Disposable brewing device

• US 7,793,585 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbus E APS
• Original Assignee: Columbus E APS
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Ulrik Skovgaard, Schulz, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/579,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070199453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: 993/23, 992/95, 993/17, 993/22, 993/02.R, 426/77, 426/78, 426/79, 426/112, 426/113, 426/115, 426/433, 426/82
• US Class Current: 99/323
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/008 Standing pouches, i.e. "Standbeutel"
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/816 into which liquid is added and the resulting preparation is retained, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food

Abstract

The invention relates to a disposable brewing device including at least one contact volume connectable with at least one target volume, the at least one contact volume and the at least one target volume being separated by at least one filter arrangement, the at least one contact volume and the at least one target volume defining at least one predefined flow path through filter arrangement.

Claims

1. A disposable brewing device comprising:

at least one contact volume connectable with at least one target volume,

said at least one contact volume and said at least one target volume being separated by at least one filter arrangement;

said at least one contact volume and said at least one target volume defining at least one predefined flow path through said filter arrangement,

wherein said at least one contact volume is forming a part of a brewing container within said brewing device, and the brewing container is at least partly formed by joined sheets of liquid-impermeable material, and

wherein said sheets of liquid-impermeable material comprises a wall and a bottom of said brewing container, and said liquid-impermeable bottom material is more flexible than said wall material.

2. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one target volume is forming a part of a brewing container within said brewing device.

3. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said contact volume and at least a part of said at least one target volume form a part of a brewing container within said brewing device.

4. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said sheets of liquid-impermeable material comprises a heat-resistant polymer.

5. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said sheets of liquid-impermeable material comprises a multi-layered sheets.

6. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said sheets of liquid-impermeable material comprises a laminate of at least one polymer sheet and at least one metal sheet.

7. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said bottom of the brewing container comprises a shape-sealed fold.

8. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said sheets of liquid-impermeable material comprises at least one film or foil selected from the group consisting of metal foils, polymer films, metallized films, coated films, polymer sealants, polyesters, polyamides and polyolefines comprising polyethylenes and polypropylenes and any combination thereof.

9. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the sheets of liquid-impermeable material of the brewing container have a rigidity, which is large enough to allow the brewing container to be self-standing.

10. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid-impermeable material of the brewing container has a thickness in the range of 10 μ

m to 2 mm.

11. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the brewing container is at least partly formed by welded sheets.

12. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said brewing container has a liquid volume of approximately 0.1 liters to 25 liters.

13. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said multi-layer structure of the brewing container material comprises an outside polymer film, an intermediate barrier layer and an inside layer of polymer sealant.

14. A disposable brewing device according to any of the claim 1, wherein said contact volume is at least partly formed by said at least one filter arrangement.

15. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said contact volume comprises at least one filter arrangement suspended in the brewing container.

16. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said filter arrangement comprises a heat-resistant sheet material and wherein at least a part of said heat-resistant sheet material comprises liquid permeable material.

17. A disposable brewing device according to claim 16, wherein said heat-resistant sheet material comprises a heat-resistant polymer.

18. A disposable brewing device according to claim 16, wherein said liquid-permeable material comprises a heat-resistant polymer sheet formed with a pattern of holes.

19. A disposable brewing device according to claim 16, wherein the liquid-permeable material is provided with a density of holes in the range of 1-30 holes per cm², wherein said holes have dimensions in the range of 0.01 mm to 2.00 mm, wherein the dimension of said holes is adapted to provide a brewing time of approximately 3-12 minutes under atmospheric pressure.

20. A disposable brewing device according to claim 16, wherein the liquid-permeable material of the filter arrangement is provided with holes, which have been created by stamping, cutting, etching or melting.

21. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the filter arrangement is made of a material comprising polypropylene, polyethylene, polyesters, polyamides or polyolefines or other polymers.

22. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said contact volume comprises a pouch.

23. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the contact volume is regulated by a position of at least one welding in the filter arrangement.

24. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein the brewing container and the contact volume are mutually fastened by welding.

25. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said contact volume comprises a bottom fold.

26. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, said brewing device comprising at least one liquid inlet to said contact volume.

27. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, said brewing device comprising a liquid outlet arrangement from said contact volume.

28. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, said brewing device comprising a liquid outlet arrangement from said target volume.

29. A disposable brewing device according to claim 28, said outlet arrangement comprises a predefined outlet opening.

30. A disposable brewing device according to claim 28, said outlet arrangement comprises a removable, a cuttable, or a breakable part of the device or any combination thereof.

31. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, said brewing container comprises a closing arrangement.

32. A disposable brewing device according to claim 31, wherein said closing arrangement comprises a top flap, a slide fastener, an adhesive material or combinations thereof.

33. A disposable brewing device according to claim 31, said closing arrangement being closable when said brewing container contains liquid.

34. A disposable brewing device according to claim 31, wherein said closing arrangement comprises a peelable sealing.

35. A disposable brewing device according to claim 31, wherein said closing arrangement comprises a film strip or a peelable strip of a hot melt type.

36. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said contact volume comprises aroma material.

37. A disposable brewing device according to claim 36, wherein said aroma material comprises roast and/or ground coffee, instant coffee, tea, milk powder, herb, fruit, meat, chocolate powder, vegetables, grains, alcohol gels, encapsulated alcohol or any combination thereof or any other materials which comprises or provides flavor or aroma or other functionalities.

38. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said contact volume comprises further additives.

39. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1,

said contact volume comprises an inner compartment which is at least partly formed by a liquid-permeable material,

wherein said target volume comprises at least one outer compartment,

said at least one outer compartment forming a brewing container,

said brewing container being formed by a liquid-impermeable material,

said at least one liquid-permeable inner compartment being integrated within said brewing container.

40. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said brewing device is provided with at least one outlet duct from the target volume an output arrangement.

41. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said brewing device comprises a substantially air-, aroma-, and liquid-impermeable outer sealing.

42. A disposable brewing device according to claim 41, wherein said outer sealing is forming an encapsulation of aroma material prior to use.

43. A disposable brewing device according to claim 41, wherein said outer sealing is forming an encapsulation of aroma material contained in the contact volume prior to use.

44. A disposable brewing device according to claim 41, wherein said brewing container forms the outer sealing of the brewing device.

45. A disposable brewing device according to claim 39, wherein said inner compartment comprises aroma material and is sealed by said outer compartment.

46. A disposable brewing device according to claim 41, wherein the brewing container and the inner compartment and the outer sealing are formed from sheets, webs, rolls or lengths of structural material.

47. A disposable brewing device according to claim 41, wherein said outer sealing comprises at least one polymer film, metallized or coated film, EvOH-coating, metal foil, sealant or combinations thereof.

48. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein heat resistance of structural material of the brewing container and inner compartment material is up to at least 100°

C.

49. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said brewing container is equipped with at least one handle.

50. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, wherein said brewing container forms at least a part of a fixation and support for the contact volume.

51. A disposable brewing device according to claim 1, further comprising translucent or at least semi-translucent liquid-impermeable material having an UV-filter.

52. Method of brewing liquid in a disposable brewing device according to claim 1, said method comprising:

establishing a flow of hot liquid from at least one contact volume of the brewing device to at least one target volume,

said at least one contact volume and said at least one target volume being separated by at least one filter arrangement,

said at least one contact volume and said at least one target volume defining at least one predefined flow path through said filter arrangement,

said at least one contact volume forming a part of a brewing container.

53. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, wherein said at least one target volume forms part of the brewing container.

54. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, wherein said at least one predefined flow path is established within the brewing device when hot liquid is poured into the brewing device.

55. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, wherein said at least one predefined flow path is established when hot liquid is discharged from the brewing device.

56. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, wherein the Method of brewing liquid is performed in a disposable device according to claim 1.

57. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, whereby the brewing is performed in said brewing container under substantially atmospheric pressure.

58. Method of brewing liquid according to claim 52, whereby said brewed liquid comprises coffee obtained by adding hot water into said brewing container under substantially atmospheric pressure.