Patent ID: 6742670
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: A47G,B65D

Abstract:
A reduced profile retainer for the 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 the retainer seated on the container, the bag having a surrounding bag wall in which a beverage preparation agent is enclosed, the container including a surrounding container wall 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 reduced profile retainer comprising:a cover panel including an upper surface having at least a partially flattened portion and sized and shaped such that said panel extends over the container mouth and a surrounding edge wall sized and shaped such that said retainer can be seated on or form a releasable sealing grip on or about the lip; a drinking aperture positioned on said cover panel and adjacent to said surrounding edge wall; a bag retention structure including a retention area having an upper retainer surface raised above said partially flattened portion of said cover panel by side walls to provide a bag retention space that is sized and shaped such that the bag when drawn upward into said space is confined and compressed and at least partially dehydrated thereby providing said retention structure of a reduced profile; said upper retainer surface including a patterned area of weakenings through which a string/tag securing aperture opens, said string/tag securing aperture sized and shaped such that at least the string may be passed therethrough and freely moved for easy movement and positioning of the bag in the liquid within the container, said string/tag securing aperture further openable by application of reduced pressure at said patterned area and more completely openable by application of greater pressure at said patterned area to provide a bag retention aperture sized and shaped such that the bag may be pulled through until the surrounding bag wall may be gripped by opposing resilient edges and thereby be releasably secured to said retainer at a position that is elevated relative to the liquid to stop said steeping.