Disposable Single Serving Beverage Pod Adapter

• US 20110274802A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adrian Rivera
• Original Assignee: Adrian Rivera
• Inventors: Rivera, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/431
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0689 Reusable cartridges suitable to be opened for being filled with brewing material and to be closed to envelope the brewing material therein
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/022 packaging infusion material into capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A disposable pod adaptor assembly for use in a single serve beverage brewer. The assembly is designed for use in brewers configured for cup-shaped beverage extract cartridges. The assembly includes a receptacle and a cover configured to engage with the receptacle. The receptacle includes a raised portion in it'"'"'s interior, which raised portion is adapted to push a beverage pod residing inside the receptacle upward against the cover to create a tamping effect. In some implementations, the receptacle and raised portion are molded as a single piece to provide a low cost disposable pod adapter.

Claims

1. A disposable pod adapter comprising:

receptacle configured to receive a pod residing therein, said receptacle comprises sidewalls having a sidewall interior surface and a base having a base passageway;

a biasing structure molded as a single piece with the receptacle, the biasing structure including flexible legs attached to the base of the receptacle and reaching upwards inside the receptacle to support a horizontal platform, the legs providing resistance to downward movement of the platform; and

a cover adapted to engage with the receptacle, the cover detachable from the receptacle to allow insertion of the pod into the receptacle and the cover attachable to the receptacle after insertion of the pod to seal the receptacle and before insertion of the pod adapter into the beverage brewer,

the receptacle and cover attachable together solely by cooperating features of the receptacle and cover and the attached receptacle and cover containing the pod are insertable into the single serving beverage brewer and

2. The disposable pod adapter of claim 1, wherein the cover is detachably attachable to the receptacle by an interference fit.

3. The disposable pod adapter of claim 1, wherein the legs have a spiral shape.

4. The disposable pod adapter of claim 3, wherein the legs comprise four spiral shaped legs.

5. The disposable pod adapter of claim 1, wherein the legs are bent legs.

6. The disposable pod adapter of claim 5, wherein the legs are bent legs bend radially.

7. The disposable pod adapter of claim 5, wherein the legs are bent legs bend tangentially.

8. A method for using a disposable pod adapter, the method comprising:

positioning a filter paper pod containing brewing material in a pod adapter receptacle, the filter paper pod having a rim extending outward from a top surface, the filter paper pod supported by a platform, the platform supported by flexible legs;

pressing a disposable pod adapter cover downward on the filter paper pod;

pressing the filter paper pod downward into the pod adapter receptacle;

pressing the platform downward into the pod adapter receptacle;

compressing the flexible legs;

creating a reactive upward force on the filter paper pod;

attaching the disposable pod adapter cover to the disposable pod adapter receptacle; and

capturing the rim of the filter paper pod material between the cover and the receptacle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the filter paper pod is a pre-packaged filter paper pod.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein positioning the filter paper pod containing brewing material in a receptacle comprises:

placing an empty filter paper receptacle into the disposable pod adapter;

filling the empty filter paper receptacle with a brewing material; and

folding a filter paper cover attached to the filter paper receptacle over the brewing material.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein positioning the filter paper pod containing brewing material in a receptacle comprises:

placing an empty filter paper receptacle into the disposable pod adapter;

filling the empty filter paper receptacle with a brewing material; and

placing a detached filter paper cover onto the filter paper receptacle and over the brewing material.

12. A method for using a disposable pod adapter, the method comprising:

positioning a pre-packaged filter paper pod containing brewing material in a pod adapter receptacle, the filter paper pod having a rim extending outward from a top surface, the filter paper pod supported by a platform, the platform supported by flexible legs;

pressing a disposable pod adapter cover downward on the filter paper pod;

pressing the filter paper pod downward into the pod adapter receptacle;

pressing the platform downward into the pod adapter receptacle;

compressing the flexible legs;

creating a reactive upward force on the filter paper pod;

attaching the disposable pod adapter cover to the disposable pod adapter receptacle; and

capturing the rim of the filter paper pod material between the cover and the receptacle.