US2012070542A1PendingUtilityA1

Instant beverage cartridges and methods

45
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 16, 2010Filed: Sep 14, 2011Published: Mar 22, 2012
Est. expirySep 16, 2030(~4.1 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Paul N. CameraThomas M. JonesMary K. Wagner
B65D 81/2076B65D 85/8052B65D 85/8055A47J 31/02B65D 85/804
45
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Present embodiments generally relate to a single-serve beverage cartridge for use with a single-serve coffee brewer. In some embodiments, the cartridge includes a cup, a lid, and a single serving of instant coffee or another instant beverage component. In some embodiments, the cartridge is configured to be pierced by one or more piercing members, which can provide an opening for liquid to flow into and/or out of the cartridge. In certain instances, the cartridge includes an insert configured to facilitate mixing of the instant beverage component with the liquid. In some embodiments, the instant beverage component is compressed. In certain embodiments, the cartridge does not include a filter or a barrier configured to retain non-liquid matter within the cartridge.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-serve beverage cartridge for use with a single-serve beverage machine, the cartridge comprising:
 a cup having a bottom wall and a shoulder disposed generally opposite the bottom wall;   a lid joined with the shoulder;   a single serving of an instant beverage component disposed in the cup; and   an insert disposed in the cup, the insert configured to facilitate mixing of the instant beverage component with a liquid introduced into the cup to produce the beverage.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a spheroidal member. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to dissolve in the liquid. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a sweetener. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to react with the liquid to produce bubbles in the liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge does not include a filter or a barrier. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the instant beverage component comprises dry coffee extract. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the instant beverage component comprises microground coffee. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the instant beverage component further comprises dry coffee extract. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the lid and the bottom wall are each configured to be pierced to allow a flow of the liquid therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge for producing a single serving of a beverage, the cartridge comprising:
 a cup comprising a shoulder, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the shoulder and the bottom wall;   a lid sealed with the shoulder, the lid and the cup forming a chamber;   a single serving of an instant beverage component disposed in the chamber; and   a membrane configured to maintain the instant beverage component in a first portion of the chamber and inhibit the instant beverage component from accessing a second portion of the chamber, the membrane further configured to dissolve when a water-soluble liquid is introduced into the cup thereby releasing the instant beverage component into the second portion of the chamber, the instant beverage component mixing with the liquid to produce the beverage.   
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the membrane comprises a sweetener. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the sidewall is frustoconical in shape, and the membrane is disposed across a diameter of the frustoconical sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the instant beverage component comprises dry coffee extract and microground coffee. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the chamber is adjacent the lid and the second portion of the chamber is adjacent the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . A cartridge for producing a single serving of a beverage, the cartridge comprising:
 a cup having a bottom wall and a shoulder disposed generally opposite the bottom wall;   a lid joined with the shoulder; and   a single serving of an instant beverage component disposed in the cup, the instant beverage component being compressed into a block such that substantially all the air has been removed therefrom,   wherein the block of the instant beverage component is configured to break apart when a liquid is injected into the cup, thereby facilitating mixing of the instant beverage component with the liquid to form the beverage.   
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the instant beverage component comprises microground coffee. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the block of the instant beverage component is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the cup comprises a flexible material and substantially conforms to the shape of the block of the instant beverage component. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the cup is configured to collapse. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing a single-serve beverage cartridge for use with a single-serve beverage machine, the method comprising:
 forming a cup having a bottom wall and a shoulder disposed generally opposite the bottom wall;   joining a lid with the shoulder;   placing a single serving of an instant beverage component in the cup; and   placing an insert in the cup, wherein the insert is configured to facilitate mixing of the instant beverage component with a liquid introduced into the cup to produce the beverage.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein placing the instant beverage component and placing the insert in the cup in the cup occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing a cartridge for producing a single serving of a beverage, the method comprising:
 forming a cup comprising a shoulder, a bottom wall, and a sidewall extending between the shoulder and the bottom wall;   sealing a lid sealed with the shoulder, the lid and the cup forming a chamber;   placing a single serving of an instant beverage component in a first portion of the chamber; and   sequestering the instant beverage component from a second portion of the chamber with a membrane, the membrane being configured to dissolve when a water-soluble liquid is introduced into the cup thereby releasing the instant beverage component into the portion of the chamber.   
     
     
         24 . A method of manufacturing a cartridge for producing a single serving of a beverage, the method comprising:
 forming a cup having a bottom wall and a shoulder disposed generally opposite the bottom wall;   joining a lid with the shoulder;   compressing a single serving of an instant beverage component into a block such that substantially all the air has been removed therefrom; and   placing the block in the cup,   wherein the block of the instant beverage component is configured to break apart when a liquid is injected into the cup, thereby facilitating mixing of the instant beverage component with the liquid to form the beverage.

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