Device to assist extraction of beverage material in cartridges

• US 5,347,916 A
• Filed: 07/02/1991
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Pierre, Bernard, Pasquali, Mario, Fond, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chin, Randall E.
• Application Number:
  US07/724,606
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 99/279, 99/295, 99/300, 99/302 R, 99/306, 99/307, 99/316, 99/317
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges

Abstract

A device for assisting extraction of a material contained in a cartridge for preparation of a beverage has a wall which forms a hollowed enclosure which has an interior surface which defines a frustoconically shaped cavity for containing the cartridge. A rim intersects and extends laterally from the interior surface of the wall to form a peripheral rim base surface which intersects the wall for supporting a cartridge contained by the interior wall surface. A plurality of fins integral with the rim extend from the rim laterally, with respect to the interior wall surface, to converge and connect at an area which is centrally disposed, with respect to the interior wall surface and rim, and displaced at a distance away from a plane defined by the intersection of the interior wall and rim base surfaces so that the area of convergence is displaced away from a cartridge contained and supported by the wall and rim base surfaces. A finger is disposed centrally in the area of convergence of the fine and extends towards the plane.

Claims

1. A device for assisting extraction of a material contained in a cartridge for preparation of a beverage comprising:

a wall which forms a hollowed enclosure and which has an interior surface which defines a frustoconically-shaped cavity for containing a cartridge containing a material to be extracted for preparation of a beverage;

a rim which intersects and extends laterally from the interior surface of the wall to form a peripheral rim base surface for supporting a cartridge contained by the interior wall surface;

a plurality of fins, an area of fin convergence and a finger, wherein the fins are integral with and extend from the rim laterally, with respect to the interior wall surface, and have edges facing the cavity which extend from the rim base surface and converge and connect at an area of fin convergence so that the area of fin convergence is centrally disposed with respect to the interior wall surface and rim and displaced at a distance away from a plane defined by the intersection of the interior wall surface and rim base surface and wherein the finger extends from the area of fin convergence towards the plane to a finger surface located below the plane and being displaced a distance away from a portion of the fin edges adjacent the area of fin convergence.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the finger extends to within a distance of from 0 to 5 mm of the plane.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the finger is circular in a cross-section parallel to the plane.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the finger is oval in a cross-section parallel to the plane.

5. A device according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the cross-section has a length of from 2 mm to 10 mm.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the finger extends to within a distance of from 0 to 5 mm of the plane and each fin has a thickness of from 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein there are from 3 to 8 fins.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fin edges facing the cavity extend from the rim base surface to form an angle of from 5°

to 20°

with respect to the plane.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rim surface has a width of from 1 mm to 4 mm.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fin edges facing the cavity extend from the rim base surface to form an angle with respect to the plane.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fin edges facing the cavity are configured in two portions, wherein a first portion is adjacent the area of fin convergence and forms a recess between the finger and a second fin edge portion which extends to the rim base suface.

12. A device for assisting extraction of a material contained in a cartridge for preparation of a beverage consisting of a wall, a flange connected to an upper portion of the wall, a rim, a plurality of fins, an area of fin convergence and a finger wherein:

the wall forms a hollowed enclosure and has an interior wall surface which defines a frustoconically-shaped cavity having an opening surrounded by the flange for containing a cartridge containing a material to be extracted for preparation of a beverage;

the flange intersects and extends laterally from the wall about and away from the opening;

the rim intersects and extends laterally from the interior wall surface to form a peripheral rim base surface for supporting a cartridge contained by the interior wall surface;

the fins are integral with the rim and extend from the rim laterally, with respect to the interior wall surface, and have edges facing the cavity which extend from the rim base surface and converge and connect at the area of fin convergence so that the area of fin convergence is centrally disposed with respect to the interior wall surface and rim and displaced at a distance away from a plane defined by the intersection of the interior wall surface and rim base surface; and

the finger extends from the area of fin convergence towards the plane to a finger surface located below the plane and being displaced a distance away from a portion of the fin edges adjacent the area of fin convergence.