Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-07-24
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S279000, C099S322000, C099S323300, C210S474000, C210S477000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disposable hot beverage containers, such as coffee cups and tea cups. More particularly, the present invention relates to hot beverage containers that contain filter elements that trap solids within the container yet enable fluid to flow freely from the container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many people enjoy drinking tea or coffee. However, most types of tea and coffee must be brewed. In the case of tea, dried tea leaves are steeped in hot water. The tea leaves flavor the water to produce tea. In the case of coffee, hot water is filtered through ground coffee beans, wherein the coffee beans flavor the water. After the brewing process, the residual tea leaves or coffee grounds are removed, thereby leaving the consumable beverage. The residual tea leaves and coffee grounds are removed because the presence of these solid by-products in a beverage ruins the consistency of the beverage and is undesirable to many people. Digestion of tea leaves and coffee grounds is problematic for the consumer. Furthermore, tea leaves or coffee ground are commonly bitter if consumed. Thus, if consumed with the beverage, the tea leaves or coffee grounds can ruin the flavor of the beverage and harm the digestive system.
Tea and coffee have been consumed as a beverage for thousands of years. As a result, the prior art is replete with various devices used to brew tea and coffee. For the past century, coffee beans typically have been prepared in some type of coffee pot. Within the coffee pot, ground coffee beans are typically placed in a metal strainer or a paper filter. Hot water is then either percolated or poured through the ground coffee beans. After the coffee is brewed, the grounds remaining in the strainer or filter are removed, thereby leaving only the beverage for consumption. Such a brewing process is time consuming and requires a coffee pot. If a person desires an “instant” cup of coffee that can be prepared in a cup with hot water, a person cannot used fresh ground coffee. Rather, a person must purchase highly processed coffee that is specifically designed to dissolve instantly in water. However, many people believe that processed coffee lacks the complexity of flavor that fresh ground coffee has. As such, flavor is sacrificed for convenience.
In the brewing of tea or other herbs, tea leaves are typically immersed in hot water and allowed to steep for a period of time. After the tea has steeped, the tea leaves are removed from the beverage. Commonly, tea leaves are packaged in filter bags that can be immersed in hot water. As such, the filter bag can be easily removed from a cup of hot water after the tea leaves have steeped for a period of time. Prior to the invention of disposable paper tea bags, tea balls were commonly utilized. A tea ball is a hollow perforated metal ball that holds a quantity of tea leaves. The tea ball is immersed in a cup or pot of hot water. After a period of time, the tea ball can be removed, thereby removing the tea leaves from the beverage.
Processed coffees and teas come only in a small number of varieties. More and more, people desire more variety than is presented to them at the supermarket. As a result, more people are buying exotic blends of teas and coffee in bulk. The problem associated with the bulk purchase of teas and coffees is that the coffee must be made in a coffee pot and the tea must be placed in a tea ball or filter. Such processing of the tea and coffee is time consuming, inconvenient to many and prevents the portability of the beverage being prepared.
As a result of the above, a need exits for a product that would enable bulk ground coffee or bulk tea leaves to be prepared into a beverage as quickly and as easily as a processed instant coffee and a tea bag. This need is met by the present invention as it is described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an assembly and corresponding method to mix solids with a liquid in the preparation of a beverage. The assembly includes a disposable cup receptacle. The cup receptacle has an open top end. On the interior of the cup receptacle is a ridge positioned a predetermined distance below the open top end. A solid beverage flavorant, such as coffee or tea or herbal product is placed in the cup receptacle.
A disposable filter insert is provided that is positionable within the cup receptacle. The filter insert contains a filter screen that is water permeable, yet blocks the solid beverage flavorant. The filter insert is placed into the cup receptacle after the solid beverage flavorant has been added to the cup receptacle. The filter insert is configured to engage the ridge of the interior of the cup receptacle, thereby locking the filter insert into place over the solid beverage flavorant. The filter insert remains positioned regardless of the angle the cup is tilted throughout. Water is then poured into the cup receptacle through the filter insert. Alternatively, the filter insert can be locked into position after the water and flavorant are deposited into the cup. The water mixes with the solid beverage flavorant and produces the desired beverage. The beverage can then be consumed directly from the assembly. The filter insert prevents residual solids from being consumed with the beverage. After the beverage is consumed, the entire assembly can be thrown away.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4938375 (1990-07-01), Fantacone
patent: 4999109 (1991-03-01), Sabre
patent: 5168140 (1992-12-01), Welker
patent: 2174890 (1986-11-01), None
Alexander Reginald L.
Weingram & Associates PC
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