Disposable single serve beverage filter cartridge

• US 6,589,577 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bucuzzo, William P., Lazaris, Nicholas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hendricks, Keith
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECKER, DREW E
• Application Number:
  US09/782,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 993/16, 993/17, 993/23, 993/21, 993/22, 426/79, 426/81, 426/112, 426/113, 426/433, 426/435, 426/115, 206/0.5, 210/455, 210/473
• US Class Current: 426/79
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A beverage filter cartridge includes an outer container with a bottom, and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening. The side wall is contoured to define interior ledges located above the bottom and extending between the front and back walls. A planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions is configured, dimensioned and positioned to subdivide the interior of the container into first and second chambers, with the front and back edge regions of the filter element secured respectively to the front and back walls of the container, and with side edge regions of the filter element secured to respective interior ledges of the container side walls. A beverage medium is stored in the first chamber. A cover is joined to the container rim to close the upper opening. The cover is yieldably piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into the first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage. The filter element is permeable to accommodate passage of the beverage from the first chamber into the second chamber, and the container bottom is yieldably piercable to accommodate an outflow of the beverage from the second chamber to the exterior of the cartridge.

Claims

1. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

an outer container having a bottom and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening, said side walls being contoured to define interior ledges located above and diverging upwardly from said bottom to extend between said front and back walls;

a planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions, said filter element being formed into a generally pocket shaped configuration defining a cavity, and being positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers, with said front and back edge regions secured respectively to said front and back walls, and with said side edge regions secured to respective interior ledges of said side walls, said second chamber being located externally of said first chamber, and said first chamber being at least partially defined by the cavity of said filter element;

a beverage medium received in said cavity for storage in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into said first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter element being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom being piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.

2. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said interior ledges are generally V-shaped.

3. The beverage filter cartridge of claims 1 or 2 wherein said front and back walls have upper sections extending downwardly from said peripheral rim to intermediate sections, and lower sections extending downwardly from said intermediate sections to said bottom.

4. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein said intermediate sections define second ledges joining said upper and lower sections.

5. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 4 wherein said second ledges taper inwardly from said upper sections to said lower sections.

6. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 3 wherein the front and back edge regions of said filter element are joined respectively to the intermediate sections of said front and back walls.

7. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a central boss on said bottom, said boss projecting into the interior of said container and into contact with said filter element.

8. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein the volume of said first chamber is at least about 80% of the volume of said container.

9. The beverage filter cartridge of claim 1 wherein said outer container is impermeable to liquids and gases.

10. The beverage filter cartridge of claims 1 or 9 wherein said cover is impermeable to liquids and gases.

11. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

an outer container having a bottom and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening, said side walls being contoured to define interior first ledges located above and diverging upwardly from said bottom to extend between said front and back walls, said first ledges being generally V-shaped and having sides diverging upwardly at an angle α

, said front and back walls having upper sections extending downwardly from said peripheral rim to intermediate sections, and lower sections extending downwardly from said intermediate sections to said bottom, said intermediate sections diverging upwardly at said angle α

to define second ledges;

a planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions, said filter element being formed into a generally pocket shaped configuration defining a cavity, and being positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers, with said front and back edge regions secured respectively to said second ledges, and with said side edge regions secured to respective first ledges of said side walls, said second chamber being located externally of said first chamber, and said first chamber being at least partially defined by the cavity of said filter element;

a beverage medium received in said cavity for storage in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into said first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter element being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom being piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.

12. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

an outer container having a bottom and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening, said side walls being contoured to define interior ledges located above and diverging upwardly from said bottom to extend between said front and back walls;

a planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions, said filter element being formed into a generally pocket shaped configuration defining a cavity, and being positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers, the volume of said first chamber being at least about 80% of the volume of said container, the front and back edge regions of said filter element being secured respectively to said front and back walls, and the side edge regions of said filter element being secured to respective interior ledges of said side walls, said second chamber being located externally of said first chamber, and said first chamber being at least partially defined by the cavity of said filter element;

a beverage medium received in said cavity for storage in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into said first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter element being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom being piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.

13. A beverage filter cartridge comprising:

an outer container having a bottom and front, back and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding an upper opening, said side walls being contoured to define interior ledges located above and diverging upwardly from said bottom to extend between said front and back walls, said bottom having a central boss projecting upwardly into the interior of said container;

a planar filter element having front, back and side edge regions, said filter element having a generally pocket shaped configuration forming a cavity and being positioned to subdivide the interior of said container into first and second chambers, with said front and back edge regions secured respectively to said front and back walls, and with said side edge regions secured to respective interior ledges of said side walls, and with a bottom portion of said filter element secured to said boss, said second chamber being located externally of said first chamber, and said first chamber being at least partially defined by the cavity of said filter element;

a beverage medium received in said cavity for storage in said first chamber; and

a cover joined to said rim and closing said upper opening, said cover being piercable to accommodate an inflow of liquid into said first chamber for combination with the beverage medium to produce a beverage, said filter element being permeable to accommodate a flow of said beverage from said first chamber into said second chamber, and said bottom being piercable to accommodate an outflow of said beverage from said second chamber to the exterior of said cartridge.