Single-Serve Beverage Container

Abstract

An improved plastic container including a bottom strengthening formation. The strengthening formation assists in reducing deformation of the bottom of the container when the container is pierced during the beverage brewing process. In a preferred embodiment, the strengthening formation includes a generally gear-shaped path to evenly distribute dynamic forces from a piercing needle or stylus to the spokes or gear teeth of the strengthening formation. The gear-shaped path includes the features of gear design and includes an outer diameter, and inner diameter, and a pitch diameter. In some embodiments, a depression defining and encircling the piercable area further enhances the even distribution of dynamic forces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pierceable plastic container comprising:
 a circular top flange extending between an outside edge and a circular inside edge centered on a longitudinal, central axis, the circular inside edge having an edge diameter;   a tapered sidewall extends from the circular inside edge to an edge diameter defining a transition area;   a strengthening wall extending from the edge diameter of the transition area to a bottom edge and defining a gear-shaped path about the central axis, the gear-shaped path including an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the inner diameter ratio of the outer diameter is greater than 75%, the outer diameter of the gear-shaped path is less than the top edge diameter of the circular top flange; and   a bottom wall formed with the bottom edge of the strengthening wall, the bottom wall, the strengthening wall, and the tapered sidewall being molded from plastic to form a fluid-tight vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic is polypropylene. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic is not polystyrene. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom wall includes a depression having a depth similar to the height of the strengthening wall, and a depression wall defining a gear-shaped path about the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , including a filter material supported by the flange to form a bag within the container wherein the bottom of the bag is spaced from the bottom wall, and the bag contains a powder. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the powder is coffee, tea or cocoa. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , further comprising a fluid-tight seal sealed to the top flange to close the opening defined by the circular inside edge. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the seal is formed from aluminum foil, steel foil, a plastic membrane or a paper membrane, and the seal is sealed to the top flange with thermoplastic material or an adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the strengthening wall restricts the inward deflection of the bottom wall when the bottom wall is pierced by the piercing needle of a single serve coffee maker such as a Keurig coffee maker. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom wall has a domed center. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom wall includes a flat ring which connects the strengthening wall to the domed center. 
     
     
         12 . A pierceable plastic container comprising:
 a circular top flange extending between an outside edge and a circular inside edge centered on a longitudinal, central axis, the circular inside edge having an edge diameter;   a tapered sidewall extending from the circular inside to an edge diameter defining a transition area;   a strengthening wall extending from the edge diameter of the transition area to a bottom edge and defining an outer gear-shaped path about the central axis, wherein the outer gear-shaped path has a first outer diameter and a first inner diameter, and the first inner diameter ratio to the first outer diameter is greater than 75%, the first outer diameter of the outer gear-shaped path is less than the top edge diameter;   a bottom wall formed from the bottom edge of the strengthening wall and having a depression centered about the central axis;   an inner gear-shaped path about the central axis defining the depression centered about the central axis, the inner gear-shaped path comprising a second outer diameter and a second inner diameter, wherein the second outer diameter is less than the first outer diameter and the second inner diameter is less than the first inner diameter; and   a base formed inside the depression of the inner gear-shaped path and centered about the central axis, the base, the inner gear-shaped depression, the bottom wall, the outer gear-shaped strengthening wall, and the tapered sidewall being molded from plastic to form a continuous fluid-tight vessel.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the inner gear-shaped path is aligned with the outer gear-shaped path. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12 , further comprising a filter material supported by the flange to form a bag within the container wherein the bottom of the bag is spaced from the bottom wall, and the bag contains a powder, wherein the powder is coffee, tea, or cocoa. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening wall with the gear-shaped path is 0.100″ thick as measured from the bottom wall to the transition area and the inner gear-shaped path defines a depression in the bottom wall that is 0.100″ deep along the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . A pierceable plastic container comprising:
 a circular top flange extending between an outside edge and a circular inside edge centered on a longitudinal, central axis, the circular inside edge having an edge diameter;   a tapered sidewall extending from the circular inside edge to an edge diameter defining a transition area;   a strengthening wall extending from the edge diameter of the transition area to a bottom edge, the strengthening wall defining a gear-shaped path about the central axis, the gear-shaped path comprising an outer diameter and an inner diameter, the inner diameter ratio to the outer diameter being greater than 75%, the outer diameter of the path is less than the top edge diameter;   a bottom wall formed from the bottom edge of the strengthening wall, the bottom wall comprising a depression centered about the central axis;   a circular diameter defining the depression, the circular diameter being less than the inner diameter of the gear-shaped path; and   a base formed inside the depression and centered about the central axis, the base, the depression, the bottom wall, the strengthening wall, and the tapered sidewall being molded from plastic to form a fluid-tight vessel.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the recess provides stress relief to restrict the inward deflection of the bottom wall when the piercing needle of a single-serve coffee maker pierces the bottom wall. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , further comprising a filter material supported by the flange to form a bag within the container wherein the bottom of the bag is spaced from the bottom wall, and the bag contains a powder, wherein the powder is coffee, tea, or cocoa. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the strengthening wall with the gear-shaped path is 0.100″ thick as measured from the bottom wall and the circular diameter centered on the central axis creates a depression that is equal to 0.100″ deep along the bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the circular top flange edge diameter is 2.00″, wherein a height of the container is 1.733″ measured along the central axis, and the outer diameter of the gear-shaped path is 1.40″.