Beverage filter cartridge

Abstract

A beverage filter cartridge for use in a single serve beverage brewing machine, the cartridge including a sleeve with a cup-shaped filter pouch containing a beverage material sealed to the inside thereof proximate to a top end. The top end includes a flange to which a cover is sealed. A bottom cover of the sleeve seals the cartridge and to prevent spoilage of the beverage material by atmospheric oxygen. The cartridge includes a filter bag with a dry beverage material. The inner surface of the sleeve has a series of vertically oriented channels which allow for the brewed beverage to flow out of the sides of the filter hag and down the channels before exiting the cartridge at the bottom. The brewed beverage can flow out of the bottom of the cartridge either via the side of the filter bag through the channels or through the bottom of the filter bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-serving beverage pod comprising:
 a sleeve having a top and a bottom, said sleeve having a flange extending around said top, said sleeve having a cage in the center of the interior of the sleeve, the base of the cage being generally coplanar with the bottom of the sleeve;   a filter pouch, said filter pouch being generally cup-shaped and having an upper portion, said upper portion being sealed within said sleeve proximate to said top, and having an extended lower portion projecting downwardly in the center of the bottom of the filter pouch;   a beverage material within said filter pouch;   a top cover attached to said flange; and   a bottom cover attached to the bottom of the sleeve and the base of the cage.   
     
     
         1 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve contains a series of vertically oriented channels. 
     
     
         2 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 2  wherein the vertically oriented channels extend from proximate the top of the sleeve to a point proximate the bottom of the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve includes a shelf proximate the bottom of the sleeve, the shelf spaced a distance from the bottom sufficient to avoid the bottom needle of the beverage making machine which pierces the bottom cover. 
     
     
         4 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 4  wherein the sleeve includes a cage which extends downwardly from the shelf in the center of the interior of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve is formed of a high density polyethylene material with an oxygen scavenging material added. 
     
     
         6 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 1  wherein the top cover and bottom cover are formed of oxygen barrier materials which are pierceable by the needles of the single serving beverage machine. 
     
     
         7 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 3  wherein the sleeve includes a shelf proximate the bottom of the sleeve, the shelf spaced a distance from the bottom sufficient to avoid the bottom needle of the beverage making machine which pierces the bottom cover. 
     
     
         8 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 8  wherein the shelf has a series of openings aligning generally with the channels. 
     
     
         9 . A single-serving beverage pod for use in a beverage making machine having an upper needle for injecting hot water into the beverage pod and a lower needle for allowing a brewed beverage to exit the beverage pod, comprising:
 a sleeve having a top and a bottom, said sleeve having a flange extending around said top, and having a plurality of channels along at least a portion of the inner surface of the sleeve;   a filter pouch, said filter pouch being generally cup-shaped and having an upper portion, said upper portion being sealed within said sleeve proximate to said top;   a shelf proximate the bottom of the sleeve for supporting the filter pouch a distance above the bottom of the sleeve sufficient to prevent the lower needle from piercing the filter pouch, said shelf having a plurality of openings for the drainage of a brewed beverage therethrough;   a beverage material within said filter pouch;   a top cover attached to said flange; and   a bottom cover attached to the bottom of the sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 10  wherein the top cover and bottom cover are formed of an oxygen barrier material. 
     
     
         11 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is formed of a high density polyethylene material with an oxygen scavenging additive. 
     
     
         12 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 10  wherein the shelf includes a basket portion in the center extending below the level of the shelf. 
     
     
         13 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 10  wherein the filter pouch fills the space within the sleeve above the shelf. 
     
     
         14 . The single-serving beverage pod of  claim 13  wherein the filter pouch includes a projecting portion extending downwardly into the basket region providing an internal volume of the filter pouch greater than would be possible with the pouch resting on the shelf.