COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PORTION-PACKAGED SOUPS AND MEALS

• US 20120321756A1
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Novak, Thomas J., Estabrook, Richard, Angotti, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,834,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/115
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/407 with ingredient-containing cartridges; Cartridge-perforating means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/246 provided with eating utensils or spatulas applicator rods or brushes B65D51/32
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/28 with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3205 Separate rigid or semi-rigid containers joined to each other at their external surfaces B65D81/3288 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3216 Rigid containers disposed one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8046 Pods, i.e. closed containers made only of filter paper or similar material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8058 Coding means for the contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8067 Packages for several ingredients

Abstract

Methods and systems for producing a food product having a liquid component and an insoluble component, such as soups or stews. A food product assembly may include a cartridge containing a liquid component medium that is usable by a beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of the food product. A second container, to which the cartridge may be removably attached, may contain the insoluble component of the food product, and may receive the liquid component so as to hold both the insoluble component and liquid component together, e.g., for consumption by a user.

Claims

1. A method for forming a food product, comprising:

providing a cartridge including a first container having a closed interior space, a liquid component medium located in the interior space;

providing a second container including a closed interior space, and an insoluble component located in the closed interior space;

associating the cartridge with a cartridge receiver of a beverage forming machine;

opening the closed interior space of the second container;

causing the beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of the food product by mixing a liquid with the liquid component medium of the cartridge; and

dispensing the liquid component from the beverage forming machine directly into the second container such that the second container holds the liquid component and the insoluble component of the food product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cartridge and the second container are initially attached together, and the step of associating the cartridge includes separating the cartridge from the second container prior to associating the cartridge with the cartridge receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid component medium and the insoluble component are separated from each other by an impermeable barrier.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container, the cartridge is attached to a lid of the second container, the lid closing the interior space of the second container.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the cartridge is at least partially received in a recess of the lid.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lid has an outer side and an inner side exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge in a first orientation, and wherein the lid is arranged to engage with the second container in a second orientation in which the outer side is exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the second container includes a handle attached to a body that defines the interior space of the second container, and wherein prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container, the cartridge is attached to the handle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the handle defines a cavity and the cartridge is received in the cavity prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second container includes a lid that covers the interior space of the body and the cavity of the handle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the lid includes a utensil that is removable from the lid.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the cartridge includes the first container, having a first rim that defines a first opening of the container, and a lid that covers the first opening, and the second container includes a second rim defining a second opening, and wherein prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container, the first and second rims are engaged with each other.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the liquid component medium includes materials that are soluble, dissolvable or otherwise dispersible in water.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

piercing the cartridge with a piercing element of the beverage forming machine to form an inlet opening in the cartridge; and

introducing liquid into the cartridge via the inlet opening.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

piercing the cartridge with a piercing element of the beverage forming machine to form an outlet opening in the cartridge; and

allowing liquid component to exit the cartridge via the outlet opening.

15. A food product forming system, comprising:

a cartridge receiver arranged to hold a cartridge;

a liquid inlet arranged to introduce liquid into the cartridge; and

a cartridge, including;

a first container having a closed interior space; and

a liquid component medium located in the interior space, the liquid component medium being used to form a liquid component of a food product by interaction of the liquid component medium with a liquid introduced into the interior space; and

a second container including a closed interior space, and an insoluble component located in the closed interior space,

wherein the cartridge and the second container are attached together and are separable by hand and without tools to allow the cartridge to be held alone by the cartridge receiver, and wherein the second container is arranged to receive and hold both the insoluble component and liquid component formed by introducing liquid into the cartridge.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the liquid component medium and the insoluble component are separated from each other by an impermeable barrier.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the cartridge is attached to a lid of the second container, the lid closing the interior space of the second container.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the cartridge is at least partially received in a recess of the lid.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the lid has an outer side and an inner side exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge in a first orientation, and wherein the lid is arranged to engage with the second container in a second orientation in which the outer side is exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second container includes a handle attached to a body that defines the interior space of the second container, and wherein the cartridge is attached to the handle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the handle defines a cavity and the cartridge is received in the cavity.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second container includes a lid that covers the interior space of the body and the cavity of the handle.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the lid includes a utensil that is removable from the lid.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the cartridge includes the first container, having a first rim that defines a first opening of the first container, and a lid that covers the first opening, and the second container includes a second rim defining a second opening, and wherein prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container, the first and second rims are engaged with each other.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the liquid component medium includes materials that are soluble, dissolvable or otherwise dispersible in water.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the liquid inlet includes a piercing element to form an inlet opening in the cartridge.

27. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a liquid outlet including a piercing element to form an outlet opening in the cartridge to allow liquid component to exit the cartridge.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising a support arranged to support the second container in a position in which liquid component is directed into the second container.

29. The system of claim 15, further comprising a liquid supply arranged to deliver liquid to the liquid inlet for introduction into the cartridge.

30. A food product assembly for use with a beverage forming machine to make a food product, comprising:

a cartridge, including a first container having a closed interior space and a liquid component medium located in the interior space, the cartridge being arranged for receipt and use by a beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of a food product by introducing liquid into the cartridge for interaction with the liquid component medium; and

a second container attached to the cartridge, the second container including a closed interior space and an insoluble component located in the closed interior space, the second container being arranged to receive a liquid component formed using the cartridge and dispensed by the beverage forming machine directly into the second container such that the second container holds the liquid component and the insoluble component of the food product,

wherein the cartridge and the second container are attached together and are separable by hand and without tools to allow the cartridge to be held alone by the beverage forming machine.

31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the liquid component medium and the insoluble component are separated from each other by an impermeable barrier.

32. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the cartridge is attached to a lid of the second container, the lid closing the interior space of the second container.

33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the cartridge is at least partially received in a recess of the lid.

34. The assembly of claim 33, wherein the lid has an outer side and an inner side exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge in a first orientation, and wherein the lid is arranged to engage with the second container in a second orientation in which the outer side is exposed to the interior space of the second cartridge.

35. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the second container includes a handle attached to a body that defines the interior space of the second container, and wherein the cartridge is attached to the handle.

36. The assembly of claim 35, wherein the handle defines a cavity and the cartridge is received in the cavity.

37. The assembly of claim 36, wherein the second container includes a lid that covers the interior space of the body and the cavity of the handle.

38. The assembly of claim 37, wherein the lid includes a utensil that is removable from the lid.

39. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the cartridge includes the first container, having a first rim that defines a first opening of the first container, and a lid that covers the first opening, and the second container includes a second rim defining a second opening, and wherein prior to separation of the cartridge from the second container, the first and second rims are engaged with each other.

40. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the liquid component medium includes materials that are soluble, dissolvable or otherwise dispersible in water.