Cartridge for the preparation of beverages

Abstract

A cartridge for preparation of a beverage is provided which is sealed prior to use and contains one or more beverage ingredients. The cartridge comprises: a body defining a beverage ingredient chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients; a first filter defining an exit from the beverage ingredient chamber; a second filter downstream of, and spaced apart from, the first filter; and a flow constriction downstream of the second filter, such that in use beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients passes, in order, through the first filter, the second filter and the flow constriction.

1 . A cartridge for preparation of a beverage, the cartridge being sealed prior to use and containing one or more beverage ingredients, the cartridge being suitable to receive in use an aqueous medium which may be brought into contact with the one or more beverage ingredients to produce a beverage which may be output from the cartridge,
 the cartridge comprising:
 a body defining a beverage ingredient chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients; 
 a first filter defining an exit from the beverage ingredient chamber; 
 a second filter downstream of, and spaced apart from, the first filter; and 
 a flow constriction downstream of the second filter, 
   such that in use beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients passes, in order, through the first filter, the second filter and the flow constriction.   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter comprises a first filter wall and the second filter comprises a second filter wall. 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter and the second filter each comprise a rigid element having a plurality of filtering apertures located therein. 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter extends around the second filter, and preferably the first filter and the second filter are arranged concentrically. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter comprises a first tubular member having a plurality of first filtering apertures located therein and the second filter comprises a second tubular member having a plurality of second filtering apertures located therein, and preferably the second tubular member is arranged within the first tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge spout for channelling the beverage, in use, towards an outlet of the cartridge, and preferably the first and second filters are arranged around the discharge spout; wherein preferably a flow direction, in use, of the beverage flowing from the second filter to the flow constriction is opposed to a flow direction, in use, of the beverage flowing out of the discharge spout. 
     
     
         7 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is configured to direct the aqueous medium entering the beverage ingredient chamber to circulate around the first filter. 
     
     
         8 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the beverage ingredient chamber is annular, with the first filter forming at least a part of an inner surface of the annular beverage ingredient chamber, and preferably the body of the cartridge is configured to direct the aqueous medium entering the beverage ingredient chamber at an angle greater than 45°, preferably at 90° from a radial direction of the annular beverage ingredient chamber such that the aqueous medium is caused to circulate around the annular beverage ingredient chamber. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter comprises a plurality of first filtering apertures and the second filter comprises a plurality of second filtering apertures and wherein a critical dimension of the first filtering apertures is larger than a critical dimension of the second filtering apertures. 
     
     
         10 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter and/or the second filter comprise filtering apertures in the form of elongated slots formed respectively in a rigid, otherwise impermeable, wall element, and preferably the elongated slots extend from a free edge of the respective wall element. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a cup-shaped member housing the first filter and the second filter, an open mouth of the cup-shaped housing being sealed by a lid, and preferably the first filter and/or the second filter comprise filtering apertures in the form of elongated slots formed respectively in a rigid, otherwise impermeable, wall element, wherein the elongated slots extend into contact with the lid; and wherein preferably the first filter and the second filter form a part of an inner member located within the cup-shaped member, and preferably the first filter and the second filter are formed as a unitary moulding of a polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flow constriction downstream of the second filter is sized and/or shaped to produce a jet of beverage as the beverage passes there through, and preferably the cartridge further comprises an air inlet aperture located in the vicinity of the flow constriction and downstream thereof, such that the jet of beverage passes over the air inlet aperture. 
     
     
         13 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising
 a second flow constriction downstream of the filter,   wherein the cartridge comprises a first flow path from the second filter to the first flow constriction and a second flow path from the second filter to the second flow constriction,   wherein the first and second flow constrictions are configured such that, in use, a first beverage jet emanates from the first flow constriction and a second beverage jet emanates from the second flow constriction, and the first and second flow constrictions are configured so that the first and second beverage jets collide.   
     
     
         14 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second flow constrictions are located opposite one another such that the first and second beverage jets impact one another substantially head-on, and preferably an air inlet aperture is located in the vicinity of each flow constriction and downstream thereof, such that the jets of beverage each pass over an air inlet aperture. 
     
     
         15 . A cartridge for preparation of a beverage, the cartridge being sealed prior to use and containing one or more beverage ingredients, the cartridge being suitable to receive in use an aqueous medium which may be brought into contact with the one or more beverage ingredients to produce a beverage which may be output from the cartridge,
 the cartridge comprising:
 a body defining a beverage ingredient chamber containing the one or more beverage ingredients; 
 a filter defining an exit from the beverage ingredient chamber; and 
 a first and a second flow constriction downstream of the filter, 
   wherein the cartridge comprises a first flow path from the filter to the first flow constriction and a second flow path from the filter to the second flow constriction,   wherein the first and second flow constrictions are configured such that, in use, a first beverage jet emanates from the first flow constriction and a second beverage jet emanates from the second flow constriction, and the first and second flow constrictions are configured so that the first and second beverage jets collide.   
     
     
         16 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second flow constrictions are located opposite one another such that the first and second beverage jets impact one another substantially head-on. 
     
     
         17 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein an air inlet aperture is located in the vicinity of each flow constriction and downstream thereof, such that the jets of beverage each pass over an air inlet aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a filter wall. 
     
     
         19 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a rigid element having a plurality of filtering apertures located therein. 
     
     
         20 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises a tubular member having a plurality of filtering apertures located therein. 
     
     
         21 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge is configured to direct the aqueous medium entering the beverage ingredient chamber to circulate around the filter. 
     
     
         22 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the beverage ingredient chamber is annular, with the filter forming at least a part of an inner surface of the annular beverage ingredient chamber, and preferably the body of the cartridge is configured to direct the aqueous medium entering the beverage ingredient chamber at an angle greater than 45°, preferably at 90° from a radial direction of the annular beverage ingredient chamber such that the aqueous medium is caused to circulate around the annular beverage ingredient chamber. 
     
     
         23 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the filter comprises filtering apertures in the form of elongated slots formed in a rigid, otherwise impermeable, wall element, and preferably the elongated slots extend from a free edge of the wall element. 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a cup-shaped member housing the filter, an open mouth of the cup-shaped housing being sealed by a lid, and preferably the filter comprises filtering apertures in the form of elongated slots formed in a rigid, otherwise impermeable, wall element, wherein the elongated slots extend into contact with the lid. 
     
     
         25 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first filter comprises a plurality of first filtering apertures and the second filter, where present, comprises a plurality of second filtering apertures and wherein a critical dimension (being the smallest dimension, for example the width) of the first and/or second filtering apertures is 0.4 to 0.6 mm, preferably 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         26 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a local bed thickness of the one or more beverage ingredients is 1.5 to 2.2 times a local bed width of the one or more beverage ingredients, more preferably approximately 2 times the local bed width of the one or more beverage ingredients. 
     
     
         27 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge is disc-shaped having a central longitudinal axis, wherein an outlet of the cartridge is orientated to output, in use, the beverage substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the first filter and the second filter are orientated such that beverage passing through the first filter and the second filter flows between the first filter and the second filter in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more beverage ingredients comprise one or more soluble beverage ingredients, and preferably the one or more beverage ingredients comprise one or more powdered beverage ingredients. 
     
     
         29 . A cartridge as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the one or more beverage ingredients comprise insoluble- or reduced solubility-particles, for example, cocoa particles.