An in-cup beverage brewing system and cup

Abstract

An in-cup beverage brewing system comprising a cup 3 with a base wall 16 and at least one sidewall 13 defining a liquid volume, a secondary base wall 4 provided within the cup above the base wall, the

Description

Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of brewed beverages and more particularly to an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup. Background to the Invention Single cup filter pods are commercially available. An outer container is provided with a charge of coffee preloaded inside. A lower periphery of the outer container is smaller in outer diameter than an upper portion of the outer container to allow the pod to be located above a cup. A lower wall of the outer container is provided with at least one and usually a series of drain openings which may be temporarily covered with a freshness sealing layer which is removed before use. An upper lid is provided. In use, the user removes the sealing layer and places the pod above a cup to receive the beverage. The lid is removed from the outer container and hot water is poured into the container, draining through the charge of preloaded coffee to create a coffee beverage in the cup. The pod can then be disposed of. These pods have issues because use requires storage of both the pod and the cup used to hold the beverage. An alternative solution is an in-cup solution in which a tub containing coffee is provided within a cup and sealed with foil. Before use, the foil is removed from the tub and water is poured directly into the cup. One issue with this solution is that the tub within the cup is substantial in volume, being I -2cm in height within the cup. This means that when stacking a series of cups one inside the next, the base wall of a cup inserted into a lower cup abuts the tub l-2cm from the bottom of the cup. If the stacked cups are to be stored, fewer cups can be stored because of the tub within the cup. It would therefore be an advance in the art to provide an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup which solves any one or more of the abovementioned problems. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an in-cup beverage brewing system comprising a cup with a base wall and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, a secondary base wall provided within the cup above the base wall and defining a brewing material containment volume within which brewing material is at least temporarily stored. Providing an in-cup beverage brewing system with these features maximises the useable volume of the cup for holding liquid and for storage as well as providing incup brewing in a single article. The beverage brewing system of the present invention is preferably directed to a single cup brewing system. The cup may preferably be made of recyclable material. In one form, the recyclable material is a biodegradable material. In one form, the material may be plant-based plastic. The material may be selected from the group including a polyethylene lined paper, a polyester made from renewable biomass such as a polylactic acid or polylactide (PLA) lined paper, or a PLA plastic or paper with an aqueous lining, with the latter being most preferred. In one form aqueous lining uses a water-based dispersion system of polymers to create a liquid impermeable barrier on a paper. The cup will preferably be a single walled cup. The base wall will preferably be planar. The base wall will preferably be circular. The base wall will preferably be sealed to the sidewall, preferably about the periphery of the base wall. The base wall may be located above the lower periphery of the side wall of the cup. A recess may be formed below the base wall and defined by one or more portions of the side wall which extend below the base wall. Preferably, a single sidewall is provided. As mentioned above, the single sidewall may extend below the base wall. The at least one side wall is preferably frustoconical in shape, but inverted having a smaller diameter lower portion diverging upwardly to a larger diameter rim. A lower periphery of the at least one side wall will preferably form an annular foot for the cup. An upper periphery of the at least one side wall may be rolled over a upon itself, preferably about the periphery of the at least one side wall. A lower portion of the at least one side wall may be stepped inwardly such that the lower portion is of smaller diameter than an upper portion of the cup. The inwardly stepped part may be approximately 0.5 to 1.5 cm in height but may be less. The base wall may preferably be located in the inwardly stepped part. In one form, the base wall may be located approximately halfway up the inwardly stepped part. The formation of the inwardly stepped part may form a circumferential ridge or shoulder on an inside surface of the at least one side wall within the cup. The secondary base wall will preferably be planar. The secondary base wall will preferably be circular. The secondary base wall preferably be sealed to the sidewall, preferably about a periphery of the secondary base wall. This may form two compartments within the cup, a lower compartment between the base wall and the secondary base wall and an upper compartment between the secondary base wall and the top of the cup. The secondary base wall may be spaced above the base wall to define a brewing material containment volume between the secondary base wall and the base wall for storing brewing material therein at least temporarily. The brewing material may be placed directly onto the base wall before the secondary base wall is installed within the cup. At least one opening may be provided in the secondary base wall which is temporarily closed and is opened to the atmosphere (and to a liquid poured into the cup) before use. The at least one opening may be a central opening or provided centrally in the secondary base wall. In one form, the at least one opening may be cruciform in shape. In one form, the at least one opening may be provided as one or more lines of weakness or perforations. A pair of preferred lines may intersect one another. In use, the of weakness or perforations may be separated prior to liquid being poured into the cup. As mentioned above, the at least one opening may be provided in a closed condition and may then be opened prior to use. Using lines of weakness rather than perforations may be preferred as the lines of weakness (which may not extend completely through the secondary base wall) may aid in maintaining the freshness of the brewing material provided, as opposed to perforations which, by their nature are openings, albeit small openings, through the secondary base wall. In use, a user may use a tool such as a straw or a spoon or even their finger to rupture the lines of weakness and / or perforations allowing a liquid poured into the cup to access the brewing material. The at least one opening preferably allows the liquid into the containment portion to disperse and mix with the brewing material. In some embodiments, the brewing material may be fluidised and might leave the containment portion. This will typically depend upon the configuration of the at least one opening. More than one opening may be provided. A plurality of openings may be provided in the secondary base wall. The plurality of openings may be provided as well as or instead of the at least one central opening. In an embodiment, a plurality of openings may be provided about the central opening. The plurality of openings may be provided in segments or regions in the secondary base wall, spaced about the periphery of the secondary base wall. In one form, the plurality of openings may be small, sufficiently small to allow liquid through but to substantially prevent brewing material from exiting the containment volume, preferably unless or until the brewing material is dissolved in the liquid. The in-cup beverage brewing system may further comprise a temporary sealing assembly to seal the at least one opening in the secondary base wall prior to use. At least one sealing layer may be provided. The at least one sealing layer is preferably impermeable. The at least one sealing layer may be impermeable to liquid and air. The at least one sealing layer may preferably be provided to seal to or relative to an upper side of the secondary base wall to close the at least one opening therein. The at least one sealing layer may be provided to seal to or relative to the at least one side wall of the cup. The at least one sealing layer may preferably be manufactured of one or more material which is used to form the cup. The least one sealing layer may be manufactured of a material which is different to that used to form the cup. The at least one sealing layer may have a gripping means such as a tab for example associated therewith to allow removal of the at least one sealing layer. The gripping means may be elongate, extending from the at least one sealing layer within the cup to an upper portion of the cup so that the user can access the gripping means without reaching into the cup. Any such gripping means may be temporarily attached to the side wall and / or be detachable from the side wall. The in-cup beverage brewing system may further comprise outer packaging within which one or more cups may be provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of cups may be stacked and placed within a sealed outer packaging. Preferably, the outer packaging will be hermetically sealed. In one form, the outer packaging may be manufactured from a flexible metal sleeve, such as for example a flexible aluminium. Once the cup or cups are placed within the outer packaging, the outer packaging may then be flushed with a gas prior to sealing in order to maintain the freshness of the brewing material within the cup or cups. This can mean that at least one sealing layer within the cup is not required, which may further simply manufacture and reduce waste. A gas such as nitrogen can be used. A lid may be provided for each cup. In one form, where a plurality of cups are placed into outer packaging, a corresponding number of lids may be provided within the outer packaging as well. Preferably, the cups are stacked, and the lids are stacked as well, before the lowermost lid is placed onto the uppermost cup within the outer packaging prior to sealing. The lid may include an upper rim, at least one side wall depending from the upper rim and a base wall with at least one opening therein. The lid may include a cavity in an upper side between the plane of the rim and the upper side of the base wall. The base wall may have more than one opening therein. If more than one opening is provided in the base wall, the openings may be arranged in one or more regions. The one or more regions may be provided spaced about the perimeter of the base wall, within the at least one side wall. Preferably, openings are arranged around the perimeter of the base wall inside the at least one side wall. More than one base wall may be provided. For example, a lower base wall may be provided with at least one opening therein and at least one solid portions. An upper base wall may be provided with at least one access opening. The upper base wall may be rotatable relative to the lower base wall. The upper base wall and the lower base wall may be parallel. A lower surface of the upper base wall may abut an upper surface of the lower base wall. In use, the upper base wall may be rotatable relative to the lower base wall to align the access opening n the upper base wall with at least one opening in the lower base wall to allow liquid to leave the lid through the aligned openings and to close the lid, preventing the liquid leaving the lid when the access opening in the upper base wall is aligned with a solid portions in the lower base wall. One or more vent openings may be provided spaced from the at least one opening in the lower base wall. The access opening in the upper base wall may be provided with a tab or similar which seals the access opening but is movable or removable to open the access opening. The tab may be defined by one or more lines of weakness in order to allow the tab to be moved or removed to open the access opening. Gripping means may be provided on the tab to allow the tab to be moved or removed. Detailed Description of the Invention In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an axonometric view of an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup according to a first embodiment. Figure 2 is a top view of the cup as illustrated in Figure 1 with the lid removed. Figure 3 is a section view of the system and cup illustrated in Figure 1 along line A-A. Figure 4 is an axonometric view of an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup according to a second embodiment. Figure 5 is a top view of the cup as illustrated in Figure 1 with the lid removed. Figure 6 is a section view of the system and cup illustrated in Figure 4 along line B-B. Figure 7 is an axonometric view of an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup according to a third embodiment. Figure 8 is a top view of the cup as illustrated in Figure 1 with the lid removed. Figure 9 is a section view of the system and cup illustrated in Figure 7 along line c c Figure 10 is an axonometric view of an in-cup beverage brewing system and cup according to a fourth embodiment. Figure 11 is a top view of the cup as illustrated in Figure 10 with the lid removed. Figure 12 is a section view of the system and cup illustrated in Figure 10 along line D-D. Figure 13 is a side elevation view of a stack of cups according to any of the four embodiments sealed in a sanitary outer sleeve. Figure 14 is a side elevation view of a stack of cups according to any of the four embodiments with their respective lids sealed in a sanitary outer sleeve. Embodiments of an in-cup beverage brewing system are illustrated in in the Figures. The preferred embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 12 in particular comprise a cup 3 with a base wall 16 and a sidewall 13 defining a liquid volume into which liquid is poured to make the beverage. A secondary base wall 4 is provided within the cup 3 above the base wall 16 and defining a brewing material containment volume within which brewing material 6 is at least temporarily stored. The cup 3 is preferably be made of recyclable material, most preferably, paper with an aqueous lining to create a liquid impermeable barrier on the paper. The cup 3 as shown, is a single walled cup. The base wall 16 of the illustrated embodiments is planar and circular. The base wall 16 will preferably be sealed to the sidewall 13, preferably about the periphery of the base wall 16. As shown, the base wall 16 is located above the lower periphery of the side wall 13 of the cup 3. A recess 17 is below the base wall 16 defined portions of the side wall 13 which extend below the base wall 16. The side wall of the illustrated cups is frustoconical in shape, but inverted having a smaller diameter lower portion diverging upwardly to a larger diameter rim 1. A lower periphery of the side wall 13 forms an annular foot for the cup 3. As shown, an upper periphery of the side wall 13 is rolled over a upon itself, about the periphery of the side wall 13 to form the rim 1. A lower portion 18 of the at least one side wall 13 is stepped inwardly such that the lower portion 18 is of smaller diameter than an upper portion of the cup 3. The inwardly stepped part 18 is approximately 0.5 to 1.5 cm in height but may be less. As shown in Figures 3, 6 and 12, the base wall 16 is located in the inwardly stepped part 18. In one form, the base wall 16 may be located approximately halfway up the inwardly stepped part 18. The formation of the inwardly stepped part 18 may form a circumferential ridge or shoulder on an inside surface of the side wall 13 within the cup 3. The secondary base wall 4 of the illustrated embodiments is also planar and circular. The secondary base wall 4 is also sealed to the sidewall, preferably about periphery of the secondary base wall 4. This form two compartments within the cup 3, a lower compartment between the base wall 16 and the secondary base wall 4 and an upper compartment between the secondary base wall 4 and the top of the cup 3. The secondary base wall 4 is spaced above the base wall 16 to define a brewing material containment volume between a lower side of the secondary base wall 4 and an upper side of the base wall 16 for storing brewing material 6 therein at least temporarily. The brewing material 6 may be placed directly onto the base wall 16 before the secondary base wall 4 is installed within the cup 3. A brewing opening 5 is provided in the secondary base wall 4 which is temporarily closed and is opened to the atmosphere (and to a liquid poured into the cup 3) before use. The brewing opening 5 illustrated is provided centrally in the secondary base wall 4. In the illustrated form, the brewing opening 5 is cruciform in shape. The brewing opening 5 allows the liquid into the brewing material containment portion to disperse and mix with the brewing material 6. In some embodiments, the brewing material 6 may be fluidised and might leave the containment portion. This will typically depend upon the configuration of the brewing opening 6. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a plurality of openings 7 may be provided in the secondary base wall 4. The plurality of openings 7 are shown provided about the central brewing opening 5. In one form, the plurality of openings 7 may be small, sufficiently small to allow liquid through but to substantially prevent brewing material 6 from exiting the brewing material containment volume, preferably unless or until the brewing material 6 is dissolved in the liquid. As mentioned above, at least one sealing layer 10 may be provided to temporarily seal the openings 5,7 in the secondary base wall 4 prior to use. Any sealing layer 10 is preferably impermeable to liquid and air. This may assist in maintaining the freshness of the brewing material 6. The sealing layer 10 may seal to or relative to an upper side of the secondary base wall 4 to close the openings 5, 7 therein and / or may seal to or relative to the side wall 13 of the cup 3. The sealing layer 10 may preferably be manufactured of one or more material which is used to form the cup 3 or a foil material or foil including layer could be used. As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the sealing layer 10 may have a gripping means 9 such as a tab for example associated therewith to allow removal of the sealing layer 10. The gripping means 9 shown is elongate, extending from the sealing layer 10 within the cup 3 to an upper portion of the cup 3 so that the user can access the gripping means 10 without reaching into the cup 3. Any such gripping means 10 may be temporarily attached to the side wall 13 and / or be detachable from the side wall 13, such as by providing lines of weakness or perforations. A lid 14 may be provided for each cup 3. Although any type of lid may be provided, the illustrated lids 14 include an upper rim, a side wall depending from the upper rim and a base wall with a drinking opening therein. The lid 14 may include a cavity in an upper side between the plane of the rim and the upper side of the base wall, which may reduce spillage. The base wall of the illustrated lid 14 has a mesh insert 2 provided within the drinking opening. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the in-cup beverage brewing system may further comprise outer packaging 11 within which one or more cups 3 are provided. In one embodiment, a plurality of cups 3 may be stacked and placed within sleeve with a closed bottom and a sealable top seal 15. Preferably, the outer packaging will be hermetically sealed. In one form, the outer packaging 11 may be manufactured from a flexible metal sleeve, such as for example a flexible aluminium. In the form shown in Figure 14, a plurality of cups 3 are placed into outer packaging 11 and a corresponding number of lids 14 are also provided within the outer packaging as well. Preferably, the cups a3 re stacked, and the lids 14 are stacked as well, before the lowermost lid is placed onto the uppermost cup within the outer 5 packaging 11 prior to sealing. Once the cup or cups are placed within the outer packaging, the outer packaging volume 12 may then be flushed with a gas such as nitrogen, prior to sealing in order to maintain the freshness of the brewing material 6 within the cup 3 or cups. The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. 10 Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An in-cup beverage brewing system comprising a cup with a base wall and at least one sidewall defining a liquid volume, a secondary base wall provided within the cup above the base wall and defining a brewing material containment volume within which brewing material is at least temporarily stored.

2. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cup is made of recyclable material selected from the group comprising plant-based plastic, polyethylene lined paper, polyester made from renewable biomass such as a polylactic acid or poly lactide (PLA) lined paper, PLA plastic or paper with an aqueous lining.

3. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a lower portion of the at least one side wall is stepped inwardly to form an inwardly stepped portion which is of smaller diameter than an upper portion of the cup.

4. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the inwardly stepped portion is 0.5 to 1.5 cm in height.

5. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the base wall is located in the inwardly stepped portion.

6. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the secondary base wall is sealed to the sidewall about a periphery of the secondary base wall.

7. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the precedingclaims wherein the at least one opening is a central opening in the secondary base wall.

8. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one opening is cruciform in shape.

9. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one opening is provided as one or more lines ofweakness or perforations which are separated prior to liquid being poured into the cup.

10. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 9 wherein on the one or more lines of weakness or perforations intersect one another.

11. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the secondary base wall.

12. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of filter openings are provided about a central opening, the filter openings sufficiently small to allow liquid through but to substantially prevent brewing material from exiting the containment volume.

13. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a temporary sealing assembly to seal the at least one opening in the secondary base wall prior to use.

14. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the temporary sealing assembly comprises at least one sealing layer.

15. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the at least one sealing layer seals to or relative to an upper side of the secondary base wall to close the at least one opening therein.

16. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the at least one sealing layer seals to or relative to the at least one side wall of the cup.

17. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the at least one sealing layer includes a gripping means associated therewith to allow removal of the at least one sealing layer.

18. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the gripping means is elongate, extending from the at least one sealing layer within the cup to an upper portion of the cup.

19. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the gripping means is temporarily attached to the side wall and / or is detachable from the side wall.

20. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding 5 claims further comprising a lid comprising an upper rim, at least one side walldepending from the upper rim and a base wall with at least one opening therein.

21. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising hermetically sealed outer packaging within which one or more cups are provided.10 22. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 21 wherein a pluralityof cups are stacked within the outer packaging.

23. An in-cup beverage brewing system as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein once the cup or cups are placed within the outer packaging, the outer packaging is then be flushed with a gas prior to hermetically sealing the outer packaging.15

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