Beverage filter pouch

Abstract

A beverage filter includes a permeable bag portion configured to contain beverage grounds. The bag portion includes a top open portion and a bottom closed surface. Cantilever- biased hangers are coupled to the bag portion proximal the top open portion. The hangers are configured to be attached to a beverage maker.

Description

BEVERAGE FILTER POLCHCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 621,105, filed January 15, 2024. The present application is related to International Application No. PCT / US22 / 36588, filed 08 July 2022, International Application No. PCT / US23 / 26822, filed 30 June 2023, US Provisional Patent Application Nos. 63 / 219,569, filed 08 July 2021, 63 / 424,097, filed 09 November 2022, and 63 / 454,029, filed 22 March 2023, all of the aforementioned disclosures of which are hereby incorporated, in their entireties, by this reference as if fully set forth herein .BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the embodiments may be realized by reference to the following drawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label.

[0003] Figs. 1-7c illustrate several views of a beverage filter according to one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0004] While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] This application is intended to describe one or more embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the use of absolute terms, such as “must,” “will,” and the like, as well as specific quantities, is to be construed as being applicable to one or more of such embodiments, but not necessarily to all such embodiments. As such, embodiments of the invention may omit, or include a modification of, one or more features or functionalities described in the context of such absolute terms. In addition, the headings in this application are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of the present invention. This description provides examples, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements.

[0006] Thus, various embodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, it should be appreciated that the methods may be performed in an order different than that described, and that various steps may be added, omitted or combined. Also, aspects and elements described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments. It should also be appreciated that the following systems, methods, and devices may individually or collectively be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures may take precedence over or otherwise modify their application.

[0007] The detailed description of exemplary' embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0008] An embodiment leverages existing automated filling systems for other in-cup drip coffee bags and tea bags, but the design of the filter itself is unique and there are some distinguishing features not currently found in existing products.

[0009] In a filter design according to an embodiment, various views of which are illustrated in Figs. 1-6, hangers 10 are intended to be used with one or more coffee makers (and filter holders), for example those disclosed in one or more of the patent applications referenced in paragraph

[0001] above, and not hang on the edge of a cup or other drinking vessel. An embodiment further includes a 90-degree, curved perforation 20 to remove a top enclosing comer 30 of the filter, which is filled, or not, with coffee, tea or other similarly brewed beverage. In the remainder of this document, such beverage shall be generically referred to as coffee for the sake of simplicity'. The hangers 10 also act as cantilever springs to hold the top of the filter open in the shape of, for example, a rectangle at the top.

[0010] Figs. 1-6 illustrate the flat / square configuration (Fig. 4) as an embodiment can ship to customers, and multiple other images of the filter open and in ready-to-brew configuration. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the "flat" unopened filter can be sealed on three sides, either filled with coffee or empty, with the fourth side being folded. To open / use the filter, the user may tear the top corner and sides 30 free at perforation 20 and discard the corner / sides. One can then grasp the hangers 10, pull the filter open, and place it on the coffee system and / or filter holders. Once open, a seam 60 (Figs. 7a-7c) can distinguish the remaining sealed side from the previously folded side.

[0011] In an embodiment, the "feeder material" for these filters may be supplied on rolls that feed into an automated coffee filling / packaging machine. This converted material can have the hangers 10 already attached (double wide) so that when the web is folded in half it forms a two-sided filter. The roll of feeder material can be fed into the filling / packaging machine, the web folded in half and sealed together via heat or ultrasonic methods while simultaneously filling it with ground coffee. The resulting filled pouch may be square.

[0012] When the top enclosing corner 30 of the square filter bag is removed, and the filter is opened (to hang on the coffee machine or specifically designed holder), it forms a shapethat is rectangular at the top open surface 40 and conical at the bottom closed surface 50. The rectangular shape at the top is formed from the unique hanger 10. The hanger 10 also provides spring tension (because it flexes slightly) to help the bag stay open during brewing, as mentioned above.

[0013] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A beverage filter, comprising: a permeable bag portion configured to contain beverage grounds, the bag portion including a top open portion and a bottom closed surface; and cantilever-biased hangers coupled to the bag portion proximal the top open portion, the hangers configured to be attached to a beverage maker.

2. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the top open portion is rectangular.

3. The filter of claim 1 , wherein the bottom closed surface is conical.

4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the bag portion can be in a closed configuration in which the bag portion is sealed on three sides.

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