Apparatus For Preparing A Beverage

• US 20080095903A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventum Group B.V.
• Original Assignee: Coval Art Tec Limited, Electrical & Electronics, Limited, Martex Holland B.V.
• Inventors: Weijers, Marcel
• Granted Patent: US 7,946,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/431
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0647 with means to adjust the brewing chamber volume to accommodate different quantities of brewing material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0678 Means to separate the cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber, e.g. grooves or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3685 Brewing heads therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4496 Means to produce beverage with a layer on top, e.g. of cream, foam or froth

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for preparing a beverage (2) comprising a brew chamber (10) defining a volume for containing at least one container (11) with a soluble or extractable product for preparing said beverage, wherein said apparatus comprises adjustment means (12, 14) for varying the volume (V) of said brew chamber. Preferably the adjustment means include a cover member (12) with a piston portion (25). The invention also relates to a method for preparing a beverage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing a beverage comprising:

a brew chamber defining a volume for containing at least one container with a soluble or extractable product for preparing said beverage;

a heating device for supplying hot water to said container, and

adjustment means for varying the volume of said brew chamber, wherein said adjustment means comprises;

a holder adapted to support said container and

a cover member comprising a piston portion adapted to move with respect to said holder (14) for varying said volume of said brew chamber wherein that said piston portion separates an internal volume of said heating device from said brew chamber.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piston portion is coupled to a spring element arranged to exert spring force action on said piston portion away from said holder.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piston portion comprises a flexible portion, preferably made of silicon.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brew chamber comprises a holder with a non-planar surface defining at least a first holding structure and a second holding structure, respectively arranged to hold containers of at least a first dimension and a second dimension, as defined by an edge of said containers, substantially along said edge of said containers.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said brew chamber comprises a cover member and a holder adapted to receive said container, wherein said heating device and said cover member are attached to each other.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a holder with an access opening adapted to receive said container and a cover member for closing said access opening, wherein said apparatus further comprises closing means for substantially closing said access opening and wherein said closing means is adapted to move said holder and said cover member with respect to each other substantially by translation from a non-closed position to a closed position for said access opening.

4. The apparatus according to claim, wherein said adjustment means comprises a valve for introducing water into said brew chamber.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said adjustment means comprises a cover member with a piston portion adapted to move with respect to a holder for said container for varying said volume of said brew chamber, said piston portion comprising said valve.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said valve is adapted to open a flow path for water from one side of said piston portion to the other side when contacting said container.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said apparatus comprises a spring element arranged to exert spring force action on said valve to close said flow path before, and preferably during an initial phase after, contacting said container.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said cover member comprises an overpressure valve.