Disposable brew basket for electric coffee maker

• US 7,770,512 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Courtesy Products LLC, Courtsey Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Courtesy Products LLC
• Inventors: Albrecht, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US11/519,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 993/06, 993/07, 993/23, 992/95, 426/77, 426/78, 426/79, 426/82, 426/112, 426/115, 426/106, 426/108
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/06 Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4467 by means of linear guides, e.g. drawer-type engagement

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a beverage brewing machine includes a filter pack containing an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage, a single serving disposable brew basket including a body defining a brewing reservoir. The body is formed with a disposable rigid construction. The body has an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container. The body extends upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine. The heated water flows through the open top during a brewing operation. The brewing reservoir has a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a single brewing operation. The brewing area is sufficiently large to hold the filter pack and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in an in-room beverage brewing system for a room of a lodging establishment, the beverage brewing system to be used by a number of different lodging guests expected to stay in the room over a period of time, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of single serving disposable brew baskets comprising a body defining a brewing reservoir, the body being formed with a disposable rigid construction, the body having an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container, the body extending upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine, the heated water flowing through the open top during a brewing operation, the brewing reservoir having a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a brewing operation, a brewing area being sufficiently large to hold a filter pack and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top, wherein the plurality of disposable brew baskets comprise a number of the brew baskets relating to the number of different lodging guests expected to stay at the lodging establishment over the period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a metal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the body is stamped from a sheet of metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises aluminum.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a metallic foil laminated with another material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the metallic foil is laminated with at least one of paper or plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises paper that is at least one of at least partially impregnated or at least partially coated with another material.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the paper is at least one of at least partially impregnated or at least partially coated with at least one of wax and plastic.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a thermoplastic.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body comprises at least one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, celluloid, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVAL), a fluoroplastic, an ionomer, a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyacetal (POM), a polyacrylate, polyamide (PA), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyketone (PK), polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone, polyimide (PI), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone (PSU), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one of an expanded polymer or an extruded polymer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the body comprises expanded polystyrene.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the body comprises extruded polystyrene.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a thermoset.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the body comprises at least one of phenol formaldehyde resin, duroplast, polyester resin, or epoxy resin.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall arranged in a generally rectangular shape.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall each extend upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall are generally the same length and are arranged in a generally square shape.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises one of a generally frustroconical shape and a generally cylindrical shape.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the body comprises a side wall having a generally circular cross-sectional shape.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the side wall extends upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a side wall having a generally non-circular arcuate cross-sectional shape.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the side wall extends upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a generally conical shape.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages,

the first package including at least one of the brew baskets and the second package including at least another of the brew baskets,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of filter packs for use with the beverage brewing machine,

the filter packs containing an amount of grinds sufficient to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages, the first package including at least one of the brew baskets and

the second package including at least one of the filter packs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

28. A beverage brewing system, comprising:

a beverage brewing machine having a housing, a water reservoir, and a location to receive a brew basket, the brewing machine heating water from the water reservoir;

a plurality of filter packs, the filter packs containing an amount of grinds sufficient to brew approximately only a single serving of beverage;

a plurality of single serving disposable brew baskets utilized with the beverage brewing machine during separate brewing operations, the brew baskets being individually inserted into the location during an associated brewing operation, the brew baskets comprising a body defining a brewing reservoir, the body being formed with a disposable rigid construction, the body having an opening therethrough to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir of the disposable brew basket into a beverage container, the body extending upwardly from a bottom of the brewing reservoir to an open top that is configured to receive heated water from the brewing machine, the heated water flowing through the open top during a brewing operation, the brewing reservoir having a size dimensioned appropriate to make approximately only a single serving of beverage during a single brewing operation, and a brewing area being sufficiently large to hold at least one of the filter packs and the heated water while brewing without a level of the heated water rising above and overflowing the open top; and

packaging that includes at least first and second packages,

the first package including at least one of the brew baskets and the second package including at least another of the brew baskets,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a metal.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the body of each brew basket is stamped from a sheet of metal.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises aluminum.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a metallic foil laminated with another material.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the metallic foil is laminated with at least one of paper and plastic.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises paper that is at least one of at least partially impregnated and at least partially coated with another material.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the paper is at least one of at least partially impregnated or at least partially coated with at least one of wax and plastic.

36. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a thermoplastic.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises at least one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), acrylic, celluloid, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVAL), a fluoroplastic, an ionomer, a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polyacetal (POM), a polyacrylate, polyamide (PA), polyamide-imide (PAI), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyketone (PK), polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone, polyimide (PI), polylactic acid (PLA), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polysulfone (PSU), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

38. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises at least one of an expanded polymer and an extruded polymer.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises expanded polystyrene.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises extruded polystyrene.

41. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a thermoset.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises at least one of phenol formaldehyde resin, duroplast, polyester resin, or epoxy resin.

43. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall arranged in a generally rectangular shape.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall each extend upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the front wall, rear wall, left side wall, and right side wall are generally the same length and are arranged in a generally square shape.

46. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises one of a generally frustroconical shape and a generally cylindrical shape.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a side wall having a generally circular cross-sectional shape.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the side wall extends upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

49. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a side wall having a generally non-circular arcuate cross-sectional shape.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the side wall extends upwardly from a bottom wall that defines the brewing reservoir bottom.

51. The system of claim 28, wherein the body of each brew basket comprises a generally conical shape.

52. The beverage brewing system of claim 28, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages, the first package including at least one of the brew baskets and

the second package including at least one of the filter packs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

53. A beverage brewing system, comprising:

a beverage brewing machine having a housing, a water reservoir, an electrical heating element for heating water, and a location to receive a single serving beverage container, the brewing machine heating water from the water reservoir; and

a plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs for use with the beverage brewing machine, the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs being individually insertable into the beverage brewing machine, the brewing reservoirs comprising;

a body formed with a one-piece construction and sized sufficiently large to hold an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage,

an open top on the body; and

a port through a bottom of the body to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir into a single serving beverage container positioned at the location;

wherein the beverage brewing machine and the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs are configured to be utilized in a room at a lodging establishment by a number of different lodging guests expected to stay in the room over a period of time, and

wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs comprise a number of brewing reservoirs relating to a number of different lodging guests expected to stay at the lodging establishment over the period of time.

54. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs comprise a number of brewing reservoirs relating to a number of expected uses of the beverage brewing machine over a predetermined period of time.

55. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, further comprising:

a plurality of the beverage brewing machines,

wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs include multiple brewing reservoirs for use with the beverage brewing machines.

56. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, further comprising:

a plurality of filter packs for use with the beverage brewing machine,

each filter pack containing the amount of grinds sufficient to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage.

57. The beverage brewing system of claim 56, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages, the first package including at least one of the brewing reservoirs and

the second package including at least one of the filter packs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

58. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the beverage brewing machine includes a flat un-heated platform defining the location.

59. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the brewing reservoirs are held in the brewing machine directly above the location that receives the single serving beverage container.

60. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the bottom of the brewing reservoir is spaced above the location that receives the single serving beverage container by a distance corresponding to a height of the single serving beverage container.

61. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the open top permits a user to place grinds in the brewing reservoir before the brewing operation.

62. The beverage brewing system of claim 53, wherein the brewing reservoir has upper edges molded in the one-piece construction to laterally extending flanges configured to hold the brewing reservoir in a recess in the brewing machine.

63. A beverage brewing system, comprising:

a beverage brewing machine having a housing, a water reservoir, an electrical heating element for heating water, and a location to receive a single serving beverage container, the brewing machine heating water from the water reservoir; and

a plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs for use with the beverage brewing machine, the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs being individually insertable into the beverage brewing machine, the brewing reservoirs comprising;

a body formed with a one-piece construction and sized sufficiently large to hold an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage,

an open top on the body; and

a port through a bottom of the body to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir into a single serving beverage container positioned at the location;

packaging that includes at least first and second packages,

the first package including at least one of the brewing reservoirs and the second package including at least another of the brewing reservoirs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

64. An in-room beverage system for a room of a lodging establishment, the system to be used by a number of different lodging guests expected to stay in the room over a period of time, the system comprising:

a beverage brewing machine configured to be utilized in the room,

the beverage brewing machine having a housing, a water reservoir, an electrical heating element for heating water, and a location to receive a single serving beverage container,

the brewing machine heating water from the water reservoir; and

a plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs for use with the beverage brewing machine,

the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs being individually insertable into the beverage brewing machine,

the brewing reservoirs comprising;

a body formed with a one-piece construction,

the body sized sufficiently large to hold an amount of grinds to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage,

an open top on the body; and

a port through a bottom of the body to permit a brewed beverage to flow from the brewing reservoir into a single serving beverage container located proximate to the beverage brewing machine;

wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs comprise a number of the brewing reservoirs relating to the number of different lodging guests expected to stay at the lodging establishment over the period of time.

65. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs comprise a number of brewing reservoirs relating to a number of expected uses of the beverage brewing machine over a predetermined period of time.

66. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, further comprising:

a plurality of the beverage brewing machines,

wherein the plurality of disposable brewing reservoirs include multiple brewing reservoirs for use with the beverage brewing machines.

67. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages,

the first package including at least one of the brewing reservoirs and the second package including at least another of the brewing reservoirs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

68. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, further comprising:

a plurality of filter packs for use with the beverage brewing machine,

the filter packs containing the amount of grinds sufficient to brew approximately only a single serving of brewed beverage.

69. The beverage brewing system of claim 68, further comprising:

packaging that includes at least first and second packages, the first package including at least one of the brewing reservoirs and

the second package including at least one of the filter packs,

the first and second packages being separate from one another.

70. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, wherein the brewing reservoirs are held in the brewing machine directly above the location that receives the single serving beverage container.

71. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, wherein the bottom of the brewing reservoir is spaced above the location that receives the single serving beverage container by a distance corresponding to a height of the single serving beverage container.

72. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, wherein the open top permits a user to place grinds in the brewing reservoir before the brewing operation.

73. The beverage brewing system of claim 64, wherein the brewing reservoir has upper edges molded in the one-piece construction to laterally extending flanges configured to hold the brewing reservoir in a recess in the brewing machine.