Generally even profile lid for beverage preparation and related methods

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. Certain embodiments of the apparatus include a generally even profile retention structure sized and shaped such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.

1 . A generally even profile retainer for controlled preparation of a beverage from a bag containing a beverage preparation agent and liquid within a container by movement of a string attached to the bag relative to said retainer seated on the container, the bag including a surrounding bag wall in which the beverage preparation agent is enclosed, the container including a surrounding container wall generally forming a container space and having an inner surface and outer surface that meet to form a lip, the lip defining a mouth of the container, the container wall being suitable to hold the liquid with which the beverage may be prepared by immersion of the beverage bag within the liquid for steeping, the string having a bag end attached to the beverage bag and a free end, said full profile retainer comprising:
 a cover panel including an upper surface having a generally flattened profile and sized and shaped such that said cover panel extends over the container mouth and a surrounding edge wall sized and shaped such that said retainer can be seated on the lip;   a drinking aperture openable through said cover panel and adjacent to said surrounding edge wall;   said cover panel including a generally even retention structure positioned generally even with the upper surface having a generally flattened profile to form a cover panel having a generally even retention structure profile, wherein said generally even retention structure includes a first vertical side wall;   said first vertical side wall defining a first shaped bag retention aperture configured to accommodate the bag when drawn thereinto;   wherein the first shaped bag retention aperture is sized and shaped such that the string may be passed therethrough and at least an upper portion of the bag may be drawn into and gripped by said first vertical side wall thereby retaining the bag in an elevated position to stop the steeping process.   
     
     
         2 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein said first shaped bag retention aperture is sized to permit venting the container space even with the upper portion of the bag pulled through and within the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein said first shaped bag retention aperture is generally rounded in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 3 , wherein said first shaped bag retention aperture is generally oval in shape. 
     
     
         5 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 3 , wherein said first shaped bag retention aperture is generally circular in shape. 
     
     
         6 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein said first shaped bag retention aperture is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 1  further comprising a second vertical side wall defining a second shaped bag retention aperture configured to accommodate a second bag when drawn thereinto. 
     
     
         8 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 7 , wherein said second shaped bag retention aperture is generally rounded in shape. 
     
     
         9 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 7 , wherein said second shaped bag retention aperture is generally oval in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 7 , wherein said second shaped bag retention aperture is generally circular in shape. 
     
     
         11 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 7 , wherein said second shaped bag retention aperture is generally rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         12 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 1 , wherein said first vertical side wall also defines a string engaging portion having opposing resilient edges configured to grip the string as the string is drawn thereinto from said first shaped bag retention aperture and thereby retain the bag in an elevated position. 
     
     
         13 . The generally even profile retainer according to  claim 12  further comprising a second vertical side wall defining a second shaped bag retention aperture configured to accommodate a second bag when drawn thereinto, wherein said second vertical side wall also defines a string engaging portion having opposing resilient edges configured to grip the string as the string is drawn thereinto from said second shaped bag retention aperture and thereby retain the bag in an elevated position.