Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
  • B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
  • B65D85/8043—Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents
  • B65D85/8061—Filters

Definitions

• the present application relates general ly to the field of containers for preparation of beverages, especially coffee and tea.
• These containers commonly are referred to as cartridges, cups, capsules, or pods, and are particularly suitable for use in the preparation of a single-serve beverage,
• Embodiments of the present description address the above-described needs by providing a container including a substantially circular and horizontally extending base, a frustoconically shaped wall extending therefrom and defining a cavity therein, and a stacking shoulder which intersects and extends laterally from the wall.
• the base includes an outer annular peripheral support stmctare including a plurality of recesses therein.
• the base optionally may include an inner annular support stmctare that together with the outer annular peripheral support structure defines a continuous -puncture region sized and shaped to permit a puncture therein without interference and without substantial deformation of the container.
• containers for preparation of a beverage usina the above-described container and methods for preparing a beveraue usirss such conta]ners.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of art embodiment of a container according to a first embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a bottom view the container illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 4 is a forward lower perspective view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 is a forward lower perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment.
• FIG. 6A and FIG . 6B are schematic illustrations of a design that may be applied to the inner surface of a cup base according to embodiments
• FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are schematic illustrations defining various parameters of a container according to embodiments.
• Embodiments of the present application address the above-described needs by providing a container for preparation of a beverage.
• the term "container” is synonymous with cartridges, cups, capsules, pods, and the like, that may be used in the preparation of a beverage.
• the container generally comprises a cup-shaped container with a base and a frustoconically shaped sidewall defining an opening.
• the base includes an outer annular peripheral support structure comprising a plurality of recesses and optionally an inner support structure.
• a continuous puncture region disposed between the outer annular peripheral support structure and optional inner support structure is configured such to permit the container base to be punctured in the continuous puncture region daring the preparation of the beverage.
• An exemplary embodiment of a container 10 is further illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. "he container 10 comprises the base 12 and the tYustoconically shaped sidewali 14 defining an opening 16.
• the sidewali 14 may include a radially outwardly protruding lip 18 surrounding the opening 16.
• the radially outwardly protruding lip 18 further comprises a stacking shoulder 19 that intersects and extends laterally from the sidewali 14.
• the base 12 includes an outer peripherai support structure 20. an inner support structure 22, and a continuous puncture region 24 therebetween.
• the outer peripherai support structure 20 is an annular shape having a plural i ty of recesses 26 similar in appearance to an inverted parapet (i.e. , castle-like structure of a battlement or crenel lati on).
• the inner support structure 22 is an annular shape or a circular shape.
• the continuous puncture region between the outer peripheral support structure 20 and inner support structure 22 is configured to permit the puncture of the container base at any position in the continuous puncture region 24 during preparation of the beverage.
• outer peripheral support structure 20 or inner support structure 22 are annular shapes, other shapes also may be used (e.g., elliptical, triangular, square, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, and the like), provided the structure does not interfere with puncturing of the base in the continuous puncture region 24.
• the concentric annular shaped support structures are particularly suitable for defining a continuous puncture region that may be punctured at any position, thereby allowing the container to be positioned within the beverage machi ne without regard for the position of the puncture region.
• the outer peripheral support structure may comprise more than one annular shape having a plurali ty of recesses as il lustrated in FIG. 5.
• the outer peripheral support structure 122 may comprise a first outer annular shape 123' having a plurality of recesses 126 and a second outer annular shape 123" having a plurality of recesses 126 positioned inside the first outer annular shape 123' and outside the continuous puncture region.
• the plurality recesses of the 126 of the first outer an nular shape 123' and second outer annular shape 123" may be offset from each other, in embodiments, the first outer peripheral support structure and the second outer peripheral support structure have substantially the same dimensions.
• the dimensions of the first outer peripheral support structure and second outer peripheral support structure may be different (i.e., different widths, recess sizes, number of recesses, and the like),
• the container further comprises other features to facilitate the punctureability of the base.
• the container may include a feature in the inner surface of the base of the container.
• the feature may be effective to weaken the material of the base during its puncture without sacrificing its strength, for example, by providing stress concentrators.
• FIGS. 6A and 6B Two exemplary embodiments of the feature axe illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, which illustrate the designs that may be imprinted in the inner surface of the base of the container. Other designs also may be used.
• the container may be further characterized by the following mathematical relationship
• h is the height of the container from the base 12 to the stacking shoulder 19
• R 1 is the inner radius of the container at the stacking shoulder 19
• Ft is the radius of the base 12 including the outer peripheral support structure 20
• ⁇ is the approach angle.
• the container can further be charac terized by the dimensions of the base features; r is the radius of the base 12 excluding the outer peripheral support structure 20, r 1 is the inner radius of the inner support structure 22 comprising an annular shape, r 2 is the outer radius of the inner support structure 22, w 0 is the width of the outer peripheral support structure 20, d is the width of the continuous puncture region 24 of the base 12, w 1 is the width of the inner support, structure 22 comprising an annular shape, and t is the height of the outer peripheral support structure 20.
• the base 12 is further characterized by the following mathematical relationships;
• r 1 and r 2 independent from one another, may be from about 0.0 to about 5.0 mm.
• r 2 > r 1 and r 1 and 3 ⁇ 4 independent from one another may be from about 0.01 to about 5,0 ma
• r 1 may be 3.8 ram and r 2 may be 1.3 mm such that w 1 is 2.5 mm. in embodiments in which there is no inner support structure, w 1 , r 1 , and r 2 are 0.0.
• the outer peripheral support structure 20 can still further be characterized, by the feature angle ( ⁇ ), the recess angle ( ⁇ 1 , and the number of features (n), which have the following relationships:
• the height of the outer peripheral support, structure (t) is from about 0.5 to about 2.0 mm
• the height of the container (h) from the base to the stacking shoulder is about 39.4 mm
• the inner radius of the container at the stacking shoulder (R 1 ) is about 43.7 mm.
• the approach angle is from about 2 degrees to about 10 degrees. Exemplary ranges of the foregoing variables are summarized in the table below.
• a self-supporting filter element (not illustrated) known to those skilled in the art. may be disposed in the container and either removably or permanently joined to an interior surface of the container.
• the filter may be in the shape of an inverted, hollow cone having a curved wall tapering evenly from a rim surrounding an opening.
• the fiiter element then may be placed in the container so that the apex of the cone is supported on and. slightly flattened by the base of the container, thereby enlarging the volume within the cone and providing beneficial support for the filter element.
• the container provided herein further comprises a piereeable cover in a hermetically sealed relationship with the Hp of the container, closing the opening to form a cartridge.
• the cover desirably is formed of an impermeable and imperforate material that may be pierced with an instrument, such as a tubular needle, through which hot water is delivered for preparation of the beverage.
• the co ver may comprise a polymer film or a foil heat-sealed to the l ip of the container.
• the containers may be prepared by molding and thermofotmmg the container from a thermoplastic material.
• the thermoplastic material is substantially impermeable and imperforate.
• thermoplastic materials include polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polystyrene, nylon, and other polymers.
• the thermoplastic material he a bio-based resin, readily recycleable, and/or comprise at least a portion of recycled material
• the thermoplastic material may comprise a recycled polypropylene base resin.
• the thermoplastic material may be blended with one or more additives to impart the desired mechanical and thermal properties to the container.
• the thennoplasiic material may be blended with one or more additives to impart the desired stiffness to the container.
• the additive comprises an immiscible polymer that may function as a stress concentrator by hindering the natural ability of the thermoplastic material to deform plastically and promoting controlled crack propagation.
• immiscible polymers that may be suitable for use with a thermoplastic material comprising polypropylene include acrylics, styrenics, or their blends and copolymers with polyolefins.
• one additive comprises a nucleating agent
• a second additive comprises a metallic stearate, non-limiting examples of which include calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, zinc stearate, and combinations thereof.
• Other non-limiting examples of additives include calcium carbonate, talc, clays, and nano grades of these additives.
• the containers provided herein ha ve a puncture load of less than about 6 kg.
• the "puncture load” means the force required to puncture the continuous pone tore region in the base of the container using a needle. It should he appreciated that the puncture load depends in part on the type of needle used to measure the puncture ioad of a container. For example, the puncture load measured using a dull needle generally will be greater than the puncture load measured using a sharp needle.
• the containers may have a puncture load measured using a sharp needle of less than about 3 kg, less than about 2.75 kg, or less than about 2.5 kg.
• the containers may have a puncture load measured using a sharp needle of about. 4.2 to about 3 kg, about 2.99 to about 2.75 kg, or about 2.74 to about 2.5 kg. in embodiments, the containers may have a puncture load measured using a dull needle of less than about 5 kg. For example, the containers may have a puncture load measured using a dull needle of about 4.0 to about 5.0 kg.
• the container may be configured to receive an insert in which the dry beverage ingredients are disposed.
• the container may be configured to receive an insert comprising a filter cup in which are disposed the ingredients for preparing a beverage.
• the container may further comprise a filter cup comprising a brew substance, non-limiting examples of which include coffee grinds, ground tea leaves, chocolate, flavored, powders, and the like.
• the brew substance also may include a combination of dry milk, sugar or sugar substitute, or other flavorings to enhance the quality of the resulting beverage.
• the containers embodied herein are particularly suited for use in an automatic machine, such as a coffee brewing machine.
• a piercing member punctures the cover to introduce pressurized hot water through the hole where it comes into contact with the beverage ingredients disposed in the filter.
• a second piercing member punctures the base of the container at any position in the puncture region to enable the prepared beverage to flow out of the container and be dispensed into a cup or container for consumption by the consumer.
• 1.9 ounce containers were prepared, from mono-layer sheets and compared to a commercially available K-Cup® to evaluate the effect of the different polymer formulations on the punctureability of an exemplary container.
• Polypropylene base resins included recycled PP, a homopolymer polypropylene ("Homopolymer PP 1 "), and a medium impact polystyrene were used either alone or in combination with the additives white pigmented PS, CaCO 3 masterbatch 1 or CaCO 3 masterbatch 2, and PolyOne® proprietary masterbatch.
• the polymer formulations and results are provided in the following tables.
• the polystyrene-based K-Cup used as a control had the lowest "vacuum strength" of the containers tested, had a moderate top-load, the lowest side-load, and the lowest puncture load.
• Neither the neat polypropylene (Cup 4) nor the polypropylene with a 3% loading of CaCO 3 masterbatch 1 (Cup 6) were capable of being punctured.
• 1,9 ounce containers were prepared from mono-layer sheets using various combinations of polypropylene and additives and compared to a commercially available K-Cup® to evaluate the effect of the polymer materials on the puoctureability of an exemplary container.
• Polypropylene base resins included Homopolymer PP 1 , High Stiffness Homopolymer PP 1 , High Stiffness Homopolymer 2, High Stiffness

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2013
  • 2013-09-23 US US14/034,307 patent/US20140120217A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-10-28 WO PCT/US2013/067110 patent/WO2014066901A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-10-28 CN CN201380064227.6A patent/CN104837745A/zh active Pending
  • 2013-10-28 EP EP13789136.2A patent/EP2911952A1/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2016
  • 2016-03-02 HK HK16102429.9A patent/HK1214228A1/zh unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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