Packs for preparing beverages

Abstract

Pack ( 1 ) with an inner volume ( 2 ) in which at least two different food or beverage ingredients ( 71, 72 ) are stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside, said inner volume ( 2 ) being defined by sheets of material ( 10 ) joined to one another at their edges and said inner volume ( 2 ) presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane (P) vertically oriented during beverage production, said pack comprising at least one inlet ( 3 ) for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet ( 4 ) for delivering the beverage from said inner volume, said water inlet and said beverage outlet being positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material ( 10 ), and wherein the inner volume ( 2 ) includes a plurality of compartments ( 21, 22 ), the compartments being separated by at least one releasable or separable bond ( 6 ).

1 . A pack with an inner volume in which at least two different food or beverage ingredients are stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside,
 the inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges and the inner volume presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane vertically oriented during beverage production,   the pack comprising at least one inlet for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet for delivering the beverage from the inner volume, the water inlet and the beverage outlet being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being at least partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material,   the inner volume includes a plurality of compartments, the compartments being separated by at least one releasable or separable bond, and   wherein the at least one water inlet and the at least one water outlet are positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material so that they both establish fluid communication within the same compartment.   
     
     
         2 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein the inner volume includes a plurality of compartments, the compartments being separated by at least one releasable or separable bond extending across the inner volume between two parts of the joined edges of the sheets of material. 
     
     
         3 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of the compartments is an insert, the insert being freely movable inside the inner volume. 
     
     
         4 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein at least one releasable or separable bond is made of a water dissolvable material. 
     
     
         5 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein at least one releasable or separable bond is configured for breaking under pressure. 
     
     
         6 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein the external end of the water inlet is oriented essentially perpendicularly to the plane defined by the inner volume, and the beverage outlet being a tube extending essentially vertically from the inner volume. 
     
     
         7 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein the pack comprises one single insert including the water inlet and the beverage outlet, the single insert being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material. 
     
     
         8 . A pack according to  claim 1  wherein the water inlet is configured for producing a jet of water in the inner volume, the jet exerting a pressure on the at least one releasable or separable bond. 
     
     
         9 . A method for the preparation of a food or beverage comprising the steps of:
 providing a pack with an inner volume in which at least two different food or beverage ingredients are stored and in which a beverage is produced when water is introduced inside, the inner volume being defined by sheets of material joined to one another at their edges and the inner volume presenting a generally plane shape defining a plane vertically oriented during beverage production, the pack comprising at least one inlet for introducing water in the inner volume and at least one outlet for delivering the beverage from the inner volume, the water inlet and the beverage outlet being positioned at the bottom of the pack and being at least partially positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material, the inner volume includes a plurality of compartments, the compartments being separated by at least one releasable or separable bond, and wherein the at least one water inlet and the at least one water outlet are positioned between two joined edges of the sheets of material so that they both establish fluid communication within the same compartment and positioning the pack with the inlet and the outlet positioned downwardly;   injecting water into the pack to mix with the food or beverage ingredient; and   allowing the prepared beverage to escape through the outlet into a receptacle.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  comprising one short step of externally exerting a pressure on the pack in order to break the at least one releasable or separable bond.