Filter element having microperforations for enabling the passage of fluids during brewing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter element for the extraction or brewing of beverages. In particular, the filter element facilitates brewing through increased permeability of fluid from a brewed beverage from brewable particles, such fluid including liquid and gas, and the easing of gas build up in a brewing device herein by the removal of gases emitted from a beverage medium housed within a beverage cartridge during brewing. The filter element may be used within a rigid, semi-rigid or soft pod that is insertable within a beverage brewer. The invention particularly concerns the brewing of coffee and coffee products in a coffee brewing machine configured to receive pods holding coffee particles that are injected with water and caused to brew coffee therefrom.

1 . A beverage cartridge for use in a beverage maker, comprising:
 a. A chamber, said chamber having at least one substantially enclosed portion, said at least one substantially enclosed portion having a base with a perimeter and a wall connected to said perimeter of said base, said chamber being configured to receive and house a beverage medium therein;   b. A beverage filtering device, having
 i. A filter carrier device operatively connected to said chamber, said filter carrier being positioned within said chamber; 
 ii. A filter element having a first surface and a second surface positioned oppositely to said first surface, said second surface being at least partially attached to said filter carrier, said filter element having a plurality of microperforations positioned through said filter element, said plurality of microperforations extending from said first surface to said second surface of said filter element; and 
   c. A sealing element positioned onto said wall of said chamber whereby said beverage cartridge is sealed and thereby enclosed;   whereby said beverage filtering device increases the permeability of fluid flowing through said beverage cartridge during brewing.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 1  wherein said permeability of said fluid flowing through said beverage cartridge during brewing comprises liquid flowing through said beverage cartridge. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said permeability of said fluid flowing through said beverage cartridge during brewing comprises gas flowing through said beverage cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said beverage filtering device operates to release a build up of gas in said beverage cartridge during brewing of said beverage particles, said gas being produced from said plurality of beverage particles. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said number of microperforations within said filter element ranges from between about 2 to about 1000 microperforations. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 5  wherein said number of microperforations within said filter element ranges from between about 10 to about 500 microperforations. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said filter element comprises open areas positioned on said first surface and said second surface of said filter element that are greater than about 2% of the total surface area of said filter element. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 7  wherein said open areas on said first surface and said second surface of said filter element are greater than about 10% of said total surface area of said filter element. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 8  wherein said open areas on said first surface and said second surface of said filter element are greater than about 15% of said total surface area of said filter element. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein each said microperforation comprises an average diameter ranging from between about 0.1 mm to about 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 10  wherein each said microperforation comprises an average diameter ranging from between about 0.2 mm to about 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 11  wherein each said microperforation comprises an average diameter ranging from between about 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said beverage medium is freshly ground coffee particles having a maximum gas content. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage cartridge of  claim 13  wherein said freshly ground coffee particles are packaged and sealed within said beverage cartridge just after said freshly ground coffee particles are ground by grinding roasted coffee beans, said ground coffee particles having near maximum gas content at packaging of said ground coffee particles. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said freshly ground coffee is dark roasted. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said filter element is formed from a cellulosic material. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said filter element is formed from a non woven material. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage cartridge of any of the preceding claims wherein said filter element is formed from one or more types of synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         19 . A coffee cartridge for use with freshly roasted and ground coffee in a suitable beverage brewer, comprising:
 a. Freshly roasted and ground coffee;   A membrane, said membrane encapsulating said freshly roasted and ground gaseous coffee;   c. A number of microperforations positioned within said membrane for the release of gas from said freshly roasted and ground gaseous coffee during brewing; and   d. A semi-rigid structure encapsulating said membrane.   
     
     
         20 . The coffee cartridge of  claim 19  wherein said number of microperforations within said membrane ranges from between about 2 to about 1000. 
     
     
         21 . The coffee cartridge of  claim 20  wherein said number of microperforations within said membrane ranges from between about 10 to about 500. 
     
     
         22 . The coffee cartridge of any of  claims 19  to  21  wherein said freshly ground coffee is immediately placed within said membrane once said freshly ground coffee is ground by grinding coffee beans. 
     
     
         23 . The coffee cartridge of any of  claims 19  to  22  wherein freshly ground coffee is dark roasted. 
     
     
         24 . The coffee cartridge of any of  claims 19  to  23  wherein said membrane is formed from nonwovens. 
     
     
         25 . The coffee cartridge of any of  claims 19  to  24  wherein said membrane is formed from one or more types of synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         26 . A filter element for use in brewing beverages, comprising:
 a. A first surface;   b. A second surface positioned oppositely to said first surface;   c. A plurality of microperforations positioned through said filter element, said plurality of microperforations extending from said first surface to said second surface of said filter element; and   d. An open surface on said first surface and said second surface of at least 5% of a total surface area of each said first surface and said second surface;   wherein said filter element allows fluids to pass therethrough for brew of a beverage.   
     
     
         27 . The filter element of  claim 26  wherein said filter element is encapsulated within a capsule containing a beverage medium. 
     
     
         28 . The filter element of  claim 26  wherein said filter element is used within a non-encapsulated beverage brewer. 
     
     
         29 . The filter element of any of  claims 26  to  28  wherein said open areas on said first surface and said second surface of said filter element are greater than about 10% of said total surface area of said filter element. 
     
     
         30 . The filter element of  claim 29  wherein said open areas on said first surface and said second surface of said filter element are greater than about 15% of said total surface area of said filter element. 
     
     
         31 . The filter element of any of  claims 26  to  30  wherein each said microperforation comprises a diameter ranging from between about 0.1 mm to about 0.8 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The filter element of  claim 31  wherein each said microperforation comprises a diameter ranging from between about 0.2 mm to about 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         33 . The filter element of  claim 32  wherein each said microperforation comprises a diameter ranging from between about 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm. 
     
     
         34 . The filter element of any of  claims 26  to  33  wherein said number of microperforations within said filter element ranges from between about 2 to about 1000 microperforations. 
     
     
         35 . The filter element of  claim 34  wherein said number of microperforations within said filter element ranges from between about 10 to about 500 microperforations. 
     
     
         36 . The filter element of any of  claims 26  to  35  wherein said permeability of fluid flowing through said filter element during brewing comprises liquid flowing through said filter element. 
     
     
         37 . The filter element of any of  claims 26  to  36  wherein said permeability of fluid flowing through said filter element during brewing comprises gas flowing through said filter element.