FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a coffee brewing lid assembly for a cup. More particularly, a lid holds a coffee pod and attaches to the top of a cup to also act as a lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] A typical coffee maker comprises a chamber to hold water, a heating unit to heat the water, a filter assembly that holds coffee, a passageway to pass water from the chamber to the filter, and a container to hold a hot beverage that passes through the filter. Such device is primarily used to make larger quantities of a coffee beverage, so is not practical for brewing small quantities of coffee.

[003] Various coffeemakers and other brewing devices are generally described in U.S. Patent No. 6,076,450 ("the '450 patent"), which is incorporated herein by reference. The '450 patent is directed to a brewing device that also functions as a container lid. The lid includes a top filter and bottom filter that holds coffee grounds within the sides of the Md. The lid is attached to the mouth of the cup by a lip around the bottom edge of the lid. Hot liquid is poured through the top filter and bottom filter, contacts the coffee grounds between the filters and exits out of the bottom filter into the cup until the cup is filled the desired amount. The coffee may then be consumed through a push-through tab which provides an opening in the lid. Alternatively, the lid may be easily removed to consume the beverage.

[004] In the present invention a freshly brewed beverage is made by pouring hot water through a lid assembly into a cup. The lid assembly includes first and second portions connected by a frangible hinge to hold a pod containing a brew substance, such as coffee grounds. The second portion comprises a lip to secure the assembly to a cup. After brewing, the first portion may be discarded, by tearing the frangible hinge, along with the pod. The second portion further includes a frangible tab that allows consumption of the beverage without removing the second portion altogether. In another embodiment, the second portion may be discarded after brewing, by tearing the frangible hinge, along with the pod. The first portion may also include a Mp to secure it to the cup and further includes a frangible tab that allows consumption of the beverage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[005] The present invention is directed to a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes first and second portions that, in a closed position, hold a pod containing brew substance such as coffee. The second portion of the lid assembly is attached to the mouth of the cup by a lip around the bottom edge of the second portion. In operation, hot liquid is poured such as, for example, by a coffeemaker, which is known in the art, through the first and second portions and the pod there in between, contacts the beverage grounds in the pod, and exits out of the second portion into the cup until the cup is filled. The first portion of the lid assembly may be torn away at the frangible hinge connecting the first and second portions and then discarded along with the pod. The beverage may then be consumed by either removing the second portion or tearing the frangible tab, which provides an opening in the lid. In another embodiment, the second portion may be discarded after brewing, by tearing the frangible hinge, along with the pod. The first portion may also include a lip to secure it to the cup and further includes a frangible tab that allows consumption of the beverage.

[006] It is an object of the present invention to enhance the consumption of a brewed beverage. The lid assembly of the present invention ensures optimum flavor of the beverage by employing properly configured drain holes in the first and second portions and raised surfaces in the second portion that permit optimal water flow rate through the pod. The present invention additionally employs concave surfaces in the first and second portions of the lid assembly to assist in optimizing water flow rate through the pod and into the cup.

[007] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory but are not to be restrictive of the invention. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention in general terms. Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[008] Fig . 1 is a front view of the lid assembly of the present invention mounted on a beverage cup.

[009] Fig . 2 is a top view of the lid assembly of FIG. 1 in an opened position.

[010] Fig . 3 is a cross-section view of the lid assembly of Fig . 4.

[011] Fig . 4 is a top view of the lid assembly of FIG. 1 in a closed position while mounted on a beverage cup.

[012] Fig . 5 is a perspective view of the lid assembly of the present invention .

[013] Fig . 6 is a blown-up view of the top portion of Fig . 3.

[014] Fig . 7 is a detail view of a portion of Fig . 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[015] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, sa me or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, below, left, a nd right may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words "connect," "couple," and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. [016] Fig. 1 depicts a lid assembly 10 in an opened position comprising a first portion 20 and a second portion 30 connected by a perforated hinge 40. Lid assembly 10 is preferably made of a plastic material. The lid assembly 10 is affixed to a top of cup 500. As shown in Fig. 3, which depicts lid assembly 10 in a closed position, lid assembly 10 receives a pod 50 that contains beverage grounds, such as, for example, coffee grounds. As the hot water 180 is poured into drain hole 80 of the first portion 20 of the lid assembly 10, it passes through the pod 50 and exits at the second portion 30 of the lid assembly 10 into the cup 500. Thus, the lid assembly 10 functions as a brewing device by which hot water that flows therethrough enters the cup 500 as a freshly brewed beverage.

[017] The temperature and flow rate of water through the pod 50 is critical to the optimal extraction of total dissolved solids from the coffee within the pod 50. Ideally, water temperature must be between 190-200 ⁰ F (87-93°C) for at least 90% of the brew cycle and the flow rate ideally must be between 2 minutes 20 seconds to 2 minutes 40 seconds for 8 ounces of water. These conditions allow for the optimal extraction of total dissolved solids. If the temperature is increased above 200 ⁰ F the flavor of coffee starts to get bitter. If the temperature is lower than 190 ⁰ F the extraction of total dissolved solids is reduced, thus resulting in weaker coffee or flavor. Moreover, water flow rate that is faster than 2 minutes 20 seconds results in weak tasting coffee. Water flow rate that is slower than 2 minutes 40 seconds results in bitter tasting coffee.

[018] Fig. 5 depicts the lid assembly 10 in further detail. A perforated hinge 40 attaches first portion 20 to second portion 30. First portion 20 comprises drain hole 80. Embossments 90 assist in keeping first portion 20 rigid to prevent first portion 20 from sagging down onto pod 50 when water 180 is poured onto the first portion 20. First portion 20 further comprises concave surface 100 and a tab 70.

[019] In a preferred embodiment, drain hole 80 is a center hole having a diameter of approximately 4.75mm, which allows the heated water 180 to hit directly on the center of the pod 50 to ensure complete saturation of the beverage in pod 50. In the situation where the beverage is coffee, for example, the position of the hole at the center permits the attainment of the highest total dissolved solids (for optima l coffee taste) with hot free flowing water 180 without the use of induced pressure, which pressure is used, for example in making espresso. In the closed position, drain hole 80 is preferably approximately 3.5 mm from the top of the pod 50, which distance is optimal in achieving proper water flow rate through the pod 50.

[020] The first portion 20 has a radial concave surface 100 on a 3.9° slope towards the center. This ensures all water to flow through the center hole 180.

[021] The second portion 30 comprises drain holes 110 and raised rectangular embossments 120. Second portion 30 further comprises concave surface 130 and a perforated tab 60. In a preferred embodiment, there are four rectangular embossments raised from the concave surface 130 at a height of approximately 3.5 mm and placed at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, as depicted in Fig . 5. Preferably the embossments a re 16.2mm long X 4mm wide x 3.5mm height, placed 3.175 mm from edge of center hole to edge of embossment. If the embossments a re shorter, pod 50 will sag and block off the holes; if longer, they will disrupt the flow of water. The preferred measurements ensure even flow of water to all five holes. The raised embossments keep the pod 50 at an ideal distance of 3.5 mm from the concave surface 130, which distance allows for precise drainage and assists in attaining the highest extraction of total dissolved solids from the coffee grounds within the pod 50. In addition raised embossments 120 help keep the second portion rigid and help direct water towards the center hole 110.

[022] The second portion 30 further comprises five drain holes 110, wherein the center hole is approximately 4.75mm in diameter. The center hole is the largest hole as it allows most of the brewed coffee to drain into the coffee cup 500 due to the concave surface 130 of the second section . The radial concave surface 130, which preferably is on a 3.3° slope toward the center, serves as a funnel to ensure that the water flows through all five holes 110 for precise drainage of brewed coffee through the coffee pod for maximum extraction of total dissolved solids. In addition to the center hole, the second portion comprises four outer holes 110 each having a preferred diameter of approximately 2.76mm. Each outer hole 110 is located preferably at a distance from the center hole approximately 60% of the way to the first outer diameter 140. In addition, each hole 110 is located 90° from another adjacent hole at 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315°, spaced evenly apart from the raised embossments 90, as depicted in Fig . 5. The position of the holes relative to each other assures complete d rainage of brewed coffee pod and allows the attainment of the highest total dissolved solids (for optimal coffee taste) without the use of induced pressure.

[023] Figs. 6 and 7 show how the shape of the lip 200 of the first portion of the lid assembly 10 allows for a water-tight snap fit to the second portion 30 of the lid assembly 10 to make sure that water flows through the coffee pod and not around it. Further, the v-shaped embossed lip 190 of the second portion 30 of the lid assembly 10 is designed for a precise water-tight snap fit over the coffee cup 500. This ensures the lid assembly 10 (which contains the pod 50) stays in place without leaking during the brew cycle.

[024] In operation, the lid assembly 10 is the opened by pulling lower and upper tabs 60 and 70, respectively, away from each other. To facilitate the pulling apart of the tabs, tabs 60 and 70 are offset from each other as depicted in Fig . 4. Coffee pod 50 is then placed in the center of the second portion 30. The lid assembly 10 is closed and snaps together with the coffee pod 50 sandwiched between the first portion 20 and second portion 30. The lid assembly 10 is then snapped into position on coffee cup 500. Hot water 180 is then poured through d rain hole 80 of first portion 20 by means known in the prior art, such as, for example, a coffeemaker (not shown) .

[025] At the end of the brewing process, lid assembly 10, which contains the pod 50, can then be removed from cup 500 to add crea m, sugar or any condiments the consumer wants to use. The first portion 20 can be removed by tearing it apa rt at the perforated hinge 40. In one embodiment, first portion 20 and coffee pod 50 can then be discarded and second portion 30 can be used as a cover for coffee cup 500. Lower tab 60 may also perforated to allow the consumer to remove this section and use this open area as spout to d rink from . In another embodiment, second portion 30 and coffee pod 50 can then be disca rded and first portion 20 can be used as a cover for coffee cup 500. Upper tab 70 may also perforated to allow the consumer to remove this section and use this open area as spout to d rink from . Once the consumer has finished consuming the coffee the coffee cup/cover assembly can then be discarded .

[026] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without depa rting from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and va riances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, although the preferred embodiment has been described as a brewing device for coffee, any suitable brew substance, such as tea, cocoa, bouillon, etc., may be used .