Method of constructing an espresso cartridge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10912407-B2
Application number	US-201615256929-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A bottom fillable espresso cartridge base and apparatus and method for filling and plugging the bottom of the espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base includes an open bottom and a press in bottom plug. The top of the espresso cartridge may be sealed by a foil lid or the like, or be open and an adhesive attachable lid may be included for attachment by a user. A first method utilizes a hand held multi-function tool including a cartridge holder with a holder lid to capture the espresso cartridge, and a bottom tamper and plug seating arm. A second method utilizes a stationary base residing on a flat surface, a cartridge holder to retain cartridges on the base, and individual tools to fill and tamp brewing material in the cartridge, and to attach the bottom plug to the cartridge.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of constructing an espresso cartridge, the method comprising:
obtaining a fillable espresso cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge base comprising:
frustoconical shaped walls;
a cartridge base top selected from a sealed top or a sealable top; and
an open cartridge base bottom having a smaller diameter than the cartridge base top; and

a bottom plug configured to insert into the open cartridge base bottom, the bottom plug configured to release brewed beverage through the bottom plug during brewing;

if unsealed, sealing the cartridge base top;
placing the cartridge base in a holder;
measuring a single serving of brewing material;
retaining the brewing material in the cartridge base, the brewing material entering the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom;
tamping the brewing material in the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom; and
completing the espresso cartridge by pressing the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom;
the completed cartridge configured to reside in a brewing chamber of an espresso machine;
wherein the bottom plug includes weakened areas configured to burst during brewing allowing the brewed beverage to release from the cartridge during brewing.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge base top is sealed by foil.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including foil and adhesive for attaching the foil to the cartridge base top to seal the cartridge base top.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bottom plug includes ports allowing the brewed beverage to release from the cartridge during brewing.

5. A method of constructing an espresso cartridge, the method comprising:
obtaining a fillable espresso cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge base comprising:
frustoconical shaped walls;
a cartridge base top selected from a sealed top or a sealable top; and
an open cartridge base bottom having a smaller diameter than the cartridge base top; and

a bottom plug configured to insert into the open cartridge base bottom, the bottom plug configured to release brewed beverage through the bottom plug during brewing;

if unsealed, sealing the cartridge base top;
placing the cartridge base in a holder;
measuring a single serving of brewing material;
retaining the brewing material in the cartridge base, the brewing material entering the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom;
tamping the brewing material in the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom; and
completing the espresso cartridge by pressing the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom;
the completed cartridge configured to reside in a brewing chamber of an espresso machine;
wherein the bottom plug includes an annular recess and the open cartridge base bottom includes an interior annular ridge, and pressing the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom comprises engaging the interior annular ridge into the annular recess.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the bottom plug includes a circumferential lip above the annular recess, and the circumferential lip includes gaps allowing the circumferential lip to collapse during insertion of the bottom plug into the open cartridge base.

7. A method of constructing an espresso cartridge, the method comprising:
obtaining a Tillable espresso cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge base comprising:
frustoconical shaped walls;
a cartridge base top selected from a sealed top or a sealable top; and
an open cartridge base bottom having a smaller diameter than the cartridge base top; and

a bottom plug configured to insert into the open cartridge base bottom, the bottom plug configured to release brewed beverage through the bottom plug during brewing;

if unsealed, sealing the cartridge base top;
placing the cartridge base in a holder;
measuring a single serving of brewing material;
retaining the brewing material in the cartridge base, the brewing material entering the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom;
tamping the brewing material in the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom; and
completing the espresso cartridge by pressing the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom;
the completed cartridge configured to reside in a brewing chamber of an espresso machine,
wherein placing the cartridge base in a holder comprises:
opening a lid of a cartridge holder of a hand held cartridge tool;
inserting the sealed cartridge base into the cartridge holder of the hand held cartridge tool, the open cartridge base bottom first; and
closing the lid to retain the cartridge base in the cartridge holder.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein measuring a single serving of brewing material comprises using the cartridge base in the cartridge holder to scoop a portion of brewing material through a mouth of the cartridge holder, filling both the cartridge base and the mouth.

9. The method of claim 8 , further including leveling the brewing material in the cartridge base and cartridge holder to fill the cartridge base and the mouth and not rise above the mouth.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein tamping the brewing material in the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom comprises inserting a tamping plunger through the mouth to tamp all of the brewing material in the mouth and the cartridge base into the cartridge base.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein pressing the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom comprises pressing the bottom plug through the mouth and into the open cartridge base bottom.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a tamper/seater is pivotally attached to the tool to align a tamping plunger with the mouth.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the bottom plug includes a guide hole and tamping plunger includes a guide hole pin, and further including:
engaging the guide hole pin into the guide hole; and
pivoting the tamper/seater to press the bottom plug into the open cartridge base bottom.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein measuring a single serving of brewing material comprises using a scoop tool to scoop a single serving portion of brewing material.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein retaining the brewing material in the cartridge base comprises:
positioning a funnel in a mouth of the cartridge holder;
pouring the single serving of brewing material in the scoop tool through the funnel; and
filling both the cartridge base and the mouth with the single serving of brewing material.

16. The method of claim 15 , further including, leveling the single serving of brewing material to be even with a top edge of the scoop tool before filling both the cartridge base and the mouth with the single serving of brewing material.

17. A method of constructing an espresso cartridge, the method comprising:
obtaining a fillable espresso cartridge, comprising:
a cartridge base comprising:
frustoconical shaped walls;
a cartridge base top selected from a sealed top or a sealable top; and
an open cartridge base bottom having a smaller diameter than the cartridge base top; and

a bottom plug configured to insert into the open cartridge base bottom, the bottom plug configured to release brewed beverage through the bottom plug during brewing;

if unsealed, sealing the cartridge base top;
placing the cartridge base in a holder;
measuring a single serving of brewing material;
retaining the brewing material in the cartridge base, the brewing material entering the cartridge base through the open cartridge base bottom;
tamping the brewing material in the cartridge base

Assignees

• Rivera Adrian
• Green Kenneth L

Inventors

• Rivera Adrian
• Green Kenneth L

Classifications

• B65D85/8052

  Details of the outlet · CPC title

• B65B1/24

  by mechanical compression · CPC title

• B30B15/065

  Press rams · CPC title

• B65B67/02

  Packaging of articles or materials in containers · CPC title

• B30B1/04

  operated by hand or foot · CPC title