Compostable pod ring

Abstract

A compostable pod ring is disclosed. The pod ring includes a flange having a thickness able to support a beverage pod when the beverage pod is installed in a brewing machine. The flange has a suitable thickness and suitable texture for enabling sealing of a filter and lid material. The pod ring has a cylindrical wall section located diametrically around a center of a part used to support the filter, the section shaped to optimize filter expansion. The pod ring is comprised of compostable material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compostable pod ring comprising:
 a ring having a flange having a thickness able to support a beverage pod when said beverage pod is installed in a brewing machine, said flange having a suitable thickness and suitable texture for enabling sealing of filter and lid material;   wherein said ring has a cylindrical wall section located diametrically around a center of said pod ring used to support said filter, said cylindrical wall section shaped to optimize filter expansion; and   wherein said ring is comprised of compostable material.   
     
     
         2 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable material comprises heavyweight polyactic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable material comprises lightweight polyactic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable pod ring has an outside diameter of about 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable pod ring has an inside diameter of about 1.8 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable pod ring has an overall height of about 0.356 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical wall section has a thickness of about 0.02 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said flange has a thickness of about 0.041 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said flange includes a machine identifiable cavity identifier (ID). 
     
     
         10 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said flange has a gate location identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable material comprises a compostable polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The compostable pod ring of  claim 1  wherein said compostable material comprises a compostable polymer and a predetermined percentage of compostable filler.