FR2776270A1 - Device for the consumption of drink contained in coconut kernel - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for the consumption of the drink contained in a coconut kernel comprises a union (2) which is placed in the shell (16) of the nut. A straw can be inserted in the union channel (14) passing through the wall to enable the liquid to be drunk.

Description

COCONUT ALMOND CONTAINING A BEVERAGE AND

  DEVICE FOR THE CONSUMPTION OF THIS BEVERAGE

  Technical Field The present invention relates to a food preparation based on coconut and a device allowing the consumption of this food preparation. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART A coconut comprises, in order from the outside, a thick fibrous envelope called fluff, a woody shell, an internal almond, white and edible, forming a cavity, and nut juice coconut contained in the cavity. This juice, designated in the following text by "coconut milk", fills

  about 10 to 50% of the cavity formed by the almond.

  Due to the fluff and the woody shell, the consumption of coconut is not very convenient. In addition, coconut milk, although of great nutritional value, is relatively bland. The flesh of the almond, generally marketed in the form of lyophilized fibers, is also used for the preparation of pastries, chocolate bars or

for making syrup.

  Despite these uses in the agro-industry

  coconut remains a relatively little consumed food, especially for the reasons

mentioned above.

  Disclosure of the invention An object of the invention is to propose a new presentation of the coconut, and in particular of its almond, which is particularly convenient to consume. Another goal is to offer a drink and a food made from coconut, tasty and

  adaptable to the taste of a wide range of consumers.

  Another object of the invention is to propose a device for consuming a drink contained in

the almond of a coconut.

  To achieve these aims, the invention relates more precisely to a coconut almond containing an oral mixture of liquids. The drinkable liquid can substantially fill the entire volume of the almond cavity in order to have a larger volume of drink. Thus, initially, the almond constitutes a reservoir, comparable to a can, for the drink. Secondly, insofar as the almond is separated from the fluff and

  shell, it can also be eaten.

  In the following text the description refers

  exclusively with coconut almond. This almond can be used as it is by being separated from the wad and the shell. However, the almond can also be left in the envelope formed by the shell and possibly the stuffing. It then only serves as

  container for the drink, like a gourd.

  The drinkable mixture in the almond is preferably a mixture of coconut milk and another liquid such as water. The mixture may also contain additives such as flavorings, sugar or

  other food sweeteners.

  According to a particular presentation, the kernel can be equipped with a nozzle with a through channel

the wall of said almond.

  In this regard, it should be noted that when the coconut is used whole, that is to say when the almond is surrounded by the shell and possibly the wad, the end piece also passes through these parts. The mouthpiece can be screwed or pushed by the user into the almond to consume the drink

that it contains.

  However, advantageously, the nozzle can also be put in place as soon as the industrial preparation

  almond in a hole made in it

  this. It then also serves as a filling nozzle.

  The invention also relates to a device for consuming the oral mixture contained in

almond.

  This device includes the tip mentioned above

  above, generally integral with the almond in the state in which it is distributed, and a separate consumption accessory, which can be adapted to the end piece by the user, and cooperating with the end piece to

  allow the contents of the almond to be drunk.

  According to a particular aspect, the consumption accessory may include a straw that can be placed in said endpiece so as to pass through the

  wall of the almond and immerse in the drinkable liquid.

  The accessory can also be a simple mouthpiece, in the shape of a neck, for example, and

  allowing to easily drink the content of the almond.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the end piece and

  the accessory can be formed in one piece.

  This piece is then placed on the almond either during the preparation of the almond, or only at the time of consumption, by the user. In this

  case, the part is supplied separately.

  In an improved embodiment, the consumption accessory may include one or more reservoirs containing a beverage additive and a mechanism for releasing said additive, which can be actuated by the user to pour the additive into

the drinkable mixture.

  The additives can be liquid or solid additives. By way of example, the additives can be syrups or flavor concentrates or else

  a powder for carbonating the drink.

  Other features and advantages of the

  present invention will emerge better from the description

  which will follow, with reference to the figures of the drawings

  attached. This description is given purely

illustrative and not limiting.

Brief description of the figures

  - Figure 1 is a partial schematic representation, in the form of a cutaway, of a coconut almond equipped with a

  consumption according to the invention.

  - Figures 2 and 3 are partial schematic sections of coconut almonds

  fitted with end caps, in accordance with the invention.

  - Figure 4 is a partial schematic section of a coconut almond fitted with a plug.

  Detailed description of modes of implementation of

  the invention The reference 10 in FIG. 1 designates an almond (white part) of a coconut from which the shell and the flock have been removed. The elimination of these parts is an operation known to a person skilled in the art and is not described here. We can, in this regard, refer to documents (1), (2), (3) and (4) cited in the

end of this description.

  The almond contains coconut milk to which one or more liquids are added, such as water, possibly added with sweeteners, or preservatives, in order to form a mixture completely filling the almond. The liquid (s) added are preferably selected so as not to disturb the balance of natural chemical exchanges between the

coconut milk and almond.

  According to variants, the mixture may be a mixture of coconut milk from several coconuts or may contain only liquids other than coconut milk. The almond is equipped in its upper part with a nozzle 12 provided with a channel 14 which crosses the

wall 16 of the almond.

  This nozzle is part of a consumption device, designated by the general reference 20, and which further comprises a turret 22 for dispensing additives and a straw 24. The straw, intended to drink the liquid contained in the almond, crosses the center of the turret 22 and plunges into the interior cavity of the almond through the channel 14 of the end piece 12. Preferably, the elements of the device

  consumption 20 are made of plastic.

  The turret 22 comprises several chimneys 26 which can each contain a tank 28, movable according to

  the axis of the chimney and closed by a cover 30.

  Each reservoir contains a small volume (2 to 3 cm3) of an additive 31 such as, for example, an extract or a concentrated perfume of lemon, orange, mint, coca, an alcohol, or even a powder allowing of

carbonate the content of the almond.

  A bottom wall 21 of the turret 22 has a plurality of pins 23 projecting in the direction of the additive tanks. Initially, the tanks 28 are arranged in the chimneys 26 in a high position so that their lid 30,

  facing the needles, is not pierced.

  When the consumption device is in place on the almond, the user can choose to flavor the content of the almond according to his taste by pressing on the bottom 32 of one or more reservoirs which protrude from an upper cover 33 of the

turret 22.

  The pressure on the bottom of the tank, represented by an arrow, lowers the selected tank in the chimney and its cover 30 is perforated by one or more pins 23 from the bottom of the

turret.

  The additive contained in the tank then flows through an opening 34 made in the chimney and crosses the channel 14 of the nozzle 12, to mix with the liquids contained in the kernel. It can be noted that the additives, added only at the time of consumption, do not risk modifying the balance of exchanges between the mixture of liquids contained in the kernel and the wall of the kernel during

its conservation.

  As mentioned above, the consumption device 20, or at least part of it, for example the turret and / or the end piece, can already be fixed on the kernel when it is marketed. These items can also be put

in place by the user.

  In the example of Figure 1, the tip 12 is present on the kernel, and the turret is placed on the tip by a conical adjustment between the tip

  12 of the almond and a sleeve 36 of the turret.

  Other systems for setting up a consumption device are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, on which elements identical, similar or equivalent to those of FIG. 1 relate

the same references.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the end piece 12 is a hollow screw forming a channel 14, of which a first 2C end 12a, conical, is screwed into the almond and of which a second end 12b protrudes from the almond . The second end is capped with a unscrewable cap 40. The user can remove this cap and screw a device in its place

  consumption as described above.

  In FIG. 2, the reference 42 designates the liquid contained in the almond and the reference 44 designates a packaging in the form of a protective envelope possibly covering the almond. The packaging can be formed by a plastic film suitable for food contact. It can also be formed by all or part of the shell and / or of the coconut fill. FIG. 3 shows a variant in which a first end 12a of a tip 12 is screwed or simply planted through the wall 16 of the kernel, and in which the second end 12b of the tip has a closing cap 46. This cover can be punctured by a straw 24 which the user pushes through the nozzle 12 to consume the liquid 42. The straw and the nozzle then form a device for

  consumption within the meaning of the invention.

  A seal may be provided between the end piece and the kernel. This joint can be an elastomer joint, a gel, a food adhesive or a joint formed from fibers of treated coconut pulp, for example. In the case of the implementation shown in Figure 3, a seal 50 is provided between a shoulder

  48 of the end piece 12 and the wall 16 of the almond.

  In an embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4, the 2C wall of the almond has an orifice into which a full plug 54 is screwed. A user can unscrew the plug 52 and replace it with a device for

  consumption fitted with a screwable end.

CITED DOCUMENTS

(1)

FR-A-2 653 975

(2)

FR-A-2 647 643

(3)

FR-A-2 656 774

(4)

FR-A-2 626 440

Claims (11)

  1. Coconut almond (10) containing a drinkable mixture (42) of liquids.   2. Coconut almond according to claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises coconut juice (coconut milk).   3. Coconut almond according to claim 1, equipped with a nozzle (12) with a channel   (14) passing through a wall (16) of said almond.   4. Almond according to claim 1, having   an orifice closed by a plug (54).   5. Device for the consumption of the drinkable mixture contained in an almond according to claim 1, comprising a nozzle (12) intended to be placed in a wall (16) of the almond and a consumption accessory (22, 24) cooperating with said mouthpiece (12) to allow a user to drink the   drinkable mixture contained in the almond.   6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the consumption accessory comprises a straw (24) which can be put in place in said end piece so as to pass through the wall (16) of the kernel and dive in the drinkable mixture (42).   7. Device according to claim 3, wherein the consumption accessory and the tip are formed in one piece.   8. Device according to claim 5, in which the consumption accessory comprises at least one reservoir (28) containing a beverage additive and a mechanism (23, 34) for releasing said additive, which can be actuated by the user to pour out the additive in the drinkable mixture.   9. Device according to claim 8, in which the reservoir (28) comprises a closing cover (30) and the release mechanism comprises at least one needle (23) for puncturing said cover when it is pressed against the cover. 10. Device according to claim 3, in which the end piece has a closing cap (46), said cap being able to be opened during the fitting of the consumption accessory (24) on said mouthpiece.   11. Coconut almond equipped with   device according to claim 5.