Cartridge with filter guard

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9750370-B2
Application number	US-47442009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2009
Priority date	May 29, 2009
Publication date	Sep 5, 2017
Grant date	Sep 5, 2017

Abstract

A cartridge for forming a beverage includes a container defining an interior space, a filter, a beverage medium contained in the interior space, and a filter guard. The filter may be arranged so that liquid that interacts with the beverage medium flows through the filter to exit the interior space. The container may include a surface arranged to be pierced by a piercing member to permit beverage to exit the container. The filter guard may be arranged to contact the piercing member to resist damage to the filter when the container surface is pierced. In one embodiment, the filter guard and filter may be in contact with the container surface that is pierced, yet damage to the filter that might be caused by the piercing element may be avoided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge for use in forming a beverage, the cartridge comprising:
a container defining an interior space having first and second portions, the container having a surface including an annular area at a bottom of the container arranged to be pierced by a piercing element to permit a beverage to exit the interior space, the annular area being positioned around a center of the bottom and excluding the center of the bottom;
a beverage medium arranged to interact with liquid introduced into the container to form a beverage, the beverage medium being located in the first portion of the interior space;
a filter at least partially located in the interior space, the filter separating the first and second portions of the interior space so that liquid that interacts with the beverage medium in the first portion of the interior space must flow through the filter to pass to the second portion of the interior space; and
a filter guard disposed in the interior space and positioned between the bottom of the container and the filter such that the filter is positioned above the filter guard and the annular area of the container is positioned below the filter guard, the filter guard constructed and arranged to contact a point of a piercing element that pierces the bottom of the container at any one of multiple locations within the annular area, extends into the interior space and remains in place to permit a beverage to exit the interior space, the filter guard constructed and arranged to move within the interior space away from the bottom to displace and deform the filter upon contact with the piercing element so as to increase a volume of the second portion of the interior space, and remain in contact with the point of the piercing element and resist damage to the filter by the piercing element as liquid is introduced into the container under pressure during use in forming a beverage,
wherein the filter guard is arranged to provide a flow channel at a periphery of the filter guard between the filter guard and the container when moved with contact with the piercing element to allow beverage that flows through the filter to flow past the filter guard toward the bottom of the container via the flow channel during use in forming the beverage.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard is arranged to contact both the piercing element and the filter when the container surface is pierced.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard is arranged to displace and deform the filter upon contact with a piercing element such that a portion of the filter above the piercing element is displaced to a greater height above the bottom than a portion of the filter located above a part of the annular area that is not pierced by the piercing element.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard includes a portion that is immovably attached to the container.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the container has an opening that is closed by a lid arranged to be pierced by a second piercing element to permit liquid to be introduced into the first portion of the interior space.

6. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard has a disc shape.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard comprises a body with at least one channel arranged to permit liquid to flow past the body.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard separates at least a portion of the container surface to be pierced and the filter.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the filter guard is attached to the filter.

10. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the container has a frustoconical shape, the filter has a fluted or conical shape, the filter is attached to at least the sidewall of the container, and the filter guard includes a disc shaped body at the bottom of the container.

11. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the filter adjacent the filter guard is in contact with the filter guard.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 , wherein a bottom of the filter is in contact with the filter guard.

13. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the filter guard is attached to the filter in the interior space.

14. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the container provides a barrier to protect the beverage material from moisture or oxygen.

15. A method of manufacturing a cartridge for use with a beverage brewing machine, comprising:
providing a filter, a filter guard and a container having an opening, an interior space and a surface including an annular area at a bottom of the container arranged to be pierced to allow a beverage to exit the interior space, the annular area being positioned around a center of the bottom and excluding the center of the bottom;
inserting at least a portion of the filter in the interior space of the container;
inserting the filter guard in the interior space of the container; and
providing a beverage material in a first portion of the interior space to interact with liquid introduced into the first portion of the interior space to form a beverage that flows through the filter toward a second portion of the interior space, the filter being arranged such that liquid that interacts with the beverage medium in the first portion of the interior space must flow through the filter to pass to the second portion of the interior space;
wherein the filter guard is constructed and arranged to have a portion positioned between the container surface and a portion of the filter to contact a point of a piercing element that pierces the bottom of the container at any one of multiple locations within the annular area, extends into the interior space and remains in place to permit a beverage to exit the interior space, the filter guard constructed and arranged to move within the interior space away from the bottom to displace and deform the filter upon contact with the piercing element, and remain in contact with the point of the piercing element and resist damage to the filter by the piercing element as liquid is introduced into the container under pressure during use in forming a beverage, wherein the filter guard is arranged to provide a flow channel at a periphery of the filter guard between the filter guard and the container when moved with contact with the piercing element to allow beverage that flows through the filter to flow past the filter guard toward the bottom of the container via the flow channel during use in forming the beverage.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising closing the opening of the container.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the opening of the container is closed by a lid that is arranged to be pierced by a second piercing element to permit the liquid to enter the first portion of the interior space.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the container has a frustoconical shape with a sidewall and a bottom, the filter has a fluted or conical shape, the filter is attached to at least a sidewall of the container, and the filter guard is positioned at the bottom of the container.

19. A cartridge for use in forming a beverage, the cartridge comprising:
a container defining an interior space having first and second portions, the container having a surface arranged to be pierced by a piercing element to permit a beverage to exit the interior space;
a beverage medium arranged to interact with liquid introduced into the container to form a beverage, the beverage medium being located in the first portion of the interior space;
a filter at least partially located in the

Assignees

• Beaulieu Roderick H
• Wuertele James W
• Keurig Green Mountain Inc

Inventors

• Beaulieu Roderick H
• Wuertele James W

Classifications

• A47J31/465

  for the heated water · CPC title

• A47J31/446 Primary

  Filter holding means; Attachment of filters to beverage-making apparatus · CPC title

• A47J31/0673

  Means to perforate the cartridge for creating the beverage outlet · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• B65D85/8043

  Packages adapted to allow liquid to pass through the contents (B65D85/808 takes precedence; filters or reusable cartridges for coffee or tea makers, not used as packages A47J31/06) · CPC title