Abstract:
A brewing element comprising an envelope for storing at least one comestible brewing ingredient therein; and an attachment means for removably attaching the element to a container, the element having formed therein a central inlet for admitting pressurized, heated water and a peripheral outlet for releasing a mixture of the at least one comestible brewing ingredient with the pressurized, heated water, wherein when the brewing element is incorporated into an operating beverage brewing system, the capsule releases the mixture multi-directionally through the peripheral outlet to provide a brewed beverage into the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to beverage brewing elements and systems, and in particular, to a brewing element provided with a central perforated inlet for use in espresso-type machines and portable beverage brewing systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A small, cylindrical chamber is used in home and office espresso machines to hold a cylindrical capsule or pod containing a measured amount of dry, ground materials used in brewing, such as coffee. The cylindrical chamber, generally made of aluminum foil or heat-resistant plastic, encloses the capsule, and the top and the base of the cylinder are perforated to allow pressurized, heated water to enter the cylinder from the top, flushing axially through the capsule and exiting through the perforated base as an espresso beverage directed from a spout into a receptacle, such as a coffee cup. 
     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 radial forces on the face of the cylinder envelope, a very rigid, construction is needed to support the capsule and seal the capsule faces 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. 
     The problem of rigid construction of a capsule for espresso machines also applies to portable brewing systems since the capsule for the dry comestibles need to be held firmly in place on all sides while being subjected to the pressure of heated water applied axially to the capsule and this action produces very high forces both in axial and radial directions. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,402 to Alvarez, for example, the inventor describes a portable coffee maker having a water-heating chamber and a coffee-brewing chamber. This prior art invention has the disadvantage of requiring a rigid support for the separate chambers which adds to the cost of the system. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,740,345 to Cai, the inventor describes the use of a rigid wall construction of a cartridge which is bulb-shaped and which, dispenses its ingredients when impacted by heated, pressurized water passed axially from an upper, impermeable chamber to the lower one utilizing a through opening in the cartridge. The rigid wall construction of cartridges is more costly to manufacture, as heretofore mentioned, and therefore may result in a product that is expensive when made for one-time use. It also creates greater waste since the sturdier materials tend to be harder on the environment than might be desirable. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,989 to Sweeney el al, the inventor describes a re-usable beverage filter cartridge in a cup-shaped housing provided with dual chambers, closed at the bottom, and having an outlet port. The cartridge is subjected to a stream of heated, pressurized water to mix with the ingredients in a first chamber, and, after passing through a filtering medium, the resultant brew is directed into a second chamber. The disadvantage noted heretofore applies to this cartridge as well, since it is manufactured with a rigid, structure comprising dual chambers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improvement over the prior art by providing a new and improved type of brewing element which eliminates the need for rigid and complicated construction or the provision of a supportive structure, such as a special rigid chamber, which is ordinarily needed to firmly hold the capsule in place in a beverage-brewing device during the preparation process. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a brewing element comprising: a capsule for storing at least one comestible brewing ingredient therein; and an attachment means for removably attaching the element to a container, the element having formed therein a central inlet for admitting pressurized, heated water and a peripheral outlet for releasing a mixture of the at least one comestible brewing ingredient with the pressurized, heated water, wherein when the brewing element is incorporated into an operating beverage brewing system, the capsule releases the mixture multi-directionally through the peripheral outlet to provide a brewed beverage into the container. 
     This new type of brewing element will also allow the production of a more flexible, greatly simplified, and less-expensive mechanism for the next generation of espresso machines. 
     The inventive concept is based on a brewing element formed as a hollow, cylindrical capsule having a toroidal-like shape, like that of a car tire, containing at least one ingredient for making a brewed beverage. The hollow capsule is perforated in its central bore and about its outer surface in such a way as to provide for the passage of high-pressure water into and out of the envelope of the capsule. A novel feature of this capsule is that it provides multi-directional venting of the brew through perforations in the outer wall of the envelope along its periphery. 
     The pressurized water enters the capsule through a tube inserted axially into the centrally disposed bore of the capsule and flows out by flushing through the brewing material contained in the envelope in multiple directions, both axially and radially. The mixed brew exits the capsule through the outer, perforated envelope. A finger-like tube with a few radial drills tightly engages with the central opening of the capsule and supplies the pressurized water through the central bore which is advantageously provided with a perforated surface so as to allow the pressurized water to flush through the brewing materials, such as ground coffee, or any other comestible suitable for brewing. 
     Since forces are both axial and radial, there is no further need to axially support the capsule as is commonly done in existing espresso systems. In the case of the present invention, the axial force needed to hold the capsule in place is the water pressure multiplied by the inlet tube section area which is negligible compared to the face of a conventional capsule. The ratio is about 1:20 in the sections and therefore 1:20 in holding forces. For example, for 16 bar machines the holding force ratio will be 2.4 kg. against 48 kg. 
     The internal radial forces will blow the capsule upon application of pressure from the water rapidly filling the inside of the toroidal-like capsule. The unique properties of the toroidal-like shape will cause it to behave much as a car tire which it resembles, but just as a tire, which is made of pliable rubber, can hold an internal pressure without any external support, so too the capsule will retain sufficient strength to fulfill its function and dispense a hot brewed beverage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Attention is now directed to the attached drawings, wherein like reference numerals or characters indicate corresponding or like components. In the drawings: 
         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 an isometric drawing of the embodiment of the capsule shown in  FIG. 1  indicating the flow of pressurized water into the capsule through a central bore inlet and out of the capsule through perforations in the outer envelope; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of the capsule of  FIG. 3  showing an inlet tube having an open end inserted into the central blind bore; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention provided with a through-hole in its central bore; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of the capsule of  FIG. 5  shown fitted with a closed-ended inlet tube; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention provided with a small, perforated media, sealed into and partially blocking the inlet to a central bore; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  showing an application wherein a pair of inlet tubes are shown removably attached to each end of a central bore. 
     
    
    
     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, such as an espresso machine. 
     The portable beverage brewing system comprises: a power and control unit  44  connected to a power source connector  46 , for example, an auto cigarette lighter plug, and connected to a length of heater element  48  for heating the water for making a brew; a water suction pump  50  and suction tube  52  for drawing water  54  (shown as wavy lines) from a container  56 , such as a cup, into the hot water pumping section  58 ; a high pressure pump  60  to create the necessary pressure to flush the water through the inner and outer envelope  62  of a brewing element  64 , such as the toroidal-like capsule of the present invention; and a housing unit  66  for containing the various power and control components of the system which is shown mounted as a sealed unit to cup  56  where the brew is collected. 
     Note that the housing unit  66  is removable after the brew has been prepared and may be reused with the same container simply by selecting a new cover with another brewing element. Container  56  is provided with a cover  68  having two inlets  70   a/b  to accommodate and attach the housing unit to container  56 . One inlet  70   a  introduces suction tube  52  into container  56  (and may also be used as a mouthpiece for drinking the prepared brew) while the other admits nozzle  72  into the central bore of brewing element  64 , thus allowing pressurized water to flow (as shown by down arrow) through inlet  70   b  when the espresso machine is turned on and operating. 
     Cover  68  serves as an attachment means for the brewing element of the invention. The brewing element is attached on the underside of cover  68 . The cover acts as a register to align the capsule so that it fits into cup  56  in the center and the capsule is also spaced apart from the adjacent surfaces of the inside of cup  56 . This is necessary in order for the vented brew to exit the peripheral outlet. This feature allows a user to choose alternate brews for drinking simply by replacing the covers on the container. 
     Note also that brewing element  64  is provided with a perforated envelope which allows multi-directional venting of the mixed brew. The flushed brew flows not just axially downward as in prior art brewing elements, but also radially outward, as shown by the multiple arrows  74 , and thus fill container  56  with a predetermined volume of a heated brew, such as coffee. 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric drawing of the embodiment of the capsule shown in  FIG. 1  indicating the flow of pressurized water into the capsule through a central bore inlet and out of the capsule through perforations in the outer envelope. 
     The perforated capsule  64  is shown with inlet  76  that serves to admit pressurized water (indicated by downward arrow) to flush a brew through the perforations  74  in perforated envelope  62  when capsule  64  is inserted into an espresso machine and the machine is operated. 
     It should be noted that although the perforations shown in  FIG. 2  (and also  FIG. 7 ) are formed in a uniform manner on the outer periphery of the brewing element, alternate arrangements or even random placement may also be utilized and it is not to be construed as a limitation of the present invention, but this arrangement is only shown by way of example. 
     A fabric or paper filter (not shown) is used between the ground coffee and the perforated envelope  62 . Note that the novel toroidal-like shape of the capsule  64  provides sufficient structural support to permit use of it without the use of complicated supporting members or ribbing in either an espresso machine or in the retaining cup of a portable brewing system. This feature allows for a simpler and less expensive construction of espresso machines and related systems. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 2 . The lower end  78  of inlet  76  is closed forming a blind bore. Inlet  76  is also provided with a tight seal  80  around its lip to firmly attach a high pressure water tube (see  FIG. 4 ) such as from an espresso machine. The pressurized water is forced through holes  73  in the walls of the inlet  76  and flushes through a brewing preparation  28 , such as coffee. Multiple arrows indicate the direction of pressurized water flow exiting through perforations  74  in the outer wall of the capsule  64 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of capsule  64  of  FIG. 3  showing a pressurized water inlet tube  84 , having an open end  86  inserted into inlet  76  (see  FIG. 3 ) to allow pressurized water to be introduced into capsule  64  to flush through and flush out the brewing preparation  28 , such as coffee, contained therein. The inlet tube  84  is held snugly in place by seal  80 . Arrows indicate the radial dispersion and flushing of pressurized water through bore holes  73  and perforations  74 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention provided with a through-hole in its central bore defined by inlet  76  and outlet  77 . A seal  81  is provided around the circumference of the through-hole at both inlet  76  and outlet  77 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of the invention of  FIG. 5  shown fitted with a closed-ended inlet tube. 
     In this embodiment of the present invention, capsule  88  is fitted with a closed-ended inlet tube  90  provided with a few radial holes  92  to admit pressurized water (shown by downward arrow) into the capsule brewing element  88  and to flush through and flush out the brewing preparation  28 , such as coffee, contained therein through the perforations  74  in the outer envelope  62  of capsule brewing element  88 . Note that inlet tube  90  extends below the through hole  77  and is closed at tube end  94 . 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention provided with a small, perforated media, sealed into and partially blocking the inlet to a central bore, Capsule brewing element  96  is also toroidal-like shape to provide structural strength. It is fitted with perforations  74  on the outside wall of the envelope forming a peripheral outlet for venting a pressurized brew into a cup or other container in an espresso brewing system. In this embodiment of the invention, the inlet (indicated by downward arrow) to the central bore (not visible) is sealed with a perforated media  98 , such as an inlet cap. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 7 . Note that both ends of central bore  76  are partially blocked by the perforated media  98  and  97  respectively. Both upper and lower lips of the central bore  76  are provided with seals  80  and  81 , respectively. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an implementation of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  showing an application wherein a pair of inlet tubes are shown removably-attached to each end of a central bore. An upper tube  100  and a lower tube  99  are removably-attached to the inlet  76  of capsule brewing element  96 . The tubes are constructed so as to fit snugly into the upper and lower inlets  76  in the respective ends of the central bore and held in place by seals  80  and  81 , respectively. The tubes  100 ,  99  are immobilized against perforated media  98 ,  97  and pressurized water (indicated by broad arrows) are partially blocked from entering the inlets  76  except through the perforations in the perforated media  97 ,  98 . 
     It should be noted that if the capsule brewing element in the implementation described above is fitted with only one open-ended tube, either upper tube  100  or lower tube  99 , it is recommended to insert a blocking cylinder (not shown) on the other end to balance the axial force resulting from water pressure when pressurized water is admitted into the inlet  76  to the central bore. 
     Having described the present invention with regard to certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications may now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims of the present invention.