Beverage Brewing Cartridge, Construction Kit, and Method of Constructing a Beverage Cartridge
A beverage brewing cartridge includes a base and a plug. The base includes a sidewall, a fillable end having an opening, and a closed end. The plug is configured to close off the opening. A method of constructing a brewing cartridge includes placing the base of the beverage brewing cartridge on a cartridge seat of a cartridge tool with the closed end against the cartridge seat. A cartridge lock retains the base against the cartridge tool. A portion of brewing material is scooped and poured into the base through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the opening of the fillable end of the base, and then tamped into the base. The plug is positioned above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the base, and seated into the opening to close the opening, thereby completing construction of the brewing cartridge.
This is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/286,845, which was filed on Oct. 6, 2016; which in turn is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/187,444, which was filed on Jun. 20, 2016, and a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/256,929, which was filed on Sep. 6, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to brewed beverages and in particular to beverage brewing cartridges, methods of making beverage brewing cartridges, and tools for making beverage brewing cartridges.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBeverage brewing cartridges typically contain ground brewing material, through which water is flowed to brew a beverage. For example, espresso beverages are made by forcing high-pressure water through tightly packed, finely ground coffee. The ground coffee is contained in a holder commonly called a “portafilter”, or into a pre-packaged espresso cartridge. High-pressure water is forced through the ground coffee and beverage is extracted in small, concentrated amounts. Many espresso drinkers prefer the simplicity of using the espresso cartridges, but are limited in the selection of ground coffee to varieties available in the pre-packaged espresso cartridges, and the cost of brewing beverages from disposable, individual cartridge is great, both economically and in terms of impact on the environment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an aspect of the invention, a beverage brewing cartridge includes a cartridge base, and a cartridge plug. The cartridge base includes a sidewall, a fillable end having an opening, and a closed end. The cartridge plug is configured to close off the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. The cartridge base sidewall can be, for example, frustoconical in shape. The closed end of the cartridge base can be sealed, for example, with foil. The cartridge plug can include ports configured to allow fluid to flow from the cartridge. For example, the ports can include weakened areas configured to burst under pressure, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the cartridge. The cartridge plug or the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base can include an annular recess, and the other can include a corresponding annular ridge, configured for mutual mating contact. The beverage brewing cartridge can also include a circumferential lip above the annular recess. The circumferential lip can include gaps configured to allow the circumferential lip to collapse during insertion of the cartridge plug into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a brewing cartridge includes placing the cartridge base of the beverage brewing cartridge on a cartridge seat of a cartridge tool with the closed end of the cartridge base against the cartridge seat. The cartridge base is retained against the cartridge tool using a cartridge lock. A portion of brewing material is scooped and poured into the cartridge base through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. The brewing material is then tamped into the cartridge base. The cartridge plug is positioned above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. The cartridge plug is then seated into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base to close the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base, thereby completing construction of the brewing cartridge. The method can also include releasing the cartridge lock from the cartridge base, and removing the brewing cartridge from the cartridge tool.
Scooping the portion of brewing material and tamping the brewing material into the cartridge base can include using a combination scooping/tamping tool. The method can also include leveling the portion of brewing material using a leveling arm of the combination scooping/tamping tool, prior to pouring the scooped brewing material.
Positioning the cartridge plug above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base can include engaging a first guide element on the cartridge plug with a second guide element on an end of the combination scooping/tamping tool, and inserting the end of the combination scooping/tamping tool into an access mouth of the cartridge lock.
The method can also include, prior to placing the cartridge base on the cartridge seat of the cartridge tool, obtaining the cartridge base, and sealing an end of the cartridge base to form the closed end of the brewing cartridge base. For example, sealing the end of the cartridge base can include applying foil to the end of the brewing cartridge base. Seating the cartridge plug into the opening of the tillable end of the cartridge base can include engaging a ridge into a recess.
According to another aspect of the invention, a beverage brewing cartridge construction kit, configured to construct a brewing cartridge, includes the cartridge tool and the cartridge lock. The cartridge tool can include a cartridge seat. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit can also include a combination scooping/tamping tool. The combination scooping/tamping tool can include a levelling arm and/or a cartridge plug guide element.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe following description includes the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. Further, the terms “top” and “bottom” are used in the description, but only for ease of explanation with respect to orientation in the drawings. These terms do not restrict any relative orientation of components of the invention, which is contemplated to cover any such orientation.
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The cartridge base top 12a can be provided with the cartridge base top 12a open, or can be covered or otherwise closed, such as with foil material 16 or the like sealing the cartridge base top 12a. When the cartridge is provided with the cartridge base top 12a open, the foil material 16 or other cover can be attached to the cartridge base 12 before filling the cartridge base with brewing material. A bottom plug 14 is inserted into the cartridge base 12 after filling the cartridge base 12 through an open cartridge base bottom 12b (see
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The scoop and tamper tool 74 includes a tamper 98, which can be, for example, cylindrical and a preferably flat tamping end 51 opposite the scoop 96. The tamper 98 is slightly smaller in diameter than the cylindrical access mouth 94 of the cartridge lock 80 to allow the cylindrical tamper 98 to pass through the cylindrical mouth 94 during tamping. The combination tool 74 includes both the scoop and the tamper for convenience.
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The scoop/tamper/seating tool 74a is shown positioned to seat the bottom plug 14 in the espresso cartridge 10 retained by the cartridge lock 80 in the tool base 72. The guide hole pin 52 engages the guide hole 21 of the bottom plug 14 and the cylindrical tamper portion 98 centers the bottom plug 14 for seating in the espresso cartridge 10.
Generally, according to an aspect of the invention, a beverage brewing cartridge includes a cartridge base, and a cartridge plug. The cartridge base includes a sidewall, a fillable end having an opening, and a closed end. The cartridge plug is configured to close off the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. Thus, the empty cartridge base is configured to be filled through the opening in the fillable end, which can then be closed off to form the beverage brewing cartridge.
The cartridge base sidewall can be, for example, cylindrical or frustoconical in shape, or can take any shape, for both the inside and outside surfaces of the sidewall, which can be the same or different. The closed end of the cartridge base can be integrally closed or closed by a lid, or sealed, for example, with foil. The cartridge plug can include ports configured to allow fluid to flow from the cartridge. For example, the ports can include weakened areas configured to burst under pressure or when in contact with heated liquid, thereby allowing fluid to flow from the cartridge. The cartridge plug and the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base can include a recess and a corresponding mating ridge, which can be annular if the plug and opening are round or rounded. The beverage brewing cartridge can also include a peripheral lip above the recess. The lip can include gaps configured to allow the lip to collapse during insertion of the cartridge plug into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base, providing a press-fit coupling.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method of constructing a brewing cartridge includes placing the cartridge base of the beverage brewing cartridge on a cartridge seat of a cartridge tool with the closed end of the cartridge base against the cartridge seat. The cartridge base is retained against the cartridge tool using, for example, a cartridge lock. A portion of brewing material is scooped and poured into the cartridge base through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. The brewing material is then tamped into the cartridge base. The cartridge plug is positioned above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base. The cartridge plug is then seated into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base to close the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base, thereby completing construction of the brewing cartridge. The method can also include releasing the cartridge lock from the cartridge base, and removing the brewing cartridge from the cartridge tool.
Scooping the portion of brewing material and tamping the brewing material into the cartridge base can include using a combination scooping/tamping tool. To provide a measured portion of brewing material, the method can also include leveling the portion of brewing material using a leveling arm of the combination scooping/tamping tool, prior to pouring the scooped brewing material. This leveling arm can take any shape.
Positioning the cartridge plug above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base can include engaging a first guide element on the cartridge plug with a second guide element on an end of the combination scooping/tamping tool, and inserting the end of the combination scooping/tamping tool into an access mouth of the cartridge lock. These guide elements can take the form of any mating structures, such as a corresponding indentation or hole and pin.
The method can also include, prior to placing the cartridge base on the cartridge seat of the cartridge tool, obtaining the cartridge base, and sealing an end of the cartridge base to form the closed end of the brewing cartridge base. For example, sealing the end of the cartridge base can include applying foil to the end of the brewing cartridge base. Alternatively, a cover can be coupled to the cartridge base to close the end. Seating the cartridge plug into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base can include engaging a ridge into a recess. Alternatively, these elements can be screwed together, friction fit, or coupled in any other suitable manner.
According to another aspect of the invention, a beverage brewing cartridge construction kit, configured to construct a brewing cartridge, includes the cartridge tool and the cartridge lock. The cartridge tool can include a cartridge seat. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit can also include a combination scooping/tamping tool. The combination scooping/tamping tool can include a scoop and a tamper, as well as a levelling arm and/or a cartridge plug guide element.
The invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments. However, the present invention as contemplated by the inventor is not strictly limited to the particularly disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, various modifications, as well as similar arrangements, are included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the appended claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest reasonable interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A method of constructing a brewing cartridge, comprising:
- providing a beverage brewing cartridge, wherein the beverage brewing cartridge includes: a cartridge base, and a cartridge plug, wherein the cartridge base includes a sidewall, a fillabie end having an opening, and a closed end, and wherein the cartridge plug is configured to close off the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base:
- placing the cartridge base on a cartridge seat of a cartridge tool with the closed end of the cartridge base against the cartridge seat;
- retaining the cartridge base against the cartridge tool using a cartridge lock;
- scooping a portion of brewing material;
- pouring the scooped brewing material into the cartridge base through a mouth of the cartridge lock and the opening of the tillable end of the cartridge base;
- tamping the brewing material into the cartridge base;
- positioning the cartridge plug above and aligned with the opening of the finable end of the cartridge base;
- seating the cartridge plug into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base to close the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base, thereby completing construction of the brewing cartridge.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
- releasing the cartridge lock from the cartridge base; and
- removing the brewing cartridge from the cartridge tool.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein scooping the portion of brewing material and tamping the brewing material into the cartridge base includes using a combination scooping/tamping tool.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising leveling the portion of brewing material using a leveling arm of the combination scooping/tamping tool, prior to pouring the scooped brewing material.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein positioning the cartridge plug above and aligned with the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base includes:
- engaging a first guide element on the cartridge plug with a second guide element on an end of the combination scooping/tamping tool; and
- inserting the end of the combination scooping/tamping tool into an access mouth of the cartridge lock.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising, prior to placing the cartridge base on the cartridge seat of the cartridge tool:
- obtaining the cartridge base; and
- sealing an end of the cartridge base to form the closed end of the brewing cartridge base.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein sealing the end of the cartridge base includes applying foil to the end of the brewing cartridge base.
15. The method of claim 8, wherein seating the cartridge plug into the opening of the fillable end of the cartridge base includes engaging a ridge into a recess.
16. A beverage brewing cartridge construction kit, configured to construct a brewing cartridge according to the method of claim 8, comprising:
- the cartridge tool; and
- the cartridge lock.
17. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit of claim 16, wherein the cartridge tool includes a cartridge seat.
18. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit of claim 16, further comprising a combination scooping/tamping tool.
19. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit of claim 18, wherein the combination scooping/t ping tool includes a levelling arm.
20. The beverage brewing cartridge construction kit of claim 18, wherein the combination scooping/tamping tool includes a cartridge plug guide element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 5, 2022
Publication Date: Jan 11, 2024
Inventor: Adrian Rivera (Whittier, CA)
Application Number: 17/857,512