DEVICE FOR PREPARING A DRINK

• US 20110183055A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethical Coffee Company SA
• Original Assignee: Ethical Coffee Company SA
• Inventors: Mariller, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 9,661,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/433
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• 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

Abstract

Device for preparing a drink by extracting a measured quantity, for example of ground coffee, contained in a capsule (1) equipped with an extraction membrane (7), said device comprising a water inlet (5), a capsule holder (2), a capsule cage (3), clamping means and a set of spikes (6) for piercing said membrane (3); characterized in that the clamping means comprise a piston (4) mounted such that it can move with respect to the cage (3).

Claims

1. A device for preparing a drink by extracting a serving, for example of ground coffee, contained in a cartridge (1) equipped with an extraction membrane (7), said device including a water inlet (5), a cartridge holder (2), a cartridge cage (3), clamping means and a set of spikes (6) intended to pierce said membrane (3), characterized in that the clamping means include a piston (4) mounted in a movable manner with respect to the cage (3).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the spikes (6) are mounted in a movable manner in relation to the cartridge holder (2).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, including a mechanism for securing the movable spikes (6) to the piston (4).

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, in which the cartridge cage (3) comprises a cartridge-ejecting component (17).

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, in which the ejecting component (17) has no cartridge piercing elements.

6. The use of the device as defined in claim 1, including the following successive steps:

a cartridge (1) is introduced into the cartridge cage (3);

the assembly formed by the cartridge holder (2), the cartridge cage (3) and the clamping piston (4) is lowered;

said assembly is clamped and the movable spikes (6) are retracted into the inside of the cartridge holder (2); and

pressurized water is introduced into the cartridge (1), the piston (4) is moved and the spikes (6) are driven through the cartridge holder (2) and the membrane (7).