Coffee capsule for preparing turkish coffee

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capsule for preparation of a specific coffee beverage and in particular a Turkish coffee.

Claims

1. A capsule designed for preparation of a beverage upon injection of liquid under pressure into the capsule, the capsule containing a substance for the preparation of the beverage and comprising a cup-shaped body, a top wall and a bottom retaining wall, the capsule further comprises an opener designed to open the bottom retaining wall upon a rise in pressure in the capsule, the opener comprises a plurality of first elements and associated secondary elements facing the retaining wall, the first and secondary elements are homogenously arranged with respect to the circumference of the retaining wall, the secondary elements each surrounding at least partially a respective first element and being arranged adjacent to but not in contact with the respective first element, the first elements being non-linear elements, and the secondary elements being linear elements, the secondary elements are arranged at a larger distance to the retaining wall than the first elements, a distance of the first elements to the retaining wall is 0 to 0.2 mm, and a distance of the secondary elements to the retaining wall is 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm, the retaining wall is a thin film having a thickness of between 15 and 25 microns, the substance is a precursor ingredient of roast and ground coffee, and the substance has a particle size between 100 microns and 330 microns, the secondary elements each comprise three linear segments arranged to at least partially surround the respective first element, two of the three linear segments of each of the secondary elements are arranged at a first distance to the retaining wall, and one of the three linear segments of each of the secondary elements is arranged at a second distance to the retaining wall that is larger than the first distance, and the one of the three linear segments arranged at the second distance to the retaining wall is arranged radially outwards with respect to the respective first element; and the opener further comprises third linear elements arranged to radially extend between the associated first and secondary elements, and the opener is configured to create at least one opening having a diameter between 0.3 mm and 10 mm in the retaining wall, the capsule comprises a series of dispensing holes comprising a plurality of inner and outer dispensing holes, the inner dispensing holes are arranged radially inwards of the outer dispensing holes and each have a first diameter, and the outer dispensing holes each have a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the inner dispensing holes, wherein the first diameter is at least 0.4 mm, and the capsule comprises an opening plate that comprises the first and secondary elements and the series of dispensing holes.

2. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the retaining wall is a thin film having a thickness of 20 microns.

3. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the third linear elements are arranged at the same distance to the retaining wall as at least two of the linear segments of the secondary elements.

4. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the opener is arranged in a bottom portion of the capsule.

5. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the opening plate is in a bottom portion of the capsule, and the opener protrudes from the opening plate.

6. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the second diameter is at most 1 mm.

7. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the first elements each comprise an upper planar front face arranged to abut at the retaining wall.

8. The capsule according to claim 5, wherein the opening plate is rotationally symmetric.

9. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the first elements each have a Y-shape.

10. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein a distance of the third linear elements to the retaining wall is 1.0 to 1.2 mm.

11. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein an amount of the roast and ground coffee in the capsule is between 1.5 grams and 8 grams.

12. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the top wall has a thickness between 20 microns and 300 microns.

13. The capsule according to claim 1, wherein the opener is configured to open the retaining wall upon a rise in pressure of 1.0 to 2.0 bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective cross-sectional side view of a preferred embodiment of the capsule according to the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is perspective cross-sectional side view of a variant of the capsule according to FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of an opening plate comprising the opening means according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the capsule 10 according to the invention, the capsule 10 comprising a cup-shaped body 1, a top wall 2 and a bottom retaining wall 3. The cup-shaped body 1 is preferably rotational symmetric and made of a single injection molded piece. At a lower bottom portion 1b, the cup-shaped body 1 preferably comprises a recess 1c for housing opening means 11 of the capsule 10. At a center of the bottom portion 1b, the capsule preferably comprises an outlet duct 9. A retaining wall 3 of the capsule 10 is preferably arranged such as to cover the opening means 11. Thereby, the retaining wall 3 is preferably connected to an annular portion 1a provided at a lower portion of the capsule. The retaining wall 3 is preferably arranged such as to contact at least part of the opening means 11.

(6) The top wall 2, the retaining wall 3 and the sidewalls of the cup-shaped body 1 preferably enclose a closed chamber 4 for holding a beverage substance 5 from which a beverage may be prepared upon interaction with liquid provided into the capsule.

(7) The opening means 11 preferably comprise an opening plate 11a, which is preferably made from a single injection molded piece and which is housed in the dedicated recess 1c of the capsule 10. The opening plate 11a is preferably of essentially disc-shaped form and comprises first elements 13 and secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c which will be described further below with respect to FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, at least the first elements 13 of the opening means 11 are in contact with the retaining wall 3, in particular with a lower surface of the retaining wall 3, whereas the secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c are arranged at a distant to the retaining wall 3. It is to be understood that the opening means 11, in particular the first and secondary elements 13, 14a, 14b, 14c may as well be integrally formed in a bottom portion 1b of the capsule, i.e. without the provision of a dedicated opening plate 11a.

(8) The opening plate 11a is preferably arranged essentially in parallel to the retaining wall 3. The opening plate 11a may further comprise support ribs 12 which protrude from a lower surface of the opening plate 11a and which position the plate 11a within the recess 1c of the capsule 10. The ribs 12 are preferably arranged off-set to each other and/or may comprise dedicated recesses for enabling a liquid flow from below the retaining wall 3 to the outlet 9 of the capsule 10.

(9) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the capsule 10′ according to the invention and wherein the capsule further comprises a flow distribution means 6. The flow distribution means 6 may be in the form of an essentially horizontal plate with openings 6a and which divides the closed chamber 4 of the capsule in at least a first and second compartment 7a, 7b. In the embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, only the second compartment 7b contains a beverage substance 5. It is however as well viable that the first compartment 7a also contains a beverage substance, which either equals the substance held in the second compartment 7b or differs in type and/or particle size. The capsule 10′ may as well comprise two flow distribution means (not shown) which may be arranged essentially in parallel and which thus divide the capsule in a first, second and third compartment. Thereby, at least the lower two compartments may contain beverage substance which preferably differs in type and/or particle size. The openings 6a of the flow distribution means preferably have a diameter of between 0.5 to 1.5 mm and are preferably homogenously distributed about the surface of the distribution means 6.

(10) FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of the opening plate 11a comprising the opening means 11 according to the invention. The opening plate 11a comprises an upper surface 11b from which a plurality of elements protrude to predefined height.

(11) The opening means 11 of the plate 11a comprise a plurality of first elements 13 and associated secondary elements 14a, 14b, and 14c. The first and secondary elements protrude from the upper surface 11b to a different height. The opening means 11 preferably comprise at least two, more preferably at least three respective first elements 13 and the respective associated secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c. The first elements 13 and the associated secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c are preferably homogenously distributed about the circumference of the opening plate 11a.

(12) The first elements 13 are non-linear elements and are preferably of essentially Y-shaped form when seen in top view onto the plate 11a. The secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c are essentially linearly extending elements when seen in top view onto the plate 11a and are arranged such as to at least in part surround the respective first elements 13.

(13) The first elements 13 and the secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c of the opening means 11 preferably each comprise a front face 18 that is preferably arranged essentially parallel to the retaining wall 3 and in particular to a lower surface thereof.

(14) The respective secondary elements 14a, 14b, 14c are arranged at larger distance to the retaining wall 3 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The respective first elements 13 are thus preferably protruding to a larger height from the upper surface 11b of the opening plate 11a than the secondary elements 14a, 14b, and 14c. The respective first elements 13 are preferably protruding to the same height from the upper surface 11b, which preferably lies between 1.5 and 2.5 mm, and more preferably about 2 mm.

(15) A respective first and second linear segment 14a, 14b of the secondary elements, which are preferably arranged to extend radially on the opening plate 11a comprises a height from the upper surface 11b which preferably lies between 1.2 and 1.7 mm, and more preferably about 1.5 mm.

(16) A third linear segment 14c of the secondary elements, which is arranged radially outwards of the respective first element 13 preferably comprises a height from the upper surface 11b which lies between 0.7 and 1.3 mm, and more preferably about 1 mm.

(17) The opening plate 11b preferably further comprises third linear elements 15 which are arranged to radially extend between the respective associated first and secondary elements 13, 14a, 14b, 14c. These third elements 15 preferably comprise a height from the upper surface 11b which lies between 1.2 and 1.7 mm, and more preferably about 1.5 mm.

(18) The opening plate 11b preferably further comprises a plurality of evacuating dispensing through holes 16a, 16b with a diameter of between 0.4 to 1 mm, preferably between 0.5 and 0.9 mm. The dispensing through holes 16a, 16b are preferably arranged to surround the first and secondary elements 13, 14a, 14b, 14c. The dispensing through holes 16a, 16b may comprise inner through holes 16b and outer through holes 16a, wherein the inner through holes 16b are arranged radially inwards of the outer through holes 16a. The outer through holes 16a preferably have a relatively larger diameter. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the inner through holes 16b comprise a diameter of between 0.3 to 0.7, more preferably about 0.5 mm and the outer through holes 16a comprise a diameter of between 0.6 to 1 mm, more preferably about 0.8 mm.

(19) The opening plate 11b preferably further comprises opening slots 17 at the circumference of the opening plate 11b. The slots 17 are preferably homogenously distributed about the circumference of the opening plate 11b.

(20) It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.