Biodegradable beverage cartridge

Abstract

A beverage cartridge and method for forming a beverage cartridge. A cup may be made of cellulose fibers. A liner may be provided at the inner space of the cup. The cup may define an interior space that is closed by a lid. A filter may be attached to the liner and / or lid. A biodegradable coating may be applied to an outer surface of the cup, the outer coating being impervious to moisture and gases, e.g., to protect a beverage material in the interior space.

Description

K0502.70268WQ00BIODEGRADABLE BEVERAGE CARTRIDGECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional application serial number 63 / 715,724, filed November 4, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] The field relates to beverage cartridges for use in beverage machines.BACKGROUND

[0003] Beverage cartridges for use in beverage forming systems that use a liquid, such as water, to form a beverage are well known. For example, U.S. Patent 8,361,527 discloses a beverage forming system that uses a beverage cartridge containing a beverage material to make a beverage by introducing liquid into the cartridge.SUMMARY

[0004] According to some aspects, a beverage cartridge is provided. The beverage cartridge comprises a cup formed of a biodegradable material. The cup comprises a cup bottom, a cup top, cup sidewalls extending between the cup bottom and the cup top, and a cup flange extending from the cup top. The cup also comprises an opening at the cup top. The beverage cartridge also comprises a liner formed of a biodegradable material, the liner comprising a sidewall liner portion disposed along an inner surface of the cup sidewalls and a flange liner portion disposed on an upper portion of the cup flange. The beverage cartridge also comprises a lid covering the opening. The beverage cartridge also comprises a filter attached to the liner and / or the lid. A bottom of the filter is disposed above the cup bottom. The beverage cartridge also comprises a biodegradable coating disposed on a surface of the cup and configured to at least partially prevent intrusion of gas and / or liquids through the cup.

[0005] According to some aspects, a method of forming a biodegradable beverage cartridge is disclosed. The method comprises forming a cup from a biodegradable material, the cup having a cup bottom, a cup top, cup sidewalls extending between the cup bottom and cup top, a cup flange extending from the cup top and an opening at the cup top, attaching a biodegradable liner to the cup such that a liner sidewall portion is disposed along an inner surface of the cup sidewalls, and a liner flange portion disposed on an upper portion of the cup flange, covering the opening with a lid, attaching a biodegradable filter to the biodegradableliner and / or the lid, and coating a surface of the cup with a biodegradable coating, the biodegradable coating configured to at least partially prevent intrusion of gas and / or liquids through the cup.

[0006] It should be appreciated that the foregoing concepts, and additional concepts discussed below, may be arranged in any suitable combination, as the present disclosure is not limited in this respect. Further, other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures may be represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a beverage cartridge according to an embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the beverage cartridge of FIG. 1 ; and

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the beverage cartridge of FIG. 1 engaged with a beverage machine.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] As discussed above, beverage cartridges for use in beverage machines are well known. Such cartridges are generally configured to contain a beverage ingredient (e.g. coffee grinds, tea leaves, powdered drink mix, etc.). Generally, such beverage cartridges include a cup and a lid sealed onto the cup. The lid and cup are formed of material(s) which at least partially prevent moisture and / or gas intrusion into the beverage cartridge, allowing the beverage ingredient in the beverage cartridge to remain fresh for a longer period of time. Typically, the cup is formed of a plastic material (e.g. polypropylene), and the lid is formed of a foil material (e.g. aluminum foil, plastic foil, etc.). The beverage cartridges may also include a filter attached to the cup or lid. Such a filter may be configured to prevent solid beverage ingredient (e.g. coffee grinds, tea leaves, etc.) from flowing out of the beverage cartridge during beverage formation.

[0012] The beverage cartridge is configured to be placed in a cartridge chamber of a beverage machine, and the cartridge chamber of the beverage machine is moved to a closed position. In some embodiments, as the beverage machine is closed, the lid and the cup of the13166996.1beverage cartridge may be pierced by inlet and outlet piercing mechanisms of the beverage machine to allow for a precursor ingredient, (e.g. water) to flow into the beverage cartridge via the inlet piercing mechanism and combine with the precursor ingredient to form a beverage, and to allow the formed beverage to flow out of the beverage cartridge via the outlet piercing mechanism.

[0013] The inventor(s) have recognized the benefits of providing beverage cartridges that are biodegradable (and in some embodiments, compostable). Cup portions of such cartridges may be permeable and made of a cellulose fiber material (e.g. a paper material).

[0014] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to attach a filter to the cup portion of beverage cartridges in order to prevent solid beverage ingredient from flowing into portions of the beverage machine. As discussed above, in some embodiments, it may be desirable to attach a lid to the cup portion of beverage cartridges in order to seal the beverage ingredient in the cartridge. However, the inventor(s) have recognized that it may be difficult to attach such filters and lids to walls of conventional biodegradable beverage cartridges due to the difficulty of adhering filters and lids to the paper material of the cup of a conventional biodegradable cartridge.

[0015] The inventor(s) have therefore recognized an advantage to adhering a liner to sidewalls of the cup of a biodegradable (and in some embodiments, compostable) beverage cartridge. The liner may be disposed along a flange of the cup portion of the beverage cartridge, and extend along an interior side of the sidewalls of the cup portion. Using such a liner may allow for the attaching of the filter and / or lid to the cup portion of the cartridge when the cup portion is formed of a paper material. Such a liner may be formed of a biodegradable plastic such as polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) in order to still allow the cartridge to be biodegradable (and in some embodiments, compostable).

[0016] In some embodiments, the liner also extends along an interior side of the bottom of the cup. However, in some embodiments, the inventors have recognized that such a configuration may lead to delamination of the liner from the cup portion during beverage formation. As a piercing mechanism of the beverage machine pierces the beverage cartridge, the piercing mechanism may push on the liner. If adherence between the liner and the interior side of the cup bottom is not sufficiently strong, the liner may delaminate from the bottom of the cup without piercing the liner, creating a “tenting” effect where the beverage cartridge is fully seated in the beverage machine, but is not properly pierced. This could result in liquid from the beverage machine either not entering the beverage cartridge, or not exiting the beverage cartridge in the designated area, leading to leakage of liquid into the beverage machine itself.13166996.1The inventors have therefore recognized an advantage to leaving the liner open at the bottom in some embodiments, such that the liner does not run along the bottom of the cup.

[0017] The inventor(s) have recognized that another problem with conventional biodegradable beverage cartridges is that the cellulose fiber cups themselves may be incapable of preserving the quality of beverage material contained in the cartridge for an extended period. That is, cellulose fiber materials are permeable to moisture and gases, such as oxygen. Many beverage materials, such as coffee grounds, are sensitive to contamination by moisture, oxidation or other environmental conditions that might negatively impact the beverage material’s ability to make a quality drink. As a result, a permeable cartridge, such as a conventional tea bag-type device or coffee pod, is typically incapable of maintaining roast and ground coffee fresh for much more than a few days or a week when exposed to ambient air / moisture.

[0018] The result is that paper or other cartridges made of permeable material must be packed in a secondary container, such as an overwrap that provides an impermeable barrier to moisture and / or gases. This may be undesirable because it may require additional non- biodegradable materials, negating many of the advantages of using biodegradable cartridges in the first place. Generally, such a secondary container will hold a plurality of beverage cartridges. As a result, a user must use all of the cartridges relatively quickly after opening the secondary container, or risk spoilage or staleness of the beverage ingredient in the remaining cartridges.

[0019] While it may be possible to form the liner out of a biodegradable material which will also provide an impermeable barrier, such a configuration would necessitate the liner to extend along the cup bottom to ensure there is no entry point for moisture and / or gases. Such a configuration could lead to the delamination issue discussed above.

[0020] The inventors have therefore recognized an advantage to applying a coating to the exterior side of the cup which acts as a barrier to at least partially prevent moisture and / or gas intrusion into the beverage cartridge.

[0021] Such a coating may be composed of biodegradable materials. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a polysaccharide, such as cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen, alginate, and / or galactogen. The coating may be applied to the cup using any suitable application methods, such as spray deposition, enrobing, dipping the cup in a bath of the coating, or any other suitable application method, and then allowed to dry onto the outer surfaces of the cup (e.g. the cup bottom and cup sidewalls).

[0022] In some embodiments, to provide a complete barrier to moisture and / or gases, the lid itself may act as a barrier. The lid may therefore be formed of a material which provides such a barrier. In some embodiments, the lid is formed of a biodegradable material, such as13166996.1PBAT, and may be composted with the rest of the beverage cartridge. In some embodiments, the lid may be formed of a non-biodegradable material, such as aluminum foil. When the lid is formed of non-biodegradable material(s), the lid may be peelable from the cup in order to allow the lid to be disposed of or recycled, and allowing the rest of the beverage cartridge to be composted.

[0023] Turning to the figures, specific non-limiting embodiments are described in further detail. It should be understood that the various systems, components, features, and methods described relative to these embodiments may be used either individually and / or in any desired combination as the disclosure is not limited to only the specific embodiments described herein.

[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of an illustrative cartridge 100 that incorporates one or more aspects of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge 100 engaged with piercing mechanisms of a beverage machine. The cartridge 100 may be used in a beverage machine to form any suitable beverage such as tea, coffee, other infusion-type beverages, beverages formed from a liquid or powdered concentrate, etc. Thus, the cartridge 100 may contain any suitable beverage material, e.g., ground coffee, tea leaves, dry herbal tea, powdered beverage concentrate, dried fruit extract or powder, powdered or liquid concentrated bouillon or other soup, powdered or liquid medicinal materials (such as powdered vitamins, drugs or other pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, etc.), and / or other beverage-making material (such as powdered milk or other creamers, sweeteners, thickeners, flavorings, and so on). In one illustrative embodiment, the cartridge 100 contains a beverage material that is configured for use with a machine that forms coffee and / or tea beverages, however, aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.

[0025] In this illustrative embodiment, the cartridge 100 includes a cup 102 that includes a cup interior space 103. As one example, the cup 102 may have a frustoconical shape with a flat cup bottom 104, and a cup sidewall 106 that extends upwardly from the cup bottom 104 to a cup top 107 where a cup opening 108 to the cup interior space 103 is defined. In this embodiment, the cup 102 also includes a cup rim or flange 110 that extends outwardly from the cup top 107. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the cup 102 may have other shapes, sizes or other features. For example, the cup 102 may have a conical or cylindrical shape, may be in the form of a square or rectangular cup, a domed cup, a sphere or partial sphere, an irregular shape, or other suitable form, may have a fluted, corrugated, or otherwise shaped sidewall, and so on. The cup bottom 104 need not be flat, but may be ribbed, corrugated, include one or more recesses (e.g., a central recess that extends into the cup interior space 103), and so on.13166996.1

[0026] In this embodiment, the cup 102 is formed at least in part of paper or other cellulose fibers. Generally speaking, the cup 102 in this embodiment may be arranged to provide structural support for the cartridge 100 so as to define a shape and size of the cartridge 100. So, while the cup 102 may be somewhat compliant or crushable, the cup 102 may have sufficient stiffness to allow the cartridge 100 to be handled, placed in the cartridge holder of a beverage machine, and pierced by one or more elements, such as an outlet needle, to introduce liquid into and allow beverage to exit the cartridge 100.

[0027] The cup 102 may be formed using any suitable process of forming cups from cellulose materials. In some embodiments, the cup may be a unitary body formed by compressing the cellulose fibers into the shape of the cup 102 in a mold. In some embodiments, a wet molding process may be used. In some embodiments, a dry molding process may be used. In some embodiments, the cup 102 may be a formed paper cup. Such a formed paper cup may be assembled by folding, rolling, or otherwise shaping various sheets of cellulose fibers into the shape of the cup 102. For instance, the cup bottom 104 may be formed of a single, generally circular cellulose fiber sheet, and the cup sidewall 106 may be a single cellulose fiber sheet attached to a perimeter of the cup bottom to form the sidewall shape. Edges of the sidewall and bottom sheets may be adhered and sealed together to form the cup 102. In some embodiments, a separate sheet is used to form a cup flange 110, which is then attached to the cup sidewalls 106. In some embodiments, a cup flange 110 may be formed by rolling, folding, or otherwise shaping a portion of the sidewall 106 adjacent to the cup opening 108.

[0028] The cartridge 100 also includes a liner 200 that is positioned in the cup interior space 103. In one embodiment, the liner 200 may be made of a biodegradable material, such as polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), in order to retain biodegradability of the beverage cartridge. The liner 200 need not be relied on to provide structural integrity for the cartridge 100 and so may be made relatively thin, e.g., having a thickness of 0.0005 to 0.004 inches or less, such as 0.0005 inches, 0.001 inches, 0.002 inches, 0.003 inches, or 0.004 inches..

[0029] As discussed above, and as best seen in FIG. 3, it may be desirable for the liner 200 to be open at the liner bottom 204. Such a configuration may be desirable to prevent delamination of the liner 200 from the cup bottom 104 when the cup 102 is pierced by a piercing element 602 of the beverage machine.

[0030] In this embodiment, the liner 200 is attached to the inner surface of the cup sidewall 106 such that the liner sidewall 206 is disposed along the inner surface of the cup sidewall 106. The liner may also include a liner flange portion 210 disposed along and attached to an upper portion of cup flange 110. The liner may be attached using any suitable process (e.g.,13166996.1by heat welding). As will be discussed further below, positioning liner 200 in this manner provides attachment surfaces for the lid 400 and / or the filter 300.

[0031] As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the cartridge 100 also includes a filter 300 that is provided in the liner interior space 202 of the liner 200. The filter 300 may be arranged in a variety of different ways, and in this case is configured to separate first and second chambers or portions of the cup interior space 103 from each other, at least in a flow- wise sense. That is, the filter 300 may be arranged so that liquid in a first chamber 103a must pass through the filter 300 to enter a second chamber 103b, e.g., to exit the cartridge. In this illustrative embodiment, the first chamber 103a is located above the filter 300 and the second chamber 103b is located below the filter 300 so that liquid introduced at a top of the cartridge 100 enters the first chamber 103a, and flows downwardly through the filter 300 to the second chamber 103b. It should be understood, however, that other additional chambers in the cup interior space 103 and / or sub-portions or areas of the first and second chambers, may be provided in other embodiments. For example, it is possible for the cartridge 100 to have three spaces that are separated by two filters, walls or other structures (e.g., a first perforated wall may separate two portions of a first chamber and a second filter may separate the first and second chambers), and so on. In another embodiment, the first or second chamber may be separated into two portions by a venturi or other feature that introduces air into a beverage. Thus, the first and / or second chambers (or additional chambers) may be divided or otherwise separated into two or more portions or areas by filters, walls, dividers, passageways, and other features.

[0032] In this illustrative embodiment, the filter 300 may have a substantially curved shape with a generally domed filter bottom 304, as shown. However, the filter 300 may have any suitable shape, such as a cylindrical shape, a square cup shape, a frustoconical shape, a flat sheet, or other. In some embodiments, the filter sidewall 302 may be pleated or corrugated. The filter 300 may be attached to portions of the cartridge 100 in any suitable way, such as by an adhesive, thermal welding, ultrasonic welding, chemical bonding, crimping or other mechanical bonding, etc. In this illustrative embodiment, the filter 300 may include a permeable filter paper made of biodegradable material(s), although other materials can be used.

[0033] In this illustrative embodiment, the filter 300 is attached to the liner sidewall 206, e.g., by heat welding. For example, the filter 300 may have a cup-shape with an upper portion of the filter sidewall 302 welded to the liner sidewall 206 at a location below the liner flange 210. In another arrangement, the filter 300 may be attached to the liner flange 210 or in other locations. The filter 300 may function to remove materials over a certain size from a liquid, e.g., may remove coffee grounds from liquid in first chamber 103a, allowing a coffee beverage to pass through the filter 300 to the second chamber 103b. For example, the filter 300 may include13166996.1a piece of filter paper that is arranged to allow a liquid and dissolved and / or suspended materials of a certain size to pass, yet prevent relatively large particles from flowing through the filter. Of course, the filter 300 may have multiple stages, e.g., a coarse filter portion that filters out relatively large particles, followed by a fine filter portion that filters relatively smaller particles, and so on. In addition, the filter 300 may include one or more portions that function to filter liquid passing through the filter 300, as well as portions that are impermeable or otherwise restrict flow. Thus, the filter 300 may include two or more separate components, if desired. For example, the filter 300 may include a rigid, impermeable plastic sleeve (e.g. a PBAT sleeve) that is attached to the liner sidewall 206 and a porous filter paper may be attached to the sleeve, e.g., at a bottom of the sleeve. Thus, not all portions of the filter need be permeable to liquids. The filter 300 may also have areas with different permeability, e.g., to help direct flow toward one or more areas of the filter 300. For example, upper regions of the filter 300 may have a relatively lower permeability as compared to lower regions. This may help encourage flow through the beverage material toward lower regions of the filter 300, potentially improving the dissolution of materials into the liquid.

[0034] The filter 300 may also, or alternately, function to help prevent the movement of beverage materials from the second chamber 103b to the first chamber 103a. For example, the cartridge 100 may include a beverage material in the second chamber 103b and no beverage material in the first chamber 103a. In this case, the filter 300 may help prevent contact of the beverage material with a needle or other liquid inlet that pierces the cartridge 100 to introduce water or other liquid into a top of the cartridge 100. For example, some beverage material, such as powdered drink mixes, can clog or otherwise foul an inlet needle if allowed to contact the needle. The filter 300 may help prevent such contact, helping to maintain proper operation of the cartridge and preparation of a beverage.

[0035] As discussed above, it may be desirable for the cartridge to include a barrier to moisture and gases such as oxygen. While the liner material itself may be impermeable to moisture and air, because the liner 200 may be open at the bottom to avoid the delamination issue discussed above, the liner 200 alone may not be sufficient to provide a barrier to moisture and gas when the liner is configured in this manner. It may therefore be desirable to apply a biodegradable coating 500 to surfaces of the cup 102 which has moisture and gas barrier properties to at least partially prevent moisture and / or gas intrusion into the beverage cartridge. This may allow a beverage material such as coffee grounds in the cup interior space 103 of the cup 102 to be stored for a period of 1-2 months or more without noticeable degradation or other effect on the beverage material by ambient moisture or air, while still allowing the cup 102 to be biodegradable (and in some embodiments, compostable).13166996.1

[0036] The coating 500 may be applied to an exterior surface 105 of the cup 102, an interior surface 109 of the cup, or both. In some embodiments, the coating 500 is applied to the entirety of the interior surface 109 and / or the exterior surface 105. In some embodiments, the coating 500 is applied to one or more portions of the interior surface 109 and / or the exterior surface 105. For instance, the coating may be applied to any combination of inner and outer surfaces of the cup sidewalls 106, inner and outer surfaces of the cup bottom 104, and upper and lower surfaces of the cup flange 110, as the disclosure is not so limited. When coating 500 is applied to the interior surface 109, the coating may in some embodiments be applied to the interior surface 109 before attachment of the liner 200. Alternatively, or in addition, the coating 500 may be applied over the liner 200. In still other embodiments, the coating 500 applied to the interior surface 109 may replace the liner entirely, and the filter and / or lid may be attached directly to the coating 500, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0037] The coating 500 may comprise any of a variety of suitable materials. For example, the coating may comprise one or more food-safe materials. According to some embodiments, the coating comprises a polysaccharide (e.g., a food-safe and / or a biodegradable polysaccharide). A polysaccharide generally comprises a polymerized sugar. The polysaccharide may be a natural polysaccharide, a synthetic modification of a natural polysaccharide, or a purely synthetic polysaccharide, depending on the embodiments. The polysaccharide may be a homopolysaccharide or a heteropolysaccharide. Any of a variety of suitable polysaccharides, including but not limited to cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen, alginate (e.g., sodium alginate, calcium alginate), and galactogen may be used in the coating, depending on the embodiment. According to some embodiments, coatings comprising alginate have been identified as particularly useful, e.g., because alginate coating materials may provide favorable combinations of the advantageous coating properties described above.

[0038] The coating 500 may include exactly one polysaccharide or may include a plurality of polysaccharides, depending on the embodiment. For example, according to some embodiments, the coating comprises exactly one polysaccharide coating the cup 102. As another example, according to some embodiments, the coating 500 comprises a homogenized blend of two or more polysaccharides. To provide yet another example, in some embodiments, the coating 500 comprises two or more unmixed polysaccharides. Unmixed polysaccharides of the coating may have any of a variety of different dispositions within the coating. For example, unmixed polysaccharides may be included in the coating in the form of two or more distinct layers of the coating, or in the form of a single, multi-phase composite layer. In some embodiments, the coating 500 comprises a multi-phase composite layer wherein a first polysaccharide forms a matrix, and the second polysaccharide is present in the matrix in the13166996.1form of a dispersed phase such as fibers or particles. For example, in some embodiments, the coating 500 comprises a composite of an alginate matrix and a second polysaccharide (e.g., starch). The second polysaccharide may provide mechanical support to the coating and / or may be a filler configured to dilute the alginate without degrading coating properties.

[0039] A polysaccharide may be a cross-linked polysaccharide. Any of a variety of suitable cross-links may be used. For example, cross-links may be covalent or ionic. In some embodiments, the polysaccharide is cross-linked reversibly. For example, a polysaccharide may be reversibly, ionically cross-linked. In some embodiments, a polysaccharide is cross-linked using a cross-linking agent. Generally, a cross-linking agent is a chemical species that facilitates cross-linking, e.g., by chemically reacting to form a cross-link as part of a cross-linking reaction, or by catalyzing a cross-linking reaction. A cross-linking agent may be consumed during the cross-linking reaction, or may simply facilitate the reaction without undergoing a net chemical change.

[0040] In some embodiments, a cross-linking agent comprises an ionic cross-linker. The ionic cross-linker may be configured to react with the polysaccharide to form a cross-linked polysaccharide, e.g., by providing appropriate reaction conditions. For example, the ionic crosslinker may be configured to form ionic cross-links in an aqueous environment under appropriate salt and / or pH conditions. The ionic cross-linker may comprise a salt. For example, the ionic cross-linker may comprise a salt comprising one or more multivalent ions. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, multivalent ions may be useful for ionic cross-linkers, since multivalent ions may form ionic bonds with multiple polysaccharides simultaneously.According to some embodiments, an ionic cross-linker comprises a multivalent cation. For example, according to some embodiments, a salt comprising a divalent cation may be particularly advantageous if used as a divalent ionic cross-linker. Any of a variety of suitable ionic cross-linkers may generally be used to cross-link a polysaccharide. For example, in some embodiments, a polysaccharide provided herein is cross-linked using an ionic cross-linker comprising calcium chloride, calcium glycerophosphate, calcium lactate, ferrous chloride, ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, magnesium chloride, copper chloride, and / or magnesium sulfate. In particular, in some embodiments, calcium chloride is used. Calcium chloride may be a particularly advantageous cross-linker because all the byproducts of its use as a polysaccharide cross-linker are non-toxic and edible. However, any of a variety of suitable cross-linkers may generally be used, as the disclosure is not so limited. For example, in some embodiments, a trivalent ion cross-linker may be used, e.g., in combination with a divalent ion to modulate the mechanical properties of the polysaccharide. In some embodiments, one or more additional agents, e.g., monovalent ions, may be used as competitive inhibitors of cross-linking agents.13166996.1The one or more competitive inhibitors of cross-linking agents may be used to modulate the properties of the cross-linked polysaccharides. According to some embodiments, a plurality of cross-linking agents (e.g., calcium chloride and copper chloride) are used in combination, e.g., because the combination of cross-linking agents may result in a mixture of cross-links with different properties. The mixing of cross-linking agents provides another route for controlling mechanical properties of the polysaccharide, according to some embodiments.

[0041] In some embodiments, the coating comprises a polysaccharide that is not crosslinked. For example, a coating may comprise a composite of polysaccharides (e.g., a first polysaccharide matrix and a second polysaccharide phase dispersed in the first polysaccharide matrix), wherein a first polysaccharide is cross-linked while a second polysaccharide is not.

[0042] In some embodiments, an ionic cross-linker is a reversable cross-linker. Crosslinks formed by the reversable ionic cross-linker may be reversed in any of a variety of suitable ways. For example, in some embodiments, the cross-linking may be reversed using an appropriate salt. To provide a specific example, in some embodiments, reversable cross-links may be removed by using a salt comprising a monovalent cation (e.g., a sodium salt). The reversibility of the cross-links may be advantageous, e.g., to a biodegradation process (e.g., to a composting process).

[0043] Generally, a polysaccharide (e.g., a first polysaccharide) may be included in any of a variety of suitable proportions with respect to the coating. In some embodiments, a beverage cartridge has a coating comprising a polysaccharide (e.g., a first polysaccharide) in an amount of greater than or equal to 30 wt%, greater than or equal to 40 wt%, greater than or equal to 50 wt%, greater than or equal to 60 wt%, greater than or equal to 70 wt%, greater than or equal to 80 wt%, or greater than or equal to 90 wt% versus the total weight of the coating. In some embodiments, a beverage cartridge has a coating comprising a polysaccharide in an amount of less than or equal to 100 wt%, less than or equal to 90 wt%, less than or equal to 80 wt%, less than or equal to 70 wt%, less than or equal to 60 wt%, less than or equal to 50 wt%, or less than or equal to 40 wt% versus the total weight of the coating. Combinations of these ranges are also possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 30 wt% and less than or equal to 100 wt%, greater than or equal to 50 wt% and less than or equal to 100 wt%, or greater than or equal to 70 wt% and less than or equal to 100 wt%). Other ranges are also possible.

[0044] A coating provided herein may comprise any of a variety of suitable additives. A coating additive may be a filler (e.g., that provides a cost advantage or structural support) or a functional additive such as a colorant or a stabilizing agent. One or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more) additives may be included in a coating, according to some embodiments. It should, of course, be understood that while the following paragraphs discuss a number of additives (any or13166996.1all of which may be used), additives not discussed herein may also be included in the coatings provided herein, as the disclosure is not so limited.

[0045] A filler (e.g., a second polysaccharide, such as starch) may be included in the coating in any of a variety of suitable weight percentages versus the total weight of the coating. In some embodiments, a beverage cartridge has a coating comprising a filler (e.g., a second polysaccharide filler) in an amount of greater than or equal to 0 wt%, greater than or equal to 5 wt%, greater than or equal to 10 wt%, greater than or equal to 15 wt%, or greater than or equal to 20 wt% versus the total weight of the coating. In some embodiments, a beverage cartridge has a coating comprising a filler (e.g., a second polysaccharide filler) in an amount of less than or equal to 25 wt%, less than or equal to 20 wt%, less than or equal to 15 wt%, less than or equal to 10 wt%, or less than or equal to 5 wt% versus the total weight of the coating. Combinations of these ranges are also possible (e.g., greater than or equal to 0 wt% and less than or equal to 25 wt%, or greater than or equal to 5 wt% and less than or equal to 25 wt%). Other ranges are also possible.

[0046] Colorants may be used, in some embodiments, to color a coating of a beverage cartridge. A coating of a beverage cartridge may be coated for aesthetic or functional reasons. For example, colorants may be added to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the coating.

[0047] Any of a variety of colorants may be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable pigments that may be used include, but are not limited to, titanium oxide or calcium carbonate. According to some embodiments, a colorant used in a coating of a beverage cartridge is a dye. Non-limiting examples of suitable dyes include, but are not limited to, turmeric, saffron, paprika, carrot oil, dried fruit juices, caramel, beta-carotene, cochineal extract, beet powder, and annatto extract. Colorants may be chosen to have any of a variety of properties suitable for use in beverage cartridge. For example, colorants may be chosen to be flavorless, odorless, foodsafe, water-insoluble, and / or edible, depending on the embodiment.

[0048] While polysaccharide coatings provide a number of advantages, as discussed in greater detail above, it should, of course, be understood that a beverage cartridge provided herein may comprise a coating that does not comprise a polysaccharide. To provide a nonlimiting example, in some embodiments, a beverage cartridge comprises a plurality of coatings including a first coating at least partially surrounding the cup 102 and a second coating at least partially surrounding the cup 102. In some embodiments, the first coating comprises a polysaccharide and the second coating does not comprise a polysaccharide. The first coating and the second coating may be non-overlapping, may partially overlap, or may totally overlap, depending on the embodiment. In some embodiments, the first coating and the second coating are used to perform different functions.13166996.1

[0049] In some embodiments, the cup interior space 103 and the liner interior space 202 are closed by a lid 400 that is attached to the liner flange 210 to cover opening 108. The bond between the lid 400 and the flange 210 may be formed in any suitable way, such as by welding, adhesive, etc., and may be peelable or not peelable, i.e., an unpeelable bond may prevent the separation of the lid 400 from the liner 200 without damage to either the lid 400 or the liner 200. As noted above, the filter 300 may be attached in a variety of ways in the cartridge 100. In some embodiments, the filter 300 may be attached to the lid 400 like that described in U.S. Patent application publication 2012 / 0058226 and / or U.S. Patent 6,607,762. For example, the filter 300 may be attached to the lid 400 only, and be unattached to any other portion of the cartridge 100. Alternately, the filter 300 may be attached to the liner flange 210 and to the lid 400, e.g., so the filter 300 is sandwiched between the lid 400 and liner flange 210. In some cases, the lid 400 and filter 300 may be removable together separate from the liner 200 and cup 102, e.g., by peeling the lid 400 from the liner 200. As mentioned above, in embodiments where the coating 500 replaces the liner 200, the lid 400 may adhere directly to the coating 500.

[0050] The lid 400 may provide a barrier to moisture and / or gases, such as oxygen. For example, the lid 400 may be made of a polymer laminate, e.g., formed from a sheet including a layer of polystyrene or polypropylene and a layer of EVOH and / or other barrier material, or may be made of a laminate of a metallic foil and a polymer, or may be made of a metal only such as aluminum. Such an arrangement may provide suitable protection for the beverage material, if provided, e.g., from unwanted exposure from moisture, oxygen and / or other materials. It should be understood, however, that the lid 400 and / or liner 200 may be made of other materials or combinations of materials, such as biopolymers (e.g. PBAT), compostable polymers, paper, foils, etc. Both the lid 400 and liner 200 may be made relatively thin, e.g., at the bond between the lid 400 and the flange 210 of the liner 200, as well as at other locations. For example, the lid 400 and / or liner 200 may be made of a flexible sheet of material and have a thickness of 0.005 to 0.02 inches. Thus, the lid 400 and liner 200 may be relatively flimsy or structurally weak and provide little or no structural strength for the cartridge 100.

[0051] When using the cartridge 100 to form a beverage, the lid 400 and / or the cup 102 may be pierced to introduce liquid into the cartridge and receive beverage from the cartridge. (As used herein, “beverage” refers to a liquid substance intended for drinking that is formed when a liquid interacts with a beverage ingredient. Thus, beverage refers to a liquid that is ready for consumption, e.g., is dispensed into a cup and ready for drinking, as well as a liquid that will undergo other processes or treatments, such as filtering or the addition of flavorings, creamer, sweeteners, another beverage, etc., before being consumed.) To introduce liquid into the cartridge, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion of the lid 400 may be pierced by an inlet13166996.1piercing element 600 (e.g., a needle) so that water or other liquid may be injected into the cartridge 100. Other inlet piercing arrangements are possible, such as multiple needles, a shower head, a non-hollow needle, a cone, a pyramid, a knife, a blade, etc. A beverage machine that uses the cartridge may include multiple piercing elements of the same type or of different types, as the invention is not limited in this respect. In another arrangement, a beverage machine may include a piercing element (such as a spike) that forms an opening and thereafter a second inlet element (such as a tube) may pass through the formed hole to introduce liquid into (or conduct liquid out of) the container. In other embodiments, the lid 400 may be pierced, or otherwise effectively opened for flow, by introducing pressure at an exterior of the lid 400. For example, a water inlet or outlet may be pressed and sealed to the lid 400 exterior and water pressure introduced at the site. The water pressure may cause the lid 400 to be pierced or otherwise opened to allow flow into or out of the cartridge 100. In another arrangement, the lid 400 may include a valve, conduit, port or other structure that opens when exposed to a suitable pressure and / or when mated with a water inlet tube or other structure.

[0052] The cartridge 100 may also be penetrated by an outlet piercing element 602 (e.g., a needle) at the cup bottom 104, or in alternative embodiments at a second portion of the lid 400 apart from the inlet opening in a way like that shown in Fig. 3 of U.S. Patent application publication 2012 / 0058226. As with the inlet piercing arrangement, the outlet piercing arrangement may be arranged in any suitable way, e.g., an inlet may be formed at a bottom of the cup 102 and an outlet may be formed at the lid 400, or other locations. Like the inlet piercing element 600, the outlet piercing element 602 may include one or more hollow or solid needles, knives, blades, tubes, and so on. Alternately, the cartridge 100 may include a valve, septum or other element that opens to permit beverage to exit when liquid is introduced into the cartridge, but otherwise remains closed (e.g., to protect the beverage material from external conditions such as oxygen, moisture or others). In such a case, no piercing element for forming the outlet opening is necessarily required although may be used, e.g., to allow the valve or other element to open. Also, in this illustrative embodiment the piercing element 602 remains in place to receive beverage as it exits the opening formed in the interior space 202. However, in other embodiments, the piercing element 602 may withdraw after forming an opening, allowing beverage to exit the opening and be received without the piercing element 602 being extended into the cartridge 100.

[0053] The cartridge 100 may be used with a suitable beverage machine, such as any one that is capable of introducing chilled, carbonated and / or heated water into the cartridge and receiving a formed beverage from the cartridge. In one aspect of the invention, a cartridge may be used to form a beverage while the cartridge is positioned with the lid 400 above the cup 102,13166996.1as shown generally in FIG. 3. However, the cartridge 100 could be used with the lid 400 (or a portion of the lid) lying in a vertical plane, or at other angles to the horizontal, including orientations in which the cup 102 is positioned above the lid 400.

[0054] While the present teachings have been described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments or examples. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.13166996.1

Claims

What is claimed is:CLAIMS1. A beverage cartridge comprising: a cup formed of a biodegradable material, the cup having a cup bottom, a cup top, cup sidewalls extending between the cup bottom and the cup top, and a cup flange extending from the cup top, the cup having an opening at the cup top; a liner formed of a biodegradable material, the liner comprising a sidewall liner portion disposed along an inner surface of the cup sidewalls and a flange liner portion disposed on an upper portion of the cup flange; a lid covering the opening; a filter attached to the liner and / or the lid, wherein a bottom of the filter is disposed above the cup bottom; and a biodegradable coating disposed on a surface of the cup and configured to at least partially prevent intrusion of gas and / or liquids through the cup.

2. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating is applied to the surface via spray deposition.

3. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating is applied to the surface via dipping the cup into a container containing the biodegradable coating.

4. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable coating comprises at least one of the following: cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen, alginate, or galactogen.

5. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the liner is formed of polybutylene adipate- co-terephthalate.

6. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cup is formed of cellulose fibers.

7. The beverage cartridge of claim 6, wherein the cup is formed via a wet molding process.

8. The beverage cartridge of claim 6, wherein the cup is formed via a dry molding process.

9. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the liner comprises an open bottom portion.13166996.

110. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the surface is an outer surface of the cup.

11. The beverage cartridge of claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the cup is an outer surface of the cup bottom.

12. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the surface is an interior surface of the cup.

13. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the lid is a biodegradable lid.

14. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the lid is attached to the flange liner portion, and wherein the lid is peelable from the flange liner portion.

15. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein the filter is attached only to the lid.

16. The beverage cartridge of claim 1, wherein at least one of the filter and the lid are attached to the flange liner portion.

17. The beverage cartridge of claim 16, wherein a portion of the filter is disposed between the flange liner portion and the lid.

18. A method of forming a biodegradable beverage cartridge, the method comprising: forming a cup from a biodegradable material, the cup having a cup bottom, a cup top, cup sidewalls extending between the cup bottom and cup top, a cup flange extending from the cup top and an opening at the cup top; attaching a biodegradable liner to the cup such that a liner sidewall portion is disposed along an inner surface of the cup sidewalls, and a liner flange portion disposed on an upper portion of the cup flange; covering the opening with a lid; attaching a biodegradable filter to the biodegradable liner and / or the lid; and coating a surface of the cup with a biodegradable coating, the biodegradable coating configured to at least partially prevent intrusion of gas and / or liquids through the cup.13166996.

119. The method of claim 18, wherein coating the surface of the cup with the biodegradable coating comprises spraying the biodegradable coating in liquid form onto the surface and allowing the biodegradable coating to dry.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein coating the surface of the cup with the biodegradable coating comprises dipping the cup into a container of the biodegradable coating in liquid form and allowing the biodegradable coating to dry.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the cup comprises wet molding the cup from cellulose fibers.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the cup comprises dry molding the cup from cellulose fibers.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein attaching the biodegradable filter to the biodegradable liner comprises attaching the biodegradable filter to the liner sidewall portion.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the cup comprises assembling the cup from a plurality of cellulose fiber sheets.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein coating the surface of the beverage cartridge comprises coating an outer surface of the cup.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein coating the surface of the beverage cartridge comprises coating an inner surface of the cup.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein coating the surface of the beverage cartridge comprises coating both an inner surface of the cup and an outer surface of the cup.13166996.1

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