Single cup coffee container holder

Abstract

A rack adapted to retain a plurality of beverage filter cartridges including a rotatable base member, a stand extending vertically from the rotatable base member, a plurality of spaced-apart hoop members encircling the stand, and a plurality of ring members coupled tangentially to the hoop members and extending from the hoop members at an oblique angle. The base member further includes a stationary segment and an inner plate. The inner plate is rotatably secured to the stationary segment, and the stand projects vertically from the inner plate such that when the inner plate rotates, so does the stand. The spaced-apart hoop members encircle the stand and are supported by parallel bars that extend the diameter of the hoop members. The parallel bars are secured to the stand at different positions along the axis of the stand. The ring members are sized to retain a beverage filter cartridge, wherein a rim of the beverage filter cartridge hangs on the ring.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to a rack adapted to retain disposable single-serve beverage filter cartridges. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART [0002] In recent years, single-cup brewers have become popular in homes and offices. Singe-cup brewers brew fresh cups of coffee or tea in short periods of time. [0003] A disposable single-serve beverage filter cartridge, such as the ones shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,325,765 and 5,840,189 (Sylvan et al.), dated respectively Jul. 5, 1994 and Nov. 24, 1998 are inserted into the brewer. During the brewing cycle, heated water is admitted into the cartridge for infusion with a beverage medium such as coffee grounds. All of the resulting brewed beverage is eventually poured into a waiting cup ready to be enjoyed. [0004] Such disposable single-serve beverage filter cartridges generally have an outer container with a bottom and side walls extending upwardly from the bottom to a peripheral rim surrounding the upper opening. A filter el...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the base member has a stationary annular segment and an inner plate segment. Said stationary annular segment has a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner plate. Said inner plate is rotatably secured to the stationary annular segment. The vertical stand is secured to the inner plate such that when the inner plate is rotated, the stand rotates with it. The spaced-apart hoops encircle the stand and have two parallel bars extending the diameter of the hoops. The stand then extends between the parallel bars of each hoop at the center point of each hoop, and the parallel bars are secured to the stand at three different positions along the length of the stand. The hoops each have a plurality of tangentially coupled ring members. The ring members are each sized to retain a beverage filter cartridge wherein the container is inserted into the ring and the peripheral rim of the cartridge interferes with the ring so that the cartridge hangs in the ring. Because the rings attach to the hoop at an oblique angle, the labels on the lids of the cartridges are readily observed.

Problems solved by technology

However, because single-cup brewers give consumers so many options, cupboards and counters may become cluttered with different, unused beverage cartridges.

Therefore, stacking the containers on top of each other would cover the label and make it difficult for the consumer to choose the label of her choice.

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