Pad and Assembly of a Holder and Such a Pad
A pad of the optionally flexible, disc-shaped/flat type filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee and/or a product to be dissolved such as a creamer, provided with an optionally flexible bottom sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and an optionally flexible top sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being interconnected at their longitudinal edges so that a covering with a circumferential sealing seam is formed, with the product situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the bottom sheet and the top sheet each forming a filter which is at least virtually impermeable to the product and which is at least permeable to water, while an area of the covering is designed to be at least virtually impermeable to water, the area comprising, preferably, at least one annular sub-area covering at least a part of the sealing seam, and that the area extends outside the sealing seam at predetermined positions.
Latest SARA LEE/DE N.V. Patents:
- Form-retaining pad for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption
- Method and apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption
- Preparation of a beverage suitable for consumption
- Container for a substance to be sprayed, cap for such container and method for manufacturing such container
- Assembly of a container filled with mineral concentrate and a dosing device
The invention relates to a pad filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee and/or, optionally, a product to be dissolved such as a creamer for preparing a beverage, wherein the pad is designed in order that, in use, a liquid such as hot water can be fed under pressure to the pad for extracting and/or dissolving the product, the pad being provided with an optionally flexible bottom sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and an optionally flexible top sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being interconnected at their longitudinal edges so that that a covering with a circumferential sealing seam is formed with the product situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the bottom sheet and the top sheet each forming a filter which is at least virtually impermeable to the product and which is at least permeable to water.
The invention also relates to an assembly of a pad and a holder in which the pad is included, wherein the pad is filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee and/or, optionally, a product to be dissolved such as a creamer, while the pad is provided with a bottom sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and a top sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being interconnected at their longitudinal edges in order that a covering with a circumferential sealing seam is formed, with the product situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the bottom sheet and the top sheet each forming a filter which is at least virtually impermeable to the product and which is at least permeable to water, and wherein the holder is provided with a bottom and, optionally, an upstanding sidewall, while in the bottom at least one outflow opening is provided, the pad resting on the bottom while the assembly is designed in order that, in use, a liquid such as hot water can be fed under pressure to the assembly for extracting the pad.
Such a pad and such an assembly are known per se, for instance from the European patent application EP 0 904 717. The known assembly comprises a pad which is filled with a product to be extracted for obtaining an extract and affords possibilities for reducing the risk of bypass and increasing the coffee-making efficiency. Bypass is understood to mean that a liquid such as hot water is fed under pressure to the assembly, of which hot water then at least a part flows around the product in the pad to, thereupon, leave the holder of the assembly via the at least one outflow opening. Such bypass has as a result that, when the pad has for instance been filled with a product to be extracted, the extract which is for instance collected in a cup, is mixed with hot water. This gives the extract an undesired strength. It is not desired to make allowance for such bypass because it is not known beforehand what amount of water will flow to the cup without this being pressed through the bed of the product in the pad. Further, the water has the tendency to choose the path of least resistance, i.e., the water has the tendency to flow through specifically those places of the bed where the bed is relatively thin. This entails that the water flows relatively less through the thicker parts of the bed, resulting in the coffee-making efficiency not being optimal. For this phenomenon too, a solution is given in the European patent application EP 0 904 717.
An unfavourable property of certain embodiments of the known assembly is that the pressure in the holder can rise when the outflow opening becomes clogged. The pressure rises because the beverage cannot leave the holder while hot water is fed under pressure to a top side of the holder.
The invention contemplates providing a pad allowing, if desired, for an assembly which provides a solution to the drawback mentioned with respect to the rising pressure. The invention also contemplates providing a pad which enables other problems to be solved and/or advantages to be provided as will be further described hereinafter.
The pad according to the invention is accordingly characterized in that one area of the covering is designed to be at least virtually impermeable to water, wherein:—the area comprises at least one annular sub-area occupying at least a part of the sealing seam extending around the sealing seam, which area further extends outside the sealing seam at predetermined positions;—and/or the area comprises a plurality of sub-areas separate from each other; and/or the area comprises at least one sub-area occupying at least a part of the sealing seam and a part of the covering outside the sealing seam. Such a pad can be advantageously used in a holder which is provided with a bottom and, optionally, an upstanding sidewall while in the bottom at least one outflow opening has been provided, the pad resting on the bottom while in the bottom of the holder at least one pressure limit opening is provided. Here, the area of the covering covers the at least one pressure limit opening. If, in use, the holder is closed off with the aid of a lid, whereupon hot water is fed to the holder while moreover, for whatever reason, the outflow opening is clogged, the pressure in the inside space of the holder will not rise to extreme heights because with a rising pressure, hot water and/or the beverage will be discharged via the at least one pressure limit opening. Here, the pressure limit opening and the pad function in combination as a safety valve, which will open when the pressure in the inside space will start to rise as a result of the outflow opening being clogged. Here, the pressure limit opening is covered by the area of the covering which is impermeable to water. If the outflow opening is clogged, the pressure in the holder will rise while the pressure drop across the pad will become very small. The pad is no longer pressed firmly against the bottom. As a result of the rising pressure, the water having been pressed through the pad then flows under the area to the pressure limit opening. The pressure limit opening will start discharging hot water and/or, optionally, the beverage when, for instance, the pressure in the inside space rises to a value above 2 atmosphere. The pressure will then increase no further. Here, for instance each of the sub-areas mentioned can cover a pressure limit opening. Also, as an alternative or in addition thereto, at the predetermined positions, the area, optionally together with the annular sub-area, can cover a pressure limit opening. Also, as an alternative, or in addition thereto, the annular sub-area itself can cover a pressure limit opening. The annular sub-area may further, alternatively or in addition thereto, have the function of reducing bypass and improving the coffee-making efficiency as will be further set forth hereinbelow.
The invention therefore contemplates providing a pad which, at wish, gives an alternative solution to the problem of bypass. The invention further also contemplates providing a pad which, at wish, gives an alternative solution to improving the coffee-making efficiency.
If the area comprises the annular sub-area which occupies at least a part of the sealing seam, the bypass effect, if this should occur, will be reduced. As the area also extends outside the sealing seam at predetermined positions, at wish, additional advantages can be achieved.
Preferably, it holds that the annular sub-area comprises, at the bottom sheet, an annular bottom sheet sub-area which extends inside (i.e. along) and outside the sealing seam. The bed of the product is often relatively thin at positions just outside the sealing seam. Here, the bed has a relatively low flow resistance to water flowing through the bed. This entails that the water tends to flow, to a relatively large extent, through this part of the bed. As a result, the efficiency will not be optimal. As the area comprises an annular bottom sheet sub-area which also extends outside the sealing seam, the efficiency of the pad can be improved.
It is also possible that at the annular sub-area comprises, at the bottom sheet, an annular bottom sheet sub-area which extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam, while the area at the bottom sheet further comprises parts forming bulges at an inside edge of the bottom sheet sub-area outside the sealing seam. Here, the annular bottom sheet sub-area can reduce the bypass problem while, for instance, each bulge, optionally together with the annular bottom sheet sub-area, can cover the pressure limit opening.
In particular, it further holds that the bottom sheet comprises an annular bottom sheet part of which first ring segments form part of the area of the covering and of which second ring segments do not form part of the area of the covering, the first and second ring segments together forming the annular bottom sheet part, while the annular bottom sheet part extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam.
In particular, it further holds here that the top sheet comprises an annular top sheet part of which first ring segments form part the area of the top sheet and second ring segments do not form part of the area of the top sheet, the first and second ring segments of the annular top sheet part together forming the annular top sheet part, while the annular top sheet part extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam. All this can be provided such that the first ring segments of the top sheet and the first ring segments of the bottom sheet, in combination, form the annular sub-area which occupies at least a part of the sealing seam.
In particular it holds that at the area at the bottom sheet comprises a first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area that extends along at least a part of a diameter of the bottom sheet. The first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area allows use of the pad in a holder with two separate discharge paths for the preparation of, for instance, two cups of the beverage. The holder may be provided with an inside space bound by a bottom and an upstanding sidewall. This inside space can be subdivided into two sub-spaces by means of a partition wall. On this partition wall, the first strip-shaped bottom sheet may rest. Each sub-space of the holder can be provided with at least one outflow opening. When, thus, hot water is fed to a top side of the holder, this hot water will be pressed through the pad. The beverage formed will then leave the pad and will divide itself, for the most part equally, over both sub-spaces.
The assembly according to the invention is characterized in that in the bottom, further, at least one pressure limit opening is provided while the bottom sheet of the pad is provided with at least one area which is impermeable to water and which covers the at least one pressure limit opening.
If, in use, the holder is closed off with the aid of a lid, whereupon hot water is fed to the holder while, moreover, for whatever reason, the outflow opening is clogged, the pressure in the inside space of the holder will not rise to extreme heights because, with a rising pressure, hot water will be discharged to a surrounding outside the holder via the at least one pressure limit opening. Here, the pressure limit opening and the pad function in combination as a safety valve which will open when the pressure in the inside space will start to rise as a result of the outflow opening being clogged. Here, the pressure limit opening is covered by the area of the covering which is impermeable to water. If the outflow opening is clogged, the pressure in the holder will increase, while the pressure drop across the pad will then become very small. The pad is no longer firmly pressed against the bottom. The water that has been pressed through the pad then flows under the area to the pressure limit opening as a result of the increasing pressure. Then, the pressure limit opening will start discharging hot water when, for instance, the pressure in the inner space increases to a value above three atmosphere. The pressure will then rise no further. In particular, it further holds that the pad is provided with a plurality of indentations located at an outside edge of the sealing seam. In that case, with the assembly, the bottom of the holder is provided, preferably, with projections reaching into the indentations. In this manner, the pad can be positioned accurately at a desired, predetermined position in the holder such, for instance, that the area of the covering covers the at least one pressure limit opening. This accurate positioning is, for instance, particularly important when the pad is provided with the indentations for covering the pressure limit opening.
It is also possible that the sealing seam is provided with a plurality of openings which extend from a top side of the pad to a bottom side of the pad. Preferably, the openings are located in the area of the covering. With this variant too, it holds for the assembly that it is preferred that the bottom of the holder be provided with projections reaching into the openings. For this variant too, it holds that thus, the pad can be accurately positioned at a predetermined position within the holder, the arrangement being such that when, for instance, the holder is provided with the at least one pressure limit opening, this pressure limit opening is covered by the area of the covering.
Preferably, it further holds that a through-flow surface of the at least one pressure limit opening is greater than a through-flow surface of the at least one outflow opening. In this manner, when the pressure in the holder starts rising as a result of a clogging of the outflow opening, the pressure can be reduced rapidly when the pressure limit opening opens. The fact is that the through-flow opening has a relatively great through-flow surface.
The invention will presently be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:
In
The product is indicated with reference numeral 2. The pad is provided with a preferably flexible bottom sheet 4 and a preferably flexible top sheet 6. The top sheet and the bottom sheet are interconnected at their longitudinal edges in a manner known per se so that a covering 4, 6 with a circumferential sealing seam 8 is formed. The product 2 is situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet in the covering formed by the top sheet and the bottom sheet. Both the top sheet and the bottom sheet each form a filter which is, at least virtually, impermeable to the product and which is, as explained hereinabove, at least permeable to water.
An area 10 (represented in hatching) of the covering 4, 6 is designed to be at least virtually impermeable to water. This area comprises an annular sub-area 12 which occupies at least a part of the sealing seam 8 and which area further extends outside the sealing seam 8 at predetermined positions.
A possible example of such an area 10 is discussed hereinbelow with reference to
In this example, it holds that the top sheet 6 is designed to be at least virtually flat. It further holds that the bottom sheet 4 is of cup-shaped design, as is clearly visible in
The pad according to
In use, the pad according to
In this example, water is also prevented from flowing around the pad to the outflow opening 22, since the pad, at the locations where, as a result of a pressure drop across the pad, it is pressed onto the bottom, it forms a seal to water. Hence, in the present example, the bottom sheet sub-area 14 provides an additional guarantee against the risk of bypass and an extra guarantee for the improvement of the coffee-making efficiency.
In the example of the assembly of
The pressure limit openings 42 can also each be provided entirely in the inside bottom part or in the outside bottom part of the holder. For the cooperation between pad and holder as regards the pressure limit openings, it is further not required that the area 10 comprises the annular sub-area 12. At the bottom sheet, the area 10 needs only be present those specific positions for the pressure limit openings to be closed off. To this end, the area 10 may consequently be provided with a plurality of sub-areas, separate from each other, with each sub-area closing off one of the pressure openings, or wherein in any case a combination of the sub-areas closes off the pressure limit openings.
If the pressure limit openings 47 lie completely in the inside bottom part 26, the sub-areas 11 can extend entirely along the bottom sheet 4 outside the sealing seam 8 (
It is preferred that the surface of the sub-area 11 be greater than the surface of a pressure limit opening which is covered by the respective sub-area 11. Each length of a diameter of a sub-area is for instance 50-150% greater than a corresponding diameter of a pressure limit opening.
With the pad according to
Instead of having indentations 46, or in combination with indentations 46, the pad according to
With a pad having fixing openings, use can be made of a holder as shown in
As stated, the top sheet 6 of the pad according to
If the top sheet is designed as discussed with reference to
As shown in
Naturally, the pad of
The pad of
The bottom sheet of
The top sheet 6 of the pad according to
The top sheet and the bottom sheet are interconnected such that the segments 64 lie opposite the segments 62′ while the segments 62 lie opposite the segments 64′. The segments 62 and 62′ then provide, in combination, the annual sub-area 12 of the covering which occupies at least a part of the, and in this example the entire, sealing seam and which area further extends outside the sealing seam at predetermined positions.
The pad according to
With all this being analogous to what is discussed with reference to
In
The top sheet of the pad of
In this example, the pad according to
In
The pad comprising the bottom sheet of
When, hereupon, hot water is fed under pressure to the water inlet 40, the water will be pressed via the upper sheet through the coffee bed. The thus formed coffee extract will be supplied in at least virtually equal parts to the outflow opening 22 and the outflow opening 22′, respectively. Here, the first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area 76 forms a seal with the upstanding edge 86, thereby contributing to the coffee extract being equally divided over both outflow openings 22 and 22′. In the holder of
In
In each of the embodiments outlined hereinabove, it holds that the top sheet 6 is of flat design. In each of the embodiments outlined hereinabove, the bottom sheet is of cup-shaped design. However, it is also possible that the pad is designed to be at least virtually mirror symmetrical relative to a flat plane V through the sealing seam. A side view of such a pad is shown in
In this example, the pads described hereinabove are filled with approximately 7 g of ground coffee. Then, such a pad is suitable for preparing approximately one consumption of coffee, that is to say 1 cup of coffee. With the embodiments of the pads as described hereinabove with reference to
For each of the exemplary embodiments outlined hereinabove it holds that the area of the bottom sheet can be realized in various manners. For instance, the bottom sheet can consist of a nonwoven material which has undergone a heat treatment in the area. It is also possible that the bottom sheet comprises a coating which has undergone a heat treatment in the area of the bottom sheet. This coating may then have been applied to both an outside of the bottom sheet (this is the side of the bottom sheet forming the outside of the pad) and an inside of the bottom sheet. It is also possible that the area of the bottom sheet comprises a coating which is at least virtually impermeable to water. This coating may, again, be applied both to the inside of the bottom sheet and to the outside of the bottom sheet. In each of these examples, the bottom sheet itself may have been manufactured from filtering paper. It is further possible that the bottom sheet is manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and that the area of the bottom sheet comprises an additional film which has been applied to the filtering paper at the inside and/or at the outside of the bottom sheet. Here, this additional film is of the type that is at least virtually impermeable to water. It is also conceivable that the bottom sheet is manufactured from a material that is at least virtually impermeable to water, which has been perforated for obtaining a filter. At the location where the perforation is missing, the bottom sheet is provided with the area 10 mentioned. Whatever holds for the bottom sheet, holds entirely analogously for the top sheet. For instance, the top sheet too can comprise a nonwoven material which has undergone a heat treatment in the area. This top sheet can be combined with a similar type of bottom sheet or with a different type of bottom sheet, to be formed into a pad. Thus, the top sheet may have been manufactured from the non-woven material which has undergone a heat treatment in the area while the bottom sheet is manufactured from a material which is at least virtually impermeable to water and which is perforated for obtaining a filter. Each of these combinations is a possibility. The top sheet too can therefore be provided with a coating which, in the area of the top sheet, has undergone a heat treatment. It is also conceivable that the area of the top sheet comprises a coating which is at least virtually impermeable to water. It is also possible that the area of the top sheet comprises an additional film applied to the filtering paper at an inside and/or at an outside of the pad and which is at least virtually impermeable to water. It is also possible that the top sheet is manufactured from a material which is at least virtually impermeable to water which is perforated for obtaining a filter. In each of the embodiments described hereinabove, it holds that the pad is of the flexible type. This means that in this example, the product in the pad has not been compressed to form a solid whole and hence has some freedom of movement within the covering and that the covering is not rigid. The pad may however be provided with a compressed product.
In the embodiments outlined hereinabove it therefore holds that the covering is designed to be flexible. This has the advantage that, in use, the pad can adjust to the shape of the holder as a result of which the pad will link up well to the bottom of the holder so that the above-outlined cooperation between pad and holder can be realized in an optimal manner. When it further holds that the product has not been compressed, this has as an advantage that the product itself can adjust relatively rapidly to the shape of the holder. This will be somewhat more difficult when, conversely, the product has been compressed, and will typically only occur if hot water is fed to the pad.
However, it is preferred that the pad is designed to be flexible. When the pad is designed to be flexible, this entails that the covering is of flexible design and that furthermore, the product has not been compressed.
It could be so that the sealing seam and/or the areas have more rigid properties than the rest of the pad. In that example, it holds that the covering outside the sealing seam is designed to be at least substantially flexible. When the areas too are flexible, it then holds that the covering outside the sealing seam is designed to be flexible, and when the areas are rigid (not flexible) it holds that the covering outside the sealing seam is designed to be substantially flexible. In that case too, the above-outlined use of the various embodiments of the pad can be realized well. In particular, it holds that the surface of the predetermined positions where the area extends outside the sealing seam is relatively small with regard to the surface of the covering outside the sealing seam and outside the area. Relatively small is for instance understood to mean that the surface of the predetermined positions where the area extends outside the sealing seam is smaller than 50% of the surface of the covering outside the sealing seam and outside the area. In particular, the percentage is smaller than 40 percent and, preferably, smaller than 25 percent. If, in that case, the area were to have the property that it is more rigid than the rest of the covering, it has been achieved that in use, the pad as a whole can still take the shape of the holder as described hereinabove. Taking the shape is understood to mean, inter alia, that the pad as such already has a shape that fits the holder well, but because the pad is for instance substantially not rigid, but at least substantially flexible, the pad can still, at a level of details, differ from the shape of the holder and can thus, in use, adjust its shape.
The fact that it is preferred that the covering is designed to be at least substantially flexible, entails, for instance, that the bottom and top sheet are each manufactured from a flexible material such as filtering paper, and that the area has properties such that also there, where the area is present, the covering remains not rigid but flexible, i.e. relatively easily deformable and bendable. Here, the sealing seam is also flexible.
Preferably, it also holds for each of the outlined embodiments that the top sheet outside the sealing seam rests on the product, at least substantially. This allows the pad to be suitable to be placed in a holder while the liquid, more in particular the hot water, is fed under pressure to the holder for the purpose of being pressed through the holder. If the top sheet were not to substantially rest on the product, in use, the top sheet could tear and the pad is unsuitable, or less suitable, to be used under pressure.
It is preferred that the pad be filled with a product to be extracted such as, for instance, ground coffee or tea. In that case, the pad may, optionally, further be filled with a product to be dissolved such as a creamer, cocoa or other substances such as flavourings, colorants etc.
Further, the pressure limit openings can be provided entirely in the outside bottom part and/or entirely in the inside bottom part. Also, instead of being circular, the pads can have a different shape such as oval, n-angular (N greater than or equal to three), et cetera. Annular is therefore also understood to include these shapes. Such variants are each understood to fall within the framework of the invention.
Claims
1. A pad filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee and/or, optionally, a product to be dissolved such as a creamer for preparing a beverage, wherein the pad is designed in order that, in use, a liquid such as hot water can be fed under pressure to the pad for extracting and/or dissolving the product, the pad being provided with an optionally flexible bottom sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and an optionally flexible top sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being interconnected at their longitudinal edges so that a covering with a circumferential sealing seam is formed with the product situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet, the bottom sheet and the top sheet each forming a filter which is at least virtually impermeable to the product and which is at least permeable to water, characterized in that one area of the covering is designed to be at least virtually impermeable to water wherein:—the area comprises at least one annular sub-area occupying at least a part of the sealing seam extending around the sealing seam, which area further extends outside the sealing seam at predetermined positions;—and/or the area comprises a plurality of sub-areas separate from each other;—and/or the area comprises at least one sub-area occupying at least a part of the sealing seam and a part of the covering outside the sealing seam.
2. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular sub-area comprises, at the bottom sheet, an annular bottom sheet sub-area which extends inside and outside the sealing seam.
3. A pad according to claim 2, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet sub-area occupies the entire sealing seam.
4. A pad according to claim 2, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet sub-area occupies a part of the sealing seam.
5. A pad according to claim 4, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet sub-area occupies a first annular seam part of the sealing seam.
6. A pad according to claim 5, characterized in that the sealing seam comprises a second annular seam part which embraces the first annular seam part and does not form part of the at least virtually water impermeable area of the bottom sheet.
7. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular sub-area comprises at the bottom sheet an annular bottom sheet sub-area which extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam, while the area further comprises, at the bottom sheet, parts forming bulges at an inside edge of the bottom sheet sub-area outside the sealing seam.
8. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area comprises, at the bottom sheet, a first strip-shaped bottom area sub-area which extends along at least a part of a diameter of the bottom sheet.
9. A pad according to claim 8, characterized in that the ends of the first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area are located in or are adjacent to a part of the sealing seam.
10. A pad according to claim 8, characterized in that the area of the bottom sheet comprises a second strip -shaped bottom sheet sub-area which extends along at least a part of a diameter of the bottom sheet.
11. A pad according to claim 10, characterized in that the ends of the second strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area are located in or are adjacent to a part of the sealing seam.
12. A pad according to claim 11, characterized in that the first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area and the second strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area include an angle different from zero.
13. A pad according to claim 12, characterized in that said angle is approximately equal to 90 degrees.
14. A pad according to claim 10, characterized in that the first strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area and the second strip-shaped bottom sheet sub-area intersect.
15. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet comprises an annular bottom sheet part, of which first ring segments form part of the area of the covering and of which second ring segments do not form part of the area of the covering, the first and second ring segments together forming the annular bottom sheet part, while the annular bottom sheet part extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam.
16. A pad according to claim 15, characterized in that one segment of the first segments borders, on both sides, on segments of the second segments.
17. A pad according to claim 16, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet part occupies the entire sealing seam.
18. A pad according to claim 16, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet part occupies only a part of the sealing seam.
19. A pad according to claim 18, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet part occupies a third annular seam part of the sealing seam.
20. A pad according to claim 19, characterized in that the sealing seam comprises a fourth annular seam part which embraces the third annular seam part and does not form part of the at least virtually water impermeable area of the bottom sheet.
21. A pad according to claim 15, characterized in that the annular bottom sheet extends inside and outside the sealing seam.
22. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area comprises, at the top sheet, an annular top sheet sub-area extending inside and outside the sealing seam.
23. A pad according to claim 22, characterized in that the annular top sheet sub-area occupies the entire sealing seam.
24. A pad according to claim 22, characterized in that the annular top sheet sub-area covers a part of the sealing seam.
25. A pad according to claim 24, characterized in that the annular top sheet sub-area occupies a fifth annular seam part of the sealing seam.
26. A pad according to claim 25, characterized in that the sealing seam comprises a sixth annular seam part which embraces the fifth annular seam part and does not form part of the at least virtually water impermeable area of the top sheet.
27. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular sub-area comprises, at the top sheet, an annular bottom sheet sub-area extending along the sealing seam while the area further comprises, at the top sheet, parts forming bulges at an inside edge of the top sheet outside the sealing seam.
28. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet comprises an annular top sheet part of which first ring segments form part of the area of the top sheet and second ring segments do not form part of the area of the top sheet, the first and second ring segments of the annular top sheet part together forming the annular top sheet part while the annular top sheet part extends along the sealing seam and occupies at least a part of the sealing seam.
29. A pad according to claim 28, characterized in that one segment of the first segments of the annular top sheet part borders, on both sides, on segments of the second segments of the annular top sheet part.
30. A pad according to claim 28, characterized in that the annular top sheet part covers the entire sealing seam.
31. A pad according to claim 28, characterized in that the annular top sheet part occupies a part of the sealing seam.
32. A pad according to claim 31, characterized in that the annular top sheet part covers a seventh annular seam part of the sealing seam.
33. A pad according to claim 32, characterized in that the sealing seam comprises an eighth annular seam part which embraces the seventh annular seam part and does not form part of the area of the top sheet which is at least virtually impermeable to water.
34. A pad according to claim 28, characterized in that the annular top sheet part extends inside and outside the sealing seam.
35. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of areas separate from each other extends each partly inside (along) and partly outside the sealing seam.
36. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of areas separated from each other each extend inside (along) the sealing seam.
37. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of areas separated from each other each extend outside the sealing seam.
38. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the sub-areas extend at the bottom sheet of the covering.
39. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet comprises a non-woven material which has undergone a heat treatment in the area.
40. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet comprises a coating which has undergone a heat treatment in the area of the bottom sheet.
41. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the bottom sheet comprises a coating which is at least virtually impermeable to water.
42. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the bottom sheet comprises an additional film which is applied to the filtering paper at the inside and/or at the outside of the pad and which is at least virtually impermeable to water.
43. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet is manufactured from a material that is at least virtually impermeable to water, which is perforated for obtaining a filter.
44. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet comprises a non-woven material which has undergone a heat treatment in the area.
45. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet comprises a coating which has undergone a heat treatment in the area of the top sheet.
46. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the top sheet comprises a coating which is at least virtually impermeable to water.
47. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of the top sheet comprises an additional film which is applied to the filtering paper at the inside and/or at the outside of the pad and which is at least virtually impermeable to water.
48. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet is manufactured from a material that is at least virtually impermeable to water, which is perforated for obtaining a filter.
49. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing seam is provided with a plurality of indentations located at an outside edge of the sealing seam.
50. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing seam is provided with a plurality of openings which extend from a top side of the pad to a bottom side of the pad.
51. A pad according to claim 49, characterized in that the indentations are located in the area of the bottom sheet.
52. A pad according to claim 50, characterized in that the openings are located in the area of the bottom sheet.
53. A pad according to claim 49, characterized in that the indentations are located in the area of the top sheet.
54. A pad according to claim 50, characterized in that the openings are located in the area of the top sheet.
55. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom sheet is designed to be at least substantially cup-shaped.
56. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet is designed to be at least virtually flat.
57. A pad according to claim 55, characterized in that the pad is designed so as to be at least virtually mirror symmetrical relative to a flat plane through the sealing seam.
58. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering outside the sealing seam is designed to be at least substantially flexible.
59. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the covering is designed to be flexible.
60. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the pad is designed to be flexible.
61. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the predetermined positions where the area extends outside the sealing seam is relatively small with regard to the surface of the covering outside the sealing seam and outside the area.
62. A pad according to claim 1, characterized in that the top sheet outside the sealing seam rests, at least substantially, on the product.
63. An assembly of a pad and a holder in which the pad is included, wherein the pad is filled with a product to be extracted such as ground coffee and/or, optionally, a product to be dissolved such as a creamer, the pad being provided with a bottom sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper and a top sheet manufactured from, for instance, filtering paper, the top sheet and the bottom sheet being interconnected at their longitudinal edges so that a covering with a circumferential sealing seam is formed, with the product situated between the top sheet and the bottom sheet while the bottom sheet and the top sheet each form a filter which is at least virtually impermeable to the product and which is at least permeable to water, the holder being provided with a bottom and, optionally, an upstanding sidewall while in the bottom at least one outflow opening is provided, the pad resting on the bottom, while the assembly is designed in order that, in use, a liquid such as hot water can be fed under pressure to the assembly for extracting the pad, characterized in that in the bottom, further, at least one pressure limit opening is provided, the bottom sheet of the pad being provided with at least one area which is impermeable to water and which covers the at least one pressure limit opening.
64. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the pad reaches over the bottom adjacent the upstanding sidewall.
65. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the bottom is composed of a horizontal, annular outside bottom part and a dish-shaped inside bottom part which borders on an inside edge of the outside bottom part, the inside bottom part adjacent the outside bottom part extending downwards in a direction away from a side of the holder.
66. An assembly according to claim 65, characterized in that the at least one pressure limit opening extends at least in the outside bottom part.
67. An assembly according to claim 66, characterized in that the at least one pressure limit opening also extends into the inside bottom part.
68. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the sealing seam is provided with a plurality of indentations located at an outside edge of the sealing seam and that the bottom of the holder is provided with projections reaching into the indentations.
69. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the sealing seam is provided with a plurality of openings which extend from a top side of the pad to a bottom side of the pad, and that the bottom of the holder is provided with projections reaching into the openings.
70. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the holder is provided with a plurality of pressure limit openings which are each covered by the at least one area.
71. An assembly according to claim 63, characterized in that the holder is provided with a plurality of pressure limit openings and that the area is provided with a plurality of sub-areas which, in combination, cover the pressure limit openings.
72. An assembly comprising two pads according to claim 56 and one holder in which both pads are included, the holder being provided with a bottom and, optionally, an upstanding sidewall while in the bottom at least one outflow opening is provided, the first pad of the pads resting with its bottom sheet on the bottom, a second pad of the two pads resting with its top sheet on the top sheet of the first pad.
73. An assembly according to claim 72, wherein the assembly is further provided with a lid for closing off the holder, the lid being provided at its inside with a bottom which is provided with at least one water supply opening for feeding hot water to the holder, the bottom of the lid being composed of a horizontally directed annular outside bottom part and a dish-shaped inside bottom part which borders on an inside edge of the outside bottom part, while the inside bottom part adjacent the outside bottom part extends upwards in a direction away from the side of the lid.
74. An assembly according to claim 73, characterized in that the annular outside bottom part of the holder lies opposite the annular outside bottom part of the lid.
75. An assembly according to claim 74, characterized in that the two sealing seams of the two pads are situated between the outside bottom parts of the holder and the lid.
76. A pad of the assembly according to claim 63.
77. An assembly comprising two pads and a holder, wherein the pads are each provided with a flat top sheet and a bottom sheet which are interconnected adjacent their longitudinal edges, the pads being filled with a product to be extracted and/or a product to be dissolved while the top sheet and the bottom sheet are impermeable to the product and are at least permeable to water, the two pads both being included in the holder while the holder is provided with a bottom and, optionally, an upstanding side wall, in the bottom at least one outflow opening being provided, a first pad of the pads resting with its bottom sheet on the bottom and a second pad of the two pads resting with its top sheet on the top sheet of the first pad.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 26, 2008
Applicant: SARA LEE/DE N.V. (Utrecht)
Inventors: Hendrik Cornelis Koeling (Heezerweg), Gustaaf Frans Brouwer (Hoefslag)
Application Number: 11/579,177
International Classification: A47G 19/16 (20060101); B65D 85/72 (20060101);