Funnel assembly for making powdered beverage

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for a funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus. The funnel assembly may include an insert that is retained in the funnel assembly to contain a powdered or other similar substance for mixing with liquid within the insert. The insert is configured to extend within a cavity of the funnel assembly and is configured to permit mixing of the substance with the liquid before dispensing the mixture into a portion of the funnel assembly. The insert may include a rim or liquid shield, with at least a portion of the rim or liquid shield engaging a portion of the funnel assembly to retain the insert within the funnel assembly. The insert may further include a flow guide adjacent a drainage aperture, the flow guide at least partially directing the flow of mixture from the insert into a portion of the funnel assembly. The funnel assembly may alternatively itself be formed to contain a powdered or similar substance and permit mixing of the substance with liquid before dispensing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus, the funnel assembly comprising:
 a funnel having a body portion and a bottom portion, the body portion including an annular wall forming an inside surface that at least partially defines an interior cavity to receive one or more components of a beverage, the bottom portion including one or more ribs upon which a removable filter element can be supported in the interior cavity; and   an insert receivable within the interior cavity of the funnel when the removable filter element is removed from the interior cavity, the insert including a base and formed to include an insert cavity configured to at least partially retain a beverage-making substance, the base including a drainage aperture that permits a fluid to flow through the insert.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage aperture is offset from a central axis of the insert. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the drainage aperture is approximately half-way between the central axis and the annular wall of the insert. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the insert further includes a flow guide on a bottom surface of the base that directs flow of fluid from the drainage aperture of the insert into the interior cavity of the funnel. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a mesh grating is disposed within the drainage aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel further includes a rim and wherein a portion of the insert engages with the rim to retain the insert within the interior cavity of the funnel. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the rim includes one or more apertures that receive a portion of the insert to retain the insert within the interior cavity of the funnel. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert further includes a second drainage aperture that permits a fluid to flow through the insert, and wherein the drainage aperture is positioned to align with a central axis of the insert and the second drainage aperture is positioned annularly outward of the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a mesh grating is disposed within at least one of the drainage aperture and the second drainage aperture. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the funnel further includes an outlet structure coupled to the bottom portion, the outlet structure providing a flow path of fluid flowing out of the assembly and defining a slot for receiving fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the drainage aperture of the insert is positioned above the slot of the outlet structure. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the drainage aperture is offset from a central axis of the insert and positioned to drain fluid into the slot of the outlet structure. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the insert includes one or more positioning features on a bottom surface of the base of the insert that prevents positioning the insert within the interior cavity of the funnel if the drainage aperture is not positioned above the slot in the outlet structure. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is substantially conical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the insert extends substantially from a top of the funnel to the bottom portion of the funnel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the funnel includes two or more ribs, the two or more ribs spaced apart to form one or more channels therebetween, and wherein at least a portion of the base of the insert is configured to abut against one or more of the ribs. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert cavity of the insert is configured to retain a powdered beverage substance to be mixed within the insert. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of the funnel includes two or more ribs, the two or more ribs being spaced apart to form one or more channels therebetween, and wherein the insert prevents the beverage-making substance from entering the channels. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a rim that is formed to include one or more grooves, the grooves open to a top mouth of the body portion of the funnel to provide a flow path for liquid from the beverage brewing apparatus to travel to bottom portion of the funnel without entering the insert when the insert is retained in the funnel. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert further includes a liquid shield that engages with a portion of the inside surface of the funnel or a rim of the funnel. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid shield includes one or more connection tabs that engage with the rim of the funnel to retain the insert within the interior cavity of the funnel. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the liquid shield is positioned adjacent a handle of the funnel. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert further includes one or more handles connected to the body portion, and wherein the one or more handles are spaced away from the inside surface of the funnel when the insert is located within the cavity of the funnel. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insert includes an outside surface that is configured to at least partially engage with the inside surface of the funnel.