Disposable expandable tea cartridge

• US 4,983,410 A
• Filed: 08/17/1988
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tetley, Inc. (Tata Consumer Products Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Southern Tea Company
• Inventors: Dinos, Jack A.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEINSTEIN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US07/232,947
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 426/77-84, 426/112, 426/110, 426/111, 426/433, 426/435, 99/295, 99/306
• US Class Current: 426/77
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8043 Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06

Abstract

A disposable cartridge and a method for brewing tea while high temperature liquid is passed through the tea includes a receptacle formed of liquid-permeable sheet material and defining a cavity for receiving tea. A quantity of tea is provided in a portion of the cavity. An inflatable cover, also formed of liquid-permeable sheet material, completely covers the portion of the cavity containing the tea. The cover is sealingly connected to the receptacle. The cartridge is placed within the brewing basket of a drip brewer and closely interfits with the interior thereof so as to substantially take up all the space in at least a lower portion of the basket. Hot liquid is supplied from the drip brewer to drip into the receptacle and, in response to the liquid permeating the cover and temporarily accumulating in the portion of the cavity containing the tea, the tea expands in the cavity and the tea brews therein. The cover inflates in an outward direction to accommodate expansion of the tea as it becomes saturated with the hot liquid to thereby enhance the brewing of the tea.

Claims

1. A disposable cartridge for brewing tea by passing hot water therethrough, which cartridge is in a dry condition prior to brewing and which assumes a wetted condition when exposed to hot liquid during brewing, the cartridge being for placement in a brewing basket of a brewing machine, the brewing basket having a side wall extending generally upwardly from a bottom portion, the cartridge comprising:

(a) a cup shaped receptacle formed of liquid permeable sheet material, said receptacle defining a cavity, said receptacle having a bottom wall and a circumferentially continuous upstanding side wall, with said cartridge being dimensioned such that said receptacle side wall sealingly engages said side wall of the brewing basket in the wetted condition of the cartridge;

(b) a concave cup shaped cover formed of liquid permeable sheet material and having a bottom wall and a circumferentially continuous upstanding side wall, said cover and said receptacle side wall each defining a terminal annular rim, respectively, with said annular rim of said cover joined to said annular rim of said receptacle such that said cover is nested within said receptacle in the dry condition to assume a concave condition relative to said receptacle, said cover bottom wall and said receptacle bottom wall being spaced apart and defining an expandable tea containing chamber therebetween;

(c) a premeasured quantity of dry, infusible tea leaf in said team containing chamber;

(d) said cover side wall and said receptacle side wall being unsealed to each other except at said annular rims, with said cover side wall in the dry condition being in close overlying proximity with said receptacle side wall, said cover sidewall being unsealed to said receptacle side wall and configured such that said cover is inflatable relative to said receptacle by virtue of the movement of said cover bottom wall and unsealed cover side wall relative to said receptacle when said cartridge is wetted during infusion and said tea expands, so that said cover side wall in the wetted condition will be spaced away from said receptacle side wall in an unfolded relationship therewith, with said cover having an overall upwardly convex shape when the cartridge is in the wetted condition;

said cover capable of expanding to accomodate at least substantially the full expansion of the wetted tea.

2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said receptacle side wall is pleated about its periphery.

3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein said annular rims are joined together by heat seal.