Pre-measured beverage production package

Abstract

A single-cup pod beverage production container is presented using a pod containing coffee grounds, tea leaves or other soluble or partially-soluble substances, surrounded by filter paper and supported for easy handling by stiffening the periphery of the pod and adding a finger grip area. The pod periphery may also be provided with indicia in various forms to indicate various information relating to the pod container and its contents such as the composition of its contents, the coffee making machine(s) with which the pod container is compatible, or information relating to the production of the pod container.

1 . A beverage production package for use with a beverage forming machine, said beverage production package comprising:
 first and second filters formed of a soft, water permeable material and each having respective first and second recessed portions; and   a generally flat semi-rigid member having an aperture therein, wherein said first and second filters are attached in a sealed manner to opposed first and second surfaces of said semi-rigid member and are disposed about the aperture in said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessed portions of said first and second filters in facing relation so as to form an enclosure on said semi-rigid member, wherein said enclosure is adapted to receive a pre-measured portion of soluble or partially soluble brewable ingredients.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member facilitates human handling. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member facilities mechanical conveying or indexing. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid member protects the pre-measured portion of brewable ingredients. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein the beverage production package is reusable in whole or in part. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of bio-degradable materials. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of renewable source materials. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1  further comprising keying indicia disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1  further comprising keying indicia on said semi-rigid member in the form of a number of perforations in, or in the location of perforations on, said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1  further comprising keying indicia on said semi-rigid member in the form of a number of notches in, or in the location of notches on, at least one edge of said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1  further comprising graphic images and/or human or machine readable symbology disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1  further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member to facilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage production package recited in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the pre-measured beverage production packages are coupled together to form a strip or a sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage production package of  claim 1  further comprising coupling means disposed on said semi-rigid member adapted for coupling to a semi-rigid member of another beverage production package for forming a strip of plural connected beverage production packages. 
     
     
         15 . A package for use in forming a beverage comprising:
 first and second filters formed of a soft, water permeable material and including first and second inner recessed portions, respectively; and   a generally flat semi-rigid member having an open section therein defined by at least two spaced portions of said semi-rigid member, with said first and second recessed portions disposed in facing relation to one another and subtending said at least two spaced portions so as to form an enclosure on said semi-rigid member, wherein said enclosure is adapted to receive a pre-measured portion of soluble or partially soluble brewable ingredients;   wherein said semi-rigid member further includes a handle extending from said two spaced portions of said semi-rigid member, wherein said handle is adapted for manually grasping.   
     
     
         16 . The package recited in  claim 15 , wherein said semi-rigid member protects the pre-measured portion of brewable ingredients. 
     
     
         17 . The package recited in  claim 15 , wherein the beverage production package is reusable in whole or in part. 
     
     
         18 . The package recited in  claim 15 , wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of bio-degradable materials. 
     
     
         19 . The package recited in  claim 15 , wherein said filters and said semi-rigid member are comprised of renewable source materials. 
     
     
         20 . The package recited in  claim 15  further comprising keying indicia disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         21 . The package recited in  claim 15  further comprising graphic images and/or human or machine readable symbology disposed on said semi-rigid member for uniquely identifying the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure. 
     
     
         22 . The package recited in  claim 15  further comprising means disposed on said semi-rigid member to facilitate mechanical conveying or indexing of the brewable ingredients in the package's enclosure.