Apparatus for preventing passing off of a brewed beverage

• US 6,786,136 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods North America (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods North America (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Cirigliano, Michael Charles, Mordini, Mauro Dominick
• Primary Examiner(s): WEIER, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US10/178,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 426/433, 426/435, 426/82, 993/23, 993/233, 992/95
• US Class Current: 99/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0642 specially adapted to cooperate with a cartridge, e.g. having grooves or protrusions to separate cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber A47J31/0668 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention is directed to an apparatus for brewing a beverage. The apparatus has a brew funnel, a key and an elevation device so that only one brand of beverage can be brewed to thereby prevent harm and confusion to consumers.

Claims

1. A brew funnel comprising:

(a) a mouth suitable for receiving a beverage precursor packed within a filter pack;

(b) a floor, opposite the mouth, the floor comprising an aperture for beverage drainage;

(c) a surrounding wall having a top and bottom portion, the bottom portion being connected to the floor and the top portion forming the mouth of the brew funnel; and

(d) an elevation device placed and supported therein

wherein the brew funnel further comprises a key means comprising a portion above the elevational device and attached to the floor or surrounding wall or both, or a key means attached to or protruding from a top portion of the elevation device thereby enabling the brew funnel to accept one brand of a filter pack with beverage precursor packed therein.

2. The brew funnel according to claim 1 wherein the beverage precursor is derived from coffee bean.

3. The brew funnel according to claim 1 wherein the beverage precursor is tea precursor derived from Camilia sinensis.

4. The brew funnel according to claim 1 wherein the beverage precursor is an herbal tea precursor.

5. The brew funnel according to claim 1 wherein the key means is attached to the floor or surrounding wall of the brew funnel.

6. The brew funnel according to claim 5 wherein the elevation device is porous to a liquid, comprises a receiving means that fits onto the key means of the brew funnel, and rests substantially parallel to the floor of the brew funnel.

7. The brew funnel according to claim 6 wherein the filter pack comprises a filter receiving means that fits onto the key means, enabling the filter pack to rest onto the elevation device.

8. The brew funnel according to claim 1 wherein the key means is attached to or protrudes from a top portion of the elevation device.

9. The brew funnel according to claim 8 wherein the filter pack comprises a filter receiving means that fits onto the key means, enabling the filter pack to rest on the elevation device.

10. A beverage brewing apparatus, the beverage brewing apparatus displaying a brand of a beverage and comprising a brew funnel comprising:

(a) a mouth suitable for receiving a beverage precursor packed within a filter pack;

(b) a floor, opposite the mouth, the floor comprising an aperture for beverage drainage;

(c) a surrounding wall having a top and bottom portion, the bottom portion being connected to the floor and the top portion forming the mouth of the brew funnel; and

(d) an elevation device placed and supported therein

wherein the brew funnel further comprises a key means comprising a portion above the elevational device and attached to the floor or surrounding wall or both, or a key means attached to or protruding from a top portion of the elevation device thereby enabling the brew funnel to accept one brand of a filter pack with beverage precursor packed therein.

11. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the beverage precursor is derived from coffee bean.

12. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the beverage precursor is tea precursor derived from Camillia sinesis.

13. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the beverage precursor is an herbal tea precursor.

14. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the key means is attached to the floor or surrounding wall of the brew funnel and the elevation device is porous to a liquid, comprises a receiving means that fits onto the key means of the brew funnel, and rests substantially parallel to the floor of the brew funnel.

15. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the filter pack comprises a filter receiving means that fits onto the key means, enabling the filter pack to rest on the elevation device.

16. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the key means is attached to or protrudes from a top portion of the elevation device, the elevation devices resting within the brew funnel and substantially parallel to the floor of the brew funnel in order to support a filter pack.

17. The beverage brewing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the filter pack is suitable to brew a brand of a beverage that matches the brand displayed on the beverage brewing apparatus.