Foods and beverages: apparatus – Beverage – Infusors
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-10-09
Alexander, Reginald L. (Department: 1761)
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Beverage
Infusors
C099S306000, C099S316000, C099S317000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298771
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disposable coffee brewing unit, containing all the necessary apparatus for the making of a freshly brewed individual serving of coffee.
2. Description of the Related Art
A common method of brewing coffee are by way of percolation and of drip. Restaurants and coffee shops commonly serve their customers with ready made coffee that have been brewed in coffee pots or in coffee brewing machines. A problem with this method is that the coffee that have been brewed in large amounts are not all served right away. A significant amount of coffee that have been brewed in large amounts are usually served at least half an hour after brewing. It is well known that coffee begins to deteriorate at least 20 minutes after it has been brewed. Brewed coffee that sits for more than 20 minutes should be considered stale. One way to solve this problem is to keep brewing a new batch of coffee every 20 minutes, but this could get very tiresome, wasteful, and costly.
There have been several other approaches used to try and solve the problem of staleness. One method used by The Procter & Gamble Co. is by packaging the coffee grinds inside tea bags called Coffee Singles. The idea is to brew coffee individually through single servings of a predetermined amount of coffee grinds in tea bags. Another method used by the Van Houtte Gourmet Coffee Co. is with the use of a machine that dispenses individual servings of brewed coffee. The idea here is to brew and serve coffee in the freshest way possible which is individual servings brewed only at the time a customer makes an order. If at all possible, it is even better if the coffee is brewed right in front of the customer so that there is no doubt as to the freshness of the beverage. It is no secret that coffee roasters know that freshness sells.
There are also other ideas, or inventions, that have been created to try and solve the problem of staleness in brewed coffee. Most of them are geared towards individual servings of brewed coffee. Inventions such as:
U.S. Pat. No. 1,499,281 (Altieri) titled “Individual Beverage Percolator”. The invention is a device for producing beverages, particularly coffee, by percolation. The device is placed on top of a beverage container.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,899,310 (Dale) titled “Beverage Charge Holder”. The invention is a beverage brewing device that is placed on top of a beverage container and is disposable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,582 (O'Connell) titled “Art of Brewing Individual Servings of Coffee in a Cup”. The invention is a drip coffee maker for brewing individual servings of coffee.
U.S. Pat No. 4,520,716 (Hayes) titled “Drip-type Coffee Making Apparatus”. The invention, which is very similar to the invention mentioned above (O° Connel), is also for individual servings of brewed coffee.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,033 (Melton) fitled “Lid for Beverage Container”. The invention is described as an infuser unit for making beverages in an associated container. The device functions both as a lid and an infuser unit It is primarily used for the individual brewing of loose tea, but it can also be used for the individual brewing of coffee.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention, which is very similar to each of the apparatus of the disclosures above, is the individual serving of freshly brewed coffee. The present invention is a unit that includes a brewing cup similar to that of Dale's “Beverage Charge Holder”; a holder for the brewing cup that also function as a partially open top beverage receptacle cover with lid; and a beverage receptacle.
A difference in the present invention from the disclosures above, as well as from other apparatus generally known in the art, is in the packaging. The brewing cup is designed so that it can be stored inside the accompanying beverage receptacle that is covered with the brewing cup holder and lid. Other ingredients for making a freshly brewed serving of coffee, such as a portion of vacuum sealed coffee grinds, sugar, cream, stirrer, and even snacks (cookie) can also be stored, with the brewing cup, inside the covered beverage receptacle. It is an all in one idea, and the only thing needed is hot water. The units can be sold by the case, or six pack. All the user have to do is grab one, or several, and brew coffee wherever hot water is available or can be made. This concept not only solves the problem of staleness but also answers the question of how clean and safe your coffee is. If it's brewing in front of you, then you know for sure. it's clean, safe, and it doesn't get any fresher than this.
Another difference in the present invention from the disclosures above as well as from others generally known in the art, is in the holder of the brewing cup that also function as the beverage receptacle cover with lid designed to minimize spills. This particular device of the unit is different, because its design and functions are novel. In contrast with Milton's “Lid for Beverage Container”, his invention is a one piece unit that includes a built in well that cannot be removed. Also in contrast with U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,289 (Fox) titled “Beverage Container Lid Having a Retainably Opened Access Flap”, Foxe's invention only acts as a lid with a flap used primarily to access the contents of the container its mounted to. The function of my invention is not only as a beverage receptacle cover with lid designed to minimize spills, but also as the brewing cup holder. It is also apparent that the designs are not the same.
In accordance with the present invention a disposable coffee brewing unit comprises a brewing cup, a holder for the brewing cup that also function as a beverage receptacle cover with lid, and a beverage receptacle.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1499281 (1924-06-01), Altieri
patent: 2899310 (1959-08-01), Dale
patent: 4027582 (1977-06-01), O'Connell
patent: 4303525 (1981-12-01), Stover
patent: 4520716 (1985-06-01), Hayes
patent: 4715271 (1987-12-01), Kitagawa
patent: 4765896 (1988-08-01), Hartley
patent: 5055311 (1991-10-01), Brauer, Jr.
patent: 5424083 (1995-06-01), Lozito
patent: 5503289 (1996-04-01), Fox
patent: 5605710 (1997-02-01), Pridonoff
patent: 6056145 (2000-05-01), Rush et al.
patent: 6095033 (2000-08-01), Melton
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