Cartridge for the preparation of beverages

• US 7,219,598 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2004
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Incorporated (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: MacMahon, Alistair John, Carter, Steve, Halliday, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/763,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 993/23, 426/115, 426/120, 426/77
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4407 Lids, covers or knobs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/446 Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8049 Details of the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8052 Details of the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8055 Means for influencing the liquid flow inside the package
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around the periphery of the compartment.

Claims

1. A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around and completely surround the periphery of the compartment.

2. A cartridge as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet apertures are equi-spaced around the compartment periphery.

3. A cartridge as claimed in claim 2 wherein the outlet apertures are located towards a centre of the compartment relative to the inlet apertures.

4. A cartridge as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outlet apertures are equi-spaced around the centre of the compartment.

5. A cartridge as claimed in claim 4 comprising 3 to 10 inlet apertures.

6. A cartridge as claimed in claim 5 comprising 4 inlet apertures.

7. A cartridge as claimed in claim 6 comprising 3 to 10 outlet apertures.

8. A cartridge as claimed in claim 7 comprising 5 outlet apertures.

9. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 comprising unequal numbers of inlet apertures and outlet apertures.

10. A cartridge as claimed in claim 9 wherein the number of inlet apertures and outlet apertures are given by the formula:

X_o=X_i+C

where

X_i=the number of inlet apertures

X_o=the number of outlet apertures

C=the set of integers not including 0 or nX_i

n=any integer.

11. A cartridge as claimed in claim 8 comprising equal numbers of inlet apertures and outlet apertures.

12. A cartridge as claimed in claim 11 wherein the inlet apertures are provided in an outer member of the cartridge and the outlet apertures are provided in an inner member of the cartridge.

13. A cartridge as claimed in claim 12 wherein the inner member comprises a discharge spout communicating with the outlet apertures.

14. A cartridge as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped.

15. A cartridge as claimed in claim 14 wherein the flow of aqueous medium through the inlet apertures into the compartment is directed radially inwards towards a centre of the cartridge.

16. A cartridge as claimed in claim 15 wherein the one or more beverage ingredients are soluble in the aqueous medium.

17. A cartridge as claimed in claim 16 wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a liquid chocolate or coffee ingredient.

18. A cartridge as claimed in claim 17 wherein the one or more beverage ingredients is a concentrated liquid or gel.

19. A cartridge as claimed in claim 18 wherein the liquid beverage ingredient has a viscosity of between 70 and 3900 mPa at ambient temperature.

20. A cartridge as claimed in claim 19 wherein the liquid beverage ingredient has a viscosity of between 1700 and 3900 mPa at ambient temperature.

21. A cartridge as claimed in claim 12 wherein the outer member and/or inner member are formed from polypropylene.

22. A cartridge as claimed in claim 21 wherein the outer member and/or inner member is formed by injection moulding.

23. A cartridge as claimed in claim 22 wherein the outer member and/or inner member are formed from a biodegradable polymer.

24. A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around the periphery of the compartment, the inlet apertures are equi-spaced around the compartment periphery, the outlet apertures are located towards a centre of the compartment relative to the inlet apertures, the outlet apertures are equi-spaced around the centre of the compartment, having 5 outlet apertures, equal numbers of inlet apertures and outlet apertures, and the inlet apertures are provided in an outer member of the cartridge and the outlet apertures are provided in an inner member of the cartridge.

25. A cartridge as claimed in claim 24 wherein the inner member comprises a discharge spout communicating with the outlet apertures.

26. A cartridge as claimed in claim 25 wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped.

27. A cartridge as claimed in claim 26 wherein the flow of aqueous medium through the inlet apertures into the compartment is directed radially inwards towards a centre of the cartridge.

28. A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around the periphery of the compartment and surround a centrally located discharge spout positioned within the compartment.

29. A cartridge as claimed in claim 28 wherein the inlet apertures are orientated toward the discharge spout.

30. A cartridge as claimed in claim 29 wherein a filter is positioned in a flow path extending between the compartment and the discharge spout.

31. A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising a compartment containing the one or more beverage ingredients, the compartment comprising a plurality of inlet apertures for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the compartment and a plurality of outlet apertures for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients, wherein at least a proportion of the inlet apertures are out of alignment with the outlet apertures such that at least a proportion of the aqueous medium entering the compartment through the inlet apertures is forced to circulate within the compartment before exiting the compartment through the outlet apertures, characterised in that the inlet apertures are arranged around the periphery of the compartment and substantially surround a centrally located discharge spout positioned within the compartment and the inlet apertures are orientated toward the discharge spout.