Sealing means for beverage container

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved sealing means, typically a lid, for a beverage container. Positioned, between the annular cover portion of the lid and the rim of the beverage container, is a liquid permeable filter, this filter having an opening for receiving a mounting member in the form of a protrusion, which extends from the annular cover portion, downwards, through the annular cover portion, into the beverage container, where the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the liquid permeable filter is attached around the outer periphery of the protrusion. With a protrusion in the form of a tube surrounding an opening in the annular cover portion, food additives are allowed to be inserted after the lid has been mounted to the drinking container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to means for preparing hot, infused beverages. More particularly, it relates to sealing means for a hot beverage infusion device, used to prepare a single cup of coffee or tea.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The classical brewing principle, ‘presso’ brewing, where the coffee, tea or alike is blended with hot water and is separated from the liquid with a filter, is considered by many experts to be the best way to produce high quality coffee. However, this principle requires pots and filter-plungers and it is not ideal for the hot beverage to-go market. In recent years many attempts have been made to give customers a possibility to choose the type of beverage they want, with the base of only adding hot water or alike without investing in brewing machines. In US 2008 / 0035652 is described a drinking container with a top filter lid. This lid comprises a cover portion having an opening through which liquid can be consumed from the drink ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An advantage of the present invention is that the protrusion enables the liquid permeable filter to be attached both with accuracy and cost efficiency to the annular cover portion. This without any welding or need for expensive precision mounting tools.

[0008]According to another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing means further comprises another, second opening in the annular cover portion, providing access to the interior of the beverage container and to which a protrusion in the form of a tube is arranged. This tube extends from the second opening of the annular cover portion and downwards through the annular cover portion into the beverage container where the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the liquid permeable filter is attached around an outer peripheral side wall of the tube. This tube is, as indicated above, adapted to guide the liquid permeable filter and also to act as an attachment means between the tube and said opening in the filter.

[0009]Thus, a further advantage of the present invention is that the tube also provides the user with the ability to add milk and sweetener, such as sugar, without having to remove the lid and thereby risk of spilling of hot beverages.

[0010]A yet further advantage of the present invention is that since the filter is mounted on the protrusion / tube it is spaced apart from the annular cover portion such that the space defined between the underside of the lid and the filter allows fluid to flow freely, and at the same time use a larger area of the filter, thus minimizing clogging.

Problems solved by technology

However, this principle requires pots and filter-plungers and it is not ideal for the hot beverage to-go market.

The solution described seems to be a sturdy candidate for replacing the classical ‘presso’ brewing pot, but alas, this solution has a major disadvantage namely that, when using a filter to separate coffee powder and water, the filter tends to be filled with the small particles from the coffee.

Therefore it is not possible to drink the coffee or tea from the cup with a normal flow.

The filter will eventually be clogged.

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