Beverage delivery pod and method of use and manufacture

Abstract

A pod containing one or more beverage ingredients is provided, where the pod comprises a generally rigid outer member ( 12 ) with an open top and an outlet opening in the bottom, with an internal filter ( 16 ) adjacent a bottom portion of the outer member, one or more beverage ingredients disposed above the filter, and a lid ( 14 ) closing the open top. The outer member has an outer peripheral sidewall ( 20 ) defining the open top and extending downwardly from the open top toward the bottom portion and inwardly converging toward the outlet opening. The bottom portion of the sidewall defines a plurality of ribs ( 36 ) extending inwardly in the interior of the outer member toward the outlet opening. Beverage outlet flow paths are disposed between adjacent ribs and directed toward the outlet opening. The filter is supported above the outlet opening and the beverage outlet flow paths by the ribs.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A beverage pod apparatus comprising:
 a beverage pod comprising:
 a generally rigid outer member including an upper open top; 
 a filter in an interior of the outer member; 
 a lid attached to the outer member to close the open top and form a beverage ingredient compartment, the beverage ingredient compartment being bounded at an upper end thereof by the lid and at a lower end thereof by the filter; 
 at least one beverage ingredient in the beverage ingredient compartment; 
 the lid being pierceable to accommodate an inflow of an aqueous medium into the beverage ingredient compartment; and 
 a lower opening of the outer member downstream of the beverage ingredient compartment, the lower opening having an unblocked configuration that permits beverage to flow out of the beverage pod; and 
   a flexible wrapper having barrier properties containing the beverage pod.   
     
     
         17 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the flexible wrapper has greater barrier properties than at least one of the outer member and the lid. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the flexible wrapper has greater barrier properties than both the outer member and the lid. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the outer member includes a bottom portion defining the lower opening and the bottom portion is configured such that, in use, the beverage pod is at least partially received in a brew compartment of a beverage brewing device in a position for dispensing a beverage where the bottom portion of the outer member is spaced from an upstanding piercing element of the brewing compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the bottom portion of the outer member includes a planar annular segment surrounding the lower opening. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the flexible wrapper includes flow wrapped film. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the filter includes woven fibers or non-woven fibers. 
     
     
         23 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the outer member includes a side wall extending downwardly from the open top toward the lower opening, the side wall including a bottom portion that converges inwardly to the lower opening. 
     
     
         24 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the bottom portion has a dome-shaped profile. 
     
     
         25 . The beverage pod apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the bottom portion of the side wall defines a plurality of ribs extending inwardly in the interior of the outer member, the ribs supporting the filter in the outer member. 
     
     
         26 . A method of dispensing a beverage, the method comprising:
 removing a beverage pod including a lower opening in an unblocked configuration from a flexible wrapper;   inserting the beverage pod into a brew compartment of a beverage brewing device;   forming an opening in an upper lid of the beverage pod;   injecting an aqueous medium through the opening in the lid and into a beverage ingredient compartment of the beverage pod bounded at an upper end of the beverage ingredient compartment by the lid and bounded at a lower end of the beverage ingredient compartment by the filter, whereby the aqueous medium interacts with at least one beverage ingredient in the beverage ingredient compartment; and   dispensing beverage from the beverage pod through the lower opening in the unblocked configuration thereof.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein inserting the beverage pod into the brew compartment of the beverage brewing device includes positioning the beverage pod in the brew compartment without contacting the beverage pod with an outlet piercer of the beverage brewing device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein inserting the beverage pod into the brew compartment of the beverage brewing device includes positioning a bottom portion of the beverage pod spaced from an outlet piercer of the brew compartment of the beverage brewing device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein removing the beverage pod from the flexible wrapper includes removing the beverage pod including a generally rigid outer member that defines the lower opening from the flexible wrapper. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein dispensing beverage from the beverage pod through the lower opening includes directing beverage through an outlet opening of the brew compartment spaced from an outlet piercer of the brew compartment. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein forming the opening in the upper lid of the beverage pod includes forming the opening in the upper lid using an inlet piercer of the beverage brewing device.