Beverage Service Ensemble and Method
A lid assembly outfits a liquid container and may function to position a liquid-permeable container relative to the liquid container. The lid assembly may include a lid body having a rim-receiving groove, an object-supportive depression or container support feature, and a primary liquid-letting aperture. The primary liquid-letting aperture primarily enables liquid egression from the liquid container thereby supporting certain lid body-based beverage service methodology, including the steps of supporting a liquid permeable container by the object-supportive depression or container support feature thereby forming a lid-container ensemble, and outfitting the liquid container with the lid-container ensemble. The liquid permeable container contains liquid permeable media and after being outfitted upon the liquid container via the lid body, liquid is directed into the liquid permeable container and through the liquid-permeable media for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid. The flavor-infused liquid is then outlet into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
This application is a divisional patent application claiming the benefit of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/220,099 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on 14 Dec. 2018, the specifications and drawings of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention generally relates to a lid assembly for outfitting a liquid container and for supporting certain beverage service methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to certain lid assembly variants for outfitting a liquid container exemplified by a coffee cup for enabling the user to selectively open and close the lid assembly to either allow or prevent liquid egression from the liquid container, and associated methods for providing beverage service to users of the lid assemblies.
Brief Description of the Prior ArtThe broad field of lids for hot beverage containers and hot beverage container assemblies inclusive of lid assemblies is well-developed. Some of the more pertinent prior is believed to be briefly described hereinafter. U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,493 ('493 patent), issued to Robinson, for example, discloses an Integrally Molded Measurer Dispenser. The '493 patent describes a closure providing a side wall having first and second distal ends, an inner surface and an outer perimeter. A cone-shaped divider projects inwardly and upwardly from a lower perimeter of the side wall and includes a drain-back orifice therethrough. The cone-shaped divider further includes an apex having an opening therethrough. The closure further provides a lid pivotally attached at an outer diameter thereof to the outer perimeter of the side wall first distal end by an integral hinge. The lid includes a shaped substantially conforming to the side wall perimeter.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,390 ('390 patent), which issued to Kemp, discloses a Container Lid with Cooling Reservoir. The '390 patent describes a container lid with a cooling reservoir for releasably covering a disposable cup containing a hot beverage. The cooling reservoir includes a side wall with a small opening to allow a small volume of the hot beverage to pass into the cooling reservoir in which the beverage sufficiently cools down to enable the consumer to sip the beverage.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,173 ('173 patent), issued to Milan, discloses a Beverage container lid having baffle arrangement for liquid cooling. The '173 patent describes a removable beverage container lid wherein the lid has a substantially enclosed space defined between an exterior cover and an interior cover. At least one inlet opening is formed in the interior cover directing a hot beverage to flow into the substantially enclosed space. Attached to the interior cover at the forward edge of the inlet opening is a partition or wall assembly having a height extending to be located substantially against the exterior cover and a length at least equal to the length of the inlet opening. Between the partition or wall assembly and the peripheral edge of the exterior cover is located a gap area. Connected with the gap area is a dispensing opening formed in the exterior cover. Hot beverage is required to flow around the partition or wall assembly and into the gap area prior to flowing through the dispensing opening exteriorly of a beverage container.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,448,510 ('510 patent), issued to Pavlopoulos, discloses a Cup Assembly having a Cooling Compartment. The '510 patent describes a cup assembly comprising a cup and a lid to define therebetween a first passage and a second passage to allow a liquid cooling compartment between the lid and the cup to be filled with liquid contained in the cup when the first passage is clear and the second passage is blocked and the liquid in the liquid cooling compartment is able to flow out of an outlet in communication with the liquid cooling compartment when the second passage is clear and the first passage is blocked.
United States Patent Application No. 2007/0062943, which was authored by Bosworth, Sr., describes a container lid for a cup-type beverage which includes within the lid a disc-shaped media in which the lid is adapted to be releasably affixed to the beverage container and where the lid is protected from the beverage within the container and wherein the disc may be removed from the lid and utilized for entertainment purposes.
United States Patent Application No. 2010/0264150, which was authored by Leon et al., describes a disposable beverage cup a disposable beverage cup that comprises a ledge between the cup's rim and the grasping portion of the cup that is commonly held in the user's hand. The ledge, which comprises a curb, a horizontal plane, and one or more indentations, acts as a barrier between the user's hand and other objects, preventing a lid that has been press fit onto the cup's rim from being dislodged. In order to remove the lid, the user must insert a finger and/or thumb into the indentation(s) and press upward on the lid. The cup has a contour between the ledge and the grasping portion with ergonomic features to increase the user's comfort in handling the cup.
United States Patent Application No. 2010/0320220, which was authored by Hussey et al., describes a plastic lid for a drinks container, for example, a coffee cup. The plastic lid is provided with an ancillary access facility in the form of an opening or a part of the lid easily removable to form an opening. The ancillary access facility allows a person to drink from the container without removal of the lid. After the ancillary access facility has been cleaned or de-contaminated it is protected by the application of a protective cover.
The protective cover may have a variety of shapes, for example, it may cover the entire lid or it may cover only a selected part of the lid, for example, only the area of the lid involving the ancillary access facility. The protective cover protects the ancillary access facility from the inadvertent transfer of germs to the drinking area by the person dispensing the drinks as they push the lid down with their hands to seal the lid to the container top. The protective covers are arranged to be easily stripped from the lid by the application of mere finger pressure.
From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be noted that the prior art perceives a need for a low cost, disposable combination lid-insert or lid-container ensemble or lid assembly for enabling quick and easy beverage service to a user by outfitting a liquid container with a lid body and positioning a liquid permeable container relative to the liquid container by way of the lid body. The prior art further perceives a need for lid-insert or lid-container ensemble or lid assembly that allows users to fill liquid containers via a lid body-media container combination while attached to a liquid container and successively outfit the lower lid body with an upper lid body insert that may be manually operated to selectively open and close the lid assembly as summarized in more detail hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo achieve the aforementioned and other readily apparent objectives, the present invention essentially discloses certain lid assemblies for outfitting a liquid container exemplified by a disposable coffee or tea container. Certain variants of the lid assemblies according to the present invention may be said to essentially comprise, in combination, a lid body and a lid body insert. The lid bodies according to the present invention all preferably comprise a rim-receiving groove and some form of an object-supportive depression formed radially inward of the rim-receiving groove.
In a first lid assembly embodiment, an annular insert-supportive depression of the lower lid body is provided, which annular insert-supportive depression further provides or defines a primary liquid-letting aperture for enabling both liquid ingression and liquid egression therethrough while the rim-receiving groove enables the user to attach the lid body to a container rim of the liquid container. Liquid may easily be directed into the liquid container via the lower lid body via the relatively large primary liquid-letting aperture before the lid body insert is assembled therewith.
The lid body insert is receivable in and supportable by the insert-supportive depression and comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions such that the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, and rotatably re-positionable relative to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly.
In the first lid assembly, the lid body preferably further comprises a lid body axis and the annular insert-supportive depression comprises a depression axis. The lid body axis and the depression axis are parallel to one another. Noting that the primary liquid-letting aperture is defined by a lower inner rim of the annular insert-supportive depression, the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures are cooperative for providing a phased liquid-letting aperture. In this regard, the lid body insert is rotatably positionable relative to the lid body such that the phased liquid-letting aperture waxes and wanes intermediate fully open and fully closed phased liquid-letting aperture configurations depending on directed degrees of rotation of the lid body insert relative to the lower inner rim of the lower lid body.
In a second lid assembly embodiment, an annular insert-supportive depression is again provided, which annular insert-supportive depression further provides or comprises a primary liquid-letting aperture for primarily enabling liquid egression therethrough while the rim-receiving groove enables the user to attach the lid body to a container rim of the liquid container. The lid body insert is receivable in and supportable by the insert-supportive depression and comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions such that the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, and rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly.
In the second lid assembly embodiment, a liquid return or secondary depression depends from the annular insert-supportive depression. In this embodiment, the lid body again comprises a lid body axis, and the liquid return or secondary depression comprises a return depression axis. The lid body and return depression axes are parallel to one another such that the liquid return or secondary depression is centrally offset relative to the rim-receiving groove thereby providing an offset annular region of the insert-supportive depression. The primary liquid-letting aperture is formed in the offset annular region in anterior adjacency to the liquid return or secondary depression, which depression essentially comprises at least one return aperture for returning liquid to the liquid container via the lid body.
Liquid permeable matter as exemplified by coffee or tea or a packet type liquid permeable container or a cup type liquid permeable container is receivable intermediate the liquid return depression and the lid body insert. The lid assembly thus further functions to position the liquid-permeable matter relative to the liquid container through which matter liquid (e.g. water) may be directed for further delivery to the liquid container. The lid assembly may further provide a lid body comprising an insert edge-retention track and a lid body insert comprising an outer insert edge. The outer insert edge is insertable into the insert edge-retention track when the lid body insert is received in and supported by the annular insert-supportive depression, the cooperative association of which enables both rotation of the lid body insert relative to the lid body and prevention of inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body.
Certain lid assembly embodiments according to the present invention outfit a liquid container and further position a liquid-permeable container (exemplified by the cup type single-serve liquid permeable pod or container assembly) relative to the outfitted liquid container. These lid assembly embodiments may be said to essentially or basically comprise a uniquely configured lid body comprising a rim-receiving groove, an object-supportive depression, and a primary liquid-letting aperture. The primary liquid-letting aperture enables liquid egression from the liquid container, and the object-supportive depression both support the liquid permeable container and defines a tertiary liquid-letting aperture. The tertiary liquid-letting aperture enables liquid egression from the liquid permeable container into the liquid container, and the rim-receiving groove attaches the lid body to a container rim of the liquid container.
Certain lid assembly embodiments according to the present invention provide an object-supportive depression comprising a container edge-retention track. The container edge-retention track receives and retains a container edge of the liquid-permeable container and prevents inadvertent removal thereof from the lid body. The object-supportive depression is preferably formed radially inwardly of the rim-receiving groove thereby forming an annular lid body region intermediate the object-supportive depression and the rim-receiving groove. In certain embodiments, the primary liquid-letting aperture is formed in the annular lid body region. The lid body may further preferably comprise a liquid spillway in anterior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture characterized by a central spillway portion and laterally opposed guideways, the laterally opposed guideways for directing egressing liquid toward the central spillway portion.
In at least one lid assembly embodiment according to the present invention, an annular lid body insert interface is provided. The annular lid body insert interface is receivable and supportable by the lid body in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression and comprises an outer insert edge, a secondary liquid-letting aperture, an insert axis, and a container-receiving aperture. The container receiving aperture receives the liquid permeable container thereby interfacing between the lid body and the liquid permeable container. The outer insert edge is insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body, and the annular lid body insert interface is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid positions. As with all secondary liquid-letting apertures of all lid body inserts, the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, and rotatably re-positionable relative to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly.
In this last regard, all lid body inserts according to the present invention are generally receivable and supportable by the lid body in superior adjacency to an object-supportive depression and comprise at least a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body inserts are all rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid positions such that the secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable either in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid position for enabling liquid egression or in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly. The lid body insert may further comprise an outer insert edge insertable into an optional insert edge-retention track as at 52 formed in the lid body.
The lid body insert may further provide or comprise an insert depression for covering an upper portion of the liquid permeable container. Further, a liquid permeable container cover may be provided in those embodiments where an upper lid body formation is integrally formed with bottom portions of a liquid permeable container. The liquid permeable container cover may be received and supported in superior adjacency to the bottom portions of the liquid permeable container via a cover-supportive formation formed in the lid body insert.
Certain lid assembly embodiments outfit a liquid container and essentially comprise or provide a lid body having a rim-receiving groove, a primary object-supportive depression as variously exemplified, a secondary object-supportive depression as variously exemplified, and a primary liquid-letting aperture as variously exemplified. The primary liquid-letting aperture enables liquid egression from the liquid container, and the secondary object-supportive depression may direct liquid toward a tertiary liquid-letting aperture formed therein, which tertiary liquid-letting aperture outlets media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container via the lid body. The rim-receiving groove attaches the lid body to a container rim of the liquid container.
A lid body insert may be received and supported by the primary object-supportive depression in superior adjacency to the secondary object-supportive depression. The lid body insert essentially comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis such that the lid body insert is rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid positions. The secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, and rotatably re-positionable relative to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly. The lid body insert may preferably comprise an insert depression for covering the secondary object-supportive depression.
Certain variants of the lid assembly may be said to essentially further comprise, in combination, a lid body and a lid body insert for enabling or supporting certain lid body-based beverage service methodologies. The lid-body based beverage service methods according to the present invention depend on the lid body or lid assembly utilized in support thereof as variously exemplified and as discussed in more detail in the Detailed Description portion of these specifications.
In all beverage service method applications, a lid body is initially provided. In some embodiments, the lid body may essentially comprise an object-supportive depression or container support feature, and in certain embodiments, the lid body essentially comprises a downwardly extending liquid permeable media containment portion integrally formed with upper portions of the lid body. The primary object of the methodology is to suspend a media containment structure centrally relative to the rim-receiving groove so that liquid or water may be directed into liquid permeable media as suspended within the space defined by the liquid container.
The liquid permeable container may either be supported by the object-supportive depression or container support thereby forming a lid-container ensemble such that the liquid permeable container contains and positions liquid-permeable media within the space defined by the liquid container. The liquid container may either be outfitted with the lid-container ensemble as a unified or integrally formed assembly or the lid body may be first attached to the liquid container and then the liquid permeable container may subsequently be supported by the lid body. Liquid may then be directed into the liquid permeable container and through the liquid-permeable media for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid, which media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid is then outlet into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
The lid body-based beverage service method contemplates a lid body having a primary beverage-letting aperture for enabling beverage egression from the liquid container for consumption. The object-supportive depression or lid body may preferably comprise a container edge-retention track for receiving and retaining a container edge of the liquid-permeable container and preventing inadvertent removal thereof from the lid body.
The object-supportive depression or container support is preferably formed radially inward relative to a rim-receiving groove of the lid body thereby forming an annular lid body region intermediate the object-supportive depression and the rim-receiving groove. The primary liquid-letting aperture is preferably formed in the annular lid body region such that beverage egression from the liquid container is directed intermediate the liquid permeable container and the wall of the liquid container via the primary liquid-letting aperture. In this regard, retaining the container edge in the edge-retention track is structurally important
A lid body insert may be further utilized in combination with the lid body. In this regard, it is contemplated the lid body insert may preferably comprise an outer insert edge that is insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body for preventing inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body. The lid body, in certain embodiments, may preferably comprise a secondary object-supportive depression, the secondary object-supportive depression for directing the liquid toward a liquid outlet formed at lowermost portions of the depression. In these embodiments, the lid body insert may preferably comprise an insert depression for covering the secondary object-supportive depression.
The lid body-based beverage service method according to the present invention contemplates a lid body insert that is receivable in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression or container support and may preferably comprise a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is thus rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions. The secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures. The secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly.
Other features of the invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings:
Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiments of the present invention primarily concern lid assemblies as variously exemplified for outfitting a liquid container as at 10. Certain lid assembly embodiments according to the present invention preferably comprise, in combination, a lower lid body as variously referenced at 12, 22, 22′, 32, 42; and an upper lid body insert as alternatively referenced at 13 and 14. Certain other lid assembly embodiments provide an integrally formed lid body-container combination as variously referenced at 28 and 35 further usable in combination with a lid body insert as exemplified by lid body inserts 13 and 14. Certain lid body insert-container combinations are further contemplated as at embodiments 18 and 25.
Referencing
The first upper lid body insert 13 is receivable in and supportable by the insert-supporting depression 51 and comprises an outer insert edge as at 54, a secondary liquid-letting aperture as at 55, and an insert axis as at 101. The outer insert edge 54 is insertable into the insert edge-retention track 52 when the first upper lid body insert 13 is received in and supported by the annular insert-supporting depression 51. The first upper lid body insert 13 is rotatable about the insert axis 101 intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions as respectively and comparatively depicted in
The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 53 when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures 53 and 55. The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is further or rotatably re-positionable relative to the primary liquid-letting aperture 53 in lateral adjacency thereto for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly 11 as portions of the annular insert-supporting depression 51 effectively cover or close the secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 when in the closed lid body insert position.
Referencing
The lid body and return depression axes 102 and 103 are preferably parallel to one another such that the liquid return depression 56 is centrally offset relative to the rim-receiving groove 50 thereby providing an offset annular region 58 of the insert-supporting depression 51 of the second and third lower lid bodies 22 and 22′. The primary liquid-letting aperture 59 of the second and third lower lid bodies 22 and 22′ is formed in the offset annular region 58 in anterior adjacency to the liquid return depression 56. The liquid return depression 56 preferably comprises at least one liquid return aperture 57 for returning liquid 100 to the liquid container 10 via the lid bodies 22 and 22′. The second lower lid body 22 differs from third lower lid body 22′ by incorporating relatively larger liquid return apertures 57 in the liquid return depression 56 of second lower lid body 22 as compared to the relatively smaller liquid return apertures 57′ formed in the liquid return depression 56 of the third lower lid body 22′.
Referencing
The lid assembly 21 incorporating the third lower lid body 22′ is generally depicted in
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The benefits of this lid assembly 21 include the tea/coffee bag or packet staying squeezed between the upper lid body insert 13 and the bottom of the secondary depression 56 even after brewing process ends. In many cases the tea/coffee bag or packet has no place to go after brewing and creates not only significant discomfort at the time of consumption, but also negatively effects taste of tea after tea bag is left in the cup for duration of consumption. There is an option to throw away such tea bag, but this tends to increase the chance of spillage. These problems are eliminated with lid assembly 21.
Referencing
The primary liquid-letting aperture 59 primarily enables liquid egression from the liquid container 10. The object-supportive depression 60 supports the cup type single-serve liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 and centrally defines a container wall-receiving or tertiary liquid-letting aperture as at 61. The tertiary liquid-letting aperture 61 receives the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, and the liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, containing coffee, tea, or some similar type of liquid-permeable media, outlets media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container 10. The rim-receiving groove 50 attaches the fourth lower lid body 32 to a container rim 9 of the liquid container 10. The object-supportive depression as at 60 may preferably comprise a container edge-retention track as at 62. The container edge-retention track 62 receives and retains a container edge 63 of the cup type single-serve liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 (or more succinctly: liquid permeable container 15) and prevents inadvertent removal thereof from the fourth lower lid body 32.
Referencing
The primary liquid-letting aperture 59 enables liquid egression from the liquid container 10, and the object-supportive depression 60 supports the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 and centrally defines a container wall-receiving or tertiary liquid-letting aperture as at 61. The tertiary liquid-letting aperture 61 receives the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, and the liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, containing coffee, tea, or some similar type of liquid-permeable media, outlets media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container 10. The rim-receiving groove 50 attaches the fifth lower lid body 42 to a container rim 9 of the liquid container 10. The second upper lid body insert 14 may be inserted into or received by the fifth lower lid body 42 thereby covering the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 with an outer insert edge 54 being received in the insert edge-retention track 52.
In keeping with the notion that the second upper lid body insert 14 may cover the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly or liquid permeable container 15, the reader is directed to
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The cover-container-insert combination 20 may thus be received and supported by the fifth lower lid body 42 as generally and comparatively depicted in
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The alternative second lid body insert-container combination 25 may further comprise a combination bottom 78 having upwardly extending spacer protuberances 77 for supporting a material filter portion 27 in elevated relation relative to the combination bottom 78. The present invention may thus be said to further comprise a permeable container bottom portion 69, which permeable container containment portion 69 receives and contains a liquid permeable container exemplified by the material filter portion 27. A liquid permeable container cover 19 may be received and supported in superior adjacency to the liquid permeable container or material filter portion 27 as contained within the container bottom portion 69 via a cover support depression portion 71 formed in the upper lid body insert portion 70.
The first lid body insert-container combination 18 is also receivable and supportable by the fifth lower lid body 42 in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression 60 and comprises the outer insert edge 54, a secondary liquid-letting aperture 55, and an insert-container axis as at 105. The outer insert edge 54 is insertable into the insert edge-retention track 52 formed in the fifth lower lid body 42 when the lid body insert-container combination 18 is received and supported by the fifth lower lid body 42. The first lid body insert-container combination 18 is rotatable about the insert-container axis 105 intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions.
The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is thus rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59 when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures 59 and 55. The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is further rotatably positionable or re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 55 for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly comprising the first lid body insert-container combination 18 or cover-container-insert combination 20 and fifth lower lid body 42.
The object-supportive depression 60 may preferably be formed radially inwardly of the rim-receiving groove 50 thereby forming an annular lid body region 72 intermediate the container-supportive depression 60 and the rim-receiving groove 50 co-extensive with the insert-supportive depression 64 in the fifth lower lid body 42 and extending in a plane parallel to the depression plane 106 in the fourth lower lid body 32. The primary liquid-letting aperture 59 is preferably formed in the annular lid body region 72. The fourth lower lid body 32 further preferably comprises a liquid spillway as at 73 in adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59. The liquid spillway 73 may be characterized by comprising a central spillway portion 74 and laterally opposed guideways 75. The laterally opposed guideways 75 function to structurally direct egressing liquid toward the central spillway portion 74.
Referencing
Noting that the lid body portion 29 comprises an insert-supportive depression 64, the lid body insert 14 may be received and supported by the lid body portion 29 in superior adjacency to the liquid permeable container containment portion or cylindrical container type lower portion 30. The reader will recall that the lid body insert 14 comprises an outer insert edge 54, a secondary liquid-letting aperture 55, and an insert axis as at 101.
The outer insert edge 54 is insertable into an insert edge-retention track 52 formed in the lid body portion 29, and thus the lid body insert 14 is rotatable about the insert axis 101 intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions. The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is thereby rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59 when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures 59 and 55. The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59 for preventing liquid egression via the resultant lid assembly substantially as previously described.
Referencing
The inner container support edge 80 seats down atop the object-supportive depression as at 60 and forms a secondary, insert-based, object-supportive depression as at 81. The third upper lid body insert 34 is rotatable about the insert axis 101 intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions. The secondary liquid-letting aperture 55 is thereby rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59 when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures 59 and 55, and rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency relative to the primary liquid-letting aperture 59 for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly 33. A cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly or liquid permeable container 15 may be received by the third upper lid body insert 34 as seated atop the fifth lower lid body 42 for positioning the liquid permeable container 15 relative to the liquid container 10 as generally and comparatively depicted in
Referencing
The primary liquid-letting aperture 59 enables liquid egression from the liquid container 10. The secondary object-supportive depression 84 comprises a depending conical container type lower portion 37 that directs liquid toward the tertiary liquid-letting aperture 83 formed therein. The tertiary liquid-letting aperture 83 outlets media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container 10. The rim-receiving groove 50 attaches the second lid body-container combination 35 to a container rim 9 of the liquid container 10. The second lid body-container combination 35 is usable with the second upper lid body insert 14, which second upper lid body insert 14 may cover the upper portions of the secondary object-supportive depression 84 having a depending conical container type lower portion 37 as generally and comparatively depicted in
The second upper lid body insert 14 may thus be inserted into or received by the second lid body-container combination 35 thereby covering the secondary object-supportive depression 84. A cover element 19 may also be inserted atop the secondary object-supportive depression 84 (not specifically illustrated). It will be recalled that the second upper lid body insert 14 preferably comprises a radially centralized and planar insert depression portion as at 76, which insert depression 76 may cover an upper portion of the secondary object-supportive depression 84. The second lid body-container combination 35 is nestable with a series of successive lid body-container combinations 35 each being substantially identical to one another as generally and comparatively depicted in
Referencing
The tertiary liquid-letting aperture 61 receives the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, and the liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, containing coffee, tea, or some similar type of liquid-permeable media, outlets media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container 10. The rim-receiving groove 50 attaches the sixth lower lid body 38 to a container rim 9 of the liquid container 10. The object-supportive depression 60 may preferably comprise a container edge-retention track as at 62. The container edge-retention track 62 receives and retains a container edge 63 of the cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 (i.e. liquid permeable container 15) and prevents inadvertent removal thereof from the sixth lower lid body 38.
Further referencing
Comparatively referencing
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A similar market adaptation is further generally depicted in
Comparatively referencing
The lid assembly 11 according to the present invention may thus be said to comprise a lid body axis as at 102, and the annular insert-supporting depression 51 comprises a depression or opening axis as at 104. The lid body axis 102 and the depression axis 104 are parallel to one another. The primary liquid-letting aperture 53 or lid body opening 86 is defined by a lower inner rim 87 of the annular insert-supporting depression 51. Together, the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures 53 and 55 are cooperative for providing a phased liquid-letting aperture 88 depending on the angle of rotation of the upper lid body insert 13 relative to the lower lid body 12.
The lid body insert 13 is rotatably positionable relative to the first lower lid body 12 such that the phased liquid-letting aperture 88 waxes and wanes intermediate fully open and fully closed phased liquid outlet configurations depending on degrees of rotation of the lid body insert 13 relative to the lower inner rim 87 and rotational direction of the upper lid body insert 13 relative to the first lower lid body 12. Comparatively referencing
The phased liquid-letting aperture 88 waxes from a fully closed phased liquid-letting aperture 88 in
The embodiment generally depicted in
The concept of the fourth lower lid body 32 builds upon the structural concept of a cup type, single-serve, liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15 and renders more portable these convenient container assemblies 15. Instead of using bulky brewing machines, the present invention may be used not only as simple water boiler connected to the fourth lower lid body 32 but also in vehicle-based scenarios. In a matter of 5-15 minutes, coffee may be safely prepared in the vehicle with all of the aroma and experience of coffee making at home.
The reader will note that the alternative options for water boilers depicted in the drawings are not meant to be limiting. For example, a water boiler 89 for a vehicle could be done as a process of boiling on the way as cold water is sucked from a water bottle. This concept eliminates the collection of any significant volume of boiling water outside the coffee cup itself and makes the “boiler” merely the heating elements with coil tube which connects to any cold-water bottle or container.
If cold water bottle is used as cold-water container, a heating element with coil 94 processes boiled water 90 and delivers boiled water 90 to the cup type, single-serve liquid permeable pod or container assembly 15, eliminating the need for a hot water container all together. The idea here is render the overall coffee brewing experience less cumbersome, as safe as possible, and to fit into the regular behavioral patterns of most people on the go. All of the different embodiments support in one way or another the basic concept of enabling a portable coffee/tea brewing system.
The lid assembly embodiments generally depicted in
The embodiment shown in
The embodiment depicted in
It is contemplated that the embodiment depicted in
The embodiment shown in
While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of the invention. In certain embodiments, the basic invention may be said to essentially teach or disclose a lid assembly for outfitting a liquid container and positioning a liquid permeable media containment vessel relative to the liquid container. Certain variants of the lid assembly may be said to essentially further comprise, in combination, a lid body and a lid body insert for enabling or supporting certain lid body-based beverage service methodologies. The lid-body based beverage service methods according to the present invention depend on the lid body or lid assembly utilized in support thereof as variously exemplified hereinabove.
In all cases, a lid body is initially provided. In some embodiments, the lid body may essentially comprise an object-supportive depression or container support, and in the case of the embodiment depicted in
The liquid permeable container may either be supported by the object-supportive depression or container support feature thereby forming a lid-container ensemble such that the liquid permeable container contains and positions liquid-permeable media. The liquid container may either be outfitted with the lid-container ensemble as a unified ensemble or the lid body may be first attached to the liquid container and then the liquid permeable container may then be supported by the lid body. Liquid may then be directed into the liquid permeable container and through the liquid-permeable media for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid, which media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid is then outlet into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
The lid body-based beverage service method contemplates a lid body having a primary beverage-letting aperture for enabling beverage egression from the liquid container for consumption. The object-supportive depression or container support may preferably comprise a container edge-retention track for receiving and retaining a container edge of the liquid-permeable container and preventing inadvertent removal thereof from the lid body.
The object-supportive depression or container support feature is preferably formed radially inward relative to a rim-receiving groove of the lid body thereby forming an annular lid body region intermediate the object-supportive depression or container support and the rim-receiving groove. The primary liquid-letting aperture is preferably in the annular lid body region such that beverage egression from the liquid container is directed intermediate the liquid permeable container and the wall of the liquid container via the primary liquid-letting aperture. In this regard, retaining the container edge in the edge-retention track is structurally important.
A lid body insert may be preferably utilized in combination with the lid body. In this regard, it is contemplated the lid body insert may preferably comprise an outer insert edge that is insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body for preventing inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body. The lid body, in certain embodiments, may preferably comprise a secondary object-supportive depression for directing the liquid toward a liquid outlet formed therein. In these embodiments, the lid body insert may preferably comprise an insert depression for covering the secondary object-supportive depression.
The lid body-based beverage service method according to the present invention contemplates a lid body insert that is receivable in superior adjacency to the object-supportive depression container support and may preferably comprise a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis. The lid body insert is thus rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions. The secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures. The secondary liquid-letting aperture is rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression via the lid assembly.
Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments, and certain associated methodologies, it is not intended that the novel arrangement and methods be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appended drawings.
Claims
1. A beverage service method, the beverage service method comprising the steps of:
- providing a lid body, the lid body comprising a container support;
- supporting a liquid permeable container by the container support thereby forming a lid-container ensemble, the liquid permeable container containing liquid-permeable media;
- outfitting a liquid container with the lid-container ensemble;
- directing liquid into the liquid permeable container and through the liquid-permeable media for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid; and
- outletting media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
2. The beverage service method of claim 1 wherein the lid body comprises a primary beverage-letting aperture, the primary beverage-letting aperture for enabling beverage egression from the liquid container for consumption.
3. The beverage service method of claim 2 wherein the lid body comprises a container edge-retention track, the container edge-retention track for receiving and retaining a container edge of the liquid-permeable container and preventing inadvertent removal thereof from the lid body.
4. The beverage service method of claim 3 wherein the container support is formed radially inward relative to a rim-receiving groove of the lid body thereby forming an annular lid body region intermediate the container support and the rim-receiving groove, the primary liquid-letting aperture being formed in the annular lid body region, beverage egression from the liquid container being directed intermediate the liquid permeable container and the liquid container via the primary liquid-letting aperture.
5. The beverage service method of claim 1 wherein the lid body is used in combination with a lid body insert, the lid body insert comprising an outer insert edge, the outer insert edge being insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body for preventing inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body.
6. The beverage service method of claim 5 wherein the lid body comprises a secondary object-supportive depression, the secondary object-supportive depression for directing the liquid toward a liquid outlet.
7. The beverage service method of claim 6 wherein the lid body insert comprises an insert depression, the insert depression for covering the secondary object-supportive depression.
8. The beverage service method of claim 5 wherein the lid body insert is receivable in superior adjacency to the container support and comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis, the lid body insert being rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression from the liquid container.
9. A beverage service method, the beverage service method comprising the steps of:
- providing a lid body, the lid body comprising a container support;
- outfitting a liquid container with the lid body;
- supporting a liquid permeable container by the container support thereby forming a lid-container ensemble, the liquid permeable container containing liquid-permeable media;
- directing liquid into the liquid permeable container and through the liquid-permeable media for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid; and
- outletting media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
10. The beverage service method of claim 9 wherein the lid body comprises a primary beverage-letting aperture, the primary beverage-letting aperture for enabling beverage egression from the liquid container for consumption.
11. The beverage service method of claim 10 wherein the lid body comprises a container edge-retention track, the container edge-retention track for receiving and retaining a container edge of the liquid-permeable container and preventing inadvertent removal thereof from the lid body.
12. The beverage service method of claim 11 wherein the container support is formed radially inward relative to a rim-receiving groove of the lid body thereby forming an annular lid body region intermediate the container support and the rim-receiving groove, the primary liquid-letting aperture being formed in the annular lid body region, beverage egression from the liquid container being directed intermediate the liquid permeable container and the liquid container via the primary liquid-letting aperture.
13. The beverage service method of claim 9 wherein the lid body is used in combination with a lid body insert, the lid body insert comprising an outer insert edge, the outer insert edge being insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body for preventing inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body.
14. The beverage service method of claim 13 wherein the lid body comprises a secondary object-supportive depression, the secondary object-supportive depression for directing the liquid toward a liquid outlet.
15. The beverage service method of claim 14 wherein the lid body insert comprises an insert depression, the insert depression for covering the secondary object-supportive depression.
16. The beverage service method of claim 13 wherein the lid body insert is receivable in superior adjacency to the container support and comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis, the lid body insert being rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression from the liquid container.
17. A beverage service method, the beverage service method comprising the steps of:
- providing a lid body, the lid body comprising a liquid permeable media containment portion;
- outfitting a liquid container with the lid body;
- directing liquid into the liquid permeable containment portion and through liquid-permeable media contained thereby for forming media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid; and
- outletting media-permeated, flavor-infused liquid into the liquid container for providing a contained beverage for consumption.
18. The beverage service method of claim 17 wherein liquid permeable media is separately placed into the liquid permeable containment portion by the user before directing liquid into the liquid permeable containment portion.
19. The beverage service method of claim 17 wherein the lid body comprises a primary beverage-letting aperture, the primary beverage-letting aperture for enabling beverage egression from the liquid container for consumption.
20. The beverage service method of claim 17 wherein the lid body is used in combination with a lid body insert, the lid body insert comprising an outer insert edge, the outer insert edge being insertable into an insert edge-retention track formed in the lid body for preventing inadvertent removal of the lid body insert from the lid body.
21. The beverage service method of claim 20 wherein the lid body insert comprises a secondary liquid-letting aperture and an insert axis, the lid body insert being rotatable about the insert axis intermediate open and closed lid body insert positions, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably positionable in superior adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture when in an open lid body insert position for enabling liquid egression via both the primary and secondary liquid-letting apertures, the secondary liquid-letting aperture being rotatably re-positionable in lateral adjacency to the primary liquid-letting aperture for preventing liquid egression from the liquid container.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2021
Publication Date: Jun 17, 2021
Inventor: Pavel Savenok (Wheaton, IL)
Application Number: 17/176,118