Cellulose-based beverage cartridge

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture for cartridges. A cartridge in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a cartridge body, a filter, a beverage material, and a cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge body including:
 a ridge; 
 a closed end; and 
 an open end, the open end having a first diameter at an upper edge of the open end, and a second diameter at the closed end, the second diameter of the closed end being smaller than the first diameter of the open end, the ridge being proximate the open end and having a third diameter, in which the cartridge body further comprises at least a first material on an exterior surface of the cartridge body and at least a second material on an interior surface of the cartridge body, the at least a second material being different from the at least first material, wherein the cartridge body is adapted to be received in a receptacle of a single-serve beverage brewer such that the closed end of the cartridge body is piercable by a needle in the single-serve brewer; 
   a filter, coupled to the cartridge body proximate the ridge which is proximate to the open end of the cartridge body, such that the filter extends below the upper edge of the open end of the cartridge body and extends into an interior of the cartridge body, the filter extending toward the closed end of the cartridge body such that at least a portion of the filter is proximate the at least second material on the interior surface of the cartridge body;   a beverage material, coupled to the filter, such that the beverage material extends below the upper edge of the open end of the cartridge body and extends into the cartridge body toward the closed end of the cartridge body; and   a cover, coupled to a rim of the open end of the cartridge body, such that the cover encapsulates the beverage material within the cartridge body, the beverage material being encapsulated within the interior of the cartridge body and further encapsulated between the filter and the cover, the cover being adapted to be pierced by a fluid nozzle in the single-serve brewer, in which the cover and the at least second cellulose-based material on the interior surface of the cartridge body reduce interaction between a fluid introduced into the interior of the cartridge body and the at least first material of the cartridge body.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the at least first material comprises a first cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 2 , in which the at least second material comprises a second cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 3 , in which the cover comprises a third cellulose-based material. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , in which the cartridge is compostable. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 5 , in which at least the second cellulose-based material has a different density than the cellulose-based material of the cartridge body. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , in which at least the cover and at least one of the first cellulose-based material and the second cellulose-based material reduces oxidation of the beverage material when the beverage material is encapsulated in the interior of the cartridge. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 7 , in which the second material and the cover comprise the same material. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 8 , in which at least the cover and the second cellulose-based material comprise wood pulp. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , in which the filter is a substantially frustoconical shaped filter.