Collection receptacle for collecting insoluble material that is used for preparing beverages, as well as infusion device with such a collection receptacle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a collection receptacle for collecting insoluble material that is used for preparing beverages by means of an infusion device, wherein the infusion device comprises a container with an open end and a closed end for holding the beverage and the insoluble material. A piston-filter arrangement can be inserted into the container via the open end and can be moved toward the closed end. The collection receptacle can be inserted into the container, and has an opening that is enclosed by an edge, and a first coupling element that can be coupled with a second coupling element of the piston-filter arrangement such that, in the coupled state, a distance is formed between the edge of the collection receptacle and the piston-filter arrangement. In addition, the invention relates to an infusion device with such a collection receptacle.

Claims

1. A collection receptacle assembly for collecting insoluble material that is used for preparing beverages by an infusion device, wherein the infusion device comprises: a container with an open end and a closed end for holding the beverage and the insoluble material; a piston-filter arrangement that can be inserted into the container via the open end and can be moved toward the closed end, wherein the collection receptacle is configured for insertion into the container; and a collection receptacle having a wall that forms an opening that is surrounded by an edge, a first coupling element that can be coupled with a second coupling element of the piston-filter arrangement such that, in a coupled state, a distance (X) is defined between the edge of the collection receptacle and the piston-filter arrangement, wherein the first coupling element is arranged on a central projection of the collection receptacle and the central projection projects past the edge, wherein the central projection encloses a hollow space, the first coupling element comprises a coupling opening that opens into the hollow space on a free end of the central projection, the coupling opening tapers conically when viewed from the free end.

2. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central projection has a first height (H1) and the collection receptacle has a second height (H2) at the edge and the central projection projects with a height difference (H) between one millimeter and eight millimeters (1-8 mm).

3. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 2, wherein the height difference (H) is between two and six millimeters (2-6 mm).

4. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 2, wherein the collection receptacle has a diameter (DA) and a ratio of the height difference (H) to the diameter (DA) is between one one-hundredth and seven one-hundredths (0.01-0.07).

5. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central projection has at least one recess starting from the free end and passing through the wall.

6. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the central projection is formed by the wall.

7. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the wall defines a base area and a side area, the wall in the side area extending approximately perpendicular to the base area.

8. The collection receptacle assembly according to claim 7, wherein the collection receptacle has drainage openings arranged in the base area.

9. An infusion device for preparing beverages, the infusion device comprising: a container with an open end and a closed end configured for holding a beverage and insoluble material; a piston-filter arrangement configured for insertion into the container via the open end and for movement toward the closed end; and a collection receptacle configured for insertion into the container, the collection receptacle including a wall having an edge and defining an opening, the collection receptacle configured for coupling with the piston-filter arrangement, wherein, in a coupled state, a distance (X) is formed between the edge of the collection receptacle and the piston-filter arrangement, wherein the collection receptacle has a central projection enclosing a hollow space, the central projection has a coupling opening that opens into the hollow space on a free end of the central projection, and the coupling opening tapers conically when viewed from the free end.

10. The infusion device according to claim 9, wherein the distance (X) between the edge and the piston filter arrangement is between three and ten millimeters (3-10 mm).

11. The infusion device according to claim 10, wherein the distance (X) is between three and six millimeters (3-6 mm).

12. The infusion device according to claim 9, wherein the collection receptacle includes a first coupling element and the piston-filter arrangement includes a second coupling element, the first and second coupling elements comprise a positive-locking means that interact with each other in the coupled state.

13. The infusion device according to claim 12, wherein one of the first coupling element and the second coupling element comprises an essentially spherical or cylindrical section that is surrounded, in the coupled state, by locking arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1a is a principle illustration of a lower part of an infusion device with a collection receptacle according to the state of the art, in the not coupled state;

(4) FIG. 1b is the infusion device shown in FIG. 1a in the coupled state;

(5) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of a lower part of an infusion device with a collection receptacle according to the proposal according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention in the coupled state;

(6) FIG. 3a a cross-sectional illustration through a second preferred embodiment of the collection receptacle according to the preferred invention; and

(7) FIG. 3b a perspective illustration of the collection receptacle shown in FIG. 3a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In FIGS. 1a) and 1b), the lower part of an infusion device 10P with a collection receptacle 12 according to the prior art is shown. The collection receptacle 12 is formed essentially by a wall 14 and has an opening 16 that is enclosed by an edge 18.

(9) The infusion device 10P comprises an essentially cylindrical container 20 with a longitudinal axis L and with an open end 22 and a closed end 24. The infusion device 10P further comprises a piston-filter arrangement 26 that has a piston rod 28 and a filter press 30 attached to this rod. The filter press 30 is fixed to an upper plate 32 (not shown here, see FIG. 2) arranged above the filter press 30 and a lower plate 34 arranged under the filter press 30 so that the filter press 30 contacts the container 20 on the side, by means of which a side contact surface 36 is formed.

(10) For preparing a beverage, first the collection receptacle 12 is inserted into the container 20, so that it contacts the closed end 24 of the container with the section of the wall 14 that is opposite the opening 16. The collection receptacle 12 must be dimensioned so that it also nearly contacts the container 20 on the side, but a certain gap must be provided, in order to prevent the collection receptacle 12 from becoming stuck in the container 20. Then a certain amount of an insoluble material 37, for example, ground coffee or tea leaves, is placed in the container and water, typically hot water, is poured over this material. Here, the poured insoluble material 37 is distributed essentially uniformly inside the container 20. After the insoluble material 37 has been allowed to interact with the water for the desired amount of time, the piston-filter arrangement 26 is inserted into the container 20 via the open end 22 and the filter press 30 is pressed by means of the piston rod 28 along the longitudinal axis L toward the closed end 24 of the container 20 (see FIG. 1a)). The farther the filter press 30 is pressed toward the closed end 24 of the container 20, the more the insoluble material 37 is compressed and moved toward the collection receptacle 12. Starting from a certain position of the filter press 30, this is immersed with the lower plate 34 into the collection receptacle 12 (see FIG. 1b)). Depending on the construction of the filter press 30 and the collection receptacle 12, the coupling is created by means of a friction fit between the filter press 30, here essentially with the lower plate 34, and the inner surface of the collection receptacle 12, as shown in FIG. 1b), or by means of a positive fit between the filter press 30, in particular, the lower plate 34, and the collection receptacle 12, wherein, in the latter case, corresponding connection elements can be provided (not shown). In both cases, a prerequisite for the coupling is that the filter press 30 is inserted at least partially into the collection receptacle 12.

(11) If, however, the quantity of the insoluble material 37 is selected to be very large, for example, in order to prepare especially strong coffee, the collection receptacle 12 is very quickly filled to a large extent with the insoluble material 37. In order to nevertheless create a coupling, the filter press 30 must be inserted into the collection receptacle 12 with an increased expenditure of force against the compressed insoluble material 37, which leads, on one hand, to strong loading especially of the piston rod 28 and, on the other hand, is difficult for the user. Furthermore, the filter press 30 can become blocked by the insoluble material 37, so that the water cannot flow through the filter. If the user applies a correspondingly high force, a portion of the water flows abruptly from the area located below the filter press 30 with respect to the diagram shown in FIGS. 1a) and 1b) through the contact surface 36 into the area above the filter press 30, by means of which wave-like movements can be generated in the water and a portion of the water can splash out of the container 20.

(12) After the beverage has been prepared and consumed and the collection receptacle 12 is to be separated from the filter press 30, the position of the piston-filter arrangement 26 cannot be changed relative to the collection receptacle 12, and in particular, the piston-filter arrangement 26 cannot be rotated relative to the collection receptacle 12, because then the filter press 30 would be out of alignment in the collection receptacle 12 and the insoluble material 37 would have to be compressed more at least on one side. This makes the separation process more difficult.

(13) In FIG. 2, an infusion device 10 according to the proposal is shown with reference to a section drawing, wherein the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 according to a first embodiment is coupled with the piston-filter arrangement 26. The infusion device has essentially the same basic construction as the infusion device 10 shown in FIGS. 1a) and 1b). Also shown is the diameter DC of the container 20.

(14) In contrast to the collection receptacle that is known from the prior art and is shown in FIGS. 1a) and 1a), the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 according to the proposal has a central projection 38 rising from a base area 56 of the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 in a column-like shape about the longitudinal axis L, where this projection is formed by the wall 14, has a free end 41, and encloses a hollow space 39. On the central projection 38 there is, on its free end 41, a first coupling element 40 that interacts, for coupling the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 with the piston-filter arrangement 26, with a second coupling element 42 of the piston-filter arrangement 26, which is arranged approximately below the filter press 30 and the lower plate 34. In the shown example, the first coupling element 40 and the second coupling element 42 have positive-locking means 44, whereby the connection or coupling between the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 and the piston-filter arrangement 26 is created by means of a positive fit. In the actual case, the second coupling element 40 has a spherical section 46 that is surrounded, in the coupled state, by two locking arms 48.sub.1 and 48.sub.2 of the first coupling element 40 formed by the projection 38. The spherical section 46 forms back-cut sections 49, in which the locking arms 48.sub.1 and 48.sub.2 engage.

(15) The collection receptacle shown in FIGS. 3a) and 3b) according to the second embodiment 12.sub.2 differs only in the dimensions of the collection receptacle according to the first embodiment. As can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 3a) and 3b), the central projection 38 has a coupling opening 52 that opens into the hollow space 39 and tapers conically viewed from the free end 41. Furthermore, the central projection 38 has two recesses 54 that pass through the wall 14 and separate the locking arms 48.sub.1 and 48.sub.2 from each other.

(16) As can be further seen from FIG. 2, the coupling elements 40, 42 are shaped so that the filter press 30 or the lower plate 34 of the filter press 30 has a distance X to the edge 18 of the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 in the coupled state with respect to the longitudinal axis L. Consequently, in contrast to the infusion device shown 10 in FIGS. 1a) and 1a), it is not necessary to insert the filter press 30 for coupling in the collection receptacle 12.sub.1. The coupling elements 40, 42 define, in the coupled state, a unique position of the piston-filter arrangement 26 relative to the collection receptacle 12.sub.1, whereby the coupling is also enabled with a low expenditure of force, because the insoluble material 37 can be compressed only up to a certain degree of compression. The distance X is dimensioned so that a force that is not too high is applied to the water and the insoluble material 37 cannot be compressed so much that a portion of the water can flow suddenly from the area under the filter press 30 through the contact surface 36 into the area above the filter press 30.

(17) The wall 14 of the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 forms the base area 56 and a side area 58, wherein the wall 14 runs approximately perpendicular to the base area 56 in the side area 58. Furthermore, the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 has a number of drainage openings 50 that are arranged in the base area 56 and in the transition area between the base area 56 and the side area 58 and pass through the wall 14 of the collection receptacle 12.sub.1, whereby water can be removed from the insoluble material 37 collected in the collection receptacle 12.sub.1. In addition, the passage openings 50 have the effect that an elevated pressure cannot build up in the collection receptacle 12.sub.1.

(18) In particular, by means of the distance X between the edge 18 and the filter press 30 and with the use of the spherical section 46 of the second coupling element 42 and the locking arms 48 of the first coupling element 40 surrounding the spherical section 46, it is possible to rotate the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 with respect to the piston-filter arrangement 26. In this way, the user can move the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 into a position that is favorable for him or her relative to the piston-filter arrangement 26, which significantly simplifies the separation of the collection receptacle 12.sub.1 from the piston-filter arrangement 26 after the infusion device 10 has been used.

(19) As can be seen from FIG. 3a), the collection receptacle 12.sub.2 has the diameter DA and starting from the base area 56 at the edge 18 the height H2. The central projection 38 has, starting from the base area 56, the height H1. One can see that the projection 38 extends with a height difference H=H1H2 past the edge 18.

(20) In all of the embodiments of the collection receptacle 12 according to the proposal, the height difference is between 1 mm and 8 mm. Furthermore, the ratio of the height difference H to the diameter DA is between 0.01 and 0.07. The volume provided by the collection receptacle 12 is between 5 and 25 cm.sup.3.

(21) In Table 1, three embodiments of collection receptacles 12 are listed with corresponding dimensions, dimensional ratios, and volumes. Also specified is the diameter DC of the container 10, with which the collection receptacle 12 can be used.

(22) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Dimensions of various embodiments of the collection receptacle 12 according to the proposal. Collection Collection Collection receptacle 1 receptacle 2 receptacle 3 DC (mm) 68 96 116.5 DA (mm) 61.2 88.5 107 H1 (mm) 39.9 53.6 43.6 H2 (mm) 36.3 50 40 H (mm) 3.6 3.6 3.6 H/DA 0.058 0.041 0.034 V (cm.sup.3) 10.3 19.5 22.1

(23) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(24) 10 Infusion device 10P Infusion device according to the prior art 12, 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2 Collection receptacle 14 Wall 16 Opening 18 Edge 20 Container 22 Open end 24 Closed end 26 Piston filter arrangement 28 Piston rod 30 Press filter 32 Upper plate 34 Lower plate 36 Contact surface 37 Insoluble material 38 Projection 39 Hollow space 40 First coupling element 41 Free end 42 Second coupling element 44 Positive-locking means 46 Spherical section 48, 48.sub.1, 48.sub.2 Locking arm 49 Back-cut sections 50 Drainage opening 52 Coupling opening 54 Recess 56 Base area 58 Side area DA Diameter of collection receptacle DC Diameter of container H1 Height of projection H2 Height of collection receptacle at edge H Height difference H1H2 L Longitudinal axis V Volume of collection receptacle X Distance