Beverage Brewing Device
Patent No. US11684198 (titled "Beverage Brewing Device") was filed by Universal Coffee Llc on Mar 30, 2020.
What is this patent about?
’198 is related to the field of single-serve beverage brewing, specifically addressing the problem of disposable cartridges used in brewers like Keurig machines. These cartridges limit beverage choices and create unnecessary waste. The invention aims to provide a reusable alternative that works with existing single-serve brewers.
The underlying idea behind ’198 is to create a reusable cartridge that can be filled with any desired dry beverage medium (coffee, tea, etc.) and used in a standard single-serve brewer. This is achieved by designing a cartridge body with a brew chamber , a lid with an inlet for water, and a filter system to retain the beverage medium while allowing the brewed beverage to pass through.
The claims of ’198 focus on a beverage brewing device comprising a body and a lid. The body has a sidewall with a circular upper rim for engagement with the lid, a bottom surface, and an outlet probe receptacle extending inwardly from the inner sidewall surface and positioned in the bottom surface. The device also includes one or more filter areas, all configured to retain a dry beverage medium within the internal volume.
In practice, the user fills the brew chamber with their choice of coffee grounds or tea leaves, closes the lid, and inserts the device into the brewer. Hot water is injected through the lid's inlet, infuses with the beverage medium, and then passes through the filter areas. The brewed beverage exits the device, leaving the grounds behind. The outlet probe receptacle ensures proper alignment with the brewer's dispensing mechanism.
The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the reusability and adaptability of the cartridge. Unlike disposable cartridges, this device can be used repeatedly with any desired beverage medium. The design, including the flat bottom surface for easy filling and the dispersion cone for even water distribution, enhances the brewing process compared to simple, unfiltered reusable containers.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’198 was filed, single-serve beverage brewing devices were at a time when disposable cartridges were commonly used. These devices typically relied on piercing the cartridges with inlet and outlet probes to allow hot water to infuse the beverage medium. A significant engineering constraint was the need to balance ease of use with minimizing waste from disposable cartridges.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner allowed the claims because the prior art of record does not show or fairly suggest a beverage brewing device comprising an outlet probe receptacle having a receptacle wall extending inwardly from the inner sidewall surface and positioned in the bottom surface inwardly toward a center of the bottom surface or an outlet probe receptacle having a receptacle wall positioned inwardly from the inner sidewall surface and positioned in the bottom surface inwardly toward a center of the bottom surface as recited in claims 32.
Claims
This patent includes 9 claims, with claim 1 being independent. Independent claim 1 is directed to a beverage brewing device with a lid, body, outlet probe receptacle, and filter areas configured to retain a dry beverage medium. The dependent claims 2-9 further define and elaborate on the features of the beverage brewing device described in independent claim 1, such as the outlet probe receptacle's position, fluid isolation, and the filter areas' location and structure.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11684198
- Application Number
- US16835165
- Filing Date
- Mar 30, 2020
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Mar 25, 2032
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents