Abstract
An expandable infusion container (20) for receiving a dried infusion substance for preparation of an infusion beverage is disclosed. This comprises a base part (21), a lid part (22) and a wall part (23) connecting the base part (21) and the lid part (22). The wall part (23) has a variable length and is fastened with a first end (232) to the base part (21) and is connected with its second end (231) to the lid part (22). The lid part (22) and the base part (21) are connected to one another via a destructible guarantee seal (24).
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An expandable infusion container (20) for receiving a dried infusion substance for preparation of an infusion beverage, comprising a base part (21), a lid part (22) and a wall part (23) connecting the base part (21) and the lid part (22), wherein the wall part (23) has a variable length and is fastened with a first end (232) to the base part (21) and is connected with a second end (231) to the lid part (22), wherein the lid part (22) and the base part (21) are connected to one another via a destructible guarantee seal (24).
16. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein the guarantee seal (24) is configured as a tear-off film.
17. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein the guarantee seal (24) is configured as a plurality of tear-off webs.
18. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein the guarantee seal (24) is configured as an integral component of the base part (21).
19. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein the base part (21) comprises a hollow-cylindrical wall (211) that extends from the base part (21) in a direction of the lid part (22) and the wall (211) is divided by the guarantee seal (24) into a base ring (212) and a separating ring (213).
20. The infusion container (20) according to claim 19, wherein the second end (231) of the wall part (23) is clamped between the lid part (22) and the separating ring (213).
21. The infusion container (20) according to claim 20, wherein for clamping the wall part (23) the lid part (22) has two concentric webs (221, 222) which are or can be brought into operative connection with the separating ring (213).
22. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein a snap connection is provided for connection of the base part (21) to the lid part (22).
23. The infusion container (20) according to claim 21, wherein in order to provide the snap connection a projection (223) is provided on one of the two concentric webs (221, 222) for engagement in a corresponding recess (214) provided on the separating ring (213).
24. The infusion container (20) according to claim 23, wherein one or more axial extensions (224) which overlap the guarantee seal (24) are provided at least on one of the two concentric webs (221, 222).
25. The infusion container (20) according to claim 24, wherein a projection (225) for engaging in a corresponding recess (215) on the base ring (212) is provided on the axial extensions (224).
26. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein an inlet valve (10) is arranged on the lid part (22).
27. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein an outlet valve (11) is arranged on the base part (21).
28. The infusion container (20) according to claim 15, wherein a filter sieve (13) is arranged inside the infusion container (20), wherein the filter sieve is preferably arranged on the base part (21).
Description
[0044] The invention is explained in detail hereinafter with reference to an exemplary embodiment by reference to schematic figures. In the figures:
[0045] FIG. 1: shows a perspective sectional view of an infusion container;
[0046] FIG. 2A: shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 1 in a collapsed form;
[0047] FIG. 2B: shows a perspective view of the infusion container of FIG. 2A in an expanded form;
[0048] FIG. 3: shows a detailed view from FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 4: shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 1 during manufacture;
[0050] FIG. 5: shows a detailed view from FIG. 4;
[0051] FIG. 6: shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 1 during manufacture;
[0052] FIG. 7: shows a detailed view of a further manufacturing step;
[0053] FIG. 8: shows a perspective view of the assembled infusion container;
[0054] FIG. 9: shows a detailed view of a guarantee seal;
[0055] FIG. 10: shows the view according to FIG. 3 after breaking open the guarantee seal;
[0056] FIG. 11: shows the view according to FIG. 10 after raising the lid part.
[0057] For the sake of better clarity in all the figures the dried infusion substance optionally located in the infusion container 20 is not shown.
[0058] FIG. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of an infusion container 20. The infusion container 20 has an inlet valve 10 and an outlet valve 30 with a dispensing opening. The infusion container itself comprises a base part 21, a lid part 22 and a wall part 23. The wall part 23 is expandable and in the present case is configured in the form of a bellows. The wall part 23 is on the one hand connected in a liquid-tight manner to the base part 21 and on the other hand is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the lid part 22. This wall part 23 is enclosed by the base part 21 and by the lid part 22. To this end, a hollow-cylindrical wall 211 extending in the direction of the lid part 22 is provided on the base part 21 on the periphery thereof. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the inlet valve 10 is configured as an integral component of the lid part 22. It can also be seen that the outlet valve 30 is at least partially configured as an integral component of the base part 21. A filter sieve 40 which is arranged upstream of the dispensing opening and therefore of the outlet valve 30 is also illustrated.
[0059] The infusion container 20 according to FIG. 1 is configured to be substantially rotationally symmetrical and has a central axis L. This also defines an axial direction. A central axis is also provided in non-rotationally symmetrical configurations of the infusion container 20. This is substantially defined by the connection of inlet valve 10 and outlet valve 30. A flow direction which runs from the inlet valve 10 to the outlet valve 30 is also defined by the inlet valve 10 and the outlet valve 30.
[0060] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from FIG. 1 in a collapsed form. As can be seen from FIG. 2A and from FIG. 1, in the collapsed form the base part 21 is connected to the lid part 22 via the wall arranged on the periphery thereof and the integrally arranged guarantee seal 24.
[0061] FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the infusion container from FIG. 2A in an expanded form. By introducing an excess pressure via the inlet valve 10 (see FIG. 1), the guarantee seal 24 of the wall 221 of the base part 21 is broken open and the wall part 23 expands as a result of the filling of infusion liquid into the infusion container 20. It is understood that before introducing the excess pressure, the inlet valve 10 was opened. The infusion container 20 subsequently remains in this expanded form for a predetermined time and is then compressed to expel the infusion beverage. It is understood that the outlet valve 30 (see on this matter FIG. 1) is opened in particular before the compression and the infusion beverage is dispensed through this outlet valve 30.
[0062] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view from FIG. 1. This shows a section of the connection between the lid part 22 and the base part 21. A first web 223 and a second web 222 are formed on the lid part 22. The first web 221 runs along the periphery of the lid part 22. The second web 22 is radially offset inwardly in relation to the first web 221. These two webs 221 and 222 jointly form a groove for receiving a corresponding counter-piece. The counter-piece is configured as part of the hollow-cylindrical wall 211 of the base part 21. The hollow-cylindrical wall 211 is divided into a base ring 212 and a separating ring 213. The separating ring 213 is held in the groove between the webs 221 and 222.
[0063] The separating ring 213 is connected to the base ring 212 via a guarantee seal 24. In the present case, the guarantee seal 24 consists of individual tear-off webs (see on this matter also FIG. 9). A recess 214 is provided on the separating ring 213 in which a projection 223 of the second web 222 engages. An extension 224 is provided on the second web 222 on which a projection 225 is also formed. The projection 225 engages in a recess 215 on the base ring 212. As can be seen from the illustration according to FIG. 3, the extension 224 overlaps the guarantee seal 24 in the direction of the base ring 212. The extension 224 has a plurality of interruptions not designated in detail here along its circumference, which allow a better raising from the base ring 212 during the opening process of the infusion container 20.
[0064] A second end 231 of the wall part 23 is clamped between the separating ring 213 and the webs 221 and 222. As a result of this clamping, the wall part 23 is connected to the lid part 22 in a fluid-tight manner even after separation of the separating ring 213, which is explained with reference to the following FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0065] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from FIG. 1 during manufacture. In a first step a base part 21 is provided which has a hollow-cylindrical wall 211 as presently described. The wall 211 is arranged on the periphery of the base part 221 and extends contrary to the flow direction. A wall part 23 is arranged inside this wall 221. In the present case, the wall part 23 is configured in the form of a bellows. The wall part 23 is fabricated from a flexible plastic, in particular from a biologically degradable plastic, preferably from a biobased plastic. The wall part 23 comprises a first end 232 and a second end 231. The first end 232 is connected to the base part 21, in the present case by an adhesive bonding. Alternatively a welding can be provided.
[0066] The second end 231 has an outwardly directed bend (see on this matter FIG. 5) which rests on an upper end of the hollow-cylindrical wall 211. This bend is not shown in the present case. The hollow-cylindrical wall 211 is divided into a base ring 212 and a separating ring 213 (see on this matter FIG. 3).
[0067] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view from FIG. 4. The configuration of the second end 231 of the wall part 23 can be clearly seen. The second end 231 spans the guarantee seal 24 from the base ring 212 to the separating ring and extends radially beyond the separating ring 213.
[0068] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from FIG. 1 during manufacture, namely the step of combining the lid part 22 with the base part 21. It is understood that the dried infusion substance has been brought into the infusion container 20 or into the semifinished infusion container 20 shown in FIG. 4.
[0069] According to FIG. 6 a lid part 22 is provided. The lid part 22 comprises a first web 221 and a radially inwardly offset second web 222. These two webs 221 and 222 are formed substantially complementarily to the separating ring 213 to receive this. A support 41 is additionally formed on the base part 21 which has a filter sieve 40 as an integral part. The support 41 is formed substantially complementarily to a counter-piece of the inlet valve 10.
[0070] As can be seen from FIG. 6, the inlet valve 10 can thus be supported on the support 41.
[0071] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of another manufacturing step. The lid part 22 is now in abutment with the second end 231 of the wall part 23. The extension 224 of the web 222 already extends into the interior of the hollow-cylindrical wall 211.
[0072] Subsequently the lid part is moved further in the direction of the hollow-cylindrical wall 211 so that the webs 221 and 222 are pushed over the separating ring 213. Accordingly, the projections 223 and 225 engage in corresponding recess 214 and 215 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0073] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the assembled infusion container 20. FIG. 8 allows a view of the guarantee seal 24 which is arranged between the base ring 212 and the separating ring 213. The guarantee seal 24 comprises in the present case a plurality of tear-off webs which are spaced apart from one another with corresponding openings (see on this matter also FIG. 9). As a result of the guarantee seal 24 on the one hand overlapping through the web 222 and the extension 224 (see FIG. 3) and as a result of the overlapping of a corresponding section of the second end 231 of the wall part 23, however, these openings are closed. In addition, the first web 221 is also configured in such a manner that it also overlaps the guarantee seal 24 or the openings between the tear-off webs.
[0074] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of the guarantee seal 24. The guarantee seal 24 comprises a plurality of tear-off webs which are spaced apart from one another with an opening. The tear-off webs connect the base ring 212 to the separating ring 213. A recess 214 for receiving a corresponding counter-piece is arranged in the separating ring 213. A recess 215 is also arranged in the base ring 212 for receiving a counter-piece corresponding to this recess 215.
[0075] FIG. 10 shows the view according to FIG. 3 after breaking the guarantee seal 24. As a result of an infusion liquid pouring through the inlet valve 10 (see on this matter FIG. 1), an excess pressure forms inside the infusion container 20. The separating ring 213 is held firmly between the webs 221 and 222 so that the tear-off webs of the guarantee seal are accordingly exposed to a force until they tear. The projection 225 of the extension 224 is released from the recess 215. A displacement of the lid part or a removal of the lid part 22 from the base part 21 is made possible so that the folded wall part 23 can unfold.
[0076] FIG. 11 shows the view according to FIG. 10 after complete removal of the lid part 22 from the base part 21. The lid part 22 is merely connected by the wall part 23 to the base part 21. After further filling of the infusion container 20, this then adopts the form shown in FIG. 2B. The infusion beverage can be dispensed after a predetermined dwell time as described for FIG. 2B.
