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Disposable Single Serve Coffee Pod Usage Indicator and Messaging System

a single-serve coffee pod and usage indicator technology, applied in the direction of level indications, packaging, container decorations, etc., can solve the problems of brewing apparatus not being able to detect the presence of previously brewed cartridges, unable to positively identify previously brewed cartridges, and unable to achieve optimal beverage, so as to achieve the effect of easy identification

Inactive Publication Date: 2016-08-25
DOLAN JR MICHAEL FRANCIS
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a way to visibly change the appearance of a beverage cartridge during brewing to catch the consumer's attention and offer information about the cartridge. This is achieved by using a thermochromic medium that changes color, clarity, or appearance in response to the heat generated by the brewing apparatus or water. The appearance change can be used to convey information about the cartridge's compatibility, brewing requirements, and contents to the brewing apparatus. This method can be used with all hot beverage cartridges, like coffee, tea, cocoa, or cappuccinos.

Problems solved by technology

This is because subsequent brewing with the same cartridge will yield a weaker then optimal beverage.
However if an operator opens and closes the brewing cartridge receptacle but forgets to replace the cartridge, the brewing apparatus has no way to detect the presence of a previously brewed cartridge.
Additionally when the operator opens the brewing apparatus cartridge receptacle, he or she has no convenient way to positively identify a previously brewed cartridge.
These are inconvenient checks and they are not available to the user after enough time passes for the heat to dissipate and for the water to evaporate.
These printed logos and messages are small and don't maximize interest because the purposeful comprehension of the details within does not provide potential benefit to the beverage consumer.

Method used

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  • Disposable Single Serve Coffee Pod Usage Indicator and Messaging System
  • Disposable Single Serve Coffee Pod Usage Indicator and Messaging System
  • Disposable Single Serve Coffee Pod Usage Indicator and Messaging System

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0041]One embodiment of the coffee pod indicator and messaging system is illustrated in FIG. 1 (Dot Indicator). Item 104 is the base cup of a typical Keurig Green Mountain Company or similar single serve coffee pod cartridge. Item 102 is the typical aluminum, metallic, polymer, paper, membrane, plastic or functionally similar cover on the single serve coffee filter pod. Item 106 is an irreversible thermochromic marking medium ink or coating, such as a leuco dye matrix or wax melt dye that will develop an externally visible change in color, transparency, shading or appearance in response to temperature elevations.

[0042]In operation, the FIG. 1 coffee pod embodiment is inserted into a conventional Keurig Green Mountain Company style single serve brewing machine as any common single serve coffee pod cartridge. During the brewing process the brewing machine creates a hole in cover 102 and base cup 104. The brewing apparatus will direct heated brewing water to pass through the hole creat...

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PUM

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for visibly changing the appearance of a single serve hot beverage cartridge pod to identify its having been previously brewed, along, where desired, together with or independently visualizing previously hidden message content embedded within the cartridge pod construction itself.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Provisional patent applications covering the invention described herein were filed on Jan. 27, 2015, (assigned Ser. No. 62 / 108,085), and on Feb. 21, 2015, (assigned Ser. No. 62 / 119,140).STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0003]NOT APPLICABLEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]1. Field of the Invention[0005]This invention relates to single serve hot beverage cartridges, in general, and to a manner of visibly changing the appearance of the cartridge as an indication of its being previously brewed, in particular.[0006]2. Description of the Related Art[0007]Single serve hot beverage cartridges such as the Keurig Green Mountain Company's K-CUPS are meant to be brewed only one time. This is because subsequent brewing with the same cartridg...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65D85/804
CPCB65D85/8046B65D2203/12B65D85/8058
Inventor DOLAN, JR., MICHAEL FRANCIS
Owner DOLAN JR MICHAEL FRANCIS