A PORTABLE BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND SYSTEM
(19) AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (54) Title A PORTABLE BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE AND SYSTEM (21) Application No: 2003249558 (22) A (87) WIPONo: WO04/014739 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 60/401,810 2002.08.08 (33) Country US (43) Publication Date : 2004.02.25 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004.04.08 (71) Applicant(s) CONCEPT AND DESIGN LTD.; LEVIN,Shalom (72) Inventor(s) LEVIN, Shalom (21) Application No: 2003249558 (22) A (87) WIPONo: WO04/014739 (30) Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date 60/401,810 2002.08.08 (33) Country US (43) Publication Date : 2004.02.25 (43) Publication Journal Date : 2004.04.08 (71) Applicant(s) CONCEPT AND DESIGN LTD.; LEVIN,Shalom (72) Inventor(s) LEVIN, Shalom 2003.08.07 A portable beverage preparation device and system for making brews, mixes, and potions on demand by selectively introducing and mixing predetermined quantities of at least one stored, edible, beverage preparation confined in at least one sealed chamber into a portable beverage container containing a predetermined volume of a potable base liquid and having a dispenser means for introducing the at least one beverage preparation into the potable base liquid; wherein the drink container and the at least one sealed chamber are in close physical proximity to each other and separated by at least one thin membrane which, when inwardly perforated by the dispenser means, introduces the at least one beverage preparation into the base liquid. The system of the invention further provides a brewing element and a portable heating unit, the heater element of which fits into the beverage container for heating the liquid. What is claimed: 1. A portable beverage preparation device comprising:
A portable drink container provided with a potable base liquid and at least one sealed compartment sealed with a puncturable seal, said seal comprising at least two welded rings sufficiently spaced apart to prevent said potable base liquid from accidentally penetrating said sealed compartment and to prevent at least one beverage preparation stored within said sealed compartment from unwanted mixing with said potable base liquid; a heating/cooling unit controlled by a controller, said heating/cooling unit comprising:
a heating/cooling element for heating/cooling said potable base liquid when operating said heating/cooling element on the Peltier principle, and at least one pump unit configured for drawing said potable base liquid fi'om said portable drink container into said heating/cooling unit and returning said potable base liquid into said portable drink container after heating/cooling, wherein when said heating/cooling unit is removably attached to said portable drink container and in communication with a power source and operated, said potable base liquid is drawn into said heating/cooling unit by said at least one pump unit,is heated/cooled by said heating/cooling element in said heating unit to a predetermined temperature and returned under pressure by said at least one pump unit back into said portable drink container through forced penetration of said sealed compartment to mix with said at least one beverage preparation and form a ready-to-drink mixed brew in said portable drink container. 2. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 1, wherein said potable base liquid is made to flow on a first surface of said heating/cooling element for heating, and on another face surface thereof for cooling, until the desired temperature of said potable base liquid is reached. 3. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 1, wherein said potable base liquid is made to flow on the same surface of said heating/cooling element for either of heating and cooling when said heating/cooling element is operated on the Peltier principle. 4. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 1, wherein said drink container comprises a cup. 5. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 4, wherein said cup is provided with a sealed cover welded thereon by an attachment means forming a sealed cup unit containing said potable base liquid and said at least one sealed compartment having at least one beverage preparation therein needed to prepare a selected beverage drink. 6. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 5, wherein said sealed cover is configured with at least two utility openings covered with removable small covers comprising:
at least a first opening for extracting said beverage drink from said cup unit; and at least a second opening for processing said beverage drink. 7. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 6, wherein said at least a first opening provides for venting of said potable base liquid and for drinking therefrom. 8. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 6, wherein said removable small covers are applied to said at least two utility openings to seal any waste materials inside said cup after use. 9. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 5, wherein said cup unit includes an inner cup nested in an outer cup, wherein said inner cup is spaced apart from said outer cup so as to define a chamber for holding said potable base liquid therebetween, and wherein there is disposed within said inner cup at least one brewing element comprising said at least one sealed compartment, and wherein said outer cup is in communication with said chamber for receiving said potable base liquid that has passed through said at least one brewing element and mixed with said at least one beverage preparation confined therein. 10. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 9, wherein said cup unit is provided with a predetermined volume of said potable base liquid and includes an inner lid and an outer cover, wherein both said inner lid and said outer cover are removable for insertion of a userselected said at least one brewing element. 11. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 9, wherein said at least one beverage preparation is selected from the groups of edible materials including: coffee, tea, cocoa; powders, grounds, and flakes; dried fruits, dried vegetables; fruit juices, vegetable juices; milk and milksubstitute powders; syrups, sweeteners, flavorings; emulsions, solutions, extracts; dried herbs, medicines; liquid concentrates, liquid condensates, and any combination selected from said group of edible materials. 12. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 11, wherein said edible materials are in the form of dried, soluble edible substances. 13. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 1, wherein said at least one beverage.
preparation is dispersed in said potable base liquid by a dispenser means. 14. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 13, wherein said dispenser means comprises a hydraulic pump having a fixed arm and a moveable arm disposed within said drink container and said potable base liquid for effecting dispersion of said at least one beverage preparation confined within said at least one sealed compartment when pressure is applied by a user to the pressure point extremes of said fixed and moveable arms. 15. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 13, wherein said dispenser means comprises water pressure. 16. A portable beverage preparation device comprising:
a drink container comprising:
a sealed cover attached thereto configured with at least two utility openings fitted with removable covers; a predetermined volume of potable base liquid; at least one sealed compartment provided with at least one bore for confining a beverage preparation, wherein said potable base liquid and said at least one sealed compartment are in close proximity within said drink container and covered by said sealed cover; a heating/cooling unit for heating/cooling said potable base liquid, said heating/cooling unit including a heating/cooling element; at least one pump unit for pumping and circulating said potable base liquid; and a controller and a power source for controlling and activating said at least one pump unit, wherein said heating/cooling unit, said at least one pump unit, and said controller are disposed in a portable housing comprising a heating/cooling chamber, and wherein when said at least one pump unit is connected to a power source and operated, said potable base liquid is circulated so as to be heated/cooled by said heating/cooling unit and mixed with said at least one beverage preparation to provide a heated/cooled beverage in said drink container. 17. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 16 further comprising:
a portable heating device configured to be attached to said drink container for providing heating of a beverage drink on demand. 18. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 17, wherein said portable heating device comprises a heating element, including heating coils, configured for direct insertion into said potable base liquid. 19. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 17, wherein said portable heating device comprises a solid-state heat pump that utilizes the Peltier effect for either of heating and cooling said beverage drink. 20. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 17, wherein said portable heating device further includes:
a holding chamber for accommodating at least a portion of said potable base liquid; at least one heat-activated valve for controlling the flow of said potable base liquid through said heating element; a heater rod extending into said holding chamber; and a tube in communication with said holding chamber and said at least one brewing element, wherein said heater element, when fitted within said holding chamber and activated, operates said heater rod to heat said at least a portion of said potable base liquid to at least boiling within said holding chamber, and wherein said holding chamber retains said potable base liquid by activation of said at least one heat-activated valve to produce pressure in said holding chamber for pushing said heated potable base liquid through said tube and into said at least one brewing element. 21. The portable beverage preparation device of claim 20, wherein said at least one heatactivated valve includes a bimetal strip. 22. A portable beverage preparation system comprising:
a portable drink container provided with a potable base liquid and at least one sealed compartment sealed with a puncturable seal comprising at least two welded rings sufficiently spaced apart to prevent said potable base liquid from accidentally penetrating said at least one sealed compartment to mix with at least one beverage preparation stored therein; a heating/cooling unit controlled by a controller, said heating/cooling unit comprising:
a heating/cooling element for heating/cooling said potable base liquid when operating said heating/cooling element on the Peltier principle;and at least one pump unit configured for drawing said potable base liquid from said portable drink container into said heating/cooling unit and returning said potable base liquid into said portable drink container after heating/cooling, wherein when said heating/cooling unit is removably attached to said portable drink container and in communication with a power source and operated, said potable base liquid is drawn into said heating/cooling unit by said at least one pump unit, is heated/cooled by said heating/cooling element in said heating unit to a predetermined temperature and returned under pressure by said at least one pump unit back into said portable drink container through forced penetration of said seal, to mix with said at least one beverage preparation to form a mixed brew dispensed directly into said portable drink container. 23. The beverage preparation system of claim 38, wherein said outer cup is provided with external isolation ribs for dissipating heat when said outer cup is filled with a hot liquid. 24. The beverage preparation system of claim 22, wherein said at least one beverage preparation is espresso. 25. The beverage preparation system of claim 38, wherein said at least one brewing element is provided with a centrally disposed bore oriented axially within said at least one brewing element. 26. The beverage preparation system of claim 38, wherein said at least one brewing element is provided with a bore axially aligned but disposed eccentrically to the central axis of said at least one brewing element. 27. The beverage preparation system of claim 38, wherein said at least one brewing element further comprises at least two concentric rings, for storage of at least two types of beverage preparations. 28. The beverage preparation system of claim 27, wherein said at least one brewing element has a spiral configuration, and wherein when said beverage preparation system is activated, said potable base liquid enters said spiral at an inner edge thereof, passes through said at least one brewing element, and exits at an outer edge thereof, said outer edge communicating with said outer cup to dispense a brewed beverage drink therein. 29. The beverage preparation system of claim 28, wherein said spiral configuration has at least a first and a second beverage preparation confined in adjacent areas arranged sequentially in wherein when said beverage preparation system is activated, said potable base liquid enters said spiral at said inner edge and passes through said a first beverage preparation and continues to pass through said spiral through said a second beverage preparation and exits through said outer edge communicating-with said outer cup to dispense a brewed beverage drink therein. 30. The portable beverage preparation system of claim 22, wherein said heating/cooling unit further comprises:
a holding chamber for accommodating at least a portion of said potable base liquid; at least one heat-activated valve for sealing said holding chamber to confine said at least a portion in said holding chamber; a heater rod extending into said holding chamber; and a tube in communication with said holding chamber and said at least one brewing element, wherein said heating/cooling unit, when fitted within said holding chamber and activated, operates said heater rod to heat said at least a portion of said potable base liquid to at least boiling temperature within said holding chamber, and wherein said holding chamber retains said potable base liquid by activation of said at least one heat-activated valve to produce pressure in said holding chamber for pushing said heated potable base liquid through said tube and into said at least one brewing element. 31. The beverage preparation system of claim 30, wherein said at least one heat-activated valve includes a vent for providing venting from said holding chamber. 32. A method for preparing a beverage drink comprising:
providing a portable drink container with a potable base liquid and at least one sealed compartment containing a beverage preparation kept isolated from said potable base liquid by a seal comprising at least two welded tings sufficiently spaced apart to prevent said potable base liquid from penetrating said sealed compartment; drawing said potable base liquid from said portable drink container into said heating/cooling unit and returning said potable base liquid into said portable drink container after heating/cooling said potable base liquid; and flushing said at least one beverage preparation from said at least one sealed compartment into said potable base liquid by one of pressure action and sprinkler means, wherein said seal is penetrated to mix said potable base liquid with said beverage preparation. 33. The method for preparing a beverage drink of claim 32, wherein said potable base liquid is treated water. 34. A method for preparing a brewed beverage drink comprising:
a) providing a portable drink container with a potable base liquid; b) providing at least one brewing element, comprising at least one sealed compartment containing a beverage preparation kept isolated from said potable base liquid by a seal comprising at least two welded rings_sufficiently spaced apart to prevent said potable base liquid from penetrating said at least one sealed compartment; c) drawing said potable base liquid from said portable drink container and continuously heating predetermined quantities of said potable base liquid to a predetermined temperature; returning said potable base liquid thereto; and d) pressurizing said heated potable base liquid to force it into and out of said at least one beverage preparation, thereby penetrating said seal to mix said at least one beverage preparation with said potable base liquid. 35. The method for preparing a brewed beverage drink of claim 34 additionally comprising:
e) repeating steps b, c, and d. 36. A portable beverage preparation device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the description and the drawings. 37. A portable beverage preparation system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the description and the drawings. 38. The portable beverage preparation system of claim 22, wherein said portable drink container comprises:
a cup unit including an inner cup formed integrally with an outer cup, said inner cup spaced apart from said outer cup so as to define a chamber for holding a potable base liquid therebetween; and at least one brewing element configured for fitting on said inner cup, with at least one pocket for holding at least one beverage preparation for the passage of said potable base liquid therethrough, and including an outlet proximate to the periphery of said outer cup.