Cartridge for beverage dispenser

Abstract

A cartridge for a beverage dispenser includes a top that has a perimeter forming an opening therein, an intermediate portion connected to the top, and a bottom connected to the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion has at least five openings formed therein. The intermediate portion forms a receiving space between the top and the bottom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A beverage dispensing cartridge, comprising:
 a cup having a bottom surface and a side wall defining an inner cavity;   the side wall having a plurality of openings;   a filter covering the plurality of openings;   a beverage making material within the inner cavity; and   a pierceable top cover permanently attached to the cup;   wherein the cup, the filter material and the cover formed a closed chamber for the beverage making material;   wherein fluid injected into the beverage dispensing cartridge through a perforation in the top cover will combine with the beverage making material to produce a beverage that flows out of at least through the filter material at the plurality of openings in the side wall of the cup.   
     
     
         2 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface is a solid surface and lacks holes. 
     
     
         3 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is wrapped around an exterior of the side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs between the plurality of openings, at least one of the ribs being wider than the remaining ones of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the filter is wrapped around an exterior of the side wall and overlaps itself over a wider one of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface has a plurality of holes that are arcuate or circular. 
     
     
         7 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , further comprising a disc shaped filter on an upwardly facing side of the bottom and covering the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         8 . The cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be pierced through the top cover to create a hole in the top cover to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through the filter beverage from the interaction of the fluid with the beverage making material, and wherein the cartridge is a single use cartridge. 
     
     
         9 . A cartridge shell configured to form beverage dispensing cartridge, comprising:
 a cup of having a bottom surface and a side wall defining an inner cavity;   the side wall having a plurality of openings;   a filter covering the plurality of openings; and   a plurality of ribs between the plurality of openings, at least one of the ribs being wider than the remaining ones of the plurality of ribs.   
     
     
         10 . The cartridge shell of  claim 9 , further comprising a top pierceable cover permanently attached to the cup. 
     
     
         11 . The cartridge shell of  claim 10 , wherein the top cover is configured to be pierced through to create a hole in the top cover to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through the filter beverage from the interaction of the fluid with beverage making material within the cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom surface is a solid surface and lacks holes. 
     
     
         13 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the filter material is wrapped around an exterior of the side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the filter material is wrapped around an exterior of the side wall and overlaps itself over a wider one of the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom surface has a plurality of holes that are arcuate or circular. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , further comprising a disc shaped filter material on an upwardly facing side of the bottom and covering the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         17 . A cartridge shell configured to form beverage dispensing cartridge, comprising:
 a cup of having a bottom surface and a side wall defining an inner cavity;   the bottom surface having a plurality of openings;   a disc shaped filter covering the plurality of openings; and   the side surface lacking any holes.   
     
     
         18 . The cartridge shell of  claim 17 , further comprising a top pierceable cover permanently attached to the cup. 
     
     
         19 . The cartridge shell of  claim 18 , wherein the cartridge is configured to be pierced through the top cover to create a hole in the top cover to receive fluid, and configured to dispense through the filter beverage from the interaction of the fluid with beverage making material within the cartridge. 
     
     
         20 . The cartridge of  claim 1 , further comprising a peelable label covering the filter. 
     
     
         21 . The cartridge of  claim 9 , further comprising a peelable label covering the filter. 
     
     
         22 . The cartridge shell of  claim 17 , further comprising a peelable label covering the filter.