Beverage filter systems

Abstract

A beverage filter cartridge comprising a cup portion; a lid portion coupled to the cup portion to define an interior; and a filter member provided within the interior; wherein the cup portion, the lid portion, and/or the filter member define three separate compartments with the interior.

1 . A beverage filter cartridge comprising:
 a cup portion;   a lid portion coupled to the cup portion to define an interior; and   a filter member provided within the interior;   wherein the cup portion, the lid portion, and/or the filter member define three separate compartments with the interior.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein a first upper compartment receives a fluid from a brewing device, a second middle compartment comprises a substance provided therein for preparing a brewed beverage and receives the fluid from the first upper compartment; and a third lower compartment receives the brewed beverage from the second middle compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , wherein the first upper compartment is formed by the lid portion and an upper filter member, the second middle compartment is formed by the lid portion, the upper filter member, and a lower filter member, and the third lower compartment is formed by the lower filter member, the cup portion, and/or the lid. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter member is disposed only between a substance suitable for being brewed to prepare a brewed beverage and a bottom of the cup. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter member comprises an at least semi-rigid insert provided within the interior. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the cup portion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the filter member comprises a filter bag secured between the sidewalls of the upper and lower portions of the cup portion about at least a portion of the periphery of the cup portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the filter member is moveable in response to the cartridge being pierced by a piercing member of a brewing device. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the filter member comprises a non-pierceable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position to permit fluid to exit from the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein an enlargeable bottom compartment is defined between the filter member and the bottom of the cup portion. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the non-pierceable member comprises an at least semi-rigid portion. 
     
     
         11 . A cartridge assembly comprising:
 a cup portion comprising a filter member formed integrally therewith;   a substance suitable for preparing a brewed beverage disposed within the cup portion;   an at least partially removeable sealing member configured to seal the filter member prior to use of the cartridge.   
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the filter member forms a bottom of the cup portion. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the sealing member provides a hermetic seal with the cup portion about the substance. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the filter member is configured to provide a recess exterior to the filter member to receive a piercing member of a brewing device such that the filter member is not pierced by the piercing member of the brewing device. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the recess is a generally cylindrical recess extending upward from a bottom of the cup portion. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the filter member forms a generally cylindrically-shaped sidewall extending downward from a bottom of the cup portion, and the seal member is wrapped circumferentially around the cylindrically-shaped sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing member is coupled to a bottom surface of the filter member. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the sealing member is configured to release from the filter member upon application of one of heat and moisture. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the filter member forms a shallow cone-shaped member. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 11 , wherein the filter member forms a disc-shaped member. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 20 , wherein the cup portion comprises a cylindrical sidewall spacing the filter member apart from the sealing member. 
     
     
         22 . A beverage filter cartridge comprising:
 a cup portion;   a lid coupled to the cup portion to define an interior;   a filter member disposed within the interior and comprising an at least semi-rigid insert;   wherein an upper compartment is provided between the filter member and the lid and receives a substance suitable for preparing a brewed beverage, and wherein a lower compartment is provided between the filter member and a bottom of the cup portion and receives the brewed beverage.   
     
     
         23 - 26 . (canceled)