EXPANDABLE INFUSION CONTAINER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an expandable infusion container for preparing an infusion beverage comprising a destructible guarantee seal according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0002] In the context of the present invention, an infusion beverage is understood to mean any type of beverage that can be prepared from a dry infusion substance by contacting it with a cold or hot infusion liquid. A typical infusion beverage is, for example, tea, which is prepared by brewing tea leaves or herbs with hot water.

[0003] It is known that different types of tea require a comparatively long brewing process of several minutes to optimally develop their aroma. The contact time between the tea leaves and the brewing water must therefore be sufficiently long. EP 3 119 245 B1 discloses a tea preparation device and a method which makes it possible to bring a measured amount of an infusion dry substance into contact with an infusion liquid over a specific contact time. This is made possible by an expandable infusion container. To introduce the infusion liquid into the container, a lid of this container is pierced with a filling needle, and the infusion liquid is then introduced into the container through this filling needle. To empty the infusion container, an outlet valve is provided which opens when an excess pressure inside the infusion container is exceeded.The overpressure is achieved by compressing the container with a pressing piston.

[0004] Depending on the dry substance being infused, it may be in a more or less compressed form. Since the container is expandable, the bottom and lid of the container are not necessarily always in the same position relative to each other. Furthermore, after the compressed container has been squeezed, it is not immediately apparent whether it has been used before. A compressible container according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 2018 / 03055115 A1.

[0005] The object of the invention is to remedy at least one or more disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, an infusion container is to be provided that is easy to store and transport, while taking up a particularly small volume. Preferably, it should be possible to see on the infusion container whether it has already been used.

[0006] This object is achieved by the devices defined in the independent patent claims. Further embodiments are set out in the dependent patent claims.

[0007] The present invention relates to an expandable infusion container for holding a dry infusion substance for preparing an infusion beverage. The infusion container comprises a base part, a lid part, and a wall part connecting the base part and the lid part. The wall part has a variable length and is attached to the base part at a first end and connected to the lid part at a second end. The lid part and the base part are connected to each other via a destructible guarantee seal.

[0008] The connection between the lid and base allows the lid and base to be positioned in a specific way relative to each other. The destructible warranty seal ensures that it is immediately visible on the infusion container whether it has been used or not. Destruction of the warranty seal allows the position of the lid to change relative to the base, allowing the infusion container to be expanded.

[0009] The guarantee seal can be formed as a thin area of ​​material, such as a tear-off film. A tear-off film is a location in the material with a small height, or thickness, relative to its width. A tear-off film is typically thicker than 10 μm and preferably does not exceed 500 μm. In particular, it is at most half as thick as an adjacent wall.

[0010] A tear-off film is easy to manufacture and yet allows two parts to be completely joined together, so that no dirt can penetrate through the warranty seal in the area of ​​the warranty seal.

[0011] Alternatively, it is possible to design the guarantee seal as a multitude of tear-off strips.

[0012] Due to the tear-off strip design, two elements are connected to each other over a shorter length compared to a tear-off film, which reduces the force required to open the guarantee seal.

[0013] Preferably, the guarantee seal is designed as an integral part of the base part.

[0014] The base part can thus be manufactured in one piece, together with the guarantee seal. This reduces the number of work steps required to manufacture the infusion container.

[0015] The base part may have a hollow cylindrical wall extending from the base part toward the lid part. This wall may be divided into a base ring and a separating ring by the guarantee seal. This hollow cylindrical wall preferably extends along the periphery of the base part.

[0016] The wall allows the provision of a protected interior space between the base part and the cover part, in which the wall part with the variable length can be arranged.

[0017] This hollow cylindrical wall protects it against environmental influences and / or external forces.

[0018] By dividing the chamber into a base ring and a separating ring, a portion of the hollow cylindrical wall can be separated from the base. Elements connected to the separating ring can therefore be moved relative to the base after the separating ring has been separated.

[0019] Preferably, the second end of the wall part is clamped between the cover part and the separating ring.

[0020] By detaching the separating ring and subsequently lifting it from the base ring, the second end of the wall section is also moved relative to the base ring and thus relative to the base section. This allows the infusion container to expand by extending the wall section.

[0021] The clamping between the cover part and the separating ring ensures a liquid-tight connection between the cover part and the wall part.

[0022] To clamp the wall part, the cover part can have two concentric webs that are or can be operatively connected to the separating ring.

[0023] The two webs essentially provide a groove into which the separating ring can be inserted.

[0024] The separating ring can be easily and securely connected to the lid part.

[0025] A snap connection can be provided to connect the base part to the cover part.

[0026] A snap connection has the advantage that a higher initial force than the holding force is required to establish the connection. The force required to release the connection again must be correspondingly high. With a suitable design of the snap connection, for example, with an undercut or with elements on the webs that partially engage behind the separating ring, it is no longer possible to release this snap connection without causing damage.

[0027] To provide the snap connection, a projection for engaging in a corresponding recess on the separating ring can be arranged on one of the concentric webs.

[0028] This allows a reliable, simple connection to be created between the cover part and the separating ring.

[0029] The snap connection is preferably designed in such a way that a force for releasing this snap connection is, in particular, many times greater than the force for tearing open the guarantee seal.

[0030] At least one of the concentric webs may have one or more axial extensions that overlap the guarantee seal.

[0031] On the one hand, the guarantee seal can thus be protected against external influences, and on the other hand, especially if the guarantee seal has openings, the guarantee seal can be closed so that no contaminants can penetrate the guarantee seal.

[0032] A projection for engaging in a corresponding recess on the base ring may be arranged on the axial extension(s).

[0033] The projection, in conjunction with the recess, enables a circumferential seal between the base ring and the cover part.

[0034] Preferably, the infusion container has an inlet valve which is arranged on the lid part.

[0035] The specific design of an inlet valve on the lid eliminates the need for a complex piercing mechanism on a tea brewing device. The design with an inlet valve also enables a simple, reliably reproducible filling process into the expandable infusion container.

[0036] The infusion container can have an outlet valve located on the base. This outlet valve allows the infusion container to be kept in an expanded state until the outlet valve is opened. An infusion liquid filled into the infusion container can thus be kept in contact with a dry infusion substance contained within the container for a predetermined period of time.

[0037] The outlet valve can be opened mechanically after the duration has elapsed, for example, and / or by the build-up of excess pressure in the infusion container.

[0038] A filter sieve can be arranged within the infusion container, wherein the filter sieve is preferably arranged on the bottom part.

[0039] The filter sieve closes a dispensing opening of the infusion container and prevents the infusion dry substance from being dispensed from the infusion container together with the infusion beverage.

[0040] In addition, a support can be formed on the bottom part of the infusion container, which interacts with the lid part and supports it.

[0041] The support can be designed as a component of the filter screen and in particular form an integral component of the filter screen.

[0042] With the exception of the elements described here, the infusion container can be designed, in particular, in accordance with the infusion container described and claimed in EP 3 119 245 B1. The infusion container is thus designed to be liquid-tight, in particular, for holding an infusion liquid and is designed to be expanded from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape by introducing infusion liquid. Alternatively to this embodiment, it can additionally be designed with an inlet valve, as described here. The infusion container is then no longer pierced for filling, but rather filled through the inlet valve.

[0043] The infusion container described here is particularly suitable for carrying out the method described and claimed in EP 3 119 245 B1. The method is, in particular, a method in which a measured amount of a dry infusion substance is brought into contact with a measured amount of an infusion liquid, thereby producing the infusion beverage. The dry infusion substance is provided in the infusion container, which is initially in a collapsed form and can be expanded into an expanded form. The infusion liquid is introduced into the infusion container. The infusion container is expanded such that the dry infusion substance in the infusion container is kept in contact with the infusion liquid for a contact period to form the infusion beverage.The infusion container is then at least partially returned to its collapsed shape by compression, and the infusion beverage is at least partially expelled from the infusion container.

[0044] The invention is explained in detail below using schematic figures based on an exemplary embodiment. It shows: Figure 1: A perspective sectional view of an infusion container; Figure 2A: a perspective view of the infusion container from the Figure 1 in a collapsed form; Figure 2B: a perspective view of the infusion container of the Figure 2A in an expanded form; Figure 3: a detailed view of Figure 1 ; Figure 4: a perspective view of the infusion container from the Figure 1 during production; Figure 5: a detailed view from Figure 4 ; Figure 6: a perspective view of the infusion container from the Figure 1during production; Figure 7: a detailed view of a further production step; Figure 8: a perspective view of the assembled infusion container; Figure 9: a detailed view of a guarantee seal; Figure 10: the view according to the Figure 3 after breaking the guarantee seal; Figure 11: the view according to the Figure 10 after removing the lid part.

[0045] For the sake of clarity, any dry infusion substance that may be present in the infusion container 20 has been omitted from all figures.

[0046] Figure 1shows a perspective sectional view of an infusion container 20. The infusion container 20 has an inlet valve 10 and an outlet valve 30 with a dispensing opening. The infusion container itself comprises a base part 21, a lid part 22 and a wall part 23. The wall part 23 is expandable and in the present case is designed in the form of a bellows. The wall part 23 is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the base part 21 on the one hand and to the lid part 22 on the other. This wall part 23 is enclosed by the base part 21 and the lid part 22. For this purpose, a hollow cylindrical wall 211 extending in the direction of the lid part 22 is provided on the periphery of the base part 21. As shown in the Figure 1As can be seen, the inlet valve 10 is formed as an integral component of the cover part 22. It is also evident that the outlet valve 30 is formed at least partially as an integral component of the base part 21. A filter screen 40, which is arranged upstream of the discharge opening and thus of the outlet valve 30, is also illustrated.

[0047] The infusion container 20 according to the Figure 1 is essentially rotationally symmetrical and has a central axis L. This also defines an axial direction. Even with non-rotationally symmetrical designs of the infusion container 20, a central axis is present. This is essentially defined by the connection between the inlet valve 10 and the outlet valve 30. A flow direction running from the inlet valve 10 to the outlet valve 30 is also defined by the inlet valve 10 and the outlet valve 30.

[0048] The Figure 2Ashows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from the Figure 1 in a collapsed form. As can be seen from the Figure 2A and from the Figure 1 As can be seen, in the collapsed form the base part 21 is connected to the cover part 22 via the wall 211 arranged on its periphery and the integrally arranged guarantee seal 24.

[0049] The Figure 2B shows a perspective view of the infusion container from the Figure 2Ain an expanded form. By applying excess pressure via the inlet valve 10 (see Figure 1), the guarantee seal 24 of the wall 221 of the base part 21 was broken open and the wall part 23 was expanded by filling the infusion liquid into the infusion container 20. It is understood that the inlet valve 10 was opened before the excess pressure was applied. The infusion container 20 subsequently remains in this expanded form for a predetermined time and is then compressed to dispense the infusion beverage. It is understood that the outlet valve 30 (see Figure 1 ) is opened in particular before compression and the infusion beverage is dispensed through this outlet valve 30.

[0050] The Figure 3 shows a detailed view from the Figure 1. Shown is a section of the connection between the cover part 22 and the base part 21. A first web 223 and a second web 222 are formed on the cover part 22. The first web 221 runs along the periphery of the cover part 22. The second web 222 is offset radially inward relative to the first web 221. These two webs 221 and 222 together form a groove for receiving a corresponding counterpart. The counterpart is formed as a component of the hollow cylindrical wall 211 of the base part 21. The hollow cylindrical wall 211 is divided into a base ring 212 and a separating ring 213. The separating ring 213 is held in the groove between the webs 221 and 222.

[0051] The separating ring 213 is connected to the base ring 212 via a guarantee seal 24. The guarantee seal 24 consists of individual tear-off strips (see also Figure 9). The separating ring 213 has a recess 214 into which a projection 223 of the second web 222 engages. The second web 222 has an extension 224 on which a projection 225 is also formed. The projection 225 engages in a recess 215 on the base ring 212. As can be seen from the illustration according to the Figure 3 As can be seen, the extension 224 overlaps the guarantee seal 24 in the direction of the base ring 212. The extension 224 has several interruptions along its circumference, not described in detail here, which enable better lifting from the base ring 212 during the opening process of the infusion container 20.

[0052] A second end 231 of the wall part 23 is clamped between the separating ring 213 and the webs 221 and 222. Due to this clamping, the wall part 23 is connected to the cover part 22 in a liquid-tight manner, even after the separating ring 213 has been separated, which can be done with reference to the following Figures 10 and 11is explained.

[0053] The Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from the Figure 1 during production. In a first step, a base part 21 is provided which has a hollow cylindrical wall 211 as described here. The wall 211 is arranged on the periphery of the base part 221 and extends counter to the flow direction. The wall part 23 is arranged within this wall 221. The wall part 23 is in the form of a bellows in the present case. The wall part 23 is made of a flexible plastic, in particular of a biodegradable plastic, preferably of a bio-based plastic. The wall part 23 has a first end 232 and a second end 231. The first end 232 is connected to the base part 21, in this case by gluing. Alternatively, welding can also be provided.

[0054] The second end 231 has an outwardly directed bend (see Figure 5 ) which rests on an upper end of the hollow cylindrical wall 211. This bend is not shown here. The hollow cylindrical wall 211 is divided into a base ring 212 and a separating ring 213 (see Figure 3 ).

[0055] The Figure 5 shows a detailed view from the Figure 4 The design of the second end 231 of the wall part 23 is clearly visible. The second end 231 spans the guarantee seal 24 from the base ring 212 to the separating ring and extends radially beyond the separating ring 213.

[0056] The Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the infusion container 20 from the Figure 1 during production, namely the step of joining the lid part 22 with the base part 21. It is understood that before this step, the infusion dry substance is poured into the infusion container 20, or into the Figure 4 shown semi-finished infusion container 20.

[0057] According to the Figure 6 A cover part 22 is provided. The cover part 22 has a first web 221 and a second web 222 offset radially inwardly therefrom. These two webs 221 and 222 are designed essentially complementary to the separating ring 213 in order to receive the latter. A support 41 is also formed on the base part 21, which has a filter screen 40 as an integral component. The support 41 is designed essentially complementary to a counterpart of the inlet valve 10. As can be seen from the Figure 6 As can be seen, the inlet valve 10 can thus be supported on the support 41.

[0058] The Figure 7shows a detailed view of a further manufacturing step. The cover part 22 is now in contact with the second end 231 of the wall part 23. The extension 224 of the web 222 already extends into the interior of the hollow cylindrical wall 211.

[0059] Subsequently, the cover part is moved further in the direction of the hollow cylindrical wall 211, so that the webs 221 and 222 are pushed over the separating ring 213. Accordingly, the projections 223 and 225 engage in corresponding recesses 214 and 215, as shown in the Figure 3 is shown.

[0060] The Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the assembled infusion container 20. The Figure 8 allows a view of the guarantee seal 24 which is arranged between the base ring 212 and the separating ring 213. The guarantee seal 24 comprises several tear-off strips which are spaced apart from each other by corresponding openings (see also Figure 9). By overlapping the guarantee seal 24 on the one hand by the second web 222 and the extension 224 (see Figure 3 ) and by overlapping a corresponding section of the second end 231 of the wall part 23, these openings are closed. Furthermore, the first web 221 is also designed such that it overlaps the guarantee seal 24, or rather the openings between the tear-off webs.

[0061] The Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the guarantee seal 24. The guarantee seal 24 has several tear-off bars spaced apart by an opening. The tear-off bars connect the base ring 212 to the separating ring 213. A recess 214 for receiving a corresponding counterpart is arranged in the separating ring 213. A recess 215 is also arranged in the base ring 212 for receiving a counterpart corresponding to this recess 215.

[0062] The Figure 10shows the view according to the Figure 3 after breaking the guarantee seal 24. By filling an infusion liquid through the inlet valve 10 (see Figure 1 ) creates excess pressure inside the infusion container 20. The separating ring 213 is held firmly between webs 221 and 222, so that the tear-off webs of the guarantee seal are subjected to a corresponding force until they tear. The projection 225 of the extension 224 detaches from the recess 215. This allows the lid part to be moved or removed from the base part 21, allowing the folded wall part 23 to unfold.

[0063] The Figure 11 shows the view according to the Figure 10 after the lid part 22 has been completely lifted off the base part 21. The lid part 22 is only connected to the base part 21 by the wall part 23. After further filling of the infusion container 20, it then takes up the Figure 2BThe infusion beverage can be used after a predetermined period of time as per the Figure 2B described.

Claims

1. Expandable infusion container (20) for receiving a dried infusion substance for preparation of an infusion beverage, comprising a base part (21), a lid part (22) and a wall part (23) connecting the base part (21) and the lid part (22), wherein the wall part (23) has a variable length and is fastened with a first end (232) to the base part (21) and is connected with its second end (231) to the lid part (22), characterized in that the lid part (22) and the base part (21) are connected to one another via a destructible guarantee seal (24).

2. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guarantee seal (24) is configured as a tear-off film.

3. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the guarantee seal (24) is configured as a plurality of tear-off webs.

4. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guarantee seal (24) is configured as an integral component of the base part (21).

5. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the base part (21) comprises a hollow-cylindrical wall (211) that extends from the base part (21) in the direction of the lid part (22) and this wall (211) is divided by the guarantee seal (24) into a base ring (212) and a separating ring (213).

6. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the second end (231) of the wall part (23) is clamped between the lid part (22) and the separating ring (213) .

7. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 6, characterized in that for clamping the wall part (23) the lid part (22) has two concentric webs (221, 222) which are or can be brought into operative connection with the separating ring (213) .

8. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a snap connection is provided for connection of the base part (21) to the lid part (22).

9. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 8 and 7, characterized in that in order to provide the snap connection a projection (223) is provided on one of the concentric webs (221, 222) for engagement in a corresponding recess (214) is provided on the separating ring (213).

10. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 9, characterized in that one or more axial extensions (224) which overlap the guarantee seal (24) are provided at least on one of the concentric webs (221, 222).

11. Infusion container (20) according to Claim 10, characterized in that a projection (225) for engaging in a corresponding recess (215) on the base ring (212) is provided on the axial extensions (224).

12. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an inlet valve (10) is arranged on the lid part (22).

13. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an outlet valve (30) is arranged on the base part (21).

14. Infusion container (20) according to one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a filter sieve (40) is arranged inside the infusion container (20), wherein the filter sieve (40) is preferably arranged on the base part (21).