Method for preparing a cold beverage

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for preparing a cold beverage with an apparatus (1) for mixing and storing a beverage, said apparatus comprising: —a container body (2), comprising a floor (21) and a sidewall (22) extending upwardly and longitudinally from the floor to an upper edge (221), —a removable and rotatable mixing device (23) positioned within the container body, —a motor (3) cooperating with the mixing device (23) through the floor of the container body in order to rotate the mixing device, wherein the method comprises the step of: —providing a mixing device (23), a part of said mixing device being covered with ice, —positioning said mixing device in the container body (2) in order to cooperate with the motor, —introducing at least one beverage liquid in the container body, —actuating the motor (3) to rotate the mixing device in the at least one beverage liquid.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a cold beverage with an apparatus for mixing and holding the cold beverage, the apparatus comprising: a container body, wherein the container body comprises a floor and a sidewall extending upwardly and longitudinally from the floor to an upper edge, a removable and rotatable mixing device positioned within the container body, wherein the removable and rotatable mixing device comprises a connector designed to removably engage with a corresponding positioner at the floor of the container body, and a motor cooperating with the removable and rotatable mixing device through the floor of the container body in order to rotate the removable and rotatable mixing device, the method comprises: receiving and storing water and the removable and rotatable mixing device in a compartment of a mould; engaging a bottom of the compartment with the connector of the removable and rotatable mixing device to fix the removable and rotatable mixing device inside the compartment of the mould; freezing an ice shape from the water around the removable and rotatable mixing device in the mould; providing the removable and rotatable mixing device, a part of the removable and rotatable mixing device being covered with the ice shape; positioning the removable and rotatable mixing device in the container body in order to cooperate with the motor; introducing at least one beverage liquid in the container body; and actuating the motor to rotate the removable and rotatable mixing device in the at least one beverage liquid.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one beverage liquid is a ready-to-drink beverage.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one beverage liquid comprises at least one soluble beverage ingredient and at least one aqueous liquid diluent that are introduced in the container body.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a heater, and the heater is switched on before and/or at the beginning of the step of actuating the motor to rotate the removable and rotatable mixing device in the at least one beverage liquid.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the heater comprises a heating stick or a serigraphic heating plate.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compartment of the mould comprises an upper opening, wherein the removable and rotatable mixing device fixed inside the compartment positions an upper end of the removable and rotatable mixing device passing through the upper opening.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compartment of the mould defines an internal shape that shapes the water into the ice shape around the removable and rotatable mixing device, wherein the internal shape has rotational symmetry around an axis of rotation of the removable and rotatable mixing device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the removable and rotatable mixing device comprises at least one of a blade or a whisk.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a drinking container.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a removable lid that cooperates with the upper edge of the container body to close the container body hermetically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for mixing, storing and drinking a beverage such as used in the present invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lid and the container body of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section view of the apparatus of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the bottom of the container body with the mixing device attached thereto,

(6) FIG. 5 shows the bottom of the container body without the mixing device,

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mould for freezing ice around a mixing device according to the invention,

(8) FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section view of the mould and the mixing device of FIG. 6 along plane P,

(9) FIG. 8a is comparative view of the shapes of the fixing means of the mould and the positioning means of the container body of the apparatus,

(10) FIG. 8b is a vertical cross section of the mixing device,

(11) FIG. 8c is a perspective view of the bottom of the mixing device,

(12) FIGS. 9a to 9f illustrate the method for producing a mixing device with a part being wrapped in ice according to the third aspect,

(13) FIG. 10a is a perspective view of a mould used in the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention,

(14) FIG. 10b is a vertical cross section of the mould of FIG. 10a,

(15) FIG. 10c is a perspective view of an ice shape produced from the mould of FIG. 10a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(16) FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 1 for mixing, storing and drinking a beverage used in the present invention. The apparatus is configured for preparing a beverage and storing this beverage. Preferably the apparatus is configured for being transported in order to enable the consumer to drink on the go while travelling.

(17) The apparatus comprises a container body 2 to store the beverage. Generally this container body is made of an insulated material in order to keep the beverage at the desired temperature. Usually, the apparatus is non disposable.

(18) The apparatus comprises a lid 3 to close the container body 2. This lid closes the apparatus and is configured for enabling the consumer to drink therethrough. Accordingly the lid comprises an opening for drinking. In FIG. 1, this opening is closed by a movable member 41.

(19) FIG. 2 illustrates the lid 3 separated from the container body 2. The container presents at its upper edge 221 means 222 for attaching the lid 3 to said edge and the lid 3 comprises corresponding cooperating attaching means 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooperating attaching means are bulges 222 and tracks 34. Yet any other current attaching means can be used like screwing means or snap fitting means.

(20) FIG. 2 illustrates the inside of the container body. At the bottom, the container body 2 comprises a floor 21. The sidewall 22 extends therefrom upwardly and longitudinally to the upper edge 221.

(21) As illustrated, the apparatus 1 comprises a mixing device 23 within the container body 2. Preferably, and as illustrated, the mixing device 23 is positioned at or close to the floor 21 of the container body. Generally, the mixing device is rotated around the longitudinal axis XX′ of the container body (illustrated in FIG. 3). As a result, during rotation, beverage rotates in the container body and swirls along the sidewall 22 of the container body.

(22) The mixing device can be a whisk, a whipper, a stirrer or any other device known for agitating a beverage. In the illustrated embodiment, the mixing device 23 comprises a toroidaly-shaped coil 231.

(23) In the less preferred embodiment, the mixing device 23 can be directly attached to the shaft of a rotating motor extending through the floor 21 of the container body.

(24) Yet, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 comprises magnetic drive means providing indirect coupling with the mixing device. The drive means comprises a motor 3 positioned under the floor 21 and actuating the rotation a shaft 31. The shaft extends along the longitudinal axis XX′. The end of the shaft comprises two elements 32 made of ferro-magnetic material. As a result, the rotation of the shaft induces a rotary magnetic field. The mixing device 23 comprises two elements 232 made of ferro-magnetic material. These elements are slaved to the magnetic field induced by the rotation of the shaft.

(25) In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, perspective view of the bottom 21 of the container body of the apparatus, the floor comprises a positioning means 211 configured to removably engage with a corresponding connecting means 233 of the mixing device. The positioning means 211 is a bump raising from the surface of the floor. On the other side of the surface of the floor, this bump comprises the end of the shaft of the motor.

(26) On the side of the mixing device 23, the connecting means is a recess 233 at the centre of the mixing device designed to fit and surround the bump (FIG. 3).

(27) The positioning means 211 has a shape complementing the connecting means 233 so as to accept the latter in rotational engagement.

(28) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom 21 of the container body of the apparatus wherein the mixing device has been removed and showing the shape of the bump 211 used as positioning means.

(29) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mould 4 for freezing an ice shape from water around the mixing device 23 of the apparatus such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5.

(30) The mould comprises a compartment 41 in which the mixing device 23 can be introduced and fixed. The bottom 411 of the compartment comprises a fixing means 42 configured for cooperating with the mixing means 23. Precisely, the fixing means 42 is able to engage with the connecting means 233 of the mixing device. In the illustrated embodiment and particularly in FIG. 7, the fixing means 42 presents a shape that fully matches the empty space defined by the connecting means 233 of the mixing device: in the illustrated embodiment, it is a dome shape. Yet other types of shapes can be implemented.

(31) As a result the mixing device is efficiently fixed to the bottom of the compartment. The fixing means 42 is positioned at the centre of the compartment meaning that, when the compartment 41 is filled with water and placed in a horizontal tray in a freezer, then water can homogeneously freeze around the mixing device. The homogeneous and symmetric final shape of the mixing device with ice parts is important in order to enable the further easy introduction of the mixing device in the apparatus and the efficient rotation of the mixing device to cool and mix the beverage in the apparatus.

(32) Preferably the mould is made of a flexible and resilient soft material like a silicone plastic. This type of material presents the advantage of being partially compressible and the shape of the fixing means 42 can completely fill the empty space defined by the connecting means 233 of the mixing device even if it is a little bit larger. Then, after freezing, the presence of ice in this part of the mixing device is avoided.

(33) As a result of the engagement of the fixing means 42 with the cooperating means 233 of the mixing device, the fixing means 42 prevents the freezing of ice in the connecting means 233 of the mixing device. Accordingly, when the mixing device with a part of said mixing device wrapped in ice, is positioned in the apparatus, the mixing device can still be correctly positioned in the container body in order to cooperate with the motor.

(34) Generally, as illustrated in FIG. 8a, the fixing means of the compartment presents a shape A (illustrated by dotted points) at least as large as the external shape B (illustrated by dotted points) of the positioning means of the apparatus. As a result, it is sure that the interface of the mixing device with the positioning means of the apparatus is not dilled with ice.

(35) Preferably, the compartment 41 presents such a height h (FIG. 7) that, when the mixing device 23 is engaged with the fixing means 42 of the compartment, the upper end part 234 of the mixing device opposed to the connecting means 233 juts over the upper edge 412 of the compartment. This prevents the mixing device from being fully covered from ice and it enables the user to grab the mixing device easily in order to set it back in the apparatus.

(36) In addition, the surface 411 of the bottom of the compartment presents a shape configured to mould the lower surface of the mixing device when the mixing device 23 is fixed in the mould 4. In the particular illustrated mode, the upper surface 411 of the bottom of the compartment presents a recess 4111 that reproduces the profile of the bottom surface of the mixing device.

(37) Actually as illustrated in FIGS. 8b and 8c, the bottom surface of the mixing device is not fully flat: the central part holding the ferro-magnetic elements 232 (coloured in grey in FIG. 8c) juts over the lower surface of the coil 231. The surface of the bottom of the mould reproduces the shape of the bottom of the mixing device perfectly. Due to this perfect match between the surfaces of the mould and the mixing device, no ice is able to freeze at the bottom surface of the mixing device and the connection either in the connecting means 233 or under the surface of the mixing device. No layer of ice is present at the bottom of the mixing device when it is removed from the mould. Then, when the mixing device covered with ice is introduced in the apparatus, the ice does not prevent the rotation of the mixing device.

(38) In the illustrated embodiment, the internal shape of the compartment is designed to mould a cylinder of ice around the mixing device. Yet other shapes can be produced.

(39) The largest external dimension of the ice shape shall remain inferior to the diameter of the container body of the apparatus.

(40) FIGS. 9a to 9f illustrate the method for producing a mixing device with a part being wrapped in ice. The method is illustrated with a particular mould made of two dismountable parts 41a, 41b.

(41) In FIG. 9a, the two parts 41a, 41b forming the compartment of the mould are separated and the mixing device 23 is positioned inside: the mixing device 23 is fixed in the lower compartment 41a by engaging the connecting means 233 of the mixing device with the fixing means 42 at the bottom of the compartment of the mould. Then the upper part 41b of the compartment is attached to the lower part 41a and accordingly the resulting compartment surrounds the mixing device 23.

(42) The upper part 41b of the compartment comprises an upper opening 413 and the upper end 234 of the mixing device is able to pass through as illustrated in FIG. 9b. The upper opening is sufficiently large to enable the filling with water therethrough as illustrated. Preferably, this opening presents the shape of hopper to facilitate the filling with water. The upper part can comprise overflow apertures 43 in order to control the level of water to be poured inside the container and as a result the shape of the ice wrapping the mixing device. This shape is also controlled by the internal shape of the upper and lower compartments 41a, 41b.

(43) In FIG. 9c the mould is placed in a freezer on a horizontal support and water freezes around the mixing device.

(44) When a cold beverage is to be prepared, the mould is removed from the freezer and the mixing device wrapped with ice is extracted from the mould by removing the upper and lower parts 41b, 41a as illustrated in FIGS. 9d and 9e. FIG. 9f illustrates the resulting mixing device.

(45) FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrates a mould used in the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention. The mould 4 comprises a compartment 41 for receiving and storing water. The centre of the compartment comprises a shape 414 erecting from the bottom 411 of the compartment and designed to avoid the freezing of ice at the centre of the compartment. This shape 414 reproduces the upper external surface of the mixing device.

(46) FIG. 10c illustrates the piece of ice 5 produced from the mould of FIGS. 10a and 10b. The external shape of the piece of ice is a cylinder. The centre of the cylinder presents an empty space 51 with a shape designed to match with the external upper shape of the mixing device. Consequently, this shaped piece of ice can be slid on the upper end part 234 of the mixing device, cover the upper surface of the mixing device and provide a mixing device covered by ice. The bottom of the mixing device is not covered by ice and can still cooperate with the positioning means of the apparatus.

Example—Preparation of a Cold Coffee

(47) In a first preparation step, a mixing device wrapped with ice was prepared with the mould illustrated in FIG. 6.

(48) The mould was filled with 40 ml of water and frozen in a freezer at −18° C.

(49) After several hours, the mould was removed from the freezer and then the mixing device was removed from the mould. Then, the mixing device wrapped with ice was introduced in the apparatus illustrated in the FIGS. 1 to 3.

(50) 166 ml of water at 20.8° C. and 3 g of instant coffee powder were introduced in the apparatus and the motor was actuated at a speed of 1500 rpm during at least 35 seconds.

(51) After 35 seconds, the resulting coffee beverage presented a temperature of 5° C. and a thin layer of foam at its top.

(52) After 60 seconds, the resulting coffee beverage presented a temperature of 4.6° C. and a layer of foam at its top of 5 mm.

(53) Although the invention has been described with reference to the above illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated that the invention as claimed is not limited in any way by these illustrated embodiments.

(54) Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification.

(55) As used in this specification, the words “comprises”, “comprising”, and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean “including, but not limited to”.

LIST OF REFERENCES IN THE DRAWINGS

(56) apparatus 1 container body 2 floor 21 positioning means 211 sidewall 22 upper edge 221 bulge 222 mixing device 23 toroidal-shaped coil 231 ferro-magnetic element 232 connecting means 233 upper end part 234 mould 4 compartment 41 lower part 41a upper part 41b bottom 411 recess 4111 upper edge 412 upper opening 413 shape 414 fixing means 42 overflow aperture 43 piece of ice 5 empty space 51