System for mixing and dispensing a beverage

Abstract

A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage is provided including a disposable pod containing a solute therein, inflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of spikes extending therefrom, an outflow puncturing cap defining a plurality of puncturing spikes extending therefrom and a translation mechanism for receiving the pod, translating the inflow puncturing cap towards the pod to puncture the pod upper surface and seat the pod proximate the outflow cap spikes. Heated, pressurized solvent fluid is injected into the pod, wherein the solvent and solute mix, causing the pod lower surface to expand against, and be punctured by the outflow puncturing cap spikes. The pod material, and pod thickness may be selected to allow puncture of the pod lower surface after a preferred brewing period has occurred.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mixing and dispensing a beverage comprising:
 a) a disposable pod containing a solute therein, the pod comprising a pod top defining a pod top surface, a pod top rim and a pod body defining sidewalls having a concave inner surface and a pod base, the pod base defining, a base lower surface and a base outer rim extending about the base lower surface, intermediate the base lower surface and the sidewalls;   b) an inflow puncturing cap having a first and second surfaces and at least one solvent fluid receiving conduit extending therethrough, the inflow puncturing cap first surface defining a plurality of puncturing spikes extending therefrom;   c) an outflow puncturing cap defining a first and second surfaces, the outflow puncturing cap first surface defining a plurality of puncturing spikes extending therefrom, the outflow puncturing cap spikes having a spike internal channel extending therethrough, the spike internal channel defining a spike fluid entry port and a spike fluid discharge port; and   d) a translation mechanism for receiving, and communicating a fluid solvent through the pod, the translation mechanism defining: a translation mechanism housing; a pod receiving area, formed in the translation mechanism housing, for receiving the pod; a translatable inflow puncturing cap receiving apparatus disposed within the translation mechanism housing, for receiving, supporting and translating the inflow puncturing cap; and an outflow puncturing cap housing for receiving and supporting the outflow puncturing cap second surface, the outflow puncturing cap housing defining a pod seating surface for seating the pod with the pod lower surface disposed proximate the outflow puncturing cap spikes, and an outflow puncturing cap housing discharge conduit for discharging fluid from the outflow puncturing cap housing;   e) the translation mechanism first housing further defining a pod translation assembly, mechanically coupled to the inflow puncturing cap, for translating the inflow puncturing cap between a first position wherein the inflow puncturing cap spikes are disposed outside of the pod and a second position wherein the inflow puncturing cap spikes puncture the pod top surface and the pod lower surface is disposed proximate the outflow puncturing cap spikes;   f) the translation mechanism further defining a translation mechanism solvent infusion port, in fluid communication with the inflow puncturing cap fluid receiving conduit, for communicating a heated, pressurized fluid solvent into the pod, after the pod top surface is punctured;   g) the pod lower surface being deformable in response to receipt of the heated, pressurized solvent so as to expand and press against the outflow puncturing cap spikes, causing the outflow puncturing cap spikes to puncture the pod lower surface, enabling fluid discharge from the pod.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the puncture of the pod top by the inflow puncturing cap spikes defines a plurality of pod fluid entry ports into the pod through the pod top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 2  wherein the pod defines a brewing chamber within the pod wherein the solvent fluid entering the pod via the pod entry ports mixes with the pod solute within the pod, during a brewing period. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 4  wherein the inflow puncturing cap first surface further defines a plurality of inflow puncturing cap fluid distribution conduits extending from the inflow puncturing cap fluid receiving conduits across the inflow puncturing cap first surface, the inflow puncturing fluid distribution conduits being in fluid communication with the translation mechanism solvent infusion port. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein fluid within the pod is discharged through the outflow puncturing cap spike internal channel. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5  wherein the outflow puncturing cap housing fluid discharge conduit is in fluid communication with the spike internal channel. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 6  wherein the pod base is formed of materials selected to be penetrable by the outflow puncturing cap spikes when subjected to a desired solvent fluid temperature and pressure level. 
     
     
         8 . The systems as recited in  claim 7  wherein the puncture of the pod lower surface by the outflow puncturing cap spikes defines a plurality of pod fluid discharge ports in the pod lower surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8  wherein the outflow puncturing cap defines an output puncturing cap residual fluid discharge conduit for receiving fluid discharged from the pod through the pod fluid discharge ports, the residual fluid discharge conduit being in fluid communication with the outflow puncturing cap housing fluid discharge conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the pod lower surface is formed to be proximately 900 micron thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the pod lower surface is formed of a polypropylene. 
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein the pod top is approximately 50 micron thick. 
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein solvent fluid is heated to a temperature of approximately  90 ° C. and the pressurized to approximately 217 psi. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the pod base is formed to define concave sidewalls and a pod body defines a pod recess area within the pod body intermediate the pod sidewalls and the pod lower surface, the pod sidewalls and recess area cooperative to redirect fluid flow from the pod sidewalls inwardly and upwardly across within the pod, such that a redirected flow path intersects downward fluid flow paths into the pod body, to enhance mixing of the fluid solvent and the pod solute within the pod. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 7  wherein the translation mechanism translates the inflow puncturing cap towards the pod top surface until the pod top rim is seated on the pod seating surface, with the pod lower surface being disposed above the outflow receiving cap spikes. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 4  further including a pod resilient guide member attached to the translation mechanism, the guide member being displaceable upon insertion of a pod into the pod receiving area to abut against the pod top, to urge the pod towards the pod seating surface. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein as the translation mechanism translates the input flow puncturing cap from the first position to the second position, the resilient guide member abuts against the input puncturing cap receiving apparatus and is urged upwardly thereby to a position above of the pod top. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein as the translation mechanism translates the inflow puncturing cap from the second position to the first position, the pod top surface remains in frictional engagement with input flow puncturing cap spikes, to translate the pod away from the pod seating surface. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18  wherein as the translation mechanism translates the inflow puncturing cap from the second position to the first position, the resilient guide member abuts against the pod sidewalls, urging the pod downwardly, out of frictional engagement with the input flow puncturing cap, and out of the translation mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 1  wherein the pod base rim extends vertically below the pod lower surface.