Pad with covering filled with product to be extracted, assembly of a first and a second pad and method for preparing a small or large amount of beverage

Abstract

A pad with a covering filled with product to be extracted and/or to be dissolved, wherein, in use, a fluid such as water is supplied under pressure to the pad, so that the fluid is pressed through the pad for obtaining a beverage which, thereupon, leaves the pad. The pad is provided with a spout opening for generating, with the spout opening, a jet of the beverage which leaves the pad for obtaining the fine bubble froth layer on the beverage with the aid of the beverage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In combination a first pad and a second pad for selective use in a method for preparing one of a relatively small amount of beverage using the first pad and a relatively large amount of beverage using the second pad, each said first and second pad having a covering filled with at least a product to be extracted, the first and second pad being each adapted, in use, to be supplied with a fluid such as water under pressure during a predetermined period of time, so that the fluid is pressed through the selected one of the first and second pad for obtaining a beverage which, thereupon, leaves the selected one of the first and second pad, wherein the covering is provided with a first side and a second side, wherein the product is located between the first side and the second side, wherein, on the second side, the covering is substantially non-transmissive to the fluid and the beverage, wherein, on the first side, the covering is formed by a first sheet and, on the second side, is formed by a second sheet, wherein the pad is provided in, on or at the second sheet with a spout opening, wherein the spout opening is associated with a spout element which is provided with an inflow opening and a dispensing opening, while the inflow opening is connected via a fluid communication with the space enclosed by the covering, and the dispensing opening is designed for generating a jet of the beverage which leaves the pad for obtaining the fine bubble froth layer on the beverage with the aid of the jet, wherein a flow resistance of the spout opening is varied by selecting a cross section of the spout opening of the first pad to be relatively small than the cross section of a spout opening of the second pad. 
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein, on the first side, the covering is at least partly designed as a filter that is transmissive to the fluid and the beverage and is substantially non-transmissive to the product. 
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the spout opening is transmissive to the fluid and the beverage and is substantially non-transmissive to the product. 
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a fluid communication between the spout opening and a space enclosed by the covering. 
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises distancing means which form a fluid flow area that extends between the spout opening and the product, wherein the fluid flow area comprises an inflow surface, while, in use, at least one of the fluid and the beverage flows into the fluid flow area via the inflow surface and flows from the fluid flow area via the spout opening. 
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the inflow surface has a surface that is relatively larger than a surface of the spout opening. 
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the inflow surface extends substantially over substantially a complete cross section of the covering over which the product extends. 
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the distancing means comprise at least one of an open-cell foam, a sintered grain material, a gauze, at least one rib and at least one rod. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the distancing means are associated with a third sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 9 , wherein the distancing means are designed for holding the third sheet at a distance from the spout opening. 
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 5 , wherein the distancing means comprise a substantially rigid element. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad is provided with frothing means for forming the fine bubble froth layer on the beverage under the influence of the jet exiting from the spout opening. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow resistance is geared to at least one of the product to be extracted, the product to be dissolved, and to the beverage to be prepared with the aid of the pad. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the covering comprises between 2 and 5 grams of ground coffee. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad is designed for preparing one or two portions of the beverage. 
     
     
         16 . In combination a first pad and a second pad each filled with a product to be extracted adapted in use to be supplied with a fluid under pressure and to be pressed through the selected one of the first and second pad for obtaining a beverage, each of the first and second pad comprising:
 a covering defining a space and having a first side formed by a first sheet and a second side formed by a second sheet that is substantially flexible;   an inflow surface located between the first side and the second side to divide the space into a product area and a fluid flow area;   a spout located on the second side of the covering and having a spout opening to generate a jet of beverage leaving the pad; and   a distancing element transmissive to the extract containing fluid forming the beverage and non-transmissive to the product, wherein the distancing element is configured to form and maintain the fluid flow area which extends between the spout opening and the product.   
     
     
         17 . The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein the covering comprises a first sheet and a second sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 17 , wherein the inflow surface is formed by a third sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The combination according to  claim 18 , wherein the third sheet of material is a filtering material. 
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 17 , wherein the second sheet of the covering is substantially non-transmissive to the fluid and the beverage. 
     
     
         21 . The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein the second sheet comprises plastic. 
     
     
         22 . The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein the inflow surface has a surface area that is relatively large than the opening of the spout. 
     
     
         23 . The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein the distancing element comprises one of a plurality of rods, an open-cell foam, a sintered grain material, a loose-grained material, meshes, and a gauze. 
     
     
         24 . The combination according to  claim 16 , wherein the spout is coupled to the second side of the covering and includes an inflow opening formed by the inflow surface and a dispensing opening formed by the opening.