IES86109B2 - A beverage system - Google Patents

Abstract

A lid assembly for a disposable beverage container 10 having a substantially circular top opening comprises a substantially circular lid 14 for releasable fitting to the top opening of the container. The lid has a circular recess 18 having an opening 20 allowing the introduction of hot water into container. An open-ended substantially circular collar 28 is mounted to the underside of the recess. A filter 36 has an open top end 38 fitted to the collar 28 and a closed bottom end 40 such that hot water introduced into the collar passes into and through the filter. The filter contains a quantity of a dry beverage material 42 such as ground coffee beans.

Description

This invention relates to a lid assembly for a disposable beverage container, in particular a lid assembly which allows a beverage, such as filter coffee, to be freshly brewed in the container by pouring hot water into it.

Background ofthe invention There exist numerous different types and methods by which coffee can be brewed, from instant to French press. The most preferred method to brew coffee however is by filtration. Filter coffee has the disadvantage of taking longer to brew than its instant counterpart but the advantages are vast in comparison. Filter coffee has a much richer and full-bodied texture and is the coffee of choice for the majority of coffee drinkers worldwide.

In addition to the above, most coffee drinkers are in the habit of drinking a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, whether it is at home, stopping at a shop en route to work, or at their place of work, it has become fashionable for commuters to stop off at a coffee shop on the way to work but this can prove to be very time consuming particularly if the consumer has to go off route. This applies even more so if you are commuting to work in one ofthe main cities. The proposed invention described herein thus acts as a solution to this issue, it aims to intercept people commuting to work in the morning and supply them with high quality freshly brewed filter coffee which cuts out their need to stop at a dedicated coffee shop.

Freshly brewed filter coffee is traditionally produced by means of a filter coffee machine, also known as a percolator. These machines typically consist of a chamber to hold cold water, a heating unit to bring the cold water up to the required temperature; a filter assembly which holds the desired amount of filter coffee grounds, a passageway for the high temperature water to travel from the chamber to the filter, and finally a container to hold the brewed coffee. Most home and office percolators also incorporate a hot plate beneath the holding container in order to retain the coffee at an ideal serving temperature. These coffee machines are particularly useful for large quantities but when used sparsely over a period of time the quality of a cup of coffee significantly reduces. It thus becomes evident that under the proposed serving conditions each cup will have to be individually brewed in order to retain the quality, freshness and flavour ofthe percolated coffee.

Various previous attempts have been made to provide fresh in-cup brewing of a beverage, in particular coffee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,475 disclosed a paper sack which held the coffee grind attached to the back of a 5 foldable support plate. This plate was proceeded to be unfolded which in turn allowed it to sit comfortably on top of a household mug. Boiling water was then poured into the sack until the desired volume of filter coffee was obtained.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,835 disclosed a cup which held both cold water and coffee grind. The cup was then placed in a microwave to heat the contents until fully brewed. Once completed the contents were consumed, or poured, through a lid which contained a screen to filter the liquid from the combined mixture.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,103 disclosed a spoon shaped device with a clamp on the end to hold a pouch filled with filter coffee. The device proceeded to be placed within a drinking cup and stirred until fully brewed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,450 proposed a lid attached to the top of a drinking cup. Within this lid, held between two layers of filter, was the coffee grind. Hot water would then be poured over the top filter, allowed to interact with the coffee grind and exited through the lower filter until the cup was full.

Once compiete, the lid could then be removed or a push-through tab activated to permit consumption.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention there is provided a lid assembly for a disposable beverage container having a substantially circular top opening, the assembly comprising a substantially circular iid for releasable fitting to the top opening of the container, the lid having an opening allowing the introduction of hot water into the container, a filter mounted under the lid and having an open top end to receive hot water introduced into the hot water opening and a closed bottom end, and a quantity of a dry beverage material in the filter.

Preferably the top surface of the lid comprises a recess containing the hot water opening, the top end of the filter being fitted to the underside of the recess.

In such a case the top end of the filter may be fitted to the underside of the recess via an openended substantially circular collar mounted to the underside of the recess, the open top end of the filter being fitted to the collar such that hot water introduced into the collar through the hot water opening passes into and through the filter.

Preferably, the collar is snap-fitted around the underside of the recess.

Preferably, the recess and collar are substantially circular.

Preferably, the recess is offset relative to the centre of the lid so that a surrounding raised edge portion of the lid is wider on one side than the other, and a sip-through opening is formed in the wider side of the raised edge portion.

Preferably, the hot water opening comprises a plurality of deflectable flaps which normally close the opening.

Preferably, the open top end of the filter is captured between the underside of the recess and the collar.

Alternatively, the open top end of the filter is fitted to the collar by an O-ring.

Preferably, the O-ring is disposed on the inside of the collar and the top end of the filter is trapped between the O-ring and the inside surface of the collar.

Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the 25 accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a lid assembly according to the invention fitted to a disposable beverage container.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of lid assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an externa! perspective view of the lid assembly shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of the lid and collar forming part of the assembly of Figure 1.

Figures 5a and 5b are exploded perspective top and bottom views respectively of the lid and collar.

Detailed description of the drawings The drawings show a lid assembly for a disposable beverage container 10 having a substantially circular top opening surrounded by a peripheral bead 12. In this case the container 10 is a standard 12oz paper cup.

The lid assembly comprises a substantially circular lid 14 having a downwardly depending peripheral skirt 16 which is configured in conventional manner for releasable snap-fitting to the bead 12 around the top opening of the cup 10. The top surface of the lid 14 comprises a substantially circular recess 18 containing a hot water opening 20 allowing the introduction of hot water into the cup 10. The opening 20 comprises a plurality of deflectable triangular flaps 22 which normally close the opening but which can be deflected downwardly by a nozzle or the like inserted into the opening. The circular recess 18 is offset relative to the centre of the circular lid 14 so that a surrounding raised edge portion 24 of the lid is wider on one side of the lid than the other. This allows a larger than usual sipthrough opening 26 to be formed in the wider side of the raised edge portion 24, which allows condiments such as sugar and milk to be added to the cup.

An open-ended, substantially circular collar 28 depends from the underside of the recess 18. The top end of the collar 28 has a circumferential ridge 30 defining an internal circumferential groove 32. The bottom end of the recess 18 has a circumferential protrusion 34. The collar 28 is mounted around the underside of the recess by snap-fitting the protrusion 34 into the groove 32.

The lid 14 and collar 28 are manufactured from thin sheet plastics material in convention manner.

A generally conical paper filter 36 has an open top end 38, which in use is captured between the underside of the recess and the top end of the collar 28, and a closed bottom end 40, such that hot water introduced into the collar 28 through the hot water opening 20 passes into and through the filter 36. In particular the filter 36 is passed through the collar 28 and the open top end 38 is left protruding above the upper end of the collar 28 as illustrated in Figure 1. The collar 28 is then snap fitted to the lid 14 via the groove 32 and protrusion 34 as hereinbefore described, thereby capturing the open top end 38 between the underside of the recess 18 and the collar 28, securing the filter 36 in position. It will of course be understood that the filter 36 may be secured in any other suitable fashion, for example by means of a food grade adhesive or the like.

A quantity of ground coffee beans 42 is contained in the filter 36.

The various parts are then assembled together by first capturing the filter 36 between the recess 18 and the collar 28 as described above. Next ground coffee beans 42 are added which sit in the filter 36. The thus formed lid assembly can be fitted to a 12oz cup by snap-fitting the skirt 16 to the bead 12 around the top end of the cup.

The process of making a freshly brewed cup of coffee entails injecting hot water from a nozzie through the opening 20 which interacts with the coffee beans, is filtered through the cone filter 36 and into the 12oz cup. Once completed, condiments {sugar and milk) can be added by means of the enlarged sip-through opening 26 in the ltd. It will therefore be understood that the only item required in order to contemporaneously produce a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee or other beverage, is a supply of hot water. This may be carried by an individual in a suitable container, which could for example be located in a backpack (not shown) or on some form of portable trolley (not shown), allowing a freshly brewed cup of coffee to be supplied at otherwise unsuitable or inaccessible locations, as there is no requirement for a fixed power supply such as a mains connection or generator (not shown). Thus the coffee can be supplied at locations such as a busy intersection, outdoor events such as music festivals or markets, or any other location.

Modifications of the above embodiment are possible. In particular, the open top end 38 of the filter 36 may be fitted to the collar 28 by an O-ring (not shown). The O-ring would be disposed in a groove 44 formed around the inside surface of the bottom end of the collar 28, and the top end 38 of the filter 36 trapped between the O-ring and the surface of the groove 44.

Further alternatively the open top 38 of the filter 36 could be fitted around the outside surface of the collar 28, and held there by an O-ring or elastic band surrounding the filter and pressing it inwardly against the outside wall of the coilar. This is however less preferred as the compressive force applied by the O-ring, in particular when hot water is introduced into the filter 36 which may soften or weaken the coliar 28, may cause the collar 28 to collapse inwardly thereby allowing the ground coffee beans to leak from the filter 36. In other embodiments the collar 28 could be omitted and the open top of the filter 36 fitted directly to the bottom of the recess using an O-ring or other suitable fixing, such as a food grad adhesive or the like.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A lid assembly for a disposable beverage container having a substantially circular top opening, the assembly comprising a substantially circular lid for releasable fitting to the top 5 opening of the container, the lid having an opening allowing the introduction of hot water into the container, a filter mounted under the lid and having an open top end to receive hot water introduced into the hot water opening and a closed bottom end, and a quantity of a dry beverage material in the filter. 10

2. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top surface of the lid comprises a recess containing the hot water opening, the top end of the filter being fitted to the underside of the recess.

3. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the top end of the filter is fitted to the 15 underside of the recess via an open-ended substantially circular collar mounted to the underside of the recess, the open top end of the filter being fitted to the collar such that hot water introduced into the collar through the hot water opening passes into and through the filter.

4. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the collar is snap-fitted around the 20 underside of the recess.

5. A lid assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the recess and collar are substantially circular.