Abstract:
The invention relates to a capsule for preparing a drink, for example coffee, comprising a space for containing a concentrated dose, for example of ground coffee, and an inlet and an outlet that both communicate with said space.

Description:
REFERENCE TO A PRIOR APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the priority of the earlier application PCT/IB2012/057344 filed on Dec. 14, 2012, the content of this application being incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to the preparation of drinks, e.g. coffee, by introducing water into an element containing a concentrated dose of product, e.g. ground coffee, and by extraction of the mixture thus obtained and to the devices used for this purpose. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Various types of elements containing a concentrated dose through which water is introduced, mixed with the concentrated dose, then extracted from the element are known. 
         [0004]    The element is in the form e.g. of a capsule or of a capsule or of another equivalent receptacle. 
         [0005]    Water is introduced into the element by puncturing at least one wall of the element. Extraction may be performed by puncturing, tearing or bursting a wall of the element or by another equivalent process. 
         [0006]    Application WO 2011/024103 discloses a pouch for preparing a beverage comprising an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice communicating with a volume containing a concentrated dose for example of coffee. 
       Overview of the Invention 
       [0007]    One of the objectives of the invention is to offer an element for preparing a drink which is improved and an improved extraction machine. 
         [0008]    Another advantage is a lower cost, ease of manufacture and operation and biodegradability. 
         [0009]    These objectives are achieved notably by means of a capsule as defined in the claims. 
         [0010]    According to the invention, the capsule for preparing a drink, e.g. coffee, comprises at least one volume intended to contain a concentrated dose, e.g. of ground coffee, an inlet and an outlet, both communicating with said volume. 
         [0011]    For preference, the inlet and the outlet are positioned at distant locations on the capsule. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment, the capsule comprises a tubular element formed of two ends, the first being connected to the inlet, the other being positioned in said volume, at a location distant from the outlet. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, the outlet is in the bottom of the capsule. 
         [0014]    The outlet may comprise at least a filter and a membrane and at least one opening between the filter and the membrane. 
         [0015]    The capsule may comprise several outlets and/or several openings between the filter and the membrane. 
         [0016]    The membrane may comprise one or more region(s) of weakness and/or one or more region(s) of weakened attachment to the capsule. 
         [0017]    The membranes are for example laminated onto the capsule. 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment, the invention relates to a capsule cage in combination with a capsule as described in the present application. 
         [0019]    According to another embodiment, the invention relates to a device for extracting a drink suited to the use of a capsule or a cage as described in the present application. 
         [0020]    The walls of the capsule may be flexible, semi-rigid or fully rigid. 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0021]    The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of embodiments illustrated in the figures. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate side and perspective views of a first embodiment of the capsule; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view in cross section of the first embodiment of the capsule; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5 ,  5 A,  6  and  6 A illustrate detailed views in cross section of the first embodiment of the capsule; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  8 A illustrate a capsule placed in a cage; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9 to 14A  illustrate a second embodiment of the capsule according to the invention, in perspective and in cross section; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  16 A (which is a detail of  FIG. 16 ) illustrate the capsule of the second embodiment in a cage; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 17 to 21  illustrate a third embodiment of the capsule according to the invention, in perspective and in cross section; and 
           [0029]      FIGS. 22 to 23A  illustrate the capsule of the third embodiment in a cage. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    The capsule has the overall shape of a mushroom or a cylinder with a cap  2  and a body  3 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1 to 3  for example. 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a view in cross section of the first embodiment of the capsule  1 . The cap  2  comprises a membrane  4  intended to be punctured during extraction of the drink, a volume  5  into which a pressurized liquid is introduced, said liquid being extracted from the volume  5  in order to be introduced into the product contained in the capsule via a duct  6  the outlet of which is in the bottom of the body  3  of the capsule  1 . Because the liquid introduced is under pressure, it will fill the body  3  of the capsule  1  and rise up (refer to the arrows in  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0032]    As illustrated in greater detail in  FIGS. 5 ,  5 A (which is a detail of  FIGS. 5 ),  6  and  6 A (which is a detail of  FIG. 6 ), in order to allow the drink to be extracted from the capsule  1 , the latter comprises an annular outlet  7  produced in the form of one or more outlets  7  distributed for example under the cap  2  or on the body, for example on the side of the body  3 . The outlets  7  comprise, toward the inside of the capsule  1 , a filter  8  and, toward the outside of the capsule  1 , a closure membrane  9  and at least one opening between the filter and the membrane. Said membrane  9  becomes at least partially detached from its fixing to the capsule in order to allow the prepared drink to exit, for example, under the effect of the pressure. 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 3 , two outlets  7  are illustrated, but there may be more of them (three or more . . . ) or fewer, but there is at least one. The outlet  7  under the cap  2  may be embodied by one or more piercing(s)/opening(s) or hole(s) of any shape in the cap  2 . 
         [0034]    The outlets  7  may be on the cap  2 , on the body  3  of the capsule, or both, and there may be one or more openings per outlet  7 . 
         [0035]    Typically, the cap  2  may be fixed to the body  3  by welding, bonding and any other suitable method. 
         [0036]    The body  3  may comprise a lip  10  for the manufacture thereof: for example, the body  3  may be formed of two half-containers which are assembled and welded together by the lips  10 . That makes it possible to form a container (the body  3 ) in which the product (for example ground coffee) is placed. The capsule  1  is then closed by adding and fixing the cap  2  on the body  3 . 
         [0037]    The membrane  9  is attached to the head  2  (or to the body  3 ) for example by a peripheral weld. For preference, part of the weld is weaker so as to allow the membrane to be detached in the weakened region (and therefore at a chosen location). The membrane  9  can also tear under the effect of the pressure of the liquid in the capsule  1 . This tearing may be induced by a weakening of the membrane or by external means (spikes etc.) situated outside, for example on the capsule cage  11  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0038]    More specifically,  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  8 A illustrate the capsule  1  placed in a cage  11 . The capsule is introduced into the cage  11  and a free volume  12  is provided between the inside of the cage  11  and the outside of the capsule  1  into which volume the prepared drink will flow when it leaves the capsule via the openings  7 . 
         [0039]    The drink can then flow out of the cage  11  via the outlet  13 . Sealing is afforded by the cap  2  and the upper edge of the cage  11 , either directly or using suitable seals. 
         [0040]      FIGS. 9 to 14A  illustrate another embodiment of the capsule  20 . In this embodiment, the duct  6  and the outlets  7  under the cap  2  are replaced by one (or more) outlet(s)  21  in the bottom of the capsule  22 . More specifically, in this embodiment, the capsule comprises a body  22  and a cap  23 . The cap  23  itself comprises a membrane  24  similar to the membrane  4  of the first embodiment, which opens onto a volume  25  which provides direct access to the product contained in the capsule. During use, the pressure in the capsule  1  will rise and the drink will pass through the filter  26  which in this embodiment is located in the bottom of the capsule rather than under the cap (as it was in the first embodiment). As it passes through the filter  26 , the drink will press against a membrane  27  and the latter will rupture when predetermined conditions have been reached, such as the conditions described in respect of the membrane  7  of the first embodiment. The filter  26  may be in the form of a cup which rises up along the capsule forming a lining of the wall, something that allows for the use of a greater number of openings for letting the drink out and for a drop in pressure. Each opening may have a membrane  27  and a filter  26  or alternatively a membrane  27  and a filter may cover several openings. The filter  26  and/or the membrane  27  may be in a single piece or in several. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 15 ,  16  and  16 A (which is a detail of  FIG. 16 ) illustrate the capsule  20  of the second embodiment in a cage  28 . The principle is the same as in the first embodiment: a free volume  30  may be provided around the capsule  20  once the latter has been introduced into the cage  28 , and the cage  28  comprises an opening  29  for the flow of the drink leaving the capsule via the outlet  21 . 
         [0042]      FIGS. 17 to 23A  illustrate another embodiment of the capsule  31 . 
         [0043]    This capsule comprises a cap  32  and a body  33  the two of which may be formed in a single piece. The capsule further comprises a membrane  34  which will be punctured/torn to allow the liquid to enter the product contained in the capsule  31 . The bottom  35  of the capsule  31  comprises a filter  36  and a membrane  37  similar to the membrane  9  and  27  of the previous embodiments. The filter  36  may be in the form of a cup which rises up along the capsule forming a lining of the wall, something that allows for the use of a greater number of openings situated for example on the bottom and on the sides of the body  33  for letting the drink out and for a drop in pressure. Each opening may have a membrane  37  and a filter  36  or alternatively a membrane  37  and a filter  36  may cover several openings. The filter  36  and/or the membrane  37  may be in a single piece or in several. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 22 ,  23  and  23 A, the capsule  31  is introduced into a cage  38  and preferably leaves a gap  40  in which the prepared drink collects once it has left the capsule  31  via the bottom  35 . The drink will be able to leave the cage  38  via the outlet  39 . 
         [0045]    The elements of the capsule  1  may be made of any suitable material: for example biodegradable materials, synthetic or metallic materials. The body and the cap may be in a single piece or in two or more parts. For preference, the capsule, particularly the bodies  3  and  22  of the first two embodiments, are made of flexible material(s) and that of the third embodiment(s) of rigid material(s). Of course, the capsules of the first two embodiments may also be made entirely of rigid material(s). 
         [0046]    The capsule and/or the body thereof may have different sizes. The choice of size may be connected with the drink prepared (e.g. coffee, tea or other) or with the desired quantity of drink (e.g. one or more cups, espresso or long coffee, etc.). 
         [0047]    The elements are attached using suitable methods, notably according to the materials used: welding (fusion bonding, ultrasonic welding, etc.), pressing, clipping, adhesive bonding, etc. 
         [0048]    To open it, the outlet membrane ( 9 ,  27 ,  37 ) may have one or more region(s) of deliberate weakness or alternatively one or more weakened capsule-attachment region(s) to make it easier to open in a controlled manner. Additional puncturing means, for example connected with the capsule cage  11 ,  28 ,  38 , may also be provided. The same principle may apply to the membrane  4 ,  24 ,  34 . 
         [0049]    Each opening may have its own membrane  9 ,  27 ,  37  or alternatively one membrane may cover several openings. Likewise, each outlet may have a filter  8 ,  26 ,  36  or alternatively one filter may cover several outlets. 
         [0050]    The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described and alternative forms are conceivable without departing from the scope of the protection claimed. The embodiments described and features thereof may be combined with one another as desired, according to the circumstances.