Technical field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to cartridges for preparing liquid products.
[0002] Various embodiments may refer to cartridges for preparing beverages, for example
coffee.
Technological background
[0003] Cartridges (or capsules or pods, according to other terms widely used) for preparing
liquid products, such as a beverage, via introduction, into the cartridge, of liquid
(possibly under pressure and/or at a high temperature) and/or steam constitute a technological
sector that is extremely rich and articulated, as documented, for example, by
WO 2014/097039 A1 FR-A-757 358,
FR-A-2 373 999 (corresponding to which is
US-A-4 136 202),
FR-A-2 556 323,
GB-A-938 617,
GB-A-2 023 086,
CH-A-406 561,
US-A-3 403 617,
US-A-3 470 812,
US-A-3 607 297 (corresponding to which is
FR-A-1 537 031),
WO-A-86/02 537,
EP-A-0 199 953,
EP-A-0 211 511,
EP-A-0 242 556,
EP-A-0 468 078,
EP-A-0 469 162,
EP-A-0 507 905,
WO 2010/106516 A1, and
EP-A-2 218 653.
[0004] A fair share of the solutions described in the documents referred to above primarily
regards preparation of liquid products constituted by beverages such as coffee, tea,
chocolate, broth, soups, or various infusions.
[0005] As regards the preparation of coffee are solutions known (for example from
EP-A-0 507 905) that enable preparation of espresso coffee.
[0006] There are likewise known and widely used solutions in which the consumer buys a machine
(e.g., a coffee machine) and then purchases cartridges specifically designed and produced
for functioning in combination with that machine.
[0007] In this way, for the consumer, at the moment of purchase certain salient characteristics
of the cartridge/machine system are defined and substantially can no longer be modified,
these characteristics, for example, being:
- the outer shape of the cartridge for enabling it to be introduced into the machine;
- the configuration of the infusion chamber that contains the cartridge during the process
of brewing of the liquid product, such as a beverage;
- the modalities of interaction of the material constituting the cartridge with the
infusion chamber;
- the modalities of brewing of the beverage;
- the modalities of introduction of the cartridge at start of delivery; and/or
- the modalities of ejection of the cartridge at the end of delivery.
[0008] For instance,
EP-A-0 507 905 describes a cartridge that is to be perforated by filtering tips as a result of the
pressure of the liquid and/or steam introduced into the cartridge.
[0009] A solution of this type may be used, for example, for producing cartridges or capsules
of a perforable type, in which:
- the top sealing foil of the cartridge (through which hot water and/or steam is introduced)
is mechanically perforated by the delivery assembly via a first set of perforating
tips; and
- the bottom of the cartridge (through which the beverage flows out) can be perforated
by a second set of hollow tips (roughly resembling injection needles) with filtering
characteristics.
[0010] Solutions of the above type are particularly suited for dispensing beverages of an
espresso-coffee type.
[0011] Documents such as
EP 1 295 554 A1,
WO 2006/005736 A2, or
EP 1 886 942 A1 identify specific solutions regarding filtering tips, the mechanism of opening/closing/perforation
by the perforating tips, and the type of cartridge, with corresponding system.
[0012] The document No.
WO 2010/106516 A1 describes a type of cartridge such as to combine a filter paper and a biopolymer,
the filter paper being positioned on the side of the outlet for the beverage (coffee).
[0013] This type of cartridge may be unusable in coffee machines provided with perforating
tips. In fact, the bottom, which is pre-perforated (hence already pervious), has a
plane shape that may be unsuited for use in combination with particular types of filtering
tips, which may alternatively:
- first cut into the part of biopolymer and then cut into the paper, with the risk that,
for example, the ground coffee under pressure used for preparing the beverage may
be entrained with the beverage into the dispensing container (cup); or
- assume the shaped of a stocking, thus inhibiting delivery.
[0014] Added to this is the possible risk of the tips breaking, if they are subjected to
repeated cycles of this sort.
[0015] Again, the document No.
WO 2012/077066 A1 describes a cartridge in which the perforation is aided by the combination of a biodegradable/compostable
polymer with material such as paper. It has on the other hand been noted that, in
particular conditions of use, the paper contained in the cartridge may be soaked with
water/beverage, thus undergoing softening and hence rendering problematical its ejection
from the machine in which it is used.
[0016] Reference may again be made to the document No.
WO 2010/137952 A1, where a cartridge or capsule is described configured for functioning in a machine
(originally designed to function with a cartridge of a different type) provided with
tips that are designed to tear the cartridge upon mechanical closing of the assembly
for enabling entry of water into the cartridge through the tears made.
[0017] The cartridge according to the solution described in
WO 2010/137952 A1 (which on the other hand does not mention the possible use of "bio" materials) is
configured so as to not to interact with the perforating tips of the machine in so
far as the tips in question do not touch the bottom of the cartridge.
Object and summary
[0019] The object of the various embodiments is to provide further improvements over the
solutions referred to above, for example as regards the possibility of using in succession
one and the same machine for preparing different liquid products, reducing any possible
effects of cross-contamination.
[0020] Various embodiments enable the above object to be achieved thanks to a cartridge
having the characteristics recalled in the ensuing claims.
[0021] Various embodiments may also regard an assortment of cartridges with differentiated
characteristics.
[0022] The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation
to the invention.
Brief description of the drawings
[0023] Various embodiments will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example,
with reference to annexed drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a cartridge according to embodiments;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view from beneath of embodiments;
- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view according to the line III-III of Figure 2, reproduced
at an enlarged scale; and
- Figure 4 illustrates, at a further enlarged scale, the portion of Figure 3 indicated
by the arrow IV.
Detailed description
[0024] Illustrated in the ensuing description are various specific details aimed at providing
an in-depth understanding of various examples of embodiment. The embodiments may be
implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components,
materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials, or operations are not
illustrated or described in detail so that the various aspects of the embodiments
will not be obscured. Reference to "an embodiment" or "one embodiment" in the framework
of the present description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration,
structure, or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is comprised
in at least one embodiment. Hence, phrases such as "in an embodiment", "in one embodiment",
or the like that may be present in various points of the present description do not
necessarily refer to one and the same embodiment. Furthermore, particular conformations,
structures, or characteristics may be combined in any adequate way in one or more
embodiments.
[0025] The references used herein are provided merely for convenience and hence do not define
the sphere of protection or the scope of the embodiments.
[0026] In the figures, the reference number 10 designates as a whole a cartridge (or pod,
or capsule, these terms being used herein as being equivalent) for the preparation
of a liquid product via introduction of liquid and/or steam into the cartridge.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the cartridge 10 may contain a filling or dose 12 (represented
schematically with dashed lines just in Figure 3) of a substance or ingredient for
the preparation of a liquid product such as a beverage, chosen, for example, from:
toasted and ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered or soluble milk, soluble coffee, soluble
chocolate, soluble barley, sugar, soluble powdered flavourings, and combinations thereof.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the liquid product in question may be obtained by introducing
into the cartridge liquid and/or steam under pressure and at high temperature (i.e.,
hot).
[0029] In any case, the possible reference, in the framework of the present detailed description,
to the preparation of a particular beverage is not to be understood as in any way
limiting the scope of the description, which is altogether general.
[0030] In one or more embodiments, in the structure of the cartridge 10, which may be shaped
like a tray or small cup, which contains the substance 12, there may be distinguished:
- a casing 14, comprising a side wall 140 and a bottom wall 142, which closes the casing
14 at one end of the side wall 140; and
- a sealing foil 16, for example of a peelable type, which closes the cartridge 10 at
the end opposite to the bottom wall 142.
[0031] The sealing foil 16 is suited to being sealingly connected, for example by heat-sealing,
to the side wall 140 of the casing 14 of the cartridge, for example at a flange 144
that surrounds the mouth part of the casing 14.
[0032] In one or more embodiments, as represented in the figures, the casing 14 may have
a central axis X
14, with respect to which the casing 14 may, for example, present a (cylindrical) symmetry
of rotation.
[0033] In one or more embodiments, as represented in the figures, the casing 14 may be shaped
like a tray diverging from the bottom wall 142 to the end closed by the sealing foil
16. In one or more embodiments, the diverging conformation may be frustoconical. This
conformation is not on the other hand imperative in so far as the cartridge 14 may
as a whole present different shapes, for example prismatic, frustopyramidal, square,
etc.
[0034] Various embodiments may refer to the fact that the bottom 142 may present a sculptured
structure, i.e., with alternating parts in relief and recessed, for example, according
to the criteria illustrated in
WO 2014/097039 A1 (already cited previously), to which the reader is referred for a more detailed description.
[0035] For the purposes of the present description, it may be noted that, in one or more
embodiments, the bottom wall 142, through which the liquid product is able to flow
out of the cartridge 10, may present, when viewed from outside the cartridge 10 itself,
a protruding central portion 1420, surrounded by an annular portion 1422, which, albeit
possibly having the aforesaid sculptured structure, has an overall plane conformation
(i.e., not shaped like a funnel or a bowl) and extends in a direction orthogonal to
the central axis X
14 of the casing 14.
[0036] In one or more embodiments, the bottom part 142 may present a peripheral rim 1432
substantially coplanar to the aforesaid annular portion 1422 or, as in the embodiments
exemplified here, protruding from the annular portion 1422.
[0037] In one or more embodiments, the bottom part 142 may likewise present one or more
openings 1428 to enable outflow of the liquid product (e.g., a beverage) formed in
the cartridge 10, said opening or openings being provided, exclusively in the central
portion 1420, which protrudes from the bottom wall 142.
[0038] In other words, in one or more embodiments as exemplified here, the bottom wall 142,
in the annular portion 1422 and, in general, in the portions that surround the protruding
central portion 1420, may be without openings 1428 for outflow of the liquid product
from the cartridge 10.
[0039] In one or more embodiments, as may be appreciated more fully in the cross-sectional
view of Figure 3, thanks to the fact that the central portion 1420 of the bottom wall
142 protrudes towards the outside of the cartridge 10, within the cartridge 10 itself
there can thus be present an "auxiliary" chamber located in the central portion 1420,
which may receive a certain amount of the substance 12.
[0040] In one or more embodiments, the opening or openings 1428 may be made in the form
of pervious through holes; conservation of the aroma and, in general, of the organoleptic
qualities of the substance 12 may hence be favoured by inserting the cartridge 10
in a sealed sachet (for example, of the flow-pack type), which can be opened by the
user for taking out the cartridge 10 to be used.
[0041] In one or more embodiments, a filter element 182 (e.g., comprising filter paper or
nonwoven fabric) may be provided coupled to the opening or openings 1428 provided
in the protruding central portion 1420 of the bottom wall 142.
[0042] In one or more embodiments, as exemplified here, the filter element 182 (and consequently
the openings 1428) may be coupled to the distal end of the protruding portion 1420.
[0043] In one or more embodiments, as exemplified here, the filter element 182 can be coupled
to the opening or openings 1428 on the inner side of the bottom wall 142 of the cartridge
10.
[0044] Figure 4, to which we shall return in what follows, highlights the fact that, in
one or more embodiments, the outer surface in the bottom wall 142 of the cartridge
10 may come to face an array of tips P provided in certain brewing machines (according
to known criteria, exemplified in various documents cited in the introductory part
of the present description), which have the function of perforating the bottom wall
of certain cartridges, different from the ones exemplified herein, and cause exit
of the liquid product being prepared.
[0045] In one or more embodiments as exemplified here, whatever the outer profile of the
bottom wall 142 (sculptured with cavities and reliefs, or plane), the latter may present
the peripheral rim 1432 (coplanar with respect to the annular portion 1422 or protruding
therefrom) that lies in a plane B-B' (see, for example, Figure 3).
[0046] In one or more embodiments as exemplified here, the central portion 1420 may protrude
from the casing of the cartridge 10 beyond the plane B-B' in which the peripheral
rim 1432 lies, for example by an amount denoted by d in Figure 3.
[0047] As already indicated in the introductory part of the present description, the preparation
of a liquid product with a cartridge as exemplified here may involve, according to
criteria in themselves known:
- perforation of the top sealing foil 16 of the cartridge via a set of perforating tips
of the brewing machine;
- entry into the cartridge 10, through the perforated foil 16, of hot water and/or steam,
which produces with the substance 12 contained in the two chambers of the cartridge
10 a mechanism commonly defined (even if in a way perhaps not altogether correct)
as infusion; and
- outflow of the resulting liquid product through the bottom wall 142 (e.g., through
the opening or openings 1428 provided in the protruding portion 1420).
[0048] In one or more embodiments, the protruding central portion 1420 of the bottom wall
142 may be shaped like a spout for delivery of the aforesaid liquid product.
[0049] In one or more embodiments, the presence of the filter element 182 may facilitate
the action of contrast to exit from the cartridge 10 of the substance 12 through the
opening or openings 1428 provided in the protruding portion 1420 of the bottom wall
142.
[0050] As exemplified in Figures 3 and 4, the fact that, in one or more embodiments, the
central portion 1420 protrudes from the casing of the cartridge beyond the plane B-B'
in which the peripheral rim 1432 lies, makes it possible, together with the as a whole
planar conformation in a direction orthogonal to the axis X
14 (hence not shaped like a funnel or bowl) of the annular portion 1422, to keep the
bottom wall 142 not in contact with the tips P, for example keeping it raised with
respect to the tips P.
[0051] At the same time, the central portion 1420, which protrudes from the plane B-B',
is made to extend at the centre between the tips P (which may be arranged in an annular
array) so as to be able to perform its function of delivery of the liquid product
through the openings 1428.
[0052] In one or more embodiments, this result can be achieved without penalizing the contents
of the dose 12 thanks to the fact that the protruding central portion 1420 provides
inside it an extension of the receiving chamber for the dose 12 of the substance for
preparation of said liquid product.
[0053] At the same time, in one or more embodiments, the fact that the liquid product can
exit from the capsule 10 only through the opening or openings 1428 provided in the
protruding portion 1420 of the bottom wall 142, makes it possible to limit any undesired
phenomena of cross-contamination of the tips P by the substance 12 used for preparing
a certain product. The tips P may in fact subsequently be used for preparing liquid
products, for example for preparing beverages in which the presence of said substance
is not envisaged: consider purely by way of example the case of sugar.
[0054] In one or more embodiments, it is possible to envisage that the extension of the
chamber for receiving the dose, which is formed, inside the chamber, by the protruding
central portion, will constitute a distinct receiving chamber with a filling consisting
of a second substance for preparation of the aforesaid liquid product and that, on
the bottom wall 142, there will be applied a laminar filter element (e.g., filter
paper or nonwoven fabric), which separates said second receiving chamber from the
rest of the internal volume of the cartridge 10.
[0055] In this way, in one or more embodiments, the cartridge may comprise a casing 14 having
inside it a first receiving chamber with a filling of a first substance (e.g., toasted
and ground coffee, leaf tea, powdered or soluble milk) for preparation of the liquid
product, and a second receiving chamber with a filling of a second substance (e.g.,
soluble coffee, powdered milk, soluble chocolate, soluble barley, sugar, soluble powdered
flavourings, and combinations thereof) that can be used together with the first substance
for preparing said liquid product.
[0056] One or more embodiments may envisage providing assortments of cartridges such as
those exemplified herein, the assortment comprising cartridges 10 of two or more different
types, in which the central portion 1420 protrudes from the bottom wall 142 (and hence
from the plane B - B') by a different amount d, for example by a first amount d' in
a first type of cartridge, a second amount d", different from the first, in a second
type of cartridge, a third amount d"' in a third type of cartridge, and so forth.
[0057] This difference between the cartridges of the assortment may be reflected, for example,
in different levels of presence of the substance 12 (represented by the greater or
smaller volume of the "auxiliary" chamber defined by the internal volume of the protruding
portion 1420), with the consequent possibility, for example, of preparing more or
less strong beverages.
[0058] Of course, without prejudice to the underlying principles, the details of construction
and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated
herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the extent
of protection.
[0059] The extent of protection is defined by the annexed claims.
1. A cartridge (10) for the preparation of a liquid product by means of liquid and/or
steam introduced into the cartridge (10), the cartridge including a casing (14) with
a central axis (X
14), said casing having therein a receiving chamber with a filling (12) of a substance
for the preparation of said liquid product, said casing having a bottom wall (142)
for said liquid product to flow from the cartridge (10), wherein said bottom wall
(142) has a peripheral rim (1432) lying in a plane (B-B') and presents, when observed
on the outer side with respect to the cartridge (10), a central protruding portion
(1420) providing therein an extension of said receiving chamber with a filling of
a substance for the preparation of said liquid product,
characterized in that:
- said central portion (1420) protrudes from the casing of the cartridge beyond (d)
the plane (B-B') of said peripheral rim (1432),
- said central portion (1420) is surrounded by an annular portion (1422) of said bottom
wall (142) which extends in a direction orthogonal to said central axis (X14),
- at least one opening (1428) is provided for the outflow of said liquid product from
the cartridge (10) located at said central protruding portion (1420), with said bottom
wall exempt from apertures (1428) for the outflow of said liquid product from the
cartridge (10) in said annular portion (1422).
2. The cartridge of claim 1, including a filter element (182) coupled with said at least
one opening (1428) for the outflow of said liquid product from the cartridge (10)
located at, preferably at the distal end of, said protruding central portion (1420).
3. The cartridge of claim 2, wherein said filter element (182) is coupled to said at
least one opening (1428) for the outflow of said liquid product from the cartridge
(10) at the inner side of the bottom wall (142) with respect to the cartridge (10).
4. The cartridge of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said filter element includes filter paper
or a nonwoven fabric.
5. The cartridge of any of the preceding claims, wherein said central protruding portion
(1420) of said bottom wall (142) includes a dispensing spout for said liquif product.
6. The cartridge of any of the preceding claims, wherein said peripheral rim (1432):
- is substantially coplanar with said annular portion (1422) of said bottom wall (142),
or
- protrudes from the casing of the cartridge with respect to said annular portion
(1422) of said bottom wall (142).
7. The cartridge of any of the preceding claims, wherein said substance (12) for preparing
said liquid product is selected out of: powdered roasted and ground coffee, leaf tea,
powdered or soluble milk, soluble coffee, soluble chocolate, soluble barley, sugar,
powdered soluble flavourings, and combinations thereof.
8. The cartridge of any of the preceding claims, wherein the casing (14) of the cartridge
(10) includes a sealing foil (16) closing the casing of the cartridge (10) at the
end opposite said bottom wall (142).
9. An assortment of cartridges according to any of the preceding claims, including at
least a first and a second cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein:
- in said first cartridge, said central portion (1420) protrudes with respect to said
bottom wall (142) of a first amount, and
- in said second cartridge, said central portion (1420) protrudes with respect to
said bottom wall (142) of a second amount, said first amount and said second amount
being different from each other.
1. Kartusche (10) zur Herstellung eines flüssigen Produkts mittels Flüssigkeit und/oder
Dampf, die in die Kartusche (10) eingebracht werden, wobei die Kartusche ein Gehäuse
(14) mit einer zentralen Achse (X
14) aufweist, wobei sich in dem Gehäuse eine Aufnahmekammer mit einer Füllung (12) einer
Substanz zur Herstellung des flüssigen Produkts befindet, wobei das Gehäuse eine Bodenwand
(142) aufweist, durch die das flüssige Produkt aus der Kartusche (10) austreten kann,
wobei die Bodenwand (142) einen Umfangsrand (1432) aufweist, welcher in einer Ebene
(B-B') liegt und, von der Außenseite in Bezug auf die Kartusche (10) betrachtet, einen
zentralen vorstehenden Abschnitt (1420) aufweist, der darin eine Erweiterung der Aufnahmekammer
mit einer Füllung einer Substanz zur Herstellung des flüssigen Produkts bereitstellt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass:
- der zentrale vorstehende Abschnitt (1420) von dem Gehäuse der Kartusche über die
Ebene (B-B') des Umfangsrands (1432) hinaus (d) vorsteht,
- der zentrale Abschnitt (1420) von einem ringförmigen Abschnitt (1422) der Bodenwand
(142) umgeben ist, der sich in einer Richtung orthogonal zur zentralen Achse (X14) erstreckt,
- mindestens eine Öffnung (1428) für den Austritt des flüssigen Produkts aus der Kartusche
(10) bereitgestellt ist, die an dem zentralen vorstehenden Abschnitt (1420) angeordnet
ist, wobei die Bodenwand keine Öffnungen (1428) für den Austritt des flüssigen Produkts
aus der Kartusche (10) in dem ringförmigen Abschnitt (1422) aufweist.
2. Kartusche nach Anspruch 1, umfassend ein Filterelement (182), das mit der mindestens
einen Öffnung (1428) für den Austritt des flüssigen Produkts aus der Kartusche (10)
verbunden und vorzugsweise an dem distalen Ende des zentralen vorstehenden Abschnitts
(1420) angeordnet ist.
3. Kartusche nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Filterelement (182) mit der mindestens einen
Öffnung (1428) für den Austritt des flüssigen Produkts aus der Kartusche (10) an der
Innenseite der Bodenwand (142) in Bezug auf die Kartusche (10) verbundent ist.
4. Kartusche nach Anspruch 2 oder Anspruch 3, wobei das Filterelement ein Filterpapier
oder einen Vliesstoff aufweist.
5. Kartusche nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der zentrale vorstehende
Abschnitt (1420) der Bodenwand (142) eine Abgabetülle für das flüssige Produkt aufweist.
6. Kartusche nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Umfangsrand (1432):
- im Wesentlichen koplanar ist mit dem ringförmigen Abschnitt (1422) der Bodenwand
(142), oder
- von dem Gehäuse der Kartusche in Bezug auf den ringförmigen Abschnitt (1422) der
Bodenwand (142) vorsteht.
7. Kartusche nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Substanz (12) zur Herstellung
des flüssigen Produkts ausgewählt ist aus: pulverförmigem gerösteten und gemahlenen
Kaffee, Blatttee, pulverförmiger oder löslicher Milch, löslichem Kaffee, löslicher
Schokolade, löslicher Gerste, Zucker, pulverförmigen löslichen Geschmacksstoffen,
und Kombinationen davon.
8. Kartusche nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Gehäuse (14) der Kartusche
(10) eine Abdichtungsfolie (16) aufweist, die das Gehäuse der Kartusche (10) an dem
Ende gegenüber der Bodenwand (142) verschließt.
9. Sortiment von Kartuschen nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend mindestens
eine erste und eine zweite Kartusche nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei:
- in der ersten Kartusche der zentrale Abschnitt (1420) in Bezug auf die Bodenwand
(142) um einen ersten Betrag vorsteht, und
- in der zweiten Kartusche der zentrale Abschnitt (1420) in Bezug auf die Bodenwand
(142) um einen zweiten Betrag vorsteht, wobei der erste Betrag und der zweite Betrag
voneinander verschieden sind.
1. Cartouche (10) pour la préparation d'un produit liquide au moyen de liquide et/ou
vapeur introduit dans la cartouche (10), la cartouche incluant un boîtier (14) avec
un axe central (X
14), ledit boîtier présentant dans celui-ci une chambre de réception avec un remplissage
(12) d'une substance pour la préparation dudit produit liquide, ledit boîtier présentant
une paroi de fond (142) pour que ledit produit liquide s'écoule de la cartouche (10),
dans laquelle ladite paroi de fond (142) présente un bord périphérique (1432) se trouvant
dans un plan (B-B') et présente, lorsqu'elle est observée sur le côté externe par
rapport à la cartouche (10), une portion en saillie centrale (1420) fournissant dans
celle-ci une extension de ladite chambre de réception avec un remplissage d'une substance
pour la préparation dudit produit liquide,
caractérisée en ce que :
- ladite portion centrale (1420) fait saillie à partir du boîtier de la cartouche
au-delà (d) du plan (B, B') dudit bord périphérique (1432),
- ladite portion centrale (1420) est entourée par une portion annulaire (1422) de
ladite paroi de fond (142) qui s'étend dans une direction orthogonale audit axe central
(X14),
- au moins une ouverture (1428) est fournie pour l'écoulement de sortie dudit produit
liquide à partir de la cartouche (10) disposée sur ladite portion en saillie centrale
(1420), avec ladite paroi de fond exempte d'ouvertures (1428) pour l'écoulement de
sortie dudit produit liquide de la cartouche (10) dans ladite portion annulaire (1422).
2. Cartouche selon la revendication 1, incluant un élément de filtre (182) couplé avec
ladite au moins une ouverture (1428) pour l'écoulement de sortie dudit produit liquide
à partir de la cartouche (10) disposée sur, de préférence sur l'extrémité distale,
de ladite portion centrale en saillie (1420).
3. Cartouche selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle ledit élément de filtre (182) est
couplé à ladite au moins une ouverture (1428) pour l'écoulement de sortie dudit produit
liquide à partir de la cartouche (10) sur le côté interne de la paroi de fond (142)
par rapport à la cartouche (10).
4. Cartouche selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 3, dans laquelle ledit élément
de filtre inclut un papier filtre ou un textile non tissé.
5. Cartouche selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite
portion en saillie centrale (1420) de ladite paroi de fond (142) inclut un bec de
distribution pour ledit produit liquide.
6. Cartouche selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit
bord périphérique (1432) :
- est substantiellement coplanaire avec ladite portion annulaire (1422) de ladite
paroi de fond (142), ou
- fait saillie à partir du boîtier de la cartouche par rapport à ladite portion annulaire
(1422) de ladite paroi de fond (142).
7. Cartouche selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite
substance (12) pour préparer ledit produit liquide est choisie parmi : du café grillé
et broyé en poudre, du thé en feuille, du lait en poudre ou soluble, du café soluble,
du chocolat soluble, de l'orge soluble, du sucre, des arômes solubles en poudre, et
des combinaisons de ceux-ci.
8. Cartouche selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle le
boitier (14) de la cartouche (10) inclut une feuille de scellement (16) fermant le
boîtier de la cartouche (10) sur le côté opposé à ladite paroi de fond (142).
9. Assortiment de cartouches selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, incluant
au moins une première et une seconde cartouche selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, dans lequel :
- dans ladite première cartouche, ladite portion centrale (1420) fait saillie par
rapport à ladite paroi de fond (142) d'une première quantité, et
- dans ladite seconde cartouche, ladite portion centrale (1420) fait saillie par rapport
à ladite paroi de fond (142) d'une seconde quantité, ladite première quantité et ladite
seconde quantité étant différentes l'une de l'autre.