Beverage filter cartridge holder

• US 6,655,260 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Keurig, Inc. (Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaulieu, Roderick H., Lazaris, Nicholas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alexander, Reginald L.
• Application Number:
  US10/115,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 993/02.R, 993/02.P, 992/87, 992/79, 993/00
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0668 specially adapted for cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0673 Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3628 Perforating means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3633 Means to perform transfer from a loading position to an infusing position
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3638 Means to eject the cartridge after brewing
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4492 Means to read code provided on ingredient pod or cartridge

Abstract

A brewer operates during a brew cycle to brew a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a dry beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge. During the brew cycle, the cartridge is contained in a cup-shaped housing closed by a lid. Rotation of the cartridge within the housing is resisted by locating surfaces arranged to interengage with at least one surface irregularity in the cartridge sidewall. Inlet and outlet probes pierce the cartridge and serve, respectively, to admit the heated liquid and to remove the served beverage.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for brewing a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge, a holder for containing said cartridge, said holder comprising:

a cup-shaped housing for removably receiving said cartridge, said housing having a side wall configured and dimensioned to surround a side wall of said cartridge;

locating means for rotabaly fixing said cartridge in said housing, said locating means comprising at least one projection in one of the side walls of said cartridge and housing, said projection being configured and dimensioned to coact in mechanical interengagement with a complimentary depression in the other of said side wall;

a lid;

means for manipulating said lid between an open position accommodating insertion of a cartridge into and removal of a cartridge from said housing, and a closed position confining a cartridge within said housing; and

probe means associated with said housing and said lid for piercing a cartridge confined within said housing to accommodate a through flow of heated liquid for infusion with said beverage medium.

2. The holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said probe means includes a tubular inlet probe carried by said lid, and a tubular outlet probe carried by said housing.

3. The holder as claimed in claim 2 further comprising ejection means shiftable with respect to the side wall of said housing for ejecting a cartridge from the housing interior.

4. The holder as claimed in claim 3 wherein said locating means comprises a part of said ejection means.

5. In an apparatus that operates during a brewing cycle to brew a beverage by combining heated liquid with a beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge, a holder for containing the cartridge during the brew cycle, said holder comprising:

a cup-shaped housing having a bottom wall and a side wall, said housing being structured and dimensioned to removably received said cartridge;

a lid for confining said cartridge within said housing;

locating means comprising at least one projection in one of the side walls of said cartridge and housing, said projection being configured and dimensioned to coact in mechanical interengagement with a complimentary depression in the other of said side walls to resist rotation of said cartridge within said housing; and

means associated with said housing and said lid for piercing said cartridge to accommodate a flow of said heated liquid through said cartridge to brew said beverage by infusion with said beverage medium.

6. In an apparatus for brewing a beverage by infusing heated liquid with a beverage medium contained in a single serve disposable cartridge, a holder for containing said cartridge, said holder comprising:

a cup-shaped housing for removably receiving said cartridge, said housing having a side wall configured and dimensioned to surround the side wall of said cartridge;

locating means for coacting in interengagement with said surface irregularity to rotatably fix a cartridge received in said housing;

a lid;

means for manipulating said lid between an open position accommodating insertion of a cartridge into and removal of a cartridge from said housing, and a closed position confining a cartridge within said housing; and

probe means for piercing a cartridge confined within said housing to accommodate a trhough flow of heated liquid for infusion with said beverage medium said probe means including a tubular inlet probe carried by said lid and a tubular outlet probe carried by said housing; and

ejection means shiftable with respect to the side wall of said housing of ejecting a cartridge from the housing interior.