Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
PCT/IL2016/050197
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DISPOSABLE CUP WITH SUBSTANCE INSIDE, PACKED IN A OXYGEN AND
HUMIDITY-PROOF STACK PACKAGE, IDENTICAL TO THE STACK PACKAGE
OF DISPOSABLE CUPS WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANCE INSIDE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
In a disposable cup there is an individual serving of a substance covered with
a lid.
The lid is designed in a way that enables inserting an additional disposable
cup into the first
cup, so that the additional cup reaches the bottom of the preceding cup in the
same way it
could have reached its bottom without the substance covered with a lid. The
design also
allows packing an amount of disposable cups placed one inside the other in a
stack in a way
that ensures proofness against oxygen and humidity. The size of such package
will be similar
to the same amount of disposable paper cups without a substance covered with a
lid placed on
their bottom and packed one inside the other in a stack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
We will refer for example to a personal portion of coffee. In order to drink a
cup of
coffee, preparations are required, which might be cumbersome and a nuisance to
the
consumer. Therefore people look for cheap, convenient, fast and clean
solutions and if they
have the possibility to buy a sleeve of disposable cups, having at their
bottom a personal
ready portion of coffee and they will only have to remove the lid and add hot
water, they will
enjoy from a cheap, convenient, fast and clean solution.
Needless to say, that the consumers shall obtain all the above without giving
up on the
coffee's quality and aroma and without being troubled by the usage manner and
cost of the
product.
Indeed, I found out that various ideas were already filed as patents for a
personal
portion at a disposable cup but all of them have substantial disadvantages
which were not
resolved, such as the need to give up on the coffee's quality and aroma and/or
ideas that cause
significant inconvenience to the users and/or ideas that do not allow to pack
them in a sleeve
package identical to the disposable cups sleeve package without personal
portion. This
disadvantage significantly affects in a negative way both the convenience of
the cups'
purchase and storage and adds considerable costs to the product, as shall be
detailed below,
and therefore they prevent from many populations the possibility to use this
product, thus it is
not a product available to everybody.
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Following are details of examples from products registered as patent and an
explanation of their significant disadvantages:
For example, United States patent application No. 2006/0096462 Al discloses a
disposable cup having a floor to which there is affixed a cake of water-
soluble flavoursome
material to dissolve when water is added to the cup. The water-soluble
flavoursome material
that is affixed to the floor of the disposable cup is not covered and
therefore vulnerable to
exposure to oxygen and moisture that adversely affect the freshness of the
water-soluble
flavoursome material. Furthermore, the water-soluble flavoursome material
undergoes
artificial treatments in order to solidify it to form a cake and to affix it
to the floor of the
disposable cup. This may prevent usage of this disposable cup by some
potential consumers,
for example those who avoid consuming artificially-treated beverages and
foods. In addition,
this disposable cup may not be marketed in countries where there are
regulations preventing
the marketing of unpacked beverages and foods, since the cake of water-soluble
flavoursome
material is not covered or packaged. Furthermore, covering the water-soluble
flavoursome
material with a cover inside the cup would not allow stacking of a plurality
of such
disposable cups in a maximal compactness, for example in a manner similar to
the stacking of
disposable cups without a material and/or a cover inside them. This may
increase the space
these cups occupy during storage and delivery, and thereby influence the costs
of delivery
which eventually increase the price of the product.
Another approach which does not involve solidification of the beverage or food
substance, but rather involves covering the substance with a cover permeable
to liquid, is
disclosed for example in the following publications. Chinese utility model No.
2564505 Y
discloses a paper tea cup with an interlayer on the bottom of the main body of
the paper tea
cup. Dry powders of a soluble beverage, such as tea, coffee and milk powders,
can be
appropriately placed in the interlayer, and the interlayer is made of strong
filterable material
including non-woven fabrics. A beverage can be instantly brewed in the paper
tea cup
without having to add additional beverage, thus bringing more convenience and
practicality
to the usage of a paper tea cup. In addition, Chinese utility model No.
200981738 Y discloses
a disposable water cup, wherein the bottom of a cup body is placed with tea,
the top of the tea
is provided with a layer of filter paper which is ventilating and permeable,
and the periphery
of the filter paper is fixed on the cup wall near the bottom of the cup. The
tea can be replaced
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by other edible infusing things, such as coffee, milk powder, fruit juice
powder and so on.
These approaches involve the coverage of the substance on the bottom of the
disposable cup
with a cover permeable to liquid. During the preparation and consumption of
the beverage the
cover remains in the disposable cup ¨ a characteristic that may prevent the
usage of this type
of product by potential consumers, for example those who may be concerned
about the
possibility that the cover may be released from the bottom of the disposable
cup during
consumption of the beverage. Furthermore, since the cover is permeable to
liquid it does not
block the passage of oxygen and moisture that might adversely affect the
freshness of the
material that is stored in the disposable cup. In addition, the presence of
the cover in the
disposable cup does not allow a compact stacking of a plurality of such
disposable cups, as
discussed above.
A solution for the issue of the presence of a cover in the disposable cup that
covers
the beverage or food substance and still remains in the disposable cup during
consumption of
the beverage or food, is provided for example by Chinese utility model No.
2687065, which
discloses a paper cup and a charging interlayer positioned in the paper cup in
which a
material for the preparation of a beverage, such as instant coffee, powdered
milk, malted milk
and tea, is stored. The charging interlayer is made of an edible starch paper.
Therefore, when
water is added to the cup, the charging interlayer dissolves and allows mixing
of the beverage
material with the water. The presence of an edible starch paper in the paper
cup and its
consumption by the user after being dissolved in the beverage prepared in the
paper cup, may
prevent the usage of this type of product by potential consumers, for example
those who may
be concerned about consuming edible paper. Furthermore, starch paper does not
block the
passage of oxygen and moisture that might adversely affect the freshness of
the material that
is stored in the paper cup, and the presence of the charging interlayer in the
paper cup does
not allow a compact stacking of a plurality of such paper cups, as discussed
above.
Another approach that is commercially available, is a capsule attached to a
disposable
cup, the capsule comprises a cover, and a beverage or food substance is stored
in the capsule.
Before usage, the cover of the capsule is removed, and a liquid is poured into
the disposable
cup. Similarly, Chinese utility model No. 2606080 Y discloses a cup comprising
a cup body,
a cup bottom, and a chamber that is formed between the cup body and the cup
bottom, and a
support frame is arranged at the place which is around the chamber and clings
to the inner
wall of the chamber, wherein a seal membrane is covered upon the support
frame; the
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chamber positioned on the lower part of the cup is filled with a quantitative
instant drink,
such as coffee, powdered milk, fruit powder, instant tea and composite instant
drink. Before
usage, the seal membrane is teared off and water is poured into the cup. Even
though this
approach may solve the problem of avoiding exposure of the substance to oxygen
and
moisture if an appropriate seal membrane is used, it still does not address
the issue of
hesitation of using this product by potential consumers due to the presence of
a capsule or a
chamber in the beverage or food dose during consumption, and the inability to
compactly
stack a plurality of disposable cups harboring a capsule or chamber in them,
as discussed in
detail above.
Thus, there is a need for a disposable cup containing a substance for the
preparation of
a beverage or food dose that allows an easy, fast and convenient preparation
of the beverage
or food dose, keeps the freshness of the substance for an extended period of
time, and further
allows stacking of a plurality of disposable cups that contain the substance
in a stack, in
maximal compactness, for example in a manner similar to the stacking of
disposable cups
without a substance inside them. The currently available solutions,
demonstrated in the
aforementioned publications, do not address this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have
the same
meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which
this invention
belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can
be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods
and materials are
described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including
definitions, will
control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative
only and not
intended to be limiting.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a capsule
for
enclosing a substance on a bottom of a first disposable cup comprising a
bottom and a rim
deformed from the bottom of the first cup, the capsule comprising: a bottom
having a
circumference; a wall extending from the circumference; and an opening,
wherein the capsule
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is configured to be accommodated in a space defined by the bottom and the rim
of a second
disposable cup inserted inside the first disposable cup.
According to one embodiment, the capsule further comprises a margin extending
outwards from an edge of the wall.
According to another embodiment, the capsule further comprises at least one
handle
attached to the wall.
According to yet another embodiment, the capsule further comprises at least
one
handle attached to the margin.
According to still another embodiment, at least part of the margin is
configured to be
accommodated in a slot in the lower part of the first disposable cup.
According to yet another embodiment, the slot in the first disposable cup is
substantially 1 mm deep.
According to a further embodiment, the capsule further comprises a slot near
an edge
of the wall, wherein the capsule's slot is configured to accommodate a
protrusion along the
wall of the first disposable cup substantially near a bottom of the first
disposable cup.
According to yet a further embodiment, the at least one handle is hollow.
According to still a further embodiment, the capsule further comprises at
least one
inner wall which divides the capsule to at least two sub-compartments.
According to an additional embodiment, the capsule further comprises a first
compartment and a second compartment, wherein the first compartment is
configured to face
the bottom of a disposable cup in which the capsule is placed, and the second
compartment is
configured to face an inner space of the disposable cup.
According to yet an additional embodiment, the second compartment is covered
with
a cover.
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According to still an additional embodiment, the cover is made of an oxygen
and
moisture proof material.
According to one embodiment, the capsule is further covered with a liquid
permeable
cover.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system
comprising a stack of a plurality of disposable cups, comprising a bottom and
a rim deformed
from the bottom, and a plurality of capsules comprising a bottom having a
circumference, a
wall extending from the circumference and an opening, wherein each of the
capsules is
accommodate in a space defined by the bottom and the rim of a disposable cup.
According to one embodiment, the plurality of capsules are configured to avoid
exposure of a substance enclosed by the plurality of capsules to oxygen and
moisture.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
method for
stacking a plurality of disposable cups, comprising a bottom and a rim
deformed from the
bottom, and a plurality of capsules comprising a bottom having a
circumference, a wall
extending from the circumference and an opening, and a substance enclosed by
the capsules,
the method for stacking comprising: positioning a disposable cup with the
bottom and rim
pointing upwards; providing a capsule with the opening pointing upwards in a
space formed
by the bottom and rim of the disposable cup; providing a substance into the
capsule; covering
the capsule with another disposable cup with the bottom and rim pointing
upwards; repeating
the previous steps from the step of providing a capsule with the opening
pointing upwards in
a space formed by the bottom and rim of the disposable cup, until a stack with
a desired
number of disposable cups, capsules and substance is formed.
According to an additional aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
for keeping the freshness for an extended period of time of a substance
packaged in a stack of
a plurality of disposable cups, comprising a bottom and a rim deformed from
the bottom, and
a plurality of capsules comprising a bottom having a circumference, a wall
extending from
the circumference and an opening, wherein each of the capsules is accommodate
in a space
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defined by the bottom and the rim of a disposable cup, the method for keeping
the freshness
comprises: packaging the stack in a package made of an oxygen and moisture
proof material.
According to one embodiment, the method for keeping the freshness for an
extended
period of time of a substance packaged in a stack of a plurality of disposable
cups further
comprises applying an inert gas into the package.
According to another embodiment, the inert gas is nitrogen.
According to yet another embodiment, the method for keeping the freshness for
an
extended period of time of a substance packaged in a stack of a plurality of
disposable cups
further comprises creating a negative pressure in the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to
the
accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail,
it is stressed
that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of
illustrative discussion
of the preferred embodiments, and are presented in the cause of providing what
is believed to
be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and
conceptual aspects
of the embodiments. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details in more
detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding, the description
taken with the
drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms may be
embodied in
practice.
In the drawings:
- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a prior art disposable cup adapted to contain warm or cold beverages
or foods.
- Fig. 2A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a disposable cup and a capsule enclosing a substance on the bottom of
the disposable
cup.
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- Fig. 2B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule further comprising at least one handle, placed on a bottom
of a disposable
cup.
- Fig. 3 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a system comprising a stack of a plurality of disposable cups.
- Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule comprising a slot near the edge of the wall of the capsule,
positioned on a
bottom of a disposable cup comprising a protrusion along the wall of the
disposable cup near
the bottom of the disposable cup.
- Fig. 5 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule positioned on a bottom of a disposable cup, which comprises
a slot in the
lower part of the disposable cup's wall, which is configured to accommodate at
least part of
the margin of the capsule.
- Fig. 6 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule comprising at least one hollow handle.
- Fig. 7 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule comprising two inner walls that divide the capsule to three
sub-
compartments.
- Fig. 8 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule comprising a first compartment configured to face a bottom
of a disposable
cup and a second compartment facing an inner space of the disposable cup,
while the first
compartment further comprises an inner wall which divides the first
compartment to two sub-
compartments.
- Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-section
view of a capsule covered with a liquid permeable cover.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood
that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and
the arrangement of
the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out
in various
ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein is
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. In
discussion of the
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various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The
drawings are
generally not to scale.
For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.
One aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule configured to enclose
a
substance placed on a bottom of a disposable cup.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule configured to
enclose a
substance placed on a bottom of a disposable cup that enables compact stacking
of a plurality
of disposable cups accommodating the capsule in a manner similar to the
stacking of empty
disposable cups.
Yet another aim of the present invention is to provide a capsule configured to
enclose
a substance placed on a bottom of a disposable cup that enables keeping the
freshness of the
substance for a substantially extended period of time.
The present invention provides an open capsule that is suitable for usage with
typical
disposable cups which are adapted to contain warm or cold beverages or foods.
Fig. 1
schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a cross-
section view of a
prior art disposable cup 100 adapted to contain waini or cold beverages or
foods, for example
a disposable cup 100 made of paper. A disposable cup 100 comprises a cup wall
110,
essentially, but not necessarily, in the form of a truncated cone, and a
bottom 120, for
example in the form of a disk. The inner surface of the wall 110 and the
bottom 120 of the
disposable cup 100 are typically coated with a thin layer of a waterproof
material (not
shown), for example polyethylene, configured to avoid leakage of liquid
through the wall 110
and bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100. In addition, the bottom 120 is
deformed to provide
a rim 130, configured to provide stability to the disposable cup 100 when it
is standing on a
surface. According to some embodiments, the height of the rim 130 of a
disposable cup 100
is in the range of substantially 4-8 mm. The rim 130 and the bottom 120 of the
disposable cup
100 both define a space 140 under the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100.
The present invention provides a capsule configured to be accommodated in the
space
140 defined by the bottom 120 and the rim 130 of the disposable cup 100.
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It should be noted that the disposable cup 100 that is illustrated in Fig. 1
is only an
exemplary embodiment of a disposable dish to which the capsule of the present
invention fits.
The capsule of the present invention is configured to fit any disposable dish
known in the art,
which comprises a rim deformed from the bottom of the disposable dish, for
example but not
limited to, a disposable bowl containing instant soup powder, and disposable
mug containing
dried noodles and sauce powder, and the like. Therefore, for the sake of
convenience only,
the term "disposable cup" is used throughout the description and claims of the
present
application. However, it should be appreciated that the meaning of the term
"disposable cup"
refers to any disposable dish having a rim deformed from the bottom of the
disposable dish,
as illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2A schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a disposable cup 100 and a capsule 1 enclosing a substance 500
on the bottom
120 of the disposable cup 100. The substance 500 is any substance known in the
art for the
preparation of a beverage or food dose, for example a solid substance, a
powdered substance
and a liquid substance. Example of such a substance 500 include, but not
limited to, coffee
powder, chopped and dried tea leaves, instant soup powder, dried noodles,
instant potato
puree powder and the like. According to one embodiment, the capsule 1
comprises a bottom
10 having a circumference (not shown), a wall 20 and an opening 30.
Fig. 3 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a system 200 comprising a stack of a plurality of disposable
cups 100, where
a capsule 1 is accommodated in each space 140 defined by a bottom 120 and a
rim 130 of
each one of the disposable cups 100. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the capsules 1
allow compact
stacking of the plurality of disposable cups 100 in a manner similar to the
stacking of a
plurality of disposable cups 100 without the capsules 1.
According to one embodiment, the structure and diameter of the bottom 10 of
the
capsule 1 is similar to the structure and diameter of the bottom 120 of the
disposable cup 100,
and the wall 20 of the capsule 1 has a structure and height similar to the
structure and height
of the rim 130 of the disposable cup 100. According to another embodiment, the
diameter of
the bottom 10 of the capsule 1 is somewhat shorter than the diameter of the
bottom 120 of the
disposable cup 100 in order to facilitate insertion of the capsule 1 into the
space 140 defined
by the bottom 120 and rim 130 of the disposable cup 100. For example, the
diameter of the
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bottom 10 of the capsule 1 is substantially 1 mm shorter than the diameter of
the bottom 120
of the disposable cup 100. According to yet another embodiment, the height of
the wall 20 of
the capsule 1 is lower than the height of the rim 130 of the disposable cup
100.
As may be appreciated from Fig. 3, when a capsule 1 is accommodated in the
space
140 defined by the bottom 120 and rim 130 of a disposable cup 100, an inner
surface of a
bottom 120 of a disposable cup 100 serves as a cover for the capsule 1 with
which it is in
contact. Thus, a substance 500 that is enclosed by the capsules 1 in the stack
of a plurality of
disposable cups 100 is well packaged in a manner that does not expose the
substance 500 to
oxygen and moisture, thus extending the shelf life of the substance 500, or in
other words ¨
keeps the substance 500 fresh for an extended period of time.
It should be noted that keeping the substance 500 fresh for an extended period
of time
means keeping the substance 500 fresh for a period of substantially a year.
Any means for
eliminating exposure of the substance 500 to oxygen and moisture is under the
scope of the
present invention, including but not limited to, making the disposable cup 100
and/or the
capsule 1 of a material that is oxygen and moisture proof; removal of air
from, and creating a
negative pressure in, the interior of the capsule 1 that is covered by the
bottom 120 of the
disposable cup 100 or in a package comprising a stack of a plurality of
disposable cups 100
and capsules 1 enclosing a substance 500; and providing nitrogen, or any other
suitable gas,
into the interior of the capsule 1 that is covered by the bottom 120 of the
disposable cup 100
or into a package comprising a stack of a plurality of disposable cups 100 and
capsules 1
enclosing a substance 500. In addition, occupation of the interior of the
capsule 1 that is
covered by the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100 with which it is in
contact, with a
substance 500 decreases the amount of oxygen and moisture trapped in the
interior of the
capsule 1, thus also contributing to the freshness of the substance 500 during
storage.
Furthermore, it should be noted that all the materials of which the disposable
cup 100
and the capsule 1 of the present invention are made of are food grade and
heatproof, thus
enabling their usage in the storage of beverage and food substances, as well
as preparation of
cold and hot beverages or food doses.
Returning now to Fig. 2A, according to yet another embodiment, the capsule 1
further
comprises a margin 40 extending outwards from the edge of the wall 20 of the
capsule 1. In a
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stack of disposable cups 100 with capsules 1, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the
lower edge of a rim
130 of a disposable cup 100 presses the margin 40 of the capsule 1 with which
it comes in
contact towards the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100, and thus seals the
interior of the
capsule 1 and prevents exposure of a substance 500 enclosed by the capsule 1
to oxygen and
moisture. According to still another embodiment, during a packaging process of
a plurality of
disposable cups 100, capsules 1 and substance 500 in a stack, the margin 40 of
the capsule 1
may be adhered to the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100 with which it is in
contact in
order to increase and stabilize the sealing of the interior of the capsule 1.
The adherence of
the capsule's 1 margin 40 to the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100 may be
performed in
any method known in the art, for example welding, adhering with a food grade
adhesive and
the like.
There are several ways to eliminate exposure of a substance present inside the
capsule
1 to oxygen and moisture. According to one embodiment, the capsule 1 is made
of an oxygen
and moisture proof material, for example plastic or aluminum foil. According
to another
embodiment, the inner surface of the capsule 1 is covered with a layer made of
an oxygen and
moisture proof material. According to yet another embodiment, the disposable
cup 100, or at
least the bottom 120 of the disposable cup 100, which serves as a cover of the
capsule 1 in a
stack of disposable cups 100 and capsules 1, is made of an oxygen and moisture
proof
material. According to still another embodiment, both surfaces of the bottom
120 and the
inner surface of the rim 130 of the disposable cup 100 that face the space 140
in which the
capsule 1 is accommodated, is made of an oxygen and moisture proof material,
or covered
with a layer of an oxygen and moisture proof material. According to a further
embodiment,
the stack of disposable cups 100 and capsules 1 harboring a substance 500 is
packaged with a
packaging material that is oxygen and moisture proof, for example an aluminum
laminate.
According to yet a further embodiment, vacuum, or negative pressure, may be
applied in the
package of disposable cups 100 and capsules 1 in order to reduce the amount of
oxygen and
moisture inside the package.
Fig. 2B schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a capsule 1 further comprising at least one handle 50, placed
on a bottom 120
of a disposable cup 100. According to a preferred embodiment, the capsule 1
further
comprises at least one handle 50 configured to facilitate removal of the
capsule 1 from the
disposable cup 100 before pouring a liquid into the disposable cup 100, in
order to prepare a
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beverage or food dose with a substance 500 that was enclosed by the capsule 1
in the
disposable cup 100. According to one embodiment, the at least one handle 50
extends from
the edge of the wall 20 of the capsule 1. According to another embodiment, the
at least one
handle 50 is attached to the edge of the wall 20 of the capsule 1 in a
flexible manner, thus
enabling folding of the at least one handle 50 relative to the capsule 1.
According to another
embodiment, the length of the at least one handle 50 is at least similar to
the height of a wall
110 of disposable cup 100. According to a preferred embodiment the length of
the at least
one handle 50 is slightly higher than the height of a wall 110 of a disposable
cup 100.
According to another preferred embodiment, the length of the at least one
handle 50 is higher
in a range of substantially 1-2 mm than the height of a wall 110 of a
disposable cup 100.
Thus, when a capsule 1 is positioned on a bottom 120 of a disposable cup 100,
the at least
one handle 50 protrudes above the wall 110 of the disposable cup 100 in a
manner that
facilitates grasping the at least one handle 50 by a user and removing the
capsule 1 from the
disposable cup 100. According to a further embodiment, the width of the at
least one handle
50 is such that it does not interfere with the stacking of a plurality of
disposable cups 100 and
capsules 1 comprising a handle 50. According to a preferred embodiment, the
width of the at
least one handle 50 is substantially 0.5 mm, which is slightly lower that the
space between
disposable cups 100 in a stack of a plurality of disposable cups 100.
According to yet a
further embodiment, after removal of the capsule 1 from the disposable cup 1
the at leasat
one handle 1 may be used as a stirrer during the preparation of a beverage or
food dose in the
disposable cup 100. Accordingly, the at least one handle 50, and according to
some
embodiments also the capsule 1, is made of a food grade and heatproof
material.
Fig. 4 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a capsule 1 comprising a slot 25 near the edge of the wall 20
of the capsule 1,
positioned on a bottom 120 of a disposable cup 100 comprising a protrusion 117
along the
wall 110 of the disposable cup 100 near the bottom 120 of the disposable cup
100. According
to one embodiment, the slot 25 of the capsule 1 is configured to accommodate
the protrusion
117 of the disposable cup 100, thus a further sealing of the interior of the
capsule 1 is
achieved, as well as stability of the capsule 1 when positioned in the
disposable cup 100.
According to another embodiment, the protrusion 117 of the disposable cup 100
is removably
attached to the wall 110 of the disposable cup 100. Thus, during the packaging
process, after
enclosing a substance 500 by the capsule 1, the slot 25 of a capsule 1 is
adhered to a
protrusion 117 of a disposable cup 100, in any manner known in the art, for
example welding,
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adhering with a food grade adhesive and the like. Thus, before usage, removal
of the capsule
1 from the disposable cup 100 causes removal of the protrusion 117 from the
wall 110 of the
disposable cup 100 while still adhered to the slot 25 of the capsule 1. In
this manner the
protrusion 117 does not remain in the disposable cup 100 when a beverage or
food dose is
prepared in the disposable cup 100.
Fig. 5 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a capsule 1 positioned on a bottom 120 of a disposable cup
100, which
comprises a slot 115 in the lower part of the disposable cup's 100 wall 110,
which is
configured to accommodate at least part of the margin 40 of the capsule 1.
According to one
embodiment, the slot 115 is substantially 1 mm deep. According to another
embodiment, the
diameter of the open side of the capsule 1 together with the margin 40 is
slightly longer, for
example in substantially 1 mm, that the diameter of the disposable cup 100
where the slot 115
is made. When at least part of the margin 40 of the capsule 1 is inserted in
the slot 115, a
further sealing of the interior of the capsule 1 is achieved, as well as
stability of the capsule 1
when positioned in the disposable cup 100.
Fig. 6 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a capsule 1 comprising at least one hollow handle 52.
According to this
embodiment, the space 55 inside the at least one hollow handle 52 is
configured to harbor a
substance that may be added to substance 500 enclosed by the capsule 1 during
the
preparation of a beverage or a food dose in a disposable cup 100. For example,
the capsule
1 may enclose an instant soup powder and a hollow handle 52 may contain in its
space 55 a
spice, like pepper, that the user may add to the soup when prepared in the
disposable cup 100.
According to still another embodiment, the capsule comprises at least one
inner wall
15 that divides the capsule 1 to at least two sub-compartments 16. Fig. 7
schematically
illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a cross-section view of a
capsule 1
comprising two inner walls 15 that divide the capsule to three sub-
compartments 16. The at
least two sub-compartments 16, or three sub-compartments 16 of the capsule 1,
as
exemplarily illustrated in Fig. 7, are configured to harbor at least two
substances 500, or
three substances 502, 504 and 506, as exemplarily illustrated in Fig. 7, which
are separated
from each other, for example coffee powder, sugar and dried milk powder. More
particularly,
the at least two sub-compartments 16 of the capsule 1 are configured to harbor
substances
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500 that cannot be mixed together for an extended period of time during the
storage period of
the disposable cups 100 and the substances 500 inside them, which are enclosed
by capsules
1.
According to a further embodiment, the capsule 1 comprises a first compartment
60
and a second compartment 70, when the first compartment is configured to face
the bottom
120 of a disposable cup 100 in which the capsule 1 is placed, and the second
compartment 70
is configured to face an inner space of a disposable cup 100. According to yet
a further
embodiment, the first compartment 60 and/or the second compartment 70 of the
capsule
further comprises at least one inner wall that further divides the first
compartment 60 and/or
the second compartment 70 to at least two sub-compartments. Fig. 8
schematically illustrates,
according to an exemplary embodiment, a cross-section view of a capsule 1
comprising a first
compartment 60 configured to face a bottom 120 of a disposable cup 100 and a
second
compartment 70 facing an inner space of the disposable cup 100, while the
first compartment
60 further comprises an inner wall 65 which divides the first compartment 60
to two sub-
compartments 67. Each compartment 60, 70 and sub-compartment 67 is configured
to harbor
a separate substance 500, 504 and 506 as discussed above. According to an
additional
embodiment, the second compartment is removably covered with a cover 77,
preferably made
of an oxygen and moisture proof material, like plastic and aluminum foil, in
order to avoid
exposure of the at least one substance 506 placed in the second compartment 70
to oxygen
and moisture. During usage, the user may decide whether to add the at least
one substance
506 stored in the second compartment 70 to the beverage or food dose that is
prepared in the
disposable cup 100 with the at least one substance 502 and 504 that was
enclosed by the first
compartment 60 of the capsule 1.
Fig. 9 schematically illustrates, according to an exemplary embodiment, a
cross-
section view of a capsule 1 covered with a liquid permeable cover 80.
According to one
embodiment the capsule 1 which covered with a liquid permeable cover 80 is
configured to
enclose a substance 500 that is to be extracted with a liquid in a disposable
cup 100, for
example chopped and dried tea leaves, and allowing removal of the substance
500 from the
liquid after the extraction. The liquid permeable cover 80 is made of a
material that allows
passage of liquid therethrough, for example fabric, porous plastic and the
like. During usage,
a liquid, for example hot water, is poured into a disposable cup 100 harboring
a capsule 1
covered with a liquid permeable cover 80, and a substance 500 enclosed by the
capsule 1 is
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extracted by the added liquid. Before consuming the extracted beverage the
capsule 1 may be
removed from the disposable cup 1. If according to some embodiments, the
capsule 1 covered
with a liquid permeable cover 80 further comprises a handle 50, a user may
hold the handle
50 and immerse the capsule 1 several times in a liquid poured into the
disposable cup 100 in
order to facilitate the extraction of the substance 500 enclosed by the
capsule 1. According to
an additional embodiment, the liquid permeable cover 80 is attached to the
edge of the wall
20 or the margin 40 of the capsule 1, in a manner that keeps the liquid
permeable cover 80
attached to the edge of the wall 20 or the margin 40 of the capsule 1 when it
comes in contact
with a liquid, particularly warm or hot liquid. For example, the liquid
permeable cover 80
may be welded, or adhered with a waterproof food grade adhesive to the edge of
the wall 20
or to the margin 40 of the capsule 1.
According to one embodiment, a method for stacking a plurality of disposable
cups,
comprising a bottom and a rim deformed from the bottom, and a plurality of
capsules
comprising a bottom having a circumference, a wall extending from the
circumference and an
opening, and a substance enclosed by the capsules, the method for stacking
comprising:
positioning a disposable cup with the bottom and rim pointing upwards;
providing a capsule
with the opening pointing upwards in a space formed by the bottom and rim of
the disposable
cup; providing a substance into the capsule; covering the capsule with another
disposable cup
with the bottom and rim pointing upwards; repeating the previous steps from
the step of
providing a capsule with the opening pointing upwards in a space formed by the
bottom and
rim of the disposable cup, until a stack with a desired number of disposable
cups, capsules
and substance is formed.
According to another embodiment, a method for keeping the freshness for an
extended period of time of a substance packaged in a stack of a plurality of
disposable cups,
comprising a bottom and a rim deformed from the bottom, and a plurality of
capsules
comprising a bottom having a circumference, a wall extending from the
circumference and an
opening, wherein each of the capsules is accommodate in a space defined by the
bottom and
the rim of a disposable cup, the method for keeping the freshness comprises:
packaging the
stack in a package made of an oxygen and moisture proof material. According to
yet another
embodiment, the method further comprises applying an inert gas into the
package, for
example nitrogen.
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According to yet another embodiment, the method for keeping the freshness for
an
extended period of time of a substance packaged in a stack of a plurality of
disposable cups
further comprises creating a negative pressure in the package, for example by
extracting the
air from the package and creating a vacuum in the package.
It should be noted that packaging a stack of disposable cups harboring a
substance,
and either applying an inert gas in the package or creating a negative
pressure in the package,
without using capsules of the present invention is not efficient in term of
keeping the
substance fresh for an extended period of time, because there is still air
entrapped in the space
defined by the bottom an d rim of a disposable cup. On the other hand, using
capsules of the
present invention is efficient in terms of keeping the substance fresh for an
extended period
of time because enclosing the substance with the capsule substantially
decreases the amount
of air entrapped n the space defined by the bottom an d rim of a disposable
cup.
It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for
clarity, described
in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in
a single
embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for
brevity, described
in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in
any suitable sub
combination.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific
embodiments
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations
will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives,
modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of
the appended
claims.
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