BioPod: Single-use Filter Pod

Abstract

This invention provides a single-use biodegradable beverage brewing-pod for use in high-pressure, high-heat beverage brewing machines with inlet and outlet probes, such as Keuring, Cuisinart and functionally similar machines. This disposable single-use device allows consumers to use their own dry ingredients (e.g., coffee, tea, etc.). The invention consists of a lid and a brewing chamber that has at least one window covered with a biodegradable filter window. The size of the filtered window(s) is calculated to allow even and slow flow of the beverage through the filter(s). The tightly placed lid prevents back-flow of the brewing beverage. While the solid bottom part of the brewing chamber blocks the path of least resistance, the biodegradable filter slows the brewing process. The slow brewing process will produce a full-bodied beverage. After its use, the entire pod and its content can be disposed without harming the environment.

Description

BACKGROUND

Most single-use coffee pods or reusable baskets for Keuring coffee machines (or similar coffee makers) pose several problems for the users and the environment. The prepackaged single-use brew pods do not allow users to use their own personal coffee grounds. As a result, these prepackaged single-use pods tend to be expensive. Also, these plastic single-use pods have posed both health and environmental concerns. These plastic pods have filled a tremendous amount of space in our landfills. Boats and ships are forbidden to dispose non-biodegradable material in water. As a results, these plastic pods have created usage problem for boat/ship owners. An alternative to these pre-filled single-use pods are the various reusable filter baskets. These baskets allow users to consume their own coffee (tea, etc.); but it poses the inconvenience of cleaning, drying and storing of the basket after each use. Plastic construction of these filter baskets also poses the same environment and health issues as the single-use pods. But most importantly, these baskets do not produce full-bodied beverages due to their excessively porous mesh on the sides and the bottom of their brewing chambers.

SUMMARY

The single-use biodegradable beverage brewing pod of this invention is designed to be used in high-pressure, high-heat coffee makers with inlet and outlet probes, such as Keuring, Cuisinart and functionally similar machines. The embodiments of this invention are a removable lid, a brewing-chamber with a side window(s) that is covered by a biodegradable filter. The users fill the brewing chamber with their desired beverage medium and place the lid tightly on the chamber. When the entire pod is placed in the brewing holster of a brewing machine and the machine is put in operational mode, the inlet probe of the machine will go through the predefined hole on the lid of the invention (or pierce through a predefined perforation) and inject the water into the brewing chamber. In conjunction with the solid bottom of the brewing chamber that blocks the path of least resistance, the small window(s) that is covered by a biodegradable filter allows for the slow release of a full-bodied beverage into a cup. The size of the brewing chamber of the invention is such that its bottom does not reach the outlet probe of the brewing machine.

The present invention seeks to provide solutions to the aforementioned problems. It is safe both for the environment and for the users. It not only allows consumers to save money by using their own favorite dry beverage medium (e.g., coffee or tea), but its slow brewing process will produce a full-bodied beverage. The invention is an ideal alternative for use in places such as hotels, offices, restaurants, boats, ships, and residential places. Because the materials used in this invention are biodegradable, the entire pod and its content can easily be placed in a compost; converting the landfilled-destined trash to natural fertilizer.

The above description is intended to be a brief summary of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

There are three drawings accompanying this disclosure. Description of these drawing can shed light on the functionality of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a bottom isometric view of the lid.

FIG. 2 is a front isometric view of the beverage brewing chamber.

FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the beverage brewing chamber of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This section mates references to FIG. 1, 2 and 3. BioPod (referring to the name of this invention) is a single-use biodegradable beverage brewing pod designed to be used in single-cup beverage brewing machines such as Keuring or the like. Users can fill the BioPod with their own desired dry beverage medium, brew the beverage and then dispose the entire BioPod, with its content, in an environmentally safe way. Not only BioPod's single-use is convenient and safe both environmentally and health-wise, but it also allows for the development of a fuller-bodied beverage.

This invention is composed of three parts: the lid L (FIG. 1), the brewing chamber R (FIG. 2 & 3), and a window(s) covered by a biodegradable filter 7 (FIG. 2 & 3) (here thereafter, filtered window). All parts are made from disposable biodegradable materials. The lid L is constructed from a flat hard paper disk 2 with a possible hole (or perforation) 3 in the center of it, and an integrated hard paper collar 1 at the base of the disk 2. The brewing chamber R is composed of a hard paper shell 5, 6, 8, 9, and at least one window that is covered with a biodegradable filter 7. The biodegradable filter could be attached from inside, outside or could be integrated within the window(s) 7. The hard shell 5, 6, 8, 9, is a biodegradable integrated piece with an annular flat ring 5 at the top, a possible standing rim at the base 8 (FIG. 3), and a solid flat bottom 9 (FIG. 3) to block the path of least resistance. The shape of the brewing chamber R should correspond to the shape and the size of the beverage brewing machine's pod receptacle.

When used in an appropriate beverage brewing machine, the height of the brewing chamber R capped with its lid L, from the top to the solid flat bottom 9 (FIG. 3), should not be long enough for the solid flat bottom 9 (FIG. 3) to be punctured by the outlet probe of the beverage brewing machine from below. If the brewing chamber R consists of a standing rim at the base 8 (FIG. 3), this standing rim 8 will fall to the outer side of the beverage brewing machine's outlet probe when the device is used in the machine. The diameter of the brewing chamber's top opening 4 should be slightly smaller than the upper opening of the beverage brewing machine's pod-receptacle, but large enough for the brewing chamber R to tightly fit into the pod-receptacle of the machine. The diameter of the annular flat ring 5 at the top of the brewing chamber R, should be about 1.5 centimeter larger than the diameter of the brewing chamber's top opening 4. The diameter of the lid's disk 2 should be the same size as the diameter of the annular flat ring 5. The diameter of the lid's integrated collar 1, on the other hand, is the same as the diameter of the brewing chamber's top opening 4. There will be at least one filtered window 7 for the releasing of the brewed beverage while retaining the dry beverage medium within the brewing chamber R. The size and the number of windows 7 are determined to ensured even and slow release of the beverage through the filtered window(s) 7.

The following steps are taken to brew the desired beverage using this invention. First, the brewing chamber R is filled with desired, beverage medium. Experience shows that pressing down the beverage medium will result in a fuller-bodied beverage. Next, the lid L is placed flat on the top of the brewing chamber R and pressed down so that the lid's integrated collar 1 is tightly secured into the brewing chamber's opening 4 and the lid's disk 2 lays flat on the annular flat ring 5 of the brewing chamber R. When the lid L covered brewing chamber R is placed in a beverage brewing machine's pod-receptacle, the brewing chamber's annular flat ring 5, paired with the flat disk of the lid 2, will hold up the remainder of the brewing chamber R while preventing backflow of the brewing beverage when the brewing machine is in operation. The small filtered window(s) 7 and the flat solid bottom 9 (FIG. 3) of the brewing chamber R will ensure slow and even release of the brewed beverage through the filtered window(s) 7.

The various embodiments and construction materials of this invention can be constructed differently without violating the main spirit and intent of this invention. This paragraph provides a few examples of these non-principal variations. The lid's integrated collar 1 can assume different forms such as a tubular ring (as shown on FIG. 1), a flat circular band with a depth of a few millimeters, or a circular depression (with a depth of a few millimeters and the same diameter as 4) into the lid's disk 2. Likewise, the center of the lid L can have a flat solid surface, or have a hole (as in 3 of FIG. 1) or have a perforation for the admission of the brewing machine's inlet probe to inject liquid into the brewing chamber R. The lid L can be separate from the brewing chamber R or could be minimally attached to a corner of the chamber's annular flat ring 5 allowing opening and closing of the lid L. Alternatively, it is possible to construct a brewing chamber R sealed with the lid L and prefilled with dry beverage medium. One possible variation of constructing the brewing chamber R is for the chamber R to be mostly made of biodegradable filter save the annular flat ring 5 and possibly a narrow hard collar band immediately below it.

As the illustrated examples in paragraph [010] demonstrate, the embodiments, materials and the constructional details of this invention can vary without departing from the spirit, scope and the main functioning principles of the invention. The Figures of this document are intended only for illustration purposes; they are not to limit the claims of this invention. The inventor reserves the right to modify and improve the claim by appended claims hereto.

Claims

1. The single-use disposable beverage brewing-capsule of this invention consists of:

(i) a biodegradable lid to prevent backflow of the brewing beverage;

(ii) an integrated biodegradable hard shell for filling and holding the dry beverage medium (such as coffee, tea, etc.); and

(iii) a window(s) that is covered with a biodegradable filter on the side of the hard shell for releasing the brewed beverage while retaining the dry beverage medium.

2. The size and the number of the filter-covered window(s) are computed for the slow and even release of full-bodied brewed beverage.

3. The solid bottom of the brewing chamber blocks the path of least resistance that is created by the brewing machine's high pressure hot water.