Preparation of beverages

Claim 1

An apparatus for preparing a beverage by extraction of soluble matter from a generally solid flavouring material into a liquid, said apparatus including a cylinder and a piston assembly, said piston assembly comprising a detachable capsule containing a flavouring material and being constructed in the form of an inverted cup, said capsule having an annular wall, a rim along said wall, a base containing apertures therein, a first disc constructed of filter medium supported on said base, a second disc constructed of filter medium secured to said annular wall rim, said solid flavouring material being retained within said capsule by said first and second filter mediums, and an annular flange constructed and designed so as to be slightly deformed upon insertion into said cylinder to sealingly engage said cylinder, whereby relative axial movement of said piston assembly through liquid contained in said cylinder forces liquid through said capsule first and second filter mediums, the liquid contacting said flavouring material within the capsule and extracting soluble matter therefrom.

Claim 2

An apparatus for preparing a beverage by extraction of soluble matter from a generally solid flavouring material into a liquid, said apparatus including a cylinder and a piston assembly, said piston assembly comprising a detachable capsule containing a flavouring material and being constructed in the form of an inverted cup, said capsule having an annular wall, a rim along said wall, a base containing apertures therein, a first disc constructed of filter medium supported on said base, a second disc constructed of filter medium secured to said annular wall rim, said solid flavouring material being retained within said capsule by said first and second filter mediums, and an annular flange constructed and designed so as to be slightly deformed upon insertion into said cylinder to sealingly engage said cylinder, whereby relative axial movement of said piston assembly through liquid contained in said cylinder forces liquid through said capsule first and second filter mediums, the liquid contacting said flavouring material within the capsule and extracting soluble matter therefrom.

Claim 6

An apparatus for preparing a beverage by extraction of soluble matter from a generally solid flavouring material into a liquid, said apparatus including: a generally cylindrical vessel having an open end and an internally curved base; a lid removably secured at said vessel open end, said lid having a central portion with an aperture therein; a disc having a diameter less than that of the internal diameter of said vessel; a capsule for containing a flavouring material, said capsule having a pair of liquid permeable membranes, spaced apart axially, each of said membranes allowing the passage of liquid therethrough; means for detachably securing said capsule to said disc to form a piston assembly, a rod having a first end attached to said disc and a second end projecting through said aperture in said lid enabling the manual operation of said piston assembly; and a flange formed on the exterior surface of said capsule, said flange having a diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the vessel whereby a liquid tight seal is provided between said flange and said vessel to force the liquid through said permeable membranes when said capsule is pushed downwardly in said vessel, said flange being deformed and said seal being destroyed by said curved base of said vessel when said capsule reaches said base.

Claim 7

An apparatus for preparing a beverage by extraction of soluble matter from a generally solid flavouring material into a liquid, said apparatus including: a generally cylindrical vessel having an open end and an internally curved base; a lid removably secured at said vessel open end, said lid having a central portion with an aperture therein; a disc having a diameter less than that of the internal diameter of said vessel; a capsule for containing a flavouring material, said capsule having a pair of liquid permeable membranes, spaced apart axially, each of said membranes allowing the passage of liquid therethrough; means for detachably securing said capsule to said disc to form a piston assembly, a rod having a first end attached to said disc and a second end projecting through said aperture in said lid enabling the manual operation of said piston assembly; and a flange formed on the exterior surface of said capsule, said flange having a diameter slightly larger than the internal diameter of the vessel whereby a liquid tight seal is provided between said flange and said vessel to force the liquid through said permeable membranes when said capsule is pushed downwardly in said vessel, said flange being deformed and said seal being destroyed by said curved base of said vessel when said capsule reaches said base.