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US 10,647,503 B2Granted
Capsule for beverage preparation
OwnerAlain Marillerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a capsule for preparing a beverage, for example, coffee, including a hollow element intended to contain one serving, for example, ground coffee. The hollow element includes a side wall, an upper surface, a lower surface comprising an extraction membrane, and a lip in the shape of a collar. The latter is oriented according to a plane that cuts through the side wall. The lip comprises a material that becomes softened when it is placed in contact with a liquid.
Claims16
A capsule for preparing a coffee beverage, the capsule comprising:
- (a) a hollow cavity containing a ground coffee serving, the hollow cavity being surrounded by a side wall, a first face and a second face comprising a discharge membrane, and the side wall having a portion integrally continuing as a lip, and the lip intersecting the side wall at an end thereof;
- (b) the lip softening and becoming indented if placed in contact with hot water, of a temperature adapted to make the coffee beverage, during the preparation of the coffee beverage, and if the lip softens when placed in contact with the water during the preparation of the coffee beverage then a liquid seal is created;
- (c) the lip being defined by parallel planar surfaces bordered by a straight peripheral edge;
- (d) the planar surfaces of the lip being made solely of biodegradable and liquid-softenable material which directly creates the liquid seal in a thermal deformable manner;
- and
- (e) the lip being adapted to soften on contact with the hot water if the water temperature is above room temperature.
3 more elements
A coffee capsule comprising:
- (a) a side wall, upper face and membrane defining a hollow space holding coffee grounds therein;
- (b) a lip extending as a single piece from the side wall adjacent to the membrane, the lip being defined by parallel planar surfaces bordered by a straight edge prior to contact with hot water;
- (c) the lip being at least partly of a biodegradable lip material,
- (d) the lip being softenable if placed in contact with the hot water during the preparation of coffee and allowing sealed compression at a localized sealing contact portion thereof if the hot water contacts the lip at a water temperature adapted to make the coffee;
- (e) sections of the planar lip laterally extending inwardly and outwardly past the softenable localized sealing contact portion of the lip at least prior to sealing deformation at the sealing contact portion;
- (f) the upper face of the capsule being perforable to allow access to the hot water, and a discharge membrane being tearable to allow a water-coffee mixture to flow out therefrom;
- and
- (g) sealing is improved between the lip and a lower portion of a capsule cage by having the sections of the lip laterally extending past an inside face of the cage and past an outside face of the cage.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.