U.S. patent application number 11/502164 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for coffee pod and holder therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to SEVERIN ELEKTROGERATE GmbH. Invention is credited to Hans-Josef Gerke.
Application Number | 20070128318 11/502164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35854151 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070128318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gerke; Hans-Josef |
June 7, 2007 |
Coffee pod and holder therefor
Abstract
A coffee pod has similar upper and lower filter sheets having
outer peripheries that are directly bonded together. At least one
of the sheets is formed with a central recess, An annular mass of
infusable particles between the sheets lies inward of the outer
peripheries and surrounds the central recess. A holder for such a
pod has an upwardly concave cup-shaped body centered on an upright
axis and having an annular rim spaced radially outward of the axis
and dimensioned to support the outer peripheries of the sheets with
the annular mass suspended inward of the rim. The body is formed at
the axis with a central downwardly open hole. An axially upwardly
directed centering formation extending upward along the axis is
fixed on the body and engages into the recess.
Inventors: |
Gerke; Hans-Josef; (Sundern,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
SEVERIN ELEKTROGERATE GmbH
|
Family ID: |
35854151 |
Appl. No.: |
11/502164 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/106 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8043 20130101;
B65D 85/8046 20130101; A47J 31/0668 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/106 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 7, 2005 |
DE |
202005019207.4 |
Claims
1. A coffee pod comprising: similar upper and lower filter sheets
having outer peripheries that are directly bonded together, one of
the sheets being formed with a central recess; and an annular mass
of infusable particles between the sheets, inward of the outer
peripheries and surrounding the central recess.
2. The coffee pod defined in claim 1 wherein both of the sheets are
formed with such a central recess and the sheets are bonded
directly together at the recess.
3. The coffee pod defined in claim 2 wherein the sheets are formed
in the recess with a throughgoing hole.
4. The coffee pod defined in claim 3 wherein the filter sheets are
symmetrical to a center axis passing through the hole.
5. The coffee pod defined in claim 4 wherein the filter sheets are
circular.
6. The coffee pod defined in claim 3 wherein the filter sheets are
stellate and have rounded points.
7. In combination, a coffee pod comprising: similar upper and lower
filter sheets having outer peripheries that are directly bonded
together, one of the sheets being formed with a central recess; and
an annular mass of infusable particles between the sheets, inward
of the outer peripheries and surrounding the central recess; and a
holder comprising: an upwardly concave cup-shaped body centered on
an upright axis and having an annular rim spaced radially outward
of the axis and dimensioned to support the outer peripheries of the
pod with the annular mass suspended inward of the rim, the body
being formed at the axis with a central downwardly open hole; and
an axially upwardly directed centering formation extending upward
along the axis, fixed on the body, and engaging into the
recess.
8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the formation is
formed as a blunt cylinder.
9. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein the formation has a
rounded upper end.
10. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the body is formed
with a central depression, the holder further comprising a
foraminous element fitted in the depression and carrying the
formation.
11. The combination defined in claim 10 wherein the a foraminous
element is perforated.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a coffee pod. More
particularly this invention concerns such a pod and a holder for
it.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical pod for coffee or other infusable substances, e.g.
tea, has an upper as well as a lower sheet of filter material that
is permeable to water, for example a microporous filter cloth and a
mass consisting of ground coffee or the like that is provided
between the filter sheets and that can be extracted with water. The
outer peripheries or edges of the material of the upper and lower
filter sheet project past the mass and are connected to each
other.
[0003] Such pods are known in the prior art and recently have
become quite popular, as they allow an infusion to be made with
very little mess using an accurately controlled portion of the
infusable substance. In general, such pods have the shape of a
circular disk. Pods of different basic shapes are known as well,
for example those having the shape of a disk-shaped trapezoid
having rounded edges. These pods are formed by two sheets of filter
material, and, between the sheets, the brewing material, for
example ground coffee or the like. The sheets are peripherally
connected to each other at their outer edges so that the material
that is comprised between the sheets cannot leak out, as a primary
purpose of such pods is to avoid the handling of messy grounds.
Such pods are usually sold in vacuum packages that are opened to
remove the pods so they can be inserted into holders of coffee
machines or the like.
[0004] It is normally not possible for the user to handle the pods
only by the edge so as to avoid contact with the particle-holding
part of the pod when inserting the pods into the corresponding
holders or otherwise handling them.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved beverage pod.
[0006] Another object is the provision of such an improved beverage
pod that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular
that allows the pod to be handled without contact with its
particle-holding portions, while allowing it to be set accurately
in position in the appropriate filter- or coffee-machine
holder.
SUMMAY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A coffee pod has according to the invention similar upper
and lower filter sheets having outer peripheries that are directly
bonded together. At least one of the sheets is formed with a
central recess. An annular mass of infusable particles lies between
the sheets inward of the outer peripheries and surrounds the
central recess.
[0008] A holder for such a pod has an upwardly concave cup-shaped
body centered on an upright axis and having an annular rim spaced
radially outward of the axis and dimensioned to support the outer
peripheries of the sheets with the annular mass suspended inward of
the rim. The body is formed at the axis with a central downwardly
open hole. An axially upwardly directed centering formation
extending upward along the axis is fixed on the body and engages
into the recess.
[0009] Due to the recess on the upper and/or lower filter sheet,
the user has a contact point for holding the pods when they have to
be handled. The recess for example has the dimensions of a finger
tip so that the user can take the pod at the recess and handle it
without danger of touching the edge of the pod and possibly
destroying the connection at the edge between the material sheets,
so that the filling of the pods could fall out during the handling
of the pods.
[0010] Preferably, the upper filter sheet and the lower filter
sheet are directly connected, e.g. adhesively bonded or welded, to
each other in the area of the recess. This way, the possibility of
handling such a pod is improved.
[0011] Furthermore, the recess is formed with a throughgoing
central hole. The upper and lower filter sheets are connected to
each other in the area surrounding the punched hole.
[0012] By means of such a punched hole, not only the handling is
facilitated but also the positioning, because the user can control
and determine the desired positioning of the respective pods in a
respective holder in an easy manner. To avoid the filler of the pod
in the area of the punched hole falling out, the filter sheets in
the area surrounding the punched hole are directly attached to each
other, for example, they are pressed or sealed so that the filling
of the pod is not lost.
[0013] Preferably, it is furthermore provided that the recess is
formed by a circular area that is formed by the upper and lower
filter sheets that closely abut each other. The circular area is
punched at its center.
[0014] The pod can have the shape of a circular disk. Alternately
the pod is has a shape that is different from circular, in
particular oval, polygonal, stellate, or asymmetrical. In the case
of an angular basic shape, the outer edges or corners can be
rounded.
[0015] Since as described above the holder has a centering
formation or a centering pin, it is possible for the user to place
the pod with the punched hole or with the recess on the respective
centering formation or the centering pin, so that the pod is forced
to orient itself in the holder. Mistakes made while placing the pod
on the holder are thus excluded or avoided to a large extent.
[0016] For avoiding damage to the pod when placing it, the
centering formation, in particular the centering pin, is shaped as
a blunt cylinder. Alternatively or additionally, the free end of
the centering formation, in particular of the centering pin, is
rounded or part spherical.
[0017] In order that the central centering pin does not impair the
permeability of the holder for the filtrate, the centering
formation or pin is attached to or formed on a supporting part of
the holder that covers a recess of the holder, is designed
foraminous or permeable to liquids, and is positioned at a spacing
above the lower central discharge opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0018] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an axial section through a pod according to the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an axial section with the pod fitted to a
holder;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view of the pod and holder of FIG. 2;
and
[0022] FIG. 4 is a small-scale top view of another pod according to
the invention.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0023] As seen in FIG. 1 a pod 1 for making coffee has an upper
filter sheet 1' and an identical lower filter sheet 1'' both made
of water-permeable filter material, for example a micro-porous
filter cloth made of cellulose or the like, and holding an annular
mass C of coffee, although any other infusable particular material
could be used. Outer edges of the upper filter sheet 1' and lower
filter sheet 1'' that project outwardly from a central axis A past
the mass C are firmly attached to each other, for example, pressed
or glued together to form a radially projecting annular and planar
rim 2.
[0024] According to the invention, the pod 1 has a central recess 3
on both its upper filter sheet 1' and lower filter sheet 1'', the
upper recess 3 being concave upward, the lower recess 3 being
concave downwa. The upper filter sheet 1' and lower filter sheet
1'' are directly connected or bonded together at this recess 3. In
the axial center of the recess 3 there is a punched hole 4 and the
upper and lower filter sheets 1' and 1'' are directly attached to
each other in the area surrounding the punched hole 4. Thus, a
circularly annular area is formed by the recess 3 that is
approximately adapted to a fingertip and that is limited by the
upper and lower filter sheets 1' and 1'' that closely abut each
other. The are of the hole 4 is of course much smaller than the
area of the recess 3.
[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the pod 1 is shaped as a
circular disk. However, any other shape of the pod 1 is possible
without impairing the purpose of the invention. For instance, FIG.
4 shows a stellate pod 1a with rounded corners, a stellate rim 2a,
and a round central recess 3a.
[0026] In FIGS. 2 and 3, a holder 5 for such pod 1 filled with
material that can be brewed is shown. In the illustrated
embodiment, a holder 5 is shown that can be inserted in a removable
manner into the brewing chamber of a coffee machine or the like.
Alternatively, such a holder 5 can also be an integral component of
such a machine. The holder 5 is designed as a flat cup 10 having a
support rim or flange 11 that serves for effecting seal in the
coffee machine, for sealing the holder 5 relative to the outside.
In its bottom, the holder 5 has a discharge opening 6 for filtrate.
According to the invention, the holder 5 has an axially upstanding
centering formation or pin 7 in the center of the surface where the
pod 1 is contained that projects upward away from the holder on its
upper side and on which the pod 1 with the recess 3 and in
particular the punched hole 4 can be placed and attached. The
centering pin 7 is designed as a blunt cylinder, with a free end
that is part spherical so that it can be forced easily through the
hole 4. The hole 4 is dimensioned to engage tightly around the pin
7 so that there will be no significant leakage of liquid past the
pod 1 at the pin 7.
[0027] The centering formation 7 is attached to or formed on a
support part 8 of the holder 5 that covers an upwardly open central
depression or recess 9 of the holder 5. The opening 6 is in the
bottom center of the recess 9 and the support part 8 has radially
oriented spokes and a cover made of a perforated material or mesh
so that the part 8 is foraminous, that is permeable to liquid. The
part 8 is spaced above the discharge opening 6 so as not to impair
discharge of filtrate.
[0028] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment but
has multiple variants within the scope of the disclosure. All
individual and combined features that have been disclosed in the
description and/or the drawing are considered as substantial to the
invention.
* * * * *