KR20140078698A - Disposable Single Use Beverage Package - Google Patents

Abstract

The basket for maintaining the beverage ground has a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim defining an opening in 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. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim form a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. The filter material is located within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame. The outer sleeve is configured to cover at least the plurality of openings to provide an airtight seal within the frame.

Description

Disposable Single Use Beverage Package "

The present invention relates to a beverage package.

Single-person brewing is popular among consumers. There are various types of single-use brewers on the market. These extractors are designed to quickly extract a cup of coffee or tea. Coffee or tea grounds are sold as ready-made, single-use parts.

Reuse devices for a single extractor, such as those with metal or steel filters, may not be appropriate in certain situations. For example, when efficiency is required, such as a busy home, office environment, or waiting room environment. Reuse devices require cleaning, which can be complicated by the tendency of the beverage ground to set in the filter openings. Additionally, a single serve brewer needs to be positioned adjacent to the water source and the sink or sink to accommodate the cleaning of the reuse devices. The provision of sinks or sinks may not be possible.

The present invention provides a beverage package that solves the above problems.

In a first aspect, a basket for holding a drink ground includes a frame. The frame has a continuous rim forming an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to the peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim form a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. The filter material is located within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame. The outer sleeve is configured to cover at least a plurality of openings to provide an air-tight seal within the frame.

In a second aspect, the beverage package has a flow wrap material, which has a plurality of sealed pockets and a beverage basket for storing the beverage ground located in each sealed pocket. Each beverage basket has a frame. The frame has a continuous rim forming an opening in the top of the frame, a closed bottom, and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to the peripheral edge of the bottom portion. The bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim form a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. The beverage basket may also include a filter material located within the plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame configured to cover at least the plurality of apertures to provide an airtight seal within the frame.

In a third aspect, a method of forming a beverage basket for maintaining a beverage ground includes providing a continuous rim forming an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion, and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to the peripheral edge of the bottom And a forming step of the provided frame. The bottom portion, the plurality of ribs, and the rim form a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. The filter material is located in a plurality of openings. A removable outer sleeve is formed on the outer surface of the frame and is configured to cover at least a plurality of apertures to provide an airtight seal within the frame.

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

Figure 1 shows a disposable beverage part basket with a package.
Figure 2 shows the basket and the lid of the disposable beverage part.
Figure 3 shows a disposable beverage part basket with exemplary dimensions.
Figure 4 shows the use of disposable beverage part baskets.
Figure 5 shows an exemplary lid for a disposable beverage part basket.
Figure 6 shows an exemplary package of a plurality of disposable beverage part baskets.
Figure 7a illustrates an exemplary filter media side portion configured to be molded into a basket.
Figure 7b shows an exemplary filter media bottom portion configured to be molded into the bottom surface of the frame of the basket, if necessary.
Figure 7C shows an exemplary filter side portion and a filter bottom portion molded with a basket.
Figure 8a shows the placement of a logo in an exemplary lid
8B shows the logo placement of the basket.
Figure 8c shows the placement of the logo on the underside of the basket.
Figure 9a shows a disposable beverage part basket that forms a groove on the bottom part.
Figure 9b shows a disposable beverage part basket which forms indentations and grooves in the bottom part.
Figure 10a shows an exemplary cartridge with an annular ring used in conjunction with the beverage basket of Figure 9a.
Figure 10B shows an exemplary cartridge with buttons used in conjunction with the beverage basket of Figure 9B.
11A shows a disposable beverage basket having a group of outwardly extending shelves.
11B shows a disposable beverage basket having a group of inwardly extending shelves.
Figure 12a shows the stacking of disposable beverage baskets with outwardly extending shelves.
Figure 12b shows a stack of disposable beverage portions with inwardly extending lathes.
Figs. 13A to 13C show a perspective view, a side view and a bottom view, respectively, of another beverage basket embodiment. Fig.
Figures 14A and 14B illustrate a first lid embodiment covering the beverage basket of Figures 13A-13C.
Figures 15A and 15B illustrate a second lid embodiment covering the beverage basket of Figures 13A-13C.
Figures 16a and 16b show a basket and a lid that are twist locked together.
Figure 17 shows a basket and a lid formed together.
Figures 18A and 18B illustrate a liquid dispersion fin positioned on the lower surface of an exemplary lid.
Figure 19a illustrates applying a first exemplary sleeve embodiment over a beverage basket.
Figure 19b illustrates applying a second exemplary sleeve embodiment over a beverage basket.
Figure 19c shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment.
Figure 20a shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment with a tab for removing the outer sleeve.
Figure 20b shows a sealed beverage basket embodiment with a notch for removing the outer sleeve.
Figure 21A shows a beverage packet.
Figure 21B shows a string of beverage packs.

Single serve beverage brewing is popular among consumers due to the convenience and flexibility it provides. Many single-person beverage makers have entered the market. Conventional beverage extractors typically extract between 4 and 20 cups of beverage at a time. The beverage is placed on a hot plate until it is consumed. Over time, the taste of the beverage can be reduced. Single-person beverage extraction enables consumers to enjoy coffee and tea-like beverages in an efficient manner without compromising the flavor of the beverage.

In Fig. 1, grounds of coffee or tea used in a single-person beverage extractor may be packaged in a disposable single-use beverage package 100. The disposable single use beverage package 100 may include a basket 110, which may be a permeable basket, and a bulkhead 112, which may be a disposable non-permeable bulkhead.

The barrier ribs 112 may have a first side 114 and a second side 116. The first side 114 may include a score, a tab, a zipper, an embedded line, or may provide a means for a user to help open the barrier 112. The barrier ribs 112 may be sealed at the second side 116 or at other sides by gussets, pinching, heat sealing or other methods. Alternatively, or additionally, partition 112 may be a shrink wrap barrier or a wax barrier among others.

The barrier ribs 112 may be substantially resistant to the passage of liquids, gases, and solids. For example, the barrier ribs 112 are hermetically sealed to prevent moisture and oxygen from entering the pouch and to maintain the aroma of the coffee. Additionally or alternatively, several baskets may be shaped and packaged together in the form of an egg crest type, tubing, or other package to maintain a good line of sight during shipping and storage. The barrier ribs 112 may be made of materials such as foil laminates, metallized films, EVOH films, polyolefin base materials, parafilm, plastics, and combinations thereof, among others.

The user can reveal the basket 110 by tearing the bulkhead 112 along the first side 114, for example, and opening the package 100. The user can remove the basket 110 from the bulkhead 112 and place the basket 110 into a single extractor. The basket 110 may be pre-filled with ground, or, alternatively, a user may insert the ground into the basket 110.

The basket 110 may be a single-walled permeable basket having a first end 118 and a second end 120, the first end may be reversibly closed or open, and the second end may be closed End. 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 124 and a rim 126. The side wall 124 may connect the second end 120 and the rim 126. The side walls 124 may include a frame 128 and a filter media 130.

The frame 128 may provide structure, stability, and integrity for the filter media 130. The frame 128 can be formed by injection molding or by a different process suitable for extracting a rigid form around a relatively flexible filter medium. The frame 128 may be made of any of a number of commercial materials and may be formed from any suitable material, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide or nylon, or other artificial or natural plastic, Lt; / RTI > The frame 128 may be made from other materials, such as a bio-based polymer, and may be made of, for example, polylaticacid (PLA), polyhydroxybutaric acid, or starch based polymer ). ≪ / RTI > The frame 128 may be made of other materials known to those skilled in the art.

In Fig. 2, the side wall 124 of the basket 110 may be defined by the frame 128 and the filter media 130. The filter media 130 may be secured to the basket 110 and secured at the second end 120, the rim 126, and / or the frame 128, for example. The filter media 130 may be fixed, for example, by thermal bonding of plastic used for the frame 128, or by adhesive, or by crimping, heat sealing, . The filter media 130 may be secured to the frame 128 by insert injection molding of a plastic frame around the filter media insert. For example, a pre-die cut blank of the filter media can be placed on the mandrel, and the mandrel has a channel around the shape of the pre-die cutting blank. The molten plastic may flow in and be bonded to the blank of the filter media 130 during insert injection molding. The plastics may solidify into the frame 128, for example, upon cooling. 7A-7C, in an alternative embodiment, the filter media 700, 705 may initially be formed of a generally cylindrical and tapered portion 700 and an optional bottom circular filter media 705, The bottom round filter media 705 is referred to herein as a circular portion 705. The filter media 700,705 may be disposed in or inserted into a mold for insert injection molding to form a basket 710 with the filter media 700,705 being supported by the frame of the basket 710. [ The bottom end 715 of the frame of the basket 710 is substantially open and the circular filter portion 705 can cover the open portions.

The filter media 130 may be a porous material and may be permeable to liquids and some oils. It can be formed of a variety of materials such as, for example, non-woven materials, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, cellulosic fiber, Polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starches, filter paper, other paper materials, polymeric materials, combinations thereof, or any other materials. The filter media 130 may be formed from a polymer or plastic filtration mesh or a microporous or apertured film made of various plastic materials, which may be polypropylene, nylon 6 and high density polyethylene, or other materials known to those skilled in the art . Alternatively, the filter media 130 may be formed from a bio based polymer, such as a polylactic acid (PLA), a polyhydroxy butyral acid (PHA), or a starch based polymer .

The properties of the filter media 130 may be selected to meet the filtration needs of different products such as ground coffee, tea powder or tea leaves, or other brewed products. For example, the basis weight, thickness, strand count, mesh size, flow rate, and intensity of the filter media 130 may be selected based on the product to be extracted.

The filter media 130 can be mixed, biodegradable, regenerated, and / or recyclable. If the filter media 130 is a non-woven material, it may have a greater resistance than, for example, a woven material or a metal filter. The nonwoven filter media 130 may retain water in the basket for longer than, for example, a woven or metal filter. The length of time the water is held in the basket with the ground can affect the strength and thus affect the taste profile of the resulting beverage. This may be because the weave material or metallic material may have technical limitations on the size of the apertures therethrough. Nonwoven materials may not have such technical limitations. Thus, in woven or metallic materials, the path of the water may be straight through the wall, and in non-woven materials, the path may be indirect and the line may be different.

The basket 110 may have a lid 122. The lid 122 may have a rim 202 and a lid 200. The lid 200 may be disposed under the rim 202 for firm alignment with the basket 110. Alternatively, the lid 200 may not have a rim 202. The lid 200 is made of a material that can be drilled to allow liquid to enter the basket. For example, the lid 200 can be a material such as a foil, a film, a coated film, a multilayer laminate, which is crossed or sealed to the rim 126 of the permeable basket 110 to retain the contents therein . The lid 200 can keep the dry contents dry, keep the humid contents humid, and maintain the freshness of the contents. The lid 200 can be formed of plastic, a metal foil, a filter material, a thermoplastic starch or a laminate, or a composite thereof.

The basket 110 may be dimensioned for use with a commercial coffee extractor for a single person. FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary basket 110. The basket 110 may have a width and height 316 of the open end 312. The open end 312 may, for example, be approximately 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, but is not limited thereto, and may have a dimension 318 of 2 mm, but is not limited thereto. These dimensions are merely illustrative and not limiting. The basket 110 may also have other dimensions or shapes, and may have dimensions that can be used, for example, in a variety of one-person beverage machines.

In Figure 4, the basket 110 may be pre-filled with beverage ground 414 and filled with, for example, coffee or tea ground, but is not limited thereto. Alternatively or additionally, the basket 110 may be loaded into the beverage ground 414 immediately prior to use. If the basket 110 is pre-filled with the beverage ground 414, it can be sealed with the lid 122. Alternatively, if the permeable basket 110 is not pre-loaded into the beverage ground 414, it may have a lid 122 and, additionally or alternatively, it may have a detachable lid 122, .

During use, the user opens the bulkhead 112, takes out the basket 110, and places the basket 110 in the single-person beverage machine. The heated liquid 410 may be received through the opening in the lid 200 by the basket 110 or may be different. For example, in use, the pre-loaded basket 110 may be disposed within the cartridge 400 for the disposable beverage machine. Cartridge 400 may be reusable or disposable. During the brew cycle, the lid 200 is pierced by the probe 416 to cause the heated liquid 410 to enter the basket 110. The heated liquid can interact with the beverage ground 414 to create a beverage medium. The beverage media 418 may flow through the filter media 130 and out through the openings in the cartridge 400. [

As a second example, in use, an unloaded permeable basket 110 may be disposed within the cartridge 400 for a single beverage machine. Cartridge 400 may be reusable or disposable. The beverage ground 414 may be disposed within the basket 110. The lid 200 may be attached to retain the contents of the basket 110. During the brew cycle, the lid 200 can be pierced by the probe 416 to cause the heated liquid 410 to enter the basket 110. The heated liquid can interact with the beverage ground 414 to create a beverage medium. The beverage media 414 can flow through the filter media 130 and exit through the openings in the cartridge 400. Alternatively, the lid 200 may not be needed. In this case, the heated liquid 410 will flow directly into the basket 110.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a lid 122 for a basket 110. Fig. The lid 200 of the lid 122 may have an opening 500 for entry of a liquid probe. The opening 500 can be a weakened portion of the lid 200 material, which can easily break under the pressure of the probe.

In Figure 6, the unloaded and tapered basket 110 may be configured for efficient nesting. The basket 110 may be sold as a tube or stack, which may be packaged in a sleeve of plastic film or may be different. Unloaded baskets 110 allow end-users to select various beverage grounds 414 to be used in their single-use extractors. The end user may also modify the amount of beverage ground 414 used in the single extractor.

The components of the single use package 100 may be selected with the intent to produce an environmentally friendly product. For example, the filter media 130 may be made from synthetic or biodegradable, recycled or recyclable, or mixable materials, and may include, for example, polyolefins, polylactic acids, cellulosics, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starches, combinations of these materials and other materials. The basket frame 128 material, lid 200 and partitions 112 may be made of these materials or made of similar synthetic, biodegradable, recyclable or renewable, or mixable materials, (E. G., Frame 128 and impermeable (e. G., Partition 112).

While various embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many different embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the claims. 8A-8C, logos 805 of various configurations can be placed under the lid 122 (FIG. 9A), the basket 110 (FIG. 8B) or the basket 110 . The logos 105 may be printed on the filter media 130. The logo 805 allows the seller to place detailed information about the products in the basket, such as, for example, whether the product is coffee or tea, a blend type, and the like. Other information known to those skilled in the art may also be printed.

9A-10B show other embodiments of the disposable beverage basket. Figures 9a and 9b illustrate a beverage basket embodiment configured to control basket positioning within a cartridge or extractor. 9A, a beverage basket 900 (shown inverted) has a frame 128 and a filter medium 903. The beverage basket 900 is shown in Fig. 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 the 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. The ribs 906 extend from the rim 126 to the edge of the bottom portion 120. Rib 906, rim 126 and bottom portion 120 form a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea, or other beverages.

The bottom portion 120 forms a groove 905 and / or a depression 907 (FIG. 9B). The groove 905 may extend inwardly along the edge of the bottom portion 120 in a continuous manner. The groove 905 and / or the indent 907 are configured to accurately position the basket 900 in the cartridge or extractor in cooperation with a needle at the bottom of the complementary feature, e.g., cartridge or extractor. That is, the grooves 905 and / or indentations 907 are configured to engage complementary features of the cartridge or extractor to control the alignment of the basket 900 such that the outer wall of the basket 900 is in contact with the cartridge or extractor It is not on the inner walls, otherwise it may restrict fluid flow through the basket 900. [

10A and 10B illustrate exemplary cartridges 1000 and 1015 with alignment features. The same sorting features can be provided in the extractor independently of the cartridge. Referring to Fig. 10A, the feature corresponds to an annular ring 1005. Fig. The annular ring 1005 can be suspended within the cartridge by one or more bridge members 1007 to facilitate fluid flow around the annular ring 1005. The annular ring 1005 can be sized to fit within the groove 905 of the beverage basket 900. In an embodiment of the extractor, the annular ring 1007 may be formed in a portion of the extractor configured to receive the beverage basket 900. The annular ring 1005 and the one or more bridge members 1007 may correspond to separate components that fit substantially close to the bottom of the cartridge 100 or the extractor and that the cartridge 1000, Or the distance between the sidewalls of the extractor.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the feature corresponds to the button 1017. Button 1017 may be sized to fit within indent 907 as described above. The button 1017 may be supported by the bridge member 1019 to enable fluid flow around the button 1017. In an embodiment of the extractor, the button 1017 may be formed in a portion of the extractor configured to receive the beverage basket 900. In another embodiment, button 1017 and bridge member 1018 may correspond to discrete components, which may fit substantially close to the bottom of cartridge 1015 or extractor and may be located between cartridge 1015 or the sidewalls of the extractor To maintain the distance.

11A and 11B illustrate beverage basket embodiments 1100 and 1150 configured to be stacked. 11A, the beverage basket 1100 includes a frame 128 and a 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. The rib 906 extends from the rim 126 to the edge of the bottom portion 120. Rib 906, rim 126 and bottom portion 120 form a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea, or a different beverage.

Each rib 906 has shelves 1105 and 1110 (Figure 11B) located in the central region. The shelves 1105 and 1110 are configured to limit the amount by which the individual baskets 1100 and 1150 can be inserted into each other. Limiting the amount of insertion results in a space 1210 (Figure 12B) between the individual bottoms 120 of the baskets 1100,1150. When the baskets 1100 and 1150 are stacked, the space 1210 can be sized to facilitate storage of the beverage ground, such as coffee grounds, tea grounds, or other grounds. That is, the position of the shelves 1105, 1210 along the ribs 906 can be configured to cause a desired amount of space 1210 between the individual baskets. Thus, some of the baskets can be advantageously filled with ground and then stacked to save space.

In some configurations, the shelf 1105 extends outward from the center of the basket (see FIG. 11A). 12A, in this configuration, the shelf 1105 of the upper basket 1205 is placed on the rim 126 of the lower basket 1207. In this regard, the distance between opposing shelves 1105 (i.e., shelf 1105 on the opposite side of basket 1100) may be approximately equal to the inside diameter of rim 126.

In another configuration, the shelf portion 1110 extends inward toward the center of the basket (see FIG. 11B). 12B, in this configuration, the bottom portion 120 of the upper basket 1205 is placed on the shelf portion 1110 of the lower basket 1207. In this regard, the distance between opposing shelves 1110 (i.e., the shelf 1105 on opposite sides of the basket 1100) may be approximately equal to the outside diameter of the bottom portion 120.

13A-13C are perspective and side elevational views, respectively, of another beverage basket embodiment 1300. FIG. The beverage basket 1300 is configured to be disposed within the extractor (not shown) without the need for the cartridges 400. Such an extractor typically has a receiving member sized to receive a basket of similar shape, even if not of the same shape. The protruding membrane perforation needle is located in the lower portion of the receiving member and is configured to puncture a lower portion of a conventional plastic cup (e.g., a generally cylindrical cup having a flat, closed bottom surface) And to facilitate fluid flow into the cup.

The beverage basket embodiment (1300) has a frame (1305). Frame 1305 includes a rim 1310, a bottom portion 1315, and a group of ribs 1320. The rim 1310 forms an opening corresponding to the top of the frame 1305 when the frame 1305 is in the 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. The rib 1320 extends from the rim 1310 to the edge of the bottom portion 1315. Ribs 1320, rim 1310 and bottom portion 1315 form a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea or other beverage. The beverage basket embodiment 1300 may include a filter material covering any of the filter materials described above, which is not shown here for clarity.

The first portion 1325 (FIG. 13C) of the bottom portion 1315 is substantially planar. The second portion 1330 of the bottom portion 1315 forms an indent 1335 which is completely enclosed or half enclosed. The first portion 1325 can occupy 3/4 or more of the bottom portion 1315 surface area. The second portion 1330 may occupy the remaining area. The indentation 1335 is dimensioned such that when the basket 1300 is inserted into the receiving member, the membrane perforation needle is aligned in the indentation 1335 and does not puncture the bottom portion 1315. For example, the depth D of the indentation 1335 relative to the bottom surface of the first portion 1325 of the bottom surface may be, but is not limited to, for example, about 0.388 " The depression 1335 may be offset towards the side edge of the bottom portion 1315 which may be offset in the direction of the membrane perforation needle 1315 in some extractor embodiments, ≪ / RTI > However, the indent 1335 can be located at a different location when the membrane perforation needle is positioned differently. Limiting the space occupied by the indent 1335 (i. E., Maximizing the space occupied by the first portion) results in more space in the basket 1300 for ground such as coffee ground. This again facilitates the production of strong blends.

Figs. 14A-16B illustrate various exemplary lids that cover the beverage basket embodiment 1300. Fig. The individual lids are configured to selectively substantially seal openings formed in the top portion of the frame 1305. Figs. 14A and 14B illustrate an exemplary first exemplary lid 1400. Fig. The lid 1400 has an opening 1402 in the central region through which the liquid flows into the basket 1300. The lid 1400 has an annular ring 1405 which is configured to frictionally engage the inner surface of the rim 1310 of the frame 1305 to form a seal between the lid 1400 and the beverage basket 1300 do. That is, between the outer surface of the annular ring 1405 and the inner surface of the rim 1310. The diameter of the annular ring 1405 can be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid 1400 and the basket 1300 while still facilitating removal of the lid 1400. [

Figs. 15A and 15B illustrate a second exemplary lid 1500. Fig. The lid 1500 has an opening 1502 in the central region through which liquid flows into the basket 1300. The lid 1500 has a side wall 1505 configured to snap fit over the outer edge of the rim 1310. That is, a seal between the lid 1500 and the beverage basket 1300 is formed between the inner surface of the sidewall 1505 and the outer surface of the rim 1310. The diameter of the side wall 1505 can be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid 1500 and the basket 1300 while still facilitating removal of the lid 1500.

16A and 16B show another exemplary beverage basket 1600 and lid 1610. Fig. The beverage basket 1600 has the features of the beverage basket 1300 described above. However, the rim 1605 forms one or more cutouts 1612. The lid 1610 includes one or more tracks 1615 that are configured to cooperate with one or more cutouts 1612 to provide a twist lock 1612 for the beverage basket 1600 locking. In this regard, the thickness of the rim 1605 may be gradually increased with distance from the cutout 1612 such that the tightness between the lid 1610 and the beverage basket 1600 is greater than the thickness of the lid 1610 It is increased with further torsion.

The above configuration can be changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the baskets 1700 and 1705 of FIG. 14 may be formed together so that the lid 1705 is attached to the basket 1700 in the open state. The lid 1705 may then be folded over the basket 1700 to close the upper opening of the basket 1700 formed by the rim 1710. The cutout portion 1715 may be formed in the rim 1710 to expose the lower portion of the lid 1705 when the lid 1400 is in the closed state. The cutout 1715 facilitates removal of the lid 1705 from the basket 1700.

As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, liquid dispersion fins 1810 may be formed on the underside of the lid 1805. During operation, liquid flowing into the lid opening will be drawn over the liquid distributing fin 1810 through the capillary pressure and will fall onto the ground in the basket 1800. The liquid dispersion fin 1810 distributes the liquid over a large portion of the ground in the basket 1800 rather than when the fins 1810 are not used. This facilitates further brewing of the beverage again. It should be understood that the shape and number of the fins 1810 are exemplary only.

Figs. 19A and 20B show a sealed beverage basket 1900 (Fig. 19C) and an operation for forming it. The sealed beverage basket 1900 has a beverage basket enclosed in an outer sleeve made of a gas barrier material, which may be an aluminum foil, a coated single layer plastic film, a different plastic, an aluminum foil, a metallized plastic, a metal Such as multilayer laminates, including coated paper and coated films, which act as strong gas barrier to gas such as nitrogen (N ₂ ), carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), oxygen (O ₂ ) and other aromatic organic volatiles do. The outer sleeve is shaped into a beverage basket, which results in a small range in storage. That is, the sealed beverage basket 1900 requires less space than some of the other embodiments.

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

19A shows a first exemplary embodiment of the outer sleeve 1905 which may be disposed about the outside surface of the basket 110 and subsequently forming a fit to the basket 110 to form a sealed beverage basket 1900). The outer sleeve 1905 is configured to at least cover an opening in the basket 110 and provides an airtight seal within the basket 110 by fluid flow through the opening. The air tight seal preserves the line of contents stored in the basket (110).

In the preforming step, the sidewalls of the outer sleeve 1905 can be tapered and are diametrically sized to facilitate sliding of the basket 110 in the outer sleeve 1905. The diameter along the top edge of the outer sleeve 1905 can be sized to prevent the outer sleeve 1905 from extending beyond the rim of the basket 110. The bottom of the outer sleeve 1905 can be open or closed.

After sliding the basket 110 into the outer sleeve 1905, an inert gas such as nitrogen may be injected into the basket 110 to exhaust ambient air. At the same time heat can be applied to the outer sleeve 1905 so that the outer sleeve 1905 is tightly constricted around the basket 110 to form an airtight seal that prevents ambient air from entering the basket 110.

In some embodiments, the outer sleeve 1905 may be configured to cover the outer area of the basket 110. For example, the outer sleeve 1900 may cover a portion 1920 of the lid 200 as shown in FIG. 19C. In this case, the diameter of the top edge of the outer sleeve 1905 may be sized to allow the sleeve 1905 to slide over the rim in the preforming step. This allows the sleeve to be folded over the lid 200 during the mating process and which allows the lid 200 to be further secured to the frame of the basket 100 and a means for detecting tampering stored in the basket 110 . For example, the torn outer sleeve 1905 may indicate damage to the sealed beverage basket 1900 contents.

19B shows a second exemplary embodiment of the outer sleeve 1910, which can be disposed about the outer surface of the basket 110 and subsequently form a fit to the basket 110. [ As in the first outer sleeve embodiment 1905, the second outer sleeve embodiment 1910 is configured to cover at least the opening of the basket 110, such that fluid flows through the opening to form an air- . The air tight seal preserves the line of contents stored in the basket (110). In some embodiments, the outer sleeve 1910 may be configured to cover a different area of the beverage basket 1900, such as a portion 1920 of the lid 200, which may provide the advantageous features described above.

In a second embodiment, the outer sleeve 1910 is configured to wrap around the frame of the basket 110 as shown in Figure 19B. In this regard, the outer sleeve 1910 is initially separated at the first and second edges 1912, and the outer sleeve is provided with an overlapping amount as indicated by the dashed line 1915 in FIG. 19b. When the outer sleeve 1910 is wrapped, the first and second edges 1912 overlap each other. The adhesive may be applied to one or both edges 1912 to facilitate edge bonding. The adhesive may be a food grade peelable pressure sensitive adhesive, which does not contaminate the beverage ground stored in the basket 110. For example, the adhesive may be an acrylic based pressure sensitive adhesive. In some embodiments, the edges 1912 may be joined by other suitable means, such as by ultrasonic bonding or the like.

The second outer sleeve embodiment 1910 can be cut from the sheet of sleeve material. Prior to cutting, graphics, labels, etc. may be printed on the sleeve material. This advantageously provides a sealed beverage basket that includes graphics, labels, etc. on the outside surface. This again facilitates, for example, easy determination of the contents stored in the beverage basket 110, the manufacturer of the beverage basket, the shelf life or any other desired information.

20A and 20B, in some embodiments, the outer sleeve 1905, 1910 has an upper portion 2005 configured to completely cover the lid 200. As shown in Figs. The upper portion 2005 may be formed from the same material as the rest of the outer sleeves 1905 and 1910. For example, the first outer sleeve embodiment 1905 may be configured to have a closed upper portion corresponding to the upper portion 2005 and be configured to slide over the upper portion of the basket 110 rather than the bottom portion That is, the size can be determined). Alternatively, the upper portion 2005 may be a separate portion joined to the remainder of the outer sleeve 1905, 1910 through the bonding process described above or other bonding process. For example, the upper portion may be bonded through an adhesive, ultrasonic bonding, or a different bonding process.

In some embodiments, the upper portion 2005 includes tabs 2000 (Figure 20a) or notch 2010 (Figure 20b) to facilitate removal of outer sleeves 1905 and 1910 from basket 110 . In embodiments that do not include the top portion 2005, the outer sleeve portion that covers the openings in the beverage basket may form tabs 2000 and / or notches 2010.

Figure 21A illustrates an exemplary beverage packet 2100 that may be utilized in conjunction with any of the basket embodiments described above. The beverage packet 210 is made from a flow wrap material that can be used to form a plurality of beverage packets 2100. Each beverage packet 2100 may have a sealed beverage basket and may, for example, have a sealed beverage basket 1900 as described above. The flow wrap material initially corresponds to a tube that is closed at one end and has a length suitable for packaging a desired number of sealed beverage baskets 1900.

In operation, the first sealed beverage basket 1900 is inserted into the tube. The tube is then sealed over a sealed beverage basket 1900 to form a first beverage packet 2100 that holds one sealed beverage basket 1900. The second sealed beverage basket 1900 is then inserted into the open end of the tube and sealed into the tube to provide a second beverage packet 2100. The operation continues until a desired number of beverage packkits 2100 are obtained. The tube may be pierced between the beverage packets 2100 to facilitate easy separation of the beverage packet 2100. [ The entire tube of the beverage packet 2100 may be stored in a container 2105 for dispensing and storage.

It will thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that further various embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the claims. Moreover, the described embodiments may be combined with new embodiments that provide any of the advantages described herein. Accordingly, the described embodiments are provided to aid in understanding the claims only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

100. Beverage Package 110. Basket
112. Bulkhead 114. First side
116. Second side 124. Side wall

Claims (21)

A basket for maintaining beverage grounds, the basket comprising:
frame;
A filter material positioned within the plurality of apertures; And
And a removable outer sleeve formed on the frame outer surface configured to cover at least a plurality of openings to provide an air-tight seal in the frame,
The frame comprising:
A continuous rim defining an opening in the top of the frame;
A closed bottom portion;
A plurality of spaced ribs extending from a rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom portion, the ribs defining a bottom edge, a plurality of ribs, and a rim defining a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outer sleeve is shaped to fit the outer surface of the frame. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a lid member covering the opening in the upper portion of the frame to enclose beverage grounds in the frame. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the outer sleeve is formed at least partially over the lid member. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the outer sleeve surrounds the frame and has a first overlapping edge and a second overlapping edge joined together through an adhesive. 6. The method of claim 5,
The adhesive is a food grade adhesive, a basket. The method according to claim 1,
The outer sleeve defines a tab or notch that facilitates stripping the outer sleeve from the frame. A flow wrap material forming a plurality of sealed pockets; And
And a beverage basket for storing a beverage ground located in each sealed pocket, each beverage basket comprising:
frame;
A filter material positioned within the plurality of apertures; And
And a removable outer sleeve formed on the frame outer surface configured to cover at least a plurality of openings to provide an air-tight seal in the frame,
The frame comprising:
A continuous rim defining an opening in 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, the bottom edge, the plurality of ribs, and the rim forming a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow. 9. The method of claim 8,
The flow wrap penetrates between adjacent pockets to facilitate controlled separation of the pockets. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the outer sleeve is form fit to the outer surface of the frame. 9. The method of claim 8,
Further comprising a lid member covering the opening in the upper portion of the frame to enclose beverage grounds in the frame. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the outer sleeve is formed at least partially over the lid member. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the outer sleeve surrounds the frame and has a first overlapping edge and a second overlapping edge bonded together through an adhesive. 14. The method of claim 13,
The adhesive is a food grade adhesive, the beverage package. 9. The method of claim 8,
The outer sleeve forms a tab that facilitates stripping the outer sleeve from the basket. 9. The method of claim 8,
The outer sleeve forms a notch that facilitates stripping the outer sleeve from the basket. Forming a frame having a continuous rim forming an opening at the top of the frame, a closed bottom portion and a plurality of spaced ribs extending from the rim to the peripheral edge of the bottom, the bottom portion, the plurality of ribs, Wherein the rim forms a plurality of apertures to facilitate fluid flow;
Positioning the filter material in the plurality of apertures; And
And forming a removable outer sleeve on the frame outer surface, wherein the removable outer sleeve is configured to cover at least a plurality of openings to provide an air-tight seal within the frame. 18. The method of claim 17,
The step of forming the outer sleeve comprises:
Providing a preformed sleeve configured to slide over the frame;
Removing ambient air from the interior space by injecting inert gas into the interior space of the frame; And,
And shrinking the outer sleeve around the frame by simultaneously applying heat to the outer sleeve. 18. The method of claim 17,
The outer sleeve is a wrap-around sleeve having a first end and a second end, the method comprising:
Applying an adhesive to at least one of the first end and the second end;
Wrapping the outer sleeve around the basket until one end is superimposed on the other end until the opposite ends are joined;
Injecting an inert gas into the inner space of the frame to remove ambient air from the inner space; And
Further comprising shrinking the outer sleeve around the frame by simultaneously applying heat to the outer sleeve. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 11. < / RTI > 20. The method of claim 19,
Wherein the adhesive is a food grade adhesive. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the outer sleeve forms a tab or notch that facilitates stripping the outer sleeve from the frame.

Images