BEVERAGE CARTRIDGE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A beverage cartridge for use with a beverage forming machine, comprising:
- a container that defines an internal volume and is water tight, the container being arranged to permit liquid to be introduced by a beverage forming machine into the container at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second and to permit a beverage to exit the container; and
a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container, wherein the substantially soluble beverage precursor is formed of a plurality of particulates wherein at least 60% of the plurality of particulates have a largest dimension that is greater than about 200 microns and less than about 700 microns, the beverage precursor having a volume;
wherein the internal volume of the container is greater than the volume of the beverage precursor and is arranged such that liquid introduced into the container dissolves the beverage precursor to form a beverage.
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Abstract
A beverage cartridge and method for forming a beverage is provided. The cartridge may include a container having an internal volume with a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container. The beverage precursor may be formed of a plurality of particulates where at least 60% of the plurality of particulates has a largest dimension that is greater than about 200 microns and less than about 700 microns. The cartridge may be water tight, and may be filterless. A liquid can be introduced into the container at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second to dissolve the beverage precursor to form a beverage.
118 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A beverage cartridge for use with a beverage forming machine, comprising:
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a container that defines an internal volume and is water tight, the container being arranged to permit liquid to be introduced by a beverage forming machine into the container at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second and to permit a beverage to exit the container; and a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container, wherein the substantially soluble beverage precursor is formed of a plurality of particulates wherein at least 60% of the plurality of particulates have a largest dimension that is greater than about 200 microns and less than about 700 microns, the beverage precursor having a volume; wherein the internal volume of the container is greater than the volume of the beverage precursor and is arranged such that liquid introduced into the container dissolves the beverage precursor to form a beverage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A beverage cartridge comprising:
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a container including a substantially flat bottom, a frustoconical sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom, a rim extending from an upper end of the sidewall and defining an opening that allows access to a fixed internal volume of the container, and a cover attached to the rim of the container and closing the opening such that the container defines a water tight structure, the container being arranged to permit liquid to be introduced by a beverage forming machine into the container at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second and to permit a beverage to exit the container; a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container, wherein the substantially soluble beverage precursor is formed of a plurality of particulates wherein at least 60% of the plurality of particulates have a largest dimension that is greater than about 300 microns and less than about 600 microns, the beverage precursor having a volume; wherein the internal volume of the container is greater than the volume of the beverage precursor and is arranged such that liquid introduced into the container dissolves the beverage precursor to form a beverage.
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14. A method of preparing a beverage, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a water tight beverage cartridge having a container with an internal volume, and a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container, wherein the substantially soluble beverage precursor is formed of a plurality of particulates wherein at least 60% of the plurality of particulates have a largest dimension that is greater than about 200 microns and less than about 700 microns; (b) providing a first opening in the container; (c) introducing a liquid into the beverage cartridge through the first opening at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second, thereby forming a beverage when the beverage precursor dissolves in the liquid; and (d) providing a second opening in the container, such that the beverage exits the second opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A beverage system comprising:
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a container having an internal volume and is water tight, the container being arranged to permit liquid to be introduced into the container at a volumetric flow rate of at least 0.03 ounces/second and to permit a beverage to exit the container; a substantially soluble beverage precursor disposed within the container, wherein the substantially soluble beverage precursor is formed of a plurality of particulates wherein at least 60% of the plurality of particulates have a largest dimension that is greater than about 200 microns and less than about 700 microns, the beverage precursor having a volume; an inlet configured to provide liquid into the container through a first opening to form a beverage when the beverage precursor dissolves in the liquid; and an outlet configured to dispense the beverage from the container. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification