PACK, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREPARING BEVERAGES

• US 20170319001A1
• Filed: 07/23/2015
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Butscher, Silvio, Kaeser, Thomas, Yoakim, Alfred, Scherz, Cynthia, Denisart, Jean-Luc
• Granted Patent: US 10,455,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/36 with mechanical pressure-producing means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/20 in sheets or blanks doubled around contents and having their opposed free margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5883 connected to the package at the sealed junction of two package walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/00 Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials B65D71/00, B65D83/00 take precedence; hand implements or travelling equipment A45C; cosmetic or toiletry equipment A45D; packages for surgical knives, scalpels or blades therefor A61B17/3215; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; paint cans B44D3/12; oil cans F16N3/04; containers for carrying small arms F41C33/06; packaging of ammunition or explosive charges F42B39/00; containers for record carriers, specially adapted for cooperation with the recording or reproducing apparatus G11B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8049 Details of the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8052 Details of the outlet

Abstract

The invention concerns pack (1) with an inner volume (2) in which a food or beverage ingredient (7) is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside,—said inner volume (2) being defined by two sheets of material (10) joined to one another at their edges and said inner volume (2) presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane (P) vertically oriented during beverage production,—said pack comprising at least one inlet (3) for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet (4) for delivering the beverage from said inner volume, the water inlet (3) and the beverage outlet (4) being included in one single insert (5), said single insert (5) being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material (10), the water inlet (3) being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane (P) defined by the inner volume (2), and—wherein the single insert (5) comprises a centring hole (53) extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane (P) shape of the inner volume.

Claims

1. A pack with an inner volume in which a food or beverage ingredient is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside,

the inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges and the inner volume presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane vertically oriented during beverage production,

the pack comprising at least one inlet for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet for delivering the beverage from the inner volume, the water inlet and the beverage outlet being included in one single insert, the single insert being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material, and

the external end of the water inlet being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the inner volume, and

the single insert comprises a centring hole extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane shape of the inner volume.

2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the external end of the water inlet is covered by one sheet of material defining the inner volume.

3. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the external end of the water inlet is not covered by one sheet of material defining the inner volume.

4. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the centring hole is at least partially covered by the bottom of the sheet of material.

5. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the centring hole is positioned under the joined bottom edges of the sheet of material.

6. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the beverage outlet is closed by a plug configured for being removed from the beverage outlet to open it at beverage production and the plug comprising a bond attached to the pack, for maintaining the plug attached to the pack after the opening of the beverage outlet, the plug being positioned under the joined bottom edges of the sheets of material,

7. A pack according to claim 6 wherein the beverage outlet is a pipe and the connection between the pipe and the plug presents a smaller section than the plug upper surface.

8. A pack according to claim 6 wherein the plastic bond attached to the single insert for maintaining the plug attached to the pack after the opening of the beverage outlet is configured for being bent.

9. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the plastic bond presents a notch.

10. System comprising:

a pack with an inner volume in which a food or beverage ingredient is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside, the inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges and the inner volume presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane vertically oriented during beverage production, the pack comprising at least one inlet for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet for delivering the beverage from the inner volume, the water inlet and the beverage outlet being included in one single insert, the single insert being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material, and the external end of the water inlet being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the inner volume, and the single insert comprises a centring hole extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane shape of the inner volume; and

a machine for preparing beverages, the machine comprising;

a receiving area for positioning the pack in the machine so that the generally plane shape of the inner volume is vertically oriented and so that the single insert is positioned at the bottom of the pack,

a water needle for injecting water in the water inlet of the pack, and

an immobilization and centring device configured for cooperating with the centring hole of the single insert.

11. A method for the preparation of a food or beverage with a system comprising a pack with an inner volume in which a food or beverage ingredient is stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside, the inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges and the inner volume presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane vertically oriented during beverage production, the pack comprising at least one inlet for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet for delivering the beverage from the inner volume, the water inlet and the beverage outlet being included in one single insert, the single insert being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material, and the external end of the water inlet being oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the inner volume, and the single insert comprises a centring hole extending essentially perpendicularly to the generally plane shape of the inner volume;

and a machine for preparing beverages, the machine comprising a receiving area for positioning the pack in the machine so that the generally plane shape of the inner volume is vertically oriented and so that the single insert is positioned at the bottom of the pack, a water needle for injecting water in the water inlet of the pack, and an immobilization and centring device configured for cooperating with the centring hole of the single insert comprising the steps of;

positioning the pack in the machine;

centering the pack, opening the water inlet;

injecting water into the pack to mix with the food or beverage ingredient; and

allowing the prepared beverage to escape through the outlet into a receptacle.