JP2014527880A - Disposable single-use beverage package - Google Patents

Abstract

A basket for holding beverage grinds comprises a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. Filter material is positioned within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame. The outer sleeve is configured to form an air tight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  [0001] Single serve beverage brewing is popular among customers. Numerous types of single serve brewers exist on the market. These brewers are designed to quickly brew a cup of coffee or tea. Coffee grounds or tea grounds are sold in prepared single serve portions.

  [0002] Reusable devices for single-serving brewers, such as devices with metal filters or steel filters, may not be appropriate in some situations. For example, when efficiency is required, such as in a busy home, in an office environment, or in a waiting room environment. Reusable devices require cleaning, which can be difficult due to the tendency of the beverage grind to stick to the filter openings. Furthermore, in order to accommodate the cleaning of reusable devices, the single-serve brewer needs to be located near the water source and sink or drainage facility. Installation of sinks or drainage facilities may not be possible.

  [0003] In a first aspect, a basket for holding beverage grinds comprises a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. Filter material is positioned within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame. The outer sleeve is configured to form an air tight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings.

  [0004] In a second aspect, a beverage package includes a flow wrap material defining a plurality of sealed pockets and a beverage basket for storing beverage grinds positioned within each sealed pocket. With. Each beverage basket includes a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. The beverage basket also includes a filter material positioned within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame and is configured to form an airtight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings.

  [0005] In a third aspect, a method for forming a beverage basket for holding beverage grinds comprises forming a frame, wherein the frame defines an opening at the top of the frame. And a closed bottom portion and a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending from the rim to the peripheral edge of the bottom. The bottom portion, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. Filter material is positioned within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame and is configured to form an airtight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings.

  [0006] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are included in this description, are within the scope of the invention, and are intended to be protected by the following claims.

[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket with packaging. [0008] FIG. 2 shows a disposable beverage portion basket and lid. [0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket having exemplary dimensions. [0010] FIG. 2 illustrates the use of a disposable beverage portion basket. [0011] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary lid of a disposable beverage portion basket. [0012] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary package of a plurality of disposable beverage portion baskets. [0013] FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary filter media side portion configured to be molded into a basket. [0014] FIG. 7B is an illustration of an exemplary filter media bottom portion used as needed, configured to be molded against the bottom surface of the sket frame. [0015] FIG. 7C illustrates an exemplary filter side portion and filter bottom portion molded to a basket. [0016] FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating the placement of a logo on an exemplary lid. [0017] FIG. 8B shows the placement of the logo on the basket. [0018] FIG. 8C shows the placement of the logo on the underside of the basket. [0019] FIG. 9A shows a disposable beverage portion basket with a groove defined on the bottom portion. [0020] FIG. 9B shows a disposable beverage basket with grooves and indentations defined on the bottom portion. [0021] FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary cartridge having an annular ring used in connection with the beverage basket of FIG. 9A. [0022] FIG. 10B illustrates an exemplary cartridge having buttons used in connection with the beverage basket of FIG. 9B. [0023] FIG. 11A shows a disposable beverage basket having outwardly extending protrusions. [0024] FIG. 11B illustrates a disposable beverage basket having inwardly extending protrusions. [0025] FIG. 12A shows a stack of disposable beverage baskets with outwardly extending protrusions. [0026] FIG. 12B shows a stack of disposable beverage portion baskets with inwardly extending protrusions. [0027] FIG. 13A is a perspective view of yet another beverage basket embodiment. FIG. 13B is a side view of yet another beverage basket embodiment. FIG. 13C is a top view of yet another beverage basket embodiment. [0028] FIG. 14A shows a first lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of FIGS. 13A-13C. 14B shows a first lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of FIGS. 13A-13C. [0029] FIG. 15A shows a second lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of FIGS. 13A-13C. FIG. 15B shows a second lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of FIGS. 13A-13C. [0030] FIG. 16A shows a basket that is twist-locked with the lid of FIG. 16B. FIG. 16B shows the lid being twist-locked with the basket of FIG. 16A. [0031] FIG. 6 shows an integrally formed basket and lid. [0032] FIG. 18A illustrates a liquid delivery fin positioned on the lower surface of an exemplary lid. FIG. 18B shows a liquid delivery fin positioned on the lower surface of an exemplary lid. [0033] FIG. 19A illustrates the application of a first exemplary sleeve embodiment covering a beverage basket. [0034] FIG. 19B illustrates the application of a second exemplary sleeve embodiment covering a beverage basket. [0035] FIG. 19C shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment. [0036] FIG. 20A shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment with a tab for removing the outer sleeve. [0037] FIG. 20B shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment with a notch for removing the outer sleeve. [0038] FIG. 21A shows a beverage packet. [0039] FIG. 21B shows a series of beverage packets.

  [0040] Single serve beverage brewing is popular among customers due to the convenience and freedom it provides. A number of single serve beverage dispensers have entered the market. Conventional brewers typically produce 4 to 12 drinks at a time. The beverage is placed on the hot plate until it is consumed. As time goes on, the flavor of the beverage may decline. Single serve brewers allow consumers to enjoy beverages such as coffee and tea in an efficient manner and without a reduction in the beverage's flavor characteristics.

  [0041] In FIG. 1, coffee grounds or tea grounds for use in a single serve brewer can be packaged in a disposable single use beverage package 100. The disposable single-use beverage package 100 may include a basket 110 that may be a permeable basket and a barrier 112 that may be a disposable impermeable barrier.

  [0042] The barrier 112 may have a first side 114 and a second side 116. The first side 114 may comprise score lines, tabs, zips, embedded strings, or may form a means to assist the user in opening the barrier 112. The barrier 112 may be sealed on the second side 116 or other side by gusseting, pinching, heat sealing, stapling, or other methods. Alternatively or additionally, the barrier 112 may be a shrink wrap barrier or a wax barrier, among others.

  [0043] The barrier 112 may be substantially resistant to the passage of liquids, gases, and solids. For example, the barrier 112 may be hermetically sealed to prevent moisture and oxygen from entering the pouch and to retain the scent of coffee. Additionally or alternatively, multiple baskets may be pre-filled and packaged together in egg crate-type configurations, tubes, or other packaging to maintain freshness upon shipping and storage. . The barrier 112 may be made from materials such as foil laminates, metallized films, EVOH films, polyolefin-based materials, parafilms, plastics, and combinations thereof, among others.

  [0044] A user may open the package 100, for example, by tearing the barrier 112 along the first side 114, to unload the basket 110. The user may remove the basket 110 from the barrier 112 and place the basket 110 in a single serve type brewer. The basket 110 may be pre-filled with crushed material, or alternatively, the user may add crushed material to the basket 110.

  [0045] The basket 110 is a single-wall permeable basket comprising a first end 118 that can be reversible to a closed end or an open end and a second end 120 that can be a closed end. May be. The basket 110 may be a cup-shaped basket and may be used with the lid 122. The basket 110 may also have a side wall portion 124 and a rim 126. The side wall portion 124 may connect the second end portion 120 and the rim 126. The side wall 124 may include a frame 128 and a filter medium 130.

  [0046] The frame 128 may provide structure, stability, and integrity to the filter media 130. The frame 128 may be formed by injection molding or by a different process suitable for manufacturing a rigid shape around a relatively flexible filter media. The frame 128 may be made from any one of a number of commercially available materials, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, or nylon, or other synthetic or natural plastics, or combinations thereof. Good. Frame 128 may be made from other materials, such as bio-based polymers, such as polylaticaside (PLA), polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHA), or starch-based polymers. The frame 128 may be made from other materials known to those skilled in the art.

  In FIG. 2, the side wall 124 of the basket 110 may be defined by a frame 128 and a filter media 130. The filter media 130 may be secured to the basket 110, such as at the second end 120, the rim 126, and / or the frame 128, for example. The filter media 130 may be secured, for example, by thermal bonding of plastic used for the frame 128, or by an adhesive, by crimping, by heat sealing, or by any other method. Filter media 130 may be secured within frame 128 in an insert injection molding of a plastic frame around the filter media insert. For example, a pre-punched filter media blank may be placed on a mandrel having channels around the shape of the pre-punched blank. Molten plastic may be poured into and bonded to the blank of filter media 130 during inert injection molding. This plastic may solidify into the frame 128, for example upon cooling. Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, in an alternative embodiment, filter media 700 and 705 are initially assembled with a generally cylindrical and tapered portion 700 and an optional bottom circular filter media 705 (hereinafter circular portion). 705). Filter media 700 and 705 are then placed or inserted over a mold for insert injection molding to form basket 710 with first media 700 and 705 supported by the frame of basket 710. Good. The lower end 715 of the basket 710 frame may be substantially open, and the circular filter portion 705 may cover the open portion.

  [0048] The filter media 130 may be a porous material and may be permeable to liquids and some oils. Filter media 130 can be, for example, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, cellulose fiber, polyhydroxyalkanoate, thermoplastic starch, filter paper, other paper materials, polymeric materials, combinations of these materials, or any other It may be formed from a number of materials, such as non-woven materials. Filter media 130 may also be a microporous or perforated film made from a variety of plastic materials such as polymer or plastic filtration mesh, or polypropylene, nylon 6 and high density polyethylene, or other materials known to those skilled in the art. May be formed. Alternatively, the filter media 130 may be formed from a bio-based polymer, such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxybutyric acid (PHA), or starch-based polymer.

  [0049] The characteristics of the filter media 130 may be selected to meet the filtration needs of each product, such as ground coffee, tea powder or tea leaves, or other brewed products. For example, the basis weight, thickness, number of strands, mesh size, flow rate, and strength of the filter medium 130 may be selected based on the product to be brewed.

  [0050] The filter media 130 may be compostable, biodegradable, regenerated, and / or renewable. If the filter media 130 is a non-woven material, the filter media 130 may have a higher resistance than, for example, a woven material or a metal filter. Nonwoven filter media 130 may retain water in the basket for a longer period of time than, for example, woven filters or metal filters. The length of time that the water is retained in the basket with grounds can affect the resulting beverage strength and thus the flavor characteristics. The reason is that woven or metallic materials may have technical limitations on the aperture size they have. Nonwoven materials may not have such technical limitations. Thus, in woven or metallic materials, there can be a difference that the water path can run straight through the wall, whereas in non-woven materials the path can be complicated rather than straight.

  [0051] The basket 110 may include a lid 122. The lid 122 may include a rim 202 and a cover 200. The cover 200 may be disposed below the rim 202 so as to be stably attached to the basket 110. Alternatively, the cover 200 may not include the rim 202. Cover 200 may be made of a material that can be punctured to allow liquid to enter the basket. For example, the cover 200 is sealed against or between the rims 126 of the permeable basket 110 to maintain the contents within the basket 110, such as a foil, film, coated film, or multilayer laminate. It may be a material. The cover 200 can maintain dry contents in a dry state and wet contents in a wet state, and can maintain the freshness of those contents. Cover 200 may be formed from plastic, metal foil, filter material, thermoplastic starch, or laminates or composites thereof.

  [0052] The basket 110 may be sized for use with a commercially available single serve coffee brewer. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary basket 110. The basket 110 may have an open end 312 width and height 316. The open end 312 may be, for example, about 38 to 42 mm, but is not limited thereto. The height 316 may be, for example, 38 to 42 mm, but is not limited thereto. The rim 126 may have a dimension 314 of, for example, 3.5 to 5.5 mm, but is not limited thereto. The frame 128 may have a dimension 320 of, for example, 5 mm and a dimension 318 of, for example, 2 mm, but is not limited thereto. These dimensions are exemplary only and not limiting. The basket 110 may also have other dimensions or shapes, such as dimensions that allow it to be used in various single serve beverage machines.

  [0053] In FIG. 4, basket 110 may be pre-filled with beverage grind 414, such as, but not limited to, coffee grind or tea grind. Alternatively or additionally, basket 110 is filled with beverage grind 414 just prior to use. If basket 110 is pre-filled with beverage grind 414, basket 110 may be sealed with lid 122. Alternatively, if the permeable basket 110 is not pre-loaded with beverage grind 414, the permeable basket 110 may not have the lid 122 and may additionally or alternatively be removable. You may have a lid 122 or others.

  [0054] In use, the user may open the barrier 112, remove the basket 110, and place the basket 110 in a single serve beverage machine. Hot liquid 410 may be received by basket 110 through an opening in cover 200 or otherwise. For example, in use, a pre-loaded basket 110 may be placed inside a cartridge 400 for a single serve beverage machine. The cartridge 400 may be reusable or disposable. During the brewing cycle, the cover 200 may be pierced by the probe 416 to place the hot liquid 410 into the basket 110. The hot liquid may interact with the beverage grind 414 to produce a beverage medium. Beverage medium 418 may flow through filter medium 130 and out of an opening in cartridge 400.

  [0055] As a second example, in use, an unloaded permeable basket 110 may be placed inside a cartridge 400 for a single serve beverage machine. The cartridge 400 may be reusable or disposable. The beverage ground product 414 may be disposed in the basket 110. A cover 200 may be mounted to maintain the contents of the basket 110. During the brewing cycle, cover 200 may be pierced by probe 416 to place hot liquid 410 into basket 110. The hot liquid may interact with the beverage grind 414 to produce a beverage medium. Beverage medium 414 may flow through filter medium 130 and out of an opening in cartridge 400. Alternatively, the cover 200 may not be necessary. In this case, the hot liquid 410 flows directly into the basket 110.

  [0056] FIG. 5 shows an example of a lid 122 for the basket 110. FIG. The cover 200 of the lid 122 may include an opening 500 for entering the liquid probe. The opening 500 may be a fragile portion of the material of the cover 200 that can be easily broken under the pressure of the probe.

  [0057] In FIG. 6, an unloaded tapered basket 110 may be configured for efficient nested stacking. Baskets 110 may be sold in a stack or tube and nested and stacked, and they may be packaged in a plastic film sleeve or otherwise. The unloaded basket 110 allows the end user to select a variety of beverage grinds 414 for use in their single serve brewer. An end user may also be able to change the amount of beverage grind 414 for use in his single serve brewer.

  [0058] The components of the single use beverage package 100 may be selected with the intention of creating an environmentally friendly product. For example, the filter media 130 may be a variety of synthetic or biodegradable, regenerated or recyclable, such as polyolefins, polylactic acid, cellulose, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starches, combinations thereof, or other materials. Or made from compostable materials. Also, the basket frame 128 material, cover 200, and barrier 112 can be made of these materials, or similar synthetic materials that retain structural integrity (eg, frame 128) and impervious (eg, barrier 112), biodegradation. It may be made from an organic material, a regenerated material, a renewable material, or a compostable material.

  [0059] While various embodiments of these embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many additional embodiments and implementations are possible that fall within the scope of the claims. . For example, referring to FIGS. 8A-8C, various configurations of the logo 805 may be placed on the lid 122 (FIG. 9A), on the basket 110 (FIG. 8B), or on the underside of the basket 110. FIG. Further, the logo 805 may be printed on the filter medium 130. The logo 805 allows the supplier to place descriptive information about the product in the basket, such as whether the product is coffee or tea and the type of blend, for example. Other information known to those skilled in the art may also be printed.

  [0060] FIGS. 9A-10B illustrate yet another embodiment of a disposable beverage basket. 9A and 9B show a beverage basket embodiment configured to control the positioning of the basket within a cartridge or brewer. Referring to FIG. 9A, a beverage basket 900 (shown upside down) includes a frame 128 and a filter material 903. The frame 128 includes a rim 126, a bottom portion 120, and a group of ribs 906. The rim 126 defines an opening corresponding to the top of the frame 128 when the frame 128 is in an upright position. The rim 126 may be continuous and may have a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion 120 is a closed surface corresponding to the bottom of the frame 128. Ribs 906 extend from the rim 126 to the edge of the bottom portion 120. Ribs 906, rim 126, and bottom portion 120 define apertures that facilitate fluid flow such as coffee, tea, or different beverages.

  [0061] The bottom portion 120 defines a groove 905 and / or a recess 907 (see FIG. 9B). The groove 905 may extend continuously along the edge of the bottom portion 120 and inward of the edge. Groove 905 and / or indentation 907 are configured to cooperate with complementary features, such as a protruding needle, at the bottom of the cartridge or extractor to accurately position basket 900 within the cartridge or extractor. The That is, the grooves 905 and / or the indentations 907 do not restrict the fluid flow through the basket 900 by the outer wall of the basket 900 abutting against the inner wall of the cartridge or the ejector in use. , Configured to control the alignment of the basket 900 by engaging the complementary features of the cartridge or dispenser.

  [0062] FIGS. 10A and 10B show exemplary cartridges 1000 and 1015 having alignment features. The same alignment feature may be provided on the brewer independently of the cartridge. Referring to FIG. 10A, this feature corresponds to an annular ring 1005. The annular ring 1005 may be supported within the cartridge by one or more bridge members 1007 to facilitate fluid flow around the annular ring 1005. The annular ring 1005 may be sized to fit within the groove 905 of the beverage basket 900. In one implementation of the brewer, the annular ring 1007 may be formed in a portion of the brewer that is configured to receive the beverage basket 900. In other implementations, the annular ring 1005 and the one or more bridge members 1007 fit substantially near the bottom of the cartridge 1000 or ejector and between the side walls of the cartridge 1000 or ejector. May correspond to separate components configured to maintain a distance between them.

  [0063] Referring to FIG. 10B, the feature corresponds to a button 1017. The button 1017 may be sized to fit within the recess 907 described above. Button 1017 may be supported by bridge member 1019 to allow fluid flow around button 1017. In one implementation of the brewer, the button 1017 may be formed on a portion of the brewer that is configured to receive the beverage basket 900. In other implementations, the button 1017 and the bridge member 1019 fit substantially near the bottom of the cartridge 1015 or the ejector and maintain the distance between the cartridge 1015 or the side walls of the ejector. It may correspond to a separate component configured as described above.

  [0064] FIGS. 11A and 11B show beverage basket embodiments 1100 and 1150 configured to be stacked. Referring to FIG. 11A, beverage basket 1100 includes frame 128 and filter material 903 as described above. For example, the frame includes a rim 126, a bottom portion 120, and a group of ribs 906. The rim 126 defines an opening corresponding to the top of the frame 128. The rim 126 may be continuous and may have a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion 120 is a closed surface corresponding to the bottom of the frame 128. Ribs 906 extend from the rim 126 to the edge of the bottom portion 120. Ribs 906, rim 126, and bottom portion 120 define apertures that facilitate fluid flow such as coffee, tea, or different beverages.

  [0065] Each rib 906 includes protrusions 1105 and 1110 (FIG. 11B) positioned in the central region. The protrusions 1105 and 1110 are configured to limit the amount that each basket 1100 and 1150 can be inserted into each other. Limiting the amount of insertion results in a space 1210 (FIG. 12B) between the bottoms 120 of the baskets 1100 and 1150. The space 1210 may be sized to facilitate storage of beverage grounds such as coffee grounds, tea grounds, or other grounds. Baskets 1100 and 1150 are stacked. That is, the positions of the protrusions 1105 and 1210 along the rib 906 may be configured such that a desired amount of space 1210 between each basket is obtained as a result. Thus, advantageously, a plurality of baskets can be filled with crushed material and then stacked to leave a space.

  [0066] In some configurations, the protrusion 1105 extends outward in a direction away from the center of the basket. (See FIG. 11A). Referring to FIG. 12A, in this configuration, the protrusion 1105 of the upper basket 1205 abuts against the rim 126 of the lower basket 1207 and comes to rest. In this regard, the distance between the opposing protrusions 1105 (ie, the protrusions 1105 on the opposing sides of the basket 1100) can be approximately equal to the inner diameter of the rim 126.

  [0067] In other configurations, the protrusion 1110 extends inward toward the center of the basket. (See FIG. 11B). Referring to FIG. 12B, in this configuration, the bottom portion 120 of the upper basket 1205 abuts against the protrusion 1110 of the lower basket 1207 and rests. In this regard, the distance between the opposing protrusions 1110 (ie, the protrusions 1105 on the opposing sides of the basket 1110) can be approximately equal to the outer shape of the bottom portion 120.

  [0068] FIGS. 13A-13C show a perspective view, a side view, and a bottom view, respectively, of yet another beverage basket embodiment 1300. FIG. The beverage basket 1300 is configured to be placed in a brewer (not shown) without the need for the cartridge 400. Such brewers typically include a receiving member sized to receive a basket having a similar but not identical shape. A protruding membrane piercing needle is positioned in the lower part of the receiving member and comes out of the basket by piercing the lower part of a typical plastic cup (such as a generally cylindrical cup with a flat and closed bottom surface). Configured to facilitate fluid flow through the needle and then into the cup.

  [0069] The beverage basket embodiment 1300 comprises a frame 1305. The frame 1305 includes a rim 1310, a bottom portion 1315, and a group of ribs 1320. The rim 1310 defines an opening corresponding to the top of the frame 1305 when the frame 1305 is in an upright position. The rim 1310 may be continuous and may have a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion 1315 is a closed surface corresponding to the bottom of the frame 1305. Ribs 1320 extend from rim 1310 to the edge of bottom portion 1315. Ribs 1320, rim 1310, and bottom portion 1315 define apertures that facilitate fluid flow such as coffee, tea, or different beverages. The beverage basket embodiment 1300 also includes a filter material that covers the opening, such as any of the filter materials described above, not shown in this example for clarity.

  [0070] The first portion 1325 (FIG. 13C) of the bottom portion 1315 is substantially flat. On the other hand, the second portion 1330 of the bottom portion 1315 defines a recess 1335 that may be fully enclosed or partially enclosed. The first portion 1325 may occupy 3/4 or more of the surface area of the bottom portion 1315. Second portion 1330 may occupy the remaining area. Recess 1335 is sized so that when the basket 1300 is inserted into the receiving member, the membrane piercing needle fits into the recess 1335 and does not pierce the bottom portion 1315. For example, the depth D of the indentation 1335 relative to the lower surface of the bottom surface first portion 1325 may be, but is not limited to, for example, about 0.388 inches. The width of the indentation 1330 may be, for example, about 0.287 inches, but is not limited thereto, and the indentation 1335 may be offset toward the side edge of the bottom portion 1315, The position corresponds to the position of the membrane piercing needle in some extractor implementations. However, the recess 1335 may be located at a different position if the membrane perforation needle is positioned at a different position. By limiting the space occupied by the recess 1335 (ie, by maximizing the space occupied by the first portion), a wider space for ground ground such as coffee grounds in the basket 1300 results. can get. This also promotes the production of a darker blend.

  [0071] FIGS. 14A-16B show various exemplary lids for covering a beverage basket embodiment 1300. FIG. Each lid is configured to selectively substantially seal an opening defined at the top of the frame 1305. 14A and 14B show a first exemplary lid 1400. FIG. Lid 1400 includes an opening 1402 in the central region for liquid to flow into basket 1300. The lid 1400 also includes an annular ring 1405 configured to form a seal between the lid 1400 and the beverage basket 1300 by friction fitting to the inner surface of the rim 1310 of the frame 1305. This is a seal between the outer surface of the annular ring 1405 and the inner surface of the rim 1310. The diameter of the annular ring 1405 may be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid 1400 and the basket 1300 and to further facilitate the removal of the lid 1400.

  [0072] FIGS. 15A and 15B show a second exemplary lid 1500. FIG. Lid 1500 includes an opening 1502 in the central region for liquid to flow into basket 1300. The lid 1500 includes a side wall 1505 configured to snap onto the outer edge of the rim 1310. In other words, a seal between the lid 1500 and the beverage basket 1300 is formed between the inner surface of the side wall 1505 and the outer surface of the rim 1310. The diameter of the side wall 1505 may be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid 1500 and the basket 1300 and to further facilitate the removal of the lid 1500.

  [0073] FIGS. 16A and 16B show another exemplary beverage basket 1600 and lid 1610. FIG. The beverage basket 1600 comprises the features of the beverage basket 1300 described above. However, the rim 1605 defines one or more notches 1612. The lid 1610 includes one or more tracks 1615 configured to cooperate with one or more notches 1612 to facilitate twist lock of the lid 1610 relative to the beverage basket 1600. In this regard, the thickness of the rim 1605 may gradually increase with the distance away from the notch 1612 such that the tightness between the lid 1610 and the beverage basket 1600 increases by further twisting the lid 1610.

  [0074] The above configuration may be modified. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the basket 1700 and the lid 1705 shown in FIG. 14 may be integrally formed such that the lid 1705 is attached to the basket 1700 in the open configuration. In this case, the lid 1705 can be folded over the basket 1700 to close the top opening of the basket 1700 defined by the rim 1710. A notch 1715 may be formed in the rim 1710 so that the lower side of the lid 1705 is exposed when the lid 1400 is in the closed configuration. Notch 1715 facilitates removal of lid 1705 from basket 1700.

  [0075] As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, a liquid delivery fin 1810 may be formed under the lid 1805. FIG. In operation, liquid flowing into the lid opening is drawn over the liquid delivery fin 1810 by capillary pressure and then falls onto the crushed material in the basket 1800. The liquid distribution fin 1810 distributes the liquid to a larger portion of the crushed material in the basket 1800 than when the fin 1810 is not used. In addition, this promotes a more uniform brewing of the beverage. It will be appreciated that the shape and number of fins 1810 are exemplary only.

[0076] FIGS. 19A-20B illustrate a sealed beverage basket 1900 (FIG. 19C) and the operations for forming it. Sealed beverage basket 1900 is coated with aluminum foil, which acts as a high gas barrier against gases such as nitrogen (N ₂ ), carbon dioxide (CO), oxygen (O ₂ ), and other aromatic organic volatiles. Provided with a beverage basket wrapped in an outer sleeve made from gas barrier materials such as single layer plastic film, multilayer laminate composed of different plastics, aluminum foil, metal coated plastic, metal coated paper, and coated film . The outer sleeve is form fit to the beverage basket, resulting in a smaller storage footprint. That is, the sealed beverage basket 1900 requires less space than some of the other embodiments.

  [0077] The beverage basket may correspond to any of the described beverage basket embodiments. For example, the beverage basket may correspond to the basket 110 of FIG. In this regard, the basket 110 includes a frame and filter media as described above. The frame includes a rim, a bottom portion, and a group of ribs. A lid 200 may be placed on top of the frame 128 to secure the contents within the frame 128.

  [0078] FIG. 19A shows a first outer sleeve 1905 that is disposed around the outer surface of the basket 110 and that can be subsequently fitted into the basket 110 to provide a sealed beverage basket 1900. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Outer sleeve 1905 is configured to form an airtight seal within basket 110 by covering at least an opening of basket 110 through which fluid flows. This hermetic seal maintains the freshness of the contents stored in the basket 110.

  [0079] In a pre-form fit stage, the sidewalls of the outer sleeve 1905 may be tapered, the diameter of which allows the basket 110 to slide within the outer sleeve 1905. Sized to encourage. The diameter along the top edge of the outer sleeve 1905 may be sized to prevent the outer sleeve 1905 from extending beyond the rim of the basket 110. The bottom of the outer sleeve 1905 may be open or closed.

  [0080] After the basket 110 slides into the outer sleeve 1905, an inert gas, such as nitrogen, may be injected into the interior of the basket 110 to expel ambient air. At the same time, heat is applied to the outer sleeve 1905 to tightly contract the outer sleeve 1905 around the basket 110 and provide an airtight seal that prevents ambient air from entering the basket 110. It may be formed.

  [0081] In some implementations, the outer sleeve 1905 may be configured to cover other areas of the basket 110. For example, the outer sleeve 1900 may cover a portion 1920 of the lid 200, as illustrated in FIG. 19C. In this case, the diameter of the top edge of the outer sleeve 1905 may be sized so that the sleeve 1905 can slide over the rim during the preform fitting phase. This allows the sleeve to be folded over the lid 200 during the shape fitting process, thereby further securing the lid 200 to the frame of the basket 110 and relating to the contents stored in the basket 110. A tampering detection means is provided. For example, if the outer sleeve 1905 is torn, this can be evidence of tampering with the contents of the sealed beverage basket 1900.

  [0082] FIG. 19B shows a second exemplary embodiment of an outer sleeve 1910 that can be placed around the outer surface of the basket 110 and subsequently fit into the basket 110. FIG. Similar to the first outer sleeve embodiment 1905, the second outer sleeve embodiment 1910 is configured to form an airtight seal within the basket 110 by covering at least an opening of the basket 110 through which fluid flows. Is done. This hermetic seal maintains the freshness of the contents stored in the basket 110. In some implementations, the outer sleeve 1910 may be configured to cover other areas of the beverage basket 1900, such as the portion 1920 of the lid 200, which may achieve the advantageous features described above. .

  [0083] In this second embodiment, the outer sleeve 1910 is configured to wrap around the frame of the basket 110, as shown in FIG. 19B. In this regard, the outer sleeve 1910 is initially separated from the first edge and the second edge 1912 and has an overlap amount as shown by the dashed line 1915 in FIG. 19B. The first edge and the second edge 1912 overlap each other when the outer sleeve 1910 is wound. An adhesive may be applied to one or both edges 1912 to help bond these edges. The adhesive may be a food peelable pressure sensitive adhesive that does not contaminate the beverage grind stored in the basket 110. For example, the adhesive can be an acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesive. In some embodiments, the edge 1912 may be joined by other suitable means such as ultrasonic welding.

  [0084] The second outer sleeve embodiment 1910 may be cut from the sleeve material sheet. Prior to cutting, figures and labels etc. may be printed on the sleeve material. This is advantageous because it allows a sealed beverage basket 1900 with figures, labels, etc. on the outer surface. They also facilitate easy determination of, for example, the contents stored in the beverage basket 110, the beverage basket manufacturer, the expiration date, or any other desired information.

  [0085] As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, in some implementations, the outer sleeves 1905, 1910 comprise a top portion 2005 that is configured to completely cover the lid 200. The top portion 2005 may be formed from the same material as the other portions of the outer sleeves 1905, 1910. For example, the first outer sleeve embodiment 1905 may be configured to have a closed top corresponding to the top portion 2005 and configured to slide over the top of the basket 110 rather than the bottom (ie, size). Setting). Alternatively, the top portion 2005 may be a separate portion joined to the rest of the outer sleeves 1905, 1910 by any of the joining processes described above or a different joining process. For example, the top portions may be joined by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or a different joining process.

  [0086] In some implementations, the top portion 2005 includes tabs 2000 (FIG. 20A) or notches 2010 (FIG. 20B) to facilitate easy removal of the outer sleeves 1905, 1910 from the basket 110. You may prepare. In implementations that do not include a top portion 2005, the outer sleeve portion that covers the opening of the beverage basket may define a tab 2000 and / or a notch 2010.

  [0087] FIG. 21A illustrates an exemplary beverage packet 2100 that may be used in connection with any of the basket embodiments described above. Beverage packet 210 is made from a flow wrap material that can be used to define a plurality of beverage packets 2100. Each beverage packet 2100 may comprise a sealed beverage basket, such as the sealed beverage basket 1900 described above. The flow wrap material may initially correspond to a tube that is closed at one end and has a length suitable for packaging a desired number of sealed beverage baskets 1900.

  [0088] In operation, a first sealed beverage basket 1900 is inserted into the tube. The tube is then sealed above the sealed beverage basket 1900 to form a first beverage packet 2100 that holds one sealed beverage basket 1900. A second sealed beverage basket 1900 is then inserted at the open end of the tube and sealed within the tube to form a second beverage packet 2100. This operation continues until the desired number of beverage packets 2100 is obtained. The tube may be perforated between beverage packets 2100 to facilitate easy disconnection of the beverage packets 2100. The entire tube of beverage packet 2100 may be housed in container 2105 for delivery and storage.

  [0089] Thus, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many additional embodiments and implementations are possible that fall within the scope of the claims. Furthermore, the described embodiments may be combined into new embodiments that realize any of the advantages described herein. Accordingly, the above-described embodiments are merely presented to assist in understanding the scope of the claims and do not limit the scope of the claims.

Claims (21)

In a basket for holding beverage grounds,
A frame,
A continuous rim defining an opening at the top of the frame;
A closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion, wherein the bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim promote a fluid flow. A frame with a plurality of spaced ribs defining an opening of
A filter material positioned within the plurality of openings;
A basket comprising: a removable outer sleeve formed on an outer surface of the frame configured to provide an airtight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings.   The basket of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve is shape fitted to the outer surface of the frame.   The basket according to claim 1, further comprising a lid member that covers the opening at a top portion of the frame and secures the beverage crushed material in the frame.   The basket of claim 3, wherein the outer sleeve is formed to at least partially cover the lid member.   The basket of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a first overlapping edge and a second overlapping edge that are wrapped around the frame and joined with an adhesive.   The basket according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive is a food adhesive.   The basket of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve defines a tab or notch that facilitates peeling of the outer sleeve from the frame. In beverage package,
A flow wrap material defining a plurality of sealed pockets;
A beverage basket for storing a beverage grind positioned within each sealed pocket, each beverage basket comprising:
A frame comprising a frame, wherein the frame is
A continuous rim defining an opening at the top of the frame;
A closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion, wherein the bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim promote a fluid flow. A frame with a plurality of spaced ribs defining an opening of
A filter material positioned within the plurality of openings, and a removable outer sleeve formed on the outer surface of the frame configured to provide an airtight seal within the frame over at least the plurality of openings. Beverage package with   The beverage package of claim 8, wherein the flow wrap is perforated between the pockets to facilitate controlled separation between adjacent pockets.   The beverage package of claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve is shape fitted to the outer surface of the frame.   The beverage package according to claim 8, further comprising a lid member that covers the opening at a top portion of the frame and secures the beverage crushed material in the frame.   The beverage package of claim 11, wherein the outer sleeve is formed to at least partially cover the lid member.   9. The beverage package of claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a first overlapping edge and a second overlapping edge that are wrapped around the frame and joined with an adhesive.   The beverage package according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive is a food adhesive.   9. The beverage package of claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve defines a tab that facilitates peeling of the outer sleeve from the basket.   9. The beverage package of claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve defines a notch that facilitates peeling of the outer sleeve from the basket. In a method for forming a beverage basket for holding a beverage grind,
Forming a frame, the frame comprising a continuous rim defining an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced apart portions extending from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom. Ribs, and wherein the bottom portion, the plurality of ribs, and the rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow;
Positioning a filter material within the plurality of openings;
Forming a removable outer sleeve on the outer surface of the frame configured to form an airtight seal within the frame by covering at least the plurality of openings. The step of forming the outer sleeve comprises:
Providing a pre-formed sleeve configured to slide over the frame;
Removing ambient air from the interior space by injecting an inert gas into the interior space of the frame;
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising shrinking the outer sleeve around the frame by simultaneously applying heat to the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve is a peripheral wrap sleeve having a first end and a second end, the method comprising:
Applying an adhesive on at least one of the first end and the second end;
Winding the outer sleeve around the basket until one end overlaps the other end and the ends join together;
Removing ambient air from the interior space by injecting an inert gas into the interior space of the frame;
The method of claim 17, further comprising shrinking the outer sleeve around the frame by simultaneously applying heat to the outer sleeve.   The method of claim 19, wherein the adhesive is a food adhesive.   The method of claim 17, wherein the outer sleeve defines a tab or notch that facilitates peeling of the outer sleeve from the frame.

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