Assembly for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee, container and pouch of said assembly

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Office for Industrial Property The Netherlands ® 1007171 ® C PATENT²⁰ (21) Patent application; 1007171 (5l) Int.CI.®

A47J31 / 24, A47J31 / 06 (22) Filed: 30.09.97

<td>(4l) Registered: 31.03.99</td><td>(73) Patent holder (s): Sara Lee / DE NV in Utrecht.</td>

<td>@ Date: 31.03.99</td><td>(72) Inventor (s): Daniel Albertus Jozef Dijs in Utrecht</td>

<td>(45) Issued: 01.06.99 IE 99/06</td><td>(74) Authorized representative: Mr. Drs. SU Ottevangers cs in 2508 DH The Hague.</td>

Assembly for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee, holder and pouch of that assembly.

&gt; 57) The assembly for use in a coffee machine is provided with a holder with a cup-shaped inner space bounded by a bottom with at least one outlet opening and at least one upright side wall. The assembly further comprises an inner pill-shaped pouch made of filter paper and filled with ground coffee.

The pouch extends across the bottom near the upright side wall of the container. A number of channel-shaped grooves are arranged in the bottom which extend in a radial direction from the container to the outlet opening. The grooves extend from a position remote from the side wall toward the outlet opening. This prevents bypass.

NL C 1007171

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The contents of this patent correspond to the original filed description with claim (s) and any drawings.

VO 1167

Title: Assembly for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee, holder and pouch of that assembly.

The invention relates to an assembly for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee, provided with a holder with a cup-shaped inner space bounded by a bottom with at least one outlet opening and at least one upright side wall and one incorporated in the inner space of the holder Pill-shaped pouch made of filter paper and filled with ground coffee, which rests on the bottom and extends over the bottom near the upright side wall, wherein in the bottom a number of channel-shaped grooves are arranged which extend in a radial direction from the bowl-shaped inner space to the outlet opening and wherein, in use, hot water is supplied under pressure with the coffee machine to an upper side of the container, so that the hot water is pressed through the pouch from an upper side of the pouch to extract the ground coffee contained in the pouch, the formed coffee extract flows from a bottom of the pouch and flows out of the holder via the outlet.

Such an assembly is known from United States patent 3,620,155. The interior of the container is rectangular in this case. A groove extends from each corner point of the interior to the outlet opening located in the center of the bottom. The pouch is also rectangular and has dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of the interior of the container. A peripheral edge of the pouch therefore lies near the upright side wall of the holder.

A problem with the known assembly is that, in use, a portion of the hot water poured onto the pouch flows along the side edge of the pouch to the end of a groove located at a corner point of the container. This hot water then flows through the groove directly to the outlet opening. This is referred to as a so-called bypass effect. As a result, the entire amount of hot water supplied to the top of the container does not flow through the pouch to the outlet port. This entails that the coffee extract, which is collected, for example, in a container arranged under the outlet opening, is diluted with hot water. This will give the coffee extract an undesirable strength. It is not possible to take the bypass effect into account when preparing coffee, because it is not known beforehand what amount of water will flow around the pouch and through the grooves to the spout opening.

The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the problem posed and, accordingly, is characterized in that each of said grooves extends from a position remote from the side wall towards the outlet opening.

Because the grooves do not extend to the side wall, this surprisingly results in the bypass 20 effect being greatly reduced. In particular, the bypass effect appears to be negligibly small when it holds that the smallest distance between each of the said grooves on the one hand and the upright side wall on the other hand is greater than 10% of a maximum diameter of the inner space of the container.

Preferably, the smallest distance between each of the said grooves on the one hand and the upright side wall on the other hand is at least substantially equal to 20% of the maximum diameter of the inner space of the container.

The pouch extends near the upright side wall of the container. This means that it is essential for the invention that the dimensions of the pouch and the holder are matched to each other. For example, when the pouch is made smaller, the undesired bypass effect will occur despite the fact that said grooves extend from a position remote from the side wall towards the outlet opening. The invention has therefore been incorporated into the specific properties of the container and the corresponding specific dimensions of the pouch.

In particular, a bottom of the pouch has a substantially corresponding shape with the shape of the bottom of the container. In that case, the extraction will be optimal and the bypass effect minimal.

Preferably, the pouch includes a disc-shaped top sheet and a disc-shaped bottom sheet joined together near their longitudinal edges, the interconnected portions of the top and bottom sheets forming an annular seal seam.

The width of each of the grooves can vary from, for example, 1-4 mm. In particular, the width is approximately equal to 2 mm. If the width of the grooves is chosen too large, this results in a relatively large part of the filter surface becoming exposed. This creates the risk that too little pressure is built up in the container and that the liquid flow through the filter becomes too great. The yields are adversely affected by this.

When the assembly is used to prepare one or two cups of coffee, it is preferred that the diameter of the interior of the container is approximately equal to 74 mm and that the diameter of the pouch is also approximately equal to 74 mm. Likewise, in that case the diameter of a coffee bed formed in the pouch is preferably approximately equal to 61 mm. If the dimensions of the pouch are chosen differently, that is to say larger or smaller, the risk of bypass again arises. Moreover, it has been found that in that case the brewing efficiency is also not optimal.

It is noted that from US patent 5,287,797 a holder is also known in which a pouch can be included for preparing coffee. The holder has a bottom with raised ribs. All this entails that there are recesses between the ribs, the lowest point of which is formed by the bottom of the container. However, these floors are so wide that there is no question of a bottom with grooves. After all, the area covered by the recesses is larger than the area covered by the ribs. According to the invention, however, the area of ​​the grooves is smaller than the area of ​​those parts of the bottom where no grooves are provided. The aforementioned US patent therefore does not mention grooves according to the present invention.

The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. Herein shows:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a container according to the invention;

figure 2 shows a cross-section along the line II-II of figure 1;

figure 3 is an enlarged part of figure 2;

figure 4 shows a cross section of a pouch along the line

IV-IV of Figure 5 associated with the container of Figures 1-3;

figure 5 shows a top view of the pouch according to figure 4; and figure 6 shows a cross section of an assembly according to the invention, which consists of the holder according to figures 1-3 and the pouch according to figures 4 and 5.

An assembly 1 according to the invention for use in a coffee machine for preparing coffee is provided with a holder 2 (see figures 1-3 and figure 6) and a pouch 4 (see figures 5-6) which are placed in an inner space 6 of the holder 2 is included. The inner space 6 is cup-shaped and is bounded by a bottom 8 and at least one upright side wall 10. Since in this example the inner space 6 and the pouch 4 are cylindrical, this means that the holder 2 is in fact only provided with a single upright cylindrical side wall 10 which runs round and is closed in itself.

In the bottom 8 there is at least one and in this example only one outflow opening 12. Furthermore, in the bottom a number of channel-shaped grooves 14 are arranged which extend in radial direction from the inner space 6 to the outlet opening 12. The grooves each have a bottom 16 which slopes downwards in the direction of the outlet opening 12. In this example, each bottom 16 of a groove 14 is at an angle of α from the vertical that is equal to about 85 °. Furthermore, the grooves in this example each have a rectangular cross section. However, this is not necessary. Other shapes are also possible.

Each of the grooves 14 extend from position 18 spaced from the side wall 10 towards the outlet opening 12. The total area occupied by the grooves is less than the total area of ​​the bottom 8 is not occupied by the grooves 14. In this example, the container is provided with 12 grooves, with adjacent grooves enclosing an angle β of approximately 30 °.

The pouch 4 (see figures 4 and 5) is spindle-shaped and is made of filter paper and filled with ground coffee. The pouch includes a disc-shaped top sheet 20 made of filter paper and a disc-shaped bottom sheet 22, which is also made of filter paper.

The disc-shaped bottom sheet and the disc-shaped top sheet are joined together near the longitudinal edges 24, the interconnected parts of the top and bottom sheets forming an annular sealing seam 26.

When the pouch 4 is placed in the holder 2 (see figure 6), it extends over the bottom 8 of the holder 2 to near the upright side wall 10 of the holder 2 (see also figure 6). In this example, it holds that the smallest distance d between each of the said grooves 14 on the one hand and the upright side wall 10 on the other hand is greater than 10% of the maximum diameter D of the inner space of the container 2. In this example, it holds that even the smallest distance d between each of said grooves 14 on the one hand and the upright side wall

10 on the other hand, at least substantially equal to 20% of the maximum diameter D of the inner space of the container 2.

The bottom 8 comprises an outer horizontal annular bottom part 28 which is adjacent to the side wall 10. Furthermore, the bottom 8 comprises an inner saucer-shaped bottom part 30 which adjoins an inner edge 32 of the annular bottom part 28.

The saucer-shaped bottom part 30 slopes downwards near the annular bottom part 28 in a direction away from the side wall. In this example, the grooves extend exclusively in the saucer-shaped bottom part. More particularly, in this example, it holds that each of said grooves extends from a position 18 spaced from the inner edge 32 of the annular bottom portion 28 toward the outlet opening 12. The container is preferably dimensioned such that the smallest distance d 'between each of said channels 14 on the one hand and the inner edge 32 of the annular bottom part 28 on the other hand is greater than 10% of a maximum diameter D' of the dish-shaped bottom part 30.

A recess 34 is arranged in the center of the saucer-shaped bottom part 30, the outlet opening 12 being located in a bottom 36 of the recess 34. The pouch preferably has a bottom which in this example is formed by the bottom sheet 22 having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the bottom 8 of the container.

In use, the pouch 4 is placed in the holder 2, as shown in figure 6. The assembly 1 is then placed in a coffee machine known per se. The coffee machine comprises a lid 38 which closes the assembly 1 once it has been placed in the machine. The lid 38 comprises an opening 40 through which hot water can be supplied to the inner space 6 of the container via a hose 42. The lid is still provided with a self-closed sealing ring 44 near its peripheral edge.

The sealing seam 26 of the pouch 4 is located between the sealing ring 44 and the annular bottom part 28. When hot water is subsequently supplied in use via the hose 42 to the inner space 4 of the assembly, a pressure is created in the inner space 6. As a result of this pressure the sealing ring 44 moves out radially and comes to bear sealingly against the upright side wall 10. The hot water will then enter the pouch 4 via the top sheet 20. The coffee extract is then formed in the pouch 4. This coffee extract will then leave the pouch via the bottom sheet 22. In particular in places where the grooves 14 are located, the coffee extract can flow out of the pouch. In principle, little or no extract will flow out of the pouch at positions between the grooves 14. This ensures that the hot water does not flow through the pouch too quickly. This in turn means that the brewing efficiency will be optimal.

The coffee extract entering the grooves 14 will then flow to the recess 34 and leave the container 2 via the outlet opening 12. For example, a cup can be placed under the holder 2 and filled with the coffee extract. Since the channel-shaped grooves 14 slope downwards in the direction of the recess 34, a good flow of the pouch is promoted. It is also guaranteed that no bypass occurs. This means that the hot water supplied to the container does not flow to the outlet opening 12 without passing through the coffee bed contained in the pouch. This is ensured in that, according to the invention, the said grooves extend from a position 18 remote from the side wall towards the outlet opening. Where the grooves are not located, the bottom of the pouch 4 rests directly on the bottom of the holder 8. The hot water can therefore hardly flow from the pouch at these positions. This implies that initially no water can flow from the top of the pouch through the sealing seam 12 of the pouch to the outlet opening 12. If this were to happen, pure water, not being coffee extract, would flow to the outlet opening 12, with the result that a bypass effect would occur. The coffee extract collected in a cup would then be diluted with hot water.

1607171

Since, according to the present embodiment, the smallest distance d between each of the said grooves on the one hand and the upright side wall on the other hand is greater than 10% of the maximum diameter D of the inner space of the container, it is ensured that the said bypass effect is at least substantially will not occur.

If the hot water should flow through the coffee bed at a position close to the sealing seam 26, the effect occurs that the brewing efficiency will not be optimal. After all, the height of the coffee bed is relatively low at this position, so that the flow will be relatively fast. In addition, the liquid flow takes the path of least resistance, so that a disproportionately large part of the hot water will flow through this part of the coffee bed. Since according to the invention it further holds that the smallest distance d 'between each of the said grooves on the one hand and the inner edge of the annular bottom part on the other hand is greater than 10% of the maximum diameter D' of the annular bottom part 28, this effect is not achieved. occurs and the brewing efficiency is optimal. After all, the channel-shaped grooves 14 do not extend to the positions where the coffee bed of the pouch 4 is relatively thin. Since the bottom of the pouch has a substantially corresponding shape with the shape of the bottom of the holder, optimum use can be made of the mentioned dimensions of the grooves 14. Because in particular it holds that the dimensions of the lower disc-shaped sheet 22 from a center of the sheet to the annular sealing seam corresponding to the dimensions of the saucer-shaped bottom part 30, it holds that the said optimum extraction dementia is achieved. It also holds that the annular sealing seam has dimensions that substantially correspond to the dimensions of the annular bottom part. This also implies that a pouch which is placed in the holder is optimally and unambiguously positioned in the holder. The pouch automatically searches for the position in which it is supposed to be.

0 0.'s 71

In this example, the assembly is intended for preparing one cup of coffee. Therefore, the diameter of the interior space of the container is approximately equal to 74 mm. In order for the said bypass effect not to occur, the diameter of the pouch is also approximately equal to 74 mm. Of course, the other conditions discussed above must also be met in order to minimize the bypass effect. Furthermore, the diameter of a coffee bed formed in the pouch is approximately equal to 61 mm.

This diameter corresponds to the diameter of the annular bottom part 28. This diameter is also particularly suitable for preparing one cup of coffee. Moreover, since both diameters are chosen equal to each other, if the above conditions are further satisfied, the bypass effect is minimized while the brewing efficiency is maximized.

As discussed above, the invention relates to a holder on the one hand and a pouch on the other which are optimally coordinated with each other. The invention is therefore embodied both in the holder and in the pouch. Since the holder has a diameter of 74 mm, the pouch will have to have an almost equal diameter. Such a pouch is therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.