein the container is provided with a piercer, containing two piercing elements, which is located inside the container and is 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 elements do not interact with the capsules, and when the holder is in its lower position, the piercing elements pierce the capsules, wherein the container contains water for preparing the beverage, wherein the socket of the capsules is provided with a side wall, the shape of the inner surface of which repeats the shape of a part of the outer side surface of the capsules, wherein the capsule holder is provided with an adhesive layer, located in the area of contact with the capsules.