WO2010093246A1

WO2010093246A1 - Holder and cup containing concentrate for preparing hot beverages

Info

Publication number: WO2010093246A1
Application number: PCT/NL2010/050070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Margaretha Theodorus Maria Bongers; Wiebe Nicolaas Van Druten
Original assignee: Friesland Brands B.V.
Priority date: 2009-02-13
Filing date: 2010-02-15
Publication date: 2010-08-19
Also published as: NL2002528C2

Abstract

Cup for preparing a beverage by means of a hot water appliance and holder for such a cup. The cup comprises a bowl-shaped dish body (11) for retaining a preparation substance with an inlet opening and a discharge opening (24), wherein, during use, a product which has been prepared in the cup flows through the discharge opening (24). The cup furthermore comprises an aeration device (40) which supplies air to the stream of prepared product in the vicinity of the discharge opening (24). Various aeration devices are possible, both in the cup (10) and in the holder (30), as well as in combination.

Description

Holder and cup containing concentrate for preparing hot beverages

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a cup for preparing a beverage by means of a hot water appliance, comprising a bowl-shaped dish body for retaining a preparation substance with an inlet opening and discharge opening, wherein, during use, a product which has been prepared in the cup flows through the discharge opening. According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a holder for use with such a cup.

Prior art

A cup or cartridge of this type is known from Netherlands application NL 1029312 in the name of the Applicant of the present application.

Cartridges for use in the preparation of (warm) beverages based on a liquid concentrate are known from inter alia WO-A-01/58786, EP-A-O 449 533, EP-A-I 101 430, WO- Al-03/073896, WO-Al -03/053200, WO-A1-02/19875, US 6,130,990, US 4,886,674, EP-A-I 440 907 and EP-A-I 440 908.

WO-A-01/58786 and EP-A-O 449 533 describe a cartridge wherein (hot) water is passed via a punctiform inflow opening on the underside of the cartridge, via a 'ring line' containing distribution openings, and furthermore via these distribution openings through a compartment containing a concentrate, the water diluting the concentrate by means of turbulence to form a beverage, which beverage is subsequently passed via a siphon to an outflow opening on the underside of the cartridge.

EP-A-I 101 430 describes a stepped cartridge wherein inter alia provisions are made for using a liquid concentrate (paras. [0034] and [0035]). During use of this cartridge, the wall of the cartridge is pierced, after which (hot) water is passed through the concentrate via the inflow opening(s) thus created and the hot concentrate is thus diluted to form a beverage, this beverage leaving the cartridge via a likewise pierced outflow opening. WO-Al -03/073896 describes a cartridge wherein the underside of the cartridge is provided with perforations and is covered with a foil, which foil should be removed for use. This cartridge is also suitable for a liquid concentrate (p. 14, lines 3-8 and Claim 18), (hot) water being passed from an inflow opening on the upper side through the concentrate and the concentrate as a result being diluted to form a beverage, this beverage leaving the cartridge via the preformed perforations on the underside.

WO-Al -03/053200 and WO-Al -02/19875 describe cartridges which are made of a flexible material and are inter alia suitable for a liquid concentrate (WO-Al -03/053200 p. 5, lines 19-21; WO-Al -02/19875 p. 19, lines 4-6) for use in a hot water appliance, the cartridge being clamped in a cavity intended for this purpose and being pierced with a hollow needle, after which the water is passed through the concentrate to the outflow opening.

US 6,130,990 describes a hot water appliance which is suitable for preparing a beverage based on concentrate in a cartridge (col. 5, lines 54-67; col. 7, lines 58-61; col. 9, line 66 - col. 10, line 6).

US 4,886,674 describes a cartridge which is made of a flexible material and is inter alia suitable for a liquid concentrate, the supply of water being passed via a connection point, through the concentrate to an outflow opening, the outflow opening being created by a weakened sealing seam, which sealing seam is opened by the operating pressure of the appliance.

European patent applications EP-A-I 440 907 and EP-A-I 440 908 describe a cartridge for use in the preparation of beverages. This cartridge has a dome shape which on the underside is sealed by a foil, and is provided on the side of the foil with both an inlet opening (on the edge) and a discharge opening (in the centre). Water (hot water) is passed via a punctiform inflow opening on the underside of the cartridge, via a 'ring line' containing distribution openings to the sealing foil, and furthermore is passed via these distribution openings through a compartment. The compartment contains a concentrate, the water diluting the concentrate by means of turbulence to form a beverage, which beverage is subsequently passed via a siphon to an outflow opening on the underside of the cartridge. Special measures are also provided in the cartridge in order to cause the water to run from the inlet opening proportionally, directed radially inward through the interior of the cartridge.

In a further embodiment, EP-A-I 440 907 describes a method for controlling the mixing of the water with the concentrate by means of provisions which slow down the mixing of the concentrate with the water. In this case, this provision is configured as a sort of saucer, the concentrate being added in a slowed-down manner via the holes on the underside of the saucer on the flow path of the water.

Some of the known cups and cartridges can be used to produce a beverage with a layer of froth being formed on the prepared product. However, the layer of froth which is produced does not always satisfy the requirements of the consumers.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to improve the formation of froth during the preparation of a product when using a cup or cartridge in a hot water appliance.

According to the present invention, a first embodiment provides a cup for preparing a beverage by means of a hot water appliance, comprising a bowl-shaped dish body for retaining a preparation substance with an inlet opening and a discharge opening, wherein, during use, a product which has been prepared in the cup flows through the discharge opening, characterized in that the cup furthermore comprises an aeration device which supplies air to the stream of prepared product in the vicinity of the discharge opening. This results in a good formation of froth during use.

In a further embodiment, the aeration device comprises at least one aeration duct in the (direct) vicinity of the discharge opening for supplying ambient air to a flow of prepared product. Thus, a partial vacuum is created, as a result of which air is sucked into the stream, as it were, and the formation of froth is improved. In one embodiment, the discharge opening is situated on the end of a tapering wall in a discharge duct in the cup, with the at least one aeration duct opening into the tapering wall. Furthermore, an inwardly directed elevation may be present on the tapering wall, upstream of the at least one aeration duct. This results in a change in the stream of prepared product to the discharge opening, which favourably affects the formation of froth. In a further variant, the cup in the discharge duct comprises a vertical wall, and the at least one aeration duct opens substantially at right angles to the vertical wall. This alternative embodiment also results in an improvement regarding the formation of froth.

In a further embodiment, the cup furthermore comprises an extension element and the extension element comprises the aeration device. The extension element may comprise the discharge opening and, in combination with the cup, also at least one aeration duct. The extension element may be fitted onto the discharge opening and the extension element is optionally latched into the cup, for example by means of a click- fit connection. These embodiments also result in an improved formation of froth by introducing air into the prepared product.

In a further embodiment, the cup, during use, is in contact with an aeration body in a cup holder, the aeration body being provided with a central bore which adjoins the discharge opening, and the aeration body, during use, comprising one or more aeration ducts. In a further embodiment, a part of the cup adjoining the discharge opening and/or a contact surface of the aeration body is provided with one or more depressions which form one or more aeration ducts during use. Alternatively, the aeration body may be provided with aeration ducts which open into the central bore. The air supply required for improving the formation of froth is thus achieved in a simple manner during assembly of the cup and/or together with the cup holder during use.

In a further embodiment, the aeration device comprises, situated at a distance from the discharge opening, a plate having a central opening, with the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned away from the discharge opening being smaller than the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned towards the discharge opening. The dimensions of the opening are slightly larger than the cross section of the stream (for example 0.8-0.9 mm compared to 0.78 mm). Due to the fact that these dimensions are closely matched to one another, the formation of froth is improved.

In yet a further embodiment, the discharge opening comprises at least two openings, and the part of the cup between the at least two openings forms the aeration device. The cross-sectional area of these openings is virtually equal to that of the original opening, i.e. 0.8 mm in cross section. The openings may be round (for example drilled) or they may comprise partitions in the original opening. 2, 3 or 4 openings may be provided in the cup in order to achieve a satisfactory formation of froth.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a holder for use with a cup according to one of the embodiments as described above, with the holder comprising at least a part of the aeration device. In one embodiment, the holder comprises an aeration body which is provided with a central bore which adjoins the discharge opening of the cup and, during use, comprises one or more aeration ducts. The aeration body may furthermore be provided with aeration ducts which open into the central bore. In yet a further embodiment, the holder comprises, situated at a distance from the discharge opening during use, a plate having a central opening with the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned away from the discharge opening being smaller than the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned towards the discharge opening. Using such a holder in combination with the cup described above, it is likewise possible to achieve an improved formation of froth during use.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a holder according to one of the above-described embodiments and a cup according to one of the embodiments likewise described above in a hot water appliance which is provided with a receiving space for receiving the holder and the cup, the hot water appliance being configured for passing heated water through the cup and the holder. By using the present cup and/or holder in this manner, the formation of froth is improved.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will now be discussed in greater detail based on a number of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an oblique perspective view from below of a cup for preparing a product;

Fig. 2 shows an oblique top view in perspective of the cup according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cup according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in perspective of a variant of a cup;

Figs. 5a and 5b show partial sectional views of embodiments of a cup according to the present invention;

Fig. 6a shows a partial sectional view of a modified cup for use in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6b shows a partial sectional view of an embodiment of a cup according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 shows a partial sectional view of a variant of the embodiment from Fig. 6b;

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of a combination of a cup and holder during use, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9a shows a sectional view of an aeration device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9b shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a cup with an aeration device similar to that of the embodiment from Fig. 9a; and

Figs. 10a and 10b show views of embodiments in which the aeration device is formed by variants of the discharge opening.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

The holder and cup according to the present invention allow the preparation of (warm) beverages, such as for example warm chocolate milk, using a hot water appliance. The cup (also referred to as the blank, cartridge or reservoir) is for this purpose filled with a concentrate which is mixed, with the aid of the appliance, with warm/hot water and is passed into a cup or mug. Other beverages or snacks can also be prepared based on a concentrate or other preparation substance, milk products, fruit juices, sauces and desserts.

The preparation substance is a product which is soluble or suspendable in a liquid and can be in the form of a powder, a (concentrated) liquid, a syrup, a gel or in another similar form. If a powder is used, said powder preferably does not contain substances which are difficult to dissolve or non-soluble (such as certain proteins), so that good mixing with the hot water in the cup is ensured. It is possible, for example in the embodiment of the cup 10 with a plurality of compartments to be described hereinafter, to use combinations of preparation substances, even a combination of a concentrate and a powder.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an underside of a cup 10 according to one embodiment according to the present invention. The cup 10 has a bowl-shaped underside 11 and on the upper side an edge 12. The edge 12 is further provided with a sealing edge 12 which ensures, in interaction with a holder (see hereinafter), a seal of the assembly of the holder and cup 10, so that water is forced out of the appliance through the cup 10. The bowl-shaped underside 11 is further provided with an edge 14. The bowl-shaped underside 11 is sealed within the edge 14 by a seal 15 for transportation and storage. The seal 15 is for example a plastics material seal which is suitable for use in combination with food.

Fig. 2 is a perspective top view of the cup 10 of Fig. 1. The cup 10 is sealed on the upper side by a double seal comprising a perforated cover layer 16 and a pull-off layer 17. The perforated cover layer 16 is for example made from a suitable plastics material (for example polypropylene) and the pull-off layer 17 from another suitable material (for example an aluminium-based foil).

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cup 10 revealing the internal layout of the cup 10. The inside of the cup 10 comprises a chamber portion 25 in which the concentrate can be placed. Interior parts, comprising a cylindrical body 6 and a central guide body 26, are present on the inside of the cup 10. The cylindrical body 6 is positioned coaxially on the central guide body 26. The complete unit is circular symmetrical and can be made in a known manner from plastics material (for example by injection-moulding). The cylindrical body 6 can be provided with tangentially projecting ribs 29 which give a certain rigidity. Furthermore, the width of the projecting ribs 29 is such that said ribs fit into the edge 14 of another cup 10, making the cups nestable, and this has advantages in the production process of filled cups 10 (stock of nested cups 10 for filling with concentrate). The cylindrical body 6 is of such a height that the upper side of the cylindrical body 6 is flush with the edge 12 and touches the perforated cover layer 16. The perforated cover layer 16 is secured to the edge 12 and to the upper side of the cylindrical body 6, thereby producing two zones of the cover layer 16: a central portion without perforations and an annular portion with perforations.

The guide body 26 is shaped in such a way as to form on the underside a (cylindrical) perforation space 23 which is connected to the outer side of the cup 10 (but sealed after filling by seal 15). With the cylindrical body 6, the guide body 26 forms a first duct 22. On the underside of the cylindrical body, the bowl-shaped underside 11 contains feed- through openings 21 connecting the chamber portion 25 to the first duct 22. In the embodiment shown, the openings 21 are formed in an injection-moulding process. As an alternative, the openings 21 can be formed subsequently by drilling holes from the outer side of the cup 10. The cup 10 can be formed easily as a complete unit, and the size and height of the openings 21 can easily be determined.

The outward opening is later sealed by the seal 15. In the centre of the cup 10, the guide body 26 forms a second duct or discharge duct 28 which is provided with a central opening 24 (or discharge opening) on the underside and is connected to the first duct 22. In this embodiment, the central opening 24 has a smaller cross section than any of the first openings 21.

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view in perspective of a variant of the cup 10. The cup 10 again has a dish 11 with an edge 12 at the upper side. The bowl-shaped underside 11 is furthermore provided with an edge 14. The bowl-shaped underside 11 is sealed inside the edge 14 by a seal 15 for transportation and storage. The seal 15 is for example a plastics material seal which is suitable for use in combination with food. This variant of the cup 10 is described in more detail in the Netherlands patent application 2000400 of the Applicant of the present patent application which is not a prior publication. This patent application is deemed to be incorporated herein by way of reference. The cup 10 is sealed on the upper side by a cover layer 16. The cover layer 16 may, for example, be a composite foil and, for example, furthermore comprise a pull-off layer. The perforated cover layer 16 is, for example, made of a suitable plastics material (for example polypropylene) and the pull-off layer from another suitable material (for example an aluminium-based foil). As a result thereof, a cup 10 which is filled with a preparation substance can be stored for a long time, with the combination of a cover layer and pull-off layer acting as a gas and liquid barrier.

On the inside of the cup 10, a static mixer 5 is present which may form part of the cup 10 which is produced in one single moulding step. As a result of this single moulding step, the cup is inherently easy to sterilize with, for example, hydrogen peroxide, peracid, and the like and is therefore suited extremely well for aseptic filling. Such a static mixer 5 contains no moving parts and is therefore simple to produce and reliable in operation. Using a cup 10 with a static mixer 5 means that a well-mixed product can still be delivered without any finishing (stirring of the cup) being necessary.

A cylindrical wall 6 of the static mixer 5 forms a first chamber portion 25 on the inside of the cup 10, which is furthermore delimited by the inside of the dish 11 and the cover layer 16, which first chamber portion 25 can (partially) be filled with a preparation substance.

In the illustrated embodiment, the static mixer 5 comprises at least one second chamber portion 26, in which water flows from the upper side of the cup 10 downwards via cover layer 16 (via aligned perforation openings in the cover layer 16), just as in the first chamber portion 25. Also in the second chamber portion 26, the cup 10 can be filled with a preparation substance which may be identical to or different from the preparation substance in first chamber portion 25. Furthermore, the static mixer 5 comprises at least one riser duct 27 in which water mixed with the preparation substance from the first chamber portion 25 and the at least one second chamber portion 26 flows back up again. The static mixer 5 also comprises a discharge duct 28 which is in liquid communication with an outflow opening 24 for discharging the final prepared product. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, an orientation rib 13 is provided on the inside of the dish 11 for each second chamber portion 26. This indicates in which area of the static mixer 5 a second chamber portion 26 is located. This is important when filling the cup and orienting the cover layer 16. In addition, the orientation ribs 13 provide additional turbulence in the first chamber portion 25, which in turn results in improved mixing.

Between the first chamber portion 25 and second chamber portion 26, a number of first openings 20 is provided, near the edge where the static mixer 5 adjoins the dish 11. Furthermore, a number of second openings 21 are provided between each second chamber portion 26 and each riser duct 27. Furthermore, for each riser duct, a third opening 22 is provided to the discharge duct 28. On the underside, the second chamber portions 26 and riser ducts 27 are sealed by the material of the dish 11. At the upper side, the second chamber portions 26, riser ducts 27 and discharge duct 28 are sealed by the cover layer 16.

According to the present invention, the formation of froth during use of a cup 10 in a hot water appliance is improved by a number of measures in the vicinity of the discharge opening 24. In general, in one of many variants an aeration device is used which introduces air into the stream or flow of prepared product in the vicinity of the discharge opening 24 during use. This introduced air, optionally in combination with constituents of the product itself, promotes the formation of froth.

Figs. 5a and 5b show detail views of the area of the cup 10 around the discharge opening 24 for two embodiments. From the second duct or discharge duct 28, the mixed product (mixture of liquid and preparation substance) flows to the discharge opening 24 and is discharged there as a flow. In this variant, the aeration device comprises one or more aeration ducts 40. The aeration ducts 40 are for example provided symmetrically around the discharge opening 24. One aeration duct 40 already results in an improvement in the formation of froth, but several aeration ducts, for example three, may yield an even better result. The cross section of the aeration ducts 40 is very small, at least where these open into the discharge duct 28, in the order of magnitude of 0.2 mm in cross section or even smaller (cross-sectional area smaller than 0.0314 mm²).

Fig. 5a shows a first embodiment in which the aeration device is formed by one or more aeration ducts 40 which extend from the underside of the cup 10 to the discharge duct 28. The aeration duct 40 discharges virtually at right angles to the direction of flow of the discharge duct 28. Due to prepared product flowing past the opening of the aeration duct 40, a partial vacuum is produced in the aeration duct 40 on account of Venturi effect, leading to air being sucked in from outside the cup 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the discharge duct 28 has a vertical wall portion 41 (cylindrical wall) and an adjoining tapering wall portion 42, with the tapering wall portion 42 tapering up to the discharge opening 24. To be more precise, in order to achieve a Venturi effect, the diameter of the wall 41, just below opening 40, is just slightly larger in order to produce a partial vacuum. Thereafter, the wall portion 42 will taper further up to the opening 24. By the one or more aeration ducts 40 opening into the vertical wall portion 41 with the illustrated configuration, it is still possible to produce the cup 10 using injection-moulding techniques, optionally in combination with subsequently drilling portions of the aeration ducts 40.

Fig. 5b shows a second embodiment in which the aeration ducts 40 open into the tapering wall portion 42. By allowing the aeration ducts 40 to open into the discharge duct 28 closer to the discharge opening 24, more air is sucked in due to the higher flow velocity of the prepared product there.

In order to better ensure that a partial vacuum is created in the aeration duct 40, in the illustrated embodiment, a local elevation 43 is furthermore formed in the tapering wall portion 42, directly upstream of the aeration duct 40. Such an elevation 43 acts like a jump, as it were, for the prepared product in the discharge duct 28, resulting in the creation of a partial vacuum immediately behind the elevation 43. As an additional advantage, this geometric modification (duct) continues to ensure the operation, so that the cup 10 is easier to produce, i.e. less sensitive to tolerances, using standard production techniques (such as injection-moulding, inter alia). In a further variant of the aeration device, an extension element 50 is used which is fitted instead of discharge opening 24 and a part of the cup 10, or which is fitted over the existing discharge opening 24. The extension element 50 is a separate element, which is placed or fitted in the cup 10.

Figs. 6a and 6b show sectional views of embodiments in which an extension element 50 is placed in an enlarged opening in the cup 10. Fig. 6a shows a detail of a sectional view of the cup 10, in which the discharge duct 28 and the straight inner wall 41 thereof are again visible. A receiving space 43 adjoins the discharge duct 28 and is provided with a wall 44. The cross section of the receiving space 43 is greater than the cross section of the discharge duct 28, so that the extension element 50 may lead to an adjoining tapering wall 42 (see Fig. 6b). Furthermore, the wall 44 is provided with a number of depressions 45 by means of which the extension element 50 can be latched into the cup 10. This offers more reliability than a simple clamping connection, especially if the prepared product is pressed through the discharge opening 24 at great pressure.

Fig. 6b shows a detail view of the extension element 50 in the position in the cup 10 during use. The extension element 50 comprises the discharge opening 24 as used in the embodiments of the cup 10 described above. Furthermore, the extension element 50 comprises a wall 42 which tapers towards the discharge opening and which is curved in this embodiment (alternately concave and convex, or with a positive and negative radius). A straight and eventually tapering wall as shown in the embodiments of Figs. 5a and 5b is also possible.

One or more (adjoining) depressions are provided in a side wall 51 and upper side 52 of the extension element 50, leading to the creation of the one or more aeration ducts 40 once the extension element 50 has been fitted in the receiving space 43, that is together with the cup 10. In this embodiment, the aeration ducts 40 again open at approximately right angles into the stream of prepared product in the discharge duct 28. The cross section of the aeration ducts 40 is determined by the depressions provided in the extension element and is, for example, 0.2 mm. This corresponds to a cross-sectional area which is less than or equal to 0.0314 mm²). In yet a further variant, the depressions which eventually form the aeration ducts 40 are not provided in the extension element 50, but in the wall 44 of the receiving space 43. A combination of both variants (depressions in wall 44 and in extension element 50) is also possible.

Fig. 7 shows a part of the cup 10 in sectional view with yet a further variant of the extension element 50. In this variant, the extension element 50 is arranged over the existing discharge opening 24. By means of protruding bodies 53 (for example in the form of protruding pins), the extension element 50 is fixed onto the outer side of the cup 10, over the discharge opening 24. Other fixing techniques, for example gluing or welding, can also be used for this purpose (thus making the use of protruding bodies 53 obsolete).

The extension element 50 according to this variant extends the discharge opening 24. On an inner side of the extension element 50, depressions are produced which run from an outwardly directed opening 54 in the extension element 50 to that part which adjoins the discharge opening 24. As soon as the extension element 50 is fitted in place, the aeration ducts 40 are formed by means of these depressions. Again, there may be one or more, for example six, aeration ducts 40.

In one of the embodiments described herein, the shape of the aeration ducts 40 may be round, rectangular or, for example, semicircular. These shapes can easily be imparted to the various parts of the cup 10 or cup holder 60 according to one of the described exemplary embodiments. In one example, the aeration ducts 40 are designed as rectangular ducts (machined or shaped by a mould by, for example, injection- moulding) having a width of 0.2 mm and a depth in the range between 0.10 mm and 0.18 mm.

In a further embodiment of the aeration device, aeration ducts 40 are formed during use as a result of the combination of the cup 10 and an associated cup holder 60. The cup holder 60 is used to pierce the seal 15 (see the embodiments of the cup according to Figs. 1-4 above) before use, as a result of which the discharge opening 24 is exposed. This is described, inter alia, in the Netherlands patent application 2000402 of the present Applicant which is not a prior publication and which is deemed to be incorporated herein by way of reference.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of part of the cup 10 together with the cup holder 60. The cup holder 60 comprises a counterpressure body 61 which is used to remove the seal 15 from the discharge opening 24. Furthermore, the cup holder 60 comprises an aeration body 62 which is connected to a suspension element 63 (for example a piece of flexible plastic), as a result of which the aeration body 62 can be held against the discharge opening 24 under pressure during use. The aeration body 62 is furthermore provided with a central bore 64 which adjoins the discharge opening 24 of the cup 10 (or has a slightly larger cross section). This central bore 64 extends into a further central bore 65 having a larger cross section. On the side of the further central bore 65, the aeration body 62 may be provided with indentations 67 which can be used to connect the aeration body 62 to the suspension elements 63, for example via a screw connection.

On the side of the aeration body 62 which is turned towards the cup 10, a depression 66 is provided and one or more channels are formed on the depressed surface adjoining the cup 10 which form the aeration ducts 40 during use.

Alternatively, the depressed surface of the aeration body 62 is simply flat and channels are provided on the underside of the cup 10 (next to discharge opening 24). This offers the advantage that the aeration ducts 40 cannot become clogged so quickly, as the cup 10 is only used once. In addition, the aeration ducts 40 may be formed from a combination of channels in cup 10 and aeration body 62.

In a further alternative, the aeration body 62 is provided with aeration ducts 40 which open into the central bore 64 at virtually right angles, as is indicated in Fig. 8 by a dashed line.

Yet a further variant of the aeration device for the cup 10 is shown in detail in the sectional views of Figs. 9a and 9b. In these embodiments, an aeration device in the form of a plate 70 with an aeration opening 71 is fitted at a distance from the discharge opening 24. On its side which is turned towards the discharge opening 24, the aeration opening 71 has a larger cross section than on the side which is turned away from the discharge opening. In the illustrated embodiment, the aeration opening 71 is designed as a conical opening with an aperture angle of 60 degrees. The smallest cross section of the aeration opening 71 (denoted by 0D) is just slightly larger than the flow of prepared product which flows from the discharge opening 24. If the cross section of the flow is, for example, 0.78 mm, the smallest cross section 0D is chosen in the range from 0.8 - 0.9 mm. Due to the turbulent nature of the flow from the discharge opening 24 (which will not be exactly round), this has the effect that a plurality of aeration ducts are formed, resulting in an improved formation of froth.

In one embodiment, the plate 70 is arranged centrally in the cup holder 60. In use, the aeration opening 71 is then exactly below the discharge opening 24 of the cup 10.

In the variant illustrated in Fig. 9b, the plate 70 is designed as a component of the cup 10. The discharge duct 28 is made slightly shorter by arranging the tapering wall 42 higher inside the cup 10. In this embodiment, the vertical wall 41 extends beyond the tapering wall 42. At the end of the vertical wall 41, the plate 70 with aeration opening 71 is now fitted, for example by means of some legs 72. By using legs 72 of small dimensions, air can flow to that side of the aeration opening 71 which is turned towards the discharge opening 24.

In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, variants of which are shown in the views of Figs. 10a and 10b, the aeration device is designed as a modification of the discharge opening 24. Instead of the single discharge opening 24 in an underside 80 of discharge duct 28, an underside 80 is now provided at the same location in the cup 10 which has two or more openings 81 instead of one discharge opening 24 (indicated by a dashed line in the view from Fig. 10a). The total surface area of the two or more openings 81 is substantially equal to the surface area of the one discharge opening 24. The clearance between the two or more openings 81 now forms aeration ducts with a small cross section, as it were. Alternatively, a number of ribs 82 are provided in the discharge opening 24, which divide the discharge opening 24 into two or more partial openings, resulting in turn in the formation of aeration ducts immediately behind the openings 81. In the example as illustrated in the view from Fig. 10b, two ribs 82 have been arranged crosswise, thus creating four partial openings. It will be clear that other divisions are possible.

Claims

1. Cup for preparing a beverage by means of a hot water appliance, comprising a bowl-shaped dish body (11) for retaining a preparation substance with an inlet opening and a discharge opening (24), wherein, during use, a product which has been prepared in the cup flows through the discharge opening (24), characterized in that the cup furthermore comprises an aeration device which supplies air to the stream of prepared product in the vicinity of the discharge opening (24).

2. Cup according to Claim 1, in which the aeration device comprises at least one aeration duct (40) in the vicinity of the discharge opening for supplying ambient air to a flow of prepared product.

3. Cup according to Claim 2, in which the discharge opening (24) is situated at the end of a tapering wall (42) in a discharge duct (28) in the cup (10), and in which the at least one aeration duct opens into the tapering wall (42).

4. Cup according to Claim 3, in which an inwardly directed elevation is present on the tapering wall (42), upstream of the at least one aeration duct (40).

5. Cup according to Claim 2, in which the cup (10) in the discharge duct (28) comprises a vertical wall (41), and the at least one aeration duct (40) opens substantially at right angles to the vertical wall (41).

6. Cup according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the cup furthermore comprises an extension element (50) and the extension element (50) comprises the aeration device.

7. Cup according to Claim 6, in which the extension element comprises the discharge opening and, in combination with the cup (10), at least one aeration duct.

8. Cup according to Claim 6, in which the extension element can be fitted onto the discharge opening.

9. Cup according to one of Claims 6-8, in which the extension element is latched into the cup.

10. Cup according to Claim 1 or 2, in which, during use, the cup is in contact with an aeration body in a cup holder, the aeration body being provided with a central bore which adjoins the discharge opening, and the aeration body, during use, comprising one or more aeration ducts.

11. Cup according to Claim 10, in which a part of the cup adjoining the discharge opening and/or a contact surface of the aeration body is provided with one or more depressions which form one or more aeration ducts during use.

12. Cup according to Claim 10, in which the aeration body is provided with aeration ducts which open into the central bore.

13. Cup according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the aeration device comprises, situated at a distance from the discharge opening, a plate having a central opening, with the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned away from the discharge opening being smaller than the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned towards the discharge opening.

14. Cup according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the discharge opening (24) comprises at least two openings (81), and the part of the cup between the at least two openings forms the aeration device.

15. Holder for use with a cup according to Claims 1 or 2, in which the holder comprises at least a part of the aeration device.

16. Holder according to Claim 15, in which the holder comprises an aeration body which is provided with a central bore which adjoins the discharge opening of the cup and, during use, comprises one or more aeration ducts.

17. Holder according to Claim 16, in which the aeration body is provided with aeration ducts which open into the central bore.

18. Holder according to Claim 15, in which the holder comprises, situated at a distance from the discharge opening during use, a plate having a central opening, with the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned away from the discharge opening being smaller than the cross section of the opening on that side which is turned towards the discharge opening.

19. Use of a holder according to one of Claims 15-18, and a cup according to one of Claims 1 to 14 in a hot water appliance which is provided with a receiving space for receiving the holder (30) and the cup (10), the hot water appliance being configured for passing heated water through the cup (10) and the holder (30).