Beverage filter cartridge

• US 20020020659A1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sweeney, Richard, Bucuzzo, William P., Beaulieu, Roderick H., Lazaris, Nicholas G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,645,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/416.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A beverage filter cartridge includes a cup-shaped outer container with a bottom and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a circular rim surrounding an upper opening. The side wall has an upper section extending downwardly from the rim to an intermediate section, and a tapered lower section configured to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes extending downwardly from the intermediate section to the bottom wall. A filter element subdivides the interior of the container into first and second chambers. A beverage medium is stored in the first chamber. A cover is joined to the side wall at the rim to close the upper opening. The cover is yieldably piercable to accommodate an injection of liquid into the first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage. The filter element is permeable to accommodate a flow of the beverage from the first chamber into the second chamber, and the bottom wall is yieldably piercable to accommodate an outflow of the beverage from the second chamber to the exterior of the cartridge.

Claims

1. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

a cup-shaped outer container having a bottom and a side wall extending from said bottom wall to a circular rim surrounding an upper opening, said side wall having an upper section extending downwardly from said rim to an intermediate section, and having a tapered lower section extending downwardly from said intermediate section to said bottom wall, said tapered lower section being configured to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes;

a filter element received in said container, said filter element being joined to said side wall and being configured and positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers;

a beverage medium stored in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said side wall at said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being yieldably piercable to accommodate an injection of liquid into said first chamber for combination with said beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter element being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom wall being yieldably piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.

2. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said flutes extend downwardly from upper ends terminating beneath said intermediate section to lower ends at said bottom wall.

3. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 2 wherein the lower ends of said flutes define indentations in said bottom wall.

4. The beverage filter cartridge of claims 2 or 3 wherein the depths of said flutes gradually increase from a minimum at said upper ends to a maximum at said lower ends.

5. The beverage filter cartridge of claims 2 or 3 wherein the widths of said flutes gradually increase from a minimum at said upper ends to a maximum at said lower ends.

6. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said filter element is joined to said side wall at said intermediate section.

7. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said intermediate section is defined by a ledge joining said upper section to said lower section, and wherein said filter element is joined to said side wall at said ledge.

8. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 7 wherein said ledge tapers inwardly from said upper section to said lower section, and wherein the taper angle of said intermediate section is greater than the taper angle of said lower section.

9. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said upper section has an upper segment extending downwardly from said circular rim and a lower segment extending upwardly from said intermediate section, said upper segment being flared outwardly and said lower segment being tapered inwardly, with the juncture of said upper and lower segments defining an exterior stacking shoulder.

10. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said bottom wall is provided with an upwardly protruding centrally disposed boss, a lower end of said filter element being supported on said boss.

11. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 10 wherein the lower end of said filter is secured to said boss.

12. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said filter element is in contact with and radially supported by said flutes.

13. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said bottom is provided with a downwardly protruding centrally disposed boss defining an interior sump, and wherein the lower end of said filter element is received in said sump.

14. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 13 wherein said filter element is secured to the bottom of said sump.

15. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said outer container is impermeable.

16. The beverage filter cartridge of claims 1 or 15 wherein said cover is impermeable.

17. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

a cup-shaped outer container having a bottom and a side wall extending from said bottom wall to a circular rim surrounding an upper opening, said side wall having an upper section extending downwardly from said rim to an intermediate section, and having a tapered lower section extending downwardly from said intermediate section to said bottom wall, said tapered section being configured to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes;

a filter element received in said container, said filter element being in contact with and radially supported by said flutes and being joined to said side wall at a location subdividing the interior of said container into first and second chambers;

a beverage medium stored in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said side wall at said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being yieldably piercable to accommodate an injection of liquid into said first chamber for combination with said beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom wall being yieldably piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.

18. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

a cup-shaped container having a bottom and a side wall extending from said bottom wall to a circular rim surrounding an upper opening, said side wall having an upper section extending downwardly from said rim to an intermediate section, and having a tapered lower section extending downwardly from said intermediate section to said bottom wall, said tapered section being configured to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced flutes, said bottom being provided with a downwardly protruding centrally disposed boss defining an interior sump;

a conical filter element received in said container, the bottom of said filter element protruding downwardly into and being secured within said sump, said filter element being joined to said side wall and being configured and positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers;

a beverage medium stored in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said side wall at said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being yieldably piercable to accommodate an injection of liquid into said first chamber for combination with said beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom wall being yieldably piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.