Abstract:
A beverage making apparatus includes a container having a pair of compartments. Water can be inserted into the receptacle to interact with ingredients within the compartments. A release structure permits the contents of one compartment to be mixed with the other compartment and the release structure can include a water soluble barrier member that can dissolve to permit a mixing of the ingredients and to provide a drinkable beverage exiting from the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a beverage making apparatus, in particular an apparatus for making a beverage from a number of ingredients. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the catering industry there is a considerable demand for beverages made from a plurality of ingredients which can only be mixed and prepared when ordered. One example of such a beverage is that known as “Irish Coffee” in which the ingredients are coffee, sugar, boiling water, a measure of Irish whiskey and a topping of cream. Making a good “Irish Coffee” requires the person making the beverage to take sufficient time and care to measure the ingredients, to blend and mix them sufficiently and in the correct fashion. Prevailing methods and practice are complicated, time consuming, and labour intensive. In fact many of today&#39;s catering assistants lack the necessary skill and training, which in turn leads to many inaccurate and inconsistent recipes for the same beverage. While this specification has considered the problem of producing Irish coffees, the same situation arises with many other beverages which have a number of ingredients, especially those involving an alcoholic component. 
     The present invention seeks to alleviate the problems of making beverages from a plurality of ingredients. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention provides a beverage making apparatus comprising a receptacle, a first compartment within the container for holding a required quantity of a first constituent ingredient or ingredients, a second segregated compartment within the container for holding a required quantity of a second constituent ingredient or ingredients, each compartment having a separate release means for allowing the contained ingredient or ingredients to be released into a separate vessel located underneath the container, the second compartment being adapted to house a liquid in a segregated and sealed manner, the release means comprising an element which is removable, releasable or breakable to allow the contents of the second compartment to be added to the liquid formed from the first compartment. 
     Advantageously, the first compartment is adapted to house a dry or a desiccated ingredient or ingredients and the release means comprises two filter membranes located above and below the housed ingredients, whereby boiling water added to the container permeates through the filter membranes to filter the contents of the first compartment to make a quantity of liquid such as coffee. 
     Conveniently, the release means for the second compartment is remotely operable. 
     Preferably, the first compartment is located at the base of the container and the second compartment is located about the first compartment. 
     Conveniently, the second compartment is an annular shaped construction and the first compartment is located in the centre of the annulus. 
     Conveniently, an indication is provided on the inner wall of the container so as to provide a mark for the level of boiling water required to be put into the container. 
     Advantageously, the boiling water added to the apparatus also preheats the liquid sealed in the second compartment. 
     Preferably, the second compartment is a container having an exit orifice for the liquid contained within it, and the release means comprises a plug of material which is capable of being melted or removed through the action of a hot or boiling liquid acting on the plug. 
     Preferably, the container has a lid having one or more formations for directing the flow of hot or boiling liquid towards the orifice. 
     Preferably, the container is housed within the receptacle beneath the first compartment in a manner which allows the liquid to flow from the container when the orifice is open. 
     The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example, two embodiments of a beverage making apparatus according to the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of beverage making apparatus; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is also a perspective view showing a modification of the first embodiment of apparatus with a pair of handles for ease of use; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 mounted on a glass for the preparation of a beverage and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the glass and completed beverage; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus showing the main receptacle, the lid and a container for liquid; 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main receptacle; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view through the apparatus showing the individual components and ingredients; 
     FIG. 9 is an underneath plan view of the receptacle; 
     FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the container for liquid; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross sectional plan view; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the container; 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view through the second embodiment of the beverage making apparatus; and 
     FIG. 14 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the apparatus. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 to  12  of the drawings, the first embodiment of beverage making apparatus of the invention comprises a receptacle  10 , a container  30  for housing a liquid (C) such as a measure of Irish whiskey and a compartment  20  for housing dry ingredients such as sugar (A) and coffee (B) between two filters  22 , 24  which define the compartment, and a lid  40 . 
     The receptacle  10  is generally cylindrical in shape and has an open bottom  12  through which liquid can easily pour. The bottom portion  13  of the receptacle  10  is narrower in diameter and has a number of locating fingers  14  which help to locate the receptacle on a glass  70  (as shown in FIG.  4 ). A mid region  15  of the receptacle outlines the volume occupied by compartment  20  which is bounded by an upper membrane  22  and a lower membrane  24 . A fill mark  60  is provided on the wall of the receptacle to indicate the desired level of the optimum amount of boiling water which is required to be poured into the receptacle. The container  30  includes a compartment  31  for the liquid, such as whiskey and a lid  32  which is secured on the compartment  31 . The liquid is released through orifice  33  which is sealed by a plug  34  which is manufactured from a substance which quickly melts when exposed to boiling or hot water and does not interfere with the flavour of the finished product. The plug  34  can be manufactured from a substance such as chocolate. The container  30  when installed in the receptacle  10  is inclined at a slight angle so that when the plug  34  is removed the liquid in the container flows towards the orifice  33 . The upper surface of the lid  32  includes a series of formations  35  which channel the liquid falling on the lid  32  towards the orifice  33 . 
     A modified receptacle  10  is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which has a pair of handles  80  for ease of handling. 
     Referring to the FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings, the second embodiment of beverage making apparatus comprises a receptacle  110 , a first compartment  120  for housing dry ingredients, such as sugar (A) and coffee (B), and a second compartment  130  for housing liquid such as a measure of Irish whiskey (C) or other spirit. The second compartment  130  is annular in shape and is located about and segregated from the first compartment  120 . The configuration of the compartment  30  while described as being annular, may also be in other parallelotropic forms. 
     The first compartment  120  is closed off from the rest of the receptacle by a paper filter membrane  140  at its top and bottom, which serves the dual function of securing the ingredients (A) and (B) in place and acting as a filtration system. 
     The second compartment  130  is closed off by sealing plugs  150  which can be removed by pulling on an elongate mechanism  155 . A level indicating marker  160  is provided on the inner wall of the container, so as to indicate how far up the container should be filled with boiling water. 
     Using either of the embodiments of the apparatus of the invention, a hot beverage such as an Irish coffee is made in a simple and straightforward manner requiring little training. The only additional piece of equipment required is a kettle to produce the required boiling water. 
     The receptacle  10  or  110  is supplied to the user with the required amount of fresh filter coffee and brown sugar in compartment  20  or  120 . A measure of Irish whiskey is supplied in the container in compartment  30  or  130 . A separate sealed container (not shown) of long life cream is also supplied with the receptacle  10  or  110 . The cream is supplied pre-whipped to the correct consistency to ensure that it will float on the prepared beverage. 
     To prepare such a beverage in the conventional manner requires some ten different articles and fifteen different actions. To prepare the same using the apparatus of the invention requires only three, 1: boiling water, 2: complete receptacle  10  or  110  including cream, 3: a glass or recipient vessel. To prepare a beverage such as an Irish coffee, the user pours boiling water into the receptacle  10  or  110  up to the level mark  60  or  160 . The water permeates and filters through the compartment  20  or  120  to form a coffee/sugar infusion in the vessel (not shown) located underneath the container  10 . The lid  40  is placed over the container at this stage to retard the filtration process and aid temperature retention. During the filtration process, the spirit in the compartment  30  or  130  is conveniently pre-heated. During the filtration process the pre-warmed whiskey is released into the recipient vessel by melting the plug  34  or using the remote release mechanism, to infuse with the coffee mixture, this adds significantly to the temperature of the finished beverage. To complete the presentation, all that is required is the addition of the cream supplied for a perfect finished product. 
     The advantages offered by the apparatus of the invention are that it is easy to use, clean and tidy to use, it is also labour efficient and offers quality with consistency of product, it can easily be stored and transported, has a good shelf life and is easily accessible to accurate stock control. Being inexpensive to produce, the units are regarded as disposable after use but can be recycled. 
     The beverage making apparatus can be used or sold in hotels and restaurants, bars, off-licences, airlines, railway and shipping catering, supermarkets, duty-free installations and for corporate entertaining. The beverage making apparatus may be sold individually, or in multiple packs. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details prescribed above which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.