Pod adaptor system for single service beverage brewers

• US 8,720,320 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARM Enterprises Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ARM Enterprises Incorporated
• Inventors: Rivera, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Yuwen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woodall, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/777,831
• Time in Patent Office: 2,496 Days
• Field of Search: 992/95, 992/87, 992/89.R, 993/02.R, 426/77, 426/78, 426/79, 426/80, 426/112, 426/115, 426/132, 426/394
• US Class Current: 99/295
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0678 Means to separate the cartridge from the bottom of the brewing chamber, e.g. grooves or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0689 Reusable cartridges suitable to be opened for being filled with brewing material and to be closed to envelope the brewing material therein
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/3695 Cartridge perforating means for creating the hot water inlet cartridge perforating means of the filter holder for creating the beverage outlet A47J31/0673

Abstract

A pod adaptor assembly for use in combination with a single serve beverage brewer is provided. The assembly is especially designed for brewing pods in brewers configured for cup-shaped beverage extract cartridges. The assembly includes a receptacle and a cover configured to sealingly engage with the receptacle. The receptacle has a base with a raised portion which is adapted to provide a support surface for a pod. The base of the receptacle also provides an opening adapted to receive an upwardly extending puncture needle from the brewer in a manner such that the needle extends through the base and does not puncture the pod. The cover also has an opening that is adapted to receive a downwardly extending liquid injector probe from the brewer. In some implementations, spaced apart protrusions are arranged on the pod support surface thereby creating gaps to facilitate flow of brewed beverage. In other implementations, the assembly also includes a spring bias mechanism adapted to press the pod against the cover so as to create a tamping effect.

Claims

1. A beverage brewer, comprising:

a brewing chamber;

a container, disposed within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by a beverage brewer, the container comprising;

a receptacle configured to receive and support the brewing material; and

a cover;

wherein the receptacle includes

a base, having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a passageway in an interior area of the base, providing fluid flow through the interior surface and the exterior surface, and

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base,

wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and

wherein the container is adapted to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway;

an inlet port, adapted to provide the input fluid to the container; and

a needle-like structure, adapted to receive outflow fluid from the container through the base passageway;

wherein the passageway is disposed to receive the needle-like structure and to provide a clearance around the needle-like structure such that the needle-like structure does not puncture the base.

2. The beverage brewer of claim 1, wherein the receptacle also includes at least one extension that raises the base a predetermined distance above a lower surface of the brewing chamber, wherein the predetermined distance is selected such that a tip of the needle-like structure does not penetrate the exterior surface of the base.

3. The beverage brewer of claim 1, wherein the container is reusable.

4. The beverage brewer of claim 1, wherein the passageway has an unobstructed configuration.

5. A beverage brewer, comprising:

a brewing chamber;

a container, disposed within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by a beverage brewer, the container comprising;

a receptacle configured to receive the brewing material; and

a cover;

wherein the receptacle includes

a base, having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein at least a portion of the base is disposed a predetermined distance above a bottom surface of the brewing chamber, and

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base,

wherein the receptacle has at least one passageway that provides fluid flow from an interior of the receptacle to an exterior of the receptacle;

wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and

wherein the container is adapted to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway;

an inlet port, adapted to provide the input fluid to the container; and

a needle-like structure, disposed below the base;

wherein the predetermined distance is selected such that a tip of the needle-like structure does not penetrate the exterior surface of the base.

6. The beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein at least one passageway of the at least one passageway is disposed in the base.

7. The beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein the receptacle also includes at least one extension that raises the at least a portion of the base the predetermined distance above the bottom surface of the brewing chamber.

8. The beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein the container is reusable.

9. The beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein at least one passageway of the at least one passageway is unobstructed.

10. A beverage brewer, comprising:

a brewing chamber;

a container, disposed within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by a beverage brewer, the container comprising;

a receptacle configured to receive the brewing material; and

a cover;

wherein the receptacle includes

a base, having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a passageway in an interior area of the base, providing fluid flow through the interior surface and the exterior surface, and

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base,

wherein the receptacle is adapted to support the brewing material a predetermined distance above a lower surface of the brewing chamber,

wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and

wherein the container is adapted to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway;

an inlet port, adapted to provide the input fluid to the container; and

a needle-like structure, disposed below the brewing material;

wherein the predetermined distance is selected such that the needle-like structure does not touch the brewing material when held by the container.

11. The beverage brewer of claim 10, wherein the receptacle also includes at least one extension that raises the base the predetermined distance above the lower surface of the brewing chamber.

12. The beverage brewer of claim 10, wherein the container is reusable.

13. The beverage brewer of claim 10, wherein the passageway has an unobstructed configuration.

14. A beverage brewer, comprising:

a brewing chamber;

a container, disposed within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by a beverage brewer, the container comprising;

a receptacle configured to receive the brewing material; and

a cover;

wherein the receptacle includes

a base, having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a passageway in an interior area of the base, providing fluid flow through the interior surface and the exterior surface, and

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base,

wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and

wherein the container is adapted to accept input fluid through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway;

an inlet port, adapted to provide the input fluid to the container; and

a needle-like structure, adapted to receive outflow fluid from;

the container through the base passageway; and

wherein the passageway allows the outflow fluid to flow from the container.

15. The beverage brewer of claim 14, wherein the receptacle also includes at least one extension that raises at least a portion of the base a predetermined distance above a lower surface of the brewing chamber, wherein the predetermined distance is selected such that a tip of the needle-like structure does not penetrate the exterior surface of the base.

16. The beverage brewer of claim 14, wherein the container is reusable.

17. The beverage brewer of claim 14, wherein the passageway has an unobstructed configuration.

18. A beverage brewer including a brewing chamber configured to receive a brewing cartridge, an inlet port adapted to provide an input fluid, and a needle-like structure fixed in a bottom of the brewing chamber and adapted to puncture a shell of the brewing cartridge to carry an outflow of brewed beverage from the brewing cartridge and arranged to avoid puncturing filtering material containing brewing material disposed inside the shell, the improvement comprising:

a container configured to replace the brewing cartridge, the container positionable within the brewing chamber and adapted to hold brewing material while brewed by the beverage brewer, the container including;

a receptacle configured to receive and support the brewing material, and

a cover;

wherein the receptacle includes;

a passageway providing fluid communication between an interior of the receptacle and the brewing chamber,

a base, having an interior surface and an exterior surface and configured to avoid contact with the needle-like structure, and

at least one sidewall extending upwardly from the interior surface of the base and configured to avoid contact with the needle-like structure;

wherein the cover is adapted to sealingly engage with a top edge of the at least one sidewall, the cover including an opening, and

wherein the container is adapted to accept the input fluid from the inlet port through the opening and to provide a corresponding outflow of fluid through the passageway.

19. The beverage brewer of claim 18, wherein the container is reusable.

20. The beverage brewer of claim 18, wherein the receptacle also includes at least one extension that raises the base a predetermined distance above a lower surface of the brewing chamber.

21. The beverage brewer of claim 18, wherein the passageway has an unobstructed configuration.