Lid for beverage container

Abstract

The invention relates to a lid (1) for a beverage container (2), referred to as the container (2), comprising an element (3), referred to as the assembly element (3), which includes a means (31) arranged to cooperate with the container so as to immobilize the lid on said container and form a leak-proof seal between the lid and said container. The lid further comprises a reservoir (4) containing a dry substance (5), referred to as the substance (5); said reservoir being integral with said assembly element and comprising a membrane (41) enveloping said substance. The membrane is, at least partially and / or selectively, permeable to liquids and / or gases. The assembly element is made of a material impermeable to liquids and / or gases. Figure for the abstract: FIGURE 1

Description

Title of the invention: Lid for a beverage container technical field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of beverage container lids.

[0002] The present invention relates more specifically to lids for containers beverage such as cups, tumblers, cups or glasses.

[0003] The invention also relates to the field of beverage preparation.

[0004] The invention belongs in particular to the field of preparing beverages from dry matter, for example from vending machines or in stores, or from individual / personal beverage machines. State of the art

[0005] It is known from the prior art of means for closing beverage containers such as lids, caps, seals or stoppers.

[0006] Known closure means, which may be airtight or not, are intended to contain a beverage inside a container.

[0007] It is also known from the prior art of devices for preparing beverages from dry matter, for example individual beverage preparation devices (e.g. individual or domestic coffee / tea makers / soda making devices) or professional or collective beverage preparation devices (e.g. self-service beverage dispensers or machines for catering, for restaurants or catering chains).

[0008] Also, the prior art provides lids for closing a container containing a beverage or devices for making beverages from solid matter (to be solubilized, extracted or infused).

[0009] One object of the present invention is to remedy at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to offer: - a multi-functional lid, and / or - a lid that can be adapted to different containers, and / or - a lid allowing the preparation / making of drinks, and / or - a lid allowing the preparation / making of drinks directly and / or solely from the lid, and / or - the manufacture / preparation of beverages from dry matter, and / or - the manufacture / preparation of beverages directly and / or solely from a lid, and / or - the manufacture / preparation of drinks not requiring the provision of an element dedicated to the preparation of the drink (coffee pod, tea bag, freeze-dried product...) and an additional container and / or lid to contain the prepared drink. Description of the invention

[0011] For this purpose, a lid for a beverage container, referred to as a container, is proposed according to the invention.

[0012] The cover includes an element, called an assembly element.

[0013] The lid is arranged to cooperate with the container.

[0014] The assembly element includes a means, called a fastening means, arranged to cooperate with the container.

[0015] The fastening means is arranged to cooperate with the container so as to: - immobilize the lid on said container, and / or - form a watertight connection between the lid and said container.

[0016] The lid includes a reservoir.

[0017] The reservoir contains a dry substance, referred to as substance.

[0018] The tank is integral with the assembly element.

[0019] The reservoir includes a membrane enveloping the substance.

[0020] The membrane is, in whole or in part, permeable to liquids and / or gases, preferably also to water and / or water vapor.

[0021] The assembly element is made of a material impermeable to liquids and / or gas.

[0022] "Immobilize" can be understood as: making fixed. "Immobilize" can be understood as: fitting, screwing or snapping or any other means / function of attaching the lid to the container.

[0023] Preferably, the means arranged to cooperate with the container is a means for attaching or hooking the lid onto the container.

[0024] Preferably, the means arranged to cooperate with the container, preferably by cooperating with an element or means of the container, is arranged to fit, screw or snap the lid onto the container.

[0025] The lid can be arranged to be immobilized on the container in a reversible or irreversible / permanent manner. Preferably, the lid is arranged to be immobilized reversibly on the container.

[0026] The fastening means can be arranged to immobilize the lid on the container, either reversibly or irreversibly / permanently. Preferably, the fastening means is arranged to immobilize the lid on the container reversibly.

[0027] Preferably, the lid is circular.

[0028] Preferably, the container is not part of the lid. Preferably, the lid is adapted and / or intended and / or arranged to cooperate, for example, to be attached, mounted, fixed or immobilized on the container.

[0029] Preferably, the reservoir is disposed or located in the center of the lid.

[0030] Preferably, the dry substance is solid.

[0031] The dry substance may be a dry material for infusion.

[0032] The dry matter can be freeze-dried powder or a grind.

[0033] The dry matter may be coffee, tea or dry substances prepared from other drinks.

[0034] Preferably the permeable membrane is impermeable to solids, preferably to dry substance.

[0035] Preferably, the assembly element includes an annular part.

[0036] Preferably, the annular part of the assembly element includes the means arranged to cooperate with the container.

[0037] Preferably, the reservoir includes an annular part.

[0038] Preferably, the annular part of the tank is fixed on the assembly element.

[0039] Preferably, the annular part of the tank is fixed to the assembly element to or in such a way as to make the reservoir of the assembly element integral.

[0040] Preferably, the lid includes a cavity.

[0041] Preferably, the cavity extends from the reservoir to an opening of the lid.

[0042] Preferably, the reservoir forms the bottom of said cavity.

[0043] The cavity may have a cylindrical shape.

[0044] Preferably, the opening of the lid is a top opening of the lid.

[0045] Preferably, the cavity is a central cavity.

[0046] The term "central" or "central cavity" can be understood to mean an element (of the lid) whose center of symmetry and / or plane of symmetry has an intersection with an axis, preferably an axis of revolution, of the lid.

[0047] Preferably, the terms "upper" and "lower" refer, respectively, to a part intended to be located upwards and / or towards a user and to a part intended to be located downwards and / or towards the container.

[0048] Cavity can be understood as: a recess or a hollow.

[0049] Alternatively, : - the assembly element can be described as comprising a part forming the cavity, or - a portion of the assembly element can be described as forming the cavity.

[0050] A wall of the assembly element or, in the case where the assembly element is considered to be made up of a single continuous wall, a portion of the wall of the assembly element may constitute the cavity.

[0051] Preferably, the cavity constitutes a receiving area for a fluid, or is intended to receive a fluid, for example a liquid or vapor (at ambient pressure or under pressure), preferably water or water vapor.

[0052] Preferably, the cover, preferably the assembly element, includes a top rim.

[0053] Preferably, the upper rim includes at least one opening.

[0054] Preferably, at least one orifice forms a means of flow of a liquid, preferably a beverage, through the assembly element.

[0055] Preferably, at least one opening is provided in the upper rim.

[0056] Preferably, at least one opening is intended to form when the cover is immobilized on the container, a means of flow, of the drink contained in the container, through the lid, between the container and the outside of the container.

[0057] Preferably, the cavity has a flared shape.

[0058] Preferably, a dimension, preferably a radius, of said cavity increases from the reservoir to the upper opening and / or to the upper rim.

[0059] Preferably, the cavity has a conical shape.

[0060] Preferably, the cavity is a cone of revolution, preferably a truncated cone. Preferably, the reservoir constitutes one of the two bases of the cone, called the small base of the cavity and / or the cone, and the upper opening constitutes the other of the two bases of the cone, called the large base of the cavity and / or the cone.

[0061] Preferably, the annular part of the assembly element has a radius greater than a radius of the upper rim.

[0062] Preferably, the upper rim delimits the upper opening of the lid.

[0063] Preferably, the cavity forms a housing intended to receive an injector, a nozzle or a liquid and / or gas injection head.

[0064] Preferably, the cavity and / or the upper rim are arranged to form a tight seal between the cover and the injection head.

[0065] Preferably, the injection head belongs to a machine for preparing beverages.

[0066] Preferably, the membrane is unidirectionally permeable to liquids.

[0067] Preferably, the membrane is permeable to liquids from an upper side of the lid towards a lower side of the lid, preferably only from the upper side of the lid to the lower side of the lid.

[0068] Preferably, it is understood by "unidirectionally permeable to liquids": permeable to liquids along a single and / or single direction.

[0069] The term "from an upper side to a lower side of the lid" can be understood as "from the upper opening towards the reservoir in the lid." Preferably, and in other words, the membrane is permeable to liquids only in one single direction extending from the upper opening towards the reservoir in the lid.

[0070] Preferably, the upper rim, preferably one of the faces of the upper rim, preferably again one of the two faces of the upper rim, is located on the upper side, or opposite the upper side.

[0071] Preferably, the reservoir, preferably one of the faces of the reservoir, or preferably one of the two faces of the reservoir, is located on the lower side, or opposite the lower side. Preferably, the other of the two faces of the reservoir is located opposite the cavity.

[0072] Preferably, the assembly element comprises cardboard and / or polymer.

[0073] Preferably, the membrane comprises cellulose and / or polymer.

[0074] Preferably, the membrane comprises fabric, preferably non-fabric woven.

[0075] According to the invention, a beverage container is also proposed comprising, or on which is mounted or immobilized, the lid according to the invention.

[0076] Preferably, the lid is sealed and / or fixed, preferably in an irreversible manner, onto the container.

[0077] Preferably, the container is disposable and / or single-use.

[0078] Preferably, the container is made of cardboard or polymer.

[0079] Preferably, the container is a cup.

[0080] Preferably, a lid according to the invention is suitable, more preferably is particularly suitable, even more preferably is designed, and particularly advantageously is specially designed, to cooperate with and / or to be associated with and / or to be mounted on and / or to be immobilized on the container or receptacle according to the invention. Furthermore, any feature of the lid according to the invention is directly applicable to the container or receptacle according to the invention. Brief description of the FIGURES

[0081] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure [1] is a schematic representation of a side view cross-section of the lid according to the invention, - Figure [Fig. 2] is a schematic representation of a side view cross-section of the lid according to the invention mounted on a beverage container, - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a side view of the lid according to the invention. - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a top view of the lid according to the invention - Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are schematic representations of a side view section of the lid according to the invention and of an injection head of a beverage machine.

[0082] In the figures and in the rest of the description, elements common to several figures retain the same reference. Description of a method of implementation

[0083] The embodiments described below are in no way limiting; variants of the invention may include, in particular, a selection of the described features, isolated from the other described features (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence containing these other features), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection includes at least one feature, preferably a functional one without structural details, or with only a portion of the structural details if this portion alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0084] With reference to FIGURES 1 to 5, a non-limiting embodiment of the invention is presented.

[0085] For this purpose, a lid 1 is proposed for a beverage container 2, referred to as container 2. The lid 1 is circular.

[0086] By way of non-limiting examples, container 2 may be a glass, a cup, a bowl, a tumbler or a bottle (which may be insulated).

[0087] The container 2 can be made of ceramic, metal (for example stainless steel), glass, plastic or cardboard.

[0088] Container 2 is not part of, nor included in, lid 1. Therefore, container 2 is not part of the invention (unlike the container including the lid, which is described below). Also, container 2 is any container.

[0089] A person skilled in the art will understand that the lid 1, in particular its size, composition, and geometry, will be adapted to the container 2 on which it is intended to be fixed. In particular, the lid 1 may be intended, for example, for commercial and / or catering beverage machines, and therefore for corresponding containers 2 (in particular containers 2 made of glass, cardboard, plastic, or polymer / natural materials (e.g., recycled)), or for beverage machines individual, and therefore corresponding containers (including containers made of glass, ceramic, metal or polymer / natural materials (for example recycled).

[0090] The cover 1 includes an element 3, called assembly element 3.

[0091] The assembly element 3 is arranged to cooperate with the container 2.

[0092] The assembly element 3 includes a means 31, called a fastening means 31, arranged to cooperate with the container 2. The assembly means 31, by cooperation with the container 2, is arranged to immobilize the lid 1 on the container 2 and to form a watertight connection between the lid 1 and the container 2.

[0093] The watertight connection provided by the fastening means 31a has the effect of preventing the flow of liquid through the cooperation zone between the container 2 and the lid 1 (and / or the assembly element 3).

[0094] A person skilled in the art will be able to consider all known means of fixing enabling them to immobilize the lid 1 on the container 2 and to form a sealed connection (in particular against liquids) between the lid 1 and the container 2.

[0095] The assembly element 3 is impermeable to liquids and / or gas.

[0096] The cover 1 further includes a reservoir 4.

[0097] The reservoir 4 comprises a dry substance 5, referred to as substance 5.

[0098] The reservoir 4 is integral with the assembly element 3. Also, the cover 1 forms a single block and a single unit.

[0099] The reservoir 4 includes a membrane 42 enveloping the substance 5.

[0100] The membrane 42 is selectively permeable to liquids and / or gas.

[0101] The reservoir 4 and / or the membrane 42 and / or the assembly element 3 (for example, the material constituting the assembly element 3) shall be arranged and / or designed with regard to the application for which it is intended. A person skilled in the art shall be able to select from among the existing materials / arrangements those which are suitable for the intended application.

[0102] By way of non-limiting example, for the preparation of hot beverages from material 5 to be infused (such as tea or infusions, for example), the reservoir 4 and / or the membrane 42 will be chosen, among other things, to have properties ensuring suitable percolation and / or percolation rate (particularly depending on the dry matter). Similarly, by way of non-limiting example, for the preparation of hot beverages from material 5 to be solubilized / extracted (such as coffee, for example), the reservoir 4 and / or the membrane 42 will be chosen, among other things, to have properties ensuring suitable percolation and / or percolation rate for coffee preparation (particularly depending on the dry matter 5).

[0103] By way of non-limiting example, for the preparation of cold drinks from material 5 to be extracted / solubilized / hydrated (such as sodas or juices for example), the reservoir 4 and / or the membrane 42 will be chosen, among other things, to present properties ensuring percolation and / or a percolation rate suitable for coffee preparation (particularly depending on the dry matter 5).

[0104] By way of non-limiting example, the assembly element 3 will be chosen, among other things, to have properties suitable for the hot drinks envisaged (for example its resistance to temperature, a low diffusion of the material constituting the assembly element 3 at high temperature...) and / or for the cold drinks envisaged (for example its resistance to acidic conditions (or even basic conditions)...).

[0105] Advantageously, the membrane 4 is unidirectionally permeable to liquids from an upper side 11 of the lid 1 to a lower side 12 of the lid 1.

[0106] In other words, the membrane 41 is permeable to liquids only from the direction extending from the upper opening 6 towards the reservoir 4.

[0107] In other words, when the lid 1 is mounted on the container 2, the membrane 41 is permeable to liquids only from the outside to the inside of the container 2.

[0108] With reference to FIGURES 1, 2, 5A and 5B, a non-limiting example of the fastening means 31 is presented.

[0109] According to this embodiment, the lid 1 is arranged to be reversibly immobilized on the container 2.

[0110] The fastening means 31 is arranged to be fitted onto the container 2.

[0111] According to the embodiment, the fastening means 31 is arranged to cooperate with a rim 21 of the container 2. In particular, the fastening means 31 includes a lug 311 intended and / or arranged to be brought against the rim 21 of the container 2.

[0112] According to the embodiment, the rim 21 is circular. Furthermore, the rim 21 extends along an external or outer annular portion. Advantageously, the rim 21 extends over the upper edge of the container 2.

[0113] According to the embodiment, the lug 311 is circular.

[0114] Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the fastening means forms an annular part 32 of the cover 1.

[0115] The assembly element 3 comprises an annular part 32. The annular part 32 comprises or constitutes the fastening means 31. Equivalently, the fastening means 31 can be described as forming the annular part 32 of the cover 1.

[0116] A person skilled in the art will be able to choose the appropriate fastening or attachment system according to the intended application and / or the container 2, such as, by way of non-limiting examples, a thread (for screw-on cooperation between the lid 1 and the container 2), a ratchet, a projection.... Depending on the type of cooperation or the means of attachment, the lid may be defined as a cap, a lid, a stopper, a plug....

[0117] According to the embodiment, the reservoir 4 comprises an annular part 42.

[0118] The annular part 42 of the reservoir 4 is fixed on the assembly element 3.

[0119] Thus, the reservoir 4 and the assembly element 3 are joined.

[0120] According to the non-limiting embodiment, an extension of the membrane 41 constitutes the annular part 42 of the reservoir 4.

[0121] According to the embodiment, the extension of the membrane 41 constitutes the annular part 42 of the reservoir.

[0122] The membrane 41 comprises two walls 41 which envelop and contain the material 5. The periphery of the membrane 41 has an elongation / extension which is fixed on the assembly element 3.

[0123] According to a non-limiting improvement to the embodiment, the cover 1 includes a cavity 33.

[0124] The cavity 33 extends from the reservoir 4 to the upper opening 6 of the cover 1.

[0125] The reservoir 4 forms the bottom of the cavity 33. The upper opening 6 forms an entrance to the cavity 33.

[0126] The cavity 33 can constitute a receiving zone for water and / or gas intended to extract, hydrate, infuse, solubilize ... the dry matter 5 contained in the reservoir 4.

[0127] According to a non-limiting improvement to the embodiment, the lid 1 includes upper rim 34.

[0128] Preferably, the upper rim 34 or a part or portion of the upper rim 34 is intended to form a support surface for the lip of a user.

[0129] According to the embodiment, the upper rim 34 delimits the upper opening 6.

[0130] According to the embodiment, the upper rim 34 includes an opening 332.

[0131] The orifice 332 forms a means of flow of a liquid through the assembly element 3.

[0132] Also, when the lid 1 is mounted on the container, the orifice 332 ensures the flow of the beverage, through the lid 1, from the container 2 to the outside.

[0133] As is known to those skilled in the art, the flow of the beverage contained in the container 2, through the lid 1, may require the presence of an additional orifice 331 in the lid 1 to allow air to enter the container 2.

[0134] Preferably the additional orifice 331 can be provided in the upper rim 34.

[0135] The orifice 332 can also allow air to enter the container 2 and / or the additional orifice 331 can also allow a liquid to flow through the assembly element 3.

[0136] The upper rim 34 forms a bearing surface arranged to cooperate with a beverage machine (preferably with an injection head 7 or an injection means 7) so as to provide a bearing surface for the dispensing machine. Thus, the liquid and / or gas injected by the beverage machine can be contained and / or directed into the cavity 33 of the lid 1.

[0137] Thus, the beverage machine (or beverage dispenser) can deliver liquid water at ambient pressure or pressurized water vapor to the reservoir 4.

[0138] The cover 1 is arranged to provide a tight seal by means of the cavity 33 and the upper rim 34. Thus, the tightness of the pressurized liquid water and / or pressurized water vapor delivered by a beverage distribution machine is ensured by the cavity 33 and the upper rim 34.

[0139] According to a preferred embodiment, the cavity 33 has a flared shape.

[0140] A dimension, a radius (r) according to the embodiment, of said cavity 33 increases from the reservoir 4 to the upper opening 6 and / or to the upper rim 34.

[0141] The radius (r) of the cavity 33 can be defined as the dimension of the cavity 33 in a plane perpendicular to the axis connecting the reservoir 4 to the upper opening 6.

[0142] The cavity 33 thus forms a housing 33 intended to receive a liquid and / or gas injection head 7 of a beverage machine.

[0143] The cavity 33, in particular the assembly element 3 (and, alternatively or in combination, the upper rim 34) is arranged to form a tight seal between the cover 1 and the injection head 7 of the beverage machine.

[0144] The cavity 33 forms a truncated cone whose large base, formed by the opening 6, has a radius (r) greater than the radius (r) of the reservoir 4, forming the small base of the cone.

[0145] A beverage container comprising the lid 1 according to the invention is also proposed.

[0146] The beverage container according to the invention can be described as the beverage container 2 according to the invention comprising, or on which is mounted or immobilized, for example irreversibly, the lid 1 according to the invention.

[0147] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0148] In particular, all the variants and embodiments described are combinable with each other if there is no technical obstacle to this combination.

[0149] Thus, in combinable variants of the embodiments described above: - the pressurized liquid and / or pressurized steam intended to be injected through tank 4 has a pressure between 5 and 20 bar, and / or - cavity 33 is intended to receive the injection head 7 for liquid and / or gas from a beverage machine, and / or - the assembly element 3 comprises or is made of cardboard and / or polymer, and / or - membrane 41 comprises or is made of cellulose and / or polymer, and / or - the injected liquid and / or gas (by the beverage machine and / or by the injection head 7 of the beverage machine) may be under pressure or may be under normal flow, and / or - the upper rim 34 is arranged so that the liquid and / or pressurized vapor is guided towards and through the reservoir 4, and / or - the liquid and / or vapor injected (by the beverage machine) is water.

Claims

Demands

1. Lid (1) for a beverage container (2), said container (2), comprising: - an element (3), said assembly element (3), comprising a means (31) arranged to cooperate with the container so as to: • immobilize the lid on said container, and • form a leak-proof connection between the lid and said container, - a reservoir (4) containing a dry substance (5), said substance (5); said reservoir being integral with said assembly element, said reservoir includes a membrane (41) enveloping said substance; said membrane being, at least in part and / or selectively, permeable to liquids and / or gases, said assembly element is made of a material impermeable to liquids and / or gases.

2. Lid (1) according to claim 1, wherein: - the assembly element (3) comprises an annular part (32); said annular part of the assembly element comprises the means (31) arranged to cooperate with the container, and / or - the reservoir (4) comprises an annular part (42); said annular part of the reservoir is fixed on the assembly element (3).

3. Lid (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a cavity (33) extending from the reservoir (4), forming the bottom of said cavity, to a top opening (6) of the lid.

4. Lid (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the cavity (33) has a flared shape; a dimension of said cavity increases from the reservoir (4) to the upper opening (6).

5. Lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising an upper rim (34), said upper rim comprising at least one orifice (332) forming a means for the flow of a liquid through the assembly element (3).

6. Lid (1) according to the preceding claim, taken in combination with claim 3, wherein the upper rim (34) delimits the upper opening (6) of the lid.

7. Lid (1) according to claim 5 or 6, taken in combination with claim 3, in which the cavity (33) forms a housing (33) for receiving a liquid and / or gas injection head (7), said cavity and / or the upper rim (34) being arranged to form a leak-proof connection between the lid and said injection head.

8. Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the membrane (41) is unidirectionally permeable to liquids from an upper side (11) of the lid to a lower side (12) of the lid.

9. Lid (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly element (3) comprises cardboard and / or polymer, and wherein the membrane (41) comprises cellulose and / or polymer.

10. Beverage container comprising lid (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

Images