Patent ID: 6464099
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A47G,B65D

Abstract:
A retainer for the controlled preparation of a beverage from liquid within a container and a bag containing a beverage preparation agent by movement of a string attached to the bag relative to said retainer seated on the container, the bag having a surrounding bag wall in which the 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, the string having a bag end attached to the beverage bag and a free end, said retainer comprising:a flexible cover panel including an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, said upper surface sized and shaped such that said panel generally extends over the container mouth, said upper surface and lower surface meet at a peripheral rim and form a surrounding edge wall sized and shaped such that said retainer can be seated on and form a releasingly sealing grip about the lip; a drinking aperture opening through said flexible cover panel to provide access to the liquid within the container; a rounded raised area including a generally continuous surrounding side wall and a patterned area, said generally continuous side wall having an inner retainer surface that defines a bag retention space, said patterned area including one or more patterns of weakenings formed in or perforations or incisions cut through said flexible cover panel that are openable outward and above said rounded raised area or open by application of pressure at or around said patterned area, said patterns as opened include resilient edges and at least a securing aperture sized and shaped such that at least a portion of the bag may be inserted therethrough and secured to said retainer by gripping of some or all of the inserted portion of the bag by said resilient edges; and a nose/face accommodation area separating said drinking aperture from said rounded raised area, said nose/face accommodation area sized and shaped to accommodate portions of a face of a consumer and placed such that it is less likely that the consumer will encounter the inserted portion of the bag secured by or elevated relative to said patterned area when the consumer is drinking from said drinking aperture.