Cellulose-based beverage cartridge

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses and articles of manufacture for cellulose-based multipurpose single-serve beverage cartridges. A cartridge in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure comprises a cartridge body body comprising a cellulose-based material, a filter, a beverage material, and a cover. The cellulose-based material may also be used for the cover, and reduces the leaching of potentially hazardous materials from similar plastic-based single-serve beverage cartridges.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartridge, including:
 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 includes mostly cellulose-based non-polymer material on an exterior surface of the cartridge body and on an interior surface of the cartridge body, 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 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 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 including pulp material, 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 cartridge including the cover, the filter, the beverage material and the cartridge body is compostable; and in which the cover and the cartridge body each have a density sufficient to separate the beverage material from external contaminants or oxidizing materials and sufficient to withstand the conditions of the single-serve brewer.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the at least first beverage material includes coffee grounds. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the cartridge is frustoconically shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the cover is wrapped around the rim and is coupled to a surface of the rim that is closer to the closed end of the cartridge body. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the filter is coupled between the surface of the rim that is closer to the closed end of the cartridge body and the cover. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the cartridge body includes substantially wood pulp and cellulose material. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which at least the cover and the cartridge body include the same material. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the cartridge body and the cover provide at least a semi-hermetic seal for the beverage material within the cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which at least the cover and the cartridge body include wood pulp. 
     
     
         10 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , in which the filter is a substantially frustoconical shaped filter.