Self contained disposable coffee brewing device

• US 5,424,083 A
• Filed: 10/24/1994
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Lozito
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Lozito
• Inventors: Lozito, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weinstein, Steven
• Application Number:
  US08/327,997
• Time in Patent Office: 232 Days
• Field of Search: 426/77-84, 426/112, 426/110, 426/433, 426/435, 229/125.03, 229/117.09, 229/117.12, 229/117.13, 229/117.22, 215/228, 220/768, 220/769, 220/763, 220/212.5, 99/295, 99/306, 206/0.5
• US Class Current: 426/82
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/005 Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

The invention is a self contained disposable coffee brewing cone comprising a pouch having an inside, a top, a bottom, an open circular top, and a permeable circular bottom. A pre-measured volume of coffee is located inside the pouch at the bottom, and is sandwiched between a permeable filter net and the permeable circular bottom. A flange is located at the top of the pouch, extending radially outward from the pouch, parallel to the horizon. The flange has a flange tab and perforations along its center, so that an outer flange ring may be peeled back and separated from an inner flange ring and the remainder of the pouch, to be utilized as a handle.

Claims

1. A self contained disposable coffee brewing device comprising:

a pouch, said pouch having a sidewall, an open circular top, and a liquid permeable circular bottom;

a pre-measured volume of coffee located inside the pouch at the bottom;

a liquid permeable filter net located inside the pouch and above said pre-measured volume of coffee, such that said per-measured volume of coffee is sandwiched between the liquid permeable filter net and the liquid permeable circular bottom; and

a flange extending around the entire circumference of the open circular top at said open circular top and extending from the pouch, radially outwardly, parallel to the horizontal, said flange being sufficiently rigid such that the flange is capable of resting on a lip of a coffee receptacle and support said brewing device therefrom, said flange comprising;

a circumferential outer edge and an inner edge;

a flange tab projecting from the outer edge of the flange; and

a line of perforations disposed along the center of said flange, said line of perforations oriented concentric to the inner and outer edges of said flange, said line of perforations dividing the flange into an inner flange ring and an outer flange ring, said line of perforations continuing along the perimeter of the flange to a point opposite the tab, where the perforations end, leaving a portion of the flange that is completely un-perforated between its inner and outer edge to form a connector, connecting the outer flange ring to the inner flange ring and pouch such that upon grasping the flange tab and pulling the flange tab back along the perforations, the outer flange ring separates from the inner flange ring and the pouch along the perforations but remains connected to the inner flange ring and the pouch only at the connector such that the separated outer ring can be used as a handle to support and manipulate the pouch.

2. The coffee brewing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the pouch has a cone shaped body, tapering from the bottom which is substantially flat, upwards and outwards toward the open circular top.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein an upper portion of the cone shaped body is located above the liquid permeable filter net and is comprised of a liquid impermeable material to prevent any seepage of water through the upper portion, and thus prevent leakage or spillage.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the entire cone shaped body is constructed of liquid impermeable material so that hot fluid can exit only via the liquid permeable circular bottom.

5. A method for brewing an individual fresh cup of coffee, using the self contained disposable coffee brewing device recited in claim 1, comprising the steps of:

placing the coffee brewing device recited in claim 1 on top of a coffee receptacle having a lip so that the flange rests on top of the coffee receptacle lip and the liquid permeable circular bottom is located inside the coffee receptacle; and

pouring hot water into the open circular top of the coffee brewing device.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

pulling on the flange tab so as to separate the flange tab and outer flange ring from the inner flange ring;

pulling the flange tab and outer flange ring back along the flange perforations toward the unperforated portion so that the outer flange ring is substantially separated from the inner flange ring, being fastened to the inner flange ring only by means of the un-perforated connector portion;

bending the separated outer flange ring back, and pinching its inner edges toward one another so as to create a bend at the flange tab and provide extra rigidity to the outer flange ring in its separated state; and

lifting the coffee brewing device out of the coffee receptacle by utilizing the separated and peeled back outer flange ring as a handle and applying upward force thereto.

7. A method for brewing an individual fresh cup of coffee using the coffee brewing device of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

applying upward force on the flange tab of the coffee brewing device of claim 1 so as to separate the flange tab and outer flange ring from the inner flange ring;

pulling the flange tab and outer flange ring up and back along the perforations toward the un-perforated portion so that the outer flange ring is substantially separated from the inner flange ring, being fastened to the inner flange ring only by means of the un-perforated connector portion;

bending the separated outer flange ring back, and pinching its inner edges toward one another so as to create a bend at the flange tab and provide extra rigidity to the outer flange ring in its separated state;

grasping the separated outer flange ring as a handle, and suspending the coffee brewing device of claim 1 above a coffee receptacle having an opening so that the liquid permeable bottom is located directly above the opening of said coffee receptacle; and

pouring hot water into the open circular top of the coffee brewing device of claim 1, the hot water exiting the device through the liquid permeable bottom as fresh brewed coffee and entering the coffee receptacle.