PRE-MEASURED BEVERAGE PRODUCTION PACKAGE

Abstract

A single-cup pod beverage production container is presented using a pod containing coffee grounds, tea leaves or other soluble or partially-soluble substances, surrounded by filter paper and supported for easy handling by stiffening the periphery of the pod and adding a finger grip area. The pod periphery may also be provided with indicia in various forms to indicate various information relating to the pod container and its contents such as the composition of its contents, the coffee making machine(s) with which the pod container is compatible, or information relating to the production of the pod container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hot and/or cold beverage production, in general. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use by a beverage production machine of a pod container of pre-measured ingredients to batch produce a beverage, such as coffee or tea, typically in a single serving sized batch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Many beverage production machines have been used in endeavoring to provide a means to automatically produce beverages. In most cases, the effort has been directed to large batches of coffee grounds, tea leaves or other solubles and brewables for multiple serving sized batches. More recently, apparatus have been developed to produce smaller batches, typically one or two servings in size.

It is known that packaging the brewable or soluble ingredients into a pre-measured container makes possible simpler apparatus and more consistent beverage production. Such beverage production packages are referred to as pods, pillows, cups, sachets or capsules. An example of a known pod is shown in FIG. 1. A pod 11 is constructed simply, comprising a circular upper sheet 12 and a circular lower sheet 13, peripherally bonded along a seam 14 to define and seal a containment volume, or enclosure, 15 in which the brewable ingredients are contained. The brew apparatus must handle the soft pod carefully. After use, the pod 11 is weak, wet and hot, and users do not typically wish to handle it for disposal. This package also cannot carry point-of-use graphics, such as a label identifying the brand and type of coffee, or carrying advertising.

Other pre-measured container configurations exist, both proprietary and/or patented and generally known to the art. These container designs attempt to address various demonstrated or perceived weaknesses in the pod shown in FIG. 1. Often they do so only at the expense of creating weaknesses in another area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,202, issued to Eric Favre, describes a metal capsule design which simplifies the handling of the container by the apparatus and the user. This container is not biodegradable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention achieves the goal of containing a variable volume of brewable, soluble ingredients in an easily handled “coffee card” typically constructed primarily of paper and/or other bio-renewable and recyclable products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 1a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views of a known beverage production pod, commonly known as a “pillow” or “pod”. These are commonly constructed of filter paper and contain from 6-14 grams of brewable ingredients.

FIGS. 2 and 2a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 3a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 4a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing notch and perforated keying in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing unique shape keying in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a beverage production package containing bar code data in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a beverage production package in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention which is compatible with an automatic feed system.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a multi-dose beverage production package compatible with an automatic feed system in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The pre-measured container design of the present invention optimizes several variables. It is made of low-cost renewable materials and is easily assembled with as few parts as possible. It contains a flexible pre-measured amount of brewable product. It is capable of enduring the rigors of hot-water beverage production. It efficiently filters the insoluble brewed product from the brew effluent. Both new and expended containers are easy for people to handle manually. The container is also easy for the brew mechanism to handle. It is capable of carrying graphic images or symbology, visible to the user, on the container surface(s). It is also non-toxic, biodegradable, easily recycled or disposed of.

FIGS. 2 and 2a respectively illustrate plan and side elevation views of a “coffee card” pre-measured beverage production package 21 constructed with a circular upper sheet 22 and a circular lower sheet 23, each 60 millimeters in diameter and formed of a suitable filtration media, sealed along the periphery 24 to a stiff, rectangular planar card 25, suitably perforated in the center 26, measuring 80 millimeters by 100 millimeters in one embodiment. The filter element is preferably made from lightweight heat-sealable paper of cellulosic or other fibers. The bonding may be accomplished by applying heat and pressure to the seal area. The space 27 between the upper sheet 22 and lower sheet 23 contains twelve grams of loosely-packed fine drip ground coffee.

In use, the “coffee card” is clamped between an upper and lower brew chamber which, when closed, seal around the periphery 24 of the card. Brew water is introduced through the top chamber and drains from the bottom brew chamber.

FIGS. 3 and 3a are respectively plan and side elevation views of a “shot card” pre-measured beverage production package 31 constructed with a square upper sheet 32 and a square lower sheet 33, each 45 millimeters on a side and formed of a suitable filtration media, sealed along the periphery 34 to a stiff, rectangular planar card 35, suitably perforated off-center 36, measuring 65 millimeters by 85 millimeters. The space 37 between the upper sheet 32 and lower sheet 33 contains 8 grams of tightly-packed espresso ground coffee in one embodiment.

FIGS. 4 and 4a are respectively plan and side elevation views of a “long handle” pre-measured beverage production package 41 constructed with a rectangular upper sheet 42 and a rectangular lower sheet 43, 60 by 80 millimeters in size and formed of a suitable filtration media, sealed along a portion of the periphery 44 and 45 to a stiff, oblong planar card 46, with one end 47 suitably shaped to receive the sheets 42 and 43, with outer dimensions of 80 millimeters by 200 millimeters. The space 48 between the upper sheet 42 and lower sheet 43 contains 15 grams of loosely-packed fine drip ground coffee.

FIG. 5 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 51 with notches 52 along one or more locations along the periphery 53 of the package and perforations 54 at several locations 55 in the field of the planar card 56 component of the package. The purpose of this is to provide a way of keying a specific set of pods to a specific set of beverage production machines.

In use, a beverage production mechanism would sense the notch(es) or perforation(s), or both, to determine if the keying is compatible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 61 with a plurality of unique polygon keying cutouts 63 along the periphery 62 of the package in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The purpose of this to provide a way of keying a specific set of pods to a specific set of beverage production machines.

In use, a beverage production mechanism would only accept this unique shape of package.

FIG. 7 illustrates a pre-measured beverage production package 71 with a bar code 72 in one or more locations in the field of the planar card 73 component of the package.

In use, the beverage production mechanism reads the bar code data, which provides keying of the package to a brewer or specific set of beverage production machines; keying to alter the production cycle; or keying to deliver or control delivery of messaging content to the person producing the container.

FIG. 8 illustrates a pre-measured production package 81 with notches 82 along one edge 83 of the package and perforations 84 at a plurality of locations 85 in the field of the planar card 86 component proximate to the edge 87 of the package. The purpose of this is to facilitate mechanically advancing or indexing by the beverage production mechanism.

FIG. 9 illustrates a pre-measured production package 91 with notches 92 along opposing edges 93 of the package and ganged together in a strip with a plurality of other pre-measured production packages. The purpose of this is to facilitate producing several production packages in sequence without reloading the beverage production mechanism.

For convenience, specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings but not others, as some features may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

Claims

1. A beverage production package for use with a beverage forming machine, said beverage production package comprising:

first and second filters formed of a soft, water permeable material and each having respective first and second recessed portions; and

a generally flat semi-rigid member having an aperture therein, wherein said first and second filters are attached in a sealed manner to opposed first and second surfaces of said semi-rigid member and are disposed about the aperture in said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessed portions of said first and second filters in facing relation so as to form an enclosure on said semi-rigid member, wherein said enclosure is adapted to receive a pre-measured portion of soluble or partially soluble brewable ingredients.

2. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid member facilitates human handling.

3. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid member facilities mechanical conveying or indexing.

4. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid member protects the pre-measured portion of brewable ingredients.

5. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein the beverage production package is reusable in whole or in part.

6. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of bio-degradable materials.

7. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of renewable source materials.

8. The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising keying indicia disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

9. The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising keying indicia on said semi-rigid member in the form of a number of perforations in, or in the location of perforations on, said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

10. The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising keying indicia on said semi-rigid member in the form of a number of notches in, or in the location of notches on, at least one edge of said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

11. The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising graphic images and/or human or machine readable symbology disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

12. The beverage production package recited in claim 1 further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member to facilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

13. The beverage production package recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the pre-measured beverage production packages are coupled together to form a strip or a sheet.

14. The beverage production package of claim 1 further comprising coupling means disposed on said semi-rigid member adapted for coupling to a semi-rigid member of another beverage production package for forming a strip of plural connected beverage production packages.

15. A package for use in forming a beverage comprising:

first and second filters formed of a soft, water permeable material and including first and second inner recessed portions, respectively; and

a generally flat semi-rigid member having an open section therein defined by at least two spaced portions of said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessed portions disposed in facing relation to one another and subtending said at least two spaced portions so as to form an enclosure on said semi-rigid member, wherein said enclosure is adapted to receive a pre-measured portion of soluble or partially soluble brewable ingredients;

wherein said semi-rigid member further includes a handle extending from said two spaced portions of said semi-rigid member, wherein said handle is adapted for manually grasping.

16. The package recited in claim 15, wherein said semi-rigid member protects the pre-measured portion of brewable ingredients.

17. The package recited in claim 15, wherein the beverage production package is reusable in whole or in part.

18. The package recited in claim 15, wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of bio-degradable materials.

19. The package recited in claim 15, wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of renewable source materials.

20. The package recited in claim 15 further comprising keying indicia disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

21. The package recited in claim 15 further comprising graphic images and/or human or machine readable symbology disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.

22. The package recited in claim 15 further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member to facilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.