AU2015203869B2

AU2015203869B2 - Non-pre-pierced capsule for preparing a beverage

Info

Publication number: AU2015203869B2
Application number: AU2015203869A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Olivier Brivois
Original assignee: Brain Corp S A
Current assignee: BRAIN CORP SA
Priority date: 2014-07-10
Filing date: 2015-07-09
Publication date: 2017-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-09
Also published as: AU2015203869A1; BR102015016655A2; IL239902B; EP2966006B1; EP2966006A1; BR102015016655B1; LU92497B1; ES2647598T3

Abstract

"Non-pre-pierced capsule for preparing a beverage" Capsule (C) whose base (1) consists of a central disk (14) and an exterior ring (15) connected to the lateral wall (3) by a base cone (2). An intermediary ring (13) 5 connects the central disk (14) to the exterior ring (15). Its thickness is less than that of the other parts of the base. Radial ribs (12) connect the central disk (14) to the exterior ring (15) and are also connected to the intermediary ring (13). Figure 3 6680611_1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU - cr~ cr, 14% -- t Nr C~) N~ N - -~ C~) (r~ C~) ~- ~ -~ \ \ N N t / 7 'N F K N> to -N- - I _ c~cTh to C-)

Description

1 2015203869 24 Apr 2017 NON-PRE-PIERCED CAPSULE FOR PREPARING A BEVERAGE Domain of the invention

This invention pertains to a capsule intended to receive a substance for preparing a beverage when the capsule is installed in a coffee machine or infusion 5 machine and is held there by a piston while the extraction liquid passes through the capsule and the substance that it contains after the base is pierced by the teeth on the piston, arranged in a circle centred on the axle of the housing in which the capsule is installed, the capsule has a base and a lateral wall which are entirely integrated in a truncated cone as well as a lip covered by a lid, after the substance is loaded in the 10 capsule.

State of the art

It is common knowledge that capsules are generally in the shape of a truncated cone and particularly the capsule described in document FR 12 57 144. This prepierced capsule has a bottom with holes arranged in concentric circles and in the shape 15 of a funnel that opens outward, of which the narrow part opens in the capsule.

The holes distributed over the entire base of the surface are intended to distribute hot water (or any hot fluid in general) as regularly as possible into the capsule. For this same reason, it must be ensured that the teeth of the piston do not pierce the bottom even more and do not make the holes larger than the calibrated holes, 2 0 to ensure the regularity of the distribution of water over the entire surface of the bottom.

For this, the base consists of a circular inwardly projecting rib on the inside of the capsule to receive the teeth of the piston without them touching the base. But this relatively complex capsule requires particular packaging, hermetically sealed, in the 2 5 form of a pouch which certainly facilitates handling but has the disadvantage of additional cost.

Purpose of the invention

The purpose of an embodiment of this invention is to develop a simple non-

8981344 1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU 2 2015203869 24 Apr 2017 pierced capsule, which is easy to package and use, and thus allows precise piercing of the base by the teeth of the machine, without deformation of the base, for optimum entry and distribution of the extraction liquid or fluid and the substance in the capsule.

Presentation and advantages of the invention 5 In an embodiment, the invention provides a capsule intended to receive a substance for preparing a beverage when the capsule is installed in a coffee machine or infusion machine and is held there by a piston while the extraction liquid passes through the capsule and the substance that it contains after the base is pierced by the teeth on the piston which are arranged in a circle centred on the axle of the housing in which the 10 capsule is fitted, wherein the capsule has a base that is not pre-pierced and a lateral wall which is entirely integrated in a truncated cone, as well as a lip covered by a lid after the substance is loaded in the capsule, wherein the base comprises 15 - a strengthened central disk, - a strengthened exterior ring, connected to the lateral wall by a base cone, - an intermediary ring between the central disk and the exterior ring formed by a wall of reduced thickness compared with the strengthened thickness of the central disk and the exterior ring, in the annular ring in which the teeth of the piston of the 2 0 machine are located, wherein the wall of reduced thickness is adapted to be pierced by the teeth of a machine piston, - radial ribs connecting the central disk and the external ring which are fixed to the interior side of the intermediary ring without extending beyond the exterior surface of the base, on which the exterior edge of the ribs is fixed.

8981344_1 (GH Matters) P100391.AU 2a 2015203869 24 Apr 2017

The capsule presents the advantage of confining the coffee and its aromas in the narrow volume of the capsule till the moment the capsule is pierced and the incoming hot fluid allows, thanks to the accuracy of the piercings of the base and the absence of deformation of the base, a highly regular distribution of the fluid throughout the 5 capsule for regular extraction as in the case of a pre-pierced capsule, while avoiding the exterior packaging and its disadvantages. The quality of the coffee thus prepared or, more generally, of the beverage, depending on the substance packaged in the capsule, is better for a same quantity of substance, even though the arrival of the hot fluid in the capsule is achieved only via the piercings made by the teeth of the piston. 10 The rigid structure formed by the central strengthened disk, the exterior ring and the radial ribs constitutes a resistant structure with surfaces of reduced thickness, formed by sectors of the intermediary ring. This structure thus combines solidity and rigidity, avoiding any deformation of the base and the capsule - which can be harmful

8981344_1 (GH Matters) P100391.AU 3 2015203869 09 Μ 2015 for the proper functioning of the preparation of the liquid - without, however, complicating the regular piercing of the base by the teeth of the piston of the machine, thus creating regular perforations which are indispensable for a proper preparation and to avoid any preferential passage of hot fluid through only part of the mass of the 5 substance.

The interior ribs define the sectors that render the base fragile in certain places, facilitating its perforation by the teeth of the piston of the machine whose peripheral distribution is similar in various machines that use such capsules. The perforations of the base made by the teeth do not result in any deformation of the base, since the teeth 10 can easily go through the cover of the interior tumbler without the base being rendered fragile because this cover extends only onto the sectors that are narrow. Even if one of the teeth makes contact with a rib, it passes through without pushing in the base, which is perfectly rigidified by the excess thickness of the external ring and of the central part of the base, all the more so as the capsule is held rigidly in place by the lateral wall 15 thanks to its connection with the base cone and the base cylinder.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the lateral wall is connected to the base cone which is attached to the base by a lower cone of low conicity. This low conicity facilitates the insertion of the capsule in the cavity of the machine and also, under the same conditions, the extraction of the capsules once the 2 0 function is completed.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the exterior surface of the central disk and the exterior surface of the peripheral ring are flat, with the plane perpendicular to the axis like the first plane, while being withdrawn compared to the latter and the intermediary ring has a truncated conical surface which connects the 2 5 central disk and the exterior ring. This shape of the structure, and in particular the intermediary ring in the form of a truncated cone, facilitates the regular penetration of the teeth of the piston of the extraction machine and thus allows very regular passages to be put in place for the hot fluid, in order to ensure that it is distributed in a particularly regular manner inside the entire mass of the substance contained in the 3 0 capsule.

6680611_1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU 4 2015203869 09M2015

According to another characteristic, the exterior connection between the intermediary ring and the exterior ring forms a receding projection, and the interior junction consists of the interior radial extension of the exterior ring. This connection of the membrane of the intermediary ring with the exterior ring favours the stability of 5 this connection, thus avoiding the starting of any tears at the level of the connection of the intermediary ring with the exterior ring.

In accordance with another characteristic, the rib has an inside edge on the perpendicular plane of the axis such that the top of the rib connects the base cone.

The base ribs thus allow very firm and rigid pressure to be placed against the 10 base cone, which strengthens the basic structure of the base and improve its rigidity.

In accordance with another characteristic, the base includes several radial ribs which divide into circular ring sectors, specifically four sectors. The radial ribs of the base are preferably, when in pairs, in diametrically opposite positions.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the cone of the 15 connection above the cylindrical part of the wall consists of, on its interior surface, interlocking consoles which have a mounting side and an upper side which is divided into a support stop which forms, along with the upper surface, a peripheral support surface on which the rigidifying cone of the empty interlocked capsule rests.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the stop for the 2 0 meeting point of the base cone and the cylinder is withdrawn compared to the extension of the geometric truncated cone of the conical surface.

The interlocking consoles on the interior periphery of the cylindrical part form a particularly stable support, which houses the rigidifying cone such that the support between the cone and the consoles almost limits a regular point of contact on this 2 5 conical surface which is lightly inclined compared to the base (and thus compared to the support surface constituted by the upper edges of the various consoles).

There is no risk of sticking the interlocked capsule with another capsule, but there is a simple support which facilitates the release of the capsules from the pile in the stack machine.

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Moreover, the support consoles rigidify this zone of the wall at the connection between the cylindrical part and the conical part.

In accordance with another characteristic, the interior surface of the cylindrical part has a rigidifying rib on the periphery, which strengthens the cylindrical part and 5 prevents it from getting crushed by the pressurised liquid during the injection of liquid in the capsule, which exerts pressure on the entire peripheral surface and not only on the base.

In accordance with another characteristic, the base is thicker than the lateral wall. 10 In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the base has a thickness of 1 mm and the thickness of the cover of the intermediary ring amounts to 1/5 of that of the base.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the lower end of the lip housing the edge of the piston of the machine includes a rigidifying ring and an 15 exterior ring which defines, with another interior ring near the lateral wall and in the interval, a sealing lip which forms the housing surface of the piston edge. This receiving surface thus allows housing the edge of the piston with optimum sealing, which improves the passage of pressurised liquid in the product contained in the capsule to prevent this liquid, i.e. water, bypassing the connection between the piston 2 0 and the capsule without first passing through the product contained in the capsule.

This sealing is perfectly formed thanks to the large sealing lip which occupies the entire gap between the interior ring and the exterior ring which grants it a certain height against which the piston edge rests, and at the same time, the lip is guided by the interior ring and the exterior ring and also forms a seal with these two rings. 25 In accordance with a particularly advantageous characteristic, the exterior ring, the interior ring and the lip have a triangular section with a top angle of 40°.

In accordance with another advantageous characteristic, the base cone contains, near its connection with the base, a lower rib, particularly in the rectangular section. This rib rigidifies the base in an advantageous manner.

6680611_1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU 6 2015203869 09 Μ 2015

Drawings

This invention shall be described below in a detailed manner with the help of an example of embodiment of a capsule represented in the annexed drawings in which: figure 1 is an isometric view of the capsule shown in standing position: 5 the lower party constitutes the base on which the hot fluid arrives for the preparation of the beverage and the top is shown without its lid, it being the side from which the infused preparation exits the capsule, figures 2A, 2B, 2C respectively show a side view, a top view and a bottom view of the capsule, 10 - figure 3 is a partial scaled-up view with an axial section of the capsule, figure 3A is a detailed view I of figure 3 showing the structure of the edge of the capsule, figure 3B is a scaled-up view of the lower part of figure 3, the capsule being cut according to a first radial cut plane IIIB of figure 2B, 15 - figure 3C is a scaled-up view of the lower part of figure 3, the capsule being cut according to a second radial cut plane IIIC of figure 2B.

Description of a method of embodiment of the invention

In accordance with figure 1, the purpose of the invention is a pre-pierced capsule C, intended to receive a substance to prepare a beverage such as coffee or an 2 0 infusion. According to the orientation of the figure 1, this capsule C has a base 1 on which the hot fluid arrives (hot water or mix of water and steam) for the preparation of the beverage. The base 1 is connected to the lateral wall 3 by a conical base 2. The lateral wall 3 consists of a lower cone 31 of a very low conicity which connects a primary conical wall 33 via a conical connection 32. The primary wall 33 ends in a lip 25 4. On the interior, the upper side of the primary wall 33 has peripheral ribs 34 which

serve as fastening ribs 34 to extract the capsule from the injection mould. These ribs 34 are not part of the subsequent functioning of the capsule, i.e. filling the capsule with a powdered substance (coffee, tea) or installing and using the capsule C in a beverage 6680611_1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU 7 2015203869 09 Μ 2015 preparation machine.

Figures 2A, 2B, 2C show in a detailed manner the various components of the structure of capsule C, symmetrical in rotation compared to its axis (xx). The side view (fig. 2A) particularly shows the shape of the base 1, which has at its centre 5 (axis xx) an receding dome 11 for rigidification and various structural elements which have been described in detail further on. The base 1 continues to rise upwards through the base cone 2, which creates an angle from 30 to 45° with the base 1.

The base cone 2 connects the lower cone 31, rendering the capsule rigid near the base. The lower cone 31 is connected through the instrumentality of the conical 10 connection 31 to the conical surface 33. The conical connection 32 has a higher coni city than the lower cone 31 and the conical wall 33 in order to absorb, at a short height, the difference in diameter compared to the lower cone 31 which allows the empty capsules to be interlocked while remaining, through the lateral wall 3, inside a truncated conical cover. On the interior, the connection 32 of the lower cone 31 and 15 the conical wall 33 is fitted with interlocking consoles 35 whose mounting side 351 extends to the interior surface of the lower cone 31 and the upper side 352 forms an interlocking support surface (figure 3). The interior surface of the lower cone 31 is fitted with a peripheral rib for rigidification 311.

Figure 2B shows the interior structure of capsule C and particularly the lower 2 0 part with the base 1.

The top view of figure 2C shows the circular contours of the various annular surfaces of the base 1 corresponding to plane or conical rings which will be described in detail further on.

As shown in detail in figures 3, 3A, the top 41 of the lip 4 is flat in order to 2 5 receive the lid 5 and the bottom has an edge consisting of the rigidifying ring 42. Near the connection of the lip 4 and the wall 3, the bottom has an exterior ring 43 with a triangular section and an interior ring 44, which also has a triangular section in which there is a sealing lip 45. This space between the exterior ring 43 and the interior ring receives the edge P shown in the diagram, of the cylindrical chamber of the piston of 3 0 the machine. The lip 4 of the capsule is thus guided to appropriately receive the

6680611.1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU θ 2015203869 09M2015 peripheral edge of the piston which is positioned between the exterior ring 43 and the interior ring 44 by crushing the sealing lip 45; the assembly forms a labyrinth seal. The exterior ring 43 is a truncated triangular section or in the shape of a trapezoid with a top angle of 40°. 5 The interior ring 44 also has a rounded triangular section on the top with an angle of 40° and the gap between the two rings 43 and 44 is occupied by the sealing lip 45, which also has a triangular section on the top which is sharp and has an angle of 40° so that this relatively high sealing lip 45 can be crushed with proper contact between the edge P which is supported against the rings 43 and 44.

10 Figure 3 shows in a clearer manner the different components of capsule C which have already been described, in particular the connection line 321 between the conical connection 32 and the conical wall 33, as well as the shape of the consoles 35 which have a mounting side 351, i.e. parallel to the axis xx, in the extension of the interior wall of the lower cone 31 and the upper side 352 in a plane perpendicular to 15 that of axis xx; both sides form a support stop 353 at the point of their intersection. The upper side 352 of the consoles 35 also forms a peripheral support surface.

The base connection 1 and the lateral wall 3 are strengthened by the open shape of the base cone 2, whose walls are roughly as thick as lateral wall 3.

Below the lateral wall 3, figure 3 shows, through a double axial section view on 20 a diametrical plane IIIB containing on the one hand a radial rib 12 (in fact two diametrically aligned ribs) and on the other hand, in dotted lines drawn above the original drawing, an axial section view on a plane IIIC which does not contain radial ribs 12. These cuts are shown in a more detailed manner in figures 3B and 3C.

Figures 3 and 3B show the lower cone 31, with low conicity which gives it a 2 5 shape similar to a cylinder. However, the low conicity is highlighted by the angle AC, in relation to the direction xx. This conicity facilitates the placement of the capsule C in a machine or its extraction after treatment.

The base 1 connected to the base cone 2 has a complex circular shape, in the sectors separating two ribs 12 as well as at the level of the ribs themselves 12.

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In accordance with figures 3 and 3B, the view of the base 1 shows the peripheral ring 15, of a thickness equal to or similar to that of parts 2 and 3. The peripheral ring 15 continues towards the axis xx through an intermediary ring 13, which is divided into sectors by the radial ribs 12 and has a very thin wall compared to 5 the wall of the peripheral ring 15 in order to ensure that it can be easily pierced by the teeth of the machine. The intermediary ring 13 joins the central disk 14, which is extremely thick.

The central disk 14 is located outside the plane P0 which is perpendicular to the axis xx, while the exterior ring 15 is situated on a plane PI, which is also perpendicular 10 to the axis xx, but above the plane P0, i.e. withdrawn towards the interior of the capsule; the intermediary ring 14 thus has a truncated shape which forms the connection between the two planes P0 and PI with an outward projection 131 at the connection of the rings 13 and 15 and there is an inward or receding radial extension 132 of the ring 15 to support the connection of the edge of the intermediary ring 13 15 against the pressure from the teeth and the pressure of the hot fluid. This strengthening prevents any tears on the membrane at its connection with the exterior ring 15.

Advantageously, the interior surface of the peripheral ring 15 and that of the central disk 14, excluding the dome 11, are on the same plane 2, which is perpendicular to the axis xx. 2 0 Figures 3 and 3C show the structure of the radial rib 12 which, advantageously, is a double rib, i.e. diametrical. On the outside, the edge 121 matches the shape of the various parts of the base 1 and is not a relief so that the exterior surface of the base 1 has a circular surface shape on the axis xx.

On the interior side, the rib 12 has a straight edge 122, contained in a plane 2 5 perpendicular to the axis xx; this side 122 exceeds the various interior reliefs of the base and joins the base cone 2 by connecting the central disk 14 and the exterior ring 15.

Thanks to these different forms of strengthening, the capsule C is rigidified and the base 1 resists the pressure of the piston spindles and does not deform, preventing 30 the capsule from getting crushed and allowing it to be pierced by the teeth of the piston

6660611.1 (GHMatters) P100391AU 10 2015203869 09 Μ 2015 and ensuring better compression of the substance, particularly of the coffee, i.e. no loss of pressure and thus better extraction.

The base structure 1 is rigid and protects the piercing sectors, which are intentionally fragile, to prevent any accidental breakage during handling in the loading 5 machines and sealing machines of the capsules, or during the packaging operations or even when inserting the capsule in the coffee machine chamber.

Lastly, the base 1 facilitates the stability of the capsule C, which is upright on its base 1 with a significant plane surface (plane P0).

The capsule C, as described above, is made through a very simple process, 10 namely that of injecting or stamping of a food-grade plastic material. It can be stacked easily after it is manufactured and can be unstacked just as easily for filling purposes.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is 15 used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the 2 0 common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

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NOMENCLATURE C Capsule P Piston edge PO Exterior plane of the central disk of the base 1 5 PI Exterior plane of the exterior ring 15 P2 Plane of the interior surface of the base 1 and the exterior ring 15 P3 Plane of the tops of the ribs 12 XX Axis of the capsule 1 Base 10 11 Dome 12 Radial rib 13 Intermediary ring divided into sectors 131 Outward projection 132 Interior radial extension 15 14 Central disk 15 Peripheral ring 2 Base cone 21 Stop 23 Junction 20 3 Lateral wall 31 Lower cone 311 Peripheral rib 6680611 _1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU 2015203869 09 Μ 2015 32 Conical connection 321 Connection line 33 Primary conical wall 34 Peripheral rib 5 35 Console 351 Mounting side 352 Upper side 353 Support stop 4 Lip 10 41 Upper surface 42 Rigidifying ring 43 Exterior ring 44 Interior ring 45 Sealing lip 15 5 Lid

6680611 _1 (GHMatters) P100391.AU

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Capsule intended to receive a substance for preparing a beverage when the capsule is installed in a coffee machine or infusion machine and is held there by a piston while the extraction liquid passes through the capsule and the substance that it contains after the base is pierced by the teeth on the piston which are arranged in a circle centred on the axle of the housing in which the capsule is fitted; wherein the capsule has a base that is not pre-pierced and a lateral wall which is entirely integrated in a truncated cone, as well as a lip covered by a lid after the substance is loaded in the capsule, wherein the base comprises - a strengthened central disk, - a strengthened exterior ring, connected to the lateral wall by a base cone, - an intermediary ring between the central disk and the exterior ring formed by a wall of reduced thickness compared with the strengthened thickness of the central disk and the exterior ring, in the annular ring in which the teeth of the piston of the machine are located, wherein the wall of reduced thickness is adapted to be pierced by the teeth of a machine piston, - radial ribs connecting the central disk and the external ring are fixed to the interior side of the intermediary ring without extending beyond the exterior surface of the base, on which the exterior edge of the ribs is fixed.
2. Capsule according to claim 1, wherein the lateral wall is connected to the base cone, which is attached to the base by a lower cone of low conicity.
3. Capsule according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the exterior surface of the central disk is a first plane just like a second plane of the exterior surface of the peripheral ring, the second plane being perpendicular to an axial direction of the capsule like the first plane but spaced from the first plane towards the interior of the capsule, and the intermediary ring has a truncated conical surface which connects the central disk and the exterior ring.
4. Capsule according to claim 3, wherein the exterior connection between the intermediary ring and the exterior ring forms a receding projection and the interior junction consists of the interior radial extension of the exterior ring.
5. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rib has an inside edge on a perpendicular plane of an axial direction of the capsule such that the top of the rib connects to the base cone.
6. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes several radial ribs which divide into circular ring sectors.
7. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base includes several radial ribs which divide into four circular ring sectors.
8. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conical connection above the cylindrical part of the wall consists of, on its interior surface, interlocking consoles which have a mounting side and an upper side which is divided into a support stop which forms, along with the upper surface, a peripheral support surface on which the base cone of the empty interlocked capsule rests.
9. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stop for the meeting point of the base cone and the cylinder is spaced inward of the capsule compared to the extension of the geometric truncated cone of the conical surface.
10. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein on its interior surface, the base cylinder has a rigidifying peripheral rib.
11. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base is thicker than the lateral wall by 1 mm and the thickness of the intermediary ring amounts to 1/5 of that of the base.
12. Capsule according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of the lip receiving the edge of the piston of the extraction machine includes a rigidifying ring and an exterior ring which defines, with an interior ring near the lateral wall, a gap with a sealing lip which is also in the shape of a triangular section, in order to form the housing surface of the edge of the piston of the extraction machine.
13. Capsule according to claim 12, wherein the exterior ring , the interior ring and the lip have a triangular section with a top angle of 40°.