Having Defined Support Or Handle Means Patents (Class 426/82)
  • Patent number: 7533604
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cartridge for dispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of: a. manufacturing a plurality of outer members comprising at least a first type of outer member and a second type of outer member having differing shape or configurations; b. manufacturing a plurality of inner members comprising at least a first type of inner member and a second type of inner member having differing shape or configurations; c. storing said plurality of outer members and said inner members; d. selecting one of the first type of outer member or the second type of outer member from the plurality of outer members; e. selecting one of the first type of inner member or the second type of inner member from the plurality of inner members; f. conjoining the selected inner member to the selected outer member; g. filling the outer member with one or more beverage ingredients; and h. sealing the outer member with a lid to form the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Halliday, Colin Ballard, Satwinder Panesar
  • Publication number: 20090098253
    Abstract: Given the figures referred to, it may be seen how the invention consists of a single-use food-grade plastic or aluminium cup or bowl system (1), with a porous filter in the lower part (2), pressed ground coffee in the inside (3), lid and upper porous filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: German Diaz Blanco
  • Publication number: 20080292756
    Abstract: An infusible cup includes a cup body having protruding stop members inwardly protruded from the inside wall, an infusible material contained in the cup body below the elevation of the protruding stop members, and a screen plate mounted inside the cup body and stopped below the protruding stop members above the infusible material for stopping the infusible material inside the cup body when the infusible material is infused with hot water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Chien-Jen Lin
  • Publication number: 20080213434
    Abstract: The invention relates to an infusion unit comprising a bag part (21) which contains an infusion material, preferably tea leaves, and a handle (22) which is connected to the bag part (21). Said type of infusion unit can be improved in such a manner that it is suitable for preparing high-quality infusion drinks, in particular, for street vendors. According to the invention, the handle (22) is a plate-shaped element, made of, preferably, paper, cardboard or plastic, whereon the bag part (21) is directly secured such that it is seen in the direction of the elongate extension of the handle (22), and is arranged between opposite lying ends (23, 24) of the handle (22) such that the handle extends on both sides over the connection point of the handle (22) with the bag part (21) when the handle (22) and the bag part (21) are tilted against each other about 90°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Jorn Burchard
  • Publication number: 20080206408
    Abstract: A straining/stirring device and a method for manufacturing a straining device are provided. The straining device includes a handle, a frame, which is positioned at an end of the handle, and a compartment containing a medium to be strained. The compartment includes a top porous surface and a bottom porous surface, and is affixed to the frame. Further, the compartment is configured so as to strain the medium through at least one of the top porous surface and the bottom porous surface. The medium to be strained may include a beverage, medicine, or soup ingredient. Accordingly, the straining device provides a convenient apparatus for preparing a beverage, a food, or a medicine, and for a variety of utensil applications such as stirring or collecting and adding an additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Yuval Amit
  • Publication number: 20080171110
    Abstract: A solids package 10 comprises a linear elongate tubular structure 15 which is sealed at an upper end 11 and a lower end 12 thereof, the structure including an integral gripping portion 14 proximate the upper end and a foraminous portion 16, a predetermined amount of a solid material contained within the tubular structure 15, the solid material having a particle size greater then the openings in the foraminous portion, the structure having sufficient overall rigidity so as to permit at least the foraminous portion to be immersed in a liquid and by holding the gripping portion 14, stirring the package so as to cause the solid material to be dispersed, dissolved or infused into the liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Geoffrey Catherwood Stuart
  • Patent number: 7335387
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for the preparation of a foamed drink comprising the steps of: providing a capsule containing a foamable ingredient; providing a receptacle positioned to collect fluid escaping from the capsule; injecting liquid into the capsule to mix with the foamable ingredient; allowing the foamable ingredient mixed with the liquid to escape from the capsule into the receptacle; followed by injecting further liquid into the receptacle in a jet having a diameter of from about 0.5 to about 2 mm to produce foamed liquid in the receptacle. The invention also provides capsules, apparatus and systems specifically adapted for use in the method. Preferably, the food ingredient is a milk powder, and the method produces a hot foamed beverage such as a cappuccino coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Mars, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Hayes, David A. Hester, Jon W. Shaw, Martin E. Colston, Geoffrey Furneaux, Elizabeth C. Charman, Glenn Harrison, John C. Cooke, David Hay, Michael Wright
  • Patent number: 7322277
    Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more liquid beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, a compartment containing the one or more liquid beverage ingredients and an outlet for a beverage produced by dilution of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients by the aqueous medium, characterised in that the compartment includes means for controlling dilution of at least a proportion of the one or more liquid beverage ingredients on introduction of the aqueous medium into the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Halliday, Colin Ballard, Satwinder Panesar, Maria Gomez
  • Patent number: 7311037
    Abstract: A method comprises the steps of: providing an electric coffee brewing machine; providing a single-use, disposable brew basket, inserting the disposable brew basket into the electric coffee brewing machine; brewing a single cup of coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine; and discarding the disposable brew basket after the single cup of coffee has been brewed. The electric coffee brewing machine has a cold water reservoir, an electric heating element for heating the water, and a basket receiving recess. The disposable brew basket has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending generally upwardly from the bottom wall to define a brewing reservoir for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine. The bottom wall of the basket has at least one port located in a central portion thereof to permit brewed coffee to flow from the disposable brew basket. The disposable brew basket is inserted into the basket receiving recess of the electric coffee brewing machine before brewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Courtesy Products, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas A. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7279188
    Abstract: A device for preparing a whipped food, including a container portion that contains a food component and that is configured for receiving a fluid for mixing with the food component to produce a fluid mixture. A film conditioning conduit is associated with the container portion to receive the fluid mixture with gas bubbles entrained therein as a food product. The conduit includes a restriction channel associated with the container portion downstream thereof to receive the food product. The restriction channel has a cross-section sufficiently small and a length sufficiently large to selectively feed bubbles in the food product that are smaller than a preselected maximum bubble size. The conduit also includes a deceleration channel and fluid communication with the restriction channel downstream thereof to receive the food product. The deceleration channel substantially reduces the flow speed of the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Corey Arrick, Ruguo Hu, Eugene Scoville
  • Patent number: 7258884
    Abstract: A method having the steps of: providing an electric coffee brewing machine; providing a single-use, disposable brew basket, inserting the disposable brew basket into the electric coffee brewing machine; brewing a single cup of coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine; and discarding the disposable brew basket after the single cup of coffee has been brewed. The electric coffee brewing machine has a cold water reservoir, an electric heating element for heating the water, and a basket receiving recess. The disposable brew basket has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending generally upwardly from the bottom wall to define a brewing reservoir for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine. The bottom wall of the basket has at least one port located in a central portion thereof to permit brewed coffee to flow from the disposable brew basket. The disposable brew basket is inserted into the basket receiving recess of the electric coffee brewing machine before brewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Courtesy Products, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas A. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7235272
    Abstract: A drip bag is devised so that the good taste of coffee made by a conventional paper drip system can be obtained using a simple construction, and so that the drip bag can be set easily and securely on the cup even in cases where the thickness of the walls of the opening part of the cup is large. The drip bag includes a bag main body which is made of a water-permeable filtering sheet material and which has an opening part in the upper end portion of said bag main body, holding members which are made of a thin sheet-form material and which are disposed on the outside surfaces of two opposite sides of the bag main body, and reinforcing parts which are made of a thin sheet-form material and which are pasted to the outside surface of the bag main body around the peripheral parts of the holding members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Ohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsunori Saitoh, Fumio Miyahara
  • Patent number: 7128934
    Abstract: A support-equipped extracting bag for a drink, for example coffee, comprises an extracting bag member 2 containing therein a drink material to be extracted and having a front face section 2a and back face section 2b each comprising a filtering sheet; and a support member 3 attached to the bag member and covering an upper half portion of the bag member, to hygienically keep a top end of the bag member to be opened during storage and to enable the bag member to be stably and safely held in a cup, wherein the upper middle portion of the support member and the upper portion of the bag member can be opened by removing the upper middle portion of the support member and the upper portion of the bag member along cut lines 8 and 9 or vacant area 10 or 11 and a row of perforations 13 formed through the support and bag members, and by bending the right and left side upper portions of the support member inward along folds or dotted cuts 14 and 15 formed in the right and left side upper portions of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignees: Key Coffee, Inc., Yamanaka Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Ohta, Kaichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7081263
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of: providing an electric coffee brewing machine; providing a single-use, disposable brew basket, inserting the disposable brew basket into the electric coffee brewing machine; brewing a single cup of coffee with the electric coffee brewing machine; and discarding the disposable brew basket after the single cup of coffee has been brewed. The electric coffee brewing machine has a cold water reservoir, an electric heating element for heating the water, and a basket receiving recess. The disposable brew basket has a bottom wall and at least one side wall extending generally upwardly from the bottom wall to define a brewing reservoir for receiving heated water from the electric coffee brewing machine. The bottom wall of the basket has at least one port located in a central portion thereof to permit brewed coffee to flow from the disposable brew basket. The disposable brew basket is inserted into the basket receiving recess of the electric coffee brewing machine before brewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Courtesy Products, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas A. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 7051648
    Abstract: A device for making a beverage, such as tea, in a container, such as a standard two liter bottle. The device has a bag for holding a beverage component, and a securing device for securing the bag in the container. The device also has either a planar element for holding or suspending the device in the container, a supplemental attachment device for attaching a bag to a supplemental bag in series, or a rigid frame where the bag is disposed inside the rigid frame. The container has an opening and the bag is adapted to be inserted through and removed from the opening without the bag contacting the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Inventor: Matthew A. Fenaroli
  • Patent number: 6994879
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus for brewing a beverage. The apparatus has a brew funnel, a key and an elevation device so that only one brand of beverage can be brewed to thereby prevent harm and confusion to consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, a division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Cirigliano, Mauro Dominick Mordini
  • Patent number: 6948420
    Abstract: A container for holding ground coffee or tealeaves. The container may include a body and a lip extending from the body. The lip may include a top substantially flat surface and a width of no more than about 2.6 millimeters (about 0.1 inch).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Kirschner, Charles Bradley Green, Michael Alan Masters
  • Patent number: 6844015
    Abstract: A brew-in-the-cup disposable beverage assembly includes a cup and a beverage pouch containing a premeasured charge of beverage material. The pouch is packaged within an airtight bag to preserve the freshness of the beverage material until use. The beverage pouch rests on supporting structure extending inwardly from the cup sidewall supported in an upper region of the cup. An aroma enhancing substance is included in the beverage material. For use, the airtight bag is removed from the beverage pouch which is then placed on the supporting structure and liquid is poured onto the pouch to brew the beverage and drain into the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Inventor: Clifford Yuguchi
  • Patent number: 6786136
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus for brewing a beverage. The apparatus has a brew funnel, a key and an elevation device so that only one brand of beverage can be brewed to thereby prevent harm and confusion to consumers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Unilever Bestfoods, North America, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Charles Cirigliano, Mauro Dominick Mordini
  • Patent number: 6752275
    Abstract: An extraction bag with support includes a support member and a bag member which contains a material to be extracted or which is capable of containing a material to be extracted or which is capable of containing a material to be extraction, and is obtained by using a sheet composite on which the support member is arranged and joined along the center line of a water-permeable filtering sheet member, by folding the sheet composite into two and by passing it through a bag-making machine (and, as required, though a filling machine). The head portions of the extraction bag with support are torn apart, the right and left ends are pushed down or up toward the inside to push open the head portions. At the same time, the leg portions continuous with the head portions are folded down to place the extraction bag with support on an extraction container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Inventor: Michiko Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6733804
    Abstract: An infusion bag for preparing tea including a suspension unit having a grasping area and at least two chambers for containing an amount of a substance, the chambers each having a top side and being connected to one another at respective top sides to form a common edge. The chambers are connected to the suspension unit at the common edge and are turned away from the grasping area. The suspension unit is preferably longer than the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Wolfgang Groth
  • Patent number: 6730338
    Abstract: A package comprising a bag body and a suspending member having a tag and a suspending line, the bag body being formed of a packing material to a given shape, the tag being fixed to the outer surface of the bag body and the suspending line having one end fixed to the tag, a middle portion wound on the tag and the other end fixed to the outer surface. Preferably, the tag has a notch part tapered off, and the middle portion of the line is wound on the notch part of the tag. The package has a suspending line with a sufficient length while it has good external appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Fuso Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6715616
    Abstract: A filter device for coffee or the like which includes an open frame 2 formed of sheet material having predetermined rigidity, such as thick paper, and which is smaller in diameter than a blind-end frame 3. Both the frames are connected by a tubular body part 5 formed of deformable sheet material provided with shape retaining ability having predetermined rigidity and flexibility such as thin paper, non-woven fabric, etc. to compose a cup-like container body 1 having a wider bottom in a shape of substantially truncated cone. The filter device can be placed on a coffee cup for use. When the filter device is not in use, the open frame 2 is folded and pushed into the blind-end frame 3 by means of flexibility of the body part 5 and contracted. For use, the open frame 2 is pulled up to expand the body part 5, and the container body is restored into the cup-like shape and prepared to be poured with hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kataoka Bussan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: George Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6705471
    Abstract: A filter device for coffee or the like which includes a container body consisting of an open frame and a blind-end frame including an annular bottom member, and a filter chamber for enclosing substance to be extracted and received in the annular bottom member via a filter, wherein the blind-end frame is adapted to be folded inside the open frame together with the filter chamber. The open frame is formed of sheet material having predetermined rigidity, such as thick paper, non-woven fabric, etc., while the blind-end frame is formed of deformable sheet material provided with shape retaining characteristic having predetermined rigidity and flexibility such as thin paper, non-woven fabric, etc. These open frame and the blind-end frame are connected so as to be folded. When the filter device is not in use, the blind-end frame is folded and pushed into the open frame while turned back to be stored inside the open frame together with the filter device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Kataoka Bussan Kubushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: George Kataoka
  • Patent number: 6698333
    Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, a compartment containing the beverage ingredient or ingredients and an outlet for the beverage produced from the beverage ingredients, characterized in that the cartridge incorporates in the beverage flow path, prior to or at outlet, a device for producing a jet of the beverage, at least one inlet for air and a device to generate a pressure reduction of the jet of beverage, whereby in use air from the at least one air inlet is incorporated into the beverage as a plurality of small bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Halliday, Howard S. Whitney
  • Patent number: 6692780
    Abstract: The invention is a beverage device having a beverage pack, such as a bag containing substances to be added to flavor a liquid and a shield. The shield is connected to the pack and encapsulates the pack in the bottom of a cup. The shield has an open orientation which allows beverage pack steeping and a closed orientation. The shield can be made from two portions. A stick can be used to push the shield to the bottom of the cup and orient the shield in its closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Sonja A. Sandin
  • Patent number: 6692781
    Abstract: A beverage infusion device comprises a handle and a support member extending from the handle having a pair of flat legs spaced apart by a predetermined width. Attached to each side of the flat legs is a flexible porous member, for example, a pouch of filter material having an unfolded width greater than the width of the support legs. Each porous member contains an infusible beverage preparation and is supported by the support legs in a folded position wherein, upon immersion of the porous members in a liquid, the porous members expand and become spaced to facilitate infusion of a beverage preparation therein into the liquid. In the folded position, the porous members may have a plurality of folds across its width, for example, folds adjacent the first and second ends and an unfolded portion therebetween. The first and second ends of the porous member are preferably heat bonded to the support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventors: David Ryan, Matt S. Vaughan
  • Publication number: 20030232111
    Abstract: A drinking straw assembly includes a flavoring bag fabricated of water permeable material and containing a water flavoring substance attached to an exterior surface of a drinking straw proximate to its emersion end. An alternative embodiment includes a drinking straw having a means for attaching a flavoring sack, such as a tea bag, to an exterior surface of the straw proximate to its emersion end. Another embodiment includes a flavoring bag for use with a drinking straw which includes a bag body formed of water permeable material and containing a fluid flavoring substance. The flavoring bag includes means for attaching the bag body to an exterior surface of an emersion end portion of the straw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: David W. Sanso
  • Patent number: 6595110
    Abstract: A blending and bubble filtering container structure includes a spoon-shaped blending and bubble filtering container, and a filtering film layer bonded on the spoon-shaped blending and bubble filtering container. The spoon-shaped blending and bubble filtering container is formed with a receiving space and an air guide channel communicated with the receiving space. The filtering film layer is formed with an air vent communicating with the air guide channel, so that the blending bubbles contained in the spoon-shaped blending and bubble filtering container may be carried through the air guide channel and the air vent, and may be drained outward through the air vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Chiu-Yun Huang
  • Patent number: 6541055
    Abstract: The present invention provides a porous plastic article for dispensing a soluble or dispersible dispensate into a fluid stream. An inventive article preferably comprise polyethylene or polypropylene and has defined therein a network of passages in fluid communication with pores on the exposed surface of the article, the pores preferably having a diameter of from about 20 microns to about 200 microns. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the dispensing article may be removably attached to a beverage container cap, a bottle neck or a conduit such as, for example, a sports-bottle straw, to introduce the substance into a fluid coming into contact with the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: WorldDrink USA, LP
    Inventor: Robert S. Luzenberg
  • Patent number: 6342258
    Abstract: A boil-in-bag sachet is provided comprising top and bottom transverse seals, wherein the bottom transverse seal extends obliquely downwardly from at least one edge of the sachet that intersects an edge of the sachet at an angle of less than 90°, and preferably defining a bag-like or funnel-like bottom to the sachet, thereby improving drainage of water from within the sachet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: N. V. MasterFoods, S.A.
    Inventors: Kristian Berings, Frieda Jacqueline Helene Sporen
  • Patent number: 6314866
    Abstract: A lid for covering an associated beverage container has a separate cover piece with an infuser unit attached to the cover piece. The lid attaches to the top of the associated container and includes a central opening. Heated water, or other liquid, is poured through the opening into the associated container. The cover piece with the infuser unit is placed over the central opening of the lid. Heated water in the beverage container then circulates between the inside and outside of the infuser unit to permit infusion of flavors from the flavoring materials to the liquid. The cover piece can be made of paper and printed with graphics and text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Espire Incorporated
    Inventor: Bruce W. Melton
  • Publication number: 20010014361
    Abstract: A method of brewing a fluid extract using a filter pouch containing flavor extractable particles. One step is supporting a fully compliant, fluid-permeable filter pouch partially filled with flavor extractable particles such that the pouch is inclined at an angle to horizontal ranging from about 30° to about 90° so that the particles accumulate at a bottom end of the filter pouch. Another step is directing brew water to near an upper end of the filter pouch above the particles. The brew water enters the filter pouch without the need for an opening in the pouch, and drops to infiltrate the particles. The particles are partially fluidized by and suspended in the brew water and they rise with the brew water into an empty portion of the filter pouch without a need for opposing sides of the filter pouch to separate to generate internal space. A further step includes brewing a fluid extract from the particles in the filter pouch and discharging the fluid extract from the filter pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Roger William Gutwein, Amy Suzanne Dawson, Charles Thomas Howell
  • Patent number: 6274180
    Abstract: A beverage infusion device comprises a handle and a support member extending from the handle having a pair of flat legs spaced apart by a predetermined width. Attached to each side of the flat legs is a flexible porous member, for example, a pouch of filter material having an unfolded width greater than the width of the support legs. Each porous member contains an infusible beverage preparation and is supported by the support legs in a folded position wherein, upon immersion of the porous members in a liquid, the porous members expand and become spaced to facilitate infusion of a beverage preparation therein into the liquid. In the folded position, the porous members may have a plurality of folds across its width, for example, folds adjacent the first and second ends and an unfolded portion therebetween. The first and second ends of the porous member are preferably heat bonded to the support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: JSD Partners
    Inventors: David Ryan, Matt S. Vaughan
  • Patent number: 6168816
    Abstract: A beverage infuser includes a cap that is attachable to a drinking cup and that includes a drinking port, and a strainer basket attachable to the cap. The strainer basket is configured to hold loose tea leaves, or coffee grounds etc. and includes a position in which it is suspended into the cup when the cap and strainer basket are attached to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Inventor: Cris Hammond
  • Patent number: 6153232
    Abstract: A boil-in-bag package for the storage and cooking of food items includes an elongated rectangular shaped bag having an inside and an outside wall, a closed top end and an open bottom end. A handle section is adjacent the top end of the bag section, with the handle section having an upper and a lower portion and a first and second side. The upper portion of the handle section includes an opening sized and shaped for receiving a lifting utensil. A sealing/release mechanism is positioned on the handle section and is configured to releaseably close the open bottom end of the elongated bag section contiguous with the handle section thereby forming a U-shaped package configured to allow a through-flow of fluid between the inside walls of the U-shaped package. The sealing/release mechanism is further configured to allow for the release of the open bottom end from the handle section without contacting the elongated bag section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Uncle Ben's, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Holten, Balbir Singh, David A. Blythe, Simon R. Gainey, Edward J. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6138551
    Abstract: A filter device for brewing beverages from coffee or tea grounds has a support frame comprising a first annular member and at least two radially outwardly projecting supports for placing the filter device onto a rim of a beverage container. The first annular member has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the beverage container. A disposable filter insert enclosing an amount of coffee grounds or tea leaves for brewing a beverage in the beverage container is provided. The filter insert has a seamless conical porous pocket for receiving the coffee grounds or tea leaves. The conical pocket has a cone base facing upwardly and a cone top facing downwardly. The filter insert also has a porous cover covering an opening at cone base. The pocket has finer pores than the cover. The cover sags downwardly and forms a depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventors: Jurgen Bauer, Roswitha Mekelburg
  • Patent number: 6103116
    Abstract: A collapsible fluid filter is disclosed. The filter comprises, in part, a filter medium for filtering impurities from a fluid and a lower rim sealably disposed around the filter medium. The filter further includes an upper rim and a fluid impervious collapsible wall connected between the upper and lower rims. The filter medium, the lower rim, the collapsible wall and the upper rim define a fluid containing reservoir. The collapsible wall of the filter can be collapsed between the upper and lower rims so as to minimize the volume occupied by the fluid containing reservoir and by the filter for storage purposes and can be expanded between the upper and lower rims so as to maximize the volume occupied by the fluid containing reservoir and by the filter generally during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: KX Industries, L.P.
    Inventors: Evan E. Koslow, Stephen P. Huda
  • Patent number: 6065609
    Abstract: A hot beverage brewing kit comprised of a double-walled cup and a cylindrical filter support stowable between the cup's walls is disclosed. A retaining ring secures a cone-shaped textile fabric filter to the filter support. The filter stows in a space between the bottom of the cup's fluid containing cavity and the cup's lower end cover. An upper end cover engages the cup's single-walled upper rim, and has a drinking aperture therein. An alternative embodiment of the kit includes a modified cup which has its outer bottom wall and outer side wall formed as an integral structure. A threaded joint toward the upper end of the outer side wall joins the integral outer bottom and side walls to the upper and inner portions of the modified cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Reginald W. Lake
  • Patent number: 6004593
    Abstract: Coffee of a generic flavor coming from the natural coffee bean is brewed and custom flavored in a method having the steps of (1) brewing the coffee in a brew chamber and passing the coffee through a filter to produce filtered filtrate of the brewed coffee at the downstream side of the filter, and (2) exposing a flavoring agent to the filtered filtrate at said downstream side of the filter to thereby add flavor associated with the flavoring agent to the filtered filtrate. The steps of producing filtered filtrate and adding flavor thereto are substantially separate and sequential as to each increment of filtered filtrate so produced and to which the flavoring agent is so exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: John J. Soughan
  • Patent number: 5958478
    Abstract: A filtration device for the preparation of foods from food concentrates and liquids includes a composite formed from a plurality of layers having a food preparation applicator secured to the composite at the fluid contact region of the composite. The food preparation applicator includes food concentrate so as to result in a dispensing structure having the food concentrate therein which applies the food concentrate to liquid flowing through the applicator so as to mix the food concentrate with the liquid in the food preparation. The device may also include pockets containing treating material for removing contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Robert Lehrer
  • Patent number: 5952028
    Abstract: This invention relates to a disposable system for making portions of a hot beverage such as coffee or tea, comprising a porous filter designed to extend within a beverage container and having an upper region which is detachably coupled to the edge of the beverage container, whereby a predetermined quantity of solid beverage material can be placed within the filter, a predetermined quantity of liquid can be poured onto the beverage material, and the resulting liquid in the beverage container can steep with the solid beverage material within the filter, so that a desired portion of a beverage of a desired strength may be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Inventor: Brian J. Lesser
  • Patent number: 5937737
    Abstract: The Personal Brewing Filter Device For Coffee, Tea and Other Brewable Beverages comprises a disposable filter device having a member to confine and a member to compress coffee grounds or tea leaves within the filter device. This enables controlled brewing while the device remains within the cup. The device may be permanently configured as a frame within a cup, or the device may be configured so as to have a rigid frame to be portable from cup to cup, using available disposable filters or single serving coffee or tea bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Manuel Leon Karell
  • Patent number: 5906845
    Abstract: Methods and devices for flavoring liquids are disclosed. Flavoring solids such as particulate coffee solids are packed into an impermeable container, preferably occupying most or all of the available volume. Absorbed in the solids is a quantity of extractant liquid, preferably alcoholic liquor but others are possible. The amount of extractant is no more than can be taken up by the solids; there is no free liquid. The extractant pre-extracts flavoring components from the solids. One or more seals are removable to expose openings of the container. The openings may be closed by an integral filter, or a filter may be provided by an auxiliary device which holds the container. With the seals removed, the solids charge can be rinsed with liquid to be flavored, washing out the pre-extracted flavoring components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: James P. Robertson
  • Patent number: 5874149
    Abstract: A tagged packet carries a tag which is attached to the main body of the packet by a thread. The thread comprises polypropylene so as to be attachable by heat sealing to the body. The body is made up of layers of sheet material also comprising thermoplastic material to allow the body to be closed by heat seals. The thread is secured to the f ace of the body at one edge at the same time as that edge is heat sealed and the heating for the thread seal is applied from the opposite face of the body whereas the adjacent regions of edge seal spaced from the thread has the heating applied through the first face. This arrangement gives closer control of the different conditions required for securing the thread and for sealing together only the sheet material of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey William Vernon, James Goodwin, Andrew Cleall, Thomas William Bailey
  • Patent number: 5866185
    Abstract: A dispensing device for a soluble or dispersible material which comprises a tube formed of a liquid impermeable material and of unitary construction, the tube being closed at both ends and having perforations along a portion of its length or close to one end, and containing a soluble granular material. The device is coated with a material such as sugar or "NUTRA SWEET", the material being rigid in the dry state and soluble when immersed in a liquid. The device is immersed in a liquid which results in a dissolving of material coating permitting the material within device to also disperse into the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Edward K. Burkett
  • Patent number: 5855938
    Abstract: Infusion packets have envelopes of heat-sealable material with a looped thread within the packets to wring moisture from the packet in use. A central part of the thread loop is held in a widened region of one edge seal while the ends of the loop project through the opposite edge seal in which they are movable when the loop is to be contracted. The packets are produced by forming a continuous series of thread loops on one elongate web and placing doses of infusion material on a second elongate web before bringing the webs together with the thread loops and infusion material between them. The two webs are then welded together and the individual packets are separated from the joined webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Cahill, Geoffrey William Vernon
  • Patent number: 5853780
    Abstract: A hand held device for preparation of beverages of desired composition and strength has a source stuff (11) of the beverage packaged in a porous pouch (14) supported on a cage framework (12), emanating downwards from a pedestal (16), and the pouch (14) is encased within the device in cavity of a concave cap (13). A plurality of capsules (22,32), each containing an adjunct (21,31) of the beverage respectively, are mounted above the pedestal (16) to form a portable pencil of capsules. The framework (12) and the pouch (14) containing the stuff (11) cooperate as a commingling infuser stirrer, when shuffled in the liquid medium of the beverage, thereby enhancing combination of the stuff (11) and the medium. Fork (44) and knife (43) projections protrude on exterior of the cap (13). A fluid is injectible through the stuff (11) and the prepared beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: Ajaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 5842408
    Abstract: A portable package unit used for extraction of coffee including a filter assembly easily attached to a receptacle such as a cup. The package unit includes a filter bag having a predetermined amount of parched coffee powder and a frame internally supporting the filter bag. The frame is made up of a pair of support boards each of which includes a pair of frame sections demarcated by a center fold line and a pair of wing sections connected to associated frame sections via bonding zones. The two support boards are united together along the bonding zones. When folded in a flat state for envelopment in the wrapper, the filter bag is wholly coved by the frame and the wing sections are superposed on the frame sections of the support boards. When unfolded cubically for attachment to the receptacle, the frame sections of the frame separate from each other to define a rectangular solid space in which the filter bag is suspended with its upper end being open for pouring of hot water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Doutor Coffee
    Inventor: Misao Hatta
  • Patent number: 5736042
    Abstract: Primarily a pair of substantially fan-shaped filter sheets are laid one upon another and bonded to each other at least in the proximity of their side edges to obtain a basic filter 4 adapted to form a bag having a circular opening as arc-shaped outer edges 24A, 24B of these filter sheets, wherein a pair of substantially crescent-shaped flap sheets 6 are bonded along their arc-shaped edges to said basic filter 4 along their arc-shaped outer edges 24A, 24B to obtain a filter 1 provided with a pair of pockets 8 openable downwardly of the filter 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokiwa Kogyo
    Inventor: Tsuneo Aoki