CUP WITH BEVERAGE CONCENTRATE CONTAINER

• US 3,870,220 A
• Filed: 02/07/1973
• Issued: 03/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvin Cooper, Ronald William Koury
• Original Assignee: Marvin Cooper, Ronald William Koury
• Inventors: Koury, Ronald William, Cooper, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, William I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farrow, Douglas B.
• Application Number:
  US05/330,228
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 206/47B 220/54 229/1.5C 426/86 128/222
• US Class Current: 229/401
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/816 into which liquid is added and the resulting preparation is retained, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food

Abstract

A beverage cup containing a single serving of a beverage concentrate, the beverage concentrate being itself packaged and sealed within a suitable package formed of conventional inert packaging material such as metallic foil, and thermoplastics and the like, the packaging material being insoluble in water, and being capable of withstanding the temperature of boiling water without breaking down or dissolving. The package is preferably formed with some form of retaining means which grips the cup and holds it securely in the bottom of the cup. The top or lid of the package is removeable, and is provided with some suitable form of tab means extending upwardly within the cup and over the lip of the cup whereby a person using the cup will be able to remove the entire top or lid of the package without being obliged to place his fingers within the cup.

Claims

1. A beverage cup for dispensing a single portion of a beverage, from a beverage concentrate contained within the cup, said cup comprising;

a drinking receptacle, of sufficient size to contain a single serving of a liquid beverage, said receptacle having a bottom and side walls, said side walls defining a rim, said side walls of said receptacle defining an upper and a lower portion, said upper portion being of a predetermined thickness and said lower portion being of a reduced thickness with respect thereto, whereby to define an inner annular shoulder running around the interior of said receptacle adjacent to but spaced above said bottom wall thereof, at the junction between the lower and upper wall portions the outer surface of said receptacle side walls being smooth and regular;

a container for said beverage concentrate secured in the bottom of said receptacle, said container containing a single serving of a beverage concentrate, and being formed with a bottom, side walls, and an open top accessible to the interior of said receptacle;

a peripheral lip running around the open top of said container and dimensioned to fit within said lower side wall portion of said receptacle and be retained therewithin by interengagement with said annular shoulder, said container being formed of a material which is harmless when immersed in said liquid beverage, and being secured as aforesaid in said bottom of said receptacle to prevent removal thereof upon opening thereof;

closure panel means extending over the open top of said container, and sealably fastened therearound, and, tab means connected to said closure panel, whereby said closure panel may be removed from said container while said container remains secured in the bottom of said receptacle thereby exposing said beverage concentrate within said container at the bottom of said receptacle, the receptacle then being readied for the addition of liquid without removal of said container.

2. A beverage cup as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closure panel is formed with a spiral tear line therein, said tab means being connected to said closure panel so as to permit tearing of said closure panel along said spiral line of weakness.