Devices for extracting beverage materials in cartridges

• US 5,398,595 A
• Filed: 06/16/1992
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• 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): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/899,377
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 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

Abstract

Devices for being fitted to a beverage making machine extraction head have a ring member which has a wall which extends to define a hollowed interior portion suitable for being fitted about a periphery of a coffee machine water injection system extraction head which surrounds a water injection passage. The hollowed interior is defined further by a base connected to and disposed transversely with respect to the wall. The base may be a ring wall portion which provides a grill and which has projections extending therefrom, or may be a ring wall portion which has a hole therethrough and which has projections extending therefrom, or may be a ring wall portion which has a centrally disposed needle portion which contains at least one opening so that upon the ring member being fitted about the extraction head, the base is positioned adjacent a base of the extraction head, and so that the projections or needle are positioned to extend away from the extraction head base. The devices also include a cartridge holder, which may be an element integral with the ring member or separate therefrom, and a cartridge holder support.

Claims

1. A 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 passage opening in the base, a base grill for distributing water from the opening, 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 tightening ring portion and the head peripheral portion in which the seal is disposed and wherein the tightening ring has ramps which extend into the gap, the device comprising:

a member having an annular portion which extends longitudinally to an edge and which has an interior surface adapted to be fitted about the head peripheral portion whereby the annular portion extends into the gap and having a second portion which has first and second opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the annular portion so that the first surface is connected with the annular portion interior surface and which have a plurality of openings which form a member grill portion for distributing water and wherein the first surface is displaced from the edge so that upon the member being fitted to the head, the edge is fitted against the seal and so that the first surface is positioned adjacent the head base grill; and

projecting elements positioned to extend from the member second surface in a direction away from the second surface for piercing a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the annular portion further extends laterally with respect to the member second portion surfaces so that the second portion is disposed intermediately with respect to the annular portion and wherein the annular portion has a second interior surface portion which forms a cavity adjacent the member second surface so that upon positioning a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage in the cavity adjacent the member second surface, the member second interior surface portion surrounds a side of the cartridge.

3. A device according to claim 1 further comprising (a) annular portion lugs which extend from an outer periphery of the annular portion, (b) a holder having a hollowed interior and a base surface for containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, (c) a support member having a base surface for supporting the holder, an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior having an interior surface which extends from the base surface and having an exterior surface, tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface, and a handle which extends from the exterior surface, wherein the support member is configured so that upon positioning of the holder containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage in the support member and at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member, and the handle extends from the exterior surface at a position for being positioned adjacent the annular portion lugs, and further comprising (d) a pivotal connection to secure the annular portion lugs to the handle to bias the annular portion lugs and handle.

4. A 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 passage opening in the base, a base grill for distributing water from the opening, 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 tightening ring portion and the head peripheral portion in which the seal is disposed and wherein the tightening ring has ramps which extend into the gap, the device comprising:

a member having an annular portion which extends longitudinally to an edge and which has an interior surface adapted to be fitted about the head peripheral portion whereby the annular portion extends into the gap and having a second portion which has first and second opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the annular portion, so that the first surface is connected with the annular portion interior surface, and which has a centrally disposed opening in the first surface which extends to a second surface portion which projects from the second surface for piercing a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage and which has at least one opening for distributing water and wherein the first surface is displaced from the edge so that upon the member being fitted to the head, the edge is fitted against the seal so that the first surface is positioned adjacent the head base grill so that the member is positioned for piercing and distributing water to a cartridge which contains a substance for separation of a beverage so that the head base grill distributes water to the member and the member distributes the water to the substance.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the annular portion further extends laterally with respect to the member second portion surfaces so that the second portion is disposed intermediately with respect to the annular portion and wherein the annular portion has a second interior surface portion which forms a cavity adjacent the member second surface so that upon positioning a cartridge which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage in the cavity adjacent the member second surface, the member second interior surface portion surrounds a side of the cartridge.

6. A device according to claim 4 further comprising (a) annular portion lugs which extend from an outer periphery of the annular portion, (b) a holder having a hollowed interior and a base surface for containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, (c) a support member having a base surface for supporting the holder, an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior having an interior surface which extends from the base surface and having an exterior surface, tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface and a handle which extends from the exterior surface, wherein the support member is configured so that upon positioning of the holder containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage in the support member and at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member, and the handle extends from the exterior surface at a position for being positioned adjacent the annular portion lugs, and further comprising (d) a pivotal connection to secure the annular portion lugs to the handle to bias the annular portion lugs and handle.

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

an extraction head having a base, a water passage opening in the base, a base grill for distributing water from the opening, 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 and having 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 portion in which the seal is disposed and which has ramps which extend into the gap; and

a device having;

a member having an annular portion which extends longitudinally to an edge and which has an interior surface adapted to be fitted about the head peripheral portion whereby the annular portion extends into the gap and having a second portion which has first and second opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the annular portion so that the first surface is connected with the annular portion interior surface and which have a plurality of openings which form a member grill portion for distributing water and wherein the first surface is displaced from the edge so that upon the member being fitted to the head, the edge is fitted against the seal and so that the first surface is positioned adjacent the head base grill; and

projecting elements positioned to extend from the member second surface in a direction away from the second surface for piercing a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the annular portion further extends laterally with respect to the member second portion surfaces so that the second portion is disposed intermediately with respect to the annular portion and wherein the annular portion has a second interior surface portion which forms a cavity adjacent the member second surface so that upon positioning a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage in the cavity adjacent the member second surface, the member second interior surface portion surrounds the side of the cartridge.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a support member having a base surface for supporting an edge of a cartridge which contains a substance for the preparation of a beverage and having an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior which has an interior surface which extends from the base surface for containing the cartridge and which has an exterior surface, and having tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface wherein the support member is configured so that upon containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member.

10. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising:

a cartridge holder member having an exterior base surface and an annular exterior side surface which extends laterally from the exterior base and having an interior base surface for supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage and having an annular interior side surface which extends laterally from the base for surrounding a side of the cartridge for holding the cartridge at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance; and

a support member having a base surface for supporting the holder member exterior base surface and having an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior which has an interior surface which extends from the support member base surface for containing the holder member exterior side surface and which has an exterior surface, and having tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface wherein the support member is configured so that upon positioning of the holder containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising (a) annular portion lugs which extend from an outer periphery of the annular portion, (b) a handle which extends from the support member exterior surface at a position for being positioned adjacent the annular portion lugs, and (c) a pivotal connection to secure the annular portion lugs to the handle to bias the annular portion lugs and handle.

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

an extraction head having a base, a water passage opening in the base, a base grill for distributing water from the opening, 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 and having 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 portion in which the seal is disposed and which has ramps which extend into the gap; and

a device having;

a member having an annular portion which extends longitudinally to an edge and which has an interior surface adapted to be fitted about the head peripheral portion whereby the annular portion extends into the gap and having a second portion which has first and second opposing surfaces which extend laterally with respect to the annular portion, so that the first surface is connected with the annular portion interior surface, and which has a centrally disposed opening in the first surface which extends to a second surface portion which projects from the second surface for piercing a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage and which has at least one opening for distributing water and wherein the first surface is displaced from the edge so that upon the member being fitted to the head, the edge is fitted against the seal and so that the first surface is positioned adjacent the head base grill so that the member is positioned for piercing and distributing water to a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage so that the head base grill distributes water to the member and the member distributes the water to the substance.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the annular portion further extends laterally with respect to the member second portion surfaces so that the second portion is disposed intermediately with respect to the annular portion and wherein the annular portion has a second interior surface portion which forms a cavity adjacent the member second surface so that upon positioning a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage in the cavity adjacent the member second surface, the member second interior surface portion surrounds a side of the cartridge.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a support member having a base surface for supporting an edge of a cartridge and having an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior which has an interior surface which extends from the base surface for containing the cartridge and which has an exterior surface, and having tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface wherein the support member is configured so that upon containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising:

a cartridge holder member having an exterior base surface and an annular exterior side surface which extends laterally from the exterior base and having an interior base surface for supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage and having an annular interior side surface which extends laterally from the base for surrounding a side of the cartridge for holding the cartridge at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance; and

a support member having a base surface for supporting the holder member exterior base and having an annular sidewall about a hollowed interior which has an interior surface which extends from the support member base surface for containing the holder member exterior side surface and which has an exterior surface, and having tightening lugs which extend from the exterior surface wherein the support member is configured so that upon positioning of the holder containing and supporting a cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage at a position adjacent the member second surface for piercing the cartridge and extraction of the substance, the sidewall extends into the gap and the tightening lugs extend from the exterior surface at a position for engaging the tightening ring ramps for supporting the support member.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising (a) annular portion lugs which extend from an outer periphery of the annular portion, (b) a handle which extends from the support member exterior surface at a position for being positioned adjacent-the annular portion lugs, and (c) a pivotal connection to secure the annular portion lugs to the handle to bias the annular portion lugs and handle.