AU2004294776A1 - Brewing and drinking receptacle - Google Patents
Brewing and drinking receptacle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2004294776A1 AU2004294776A1 AU2004294776A AU2004294776A AU2004294776A1 AU 2004294776 A1 AU2004294776 A1 AU 2004294776A1 AU 2004294776 A AU2004294776 A AU 2004294776A AU 2004294776 A AU2004294776 A AU 2004294776A AU 2004294776 A1 AU2004294776 A1 AU 2004294776A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- cup
- receptacle
- cups
- ingredient
- inner cup
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000035622 drinking Effects 0.000 title description 27
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 claims description 111
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 25
- 241001122767 Theaceae Species 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000012263 liquid product Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000005034 decoration Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 33
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 24
- 238000001802 infusion Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013124 brewing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000012171 hot beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005728 strengthening Methods 0.000 description 2
- 101100327917 Caenorhabditis elegans chup-1 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 229920000426 Microplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000013019 agitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013334 alcoholic beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000013505 freshwater Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
- A47J31/18—Apparatus in which ground coffee or tea-leaves are immersed in the hot liquid in the beverage container
- A47J31/20—Apparatus in which ground coffee or tea-leaves are immersed in the hot liquid in the beverage container having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
- A47J31/005—Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
Description
WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 BREWING AND DRINKING RECEPTACLE The present invention relates to a receptacle for containing an ingredient for the preparation of a beverage or other liquid product and in which the ingredient can be mixed or infused with a liquid, such as water, to 5 create the product. More particularly, the invention relates to a disposable drinking receptacle which is intended to be prefilled and supplied with a beverage ingredient, such as tea or coffee, and in which the selected beverage can be brewed, when required, in a controlled fashion, upon the addition of hot or cold water to the receptacle. 10 It is well known to supply disposable drinking cups containing a powdered, or-granulated beverage- ingredient of teabag in readiness for preparation of a beverage. Such disposable drinking cups are designed to be stacked in nested relation with one another, the ingredient being trapped in an ingredient chamber formed between one cup arid the bottom of the next 15 cup above in the stack. When the beverage is to be prepared, the cup is dispensed from the bottom of the stack and water is added to the ingredient contained in the bottom of the cup. With such so-called "in cup" drinks, there is no effective control of the mixing or infusion of the water with the beverage ingredient contained in the 20 cup, the water simply being added to the ingredient and left to mix or infuse with the ingredient, possibly, assisted by stirring of the resulting beverage. Moreover, it is desirable, for example, in the case of tea or coffee, to remove the teabag, tea leaves or coffee grounds from the cup before drinking the beverage, not only for the purposes of improving the quality of the drink, but 25 also to avoid continued brewing of the beverage after it has attained the desired strength. Depending on circumstances, disposal of the waste ingredient may be. messy and inconvenient and, possibly, environmeritllf unfriendly. US-A-6 038 963 describes a disposable beverage brewing system for 30 the single cup brewing of a beverage and which comprises inner and outer cups designed so that the inner cup can snugly fit within the outer cup. The inner cup has a bottom wall formed by a filter screen. In one method of using the system, the ingredient to be brewed and water is disposed in the outer cup and the mixture is allowed to brew for as long as the consumer considers WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 desirable. When the brew is deemed to be acceptable, the inner cup, which serves as a filter press, is pushed into the outer cup and the brewed beverage flows from the outer cup into the inner cup, via the filter, so that any remaining ingredient is trapped between the outer cup and the filter of the 5 inner cup. The beverage can then be consumed without the need to remove the inner cup. In an alternative method of use, the inner cup is prepositioned in the outer cup, ingredient and water are added to the inner cup and stirred. After brewing for the required time, the inner cup is slowly lifted from the outer cup together with any remaining ingredient and is discarded. The 10 brewed beverage remains in the outer cup. A controllable brewing device in the form of a disposable plastics drinking receptacle has been proposed in WO-A-20041008925. It comprises an outer cup having an inner cup dimensioned so as to fit or nest within the outer cup and so that it can turn relatively to the outer cup. In one 15 embodiment, a discrete chamber containing tea or coffee is disposed between the bottoms of the two nested cups and the inner cup has perforations in its bottom wall which may be selectively moved into and out of alignment with perforations in the discrete chamber by rotating the inner cup, whereby to control flow of hot water contained in the inner cup into and from 20 the ingredient in the discrete chamber in order to produce a beverage in the inner cup. In other embodiments, specially shaped cavities are provided in wall portions of the outer cup upstanding from the bottom thereof, for cooperating with perforated upstanding wall portions of the inner cup. Ingredients are positioned in the cavities and liquid poured into the inner cup 25 is mixed or infused with the ingredients in the cavities to produce a beverage by rotation of the inner cup relatively to the outer cup so as selectively to admit and shut off flow of liquid between te, jnner cup and the ingredient cavities. Natural convection and migration of contents also adds to this process. 30 The above proposal enables the consumer to determine when the brewing process should start and when it should stop and permits brewing of the beverage to the strength desired by the consumer. Also, it avoids the need to remove loose tea leaves, coffee grounds, other solid ingredients or ingredient containing sachets or bags from the cup, after brewing, and the WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 need to dispose of the ingredients separately. However, the proposal requires the use of either a discrete ingredient chamber or a special arrangement of the ingredient cavities which can create problems in loading the ingredients and assembling the brewing device. 5 Moreover, in order to produce an acceptable brew, generally, it is necessary to squeeze and/or agitate the ingredient and liquid to produce thorough mixing or infusion. For example, upon the addition of hot water to a teabag, air is initially trapped in the teabag and subsequently, the teabag absorbs a quantity of the water and swells. It is desirable to express air and, 10 subsequently, water and circulate the latter through the bag in order to provide for the required amount of infusion and brewing. No effective provisions are made in the brewing device described in either the above US specification or the International publication for achieving squeezing and/or agitation of the ingredients and added liquid. 15 An object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle which can be prefilled with an ingredient for the preparation of a beverage or other liquid product and which enables improved and controlled mixing or infusion of the ingredient with liquid added to the receptacle in order to prepare the liquid product. Another, more specific object is to provide a combined brewing and 20 drinking receptacle for a beverage which facilitates initial loading of the beverage ingredient into the receptacle, controlled mixing or infusion of the ingredient with water added to the receptacle in order to prepare the beverage, and disposal of any remaining ingredient after brewing and drinking. 25 To this end, the present invention consists in a receptacle comprising an outer cup, an inner cup nested within the outer cup and turnable relative thereto, an ingredient chamber formed between the innerand outer cups, one or more apertures formed in the inner cup for communicating with the ingredient chamber, and one or more shut-off sections formed on the outer 30 cup and arranged to control flow of liquid between the inner cup and the ingredient chamber via the aperture(s), in response to relatively turning or twisting the cups. Preferably at least one protuberance projects into the ingredient chamber from at least one of the cups for squeezing and/or WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 agitating the ingredient in the ingredient chamber in response to relative turning of the cups. The receptacle according to the invention may be supplied with an ingredient contained in the ingredient chamber. The ingredient may be 5 disposed in the ingredient chamber either in loose form or in a suitable liquid permeable sachet or bag, such as a teabag. The invention enables the ingredient to be mixed or infused in a controlled fashion with water or other liquid subsequently added to the inner cup by turning or twisting the inner cup relatively to the outer cup in order selectively to allow the liquid to flow into 10 the ingredient chamber and mix or infuse with the ingredient, or partially or entirely tQ shut off the flow of liquid to the ingredient chamber. .Relatively twisting the cups also causes the protuberance(s) to agitate and/or squeeze the contents of the ingredient chamber so as to enhance mixing or infusion. When, for example, a beverage being brewed has reached a desired strength 15 in response to relative manipulation of the inner and outer cups, the inner cup is twisted so as to shut off flow of liquid to and from the ingredient chamber and prevent further mixing or infusion of the liquid contents of the inner cup with the remaining ingredient in the ingredient chamber. When the ingredient chamber is shut off, the remaining ingredient can no longer affect the 20 strength or quality of the resulting beverage in the inner cup. After the beverage has been consumed, the container may be disposed of together with any ingredient or ingredient bag retained within the receptacle. On the other hand, before disposal, the receptacle may be used, if acceptable, to prepare a second cup of the beverage by adding fresh water to the inner cup 25 and repeating the process In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ingredient chamber is formed between the bottom walls of-the inner and outer cups which are of circular cross-section and comprise bottom walls and sidewalls extending upwardly and generally outwardly from the bottom walls. A single, relatively 30 large aperture is formed in the bottom wall of the inner cup and the cooperating shut-off section is formed by a boss projecting into the ingredient chamber from the bottom wall of the outer cup. The upper end of this boss is configured and positioned so as effectively to shut off flow of liquid through the aperture into the ingredient chamber when the aperture is aligned with WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 the upper end of the boss. A protuberance in the form of a paddle member for agitating and/or squeezing the contents of the ingredient chamber projects downwardly into the ingredient chamber from the bottom wall of the inner cup at a position adjacent the aperture and also serves as a stop defining the fully 5 open and fully shut off positions of the aperture. Locating the ingredient chamber between the bottom walls of the inner and outer cups has the advantage of providing a brewing receptacle which is easy to load with an ingredient in either loose form or in a bag. It is simply loaded into the bottom of the outer cup, whereafter the inner cup can be 10 readily assembled to the outer cup with the ingredient in place. The or each paddle member may. be perforated and/or -include a bottom wall or edge which slopes with respect to the bottom walls of the cups. The inner and outer cups may be formed with interengaging means 15 which retains the cups in nested relationship whilst enabling them to turn relatively to one another. For example, the interengaging means may be formed by one or more annular ribs on the sidewall of one of the cups engaging in cooperating annular grooves in the sidewall of the other cup. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be formed by interlocking rim flanges 20 which depend downwardly from the lips of the inner and outer cups on the outsides of the cups and which are arranged to interengage when the cups are assembled in nested relation. The interengaging rim flange structure may also be designed to seal the space between the rim flanges so as to alleviate leakage of liquid contents between the cups when a beverage within 25 the receptacle is being drunk by a consumer. For example, the rim flange of the inner cup may be formed with an inwardly projecting annular rib on its inside surface and the outer cup may be formed with a plain downwardly directed rim flange so that, when the inner cup is fully nested within the outer cup, the rim flange of the inner cup resiliently engages over the outside 30 surface of the rim flange of the outer cup and the annular rib on the rim flange of the inner cup snaps into engagement beneath the lower edge of the rim flange on the outer cup. In addition to alleviating the leakage problem, such a rim flange construction also enables an anti-splash lid to be fitted to the WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 mouth of the receptacle and to be snapped into engagement with the rim flange of the inner cup. The outer cup may be formed with an array of external ribs which facilitate gripping of the container by a user. They enable the container to be 5 held more comfortably when the content is a hot beverage and this advantage is further enhanced by the insulating characteristics inherent in the double walled construction of the receptacle. The outer cup may have a plain area above and/or below the ribs for printing, embossing or other form of decoration. 10 Conveniently, the inner and outer cups are thermoformed from sheet plastics material, as thin walled seamless products. Alternatively, they may be injection moulded from plastic granules. In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 15 Figure 1 is a perspective view, from below, of one embodiment of the present invention which is a disposable drinking receptacle or cup, Figure 2 is a perspective view, from above, of the drinking cup illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the drinking cup, 20 Figure 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the rim flange structure of the drinking cup, and Figure 6 is an enlarged, half section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4 and illustrating stacked drinking cups. 25 Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disposable drinking receptacle or cup 1 comprises an outer cup component 2 and an inner cup component 3 coaxially nested within the outer cup component.These cup components or cups, as they are herein called, are preferably thermoformed from sheet plastics material, as thin walled seamless mouldings. 30 Each of the outer and inner cups 2,3 is of circular shape in plan and comprises a bottom wall 4,5 and a sidewall 6,7 extending upwardly and generally outwardly from its bottom wall to a mouth 8 at the top of the receptacle. The sidewall of each cup is terminated at the mouth 8 by a rim flange 9,10. The cups are retained in nested relationship, and so as to be WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 turnable relatively to one another, by the interengaging structure of the rim flanges 9,10 (as best shown in Figure 5) and interengaging ribs and grooves 11,12 on their sidewalls. The bottom walls 4,5 of the nested cups are spaced apart and define an ingredient chamber 13 therebetween for containing a 5 beverage ingredient capable of mixing with hot or cold water to produce the beverage. For example, the beverage ingredient may be tea in a conventional teabag, loose tea or coffee grounds. A brewing aperture 14 is formed in the bottom wall 5 of the inner cup 3 and communicates with the ingredient chamber 13 under the control of a shut-off boss 15 projecting from 10 the bottom wall 4 of the outer cup. The inner and outer cups can be turned relatively to one anothero as selectively to admit or shut off water to the ingredient chamber 13 via the brewing aperture 14. The sidewall 6 of the outer cup has a plain annular part 16 adjoining its bottom wall 4 and extending upwardly therefrom, and an array of hollow ribs 15 17 moulded in an annular zone above the plain bottom part 16. These ribs serve to strengthen the sidewall and as a gripping zone where the outer cup may be conveniently gripped by the fingers of a consumer. Above the ribs there is an upper plain annular zone 18 which terminates at the rim flange 9 of the outer cup. The rim flange 9 which forms one component of the 20 interlocking rim structure of the drinking cup extends downwardly from the lip 19 of the outer cup, about the outside of the outer cup. The pair of annular grooves 12 which comprises one component of the interengaging sidewall structure of the outer and inner cups is formed about the inside of the sidewall of the outer cup, immediately below the axial ribs 17. 25 The shut-off boss 15 is a hollow boss moulded in the bottom wall 4 of the outer cup and projecting inwardly of the bottom wall. It has a part-circular 'cross-section generally coaxial with the outer cup.. Its-top wall 20 is substantially planar and perpendicular to the cup axis and its sidewalls 21 are generally outwardly inclined towards the bottom wall. 30 The sidewall 7 of the inner cup is predominantly of plane configuration except for annular strengthening shoulders 22 moulded about the cup so as to correspond to the top and bottom of the zone of axial ribs 17 in the outer cup. The two hollow annular ribs 11 are moulded on the outside of the inner cup immediately below the lower strengthening shoulder in a position to snap WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 into engagement with the pair of hollow grooves 12 on the inside of the outer cup. The rim flange 10 of the inner cup, which forms the second component -of the interlocking rim structure, extends downwardly about the outside of the inner cup from its lip 23 and is moulded at its lower end with a hollow annular 5 rib 27 projecting on the inside of the flange. In its bottom wall 5, the inner cup is formed with the brewing aperture 14 which is a part-circular aperture coaxial with the axis of the inner cup and matching, but slightly smaller than, the top end 20 of the shut-off boss 15. Also moulded in the bottom wall 5, adjoining or adjacent the brewing aperture 10 and projecting on the outside of the bottom wall, is a hollow paddle member 24. The latter is of generally sector shape in cross-section with its radially outer end terminating adjacent the periphery of the bottom wall 5. Sidewalls 25 of the paddle member taper downwardly and its bottom wall 26 is generally parallel to the bottom wall of the inner cup. Alternatively, the 15 bottom wall 26 may slope upwardly towards the centre of the inner cup and, in a modification, the paddle member may be perforated. It is of significantly less height than the height of the shut-off boss. The inner cup is designed to fit snugly within the outer cup 2 when the cups are disposed in nested relation. As the inner cup becomes fully nested 20 within the outer cup, the annular locking ribs 11 of the inner cup snap into engagement with the locking grooves 12 of the outer cup and the rib 27 at the lower end of the rim flange 10 of the inner cup snaps underneath the plane lower end of the rim flange 9 of the inner cup. These interengaging structures securely retain the outer and inner cups 2,3 in nested relationship 25 whilst permitting the cups to tum or twist relatively to one another. When interengaged, the rim flanges of the two cups are resiliently urged together .and this rim structure.is designed also to prevent4leakage between the inner, and outer cups and to provide for comfortable drinking. When interengaged in nested relationship, as described, the bottom 30 wall 5 of the inner cup is resiliently urged against the top end 20 of the shut off boss 15 and the brewing aperture 14 is shut off from the ingredient chamber 13 when the cups 2,3 are relatively turned so as to align the brewing aperture with the top end 20 of the shut-off boss. Turning of the inner cup relatively to the outer cup is limited by the paddle member 24 WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 which, at one end of the angle of rotation of the inner cup engages the shut off boss 15 to define the shut-off position of the brewing aperture and, at the opposite end, engages the shut-off boss to define the fully open position of the brewing aperture in which the liquid contents of the inner cup can flow 5 through the brewing aperture into the ingredient chamber. In use, an ingredient, such as a conventional circular teabag, is loaded into the bottom of the outer cup 2 prior to assembly of the two cups 2,3, as described above. The ingredient chamber 13 is designed so as to allow for expansion of the ingredient when liquid is added and so that the positioning 10 of the ingredient in the bottom of the outer cup 2, before assembly, does not obstruct subsequent assembly of the inner and outer cups. When preparing a beverage from an ingredient, for example, a teabag, trapped in the ingredient chamber 13, the inner cup 3 is firstly turned relatively to the outer cup 2 so that the brewing aperture 14 is shut off by the 15 shut-off boss 15 of the outer cup. Hot water is then added to the inner cup 3 and the latter is turned relatively to the outer cup 2 by gripping the ribbed zone 17 of the outer cup and the rim flange 10 of the inner cup. The inner cup can only be turned in one direction relatively to the outer cup to open the brewing aperture, as dictated by the paddle member 24, and when it is turned 20 in the relevant direction, hot water flows through the aperture into the ingredient chamber 13. The teabag in the chamber expands on contact with the hot water and, thereafter, the inner cup 3 may be turned in the opposite direction relatively to the outer cup 2, and then backwards and forwards relatively to the outer cup in order to cause the paddle member 24 to 25 squeeze and agitate the teabag between itself and the bottom wall 4 of the outer cup and thereby enhance infusion of the hot water with the teabag and the brewing process. - The resulting tea drink produced flows from4Ahe ingredient chamber 13 back into the inner cup 3, via the brewing aperture, and when a brew of the desired strength has been produced, the inner cup is 30 - turned in order to restore it to the initial position in which the shut-off boss 15 shuts off flow of liquid through the brewing aperture 14. Thereafter, milk and sugar may be added to the tea in the inner cup, if required, in order to complete the tea drink.
WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 The cups 2,3 can be twisted relatively to one another selectively to permit and shut off flow of hot water between the inner cup 3 and the ingredient chamber 13 until the desired strength of drink has been produced, thereby enabling the infusion of the teabag with hot water to be effectively 5 controlled without the need to remove the teabag from the container or add further ingredients or water to the inner cup after initial infusion. If adequate ingredient is loaded into the ingredient chamber 13 when the drinking cup is initially assembled, there may be sufficient ingredient to allow for the preparation of more than one acceptable drink. Hence, after first drink has 10 been consumed, hot water may be added to the inner cup member 3 which is again turned to open the brewing aperture -and enable the next charge of water to infuse with the tea in the teabag and thereby produce a second drink. The inner cup 3 is turned relative to the outer cup 2 to shut off the aperture 14 when the second drink has acquired the desired strength. 15 The drinking cup is conveniently gripped by a consumer at the ribbed zone and the ribs 17 serve to insulate the user's fingers from a hot drink in the drinking cup. The insulation is enhanced by the double walled structure provided by the assembled inner and outer cup components 2,3. An anti splash lid may be fitted to the mouth 8 of the drinking cup by simply snapping 20 the lid into engagement with the lower edge of the rim flange 10 of the inner cup. Finally, when the disposable drinking cup has been used, the teabag or any other remaining ingredients in the ingredient chamber 13 are automatically disposed of with the drinking cup. A multiplicity of the drinking cups may be stacked in nested relation for 25 storage and transportation purposes. As illustrated in Figure 6, when stacked in nested relation, the stacked cups are prevented from wedging or jamming together igjhe stack by the bottom of an upper drinking cup restingr-via the bottom wall 4 of its outer cup component 2 resting on the bottom wall 5 of the inner cup component of the next drinking cup below. 30 Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the interengaging rim structure may be omitted if the outer and inner cups 2,3 can be satisfactorily retained in nested engagement by the sidewall WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969 interengaging structure alone. In this event, the rim of the outer cup 2 may simply be moulded with a narrow projecting lip which engages the inside of the lip 23 of the rim flange 10 of the inner cup. In a modification particularly suitable for brewing a beverage with loose ingredients, the single brewing 5 aperture 14 may be replaced by a perforated section having perforations sufficiently small so as substantially to prevent flow of loose ingredient from the ingredient chamber into the inner cup which contains the drinkable beverage. Marks may be printed or embossed on the outside of the outer cup 2 in positions corresponding to the stop positions defined by the paddle 10 member 24 to provide a visual indication of the relative positions of the inner and outer cups and, hence, the brewing aperture 14 and the shut off boss 15. Furthermore, whilst the invention has been particularly described as a drinking cup suitable for brewing a desired beverage, it will be apparent that the receptacle of the invention is also suitable for use in other circumstances, 15 such as, for mixing alcoholic drinks, medicines and paints.
Claims (21)
1. A receptacle (1) comprising an outer cup (2), an inner cup (3) nested within the outer cup, an ingredient chamber (13) located between the nested cups, and one or more apertures (14) formed in the inner cup (3) for 5 communicating with the ingredient chamber, characterised by the inner and outer cups (2,3) being turnable relatively to one another, one or more shut-off sections (15) formed on the outer cup (2) and arranged to control flow of liquid between the inner cup (3) and the ingredient chamber (13), via the aperture(s), in response to turning of the cups relatively to one another, and 10 at least one protuberance (24) projecting into the ingredient chamber from at least-one of the cups (2,3) for squeezing and/or agitating the -ingredient in the ingredient chamber in response to relative turning movement of the cups.
2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ingredient chamber (13) is formed between mutually opposed bottom walls (4,5) of the outer and 15 inner cups (2,3).
3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer and inner cups (2,3) are of circular cross-section and comprise sidewalls (6,7) extending upwardly and generally outwardly from the bottom walls (4,5).
4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one aperture 20 (14) is formed in the bottom wall (5) of the inner cup (3), and at least one cooperating shut-off section (15) extends from the bottom wall (4) of the outer cup (2), the upper end(s) (20) of the shut-off section(s) being arranged so as to shut off flow of liquid through the aperture(s) into the ingredient chamber (13) upon alignment of the aperture(s) and said upper end(s). 25
5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each shut-off section is formed by a shut-off boss (15) projecting into the ingredient chamber (13) from the bottom wall(4) of the outer cup (2).
6. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the or each protuberance comprises a paddle member (24) projecting downwardly into 30 the ingredient chamber (13) from the bottom wall (5) of the inner cup (3).
7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the or each paddle member (24) is arranged to serve as a stop defining the fully open and fully shut-off positions of the aperture(s) (14). WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969
8. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 2 to 7, wherein the or each protuberance or paddle member (24) is perforated and/or includes a bottom wall (26) or edge which slopes with respect to the bottom walls (5,4) of the cups. 5
9. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each aperture (14) comprises a perforated section having perforations sufficiently small so as substantially to prevent flow of loose ingredient from the ingredient chamber (13) into the inner cup (3).
10. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein 10 the outer and inner cups (2,3) are formed with interengaging means (9,10 and 11,12) which retains the cups in nested relationship whilst permitting them to turn relatively to one another.
11. A receptacle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interengaging means comprises one or more annular ribs (11) on the sidewall (7) of one of the 15 cups (3) engaging in cooperating annular grooves (12) in the sidewall (6) of the other cup (2).
12. A receptacle as claimed in claims 0 or 11, wherein the interengaging means comprises interengaging rim flanges (9,10) which depend downwardly from the lips (19,23) of the outer and inner cups (2,3) on the outsides of the 20 cups and which are arranged to engage when the cups are assembled in nested relationship.
13. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the interengaging rim flanges (9,10) are designed to seal the space between the rim flanges so as to alleviate leakage of liquid contents between the outer and inner cups (2,3). 25
14. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the rim flange (10) of the inner cup (3) is formed with an inwardly projecting annular rib (27) on its inside surface and the outer cup (2) is formed with a plane downwardly directed rim flange (9) so that, when the cups are fully nested, the rim flange (10) of the inner cup resiliently engages over the outside surface of the rim 30 flange (9) of the outer cup and the annular rib (27) snaps into engagement beneath the lower edge of the rim flange (9) of the outer cup.
15. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, including a lid fitted to the mouth of the receptacle and snapped into engagement with the rim flange (10) of the inner cup. WO 2005/053487 PCT/GB2004/004969
16. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer cup (2) is formed with an array of external ribs (17) which facilitate gripping of the receptacle by a pser.
17. A receptacle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outer cup (2) has a 5 plane area above and/or below the ribs (17) for enabling printing, embossing or other form of decoration to be applied to the receptacle.
18. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer and inner cups (2,3) are thermoformed from sheet plastics material.
19. A receptacle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including 10 an ingredient within the ingredient chamber (13), said ingredient being either in loose form or in a liquid permeable sachet or bag, for example, a tea bag.
20. A method of preparing a liquid product in a receptacle (1) comprising an inner cup (3) nested within an outer cup (2) and defining an ingredient chamber (13) therebetween, an ingredient disposed in the ingredient 15 chamber, and one or more apertures (14) formed in the inner cup (3) for permitting communication between the.inner cup and the ingredient chamber (13), characterised by the steps of adding to the inner cup (3) liquid for producing the liquid product in conjunction with the ingredient, controlling admission and shut off of flow of the liquid into the ingredient chamber, via 20 the aperture(s) (14) in response to relative turning movement of the outer and inner cups (2,3), and agitating and/or squeezing the ingredient in the ingredient chamber by relatively turning the cups.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, including the step of relatively turning the cups to shut off flow of liquid between the ingredient chamber and 25 the inner cup when the liquid product has reached the desired strength
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0327626.8 | 2003-11-27 | ||
| GB0327624A GB0327624D0 (en) | 2003-11-27 | 2003-11-27 | Brewing and drinking receptacle |
| GB0327626A GB0327626D0 (en) | 2003-11-27 | 2003-11-27 | Beverage container |
| GB0327624.3 | 2003-11-27 | ||
| PCT/GB2004/004969 WO2005053487A1 (en) | 2003-11-27 | 2004-11-25 | Brewing and drinking receptable |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2004294776A1 true AU2004294776A1 (en) | 2005-06-16 |
Family
ID=34655220
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2004294776A Abandoned AU2004294776A1 (en) | 2003-11-27 | 2004-11-25 | Brewing and drinking receptacle |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20070251946A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1699326A1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2004294776A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2546923A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2005053487A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRPI0601188B1 (en) | 2005-04-15 | 2018-06-26 | Seda S.P.A. | ISOLATED CONTAINER; METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING |
| DE202005014177U1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2005-11-17 | Seda S.P.A., Arzano | Double-walled beaker comprises an inner wall formed by an inner beaker which is made of a fluid-tight plastic material, and is releasably inserted into an outer beaker forming the outer wall |
| US7845512B2 (en) * | 2005-10-17 | 2010-12-07 | Theodore P Skala | Thin-walled cup |
| US20110095034A1 (en) * | 2005-10-17 | 2011-04-28 | Skala Theodore P | Thin-walled cup |
| DE602005005493T3 (en) | 2005-11-11 | 2014-04-24 | Seda S.P.A. | Insulated |
| DE202006018406U1 (en) | 2006-12-05 | 2008-04-10 | Seda S.P.A. | packaging |
| US8808778B2 (en) * | 2012-06-05 | 2014-08-19 | Louis Dakis | Method of using a multi-layer brewing cup |
| USD852589S1 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2019-07-02 | Jooster IP AG | Pod |
| CN111874407B (en) * | 2020-08-14 | 2023-06-16 | 咖法科技(上海)有限公司 | Outer cup made of coffee grounds synthetic material |
| USD973177S1 (en) * | 2020-11-02 | 2022-12-20 | Natural Ocean Well Co. | Desalination pod |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUPM758494A0 (en) * | 1994-08-22 | 1994-09-15 | Bersten, Ian Jeffrey | Plunger device |
| CA2246849A1 (en) * | 1997-09-11 | 1999-03-11 | Fort James Corporation | Disposable beverage brewing system |
| IES20020607A2 (en) * | 2002-07-22 | 2004-01-28 | Raid Hosein | Beverage brewing device |
-
2004
- 2004-11-25 WO PCT/GB2004/004969 patent/WO2005053487A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-11-25 EP EP04798671A patent/EP1699326A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2004-11-25 CA CA002546923A patent/CA2546923A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-11-25 AU AU2004294776A patent/AU2004294776A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-11-25 US US10/580,707 patent/US20070251946A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1699326A1 (en) | 2006-09-13 |
| US20070251946A1 (en) | 2007-11-01 |
| CA2546923A1 (en) | 2005-06-16 |
| WO2005053487A1 (en) | 2005-06-16 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC1 | Assignment before grant (sect. 113) |
Owner name: TETLEY G.B. LIMITED; AUTOBAR PACKAGING GERMANY Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): MONO CONTAINERS LIMITED ; TETLEY G.B. LIMITED |
|
| DA3 | Amendments made section 104 |
Free format text: THE NATURE OF THE AMENDMENT IS: AMEND THE INVENTION TITLE TO READ BREWING AND DRINKING RECEPTACLE |
|
| MK1 | Application lapsed section 142(2)(a) - no request for examination in relevant period |