IP Library Granted Patent US 8,813,634
Granted Patent B2
US 8,813,634 · App. 12/602,730 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food and system using brewing centrifugal force

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,813,634
App. No.
12/602,730
Granted
Aug 26, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a substance in a centrifugal brewing unit by passing water through the substance contained in the capsule by using brewing centrifugal forces. The capsule has an enclosure containing a predetermined dose of the substance and a construction which opens under the effect of the centrifugal forces to allow the brewed liquid to leave the capsule. The capsule may also include a mechanism for engaging the capsule to an external rotational drive of the centrifugal brewing unit wherein the engaging mechanism is configured to offer resistance to torque during rotation of the capsule for maintaining the capsule in a reference rotational position.

Claims (20)

1. A capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a substance in a centrifugal brewing unit by passing water through the substance contained in the capsule by using brewing centrifugal forces, the capsule comprising: a sealed, gas-tight enclosure containing a predetermined dose of substance therein prior to use, and opening means comprising at least one radial deflectable lip integral to a wall of the capsule, which opens when experiencing centrifugal forces to allow the beverage or liquid food to leave the capsule, wherein the opening means forms at least one radial outlet for the brewed beverage or liquid food when the centrifugal forces exert a flexure on the at least one radial deflectable lip.

2. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the opening means comprises a resilient valve.

3. The capsule of claim 1 further comprising a water flow distribution member comprising a tubular portion extending vertically in a central portion of the capsule.

4. The capsule of claim 3 , wherein the tubular portion includes flow distributing means located near the bottom of the capsule, with the flow distributing means including a number of slots for directing water in radial directions away from the tubular portion.

5. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the capsule has a flared design and a series of spaced radial outlets positioned or created at or close to the larger side of the flared design.

6. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the radial outlets are slits which are sized to act as a filter to only allow liquid to leave the capsule.

7. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip has a first portion that terminates in a rounded shape that is larger than the first portion.

8. A capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a substance in a centrifugal brewing unit by passing water through the substance contained in the capsule by using brewing centrifugal forces comprising: a sealed, gas-tight enclosure having a cup-shaped body containing a predetermined dose of substance therein prior to use, and opening means comprising at least one radial deflectable lip integral to a wall of the capsule, which opens when experiencing centrifugal forces to allow the beverage or liquid food to leave the capsule, wherein the opening means forms at least one radial outlet for the brewed beverage or liquid food when the centrifugal forces exert a flexure on the at least one radial deflectable lip, wherein the capsule further comprises a lid connected to the cup-shaped body and wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip is part of the lid or body.

9. The capsule of claim 8 further comprising a water flow distribution member comprising a tubular portion extending vertically in a central portion of the capsule.

10. The capsule of claim 9 , wherein the tubular portion includes a water inlet at a first end near the lid and flow distributing means at a second end near the bottom of the capsule, with the flow distributing means including a number of slots.

11. The capsule of claim 10 , wherein the second end of the flow distributing means abuts against the bottom of the capsule body for demarcating the slots for directing water in radial directions away from the tubular portion.

12. The capsule of claim 8 , wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip has a first portion that terminates in a rounded shape that is larger than the first portion.

13. The capsule of claim 8 , wherein the capsule has a flared design and a series of spaced radial outlets positioned or created at or close to the larger side of the flared design.

14. The capsule of claim 8 , wherein the radial outlets are slits which are sized to act as a filter to only allow liquid to leave the capsule.

15. A capsule for preparing a beverage or liquid food from a substance in a centrifugal brewing unit by passing water through the substance contained in the capsule by using brewing centrifugal forces comprising: a sealed, gas-tight enclosure having a cup-shaped body containing a predetermined dose of substance therein prior to use, and opening means comprising at least one radial deflectable lip integral to a wall of the capsule, which opens when experiencing centrifugal forces to allow the beverage or liquid food to leave the capsule, wherein the opening means forms at least one radial outlet for the brewed beverage or liquid food when the centrifugal forces exert a flexure on the at least one radial deflectable lip, wherein the capsule further comprises a lid connected to the cup-shaped body, wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip is part of the lid or body, and wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip is inserted in a peripheral groove of the lid or body.

16. The capsule of claim 15 further comprising a water flow distribution member comprising a tubular portion extending vertically in a central portion of the capsule.

17. The capsule of claim 16 , wherein the tubular portion includes flow distributing means located near the bottom of the capsule, with the flow distributing means including a number of slots for directing water in radial directions away from the tubular portion.

18. The capsule of claim 15 , wherein the capsule has a flared design and a series of spaced radial outlets positioned or created at or close to the larger side of the flared design.

19. The capsule of claim 15 , wherein the radial outlets are slits which are sized to act as a filter to only allow liquid to leave the capsule.

20. The capsule of claim 15 , wherein the at least one radial deflectable lip has a first portion that terminates in a rounded shape that is larger than the first portion.

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 May 11, 2010
From: YOAKIM, ALFRED; DENISART, JEAN-PAUL; RYSER, ANTOINE
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 024368/0836 →