Device for use in beverage extraction machines

• US 5,327,815 A
• Filed: 06/16/1992
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Yoakim, Alfred, Fond, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/899,499
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 99/295, 99/300, 99/302 R, 99/307, 99/316
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/369 Impermeable cartridges being employed
• 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

Devices for use in a water injection coffee extraction machine are in a form of a hollowed ring which may be fixed about the base of the extraction head of the coffee machine, and a grill or other member, which allows passage of extraction water therethrough, is positioned transversely within the interior of the ring so that upon fitting the ring about the extraction head base, the grill or other member is positioned adjacent the base of the extraction head. The grill may have projections which extend in a direction away from the extraction head, and the member may have a centrally disposed portion which has a form of a needle which also contains at least one hole.

Claims

1. A fixing ring device for use with a water injection coffee extraction apparatus of the type having an extraction head and a tightening ring disposed about the extraction head, wherein the extraction head has a base, a water injection system opening in the base, a peripheral portion which extends longitudinally from the base, a surface portion which extends laterally from the peripheral portion, and a seal positioned adjacent the surface portion and wherein the tightening ring is fitted to the head and has a portion which extends coaxially about and which is displaced away from the head peripheral portion to form a gap which extends between the head peripheral portion and the tightening ring in which the seal is disposed and wherein the tightening ring has ramps which extend into the gap, the fixing ring device comprising:

an annular member in a shape of a ring and having a grill intermediately disposed therein which defines and separates first and second interior portions of the annular member, wherein the annular member has a first interior surface portion which surrounds the first interior portion and which is adapted to be fitted about the peripheral portion of the extraction head and for extending into the gap and to an edge for fitting adjacent the seal and wherein the grill has two opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the first interior surface portion and are connected with the first interior surface portion at a position so that upon the annular member being fitted to the head, the grill has a first surface which is fitted adjacent the extraction head base;

a plurality of projection elements for piercing a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance and which are positioned to extend from a second surface of the grill which opposes the first surface in a direction away from the first interior portion;

an annular member outer surface having lugs which extend therefrom for engaging the ramps of the tightening ring to fix the annular member to the extraction head and tightening ring so that upon being fixed, the edge of the annular member is fitted adjacent the seal and so that the first surface of the grill is positioned adjacent the extraction head base; and

an annular member inner surface portion which surrounds the second interior portion having ramps which extend therefrom for supporting a cartridge holder for, in turn, supporting a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance for being pierced by the projection elements and for extracting the beverage preparation substance.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular member comprises a further annular portion which extends laterally from a position about the grill in a direction away from the grill into the second interior portion and which has an inner surface which forms a cavity adjacent the grill for surrounding a cartridge positioned adjacent the grill and which has an outer surface which is displaced away by a gap from the inner surface which defines the second interior portion.

3. A fixing ring device for use with a water injection coffee extraction apparatus of the type having an extraction head and a tightening ring disposed about the extraction head, wherein the extraction head has a base, a water injection system opening in the base, a peripheral portion which extends longitudinally from the base, a surface portion which extends laterally from the peripheral portion, and a seal positioned adjacent the surface portion and wherein the tightening ring is fitted to the head and has a portion which extends coaxially about and which is displaced away from the head peripheral portion to form a gap between the head peripheral portion and the tightening ring in which the seal is disposed and wherein the tightening ring has ramps which extend into the gap, the fixing ring device comprising:

an annular member is a shape of a ring and having a wall portion intermediately disposed therein which defines and separates first and second interior portions of the annular member, wherein the annular member has a first interior surface portion which surrounds the first interior portion and which is adapted to be fitted about the peripheral portion of the extraction head and for extending into the gap and to an edge for fitting adjacent and seal and wherein the wall portion has two opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the first interior surface portion and a centrally disposed projecting portion which contains at least one hole for distributing water from the water injection system opening and is connected with the first interior surface portion at a position so that upon the annular member being fitted to the head, the wall portion has a first surface which is fitted adjacent the extraction head base and the projecting portion projects in a direction away from the first interior portion for piercing a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance;

an annular member outer surface having lugs which extend therefrom for engaging the ramps of the tightening ring to fix the annular member to the extraction head and tightening ring so that upon being fixed, the edge of the annular member is fitted adjacent the seal and so that the first surface of the wall portion is positioned adjacent the extraction head base; and

an annular member inner surface portion which surrounds the second interior portion having ramps which extend therefrom for supporting a cartridge holder for, in turn, supporting a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance for being pierced by the projecting portion and for extracting the beverage preparation substance.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the annular member comprises a further annular portion which extends laterally from a position about the wall portion in a direction away from the wall portion into the second interior portion and which has an inner surface which forms a cavity adjacent the wall portion for surrounding a cartridge positioned adjacent the wall portion and which has an outer surface which is displaced away by a gap from the inner surface which defines the second interior portion.

5. An apparatus for extracting a substance contained in a cartridge for preparation of a beverage comprising:

an extraction head having a base, a water injection system opening in the base, a peripheral portion which extends longitudinally from the base and a surface portion which extends laterally from the peripheral portion;

a seal positioned adjacent the head surface portion;

a tightening ring fitted to the head which has a portion which extends coaxially about and which is displaced away from the head peripheral portion to form a gap which extends between the head peripheral portion and the tightening ring in which is disposed and which has ramps which extend into the gap;

a fixing ring device having;

an annular member in a shape of a ring and having a grill intermediately disposed therein which defines and separates first and second interior portions of the annular member, wherein the annular member has a first interior surface portion which surrounds the first interior portion and which is adapted to be fitted about the peripheral portion of the extraction head and for extending into the gap and to an edge for fitting adjacent the seal and wherein the grill has two opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the first interior surface portion and are connected with the first interior surface portion at a position so that upon the annular member being fitted to the head, the grill has a first surface fitted adjacent the extraction head base;

a plurality of projection elements for piercing a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance and which are positioned to extend from a second surface of the grill which opposes the first surface in a direction away from the first interior portion;

an annular member outer surface having lugs which extend therefrom for engaging the ramps of the tightening ring to fix the annular member to the extraction head and tightening ring so that upon being fixed, the edge of the annular member is fitted adjacent the seal and so that the first surface of the grill is positioned adjacent the extraction head base;

an annular member inner surface portion which surrounds the second interior portion having ramps which extend therefrom; and

a cartridge holder having a hollowed annular interior for supporting a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance to be extracted and having a peripheral outer portion having lugs extending therefrom positioned for engaging the annular member ramps for supporting the holder and placing the cartridge adjacent the grill for being pierced by the projection elements and for extracting the beverage preparation substance.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the annular member comprises a further annular portion which extends laterally from a position about the grill in a direction away from the grill into the second interior portion and which has an inner surface which forms a cavity adjacent the grill for surrounding a cartridge positioned adjacent the grill and which has an outer surface which is displaced away by a gap from the inner surface which defines the second interior portion.

7. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the extraction head base further comprises a head base grill for distributing water from the head base opening and wherein the annular member grill is fitted adjacent the head base grill so that the head base grill is positioned between the annular member grill and head base opening.

8. An apparatus for extracting a substance contained in a cartridge for preparation of a beverage comprising:

an extraction head having a base, a water injection system opening in the base, a peripheral portion which extends longitudinally from the base and a surface portion which extends laterally from the peripheral portion;

a seal positioned adjacent the head surface portion;

a tightening ring fitted to the head which has a portion which extends coaxially about and which is displaced away from the head peripheral portion to form a gap which extends between the head peripheral portion and the tightening ring in which the seal is disposed and which has ramps which extend into the gap;

a fixing ring device having;

an annular member in a shape of a ring and having a wall portion intermediately disposed therein which defines and separates first and second interior portions of the annular member, wherein the annular member has a first interior surface portion which surrounds the first interior portion and which is adapted to be fitted about the peripheral portion of the extraction head and for extending to an edge in the gap for fitting adjacent the seal and wherein the wall portion has two opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the first interior surface portion and a centrally disposed projecting portion which contains at least one hole for distributing water and is connected with the first interior surface portion at a position so that upon the annular member being fitted to the head, the wall portion has a first surface which is fitted adjacent the extraction head base and the projecting portion projects in a direction away from the first interior portion for piercing a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance;

an annular member outer surface having lugs which extend therefrom for engaging the ramps of the tightening ring to fix the annular member to the extraction head and tightening ring so that upon being fixed, the edge of the annular member is fitted adjacent the seal and so that the first surface of the wall portion is positioned adjacent the extraction head base;

an annular member inner surface portion which surrounds the second interior portion having ramps which extend therefrom; and

a cartridge holder having a hollowed annular interior for supporting a cartridge containing a beverage preparation substance to be extracted and having a peripheral outer portion having lugs extending therefrom positioned for engaging the annular member ramps for supporting the holder and placing the cartridge adjacent the wall portion for being pierced by the projecting portion and for extracting the beverage preparation substance.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the annular member comprises a further annular portion which extends laterally from a position about the wall portion in a direction away from the wall portion into the second interior portion and which has an inner surface which forms a cavity adjacent the wall portion for surrounding a cartridge positioned adjacent the wall portion and which has an outer surface which is displaced away by a gap from the inner surface which defines the second interior portion.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the extraction head base further comprises a head base grill for distributing water from the head base opening and wherein the annular member wall portion is fitted adjacent the head base grill so that the head base grill is positioned between the annular member wall portion and the head base opening.