Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-20
2002-08-27
Ball, Michael W. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S201000, C156S204000, C156S217000, C156S227000, C156S267000, C156S270000, C156S308400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06440256
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to beverage filter cartridges of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,189 (Sylvan et al.), the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, and is concerned in particular with an improved method of forming and inserting the filter elements into the cup-shaped containers of such cartridges.
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
In beverage filter cartridges of the type under consideration, as depicted in
FIGS. 1-3
, a cup-shaped container “C” has a generally flat bottom
10
, a side wall
12
which joins an enlarged diameter collar
14
at a shoulder
16
, and an upper rim surrounded by an outwardly extending radial lip
18
. An inverted frustroconical filter element “F” subdivides the interior of the container C into first and second chambers
22
,
24
. An extract “E”, which may typically comprise ground coffee, is contained within the filter element F in chamber
22
, and a lid “L” is applied to the cup lip
18
to complete the package. The lid L and container C coact to hermetically encapsulate the beverage extract E, and both are yieldably pierceable. In use during a brewing cycle, a tubular inlet probe
26
pierces the lid to admit pressurized hot water into chamber
22
where it infuses the beverage extract to produce a beverage. The beverage passes through the filter into chamber
24
from which it is removed by a tubular outlet probe
28
pierced through the cup bottom
10
.
The container C and lid L may be fabricated from commercially available impermeable materials, including plastics, papers, metals such as aluminum, etc. The filter F may comprise one or more layers of permeable heat sealable materials, including for example a blend of cellulose and thermoplastic fibers, such as SUPERSEAL supplied by J R Crompton, of Atlanta, Ga.
The role of the filter element F is critical to achieving a successful brewing cycle. In addition to possessing sufficient strength to withstand rupture by the pressure of the hot water being admitted via probe
26
, the bottom of the filter must be reliably centered to avoid being pierced by the outlet probe
28
. Moreover, the filter must be securely attached to the cup side wall, for otherwise the extract is likely to escape into chamber
24
where it will mix with the outflowing beverage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally stated, the objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved method for efficiently forming, precisely inserting and reliably securing filter elements in the cup-shaped containers of the above-described beverage filter cartridges.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3199275 (1965-08-01), Fesco
patent: 3567033 (1971-03-01), Whelan
patent: 5637335 (1997-06-01), Fond et al.
patent: 5840189 (1998-11-01), Sylvan et al.
patent: 0062216 (1982-10-01), None
patent: 0865749 (1998-09-01), None
Anderson Brett
Boccuti A. David
Christopher Anthony J.
Gordon Steven J.
Helmbrecht Mike
Ball Michael W.
Keurig Incorporated
Kilkenny Todd J.
Samuels Gauthier & Stevens
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