Abstract
The present invention relates to an expandable infusion packet (1, 5), wherein the infusion packet is in a permanently compressed state in the absence of water and converts to an expanded state in the presence of water.
Claims
1. Expandable infusion packet, wherein the infusion packet is in a permanently compressed state in the absence of water and converts to an expanded state in the presence of water, and wherein the infusion packet has a substantially rigid structure in the permanently compressed state.
2. Expandable infusion packet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the infusion packet has a volume Vein the permanently compressed state and a volume V.sub.E in the expanded state and wherein V.sub.E is from 2V.sub.C to 10V.sub.C.
3. Expandable infusion packet as claimed claim 1 wherein the infusion packet has a first geometric shape in its permanently compressed state and a second geometric shape in its expanded state, wherein the first and second geometric shapes are distinct.
4. Expandable infusion packet as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first geometric shape is a cylinder.
5. Expandable infusion packet at claimed in claim 3 wherein first geometric shape is a prism.
6. Expandable infusion packet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second geometric shape is a sphere, a hemisphere, a tetrahedron or a pyramid.
7. Expandable infusion packet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the infusion packet is made from a non-woven material.
8. A package comprising a plurality of expandable infusion packets as claimed in claim 1.
9. A package as claimed in claim 8 wherein the package is a tube or a carton.
10. A package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the package is a tube and the first geometric shape is a cylinder.
11. A package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the package is a carton and the first geometric shape is a square or rectangular prism.
12. A package as claimed in claim 9 wherein the package is a carton and the first geometric shape is a cylinder.
13. A method of manufacturing an expandable infusion packet as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: (a) providing an infusion packet in an expanded state; (b) inserting the infusion packet in a die; (c) applying pressure so as to convert the infusion packet to a permanently compressed state, wherein the infusion packet has a substantially rigid structure in the permanently compressed state.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the pressure applied in step (c) is from 3000 to 4200 kPa.
15. (canceled)
Description
FIGURES
[0068] By way of example, the present invention is illustrated with reference to the following figures, in which:
[0069] FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an expandable infusion packet in a permanently compressed state;
[0070] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the expandable infusion packet of FIG. 1a in an expanded state;
[0071] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a compressed infusion packet according to the invention which has been placed in a receptacle ready for brewing;
[0072] FIG. 2b is a representation of the infusion packet of FIG. 2a once water has been added to the receptacle so as to prepare a beverage;
[0073] FIG. 3a is a perspective view showing an arrangement of a plurality of compressed infusion packets;
[0074] FIG. 3b is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a package comprising a plurality of compressed infusion packets;
[0075] FIG. 3c is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of a package comprising a plurality of compressed infusion packets;
[0076] FIG. 4 shows a series of perspective views illustrating possible shapes for expandable infusion bags according to the present invention in their permanently compressed state.
[0077] FIG. 5a is a perspective view of an infusion packet with a hemispherical expanded state;
[0078] FIG. 5b is a perspective view of an infusion packet with a cubic expanded state;
[0079] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a carton comprising a plurality of compressed infusion packets;
[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates different arrangements a plurality of compressed infusion packets;
[0081] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a carton comprising a plurality of compressed infusion packets.
[0082] FIG. 1a shows an expandable infusion packet according to the invention in its permanently compressed state. The compressed infusion packet (1) is cylindrical and has a circular cross-section. In this format, the infusion packet has a circular first face (2) and circular second face (which is opposite the first face, and thus not visible in FIG. 1a) connected along a length (L) by a curved surface (4). The cross-section along the length (L) is constant, and is the same shape as the first and second faces (i.e. circular). In the illustrated embodiment, the width (W) is the diameter of the circular cross-section.
[0083] FIG. 1b shows the infusion packet of FIG. 1a in its expanded state. The expanded infusion packet (5) has adopted a three-dimensional tetrahedral shape. As such, the infusion packet has a different shape in its expanded state than it had in its compressed state. The three-dimensional expanded state allows the infusible material (6) room to move within the infusion packet (5), which is believed to improve infusion performance.
[0084] FIG. 2 illustrates the conversion of an expandable infusion packet according to the present invention from its permanently compressed state to its expanded state. This conversion occurs under the conditions typically used by a consumer to prepare an infusion from a conventional infusion packet.
[0085] FIG. 2a shows the infusion packet prior to the start of brewing. The compressed infusion packet (1) has been placed in a receptacle (7) which is suitable for receiving a quantity of hot water (in this case a mug). In order to prepare a beverage from the compressed infusion packet the consumer adds hot water to the receptacle. The infusion packet converts to an expanded state in the presence of water (8). The volume of water used by consumers to prepare a beverage from a conventional infusion packet varies, and is not constant from one geography to another. Thus, it is preferably that the volume of water that will cause the infusion packet to convert from its permanently compressed state to its expanded state is not very large, although it will be appreciated that this volume is typically greater than V.sub.E (100 ml of water will usually be sufficient). FIG. 2b shows the infusion packet during brewing. The infusion packet is now in its expanded state (5), and has adopted a three-dimensional tetrahedral shape.
[0086] As shown by FIG. 3, the compressed infusion packets of the present invention can be conveniently packaged.
[0087] FIG. 3a shows a plurality of compressed infusion packets (1), which have been stacked one on top of the other. Since the infusion packets have a regular shape in the compressed state, this arrangement results in a format with a constant cross-section (in this case, a circular cross-section).
[0088] FIG. 3b shows a possible way of packaging a plurality of compressed infusion packets (1). The stack of expandable infusion packets is kept together by secondary packaging (9). In FIG. 3b this secondary packaging (9) is tubular and takes the form of a sheet (e.g. formed of paper or plastic) which extends around the infusion packets in a circumferential manner and is sealed where its edges meet.
[0089] FIG. 3c shows an alternative way of packaging a plurality of compressed infusion packets (1). In FIG. 3c the secondary packaging (9) is a cardboard tube having a square cross-section. This carton has the form of a square prism. Although the compressed infusion packets do not fill the entire volume of the carton, the packaging efficiency is still improved (i.e. a carton designed to accommodate an equivalent number of conventional infusion packets having an expanded format would have a significantly larger volume).
[0090] Although not illustrated, it will be appreciated that yet more secondary packaging formats are possible (e.g. a cardboard or plastic tube, etc.).
[0091] The shape of the expandable infusion packet in its permanently compressed state may be prismatic. FIG. 4 shows some possible prismatic configurations.
[0092] In FIG. 4a the compressed infusion packet has the form of a triangular prism. In this format, the first and second faces of the infusion packet are triangular, and are connected along the length (L) by three rectangular joining faces (11), which are delimited from one another by three joining edges (12). In this embodiment, the width (W) is the distance between two adjacent vertices of the triangular cross-section.
[0093] In FIG. 4b the compressed infusion packet is a square prism. In this format, the first and second faces of the infusion packet are square, and are connected along the length (L) by four rectangular joining faces (11), which are delimited from one another by four joining edges (12). In this embodiment, the width (W) is the diagonal of the square cross-section.
[0094] FIGS. 4c and 4d illustrate two possible hexagonal prism configurations for the compressed infusion packet. In both instances, the first and second faces of the infusion packet are hexagonal, and are connected along the length (L) by six rectangular joining faces (11), which are delimited from one another by six joining edges (12). The compressed infusion packet of FIG. 4c has a convex hexagonal cross-section, whereas the compressed infusion packet of 4d has an L-shaped concave hexagonal cross-section.
[0095] The shape of the expandable infusion packet in its expanded state is not limited, and can be any geometric shape. FIG. 5 shows some possible configurations.
[0096] In FIG. 5a the expanded infusion packet (5) has a three-dimensional hemispherical shape, whilst in FIG. 5b it has a cubic shape in its expanded form.
[0097] It will be appreciated that there is no particular link between the shape of the expandable infusion packet in its compressed state and in its expanded shape. In particular, an infusion packet having any one of the expanded shapes shown in FIGS. 1b, 5a and 5b can be compressed so as to have any one of the configurations shown in FIGS. 1a, 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.
[0098] The shape of the infusion packet in its compressed state could be used as a code help consumers identify the appropriate product. For example, a range of products are often sold by a particular manufacturer (such as green tea, black tea, fruit and herbal infusions, etc.). Conventionally, each member of the range uses the same shaped infusion packet (e.g. tetrahedral). Each type of product is sold in a separate package (e.g. a carton containing a certain number of infusion packets), and the information provided on the package identifies the particular product type. The present invention allows each product in the range to have a different shape in the permanently compressed state (whilst still maintaining a common shape in the expanded state). For example, infusion packets containing black tea could have the form of a cylinder, whilst those containing green tea could have the form of a hexagonal prism, and so on. In this way, even if the compressed infusion packets had been removed from the package in which they were sold, the consumer would still be able to visually identify each product in the range.
[0099] FIG. 6 shows a possible way of packaging a plurality of compressed infusion packets. In this Figure, a number of compressed infusion packets (1) are arranged inside a cardboard carton (15). The square cross-section of the infusion packets (1) means that they tessalate, thus resulting in a very efficient use of the internal space within the carton.
[0100] FIG. 7 illustrates different arrangements a plurality of compressed infusion packets. FIG. 7a shows a plurality of compressed infusion packets (1) having a hexagonal cross-section which have been stacked one on top of the other. The regular shape of these infusion packets in the compressed state means that the stack of infusion packets has a constant cross-section. The stack of expandable infusion packets can be packaged so as to maintain this arrangement (e.g. in a similar manner to that illustrated for in FIG. 3b).
[0101] FIG. 7b shows an alternative arrangement of compressed infusion packets (1) having a hexagonal cross-section. In this arrangement, the compressed infusion packets are arranged in a single layer. The regular hexagonal cross-section of the infusion packets (1) means that they tessalate. The layer of expandable infusion packets can be packaged so as to maintain this arrangement (e.g. by packaging them in a cardboard carton).
[0102] FIG. 8 shows a possible way of packaging a plurality of compressed infusion packets. In this Figure, a number of compressed infusion packets (1) are arranged inside a cardboard carton (15). The circular cross-section of the infusion packets (1) means that they do not tessalate. Nevertheless, the compressed infusion packets are still very efficiently packaged, whilst the small amount of space around the compressed infusion packets allows the consumer to easily remove an individual infusion packet by gripping the curved surface thereof.
[0103] Although not illustrated, it will be appreciated that the final packaging arrangement could comprise multiple layers of the compressed infusion packets. Indeed, it is also envisaged that each layer of infusion packets could have a different shape in the compressed format. For example, a first layer could consist of infusion packets having a hexagonal cross-section, with a second layer consisting of infusion packets having a square cross-section.
Examples
[0104] A commercially available PG Tips pyramid tea bag (bag weight 2.9 g) was provided. The shape of this tea bag in the expanded state was essentially tetrahedral (edge length 65 mm). The volume of the tea bag in the expanded state (V.sub.E) was 32365 mm.sup.3.
[0105] The tea bag was inserted into a steel die having the form of a hollow cylinder and converted into a permanently compressed state by applying 500 psi (3447 kPa) pressure via an aluminium piston that slides within the cylindrical die thereby compressing the tea bag. The shape of this tea bag in the permanently compressed state was essentially cylindrical (with a circular cross-section). The width (W) of the compressed cylindrical format of the tea bag was 34 mm, and the length (L) was 7.5 mm. The volume of the tea bag in the permanently compressed state (V.sub.C) was 6809 mm.sup.3.
[0106] The permanently compressed tea bag was placed in an empty cup, and 200 ml of hot water was added. The tea bag converted to its expanded form in a matter of seconds. Moreover, this conversion caused the tea bag to tumble. This movement facilitates rapid brewing of the tea leaves contained within the tea bag without the need for stirring or otherwise agitating the tea bag.
[0107] For comparison, a non-compressed, commercially available PG Tips pyramid tea bag (bag weight 2.9 g) was placed in an empty cup, and 200 ml of hot water was added. The addition of the water caused temporary flattening of the tea bag. Furthermore, although the tea bag floated once addition of the water was completed, it did not tumble and was essentially static during brewing. The lack of movement meant that the tea leaves contained within the tea bag did not brew as rapidly.
