US2014328981A1PendingUtilityA1

Capsule, system and method for preparing a beverage

61
Assignee: KONINKL DOUWE EGBERTS BVPriority: Jun 17, 2009Filed: Jul 18, 2014Published: Nov 6, 2014
Est. expiryJun 17, 2029(~2.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ralf KamerbeekJohn Henri FlamandHendrik Cornelis KoelingAngenita Dorothea Post Van Loon
A23F 5/262A47J 31/0663A47J 31/0673B65D 65/466A47J 31/005A47J 31/368B65D 85/804A47J 31/40A47J 31/36A47J 31/407A47J 31/3628A47J 31/34B65D 85/8043B65D 85/8046B65D 85/8061A47J 31/06
61
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Claims

Abstract

A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product is disclosed. The capsule includes a circumferential first wall, a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and a flexible sheet-shaped third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the third wall being at least one of perforate and porous. The first, second and third wall enclose an inner space including the extractable product. The third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof. The third wall includes a filtering material. The second wall is one of a flexible porous sheet, a flexible foil provided with a plurality of entrance openings, and a substantially rigid wall that comprises a plurality of entrance openings.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
 a circumferential first wall,   a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and   a flexible sheet-shaped third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the third wall being at least one of perforate and porous,   wherein the first, second and third wall enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,   wherein the third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof,   wherein the third wall comprises a filtering material, and   wherein the second wall is one of:
 a flexible porous sheet, 
 a flexible foil provided with a plurality of entrance openings, and 
 a substantially rigid wall that comprises a plurality of entrance openings. 
   
     
     
         2 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the plurality of entrance openings is distributed over substantially the entire surface of the second wall. 
     
     
         3 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtering material of the third wall is a non-woven filtering material 
     
     
         4 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtering material of the third wall is filtering paper 
     
     
         5 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible porous sheet forming the second wall is a sheet of filtering paper. 
     
     
         6 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible foil forming the second wall is a polymeric film 
     
     
         7 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the third wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the third wall, in use, does not tear or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         8 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the third wall forms a sufficiently low flow resistance that the third wall, in use, does not tear or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         9 . The capsule according to  claim 8 , wherein the third wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the third wall, in use, does not tear or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         10 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the capsule is free from a support structure for supporting the third wall downstream of the third wall. 
     
     
         11 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the third wall is provided with a plurality of exit openings. 
     
     
         12 . The capsule according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of exit openings of the third wall is distributed over substantially the entire surface of the third wall. 
     
     
         13 . The capsule according to  claim 2 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the entrance openings have a circular cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The capsule according to  claim 13 , wherein the cross section of the entrance openings tapers towards the inner space. 
     
     
         15 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the entrance openings are slits. 
     
     
         16 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the entrance openings are arranged to open under fluid pressure. 
     
     
         17 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire inner space is occupied by the extractable product. 
     
     
         18 . The capsule according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wall is integral with the circumferential first wall. 
     
     
         19 . A capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product, comprising:
 a circumferential first wall,   a second wall closing the circumferential first wall at a first end, and   a flexible sheet-shaped third wall closing the circumferential first wall at a second, open, end opposite the second wall, the third wall being at least one of perforate and porous,   wherein the first, second and third wall enclose an inner space comprising the extractable product,   wherein the third wall forms an outermost boundary of the capsule in an axial direction thereof,   wherein the third wall comprises a filtering material, and   wherein the second wall is integral with the circumferential first wall.   
     
     
         20 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the filtering material of the third wall is a non-woven filtering material 
     
     
         21 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the filtering material of the third wall is filtering paper 
     
     
         22 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the third wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the third wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         23 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the third wall forms a sufficiently low flow resistance that the third wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         24 . The capsule according to  claim 23 , wherein the third wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the third wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         25 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule is free from a support structure for supporting the third wall downstream of the third wall. 
     
     
         26 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the third wall is provided with a plurality of exit openings. 
     
     
         27 . The capsule according to  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of exit openings is distributed over substantially the entire surface of the third wall. 
     
     
         28 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the second wall is perforate and/or porous. 
     
     
         29 . The capsule according to  claim 28 , wherein the second wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the second wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         30 . The capsule according to  claim 28 , wherein the second wall forms a sufficiently low flow resistance that the second wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         31 . The capsule according to  claim 30 , wherein the second wall has a sufficiently high tear strength that the second wall, in use, does not tear and/or rupture and stays intact. 
     
     
         32 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the second wall is formed by:
 a flexible porous sheet,   a flexible foil provided with a plurality of entrance openings, or   wherein the second wall is substantially rigid and comprises a plurality of entrance openings.   
     
     
         33 . The capsule according to  claim 32 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the plurality of entrance openings is distributed over substantially the entire surface of the foil or the second wall, respectively. 
     
     
         34 . The capsule according to  claim 33 , wherein the entrance openings have a circular cross section. 
     
     
         35 . The capsule according to  claim 34 , wherein the cross section of the entrance openings tapers towards the inner space. 
     
     
         36 . The capsule according to  claim 33 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the entrance openings are slits. 
     
     
         37 . The capsule according to  claim 33 , wherein the second wall is one of the flexible foil and the substantially rigid wall and wherein the entrance openings are arranged to open under fluid pressure. 
     
     
         38 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the entire inner space is occupied by the extractable product. 
     
     
         39 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule comprises an inwardly extending rim, wherein the second wall or the third wall is attached to the inwardly extending rim. 
     
     
         40 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule comprises an outwardly extending rim, wherein the second wall or the third wall is attached to the outwardly extending rim. 
     
     
         41 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the second wall and/or the third wall extends to the circumferential first wall. 
     
     
         42 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule further comprises a bottom seal at least partially removable connected to the second wall for sealing the entrance filter prior to use. 
     
     
         43 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule further comprises a lid seal at least partially removable connected to the third wall for sealing the third wall prior to use. 
     
     
         44 . The capsule according to  claim 43 , wherein the lid seal is arranged to be partially released from the third wall under the effect of fluid pressure in the inner space, while remaining attached to the third wall at at least one position. 
     
     
         45 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the capsule comprises stiffening ribs integral with the circumferential first wall. 
     
     
         46 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the circumferential first wall is cylindrical, hemispherical, frustoconical or polygonal. 
     
     
         47 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the extractable product comprises roasted and ground coffee. 
     
     
         48 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the extractable product is compacted into a tablet. 
     
     
         49 . The capsule according to  claim 48 , wherein the tablet comprises at least one bore extending from the side of the tablet facing the second wall in the direction of the third wall. 
     
     
         50 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the extractable product is compacted into a plurality of tablets, preferably of mutually different packing density. 
     
     
         51 . The capsule according to  claim 19 , wherein the circumferential first wall is substantially rigid.

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