Patent ID: 6460725
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A complete 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, 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, the beverage bag including a surrounding bag wall in which the beverage perparation agent is enclosed, the string having a bag end attached to the beverage bag and a free end, said complete profile retainer comprising:a cover panel sized and shaped such that said cover panel extends over the container mouth and including a surrounding edge wall sized and shaped such that said retainer can be seated on and/or form a releasingly sealing grip on or about the lip; a drinking aperture opening through said cover panel and positioned adjacent to said surrounding edge wall; a bag retention structure including a flattened upper surface and an inner retainer surface; said bag retention structure including also a surrounding side wall extending perpendicular to said flattened upper surface and adjacent to said surrounding edge wall such that said inner retainer surface is positionable above the mouth of the container and thereby defining a complete profile of said retainer; said surrounding side wall including a patterned area of weakenings defining an aperture cover openable by application of pressure generally at said patterned area to provide a bag retention aperture by which the string or a tag attached to the free end of the string, and thereby the bag to which the string or the tag is attached may be releasably secured to said retainer at a variety of positions relative to said retainer to facilitate the preparation of the beverage by the immersion of the bag within the liquid to initiate preparation process and, when the preparation process has been completed, into which the bag may be releasably secured in an elevated position relative to the beverage to stop the preparation process.