Coffee Pod for Point of Sale Device

Abstract

A shell less, biodegradable coffee pod for use with a point of sale coffee pod dispensing device. The pod is compressible for pleated or stacked storage and linearly linked to a series of substantially similar pods by a flexible, hingeable separable tab bridging between adjacent pods. The pods have a support structure that is affixed to a fillable well. Each well is expandable with an expanding means (utilizing a burst of air, a vacuum or mechanical pusher) as the series of pods is mechanically advanced along a tractor feed style conveyor belt that passes the pod to a ground coffee bean filling unit, a sealing unit and a pod separating unit.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising:
 a means for the connected movement of an array of separable individual pods; wherein said means is separable into at least one individual pod.   
     
     
         2 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 1  wherein said individual pods are connected to an adjacent pod by a tab. 
     
     
         3 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 2  wherein said individual pods connected to said adjacent pods form a linear array, and wherein said tab is hingeable and separable about a means for separation disposed on said tab between said adjacent pods. 
     
     
         4 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 2  wherein said pod has a fillable well section affixed to a support section. 
     
     
         5 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 3  wherein said well section is compressible for planar storage and pleated stacking. 
     
     
         6 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 5  wherein said well section is expandable. 
     
     
         7 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 5  wherein said pod is top sealable by the application of a membrane atop of said support section. 
     
     
         8 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 1  further comprising at least one of a portion of brewable material disposed within at least one of said pods. 
     
     
         9 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 4  wherein said support section is comprised of an upper lid, adhesively affixed to an upper face of said well section. 
     
     
         10 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 9  wherein said support section also comprises a stiffener ring adhesively affixed to a lower face of said well section. 
     
     
         11 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 10  wherein said upper lid also comprises a cap hingeably extending from said lid, said cap adhesively affixable to said upper lid. 
     
     
         12 . A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising:
 a linear array of at least two compressible, brewable adjacent material pods; and   a connecting member residing between said adjacent material pods wherein said connecting member allows for the brewable material pods to hingeably pivot with respect to said adjacent material pods.   
     
     
         13 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a means for separating connected adjacent pods disposed on said connecting member; said separating means allowing the forcible detachment of pods from said material pod array. 
 
     
     
         14 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 4  wherein said material pods have a support section comprised of an upper lid, adhesively affixed to an upper face of a compressible well section for the retention of brewable material therein. 
     
     
         15 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 14  wherein said well section is inflatably or mechanically expandable. 
     
     
         16 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 15  wherein said support section also comprises a stiffener ring adhesively affixed to a lower face of said well section. 
     
     
         17 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 16  further comprising a cap adhesively affixable to said upper lid. 
     
     
         18 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 17  further comprising an adhesive, said adhesive disposed between said stiffener ring and said lower face as well as between said upper lid and said upper face; and wherein said adhesive is completely biodegradable. 
     
     
         19 . The brewable organic material pod array of  claim 17  wherein said stiffener ring, said cap, said upper lid and said well section are made of completely biodegradable materials. 
     
     
         20 . A brewable organic material pod array for use with a point of sale brewable material pod packaging dispenser comprising a linked, continuous-feed capable linear array of expandable, compressed coffee pods.