Abstract:
A portable beverage preparation device comprising a drink container containing a predetermined volume of a potable base liquid, at least one beverage preparation of a predetermined quantity; at least one sealed compartment for confining the beverage preparation, and a dispenser means for dispersing the at least one beverage preparation into the base liquid within the drink container; wherein the drink container and the at least one sealed compartment are in close physical proximity to each other and separated by at least one thin membrane which, when inwardly perforated by the dispenser means, disperses the at least one beverage preparation into the base liquid to make a beverage ready to drink.

Description:
The present application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/814,677 filed on Jul. 25, 2007 by the Applicant, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to beverage brewing elements and systems, and in particular, to a self-supporting brewing element with a central inlet disposed within a drinking container and usable in conjunction with espresso machines and portable beverage brewing Systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Both pod and capsule portafilters used in espresso machines have a cylindrical chamber to hold the ground materials, such as coffee, used in brewing. The cylindrical envelope of this chamber is closed and the top and the base of the cylinder are perforated to allow pressurized water to enter the cylinder from one side flushing axially through the ground coffee and exiting as an espresso beverage from the other, perforated side. 
     Since the espresso preparation procedure involves the use of high pressure water flushing through the brewing materials, such as ground coffee, and this pressure develops very high axial and radial forces on the internal face of the capsule, a very rigid construction is needed to support the capsule during the preparation process. Such rigid construction increases the cost of producing the brewing machine and the cost to the consumer is like-wise higher. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing a self-supporting brewing element with a central inlet, disposed within a drinking container and usable in conjunction with espresso machines and portable beverage brewing systems. 
     The present invention improves on the contemporary art by providing a new type of capsule that eliminates the need for rigid and complicated construction of the brewing element or the associated structure, such as a special rigid chamber, which is ordinarily needed to firmly hold the capsule in place in an espresso machine during the preparation process. 
     Thus there is provided a portable beverage preparation device comprising: 
     a sealed drink container having a central inlet sealed with a punchable membrane, the container containing a predetermined volume of a potable base liquid; 
     a capsule brewing element disposed within the container comprising at least one sealed compartment having a predetermined quantity of at least one beverage preparation contained therein; and 
     a dispenser means for dispersing the at least one beverage preparation into the drink container; 
     such that when the drink container is connected to an operating espresso system, the base liquid is heated therein and returned via the central inlet to the drink container as pressurized liquid, mixing with the at least one beverage preparation, and engorging and stretching the sealed compartment to activate the dispenser means which disperses the mixed brew into the drink container. 
     The self-supporting, capsule of the present invention is particularly suitable to serve as an integral part of a special disposable cup which contains both a pre-measured amount of potable liquid, such as water, and one or more powdered ingredients, such as coffee, to make either a hot or cold mixed brew. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the capsule comprising the brewing element is toroidal-shaped. In another embodiment of the present invention, the capsule is tubular-shaped and made from aluminum which has ideal characteristics for the purpose of providing a self-supporting brewing element. Both these embodiments share the advantage of being able to withstand high pressure without any external support, so they can be integrated within a plastic cup as self-supporting brewing elements. By definition, use of aluminum in the tubular brewing element makes for an excellent humidity buffer between the water surrounding the tube and the powdered brewing ingredients contained within the tube. 
     Furthermore, since the tube comprising the brewing element is formed of one piece of aluminum, it can be hermetically and reliably sealed at its open distal end. It does not need an additional part to use as a cover to close this end. Folding the lower, distal end of the tube material upon itself also performs a perfect hermetic sealing of the tube. This new type of capsule will allow the production of a more flexible and greatly simplified mechanism for use in the next generation of espresso machines. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof reference is made to the accompanying drawings, not to scale, in which like numerals or characters designate corresponding elements or sections throughout and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the capsule of the present invention shown connected directly to a high-pressure water pump in a portable beverage brewing system; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the capsule of the present invention shown connected directly to a high-pressure water pump in a portable beverage brewing system; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tube brewing element from  FIG. 2  formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cut-away view showing the disposition of the tube brewing element of  FIG. 3  within a cup; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the tube brewing element and cup from  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the cup and brewing element from  FIG. 5  shown after hot pressurized water is admitted into the inlet of the tube-shaped brewing element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the capsule of the present invention shown connected directly to a high-pressure water pump in a portable beverage brewing system. 
     The portable beverage brewing system comprises: a power and control unit  12  connected to a power source connector  14 , for example, an auto cigarette lighter plug, and connected to a length of heater element  16  for heating the water for making a brew; a water suction pump  18  and suction tube  20  for drawing water  22  (shown as wavy lines) from a container  24 , such as a cup, into the hot water pumping section  26 ; a high pressure pump  28  to create the necessary pressure to flush the water through the inner and outer envelope  30  of a brewing element  32 , such as the toroidal capsule in one embodiment of the present invention; and a housing unit  34  for containing the various power and control components of the system which is shown mounted as a sealed unit  10  to the cup  24  where the brew is made. 
     Note that the sealed unit  10  is removable after the brew has been prepared and may be reused with another beverage brewing cup. The cup  24  is provided with a cover  36  having two inlets  38   a/b  to accommodate and attach the housing unit  34  to cup  24 . One inlet  38   a  introduces suction tube  20  into cup  24  (and may also be used as a mouthpiece for drinking the prepared brew) while the other admits nozzle  40  into the central bore of the capsule brewing element  32 , thus allowing pressurized water to flow (as shown by down arrow) into inlet  38   b  when the components of sealed unit  10  are operating. 
     Note also that the capsule brewing element  32  is provided with a perforated inner and outer envelope  30  (perforations indicated by arrows exiting capsule brewing element  32 ) which allows the flushed brew to flow radially outward through the multiple perforations and thus fill cup  24  with a predetermined volume of a heated brew, such as coffee. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the capsule of the present invention shown connected directly to a high-pressure water pump in a portable beverage brewing system. 
     A sealed unit  10  comprising a high-pressure water pump  28  is connected to cup  24  and operated essentially as described for the toroid brewing element shown in  FIG. 1 . The essential difference in this embodiment of the present invention is the use of a unique tubular-shaped brewing element  50  (hereinafter tube  50 ) containing a pre-measured quantity of at least one brewing ingredient  42 . Tube  50  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is substantially, centrally disposed within cup  24 , with its narrower, distal end  46  having a fold  44  formed thereon to hermetically seal tube  50 . The distal end  46  is oriented downward within cup  24  within a potable liquid, such as treated water  22 . This tube  50  is made, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, of aluminum to take advantage of several, useful characteristics of this material, as described below, in reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tube brewing element from  FIG. 2  formed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The inventive concept is based on a brewing element formed such that the tube diameter is relatively narrow compared with the tube length. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, tube brewing element  50  comprises a single piece of aluminum material including an inlet tube  52  at its proximal end  48  that is sealed with a thin, punchable membrane  53 . It should be noted that in the case of a tube capsule containing—for example, ground coffee—where the tube section is small, there is a more even flow of water through the ground coffee beans, and more water will be in contact with every grain. This is especially important to provide for the rich, full taste of whatever brewing ingredients are used to make a brew. 
     Membrane  53  is easily punched when, for example, a high-pressure water pump, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , is mechanically connected to tube  50  (as indicated by arrow  51 ) through inlet tube  52 . 
     Tube  50  is initially formed open at its other, distal end  46  for filling with one or more brewing ingredients, and then hermetically sealed by simply folding the thin distal end  46  over itself a few times to form folded end  44 . The advantage of this is that no special or additional part is needed for closing tube  50 . 
     In some cases the internal wall near distal end  46  has an elastomeric coating for a better sealing when folded. Folded end  44  of tube  50  might also be made crimped or heat-sealed since the aluminum foil material used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is very thin. Optionally, distal end  46  may be sealed by any means known to those skilled in the art. The brewing material is filled directly into the tube  50  or, alternatively, a unique pre-filled capsule (for example made of plastic with a few vertical and/or horizontal chambers provided therein for storing several comestible materials) is inserted into tube  50 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cut-away view showing the disposition of the tube brewing element of  FIG. 3  within a cup. 
     A container, such as cup  24  is sealed with a cover  36  which is advantageously provided with at least one outlet, such as lip  38   a  for drinking the finished brew and which also serves as a portal for a suction tube  20  used to initially pump the potable liquid (not shown) from cup  24  into a heating and pressurizing unit (see  FIG. 2 ). Lip  38   a  is sealed with a thin membrane  23 . Cover  36  is also provided with at least one inlet  38   b  which engages inlet tube  52  of tube brewing element  50 . Inlet tube  52  is sealed with a thin membrane  53 . 
     The distal end  46  of tube  50  is shown disposed within a pair of “jaws” comprising sharp punching ribs  62  formed integrally to dispenser means  60 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one pair of opposing punching ribs  62  are provided for puncturing tube  50  to release only the liquid portion, i.e., the mixed brew, from within tube  50  into cup  24 . 
     When hot pressurized liquid, such as water, is injected (indicated by arrow  51 ) through inlet tube  52 , it mixes with one or more brewing ingredients, such as ground coffee, contained within tube  50 . 
     If the pre-filled capsule comprising tube  50  is formed with multiple chambers, it is possible to store several different comestible materials insertable together into tube  50  to make a mixed brew. Additional ingredients for a brew, such as sugar, or a milk powder, can be provided to add flavor to a coffee brew. In another embodiment of the present invention, the brewing material is provided in pre-measured quantities via a pre-filled capsule insertable into tube  50 . 
     The very thin aluminum foil material comprising tube  50  stretches, being engorged by the pressurized water, thus bringing distal end  46  into direct contact with punching ribs  62 . The thin aluminum material of tube  50  is then easily perforated when mechanically punched by the sharp punching ribs  62  comprising dispenser means  60 , thus releasing the mixed brew through the resulting perforations directly into cup  24 . 
     It should be noted that millions of aluminum tubes are used worldwide every day, predominantly in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, due to their superb barrier properties against humidity, UV chemicals, moisture, and the like. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pure aluminum coin (slug) is used as the raw material for preparing an aluminum tube. 
     Aluminum tubes are produced in a production process called “reverse impact extrusion”. By a very rapid and aggressive cold-forming procedure, the small coin is turned into a thin-walled aluminum tube with a front nipple that is closed, an easy to puncture inlet membrane, and a distal rear end that is open for inserting filling material. After the filling material is injected into the tube, the rear end is simply folded, crimped and hermetically sealed. 
     There are three main benefits for using an aluminum tube in construction of a brewing element (capsule): 
     1) The aluminum capsule is made from a single piece of material that is formed into a front nipple having an inlet, a punchable membrane covering the inlet, and a tube. There is no additional part or cover for hermetically sealing the tube after filling it with material, such as ground coffee beans for making an espresso brew. The tube is sealed by simply folding over itself the thin, distal end of the tube. 
     2) Using a tube to form a brewing capsule brings the state of the art to a new level wherein the capsule is designed without any or only negligible external support so as to withstand the very high water pressure and the effects of high temperatures resulting from its use in espresso machines. 
     Prior art capsules have been designed in a shape or category of “container”, either as a cylindrical container having a diameter about one and a half times its length (for example, 36 mm diameter by 18 mm length), and/or a ball container, a toroidal container, a spherical container, and the like. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the capsule is formed as a tube having a diameter of about 20 mm and a length of about 60 mm. A tube can withstand much higher water pressure than the prior art containers mentioned above and since the tube section is small, the axial force that water exerts on the contents, e.g., ground coffee, is about two times smaller compared to that in prior art capsules. 
     3) Since the volume of water needed for espresso preparation is very small, the use of large diameter capsules, as in the prior art, may cause the water to not flow evenly through the whole capsule section. For example, the water may flow more in the center and less in the perimeter of the capsule. 
     In the case of a tube capsule where the tube section is small, a more even flow of water is obtained flowing through the brewing ingredients and water is more likely to come into contact with all or most all of the material comprising the ingredients. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the tube brewing element and cup from  FIG. 4 . 
     Cup  24  comprises a dispenser means  60  having at least one pair of sharp, punching ribs  62  in close proximity to the lower, distal end  46  of tube  50 . Cup  24  is pre-filled with a measured quantity of potable liquid  22 , such as treated water, which is pumped out and recycled via suction tube  20  attached to cover  36  when cup  24  is attached to a typical espresso machine (see  FIG. 2 ) and the machine is operated. Suction tube  20  is initially sealed with a thin membrane  23  which is punctured mechanically by the operation of the espresso machine. 
     Suction tube  20  acts like a straw and can be used to drink the finished brew through lip  38   a  formed in cover  36 . Note that tube  50  has a folded end  44  which provides a hermetic seal for the dry brewing ingredients  42 , such as ground coffee, which are kept separate from potable liquid  22 . Protruding from cover  36  is an inlet tube  52  for allowing return of the potable liquid  22  into the cup  36  from the espresso machine. The inlet tube  52  is formed with a punchable membrane  53  which is mechanically punched when cup  24  is attached to the outlet of the espresso machine, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of the cup and brewing element from  FIG. 5  shown after hot pressurized water is admitted into the inlet of the tube-shaped brewing element. 
     When a user inserts a drinking container, such as cup  24 , into an espresso machine (not shown) and the machine is operated, the potable base liquid, such as treated water  22 , within cup  24  is drawn up (arrow  21 ) through suction tube  20  into the espresso machine and heated and then returned (arrow  51 ) through inlet tube  38   b  in a pressurized form through the narrow, inlet tube  52  to tube brewing element  50 . 
     Tube  50  contains one or more dry brewing ingredients  42 , such as ground coffee. The brewing ingredients  42  generally mix thoroughly with recycled water, but only in a protected environment. The high pressure also causes the lower, distal end  46  of the tube  50  to come into direct contact with at least one pair of punching ribs  62  advantageously formed integrally at the bottom of cup  24 . These punching ribs  62  puncture the aluminum in one or more places  64  and perforate the distal end  46  of tube  50  so that the espresso brew (shown by a series of arrows) is released downward and radially into cup  24  through the perforations made. 
     When cup  24  is removed from the espresso machine, a convenient drinking lip  38   a  is provided on the cover  36 , which allows a user to drink the finished brew while it is hot and ready by sucking up the finished brew through suction tube  20 , which acts as a straw. Alternatively, the finished brew is drunk using one or more openings conveniently provided in cover  36  for this purpose. Disposal of the empty cup  24  is quick, sanitary, and efficient since discarding cup  24  with any remaining contents can be done without the need for wiping up spills as is necessary when using ordinary porcelain cups. Furthermore, ordinary cups, unlike the one-time use portable cup  24 , require cleaning and a thorough washing up for later reuse. 
     Having described the invention with regard to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the attached claims.