US3566772A

US3566772A - Disposable coffee container

Info

Publication number: US3566772A
Application number: US658100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert Albert Oliver; Ernest L Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-08-03
Filing date: 1967-08-03
Publication date: 1971-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-02

Abstract

A disposable beverage making package adapted for quick positioning on and removal from the upper open end of the conventional central water riser tube of a percolator on which tube the package is solely supported in the upper portion of the percolator by its engagement with the upper end portion of the riser. All water is ejected from the unobstructed open upper end of the riser into the package and is uniformly distributed over the bed of ground coffee around the riser for passage through the porous support for said bed into the coffee container.

Description

United States Patent [72] lnventors Herbert Albert Oliver 2814 Steinhart Court, Santa Clara, Calif.

95051; Ernest L. McDonald, 4197 Lemoyne Way, Campbell, Calif. 95008 Appl. No. 658,100

Filed Aug. 3, 1967 Patented Mar. 2, 1971 DISPOSABLE COFFEE CONTAINER 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 99/295, 99/77.l

Int. Cl. .0 A23f 1/00 Field of Search 99/77.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,119,694 [/1964 99/77.l 3,357,340 12/1967 Berns et al. 99/295 3,420,675 1/ l 969 Costas 99/77.l

Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Steven l-l. Markowitz Attorney-Boyken, Mohler, Foster and Schwab ABSTRACT: A disposable beverage making package adapted for quick positioning on and removal from the upper open end of the conventional central water riser tube of a percolator on which tube the package is solely supported in the upper portion of the percolator by its engagement with the upper end portion of the riser. All water is ejected from the unobstructed open upper end of the riser into the package and is uniformly distributed over the'bed of ground coffee around the riser for passage through the porous support for said bed into the coffee container.

Patented March 2, 1971 3,566,772

; 28 INVENTOR.

' HERBERT A.OLIVER ERNEST L. McDONALD BY 1W J ATTORNEYS DISPOSABLE COFFEE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The desirability of a sufficiently economical coffee making package to enable a person to brew clear coffee of the proper strength, without measuring the ground coffee, and without thereafter cleaning loose grounds from the receptacle therefor, as in the conventional percolators or other type coffee makers, is evidenced by the many attempts that have been made to produce an acceptable package.

The central riser or tube of a conventional percolator through which the hot water rises and from which the latter is discharged at its upper open end is employed to support the package of the present invention. This in itself is not new.

Prior devices have not been adjusted along the central stem or riser of a percolator, either due to the provision of a screen or the like extending over the upper open end of the riser, or the employment of a fixed projection or bead along the riser supporting the package at a fixed level. Also, there are instances in which the top of the percolator must be employed to deflect the water ejected from the riserthus changing the efficiency of water distribution with each change in the size of the package, and in most instances of which we are aware, the packages have not been sufficiently economical to make to be disposable.

The present invention overcomes the above objections, and others, as will appear in the drawings and detailed description.

SUMMARY The present invention provides a disposable coffee container in the form of a package complete with coffee adapted to be supported on the upper end of the conventional hollow stem, or water-riser, in a conventional percolator.

The package has top, side, and bottom walls, in which the top wall is imperforate, and .the bottom wall includes a perforate or porous marginal portion and means for removably holding the package at the desired position on the riser independently of any projections on the riser and independently of the conventional receptacle on the riser, and which top and bottom walls are constructed and formed to provide the most efficient distribution of the coffee and of the water ejected from the riser when the percolator is in use.

In the preferred form, the sidewalls and the bottom wall are of paperlike porous material similar to filter paper used in coffee makers, and in all forms of the invention the top and bottom walls are uniformly spaced-apart in each of the different sizes and the upper end of the water-riser is unobstructed to eject hot water, and furthermore, the packages are adapted to be packed closely in hermetically sealed cans and then closed to prevent escape of coffee therefrom.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the package of this invention in position within a conventional percolator on the waterriser in the body of the percolator, the said body of the percolator including the top being in cross section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the package of FIG. 1 separate from the body of the percolator, when the process of percolation is in operation, the riser being indicated in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the package of FIG. 1 separate from the percolator;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the support and spacer for the central portion of the porous and flexible support for the coffee, separate from the package, and prior to positioning the package on the riser;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the adapter for supporting the package on the riser at the desiredlevel, prior to the adapter being positioned on the riser;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the support and spacer of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a greatly reduced plan view of a planar sheet of porous material which is adapted to be folded along the folding lines indicated thereon for forming the coffee holder; and

FIG. 9 is a reduced size, vertical, cross-sectional view through a package that is a modification of the package of FIGS. 1, 2 prior to positioning on the riser of a percolator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIG. 1 the body 1 of an ordinary percolator has a top 2, and an upwardly domed base member 3 provides a false bottom having a vertically extending central stem or riser 4 centrally secured at its lower end to said member. The riser is open at its upper end in the upper portion of the body 1 and its lower end opens into the space between the base member 3 and the bottom 5 of the body I. Said base member is loosely supported on bottom 5, and the former may or may not be perforated, but in any design, when the water in the percolator is hot there is ready access of said water to the lower open end of the riser for upward flow of water through the latter for discharge from its upper open end.

Usually riser 4 is formed with an outward projection 6 for supporting a conventional perforated receptacle, at a predetermined fixedlevel within the upper portion of the percolator. This perforated receptacle is designed to hold a sufficient amount of ground coffee for water sufficient for the maximum capacity of the percolator, and the distance between the upper open end of the riser and the upper level of the bed of coffee will vary according to the amount of water. In some instances the riser and receptacle are rigidly secured together.

In the present invention it is immaterial whether the riser has or does not have a projection 6 or the equivalent thereof, or whether a conventional receptacle, such as indicated in dot-dash line 7, is rigid with the riser 4 or is removable therefrom. A receptacle, such as 7, is superfluous.

The present invention comprises a horizontally disposed package, generally designated 8, having an imperforate, preferably circular top wall 9 FIGS. 2, 3) that may be of any suitable rigid or semirigid material, and which top wall is formed with a central portion 10 elevated above its outer peripheral marginal portion 11 (FIG. 2). An annular flange I2 depends from the outer edge of said marginal portion, and convergently upwardly extending,relatively narrow annular walls 13 connect the central portion 10 with the marginal portion 11. The flange 12 may be formed to provide a radially outwardly opening annular recess or groove 14 therearound.

The coffee supporting portion of the package comprises an upwardly opening holder generally designated 17 (FIGS. 1, 2), of porous, sheet material, such as the conventional sheet filter material used for some tea bags and coffee makers, which material is strong and tough, and although it may sag slightly when wet and under the weight of water, as indicated in FIG. 2, it will normally retain its shape prior thereto, as shown in FIG. 1.

Holder 17 has sidewalls 18 that are adapted to receive flange 12 therein for securement of the upper marginal portion of walls 18 to said flange by any suitable means, one being a tie' strand 19 (FIGS. 1, 2). The outwardly opening recess 14 provides for depression of said upper marginal portion of walls 18 into said recess when strand 18 is tightened, and upon tying the strand, a tight seal is effected between the holder 17 and the top wall as well as firmly securing the top wall and holder together as a unit.

Holder 17 may be formed from a planar sheet of porous, fibrous, paperlike material, as hereinbefore mentioned, having a central portion 20 (FIG. 8), providing a bottom for the holder or package, the outline of which is defined by fold lines or creases 21 providing an octagonal arrangement and divergently outwardly extending fold lines 22 at the adjoining ends of the lines 21 for pleats 23 (FIG. 1) to form the sidewalls 18. Other arrangements of fold lines or creases may be employed, provided the holder has sidewalls and a bottom wall as illustrated. The holder may be molded or similarly shaped to generally cup form. In any event, the economy in the use of paperlike porous sheet material, as well as its efficiency, selfsustaining stiffness, and ability to withstand disintegration under the relatively high temperature of boiling water are highly desirable features.

It is also important to note that the central portion 20 of the sheet forming the coffee holder is the bottom wall of the latter, and is formed with cross cuts or slits 24 centrally thereof, or these may be lines of weakness so that the tabs 25 formed between the right angle slits may readily flex upwardly to permit the riser to pass upwardly into the holder when the package is installed on the riser. However, until the riser is forced into the holder by downward movement of the holder onto the riser or vice versa, the holder is closed against any loss of the ground coffee therein, which ground coffee is placed in the holder to a level spaced substantially below the top 9 and the upper open end of the riser, to permit swelling of the ground coffee and efficient distribution of water, a bed of which coffee is designated 26 in FIG. 2.

Inasmuch as the imperforate top wall 9 of the holder should be spaced above the bed of coffee 26 and above the upper open end of the riser 4, a horizontal, circular, supporting disc 27 is provided as a support for the central portion of the holder 8, which disc may be of plastic material. This disc has a plurality of vertical posts 28 (FIGS. 4, 7) secured at their lower ends to said disc, equally spaced from each other and from the central vertical axis of the disc. Said disc 27 is of resilient material, and is formed with a pair of right-angle cuts or slits 29 (FIG. 4) that substantially correspond to slits 24 in the bottom 20 of the holder 17.

The upper ends of posts 28 are each fon'ned with a head 30 and a restricted neck 31 immediately therebelow (FIG. 7). The central portion of the top wall 8 is formed with openings positioned to pass the heads 30 of posts 28 upon the heads being forced through said openings, so that the edges of the openings will snap into the annular recess or neck portion 31 of the posts adjacent to their heads.

In forming the package, the disc 27 is positioned coaxially with top wall 9 with the posts and holes in said top wall respectively in alignment, and after the holder 17 is filled with the desired amount of ground coffee 26 and the top wall 9 and holder 17 are secured together the posts 28 are pushed through the bottom of the holder 17 and heads 29 are pushed through the openings in portion 10 of top wall 9 to secure disc 27 to said top wall but spaced the correct distance from the latter. By this arrangement, the dimension of the central portion of the package, axially thereof, is always the same irrespective of any sagging of the holder outwardly of the outer edge of disc 20.

Disc 27, being resilient, flexible, and semirigid, the tabs 33 at the sides of slits 29 will yieldably grip the riser when the holder is positioned on the riser by forcing the holder and disc 27 downwardly onto the upper end of the riser. Thus the holder will remain stationary during the making of coffee.

Posts 28 and walls 18 of the holder may respectively be of different lengths and vertical widths according to the amount of ground coffee in the holder, where the horizontal dimension or diameter of the holder is the same. Obviously, any of the dimensions may be varied to suit conditions.

A circular adapter plate or disc 34 is provided for use below the supporting disc 27. Said disc 34 may be of the same material as disc 27 and is preferably formed with an upstanding annular bead 35 around its outer periphery on which the marginal portion of disc 27 is adapted to be seated. Disc 34 is centrally formed with an opening the edge of which is defined by a plurality of radially inwardly projecting yieldable locking tabs 36 having convexly rounded riser-engaging edges adapted to be sprung to yieldably engage the riser for holding the package horizontal within the container 1 at whatever level is desired, upon sliding the disc 34 onto the riser.

The adapter disc 34 is initially placed on riser 4 in the desired position for supporting the upper open ends of the riser 4 spaced the most efficient distance above the upper open end of the riser. Thus in larger packages the disc 34 will be lower and post 23 will be longer than for smaller packages. The disc 34 may remain on the riser once adjusted.

Any ground coffee that might escape from the openings formed in the bottom 10 of the holder and through the slits in the disc 27 will be collected on disc 34 inwardly of bead 35.

Preferably a central, downwardly projecting substantially conical deflector 38 is formed on the central portion 10 of the top wall 9 of the package, which deflector will deflect water ejected vertically upwardly from the upper open end of riser 4 when the water in the body 1 is heated and the package is on the riser and in the body of the percolator. The arrows 32 (FIG. 2) generally indicate the manner in which the water is ejected from the upper open end of the riser, and it is to be noted that it is directed onto the main bed 26 of the ground coffee held in the porous holder 17, and by supporting the central portion of the bed 26 elevated by means of disc 27, the bed does not tend to urge the ground coffee inwardly around the riser, but maintains the bed in a position to intercept the main flow of water.

Tabs 33 on the disc 27, being resilient, are self-closing when the package is slipped off the riser 4, with the result that the grounds are retained in the package.

Obviously the conventional perforated receptacle indicated in dot-dash line in FIG. 1 is not necessary nor does it perform any function insofar as the present invention is concerned. Where a projection 6 is used to position the conventional receptacle for the ground coffee, it is normally spaced from the upper end of the riser a distance for supporting the receptacle in a position in which the latter holds the maximum amount of coffee. Where the receptacle, such as indicated at 7 in dot-dash lines (FIG. 3) is removed, the projections 6 will in no way interfere with the positioning of the package 8 on the riser 4, and it is seen that where it may be desirable to brew two or four cups of coffee in a six or eight cup percolator, the upper surface of bed 26 will be at the most efficient position relative to the upper open end of the riser for brewing the coffee, and this level will be the same for a four, six or eight cup package or any other size. The adapter 34 is merely moved to the desired level, and the outside of the riser may be suitably marked to indicate the different levels for different sized packages as at 39 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 9 shows a modified form of the invention, in which the holder 40 is all of semirigid but thin plastic material having perforated bottom portion 43 that is the outer marginal portion having sidewalls 44 integral with the edges of said portion. The central part 45 of the bottom wall may be imperforate and elevated above the level of the marginal portion 43, but it has the same cross cuts centrally therein as shown at 29 in FIG. 4, and the top wall 46 may be identical to wall 9 of FIG. 2.

Said sidewalls 44 are formed along their upper marginal portion 47 to provide a cross-sectional contour that is complementary to that of the flange 48 on top wall 46, so as to snap into holding engagement with flange 9 when said marginal portion 47 is inserted into the flange 48.

The adapter 34 is still desirable when the package of FIG. 9 is used, being initially positioned on the riser 4 to fix the position of the package on said riser, and thereafter the package is forced onto the riser in the same way as the support 27. The bottom wall 45 functions the same as disc support 27, but the posts 28 are not required inasmuch as walls 44 are semirigid.

It is to be understood that the present invention is intended to include any modifications that may come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically disposed water-riser centrally positioned in a coffee percolator for brewing coffee, and to be removed from such riser and discarded after the coffee is brewed, comprising:

a. a horizontally disposed, closed container having a relatively rigid top wall and a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a predetermined amount of coffee enclosed within said container providing a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall spaced below said top wall,

b. said bottom wall and said sidewalls being of porous, nonself-supporting material when wet, for passage therethrough of water that has passed through said bed,

c. an opening formed in said bottom wall centrally thereof for insertion therethrough of the upper end of said riser into said container,

d. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in which the terminal upper end of said riser will be spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall when said upper end of said riser is inserted through said opening into said container,

e. said supporting means including a semirigid member centrally of said bottom wallcoaxial with said opening in supporting relation to said bottom wall, and relatively rigid top-engaging elements extending between said member and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said member and bed and above said terminal upper end of said riser when said bottom wall is supported by said member and when said member is held on said riser, in a position spaced below said upper end of said riser,

f. riser-engaging means on said member for frictionally engaging and adjustably holding said member on said riser at any one of different points along said riser for supporting said bottom wall at a different level at any one of said different points along said riser when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening.

2. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically disposed water-riser centrally positioned in a coffee percolator for brewing coffee, and to be removed from such riser and discarded after the coffee is brewed, comprising: a

a. a horizontally-disposed, closed container having a top and a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a predetermined amount of coffee enclosed within said container on said bottom wall and spaced below said top wall providing a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall,

b. an opening formed in said bottom wall centrally thereof for insertion of the upper end of said riser into said container,

c. said bottom wall and said sidewalls being of nonself-supporting material when wet, and being porous for passage of water that has passed through said bed, and said top wall being of relatively rigid nonporous material for deflecting water,

Cl. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in'which the upper end of said riser is spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall, comprising a semirigid member centrally below said bottom wall provided with riser-engaging surfaces for frictionally engaging said riser in releasable holding relation at any one of different points along said riser for supporting said bottom wall at any one of said points, and relatively rigid topsupporting elements extending between said top wall and said member and supported by the latter for supporting said top wall spaced a predetermined distance above said bed of coffee and above the terminal upper end of said bed when said riser extends through said opening into said container and said member is secured on said riser at any one of said different points,

e. means on said member automatically movable to close said opening upon removal of said container from said riser, said riser engaging surfaces being on said last-mentioned means.

3. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically-disposed water-riser centrally positioned within a conventional coffee percolator, comprising:

a. a closed container having a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall spaced a substantial distance from said top wall,

b. said bottom wall having a porous outer marginal portion for passage of water therethrough and for supporting a part of said bed,

c. said bottom wall being formed with a central opening for passing the upper end portion of such riser therethrough and to a position within said container in which the upper open end of said riser is spaced below said top wall and above said bed andrisersengaging means around said opening adapted to frictionally grip the sides of said riser at any one of different points along the latter when said riser is inserted through said opening into said container,

d. the central portion of said bottom wall being supported in a position elevated above said marginal portion for directing coffee within said bed to said marginal portion,

. said bottom and sidewalls being of flexible, porous, nonself-supporting material, when wet by water passing through said bed and said bottom and sidewalls during a brewing operation,

f. a disc of semirigid material centrally below said bottom wall having a central aperture therein for insertion of said riser therethrough and through said opening into said container, said disc having outer edges terminating a substantial distance inwardly of said sidewalls for supporting the central portion of said bottom wall in said elevated position above said outer marginal portion, and riser-engaging means on said disc around said aperture for frictionally engaging said riser at any one of different points along the latter and for releasably supporting and holding said central portion of said bottom wall on said riser elevated above said marginal portion when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening and said aperture,

g. relatively rigid means extending between said disc and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said bed and above the upper terminal end of said riser when said disc is held on said riser at any one of said points.

. In a disposable package as defined in claim 3;

h. a second disc of semirigid material having a central opening therein for insertion of said riser therethrough, and riser holding means on said disc around said openings for frictionally holding said disc on said riser adjacent to, but below any one of said different points, said disc to be positioned on said riser, upon removal and replacement of a container on said riser, said second disc functioning as a stop at each of said different positions for positioning said disc and container on said riser at the most efficient positions according to the height of the container and the amount of coffee therein, and being separate from said container for remaining on said riser upon removal of said container including the first-mentioned disc from the riser.

5. A disposable coffee package for use in a percolator having a vertical, tubular, water-riser centrally positioned therein for ejecting water from its upper end laterally onto a bed of coffee supported around said riser below said upper end, comprising:

a. a closed container having a relatively rigid, horizontallydisposed top wall, a generally horizontally-disposed bottom wall spaced below said top wall, and sidewalls integral with and extending in upward continuation of said bottom wall to and secured to said top wall, and a body of coffee spaced below said top wall supported on said bottom wall and against said sidewalls,

b. said bottom wall being centrally formed with an opening for passage of the upper end portion of said water-riser into said container,

c. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in which the terminal upper end of said riser will be spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall when said upper end of said riser is inserted through said opening into said container,

d. said supporting means hicluding a semirigid disc centrally of said bottom wall in supporting relation thereto having outer edges terminating a substantial distance from said sidewalls leaving an outer marginal portion of said bottom between said edges and said sidewalls on which said bed of cofiee is supported, and said supporting means further including relatively rigid top engaging elements extending between said disc and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said bottom wall and above the terminal upper end of said riser when said disc is held on said riser in a position spaced below said upper end of said riser, e. riser-engaging means on said disc for frictionally engaging and adjustably holding said disc on said riser at different levels at any one of different points when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening,

. said sidewalls and said bottom wall being of flexible,

Claims

1. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically disposed water-riser centrally positioned in a coffee percolator for brewing coffee, and to be removed from such riser and discarded after the coffee is brewed, comprising: a. a horizontally disposed, closed container having a relatively rigid top wall and a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a predetermined amount of coffee enclosed within said container providing a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall spaced below said top wall, b. said bottom wall and said sidewalls being of porous, nonselfsupporting material when wet, for passage therethrough of water that has passed through said bed, c. an opening formed in said bottom wall centrally thereof for insertion therethrough of the upper end of said riser into said container, d. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in which the terminal upper end of said riser will be spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall when said upper end of said riser is inserted through said opening into said container, e. said supporting means including a semirigid member centrally of said bottom wall coaxial with said opening in supporting relation to said bottom wall, and relatively rigid top-engaging elements extending between said member and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said member and bed and above said terminal upper end of said riser when said bottom wall is supported by said member and when said member is held on said riser, in a position spaced below said upper end of said riser, f. riser-engaging means on said member for frictionally engaging and adjustably holding said member on said riser at any one of different points along said riser for supporting said bottom wall at a different level at any one of said different points along said riser when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening.

2. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically disposed water-riser centrally positioned in a coffee percolator for brewing coffee, and to be removed from such riser and discarded after the coffee is brewed, comprising: a. a horizontally-disposed, closed container having a top and a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a predetermined amount of coffee enclosed within said container on said bottom wall and spaced below said top wall providing a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall, b. an opening formed in said bottom wall centrally thereof for insertion of the upper end of said riser into said container, c. said bottom wall and said sidewalls being of nonself-supporting material when wet, and being porous for passage of water that has passed through said bed, and said top wall being of relatively rigid nonporous material for deflecting water, d. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in which the upper end of said riser is spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall, comprising a semirigid member centrally below said bottom wall provided with riser-engaging surfaces for frictionally engaging said riser in releasable holding relation at any one of different points along said riser for supporting said bottom wall at any one of said points, and relatively rigid top-supporting elements extending between said top wall and said member and supported by the latter for supporting said top wall spaced a predetermined distance above said bed of coffee and above the terminal upper end of said bed when said riser extends through said opening into said container and said member is secured on said riser at any one of said different points, e. means on said member automatically movable to close said opening upon removal of said container from said riser, said riser engaging surfaces being on said last-mentioned means.

3. A disposable coffee package adapted to be positioned on the conventional, tubular, vertically-disposed water-riser centrally positioned within a conventional coffee percolator, comprising: a. a closed container having a top wall, a bottom wall and sidewalls, and a bed of coffee supported on said bottom wall spaced a substantial distance from said top wall, b. said bottom wall having a porous outer marginal portion for passage of water therethrough and for supporting a part of said bed, c. said bottom wall being formed with a central opening for passing the upper end portion of such riser therethrough and to a position within said container in which the upper open end of said riser is spaced below said top wall and above said bed and riser-engaging means around said opening adapted to frictionally grip the sides of said riser at any one of different points along the latter when said riser is inserted through said opening into said container, d. the central portion of said bottom wall being supported in a position elevated above said marginal portion for directing coffee within said bed to said marginal portion, e. said bottom and sidewalls being of flexible, porous, nonself-supporting material, when wet by water passing through said bed and said bottom and sidewalls during a brewing operation, f. a disc of semirigid material centrally below said bottom wall having a central aperture therein for insertion of said riser therethrough and through said opening into said container, said disc having outer edges terminating a substantial distance inwardly of said sidewalls for supporting the central portion of said bottom wall in said elevated position above said outer marginal portion, and riser-engaging means on said disc around said aperture for frictionally engaging said riser at any one of different points along the latter and for releasably supporting and holding said central portion of said bottom wall on said riser elevated above said marginal portion when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening and said aperture, g. relatively rigid means extending between said disc and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said bed and above the upper terminal end of said riser when said disc is held on said riser at any one of said points.

4. In a disposable package as defined in claim 3; h. a second disc of semirigid material having a central opening therein for insertion of said riser therethrough, and riser holding means on said disc around said openings for frictionally holding said disc on said riser adjacent to, but below any one of said different points, said disc to be positioned on said riser, upon removal and replacement of a container on said riser, said second disc functioning as a stop at each of said different positions for positioning said disc and container on saiD riser at the most efficient positions according to the height of the container and the amount of coffee therein, and being separate from said container for remaining on said riser upon removal of said container including the first-mentioned disc from the riser.

5. A disposable coffee package for use in a percolator having a vertical, tubular, water-riser centrally positioned therein for ejecting water from its upper end laterally onto a bed of coffee supported around said riser below said upper end, comprising: a. a closed container having a relatively rigid, horizontally-disposed top wall, a generally horizontally-disposed bottom wall spaced below said top wall, and sidewalls integral with and extending in upward continuation of said bottom wall to and secured to said top wall, and a body of coffee spaced below said top wall supported on said bottom wall and against said sidewalls, b. said bottom wall being centrally formed with an opening for passage of the upper end portion of said water-riser into said container, c. supporting means for removably supporting said container on said riser in a position in which the terminal upper end of said riser will be spaced above the level of the coffee within said container and spaced below said top wall when said upper end of said riser is inserted through said opening into said container, d. said supporting means including a semirigid disc centrally of said bottom wall in supporting relation thereto having outer edges terminating a substantial distance from said sidewalls leaving an outer marginal portion of said bottom between said edges and said sidewalls on which said bed of coffee is supported, and said supporting means further including relatively rigid top engaging elements extending between said disc and said top wall for supporting said top wall spaced above said bottom wall and above the terminal upper end of said riser when said disc is held on said riser in a position spaced below said upper end of said riser, e. riser-engaging means on said disc for frictionally engaging and adjustably holding said disc on said riser at different levels at any one of different points when said riser is inserted into said container through said opening, f. said sidewalls and said bottom wall being of flexible, porous, paperlike, sheet filter material for sagging of outer marginal portion of said bottom wall downwardly under the weight of said body of coffee and water during said brewing of coffee when said container is in said brewing position supported on said riser, whereby such water ejected from said riser will be distributed through said bed of coffee outwardly of said riser to said sidewalls for passage through said sidewalls downwardly through the bed of coffee supported on said marginal portion.