A capsule for storing a substance in a disposable cup and uses thereof

Abstract

A capsule for enclosing a substance on a bottom of a first disposable cup comprises a bottom and a rim deformed from the bottom of the first cup. The capsule comprises a bottom having a circumference, a wall extending from the circumference, and an opening, wherein the capsule is configured to be accommodated in a space defined by the bottom and the rim of a second disposable cup inserted inside the first disposable cup. The capsule may further comprise at least one handle and at least one inner wall. A method of packaging a plurality of disposable cups, capsules, and substance can be packaged in a manner that keeps the substance fresh for an extended period of time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates accessories for disposable dishware. More particularly, the present invention relates to capsules for storing a substance in disposable cups.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Solid and liquid substances for the preparation of an instant beverage or food dose, for example coffee powder, instant soup power, chopped and dried tea leaves, instant potato puree powder and the like are available and widely used. The beverage or food dose is prepared by adding a liquid, for example water or milk, to a dish containing the substance and dissolving, suspending or extracting the substance in the liquid. In order to enhance the simplicity and speed of the preparation of such instant beverages or food doses, attempts are made to provide instant dishes, for example instant cups, pre-filled with a substance for the preparation of an instant beverage or food dose.[0003]For example, United States patent application No. 2006 / 0096462 A1 discloses...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method to keep a substance fresh and protected from exposed oxygen and moisture for a long time. This is achieved by packaging the substance in a stack of disposable cups and creating a negative pressure in the package to prevent air from entering. The result is a fresher, better-protected substance that can be stored for a longer period of time.

Problems solved by technology

The water-soluble flavoursome material that is affixed to the floor of the disposable cup is not covered and therefore vulnerable to exposure to oxygen and moisture that adversely affect the freshness of the water-soluble flavoursome material.

In addition, this disposable cup may not be marketed in countries where there are regulations preventing the marketing of unpacked beverages and foods, since the cake of water-soluble flavoursome material is not covered or packaged.

Furthermore, covering the water-soluble flavoursome material with a cover inside the cup would not allow stacking of a plurality of such disposable cups in a maximal compactness, for example in a manner similar to the stacking of disposable cups without a material and / or a cover inside them.

This may increase the space these cups occupy during storage and delivery, and thereby influence the costs of delivery which eventually increase the price of the product.

In addition, the presence of the cover in the disposable cup does not allow a compact stacking of a plurality of such disposable cups, as discussed above.

The presence of an edible starch paper in the paper cup and its consumption by the user after being dissolved in the beverage prepared in the paper cup, may prevent the usage of this type of product by potential consumers, for example those who may be concerned about consuming edible paper.

Furthermore, starch paper does not block the passage of oxygen and moisture that might adversely affect the freshness of the material that is stored in the paper cup, and the presence of the charging interlayer in the paper cup does not allow a compact stacking of a plurality of such paper cups, as discussed above.

Even though this approach may solve the problem of avoiding exposure of the substance to oxygen and moisture if an appropriate seal membrane is used, it still does not address the issue of hesitation of using this product by potential consumers due to the presence of a capsule or a chamber in the beverage or food dose during consumption, and the inability to compactly stack a plurality of disposable cups harboring a capsule or chamber in them, as discussed in detail above.

The currently available solutions, demonstrated in the aforementioned publications, do not address this need.

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