Beverage filter cartridge holder

• US 20020148356A1
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Roderick H., Lazaris, Nicholas G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,655,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3638 Means to eject the cartridge after brewing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge

Abstract

A brewer operates during a brew cycle to brew a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a dry beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge. During the brew cycle, the cartridge is contained in a cup-shaped housing closed by a lid. Rotation of the cartridge within the housing is resisted by locating surfaces arranged to interengage with at least one surface irregularity in the cartridge sidewall. Inlet and outlet probes pierce the cartridge and serve, respectively, to admit the heated liquid and to remove the served beverage.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for brewing a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge, said cartridge having a side wall with at least one surface irregularity, a holder for containing said cartridge, said holder comprising:

a cup-shaped housing for removably receiving said cartridge, said housing having a side wall configured and dimensioned to surround the side wall of said cartridge;

locating means for coacting in interengagement with said surface irregularity to rotatably fix a cartridge received in said housing;

a lid;

means for manipulating said lid between an open position accommodating insertion of a cartridge into and removal of a cartridge from said housing, and a closed position confining a cartridge within said housing; and

probe means associated with said housing and said lid for piercing a cartridge confined within said housing to accommodate a through flow of heated liquid for infusion with said beverage medium.

2. The holder of claim 1 wherein said locating means is configured to coact with said at least one surface irregularity to retain said cartridge in a selected orientation.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said probe means includes a tubular inlet probe carried by said lid, and a tubular outlet probe carried by said housing.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 3 further comprising ejection means shiftable with respect to the side wall of said housing for ejecting a cartridge from the housing interior.

5. The holder as claimed in claim 4 wherein said locating means comprises a part of said ejection means.

6. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locating means comprises at least one projection in one of the side walls of said cartridge and housing, said projection being configured and dimensioned to coact in mechanical interengagement with a complimentary depression in the other of said side walls.

7. In an apparatus that operates during a brewing cycle to brew a beverage by combining heated liquid with a beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge, the cartridge having a side wall with at least one surface irregularity, a holder for containing the cartridge during the brew cycle, said holder comprising:

a cup-shaped housing having a bottom wall and a side wall, said housing being structured and dimensioned to removably receive said cartridge

a lid for confining said cartridge within said housing;

locating means interposed between the side wall of said housing and the side wall of said cartridge for coacting in interengagement with said surface irregularity to resist rotation of said cartridge within said housing; and

means associated with said housing and said lid for piercing said cartridge to accommodate a flow of said heated liquid through said cartridge to brew said beverage by infusion with said beverage medium.