Cartridge containing a single serving of a particulate substance for preparing a beverage

• US 20030172813A1
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caffitaly System S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Caffita System, S.p.A.
• Inventors: Schifferle, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3695 Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8046 Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package

Abstract

A cartridge containing a single serving of a particulate substance extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, preferably an espresso coffee beverage is disclosed. Between the bottom of the cartridge and the particulate substance as well as between the particulate substance and the cover of the cartridge, in each case a fluid director member is provided, having a plurality of small openings. The one close to the cover serves as a water distribution member for distributing the water, fed into the cartridge through a central opening pierced therein, evenly over the particulate substance, and the one close to the bottom serves as a beverage collection member to lead the beverage to a central opening pierced into the bottom of the cartridge. Both director members are provided with a recess directed towards the interior of the cartridge, allowing the penetration of a piercing member without damage to the director members.

Claims

1. A cartridge adapted to contain a single serving of a particulate substance, extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, comprising:

an essentially cup- or bucket-shaped main body portion having a bottom portion and an open end opposite to said bottom portion;

a cover member adapted to be sealingly attached to said open end of said main body portion;

at least one fluid director member having essentially disc-shaped configuration with a central longitudinal axis and a dimension essentially corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of said main body portion, said fluid director member adapted to be received in the interior of said main body portion;

said fluid director member having a plurality of openings and a plurality of embossings, each of said embossings having a raised portion, whereby a plurality of communicating fluid channels is created between said raised portions of said embossings.

2. Cartridge according to claim 1 in which said openings are located in said fluid channels created between said raised portions of said embossings.

3. Cartridge according to claims 1 and 2 in which said embossings and said fluid channels, respectively, are evenly distributed substantially over the entire surface of said fluid director member.

4. Cartridge according to claim 3 in which a first portion of said fluid channels extend radially outwards from said central longitudinal axis and a second portion of said fluid channels extend concentrically around said central longitudinal axis.

5. Cartridge according to claims 1 and 2 in which said fluid director member is designed or located within the cartridge such that one or more piercing elements may penetrate said bottom portion of said main body portion and said cover member, respectively, without piercing said fluid director member.

6. Cartridge according to claim 5 in which said fluid director member further comprises at least one recess projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of said raised portions of said embossings.

7. Cartridge according to claim 6 in which said fluid director member comprises one central recess.

8. Cartridge according to claim 7 in which said central recess has essentially conical, hemispherical or cubic shape.

9. Cartridge according to claim 5 in which said fluid director member is located in the interior of said cartridge with a certain distance from the bottom of said main body portion or from said cover member.

10. Cartridge according to claim 2 in which said openings have a size that is less than the statistical mean value of the diameter of one particle of said particulate substance.

11. Cartridge according to claim 1 in which said bottom portion of said main body portion of said cartridge and/or said cover member is provided with an area having reduced mechanical strength to facilitate the piercing of said bottom and cover, respectively, of said cartridge.

12. A cartridge containing a single serving of a particulate substance, extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, comprising:

an essentially cup- or bucket-shaped main body portion having a bottom portion and an open end opposite to said bottom portion;

a cover member sealingly attached to said open end of said main body portion;

a fluid director member having essentially disc-shaped configuration with a central longitudinal axis and a dimension essentially corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of said main body portion;

said fluid director member having a plurality of openings and a plurality of embossings, each of said embossings having a raised portion, whereby a plurality of communicating fluid channels is created between said raised portions of said embossings, and;

said fluid director member located in the interior of said cartridge between said particulate substance and said bottom portion of said main body portion, thereby constituting a collection member for the water flowing through said particulate substance.

13. Cartridge according to claim 12 in which said raised portions of said embossings rest on said bottom portion, said fluid channels being delimited by said raised portions of said embossings and said bottom portion.

14. Cartridge according to claims 12 and 13 in which said openings are located in said fluid channels created between said raised portions of said embossings.

15. Cartridge according to claims 12 and 13 in which said embossings and said fluid channels, respectively, are evenly distributed substantially over the entire surface of said fluid director member.

16. Cartridge according to claim 15 in which a first portion of said fluid channels extend radially outwards from said central longitudinal axis and a second portion of said fluid channels extend concentrically around said central longitudinal axis.

17. Cartridge according to claims 12 and 13 in which said fluid director member further comprises at least one recess projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of said raised portions of said embossings.

18. Cartridge according to claim 17 in which said fluid director member comprises one central recess.

19. Cartridge according to claim 18 in which said central recess has essentially conical, hemispherical or cubic shape.

20. Cartridge according to claim 14 in which said openings have a size that is less than the statistical mean value of the diameter of one particle of said particulate substance.

21. Cartridge according to claim 12 in which said bottom portion of said main body portion of said cartridge and/or said cover member is provided with an area having reduced mechanical strength to facilitate the piercing of said bottom and cover, respectively, of said cartridge.

22. A cartridge containing a single serving of a particulate substance, extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, comprising:

an essentially cup- or bucket-shaped main body portion having a bottom portion and an open end opposite to said bottom portion;

a cover member sealingly attached to said open end of said main body portion;

a fluid director member having essentially disc-shaped configuration with a central longitudinal axis and a dimension essentially corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of said main body portion;

said fluid director member having a plurality of openings and a plurality of embossings, each of said embossings having a raised portion, whereby a plurality of communicating fluid channels is created between said raised portions of said embossings, and;

said fluid director member located in the interior of said cartridge between said particulate substance and said cover member of said main body portion, thereby constituting a distribution member for the water flowing through said particulate substance.

23. Cartridge according to claim 22 in which said raised portions of said embossings rest on said cover member, said fluid channels being delimited by said raised portions of said embossings and said cover member.

24. Cartridge according to claim 23 in which said openings are located in said fluid channels created between said raised portions of said embossings.

25. Cartridge according to claims 23 and 24 in which said embossings and said fluid channels, respectively, are evenly distributed substantially over the entire surface of said fluid director member.

26. Cartridge according to claim 25 in which a first portion of said fluid channels extend radially outwards from said central longitudinal axis and a second portion of said fluid channels extend concentrically around said central longitudinal axis.

27. Cartridge according to claims 23 and 24 in which said fluid director member is designed such that one or more piercing elements may penetrate said cover member of said main body portion without piercing said fluid director member.

28. Cartridge according to claim 27 in which said fluid director member further comprises at least one recess projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of said raised portions of said embossings.

29. Cartridge according to claim 28 in which said fluid director member comprises one central recess.

30. Cartridge according to claim 29 in which said central recess has essentially conical, hemispherical or cubic shape.

31. Cartridge according to claim 23 in which said openings have a size that is less than the statistical mean value of the diameter of one particle of said particulate substance.

32. Cartridge according to claim 22 in which said cover member is provided with an area having reduced mechanical strength to facilitate the piercing of said cover member of said cartridge.

33. A cartridge containing a single serving of a particulate substance, extractable by means of water for preparing a beverage, comprising:

an essentially cup- or bucket-shaped main body portion having a bottom portion and an open end opposite to said bottom portion;

a cover member sealingly attached to said open end of said main body portion;

a first fluid director member having essentially disc-shaped configuration with a central longitudinal axis and a dimension essentially corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of said main body portion;

said fluid director member having a plurality of openings and a plurality of embossings, each of said embossings having a raised portion, whereby a plurality of communicating fluid channels is created between said raised portions of said embossings;

said first fluid director member located in the interior of said cartridge between said particulate substance and said cover member of said main body portion, thereby constituting a distribution member for the water flowing through said particulate substance;

said raised portions of said embossings resting on said cover member, said fluid channels being delimited by said raised portions of said embossings and said cover member;

a second fluid director member having essentially disc-shaped configuration with a central longitudinal axis and a dimension essentially corresponding to the interior cross sectional dimension of said main body portion;

said second fluid director member having a plurality of openings and a plurality of embossings, each of said embossings having a raised portion, whereby a plurality of communicating fluid channels is created between said raised portions of said embossings;

said second fluid director member located in the interior of said cartridge between said particulate substance and said bottom portion of said main body portion, thereby constituting a collection member for the water flowing through said particulate substance; and

said raised portions of said embossings of said second fluid director member resting on said bottom portion, said fluid channels being delimited by said raised portions of said embossings and said bottom portion.

34. Cartridge according to claim 33 in which said openings are located in said fluid channels created between said raised portions of said embossings.

35. Cartridge according to claim 33 in which both said first and second fluid director members comprise at least one recess projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of said raised portions of said embossings for receiving a piercing member penetrating said cover member and/or said bottom portion without said first and/or second fluid director members being damaged.