Beverage Brewing Device
Patent No. US11534017 (titled "Beverage Brewing Device") was filed by Universal Coffee Llc on Nov 1, 2018.
What is this patent about?
’017 is related to the field of single-serve beverage brewing, specifically addressing the need for a reusable filter cartridge compatible with existing single-cup brewers. Current single-serve brewers often rely on disposable cartridges, leading to limitations in beverage selection and generating substantial waste. The invention aims to provide a more sustainable and versatile solution for brewing beverages using these machines.
The underlying idea behind ’017 is to create a reusable cartridge that can be easily filled with any desired dry beverage medium, such as coffee grounds or tea leaves, and then used in a standard single-serve brewer. This is achieved through a specially designed body that accommodates the brewer's inlet and outlet probes, coupled with an integrated filter system that retains the beverage medium while allowing the brewed beverage to pass through. The design also incorporates features to ensure proper alignment and efficient brewing.
The claims of ’017 focus on a beverage brewing device comprising a lid with an inlet probe opening and a cup-shaped body. The body includes a sidewall and a bottom wall, with a receptacle positioned in the bottom wall to receive the brewer's outlet probe. The receptacle wall extends upwardly from the bottom wall, featuring a convex inner surface and a concave outer surface. One or more filter areas are integrated into the cup-shaped body to retain the brewing material.
In practice, the user fills the reusable cartridge with their preferred beverage medium, closes the lid, and inserts the cartridge into the brewer's holster. The brewer's inlet probe pierces the lid, injecting hot water into the cartridge. The water infuses with the beverage medium, and the resulting beverage passes through the integrated filter and out through the outlet probe receptacle into a waiting cup. The receptacle's design ensures proper alignment with the brewer's outlet probe, while the filter prevents grounds or leaves from escaping into the brewed beverage.
Unlike disposable cartridges, this invention offers a reusable alternative, reducing waste and allowing users to customize their beverage selection. The flat bottom surface of the device allows for easy, hands-free filling. The design also incorporates features like grips for easy handling and heat dissipation, enhancing user experience. The internal geometry, including rounded edges and the configuration of the outlet probe receptacles, is optimized for efficient brewing and easy cleaning, addressing common issues with existing reusable filters.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’017 was filed, single-serve beverage brewers were gaining popularity at a time when systems commonly relied on disposable cartridges containing the beverage medium. At that time, hardware or software constraints made the design of reusable cartridges with effective filtration and compatibility with existing brewers non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art did not show or suggest a beverage brewing device with specific features. These features include a bottom wall defining a receptacle opening extending inwardly into the bottom wall partially toward a center of the bottom wall; a bottom wall defining a lower opening extending inwardly toward a center of the bottom wall; a receptacle volume extending inwardly from the inner sidewall surface along the planar portion toward a center of the planar portion; or a bottom indentation extending through the bottom from the outer bottom surface to the inner bottom surface and extending inwardly from the bottom perimeter partially toward a center of the bottom.
Claims
There are 15 claims in total. Independent claims are numbered 1, 3, 6, and 15. The independent claims are generally directed to a beverage brewing device comprising a lid, a cup-shaped body or bottom/sidewall, and a receptacle. The dependent claims generally add further details, limitations, or specific features to the beverage brewing device described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11534017
- Application Number
- US16178428
- Filing Date
- Nov 1, 2018
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- May 23, 2034
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents