Article for instant preparation of a drinkable product equipped with a removable insert

Abstract

An article comprising a first chamber containing a liquid base and a second chamber containing at least one ingredient for the preparation of a drinkable product upon contact with the liquid base, said product including an outer container and an inner member which are removably coupled by a threaded coupling, so that the inner member can be easily separated from the container by the consumer, after use; wherein an upper edge of the inner member surrounds the upper edge of the container, when the inner member is coupled to the container.

Description

[0001] Article for instant preparation of a drinkable product equipped with a removable insert

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Field of application

[0004] The present invention relates to food / drink products. The invention relates to an article allowing instant preparation of a drinkable product. The term instant preparation denotes that the drinkable product can be prepared by the user, by contacting or mixing a liquid base with at least one ingredient. The article comprises a first chamber containing the liquid base and a second chamber containing said at least one ingredient for the preparation of the drinkable product upon contact with the liquid base. Said first chamber and second chamber are separate within the article by a user-removable barrier.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Prior art articles of the type described above are known from WO-A-2004 / 073468 and WO-A-2010 / 045983. They share the concept of an article containing a liquid base, such as water, and an ingredient, such as coffee powder, for the instant preparation of a drinkable product, such as coffee. The base and the ingredient are contained in separate chambers and can be brought into contact by the user removing or breaking a seal, so that the drink is freshly prepared when desired. In some embodiments the preparation of the product may require contacting the article with a heat source.

[0007] A drawback of the above prior art is that the internal structure of the article may include parts of different materials, such as metal parts and plastic parts. For example, the outer container may be made of metal to allow direct contact with a heat source, whereas a plastic material may be preferable for internal parts such as an insert or internal wall to divide the chambers for the base and the ingredient, in order to reduce cost and weight. However, the presence of parts of different materials (such as metal and plastics), which cannot be separated by the user, is not desirable for a proper disposal.

[0008] Another drawback is that the outer container, especially when made of metal, can become too hot to handle, when the preparation of the drink product includes the contact with a heat source. If the upper edge of the container is very hot, the act of drinking may become uncomfortable.

[0009] US 2009 / 0178573 discloses a tea flask having a body, a sleeve, a porous container (strainer) and a lid. When using the tea flask, the lid is removed tealeaves are added to the container and hot water is poured into the body, then the lid is mounted and the tea flask is inverted to let the tealeaves steep in the hot water which enters the porous container.

[0010] Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention aims to solve the above drawbacks. The invention addresses the problem of how to facilitate disposal and how to improve usability of the articles identified above.

[0012] This aim is reached with an article according to the claims. The idea underlying the present invention is to provide an outer container and an inner member, wherein the inner member is removably coupled with the outer container by a user-releasable locking means and can be manually separated by the consumer after the use. When the inner member is coupled to the container, an upper part of the inner member surrounds the upper edge of the container to allow a safe handling and drinking even when the container is hot.

[0013] Said locking means may include first locking means associated to the container and second locking means associated to the inner member. In a preferred embodiment, said user-releasable locking means include a threaded coupling.

[0014] The container and the inner member may be made of different materials easily separable by the consumer after use. As the inner member does not need to be indirect contact with a heat source, it can be made of a thermally insulating material such as a plastic. The upper part of the inner member, by surrounding the upper edge of the container, provides thermal insulation and allows drinking even when the container is hot.

[0015] Description of the invention

[0016] The coupling of the outer container with the inner member defines a first chamber within the container, where the liquid base is stored. The liquid base is preferably water or an aqueous base. The inner member may separate said first chamber from a second chamber containing an ingredient for the preparation of a drinkable product. In some embodiments, said second ingredient may be housed in a filtering device associated to the inner member.

[0017] Said second ingredient may include a soluble product, for example a soluble powder, or a filter for infusion. The first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a temporary seal which is removed by an action of the user. Upon removal of the seal, the contact of said ingredient with the liquid base allows the preparation of the drinkable product. The removal of the temporary seal can be effected by a mechanical action of the user, such as breaking of a seal, and / or can be effected by placing the product above a heating source. In some embodiment, a piercing device is provided to break the above seal, which may be part of the inner member or of a filtering device.

[0018] The article of the present invention is pre-loaded with said liquid base in the first chamber and said ingredient in the second chamber. The article of the invention is marketed in a sealed configuration containing the liquid base and the ingredient for the preparation of the drinkable product. The liquid base and the ingredient are stored separately within the article and are brought into contact by the user at the instant of consuming the product. Accordingly, the article of the invention does not require the user to introduce any ingredient for the preparation of the drinkable product, as all ingredients necessary for the product are already contained within the article.

[0019] A noticeable feature of the article of the invention is that the container of the ingredient is not a porous container. The first chamber and second chamber are put in communication by an action of the user, such as displacement or rotation of a pipe element, as detailed below. The article of the invention does not require to store the ingredient in a porous container for allowing introduction of hot water. Hence the ingredient is stored in a fully sealed way and isolated from possible contamination.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the container has a first thread around an upper edge and the upper edge of the inner member has an annular structure carrying a second thread for engagement with said first thread. Preferably, said second thread is made on the inner side surface of said annular structure of the inner member. Said second thread can engage the first thread of the outer container for coupling the inner member with the outer container. The upper edge of the container can be received in a recess formed within the annular structure of the inner member, for screwing the inner member to the container. Accordingly, when said two parts are engaged, the annular structure of the inner member surrounds the upper edge of the container, providing a thermal insulation.

[0021] A preferred embodiment includes a seal, preferably an O-ring, which is placed in the above-mentioned recess between the upper edge and the annular structure of the inner member, so that said seal is compressed by the edge of the outer container when the inner member is screwed to the outer container. This seal is preferred for ensuring fluid-tight sealing between the outer container and the inner member.

[0022] The container and the inner member can be made of the same material or of different materials. Preferably, the container is made of a metal material such as aluminium or steel and the inner member is made of a plastic material. More preferably, the inner member is made of a recyclable plastic suitable for contact with food and resistant to temperatures of at least 100 °C. The invention allows to choose the best material for the container and the inner member without concerns of disposal, because the two items can be easily separated after use. The container has preferably a flat bottom surface suitable for contact with a heat source. In an embodiment, said bottom surface of the container comprises a sheet of a magnetizable material suitable to be heated with an induction heating source.

[0023] Said container is preferably closed by means of a user-removable lid, which can include a sealed thin plastic or metal foil seal, such as aluminium foil, to protect from contamination the food contained in the product.

[0024] The outer container contains a liquid base, said liquid base being preferably an aqueous base or water. The inner member contains at least one ingredient, typically solid. Said at least one ingredient being preferably any of a soluble powder, such as coffee powder, milk powder, or a filter for infusion.

[0025] Preferably, the article of the present invention is portable and, more preferably, has substantially the size and shape of a beverage can. The invention can be applied to articles for the preparation of various beverages or liquid food products including among others coffee, infusions, other hot and cold drinks, soft drinks, soups, etc.

[0026] The upper part of the inner member is folded downward to cover the upper edge of the outer container. Preferably, the downward-folded part of the inner member extends to cover a portion of the upper edge of the container such to allow the user to take by hand the article. Accordingly, the user can take the article without direct contact with the outer container when the container is hot.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the article of the invention includes a pipe element arranged to put the second chamber in communication with the first chamber, and to allow transfer of the liquid base from the first chamber to the second chamber, upon an action of the user. Said pipe element is pre-fitted within the article in a first configuration where the first chamber is separated from the second chamber. An action of the user puts said pipe element in a second configuration wherein a communication between the first chamber and the second chamber is provided through the pipe element. The action of the user may include for example a displacement and / or rotation of the pipe element. In some embodiments, the pipe element has a cutting portion adapted to perforate a seal between the first chamber and the second chamber. Said cutting portion may perforate or remove the seal upon said displacement or rotation of the pipe element. In some embodiments, said pipe element is part of a filtering device.

[0028] In certain embodiment, the article of the invention includes an internal filter. Said internal filter may be positioned to be broken by an action of the user, for example by the displacement of the above-described pipe element. Preferably the pipe element is conformed to include a filtering device.

[0029] Description of the figures

[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates a cross section of the outer container of an article according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a cross section of the inner member suitable for insertion in the container of Fig. 1.

[0032] Fig. 3 illustrates the container of Fig. 1 and the inner member of Fig. 2 joined to form the article.

[0033] Fig. 4 is a cross section of the article of Fig. 3.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a cross section of an article according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Fig. 6 is a cross section of an article according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0036] Fig. 1 is the section view of an outer container 100 of a cylindrical shape comprising a base wall 101 , a side wall 102, an aperture 103. The upper part 105 of the side wall 102 has an external thread 104.

[0037] Fig. 2 is a section view of an inner member 200 suitable for insertion in the container 100. Said inner member 200 comprises a base wall 201 , side wall 202, a top aperture 203. The upper part of the side wall 202 bends outward and downward to form an annular structure 204 with an outer face 206. Said annular structure 204 has an internal thread 205 adapted to engage with the thread 104 of the container 100.

[0038] The container 100 has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the annular structure 204, so that the container 100 can be received within the annular seat 207 defined by the annular structure 204. A suitable seal, such as O-ring 208, is preferably placed in said annular seat 207.

[0039] The base wall 201 of the inner container comprises pipe element 218 extending downwards. In an embodiment, the pipe 218 have a thread on the internal surface of its side wall 219. The bottom of said pipe 218 is closed by a seal 220.

[0040] Fig. 3 illustrates an article 150 formed by the inner member 200 assembled with the container 100. Fig. 3 shows that the annular structure 204 surrounds the upper edge of the container 100, so that the article 150 can be handled by touching the surface 206 without contact with the side wall 102 of the container.

[0041] Fig. 4 illustrates in a further detail the internals of the article 150. In Fig. 4 it can be seen that the upper part 105 of the container is received in the seat 207, and the threads 104, 205 engage with each other.

[0042] Once the inner member 200 is inserted in the container 100, a first chamber 20 and a second chamber 21 are formed in the article. In this embodiment, the two chambers 20, 21 are separated by the seal 220. The first chamber 20 contains a liquid base for the preparation of a drinkable product, for example water, and the chamber 21 contains a second ingredient, for example a soluble powder.

[0043] The article 150 further includes a rising pipe (riser) 22 with a piercing end 25, suitable to pierce the seal 220. At the top, the inner member 200 is closed with a removable lid 26 and optionally with a sealed foil 27 to preserve the content.

[0044] In use, the lid 26 is removed and the riser 22 is pushed downward until the seal 220 is broken by the piercing end 25. At this stage, the chambers 20 and 21 are in communication via the riser 22. The liquid in the chamber 20 can travel upward and reach the chamber 21 via openings 24 of the riser 22. By placing the article 150 on a heat source, when evaporation starts in the lower chamber 20, the pressure in the chamber 20 increases and pushes the liquid upward through the riser 22, similarly to the operation of a conventional moka pot. In the upper chamber 21 , the hot liquid mixes with the soluble powder resulting in the drinkable product ready to drink (e.g. hot coffee).

[0045] In some embodiments, the riser 22 has conveniently a threaded coupling with the pipe 218 and, in accordance, the riser 22 can be lowered by rotating (screwing) until the seal 220 is broken.

[0046] The pipe 218 provides a communication between the chambers 20 and 21 , after piercing of the seal 220. In some embodiments, the article may be heated so that a positive pressure is established in the lower chamber 20, to rise the liquid in the above chamber 21 through the pipe 218. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in such case, the pipe 218 operates similarly to the channel of a moka pot.

[0047] A noticeable advantage is that after consumption of the drinkable product the inner member 200 and the container 100 can be separated, by simply unscrewing the inner member 200 from the container 100. If made of different materials, such as metal and plastics, they can be disposed appropriately. Hence, the article of the invention achieves the goal of being more environmentally friendly.

[0048] Fig. 5 illustrates a variant wherein the pipe includes a filtering device 30 which is screwed to the inner member 200. The filtering device 30 includes a container 42 for an ingredient, such as ground coffee, and includes a lower pipe 40 adapted to pierce the seal 220, and an upper pipe 43 with openings in communication with the upper chamber 21 . By rotating the filtering device relative to the inner member 200, the lower pipe 40 breaks the seal 220 and the liquid can flow through the inside of the filtering device 30 producing the drinking product by infusion with the ingredient placed in the container 42. The infused liquid rises through the upper pipe 43 and reaches the chamber 21 where it is collected.

[0049] Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment with a filtering device 50 of a different shape including a filter 54 in a filtering chamber 53. The filter 54 is permeable to water and suitable to hold a solid ingredient. When the water in the lower chamber 20 is heated and pressure increases, it rises through the pipe 40 and enters the filtering chamber 53. The hot water permeates the filter 54 to form the drinkable product; the product is collected in the top chamber 21 via the rising pipe 43. In the embodiments of Figs. 5 and 6, when the filtering device 30 or 50 is fully screwed into the inner member, the lower pipe perforates the seal 220 allowing the liquid to travel from the lower chamber 20 to the upper chamber 21 .

Claims

CLAIMS1 ) An article (150) for instant preparation of a drinkable product comprising a first chamber (20) containing a liquid base and a second chamber (21 ) containing at least one ingredient for the preparation of said drinkable product upon contact with the liquid base, wherein said first chamber and second chamber are separate by a user-removable or frangible seal (220), so that said at least one ingredient can be brought into contact with the liquid base by an action of the user, said product including an outer container (100) and an inner member (200) which can be coupled to the container, wherein the inner member, when coupled to the container, extends into the container and defines said first chamber for the liquid base within the container, wherein said second chamber is delimited above the first chamber by said inner member or by an additional element fixed to the inner member, wherein the inner member is associated to the container by a userremovable locking means (104, 205), arranged so that the inner member can be manually separated from the container by the consumer after use, wherein an upper part (204) of the inner member surrounds the upper edge (105) of the container (100), when the inner member is coupled to the container.2) Article according to claim 1 wherein said user-removable locking means (104, 205) includes a threaded coupling.3) Article according to claim 2 wherein the container has a circular upper edge with an external first thread (104); the inner member has an annular structure (204) around the upper edge, said annular structure having an outer side surface (206) and a second thread (205) made on the inner side surface, said second thread being engageable with the first thread, wherein the upper edge (105) of the container can be received in the space(207) between the upper edge and the annular structure of the inner member, for screwing the inner member to the container.4) Article according to claim 3, comprising a seal (208), preferably an O-ring, placed in the space (207) between the upper edge and the annular structure of the inner member, to provide a fluid-tight seal against the upper edge (105) of the container.5) Article according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container and the inner member are made of different materials.6) Article according to claim 4, wherein the container is made of a metal material and the inner member is made of a plastic material.7) Article according to claim 5, wherein the inner member is made of a recyclable plastic suitable for contact with food and resistant to temperatures of at least 100 °C.8) Article according to any of the previous claim, wherein the container has a flat bottom surface (101 ) suitable for contact with a heat source.9) Article according to claim 8, wherein said bottom surface of the container includes a sheet of a magnetizable material suitable for heating by induction.10) Article according to any of the previous claims, wherein said container has a user-removable lid (26).11 ) Article according to any of the previous claims, wherein said liquid base is an aqueous base or is water, and said at least one ingredient includes any of a soluble powder or a filter for infusion.12) Article according to any of the previous claims, further including a filtering device or a housing for said at least one second ingredient, said filtering device or housing being coupled to the inner member.13) Article according to any of the previous claims, wherein the container is portable and preferably has the size and shape of a beverage can.14) Article according to any of the previous claims, wherein the outside part (206) of the inner member, covering the upper edge of the outer container, has a downward dimension such to allow the user to take by hand the article without touching the outer container.15) Article according to any of the previous claims including a pipe element (218) arranged to put the second chamber in communication with the first chamber, and to allow transfer of the liquid base from the first chamber to the second chamber, upon an action of the user.16) Article according to claim 15 wherein said pipe element is pre-fitted within the article in a first configuration where the first chamber is separated from the second chamber, and wherein the article is configured so that an action of the user puts said pipe element in a second configuration wherein a communication between the first chamber and the second chamber is provided through the pipe element.17) Article according to claim 16 wherein said action of the user includes a displacement and / or rotation of the pipe element.18) Article according to claim 17 wherein the pipe element has a cutting portion adapted to perforate a seal between the first chamber and the second chamber upon displacement or rotation of the pipe element.19) Article according to any of claims 15 to 18 wherein said pipe element is part (40) of a filtering device (30, 50).20) Article according to any of claims 15 to 19, wherein the pipe element is conformed to include a filtering device.21 ) Article according to any of the previous claims wherein said second chamber, containing said at least one ingredient for the preparation ofthe drinkable product, is delimited by a container wherein said container is not porous to water.

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