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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
First Claim
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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.

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