U.S. patent application number 14/746199 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-21 for cartridge for beverage dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Telesonic Packaging Corp.. Invention is credited to Bernard Katz.
Application Number | 20160016727 14/746199 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55073943 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160016727 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Katz; Bernard |
January 21, 2016 |
CARTRIDGE FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSER
Abstract
A cartridge for a beverage dispenser includes a top that has a
perimeter forming an opening therein, an intermediate portion
connected to the top, and a bottom connected to the intermediate
portion. The intermediate portion has at least five openings formed
therein. The intermediate portion forms a receiving space between
the top and the bottom.
Inventors: |
Katz; Bernard; (Wilmington,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Telesonic Packaging Corp. |
Wilmington |
DE |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55073943 |
Appl. No.: |
14/746199 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14581706 |
Dec 23, 2014 |
|
|
|
14746199 |
|
|
|
|
61998582 |
Jul 3, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/115 ;
99/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8043 20130101;
B65D 85/8046 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/804 20060101
B65D085/804 |
Claims
1. A beverage dispensing cartridge, comprising: a cup having a
bottom surface and a side wall defining an inner cavity; the side
wall having a plurality of openings; a filter covering the
plurality of openings; a beverage making material within the inner
cavity; and a pierceable top cover permanently attached to the cup;
wherein the cup, the filter material and the cover formed a closed
chamber for the beverage making material; wherein fluid injected
into the beverage dispensing cartridge through a perforation in the
top cover will combine with the beverage making material to produce
a beverage that flows out of at least through the filter material
at the plurality of openings in the side wall of the cup.
2. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is a solid
surface and lacks holes.
3. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the filter is wrapped around
an exterior of the side wall.
4. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ribs
between the plurality of openings, at least one of the ribs being
wider than the remaining ones of the plurality of ribs.
5. The cartridge of claim 4, wherein the filter is wrapped around
an exterior of the side wall and overlaps itself over a wider one
of the plurality of ribs.
6. The cartridge of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface has a
plurality of holes that are arcuate or circular.
7. The cartridge of claim 6, further comprising a disc shaped
filter on an upwardly facing side of the bottom and covering the
plurality of holes.
8. The cartridge of claim 6, wherein the cartridge is configured to
be pierced through the top cover to create a hole in the top cover
to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through the filter
beverage from the interaction of the fluid with the beverage making
material, and wherein the cartridge is a single use cartridge.
9. A cartridge shell configured to form beverage dispensing
cartridge, comprising: a cup of having a bottom surface and a side
wall defining an inner cavity; the side wall having a plurality of
openings; a filter covering the plurality of openings; and a
plurality of ribs between the plurality of openings, at least one
of the ribs being wider than the remaining ones of the plurality of
ribs.
10. The cartridge shell of claim 9, further comprising a top
pierceable cover permanently attached to the cup.
11. The cartridge shell of claim 10, wherein the top cover is
configured to be pierced through to create a hole in the top cover
to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through the filter
beverage from the interaction of the fluid with beverage making
material within the cartridge.
12. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the bottom surface is a solid
surface and lacks holes.
13. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the filter material is
wrapped around an exterior of the side wall.
14. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the filter material is
wrapped around an exterior of the side wall and overlaps itself
over a wider one of the plurality of ribs.
15. The cartridge of claim 9, wherein the bottom surface has a
plurality of holes that are arcuate or circular.
16. The cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a disc shaped
filter material on an upwardly facing side of the bottom and
covering the plurality of holes.
17. A cartridge shell configured to form beverage dispensing
cartridge, comprising: a cup of having a bottom surface and a side
wall defining an inner cavity; the bottom surface having a
plurality of openings; a disc shaped filter covering the plurality
of openings; and the side surface lacking any holes.
18. The cartridge shell of claim 17, further comprising a top
pierceable cover permanently attached to the cup.
19. The cartridge shell of claim 18, wherein the cartridge is
configured to be pierced through the top cover to create a hole in
the top cover to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through
the filter beverage from the interaction of the fluid with beverage
making material within the cartridge.
20. The cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a peelable label
covering the filter.
21. The cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a peelable label
covering the filter.
22. The cartridge shell of claim 17, further comprising a peelable
label covering the filter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No.
14/581,705 filed Dec. 23, 2013 entitled Cartridge for Beverage
Dispenser. That application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No.: ______ , entitled Single Serving Beverage
Container, filed Dec. 23, 2013. The contents of both are entirely
incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The subject matter herein generally relates to cartridges
for beverage dispensers, particularly cartridges for single serve
beverage dispensers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Single use beverage dispensers utilize single use cartridges
to brew, for example, one cup of coffee. U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765
and 6,645,537, both incorporated by reference in their entireties,
shows designs of such a single serve cartridge. This beverage
filter cartridge is comprised basically of a semi-rigid fluid
impermeable yet pierceable cup-shaped outer container internally
subdivided by a permeable cone-shaped filter into first and second
chambers. A granular or powdered dry beverage medium (herein
"beverage making material"), e.g., roasted ground coffee, is stored
in the first chamber, and the container is closed by an impermeable
pierceable top lid. During a processing cycle, the lid and
container bottom are pierced, respectively, by tubular inlet and
outlet probes. The inlet probe admits heated liquid under pressure
into the first chamber for infusion with the beverage medium, and
the resulting brewed beverage passes through the filter into the
second chamber from which it exits via the outlet probe for
delivery to an underlying cup. These products are "single use" or
"disposable" cartridges, in that the process of use permanently
destroys the cartridge such that it cannot be reused with new
beverage making material (although it could be recycled).
[0004] The above design has been commercialized under the trade
name K-CUPS for use in connection with KEURIG coffee making
products. The commercialized product accommodates K-CUPS of a
particular size (approximately 50.50 mm top diameter, 35 mm bottom
diameter, 44 mm height, and having other external shapes and
proportioned features consistent with U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765). The
beverage dispenser has a receptacle to receive the K-CUP in a
manner that will hold the cup. The outer dimensions of the K-CUP
and the supporting dimensions of a receptacle within the beverage
dispenser to hold the K-CUP are industry standard and well-known as
of the filing date of this application. References herein to K-CUP
should be understood as referring to a product with such outer
dimensions (regardless of manufacturer).
[0005] The overwhelming majority of cartridges are used for coffee,
and for ease of discussion reference herein is to coffee
cartridges. However, it is to be understood that other beverage
making materials could be used.
[0006] A drawback of any single use coffee cartridge is that it has
an upper limit on the amount of ideal strength coffee that it can
dispense. Specifically, the strength of coffee is based on a ratio
of the amount of coffee medium to the amount of water. A study by
The Midwest Research Institute concluded that the most acceptable
coffee would result from preparation for soluble solids
concentration from 1.15 to 1.35 percent and soluble solids yield
extraction between 18 and 22 percent. (See, e.g., FIG. 4 of U.S.
Pat. No. 7,952,697 and related description, incorporated herein by
reference.) Applicants adopt this range as "ideal strength" coffee
for use herein. A certain maximum amount of water can thus be used
with a single use coffee cartridge to produce a product that has
ideal strength. Adding more water to generate a larger volume of
coffee from the same cartridge will result in coffee that is
considered weaker tasting and less desirable by a significant
portion of the consuming public.
[0007] The design of the commercial single use K-CUP can only hold
enough coffee making material (about 9-10 grams) to process a
maximum of about 10-12 ounces of water to produce approximately
10-12 ounces of ideal strength coffee. The single use K-CUP design
cannot accommodate additional coffee making material to provide
larger volumes of ideal coffee without interfering with the
filtration process. To obtain more than 12 ounces of ideal strength
coffee, a user would need to separately multiple single use
cartridges.
[0008] For
[0009] There are a variety of known multi-use cartridges that
substitute for K-CUPs in the KEURIG beverage dispensers. Typically
the top of the cartilage is removable to allow a user to load their
own beverage making product into the cartridge, such that the same
cartage can be used over and over. To accommodate repeated use the
cartridges are made of rigid material, such as hard plastic or
metal, that is not pierceable; this requires design deviations from
the K-CUP to avoid damage from the probes. Because of these design
deviations, some multi-use cartridges can include a higher volume
of beverage making material than its K-CUP counterpart.
[0010] Single use cartridges in the coffee market have enjoyed
significant commercial success because of convenience, but
multi-use cartridges have not. Specifically, prior art coffee
makers required insertion of a filter media, maintain a source of
coffee (e.g., separate bag), transfer the coffee to the filter, and
then dispose of the used coffee and clean the supporting structure.
Multi-use cartridges require many if not all of these steps, and
thus provide minimal or no added convenience compared to a standard
coffee maker. In contrast, single use cartridges can simply be
placed in the beverage dispenser and disposed of after use, thus
providing significant added convenience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Implementations of the present technology will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached
figures, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cartridge in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2A is a side elevational and view of a cartridge in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 2B is a side elevational view of a cartridge in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the cartridge of FIG. 1
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a
cartridge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of another embodiment of a
cartridge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of multiple cartridges stacked
in a nested manner.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a side view of a prior art K-CUP cup engaging with
a prior art KEURIG dispenser in the open position.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side view of a prior art K-CUP cup engaging with
a prior art KEURIG dispenser in the closed position.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention engaging with a prior art KEURIG
dispenser in the open position.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention engaging with a prior art KEURIG
dispenser in the closed position.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a side elevational and view of a cartridge in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevational and view of a cartridge of
FIG. 11 from a different viewing angle;
[0025] FIG. 13 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention that includes an external side
filter.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a side elevational and view of a cartridge in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 15 is a side elevational and view of a cartridge of
FIG. 14 that includes a lower layer of filter material;
[0028] FIGS. 16 and 17 are side elevational and top views of a
cartridge in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention that includes beverage making
material.
[0030] FIG. 19 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention that includes a top cover.
[0031] FIG. 20 is a side view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention that includes a peelable outer
cover.
[0032] FIG. 21 is a top view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0033] FIG. 22 is a top view of cartridge according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 23 is a side elevational and view of a cartridge of
FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0035] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been
repeated among the different FIGures to indicate corresponding or
analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described
herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, methods, procedures and components have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant
feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale
and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better
illustrate details and features. The description is not to be
considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described
herein.
[0036] Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure
will now be presented.
[0037] The term "coupled" is defined as connected, whether directly
or indirectly through intervening components, and is not
necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be
such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably
connected. The term "substantially" is defined to be essentially
conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that
substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact.
For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object
resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a
true cylinder. The term "comprising" means "including, but not
necessarily limited to"; it specifically indicates open-ended
inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group,
series and the like.
[0038] The term "cartridge" refers to the container for the
beverage making material. The term is used to collectively and
individually refer to the container at different stages of its
assembly. For example, an initial form of the cartridge may be the
cup/shell. A later form of the cartridge may be when filter
material is later added to the cup/shell. A still later form of the
cartridge is sealed with a cover, and so on.
[0039] The term "rigid" refers to a material that will not deform
absent application of destructive force that would break the
material. The term "semi-rigid" refers to a material that has some
limited ability to deform under non-destructive force and will tend
to return to its original shape when the non-destructive force is
removed. The term "flexible" refers to a material that freely
deforms under non-destructive force and tends to hold its new shape
when the non-destructive force is removed. The term "permanently"
as used in connection with an attachment or connection refers to
something which cannot be separated absent application of
destructive force which effectively breaks the attachment.
[0040] The term "pierceable" in the context of a cartridge refers
to a thin material that can be readily pierced by a probe needle
common to beverage dispensers during the customary use of making a
beverage to form a hole in the cartridge without damaging the
probe. Flexible materials and some semi-rigid materials will have
this property, but rigid materials will tend not to. Non-limiting
examples of pierceable materials include paper, foil, and plastic
wrap.
[0041] The term "single use" or "disposable" in the context of a
cartridge refers to an undamaged self-contained cartridge that is
pre-sealed with beverage making material, and for which at least a
portion thereof needs to be damaged or destroyed during its first
use (e.g., one or more surfaces are pierced or torn) to produce a
beverage. By way of example, as discussed above, U.S. Pat. No.
5,325,765 works with a beverage dispenser with an inlet probe that
pierces the top cover of the cartridge. A cartridge with a
permanently attached cover that is pierced or torn during the first
use is a single use cartridge (and remains so even if used again,
as this is a use of the damaged cartridge and not a use of the
original undamaged form of the cartridge).
[0042] "Multi-use" refers to a cartridge that is not damaged or
destroyed during first use, and includes one or more components
that are designed to be repeatedly opened and closed to reload
beverage making material into the cartridge. By way of example, a
cartridge with a removable cap to load beverage making material,
and with a depression in the cap to receive the probe such that the
probe does not pierce or damage the cap, would be a multi-use
cartridge.
[0043] There is a long felt need in the market for a
disposable/single-use cartridge that has a size and shape that will
fit within a beverage dispenser designed to hold a K-CUP, but which
can produce a higher volume of infused beverage than the designs of
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765 and 6,645,537. More particularly, in the
field of coffee, an object of at least some embodiments of the
invention is to provide a single-use cartridge that has a size and
shape that fits within a beverage dispenser designed to hold a
K-CUP, but which can hold about 14 grams of coffee to produce
upwards of approximately 18 ounces of ideal strength coffee.
[0044] The present disclosure provides for a cartridge for a
beverage dispenser that can include a top that has a perimeter
forming an opening therein, an intermediate portion connected to
the top, and a bottom connected to the intermediate portion. The
intermediate portion can have at least multiple openings formed
therein. The intermediate portion can form a receiving space
between the top and the bottom.
[0045] The cartridge can be made of a polymer. The polymer can have
a melting point greater than 95 degrees Celsius. In at least one
embodiment, the melting point of the polymer can be about 210
degrees Celsius to about 220 degrees Celsius. In at least one
embodiment, the cartridge can be made of polypropylene homopolymer
(including, the filtration material). The cartridge can be made of
biodegradable and/or recyclable material. The density of the
polymer can be about 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The melt flow index of the
polymer can be about 16.
[0046] The opening can be closed with a lid coupled with the
perimeter of the top. In at least one embodiment, the lid can be
made of polyester. The lid can be heat sealed to the top. The heat
sealing temperature range can be about 180 degrees Celsius to about
200 degree Celsius.
[0047] In at least one embodiment, at least five openings in the
intermediate portion can be covered with a filtration material. In
at least one embodiment, the filtration material can be removable
from the cartridge. In other embodiments, the filtration material
can be permanently coupled to the cartridge. The filtration
material can be made of a compatible, recyclable material as its
parent construction.
[0048] In at least one embodiment, the top and the bottom of the
cartridge can be substantially circular. A width of the top can be
greater than a width of the bottom. In at least one embodiment, the
intermediate portion can be tapered from the top to the bottom. The
intermediate portion can have an upper portion proximate the top
and a lower portion proximate the bottom. A stepped portion can
connect the upper portion and the lower portion. In at least one
embodiment, the bottom of one cartridge can be receivable in the
receiving portion of another cartridge in a nesting configuration.
Thus, the stepped portion of the received cartridge can abut the
top of the receiving cartridge, when nested.
[0049] In at least one embodiment, the bottom of the cartridge can
have multiple openings, at least five openings formed therein
corresponding to the five openings in the intermediate portion. In
at least one embodiment, the five openings in the bottom can be
proximate the five openings in the intermediate portion and
separated therefrom by a perimeter of an outer edge of the bottom.
In other embodiments, the five openings in the bottom can be
proximate the five openings in the intermediate portion and share
at least one side.
[0050] In at least one embodiment, at least three of the five
openings in the bottom can be the same size as each other, and at
least two of the five openings in the bottom can be the same as
each other. In other embodiments, the five openings in the bottom
can be the same size.
[0051] In at least one embodiment, a height of the five openings
can be at least 30% of a height of the cartridge.
[0052] The cartridge can contain any granulated material such as
coffee, tea or soup in the receiving space. In other embodiments,
the cartridge can contain any material that can be steeped to
create a beverage.
[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates a cartridge 100 for a beverage dispenser
(not shown) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The
cartridge 100 can include a top 102, an intermediate portion 108
that generally defines a side wall (which may have irregular and/or
smooth shapes) connected to the top 102, and a bottom 112 connected
to the intermediate portion 108. The intermediate portion 108 can
form a receiving space 130 between the top 102 and the bottom 112.
In at least one embodiment, the receiving space 130 can receive
coffee grounds (or a different granulated beverage making
material). In other embodiments, the receiving space 130 can
receive tea leaves or any beverage making material that can be
steeped to create a beverage. The intermediate portion 108 can have
two or more openings 110 formed therein. In at least one
embodiment, the intermediate portion 108 can have at least five
openings 110 formed therein, although more or less openings may
also be used.
[0054] The cartridge 100 can be made of a polymer. In at least one
embodiment, the cartridge 100 can be made of polypropylene
homopolymer. In at least one embodiment, the cartridge 100 can be
made of biodegradable material. The cartridge 100 can be recycled
and maintain reusability and structural integrity after being
subjected to multiple uses. In at least one embodiment, the melting
point of the cartridge 100 can be greater than 79 degrees Celsius.
In other embodiments, the melting point of the cartridge 100 can be
greater than 95 degrees Celsius. In yet other embodiments, the
melting point of the cartridge 100 can be about 210 degrees Celsius
to about 220 degrees Celsius. The density of the polymer can be
about 0.90 g/cm.sup.3. The melt flow index of the polymer can be
about 16.
[0055] The top 102 can have a perimeter 104 forming an opening 106
therein. In at least one embodiment, the top 102 and the bottom 112
can be substantially circular. In other embodiments, the top 102
and the bottom 112 can be any shape, for example rectangular,
ovoid, or triangular. In yet other embodiments, the top 102 and the
bottom 112 are not the same shape. The bottom 112 can be flat to
allow for efficient packaging.
[0056] FIG. 2A shows an example embodiment of a cartridge 100. As
shown in FIG. 2A, a width of the top 102 of the cartridge can be
greater than a width of the bottom 112. The intermediate portion
108 can be tapered 116 from the top 102 to the bottom 112. In at
least one embodiment, the intermediate portion can have an upper
portion 118 proximate the top 102 and a lower portion 125 proximate
the bottom 112. A stepped portion 122 can connect the upper portion
118 and the lower portion 125. In at least one embodiment, a width
of the step portion 122 can correspond to a width of the bottom
112. When stacked, one cartridge 100 can fit within the receiving
space 130 of another cartridge 100 in a nesting configuration. In
at least one embodiment, when in a nesting configuration, the
bottom 112 of one cartridge 100 can abut the top 102 of the
receiving cartridge 100.
[0057] FIG. 2B shows another example embodiment of a cartridge 100.
The cartridge 100 illustrated in FIG. 2B is similar to that of FIG.
2A, except that the openings 110 in the intermediate portion 108
are of a different size. Specifically, the openings 110 in FIG. 2B
have a greater height than those in FIG. 2A.
[0058] The openings 110 in the intermediate portion 108 can have a
height H of at least 30% of the height of the cartridge 100. In at
least one embodiment, the height H of the openings 110 in the
intermediate portion can be at least 10.95 millimeters. The
openings 110 can be spaced by distance W, which in at least one
embodiment is nine millimeters.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 2A-B, the top 102 can have a diameter of
52.5 millimeters. The diameter of the opening 106 in the top 102
can have a diameter of 46.5 millimeters. The height of the
perimeter 104 of the top 102 can be 0.85 millimeters. The height of
the upper portion 118 can be 7.8 millimeters. The height of the
lower portion 125 can be 27.85 millimeters. The diameter of the
bottom 112 can be 37 millimeters. The height of cartridge 100 (the
height of the intermediate portion 108 plus the height of the
perimeter 104) can be 36.5 millimeters.
[0060] The openings 110 in the intermediate portion 108 can be
covered with a filtration material 114. The filtration material 114
can be used to prevent material in the receiving portion 130 from
leaving the cartridge 100, only allowing the liquid beverage
through. The filtration material 114 is preferably made of flexible
material, such as polyester or a blend of polyester and nylon, or
other suitable material, as discussed above. In at least one
embodiment, the filtration material 114 can be removably coupled to
the cartridge 100. In other embodiments, the filtration material
114 can be permanently coupled to the cartridge 100.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom 112 can have openings 132
formed therein, which correspond to the openings 110 in the
intermediate portion 108. The openings can be covered with suitable
filtration material 114. The openings 132 in the bottom 112 can be
proximate the openings 110 in the intermediate portion 108 and
share at least one side. In at least one embodiment, at least three
of the five openings 132 in the bottom 112 are the same size as
each other, and at least the other two of the five openings 132 in
the bottom are the same size as each other. The extrusion steeping
time of the beverage can be controlled by the area of the openings
110, 132 in the intermediate portion 108 and the bottom 112 and the
filtration material 114.
[0062] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the cartridge 100.
In the illustrated embodiment, there are no openings 132 in the
bottom 112.
[0063] FIGS. 5 and 23 illustrate another embodiment of the
cartridge 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the openings 132 in
the bottom 112 are proximate the openings 110 in the intermediate
portion 108 and separated therefrom by a perimeter 134 of an outer
edge 136 of the bottom 112.
[0064] As seen in FIGS. 1-5, openings 110 and 132 are spaced apart
by intact portions of the cartridge 100, such portions referred to
generally herein as ribs 150, or specifically as bottom ribs 152 or
side ribs 154. Preferably one of the ribs 150a (152a/154a) is
wider/larger than the others, and this provides a larger surface to
attach a filter material 114. For example, filter material 114 can
be glued, heat sealed, welded, ultrasonic or otherwise permanently
attached to rib 152a, wrapped around an outer periphery of the side
of cartridge 114, and then overlapped over itself on rib 152a where
it will again be glued, heat sealed, welded or otherwise
permanently attached into place.
[0065] In at least one embodiment, a cartridge 100 can be
configured such that it can receive another cartridge and be
received by another cartridge in a nested fashion. FIG. 6 is an
isometric view of multiple cartridges 100 stacked in a nested
manner. Such nesting can make shipping of empty cartridges more
efficient and less expensive than would otherwise be the case. The
design is preferably has a minimum of 1/8 inch between lips of
adjacent nested cups preferably 1/8 inch.
[0066] To preserve freshness of the beverage making product within
a completed product, filtration material 114 in openings 110
and/132 are preferably covered or sealed. A peelable adhesive
air/fluid impermeable substance could be applied to the exposed
openings, such as shown in FIG. 20; the adhesive surface would be
removed prior to insertion into the beverage dispenser. In another
embodiment, the entire cartridge 100 could be placed in an
air/fluid impermeable container.
[0067] Various advantages provided by some or all of the above
embodiments will now be described.
[0068] If the embodiments herein are configured to the dimensions
shown, such embodiments will fit within a beverage dispenser that
is configured for use with K-CUPs and can serve as a competitive
alternative to K-CUPs.
[0069] Some embodiments herein can have their entire internal
cavity filled with beverage making material. In contrast, as shown
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765 and 6,645,537, only a portion of the
cavity of the K-CUP is filled with beverage making material, as
significant space in the bottom of the cup is empty to allow the
lower needle of the beverage dispenser to penetrate the outer shell
of the cup without tearing the inner filter membrane. A cartridge
100 of a particular outer dimension thus holds more beverage making
material than a prior art single use cup of similar outer
dimension. By way of example, a K-CUP coffee cartridge will only
carry 9-10 grams of coffee to produce approximately 10-12 ounces of
ideal strength coffee, whereas a cartridge 100 having the K-cup
simulating dimensions set forth herein can carry 14 grams of coffee
to produce approximately 18 ounces of ideal strength coffee.
[0070] As seen in, e.g., FIG. 3, the openings 132 in the bottom 112
are along the outer periphery of the bottom 112, while the interior
160 of bottom 112 is solid and does not have any such openings. The
solid interior provides a stable surface that can be centrally
gripped by suction devices to denest or move the cartridge 100 (or
its pre-finalized form) during manufacturing.
[0071] Also as seen in, e.g., FIG. 3, the ribs 154 of bottom 112
between openings 132 do not all have the same shape, in that the
rightmost rib 154a is wider than the other portions. This wider
portion provides a larger surface to couple the filtration material
114 to bottom 112.
[0072] Operation of an embodiment of cartridge 100 will now be
discussed with reference to FIGS. 7-10 relative to U.S. Pat. No.
5,325,765. These figures are conceptual only, are not to scale and
are not intended to show all features of cartridge 100.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 7, a prior art cartridge 702 consistent
with U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765 is placed in a mating receptacle 704
of a beverage dispenser. The cartridge 700 rests on a lower probe
needle 706, as the cartridge does not weight enough for the needle
706 to drive through the outer shell of the cartridge 702. The top
708 of the cartridge 702 thus extends beyond a top of the
receptacle. The top 710 of the beverage dispenser has an upper
probe needle 712.
[0074] Referring now to FIG. 8, the top 710 of the beverage
dispenser is brought down onto the top 708 of the cartridge 702,
forcing the lower needle 706 to penetrate the bottom of cartridge
702 and upper needle 712 to penetrate the top 708 of cartridge 702
to create upper and lower holes, respectively. Fluid is then
injected into the cartridge 702 through the upper hole, mixes with
the cartridge content to create a beverage, is filtered by the
filter membrane (internal to the cartridge 702 and not shown) into
the empty space in the bottom of the cartridge 702. Accumulated
filtered beverage at the bottom leaves through the bottom hole into
the base of the receptacle 704 for collection.
[0075] Referring to FIG. 9, cartridge 100 is used in connection
with the same dimensioned beverage dispenser as discussed with
respect to FIGS. 7-8 above. Any covering of the openings 110/132 is
removed to expose the filtration material 114, and then placed in
the receptacle of the beverage dispenser. Cartridge 100 is smaller
in height (and possibly width, or having a different angle to
create a gap for fluid to flow through the sides) than as shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765, such that the top 908 of cartridge 100
will rest of the top of the receptacle 704 while the bottom is
above or in contact with the lower needle 706. Referring now to
FIG. 10, the top 710 of the beverage dispenser is brought down onto
the top 908 of the cartridge 100, forcing the upper needle 712 to
pierce top 908 to create an upper hole. However, because cartridge
100 was at or near its lowest point when loaded, the lower needle
706 does not penetrate cartridge 100. Fluid is then injected into
the cartridge 100 through the upper hole, mixes with the cartridge
content to create a beverage, and is filtered by the filter
membrane 114 directly into the base of the receptacle 704 for
collection.
[0076] As can be seen in the above, for a common beverage dispenser
a cartridge 100 according to an embodiment of the invention is
smaller than its counterpart U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,765. Yet cartridge
100 holds more material and can provide a greater volume of
beverage because its entire internal cavity can be filled.
[0077] Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, another embodiment of the
invention is shown. Cartridge 1100 is similar to that shown in FIG.
4, save that the bottom lip 1104 comes slightly higher off the
base, and there are no openings in bottom 1112. For this
embodiment, all liquid will exit the sides of the cup, and no
liquid will exit the bottom 1112 of the cup. FIGS. 11 and 12 are
perspective views at different angles to show the ribs 1152, for
which at least one rib 1152a may be larger than the others to
support filter material
[0078] Referring now to FIG. 13, the openings 110 of cartridge 1100
of FIG. 11 are wrapped on the exterior of the side wall with a
strip of filter material 1314. In the alternative, the interior
could be produced with, or both the exterior and the interior could
be produced, with filter material.
[0079] Referring now to FIG. 14, another embodiment of the
invention is shown. Cartridge 1400 is similar to that shown in FIG.
11, save that it has circular openings 1432 on bottom 1412, and of
a different number than the side openings 1410 (four openings 1432
compared to 5 openings 1410 in FIG. 14, although the numbers are
not so limited and may be the same or different). The holes 1432 in
FIG. 13 preferably have a diameter of about 6 mm, and about 15 mm,
although the invention is not so limited.
[0080] Referring now to FIG. 15, the upward face of the bottom of
cartridge 1400 is covered with a disc shaped piece of filter
material 1514 that is glued, heat sealed, welded, ultrasonic or
other form of permanent attachment to the bottom 112. The side
openings 1510 would be similarly covered by filter material 1314 as
described with respect to FIG. 13 (omitted in FIG. 15 to reveal
material 1514). The disc of filter material 1514 could extend to
the edges of bottom 112. In the alternative, the disc of filter
material 1514 could be larger than the bottom 112, and extend
slightly up the sides. The height up the sides can be limited to a
portion of the side wall, and not as high as the openings 110 (to
the extent present), or could go up the entire side and provide a
unitary filter material for the openings 110 and 132.
[0081] Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, another embodiment of the
invention is shown. Cartridge 1600 is similar to that shown in FIG.
11, save that there are no openings in the side walls, and three
arcuate openings 1632 are provided in the bottom 1612 (although
there may be more or less than 3 openings, and other shapes may be
used). This design may be particularly useful for making tea, in
that it has a slower drain of fluid to allow the fluid to seep
longer in the tea.
[0082] Referring now to FIG. 18, cartridge 1800 (which may be any
cartridge herein, or other cartridge with different combinations of
features) external side filter material 1814 is shown as filled
with a beverage making material 1870.
[0083] Referring now to FIG. 19, cartridge 1100 with filter
material 1314 is shown covered with a top cover 1902. To cover 1902
is preferably made for a pierceable flexible or semi-rigid material
preferably permanently attached to cartridge 1100 by glue, heat
seal, welding, ultrasonic sealing, or other form of permanent
attachment. Access to the internal beverage making material
requires that the top cover 1902 be pierced, torn or otherwise
removed, which permanently destroys either top cover 1902 or its
attachment to the cartridge 1100. Cartridge 1900 is thus a single
use cartridge. Top cover 1902 is preferably made from flexible or
semi-rigid materials.
[0084] As discussed above, portions of a cartridge could be covered
with a peelable coating, such as labeling, to provide an airtight
inner cavity to store inject inert gas into to preserve freshness.
FIG. 20 shows cartridge 1600 so wrapped with a peelable label 2002.
If the bottom of the cartridge has openings, in could have a
similar peelable label.
[0085] The various openings described herein are not limited to the
size, shape or dimensions as shown. Referring now to FIGS. 21 and
22, non-limiting examples of other arrangements of openings in
bottom of cartridges 2100 and 2200 are shown, respectively.
[0086] Each cartridge has a height that meets the general needs of
the environment. Preferably, the top and bottom of each cartridge
has a maximum height such that the lower probe needle of the
beverage dispense does not contact or pierce the bottom. In some
cases, it may be desirable to have even smaller height cartridges
to mitigate contact and/or control the amount of product in use.
For example, tea tends to require less material than coffee to
produce the same quantity. Thus, a design for use with tea could be
smaller in height than a similar design for coffee.
[0087] Features of the above embodiments may be interchanged or
omitted as appropriate.
[0088] The embodiments shown and described above are only examples.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present
technology have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the present
disclosure, thde disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may
be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and
arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present
disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the
broad general meaning of the terms use in the claims.
* * * * *