Beverage Brewing System

Abstract

A brewing material holder for a beverage brewer includes a filter housing, and an internal filter. The filter housing includes a housing sidewall defining a housing interior volume, and an open end configured to receive brewing material into the housing interior volume. The internal filter includes a filter sidewall having at least one filter opening, and at least one filter mesh element covering the at least one filter opening. The internal filter is configured to engage the filter housing such that the internal filter is arranged within the housing interior volume.

Claims

1. A brewing material holder for a beverage brewer, comprising: a filter housing; and an internal filter; wherein the filter housing includes a housing sidewall defining a housing interior volume, and an open end configured to receive brewing material into the housing interior volume; wherein the internal filter includes a filter sidewall having at least one filter opening, and at least one filter mesh element covering the at least one filter opening; and wherein the internal filter is configured to engage the filter housing such that the internal filter is arranged within the housing interior volume.

2. The brewing material holder of claim 1, wherein the internal filter has an open end, and the filter sidewall defines a filter interior volume.

3. The brewing material holder of claim 2, further comprising a filter coupler configured to couple the internal filter with the filter housing, wherein the open end of the internal filter is configured to couple with the filter coupler at an opening in the filter coupler.

4. The brewing material holder of claim 1, wherein: the housing sidewall has at least one housing opening; and the filter housing includes at least one housing mesh element covering the at least one housing opening.

5. The brewing material holder of claim 1, wherein the filter housing is configured to be suspended in a container that is configured to hold liquid.

6. A beverage brewer, comprising: the brewing material holder of claim 5; and the container.

7. A brewing material holder for a beverage brewer, comprising: a filter housing configured to receive and hold beverage brewing material; and an internal filter; wherein the filter housing includes: a housing body having at least one housing opening, and at least one housing filter element covering the at least one housing opening; wherein the internal filter includes: an internal filter body having at least one internal opening, and at least one internal filter element covering the at least one internal opening; and wherein the filter housing and the internal filter are configured for mutual engagement such that the internal filter is arranged inside the filter housing.

8. The brewing material holder of claim 7, wherein: the filter housing includes a first open end, a second open end, and a sidewall; the filter housing is configured to receive beverage brewing material through the first open end; the at least one housing opening is arranged at least in the filter housing sidewall; the internal filter body includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall; the internal filter body first end is open, and the internal filter body second end is at least partially closed; the at least one internal opening is arranged at least in the internal filter body sidewall; and the filter housing and the internal filter are configured for mutual engagement such that the first end of the internal filter body is arranged at the second open end of the filter housing.

9. The brewing material holder of claim 8, further comprising a filter cap configured to be removably coupled to the second open end of the filter housing.

10. The brewing material holder of claim 9, wherein the filter cap has a central opening that is configured to engage with the open end of the internal filter body such that the open end of the internal filter body opens through the central opening.

11. The brewing material holder of claim 9, wherein the filter cap includes at least one cap opening, and at least one cap filter element covering the at least one cap opening.

12. The brewing material holder of claim 8, wherein the second end of the internal filter body is closed.

13. The brewing material holder of claim 12, wherein the second end of the internal filter body is rounded.

14. The brewing material holder of claim 8, further comprising a filter housing cap configured to engage and cover the first open end of the filter housing.

15. The brewing material holder of claim 14, wherein the filter housing cap includes at least one filter housing cap opening, and at least one housing cap filter element covering the at least one filter housing cap opening.

16. The brewing material holder of claim 14, wherein the filter housing cap includes a recessed portion configured to engage the second end of the internal filter body when the internal filter body is arranged inside the filter housing.

17. The brewing material holder of claim 7, wherein the internal filter body has an elongated shape.

18. A beverage brewer, comprising: a container assembly; a lid assembly; and the brewing material holder of claim 7; wherein the container assembly, the lid assembly and the brewing material holder are configured to mutually engage such that the brewing material holder is suspended inside the container assembly.

19. The beverage brewer of claim 18, further wherein the lid assembly is configured to cover an open end of the container assembly.

20. The beverage brewer of claim 19, wherein: the lid assembly includes a lid collar, and a flip lid; the lid collar is configured to engage the open end of the container assembly such that the open end of the container assembly opens through an opening in the lid collar; and the flip lid is hingedly coupled to the lid collar to selectively cover the opening in the lid collar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more detailed description thereof, with reference to the following drawings wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1A shows an exemplary beverage brewing device of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 1B shows an exemplary container assembly of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 1C shows an exemplary container of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary brewing material holder of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary filter housing of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4A shows an exemplary internal filter of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 4B shows an exemplary internal filter of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 5A shows an exemplary internal filter arranged within a filter housing of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 5B shows an exemplary internal filter arranged within a filter housing of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 6A shows an exemplary filter cap of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6B shows an exemplary filter cap of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 7A shows an exemplary filter cap engaged with a first end of an internal filter of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 7B shows an exemplary filter cap engaged with a first end of an internal filter of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 8A shows an exemplary filter housing cap of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 8B shows an exemplary filter housing cap of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 8C shows an exemplary filter housing cap of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary filter housing cap covering a first open end of a filter housing of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 10A shows an exemplary lid assembly of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 10B shows an exemplary lid assembly of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 10C shows an exemplary lid assembly of the present invention.

[0045] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary lid assembly coupled to a brewing material holder of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 12 shows an exemplary hinge pin of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 13 shows an exemplary brewing material holder coupled to a lid assembly of the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 14 shows an exemplary container collar engaged with a lid assembly of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 15 shows an exemplary internal filter with a second end secured by a recessed spot of a filter housing cap of the present invention.

[0050] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] An exemplary beverage brewing device 10, container assembly 12, and container 14 according to the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively. The beverage brewing device 10 includes a container assembly 12 that includes a container 14 for receiving and holding water for brewing. The container 14 can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or glass, and can be transparent to allow viewing the beverage as it brews, although opaque or translucent materials can be used to form the container 14 as well. As shown, the container 14 preferably includes closed sides or a closed sidewall, a closed bottom, and an open mouth, and can take any suitable shape, such as the generally cylindrical shape shown.

[0052] The container assembly 12 can also include a container collar 16 and a base 18. The container collar 16 is configured to couple with or otherwise be arranged on the container 14 and can include, for example, a handle and a pour spout to facilitate dispensing a beverage from the container 14. The container assembly 12 can optionally include a decorative band 19 for aesthetic or branding purposes, and preferably includes a collar seal arranged between the container collar 16 and the container 14. The base 18 can be arranged at the bottom end of the container 14 to provide stability for the brewing device 10.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary brewing material holder 20 according to the invention. The brewing material holder 20 includes a filter housing 22 (FIG. 3) and an internal filter 30 (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The filter housing 22 includes a filter housing body 24 having a sidewall 36, a first end 38, and a second end 40. The first end 38 is open to receive beverage brewing material such as ground coffee beans, and the sidewall 36 has one or more openings 26 and filter elements 28 such as mesh panels covering the openings 26. The filter-covered openings 26 allow water from the container 14 to pass through to the interior of the brewing material holder 20, to mix with the beverage brewing material and brew a beverage.

[0054] The internal filter 30 includes an internal filter body 32 having a sidewall 37, a first end 39, and a second end 41. The sidewall 37 has one or more openings 33 and filter elements 35 such as mesh panels covering the openings 33. The internal filter 30 is configured to be arranged within the filter housing 22, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The second end 41 is closed, or alternatively, covered in filter material such as mesh. The first end 39 is open to receive water from the container 14. The filter-covered openings 33 allow water from the container 14 to pass through to the interior of the brewing material holder 20, to mix with the beverage brewing material and brew a beverage. These openings 33, provided in addition to the filter housing 22 openings 26 allow for extra flow-through of water to the beverage brewing material for brewing a beverage. The internal filter 30 is preferably elongated, that is, is longer than it is wide, and is preferably at least half as long as the filter housing 22. The internal filter is preferably sized and shaped to provide a large surface area, and can be straight, twisty, curled, serpentine, or assume any shape practical for arrangement within the filter housing 22.

[0055] The filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30 can be integrally formed, joined at the inner periphery of the second end 40 of the filter housing 22 and the outer periphery of the first end 39 of the internal filter 30. The surface over which the filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30 are joined can be a closed line or surface, or can have openings covered in filter elements such as mesh material. Alternatively, the filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30 can be separate elements, engaged at the inner periphery of the second end 40 of the filter housing 22 and the outer periphery of the first end 39 of the internal filter 30 in either a fixed manner or a detachable coupling, such as by a threaded coupling, a friction-fit coupling, or a snap-on coupling.

[0056] Alternatively, the brewing material holder 20 can include a coupling element configured to fixedly or detachably couple the filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30. For example, the brewing material holder 20 can include a filter cap 50 configured to be removably coupled to the second open end of the filter housing 22. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an exemplary filter cap 50 that can engage with the filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30 to detachably couple the filter housing 22 and the internal filter 30. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the filter cap 50 can engage the first end 39 of the internal filter 30, such as by a screw-on coupling or other coupling means. The filter cap 50 can also engage the second end 40 of the filter housing 22, also such as by a screw-on coupling or other coupling means, to couple the filter housing to the internal filter 30 such that the internal filter 30 is arranged inside the filter housing 22.

[0057] The filter cap 50 has a central opening 52, so that when the filter cap 50 is coupled to the open first end 39 of the internal filter 30, the open first end 39 of the internal filter 30 opens through the opening 52. When the brewing material holder 20 is suspended in the container 14, and into the container, the open first end 39 of the internal filter 30 opens through the opening 52 and into the container, so that water can pass through. The opening 52 can be completely open, or it can be covered by a filter element such as a mesh material, in order to provide an additional level of filtering. The body of the filter cap 50 can also have secondary openings 54, which are covered by filter elements such as mesh panels, providing more water flow capability from the container 14 into the filter housing 22.

[0058] FIGS. 8A-C show an exemplary filter housing cap 60 configured to engage and cover the first open end 38 of the filter housing 22, as shown in FIG. 9. The filter housing cap 60 can include one or more openings 62, preferably covered in a filter element 64 such as a mesh material. The filter cap 60 is removably coupled to the filter housing 22, so that brewing material can be added to the interior of the filter housing 22 can prior to brewing, and so that the brewing material can be secured during brewing. The filter housing cap 60 can be removably coupled to the filter housing 22 by any of a number of ways, such as by mating screw-on or twist-on elements, by a press-fit or friction-fit arrangement, or by mating snap-on elements. The filter housing cap 60 can include a grasping element such as a knob or peg 66 for ease of use in coupling and decoupling the filter housing cap 60. A seal, such as a silicone ring 68, can be provided to provide a fluid-tight connection when the filter housing cap 60 is coupled. The underside of the filter housing cap can include an indentation or recessed spot 65, which can receive the second end 41 of the internal filter 30, holding it in place during brewing. FIG. 15 shows the internal filter 30 in place with the second end 41 secured by the recessed spot 65 of the filter housing cap 60.

[0059] A beverage would be brewed in the beverage brewing device 10 by placing beverage brewing material in the brewing material holder 20, filling the container 14 with water, and submersing the beverage brewing material in the water by suspending the brewing material holder 20 in the container 14. The beverage brewing device 10 can include a lid assembly 70 that is configured to engage the container assembly 12 and the brewing material holder 20 so that the brewing material holder 20 can be suspended in the container 14. The lid assembly 70 covers the container assembly 12 while providing access to the brewing material holder 20 to add brewing material, allows access to the container 14 to add water to the container directly or allows water to be poured into the container 14 through the brewing material holder 20 if desired. The lid assembly also provides a platform from which to suspend the brewing material holder 20 during the brewing process.

[0060] An exemplary lid assembly 70 is shown in FIGS. 10A-C. As shown, the lid assembly 70 includes a lid collar 72 and a flip lid 74 that is hingedly coupled to the lid collar 72. The lid collar 72 includes a coupler 76 that mates with the brewing material holder 20 to removably couple the lid collar 72 to the brewing material holder 20. The lid collar 72 couples with the brewing material holder 20 in any known manner, such as by screw-on connector, friction-fit mating, or snap-fit arrangement. Preferably, the lid collar 72 couples to the filter housing 22 such that the filter housing 22 open first end 38 opens through a central opening in the lid collar 72. Also, the lid collar 72 preferably couples to the filter housing 22 such that the filter housing cap 60 can be decoupled and removed from the filter housing 22 through the lid collar 72 while the filter housing 22 is coupled to the lid collar 72. The lid collar 72 also preferably includes a spout cover 78 that covers the pouring spout of the container collar 16 when in place. FIG. 11 shows the exemplary lid assembly 70 coupled to the brewing material holder 20 at the first end 38 of the filter housing 22.

[0061] The flip lid 74 preferably is hingedly coupled to the lid collar 72, to provide access to the interior of the brewing material holder 20 while the lid collar is in place on the container assembly 12. As shown in FIG. 12, a simple hinge pin 75 can be provided to hingedly couple the flip lid 74. Any other arrangement to couple the flip lid 74 to the lid collar 72 can be provided instead, such as a screw-on connector, friction-fit mating, or a snap-fit arrangement, and the flip lid 74 can be tethered to the lid collar 72 in any known manner if desired.

[0062] FIG. 13 shows the brewing material holder 20 coupled to the lid assembly 70, as it would when brewing a beverage. FIG. 14 shows the container collar 16 engaged with the lid assembly 70, as it would when brewing a beverage. The container collar 16 can be coupled to the lid assembly 70 in a secure manner, or the lid assembly can merely rest on a lip of the container collar 16. Thus, when the container collar 16 is in place on the container 14 and the lid assembly 70 is coupled to the brewing material holder 20 and in place on the container collar 16, the brewing material holder 20 is suspended in to the container 14 such that a beverage can be brewed, stored, and dispensed in and from a single compact apparatus using a single container.

[0063] The present invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments. However, the present invention as contemplated by the inventor is not strictly limited to the particularly disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, various modifications, as well as similar arrangements, are included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the appended claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest reasonable interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.