IP Library Granted Patent US 8,039,034
Granted Patent B2
US 8,039,034 · App. 12/089,561 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Method for preparing a beverage from a capsule

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,039,034
App. No.
12/089,561
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for preparing a beverage through a capsule ( 2 ) inserted in a beverage machine; the capsule comprising an enclosure ( 20 ) containing one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewing fluid is introduced in the enclosure to brew the said one or more beverage ingredients, wherein a brewed liquid is filtered by a filtering wall ( 22 ) and delivered from the capsule, wherein the filtering wall extends from substantially the bottom of the enclosure and said filtering wall is associated to an overflow wall ( 3 ) that forces the brewed liquid to traverse at least one overflow aperture ( 25 ). The method is particularly suitable for brewing a tea containing capsule.

Claims (55)

1. A method for preparing a beverage using a capsule inserted in a beverage brewing machine: comprising the steps of using a capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of an interior of the enclosure, an overflow wall that is located in a path of a brewed liquid after the filtering wall and at least one component selected from the group consisting of means for puncturing an aperture in the overflow wall or means for indicating a puncture location in the overflow wall,

introducing a brewing liquid into the enclosure to brew the beverage ingredients,

filtering the brewed liquid by said filtering wall and delivering the brewed liquid from the capsule such that

the filtered liquid traversing the filtering wall is forced to pass at least one overflow aperture of the overflow wall and that the overflow aperture is situated above a median horizontal plane of the enclosure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the overflow wall forces at least a portion of brewed liquid to move upwardly to the overflow aperture after having been filtered through the filtering wall.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the filtering wall extends from a level in the enclosure situated below the overflow aperture.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein

the filtering wall extends from substantially a bottom of the enclosure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein

the filtering wall extends from the bottom of the enclosure to a top of the enclosure.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the overflow wall is placed in front of the filtering wall with an interstitial space there between.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the overflow aperture is situated vertically above approximately three quarters of a height of the enclosure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brewing liquid enters the enclosure at a relative pressure below 0.2 bar.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brewing liquid enters the enclosure at a relative pressure below 0.1 bar.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filtering wall is a pre-fabricated filter and the overflow wall is a sealing wall of the capsule that is opened before brewing.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the overflow aperture is carried out by puncturing at least one hole through the sealing wall.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the opening is created by a mechanical perforator that is part of the capsule.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the opening is created by a mechanical or hydraulic perforator that is part of the machine.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the brewed liquid is conducted downward from the overflow aperture through a beverage conduit to a beverage outlet.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the beverage conduit and the beverage outlet are parts of the capsule.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the beverage conduit and the beverage outlet are parts of the beverage machine.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the filtering means is a sealing wall of the capsule which is perforated by a plurality of discrete perforating members that stay in place during brewing and the overflow wall is an external wall facing the perforated sealing wall of the capsule.

18. The method of any of the preceding claim 1 , wherein

the liquid is introduced in the capsule through an entry wall of the enclosure that is opposite the filtering wall.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the liquid is introduced in the enclosure at a location that is lower than a location where the beverage is released from the enclosure.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beverage ingredient is selected from the group consisting of leaf tea and herbal tea.

21. A method for preparing a beverage comprising the steps of:

inserting in a beverage brewing machine; a capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of an interior of the enclosure, an overflow wall that is located in a path of a brewed liquid after the filtering wall, and at least one component selected from the group consisting of means for puncturing an aperture in the overflow wall or means for indicating a puncture location in the overflow wall;

introducing a brewing liquid into the enclosure;

filtering the brewed liquid; and

causing a filtered brewed liquid to pass at least one overflow aperture of an overflow wall, wherein at least one overflow aperture is situated above a median horizontal plane of the enclosure.

22. A method for preparing a beverage using a capsule inserted in a beverage brewing machine: comprising the steps of using a capsule comprising an enclosure containing one or more beverage ingredients, a filtering wall defining at least one filtering side of an interior of the enclosure, an overflow wall that is located in a path of a brewed liquid after the filtering wall and wherein the overflow wall comprises at least one pre-made aperture,

introducing a brewing liquid into the enclosure to brew the beverage ingredients,

filtering the brewed liquid by said filtering wall, and delivering the brewed liquid from the capsule such that the filtered liquid traversing the filtering wall is forced to pass at least one overflow aperture of the overflow wall and that the overflow aperture is situated above a median horizontal plane of the enclosure.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the overflow wall forces at least a portion of brewed liquid to move upwardly to the overflow aperture after having been filtered through the filtering wall.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the filtering wall extends from a level in the enclosure situated below the overflow aperture.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the filtering wall extends from a bottom of the enclosure.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the filtering wall extends from the bottom of the enclosure to a top of the enclosure.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein the overflow wall is placed in front of the filtering wall with an interstitial space there between.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein the overflow aperture is situated vertically above approximately three quarters of a height of the enclosure.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein the brewing liquid enters the enclosure at a relative pressure below 0.2 bar.

30. The method of claim 22 , wherein the brewing liquid enters the enclosure at a relative pressure below 0.1 bar.

31. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the filtering wall is a pre-fabricated filter and the overflow wall is a sealing wall of the capsule that is opened before brewing.

32. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the overflow aperture is premade by construction and protected by an outer closing membrane.

33. The method of claim 22 , wherein the brewed liquid is conducted downward from the overflow opening through a beverage conduit to a beverage outlet.

34. The method according to claim 33 , wherein the beverage conduit and the beverage outlet are parts of the capsule.

35. The method according to claim 33 , wherein the beverage conduit and the beverage outlet are parts of the beverage machine.

36. The method according claim 22 , wherein the filtering wall is a sealing wall of the capsule which is perforated by a plurality of discrete perforating members that stay in place during brewing and the overflow wall is an external wall facing the perforated sealing wall of the capsule.

37. The method of claim 22 , wherein the liquid is introduced in the capsule through an entry wall of the enclosure that is opposite the filtering wall.

38. The method of claim 22 , wherein the liquid is introduced in the enclosure at a location that is lower than a location where the beverage is released from the enclosure.

39. The method of claim 22 , wherein the beverage ingredient is selected from the group consisting of leaf tea and herbal tea.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 16062921 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 049391 FRAME 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE PATENT NUMBER SHOULD HAVE BEEN 16062912. Recorded Jul 3, 2020
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 054082/0165 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION TO SHOW THE FULL AND CORRECT NEW NAME IN SECTION 51. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 049391 FRAME: 0756. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049853/0398 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 6, 2019
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.
Reel/Frame 049391/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2008
From: OZANNE, MATTHIEU
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 021297/0642 →