CAPSULE FOR INSTANT DRINKS

Abstract

 It comprises: hollow body (2) with an upper area and a lower area; base (4), on the lower area of the body (2); drink preparation housed inside the body (2), designed to obtain a drink; and outlet (19) at the base (4), designed to allow for release of the drink. The drink preparation is in direct contact with the body (2), and the cartridge (1) further incorporates a filter (8), made of a synthetic polymer material, inside the body (2), on the base (4), in correspondence with the outlet (19). Unlike the small cellulose bags used in the prior art, since it is made of a synthetic polymer material, the filter (8) does not retain the particles that provide the drink with a pleasant flavour and aroma, which makes it possible to dispense with the small cellulose bag that interacts with said particles and retains them.

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention may be framed within the technical field related to the food industry; in particular, the field of the sector devoted to the preparation of instant drinks, such as coffee, chocolate, infusions, etc. from dry drink preparations.

[0002] More specifically, the object of the invention relates to a cartridge that contains the dry preparation to elaborate an instant drink.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The applicant (the company ECOCAP ESPRESSOBAR, S.L.) has been commercialising an airtight cartridge for instant drinks, which comprises a body, where the upper part of the body is thermo-sealed and the lower part comprises a valve designed to maintain airtightness, and where the body houses a small single-dose bag, made of cellulose, that contains ground coffee, to prepare instant coffee drinks in a device appropriate for such use.

[0004] The small cellulose bag creates a retention effect, which prevents the preparation from reaching the drink. However, it has been demonstrated that the small cellulose bag retains some of the solid substances that contribute to providing the coffee with pleasant flavour and aroma. The use of said small cellulose bag prevents said substances from reaching the coffee drink, which, as a result, presents a lower organoleptic quality than desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention discloses an airtight cartridge for instant drinks which is characterised, with respect to the prior art described in the background section, in that it dispenses with the small cellulose bag, such that the cartridge comprises:

• a hollow body comprising an upper area and a lower area;
• a base, located on the lower area of the body;
• a drink preparation housed inside the body, designed to obtain a drink, where the preparation is in direct contact with the body, i.e. the preparation is not enclosed in a small bag or cartridge which, in turn, is housed in the body;
• an outlet located at the base, designed to allow for release of the drink; and
• a filter made of a synthetic polymer material, located inside the body, at the base, in correspondence with the outlet.

[0006] Since it is made of a synthetic polymer material, the filter does not retain the particles that provide the drink with a pleasant flavour and aroma, which allows to dispense with the small cellulose bag that interacts with said particles and retains them.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In order to supplement the description being made, and to contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached to said description as an integral part thereof, where the following is represented for illustrative, non-limiting purposes:

Figure 1 shows an upper perspective view of an airtight cartridge for instant drinks according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a lower perspective view of the cartridge represented in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the cartridge of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the longitudinal section represented in Figure 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] With the aid of the aforementioned Figures 1-4, below we provide a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of a cartridge (1) for instant drinks according to the present invention.

[0009] The cartridge (1) of the invention comprises a hollow body (2), preferably of revolution, in particular of cylindrical shape, the body (2) comprising a lateral wall equipped with an upper area and a lower area. The lower area of the body (2) has a base (4) which preferably comprises: an outer portion (5), tronco-conical in shape; and an inner portion (6), substantially flat. A filter (8), preferably in the form of a mesh, is supported on the base (4), inside the body (2). The filter (8) is made of a synthetic polymer material, such as nylon or similar materials. The attached figures represent the filter (8) as preferably being housed in a housing (7) defined on the base (4), where, even more preferably, the housing (7) is delimited by a wall (9). In the figures, it may be observed that the top of the wall (9) is placed in line with a limit between the outer portion (5) and the inner portion (6) of the base (4).

[0010] Above the filter (8), the body (2) contains a drink preparation (not represented), such as, for example, a dehydrated or dry preparation, such as for example, coffee or chocolate, or ground coffee, or, alternatively, a preparation for infusions, such as, for example, tea or camomile.

[0011] The upper area is hermetically sealed. The figures represent that there is a first protruding perimetral flange (3) on the upper area. In the embodiment represented in the figures, a first flange (3) projected towards the exterior has been selected, since the manufacturing thereof is preferably performed by injection. Moreover, there is an upper sheet (10) joined to the first flange (3) by means of thermo-sealing. The upper sheet (10) may be made of a composite or multilayer material.

[0012] On the other hand, the base (4), specifically, when applicable, the inner portion (6) thereof, incorporates an outlet (19) placed in correspondence with the filter (8), to allow for release of the drink. In the embodiment represented in the figures, the cartridge (1) further comprises a protrusion (11) extending from the body (2), in fluid connection with the outlet (19) at the base (4). The protrusion (11) comprises an upper edge in contact with the inner portion (6) of the base (4), and a lower edge.

[0013] The lower area of the body (2) is also hermetically sealed. As a preferred embodiment, the figures show that the lower edge of the protrusion (11) incorporates a second protruding perimetral flange (13), also projected towards the exterior, designed to support a lower sheet (14), for example, made of a composite or multilayer material, which is thermo-sealed to said second flange (13).

[0014] Preferably, there is a protuberance (15) projected towards the exterior of the body (2) on the tronco-conical outer portion (5) of the base (4). On the other hand, the lower area of the lateral wall of the body (2) projects perimetrally from the base (4), thereby defining a skirt (17). The base (4), jointly with the skirt (17) and the protuberance (15), make it possible to house a sealing gasket (not represented). The presence of the aforementioned outer portion (6) tronco-conical in shape allows for better adjustment of the gasket, in regards to tolerances, when, according to a preferred embodiment, the sealing gasket is a toroidal gasket.

[0015] Moreover, the interior of the protrusion (11) incorporates longitudinal ribs (16) perimetrically arranged, which make it possible to increase the surface available for thermo-sealing of the lower sheet (14). Furthermore, the presence of the ribs (16) improves the resistance of the protrusion (11).

[0016] As shown in Figure 4, on the base (4), more particularly on the inner portion thereof (6), there are distance means (18) designed to keep the filter (8) separate from the base (4), in order to allow for the circulation of liquid between the base (4) and the filter (8). The figures represent distance means (18) in the form of protuberances, for example spherical in shape, projected from the base (4).

[0017] The cartridge (1) described is intended to be inserted into a receiving compartment (not shown) in a device designed for the preparation of instant drinks compatible with said cartridge (1), such as, for example, a coffee machine bowl. The habitual operation is as follows: after the cartridge (1) is inserted into the machine, hot water, under pressure as applicable, is introduced inside the body (2) through the upper area, for example, because the drink preparation device is configured in such a way as to break the upper sheet (10), or because, alternatively, the user must remove said upper sheet (10) prior to introducing the cartridge (1) into the drink preparation device. The water goes through the preparation, thereby generating a hot drink, which crosses the filter (8) towards the protrusion (11), where the pressure breaks the lower sheet (14) in order to allow for release of the drink towards, for example, a serving cup (not shown).

[0018] In order to facilitate recycling of the cartridge (1), the body (2) may incorporate a cross-section change (12). As an example, the figures represent the cross-section change (12) as a narrowing, in particular, in a central area located midway between the upper area and the lower area of the body (2). The cross-section change (12) makes it possible for the body (2) to remain encased, under certain pressure, in the aforementioned receiving compartment when being used. Once the drink has been obtained, the user may shake or even strike the bowl in order to dislodge the preparation into a rubbish bin for organic material, and subsequently pull the body (2), in order to remove it from the receiving compartment, and dispose of it in a bin for plastic containers.

Claims

1. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, which comprises:

- a hollow body (2) comprising an upper area and a lower area, wherein the upper area of the body (2) is preferably hermetically sealed;

- a base (4), on the lower area of the body (2);

- a drink preparation housed inside the body (2), designed to obtain a drink; and

- an outlet (19) located at the base (4), designed to allow for release of the drink;

the cartridge (1) being characterised in that the drink preparation is in direct contact with the body (2);
wherein the cartridge (1) further incorporates a filter (8), made of a synthetic polymer material, for example nylon, located inside the body (2), on the base (4), in correspondence with the outlet (19).

2. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, further comprising distance means (18) located inside the body (2), on the base (4), designed to keep the filter (8) separate from the base (4).

3. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, wherein the base (4) comprises: an outer portion (5), tronco-conical in shape; and a flat inner portion (6), where the outlet (19) is preferably located in the inner portion (6) of the base (4).

4. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, further comprising a housing (7) defined on the base (4), designed to house the filter (8).

5. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 4, further comprising a wall (9) designed to delimit the housing (7).

6. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claims 3 and 5, wherein the upper part of the wall (9) is placed in correspondence with a limit between the outer portion (5) and the inner portion (6) of the base (4).

7. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 3, further comprising a protuberance (15) projected towards the exterior of the body (2) on the tronco-conical outer portion (5) of the base (4); and further comprising a skirt (17) projected perimetrally from the base (4) in a lower area of the lateral wall of the body (2), designed to house a sealing gasket between the base (4), the skirt (17) and the protuberance (15).

8. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, wherein the body (2) further incorporates a cross-section change (12), preferably a narrowing located in a central area between the upper area and the lower area of the body (2).

9. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, wherein the upper area of the body (2) comprises:

- a first protruding perimetral flange (3); and

- an upper sheet (10) joined to the first flange (3) by means of thermo-sealing.

10. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion (11) in prolongation of the body (2), in fluid connection with the outlet (19) at the base (4); where the protrusion (11) comprises an upper edge in contact with the inner portion (6) of the base (4), and a lower edge.

11. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 1, wherein the lower area of the body (2) is hermetically sealed.

12. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claim 10, wherein the lower edge of the protrusion (11) incorporates:

- a second protruding perimetral flange (13), and

- a lower sheet (14) that is thermo-sealed to the second flange (13).

13. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the protrusion (11) incorporates longitudinal ribs (16) projected perimetrally towards the interior of the protrusion (11).

14. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the distance means (18) are placed on the inner portion (6) of the base (4).

15. Cartridge (1) for instant drinks, according to any of claims 2 and 14, wherein the distance means (18) comprise protuberances, preferably spherical in shape, projected from the base (4).

Drawing