Beverage Capsule

• US 20130059039A1
• Filed: 08/31/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2266170 Ontario Inc.
• Original Assignee: 2266170 Ontario Inc.
• Inventors: Trombetta, Liberatore A., Hanneson, Scott, Khan, Daud Ahmed, Meffen, Christopher Douglas, Fu, YuCheng, Paynter, Dennis Dwight
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/82
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/022 packaging infusion material into capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A beverage capsule has a body, a filter disposed in the body, ingredients disposed in the filter and a cover. The body includes a side wall that extends from an end wall to an opening that is covered by the cover. A boss extends into the interior space from the end wall inwardly of an extraction region. In one embodiment, the boss defines an engagement surface having a plurality of arms for engaging a bottom portion of the filter during use. In another embodiment, the boss engages the filter to define a tented filter zone wherein an inner portion of the filter is spaced a further distance from the end wall than an outer portion of the filter. In another embodiment, a diffusing surface is disposed in the body downstream of where a fluid is intended to enter the opening of the capsule during use with a beverage preparing machine.

Claims

1. A beverage capsule intended for use in a beverage preparing machine, said beverage capsule comprising:

a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior space, said end wall including an extraction region that is adapted to be pierced to facilitate flow of beverage from said capsule;

a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber, located between said opening and said filter, and an extraction chamber located between said filter and said end wall;

a boss extending from said end wall into said interior space, said boss defining an engagement surface having a plurality of arms for engaging a bottom surface of said filter during use;

one or more ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a desired beverage; and

a cover for covering said opening.

2. The beverage capsule of claim 1, wherein said engagement surface is star shaped.

3. The beverage capsule of claim 1, further comprising a ledge defined on the side wall of said body for supporting said filter.

4. The beverage capsule of claim 1, wherein said boss includes a plurality of channels extending at least partially between said engagement surface and said end wall.

5. The beverage capsule of claim 1, wherein said side wall of said body defines a plurality of channels extending at least partially between said extraction chamber and said opening.

6. A beverage capsule intended for use in a beverage preparing machine, said beverage capsule comprising:

a body having a sidewall extending from an end wall to an opening; and

a filter disposed in said body, said filter having an inner portion and an outer portion where the inner portion is spaced a greater distance from said end wall than the distance said outer portion is spaced from said end wall.

7. The filter capsule of claim 6, further comprising a diffusing surface disposed in said body downstream of where a fluid is intended to enter the opening of said capsule during use with an intended beverage preparing machine, said diffusing surface being adapted for diffusing fluid entering said capsule.

8. The beverage capsule of claim 6, further comprising a boss disposed in said body between said end wall and said filter for engaging said inner portion of said filter.

9. The beverage capsule of claim 8, further comprising a diffusing surface disposed on said boss downstream of where a fluid is intended to enter the opening of said capsule during use with an intended beverage preparing machine, said diffusing surface being adapted for diffusing fluid entering said capsule.

10. The beverage capsule of claim 8, wherein said boss is integrally formed with said base.

11. The beverage capsule of claim 6, further comprising at least one capsule key disposed on an exterior surface of said body for fitting to a corresponding at least one machine key element disposed on an interior surface of a capsule receiving chamber of a beverage preparing device for positioning the capsule in a desired orientation within said receiving chamber.

12. A beverage capsule intended for use in a beverage preparing machine, said beverage capsule comprising:

a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening;

a diffusing surface disposed in said body downstream of where a fluid is intended to enter the opening of said capsule during use with a beverage preparing machine, said diffusing surface being adapted to redirect fluid that engages said diffusing surface to desired locations within said capsule.

13. A beverage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said diffusing surface has a cross-sectional surface area that is no greater than 20% of the cross-sectional surface area of the interior space of the capsule as measured in the same plane.

14. A beverage system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said diffusing surface is spaced from said end wall by a distance of no less that 20% and no more than 80% of the overall height of the capsule as measured from the end wall to the opening.

15. A beverage system as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a filter disposed in said capsule between said end wall and said diffusing surface.

16. A beverage capsule intended for use in a beverage preparing machine, said beverage capsule comprising:

a body having a side wall extending from an end wall to an opening to define an interior space, said end wall including an extraction region that is adapted to be pierced to facilitate flow of beverage from said capsule;

a filter disposed in said body to define an ingredients chamber, located between said opening and said filter, and an extraction chamber located between said filter and said end wall;

a boss extending from said end wall into said interior space, said boss engaging said filter to define a tented filter zone wherein an inner portion of said filter is spaced a further distance from said end wall than an outer portion of said filter;

one or more ingredients disposed in said ingredients chamber for preparing a desired beverage; and

a cover for covering said opening.

17. The beverage capsule of claim 16, further comprising a diffusing surface disposed in said body downstream of where a fluid is intended to enter the opening of said capsule during use with a beverage preparing machine, said diffusing surface being adapted to redirect fluid that engages said diffusing surface to desired locations within said capsule.

18. The beverage capsule of claim 16, further comprising a ledge defined on the side wall of said body for supporting said filter.

19. The beverage capsule of claim 16, wherein said side wall of said body defines a plurality of channels extending at least partially between said extraction chamber and said opening.