ADDITIVE DISPENSING CARTRIDGE FOR USE IN CAPSULE BEVERAGE MACHINE

Abstract

Various implementations include an additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine. The cartridge includes a main housing, a first seal, and a second seal. The main housing has one or more walls at least partially defining a reservoir. The main housing has a central axis, a first end, and second end. The main housing further includes a first flange extending radially outwardly from the first end of the main housing and a second flange extending radially outwardly from the second end of the main housing. The first seal is coupled to the first flange of the main housing. The second seal is coupled to the second flange of the main housing. The walls of the main housing are configured to collapse in a direction parallel to the central axis when force is applied to the first end and the second end of the main housing.

Claims

1. A n additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine, the cartridge comprising: a main housing having one or more walls at least partially defining a reservoir, the main housing having a central axis, a first end, and second end opposite and spaced apart along the central axis from the first end, wherein the main housing further includes a first flange extending radially outwardly from the first end of the main housing and a second flange extending radially outwardly from the second end of the main housing; a first seal coupled to the first flange of the main housing; and a second seal coupled to the second flange of the main housing, wherein the one or more walls of the main housing are configured to collapse in a direction parallel to the central axis when force is applied to the first end and the second end of the main housing.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the first seal and the second seal comprise a member selected from the group consisting of metal foil, plastic, paper, and combinations thereof.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the main housing comprises a member selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal foil, and a combination thereof.

4. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second flange includes one or more anchors extending radially outwardly from a perimetrical edge of the second flange, wherein the one or more anchors are configured to hingedly bend adjacent to the second flange in a rotational direction away from the first end of the main housing.

5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the one or more anchors includes two or more anchors, wherein each of the two or more anchors are spaced apart from each other along the perimetrical edge of the second flange.

6. The cartridge of claim 1, further including an adhesive on an outwardly facing surface of second seal.

7. The cartridge of claim 6, further including a label coupled to the second seal by the adhesive, wherein the label fully covers the adhesive opposite the second seal.

8. The cartridge of claim 1, further including a transfer disk, wherein the transfer disk includes a base and one or more hollow piercing needles, wherein each of the one or more hollow piercing needles has a needle longitudinal axis, a first needle end, and a sharp second needle end opposite and spaced apart along the needle longitudinal axis from the first needle end, wherein the first needle end is coupled to the base such that the one or more hollow piercing needles extend from the first needle end to the second needle end toward the second end of the main housing.

9. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the base of the transfer disk is coupled to an inwardly facing surface of the first seal.

10. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles includes three or more hollow piercing needles.

11. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles has a largest cross-sectional area as measured in a first plane perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis and a smallest cross-sectional area as measured in a second plane perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is located adjacent the first needle end and the smallest cross-sectional area is located adjacent the second needle end, wherein the one or more hollow piercing needles are tapered along the needle longitudinal axis from the largest cross-sectional area to the smallest cross-sectional area.

12. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein each of the one or more hollow piercing needles includes a side opening extending into an interior hollow space of the hollow piercing needle.

13. The cartridge of claim 12, wherein the side opening is located adjacent the first needle end.

14. The cartridge of claim 8, wherein the cartridge has a largest cross-sectional area as measures in a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is less than or equal to two inches.

15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is about two inches.

16. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the second flange is configured to be disposed on a top surface of a capsule for a capsule beverage machine.

17. The cartridge of claim 1, further including a liquid contained within the reservoir.

18. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the liquid includes a liquid flavoring.

19. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the liquid includes a liquid sweetener.

20. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the liquid includes a liquid creamer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Example features and implementations of the present disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Similar elements in different implementations are designated using the same reference numerals.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a second end of a housing of an additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine, the plan view showing a removable label.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a first end of the housing of the additive dispensing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and a positioning guide thereon.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the first end of the housing of the additive dispensing cartridge shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, wherein this view shows a transfer disk including one or more hollow piercing needles shown in dashed lines to indicate that the transfer disk including the needles are concealed inside the housing of the additive dispensing cartridge.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded side view of the additive dispensing cartridge shown in FIGS. 1-3.

[0021] FIG. 5 shows a perspective set of images showing the coupling of the additive dispensing cartridge to a brewing capsule in a beverage brewing machine.

[0022] FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of the coupling of the additive dispensing cartridge to a brewing capsule.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a detail side view of a transfer disk including one or more hollow piercing needles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] An additive dispensing cartridge for use in a capsule beverage machine is disclosed. The additive dispensing cartridge includes a reservoir holding a liquid flavoring composition. The additive dispensing cartridge can be attached to a brewing capsule such as, for example, a K-Cup Pod. The additive dispensing cartridge is preferably attached to the top of a brewing capsule. When a beverage brewing machine is activated on such brewing capsule, the additive dispensing cartridge is crushed, and the liquid contents of the additive dispensing cartridge are leaked into the brewing capsule and ultimately into a cup or other receiving apparatus for receiving a brewed beverage from the capsule beverage machine. Additional specific features of the additive dispensing cartridge are described in more detail below.

[0025] FIGS. 1-3 show an embodiment of an additive dispensing cartridge 100. FIG. 4 shows a partially exploded view of the additive dispensing cartridge 100. The additive dispensing cartridge 100 includes a main housing 102 which includes one or more walls 104. The main housing 102 is preferably made of a polymer material, preferably plastic. The main housing 102 defines a reservoir 106 preferably holding a liquid composition 108. If a liquid composition is present, the liquid composition is preferably a liquid flavoring, a liquid sweetener, and/or a liquid creamer. The main housing includes a central axis 110, a first end 112, and a second end 114. The second end 114 is located opposite the first end 112 and is spaced apart along the central axis 110 from the first end 112. The main housing 102 preferably further includes a first flange 116 extending radially outwardly from the first end 112 of the main housing 102. The main housing 102 also preferably includes a second flange 118 extending radially outwardly from the second end 114 of the main housing 102. The second flange 118 is preferably configured to be disposed on a top surface of a capsule for a capsule beverage machine as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Both the first flange 116 and the second flange 118 are rigid to keep the penetrating material taut.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the additive dispensing cartridge 100 further includes a first seal 120 coupled to the first flange 116 of the main housing 102. The first seal 120 and the second seal 122 are preferably made of metal foil in part or in whole. Although foil is preferred, the first seal 120 and the second seal 122 may also be made of plastic, paper, or combinations of plastic, paper, and/or metal foil. The additive dispensing cartridge 100 preferably further includes a second seal 122 coupled to the second flange 118 of the main housing 102. The one or more walls 104 of the main housing 102 are configured to collapse in a direction parallel to the central axis 110 when force is applied to the first end 112 and the second end 114 of the main housing 102. Regarding size, the additive dispensing cartridge 100 has a largest cross-sectional area as measures in a plane A-A perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the largest cross-sectional area is less than or equal to two inches. Preferably, the largest cross-sectional area is about two inches.

[0027] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the second flange 118 of the additive dispensing cartridge 100 preferably includes one or more anchors 124 extending radially outwardly from a perimetrical edge 126 of the second flange 118. The one or more anchors 124 are configured to hingedly bend adjacent to the second flange 118 in a rotational direction away from the first end 112 of the main housing 102. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more anchors 124 includes two or more anchors 124 wherein each of the two or more anchors 124 are spaced apart from each other along the perimetrical edge 126 of the second flange 118.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the additive dispensing cartridge 100 further includes an adhesive 128 on an outwardly facing surface of the second seal 122. The additive dispensing cartridge 100 further includes a label 130 coupled to the second seal 122 by the adhesive 128, wherein the label 130 fully covers the adhesive opposite the second seal 122.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the additive dispensing cartridge 100 further includes a transfer disk 132. The transfer disk 132 includes a base 134 and one or more hollow piercing needles 136. Each of the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 has a needle longitudinal axis 138, a first needle end 140, and a sharp second needle end 142 opposite and spaced apart along the needle longitudinal axis 138 from the first needle end 140. The first needle end 140 is coupled to the base 134 such that the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 extend from the first needle end 140 to the second needle end 142 toward the second end 114 of the main housing 102. The base 134 of the transfer disk 132 is preferably coupled to an inwardly facing surface 144 of the first seal 120. Preferably, the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 includes three or more hollow piercing needles 136 as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a close-up view of the transfer disk 132. The transfer disk can be made of any suitable rigid material such as, for example, metal and/or plastic. As shown in FIG. 5, the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 has a largest cross-sectional area as measured in a first plane B-B perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis 138 and a smallest cross-sectional area as measured in a second plane C-C perpendicular to the needle longitudinal axis 138. The largest cross-sectional area is located adjacent to the first needle end 140 and the smallest cross-sectional area is located adjacent the second needle end 142. The one or more hollow piercing needles 136 are preferably tapered along the needle longitudinal axis 138 from the largest cross-sectional area to the smallest cross-sectional area. Each one of the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 includes a side opening 146 extending into an interior hollow space 148 of each of the hollow piercing needles 136. The side opening 146 is preferably located adjacent to the first needle end 140 of each of the one or more hollow piercing needles 136. One reason for the configuration of the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 is that it keeps a tight seal as the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 pierces through the second seal 122 and into a top of a brewing capsule such as, for example, a Keurig brand K-Cup Pod.

[0031] To use the additive dispensing cartridge 100, a first step is to peel off the label 130 which exposes the adhesive 128 on the second end 114 of the main housing 102 as shown in FIG. 5. A next step is to follow a positioning guide 150 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. The additive dispensing cartridge 100 is then coupled to a brewing capsule as shown in FIG. 5 by hooking the one or more anchors 124 to a rim of the brewing capsule, thereby centering the additive dispensing cartridge 100 on the brewing capsule. Then, one can press down on the additive dispensing cartridge 100 to adhere the second end 114 of the main housing 102 to the top of the brewing capsule. As a handle of the beverage machine is pulled down, piercing elements of the beverage machine pierce the first seal 120 of the additive dispensing cartridge 100 and crushes the additive dispensing cartridge 100 such that the one or more sidewalls 104 collapse and the first flange 116 is collapsed down on top of the second flange 118. During this collapse, the transfer disk 132s one or more hollow piercing needles 136 are pushed through the second seal 122 as well as a top seal of the brewing capsule beneath the additive dispensing cartridge 100. This causes any liquid composition 108 in the reservoir 106 to move through the one or more hollow piercing needles 136 into the brewing capsule. Hot water is then sent from the brewing machine into the brewing capsule with the liquid composition 108 already added thereto. The fully brewed and flavored beverage is then dispensed to a cup, coffee mug, or other receiving apparatus.

[0032] A benefit of the additive dispensing cartridge 100 described herein is the ability to brew a beverage and add flavoring simultaneously while using a beverage brewing machine. The amount of liquid composition 108 in the reservoir 106 is premeasured, so no additional measuring is necessary. One simply couples an additive dispensing cartridge 100 to a brewing capsule and then activates a brewing machine. The process is clean and fast. The printed label 130 on the additive dispensing cartridge 100 indicates what type of liquid composition 108 is in the reservoir 106.

[0033] A number of example implementations are provided herein. However, it is understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, the include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term comprising and variations thereof as used herein is used synonymously with the term including and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms. Although the terms comprising and including have been used herein to describe various implementations, the terms consisting essentially of and consisting of can be used in place of comprising and including to provide for more specific implementations and are also disclosed.

[0034] Disclosed are materials, systems, devices, methods, compositions, and components that can be used for, can be used in conjunction with, can be used in preparation for, or are products of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutations of these components may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. For example, if a device is disclosed and discussed each and every combination and permutation of the device are disclosed herein, and the modifications that are possible are specifically contemplated unless specifically indicated to the contrary. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is also specifically contemplated and disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of this disclosure including, but not limited to, steps in methods using the disclosed systems or devices. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be performed, it is understood that each of these additional steps can be performed with any specific method steps or combination of method steps of the disclosed methods, and that each such combination or subset of combinations is specifically contemplated and should be considered disclosed.