Abstract:
A beverage filter cartridge for use in a single serve beverage brewing machine, the cartridge including a sleeve with a cup-shaped filter pouch containing a beverage material sealed to the inside thereof proximate to a top end. The top end includes a flange to which a cover is sealed. A bottom cover of the sleeve seals the cartridge and to prevent spoilage of the beverage material by atmospheric oxygen. The cartridge includes a filter bag with a dry beverage material. The inner surface of the sleeve has a series of vertically oriented channels which allow for the brewed beverage to flow out of the sides of the filter hag and down the channels before exiting the cartridge at the bottom. The brewed beverage can flow out of the bottom of the cartridge either via the side of the filter bag through the channels or through the bottom of the filter bag.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/522,051, filed Aug. 10, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a cartridge for coffee, tea, and other beverages in amounts suitable for preparing single servings thereof in beverage makers designed to accommodate them. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Beverage filter cartridges used in specially designed beverage makers are well known in the art. Essentially, beverage filter cartridges of this type have included an impermeable, yieldably pierceable base shaped like a cup. A self-supporting wettable filter element is disposed in the cup and may be permanently sealed to an interior surface thereof. The filter element subdivides the space within the cup into first and second chambers. The first chamber, the space within the filter element, is for the material from which a beverage may be made, such as ground coffee. The second chamber is for collecting the beverage dripping from the filter element after a liquid, such as hot water, has been introduced into the first chamber. An impermeable, yieldably pierceable, imperforate cover is sealingly engaged with the top of the cup to form an impermeable cartridge. 
         [0006]    In use in the machines designed to accommodate the beverage filter cartridges, both the cover and bottom of the beverage filter cartridge are pierced with sharp, needle-like tubes. The piercing of the top cover admits hot water to the beverage filter cartridge. The brewed beverage flows out of the hole formed in the bottom of the cartridge by the other sharp, needle-like tube into a cup or mug for consumption by the user. 
         [0007]    Machines and beverage filter cartridges of this general type have proven to be immensely popular as they permit single servings of coffee, tea and other beverages to be prepared quickly and easily. However, as is well known to those who are in the business of producing and marketing coffee, the current single serving cartridges have insufficient volume of ground coffee to produce a hearty cup of brewed coffee with the current configuration. In addition to there being an inadequate quantity of ground coffee, the flow of hot water through the cartridge tends to back up as small particles clog the bottom of the filter during the brewing process. As the coffee brews there is a poor flow of the brewed liquid as the bottom of the filter, where the great bulk of the brewed liquid exits the first volume clogs. There is a need to provide an improved cartridge which allows for a greater volume of beverage forming material, like ground coffee, to be included within the cartridge and to provide alternate flow paths for the brewed beverage to exit the cartridge as the bottom of the filter becomes clogged. The present invention has been developed to enable the use of a greater volume of roasted coffee in a beverage filter cartridge with a modified shape and alternate channels for flow of brewed coffee in order to permit the users to brew an improved cup of coffee with a contemporary single-serving beverage brewing apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to permit an increased volume of roasted and ground coffee to be used in a single-serving beverage pod. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to permit an increased flow of brewed coffee or other beverage through alternate channels in the single-serving beverage pod. 
         [0010]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a single-serving beverage pod with an extended tip region for the roasted and ground coffee, tea or other beverage forming materials which adjusts the brewing characteristics of the beverage pod. 
         [0011]    Still a further object of the present invention is a beverage pod with a series of radially oriented channels running downwardly around the perimeter of the beverage pod which enhance flow of the brewed beverage through the sides of the filter and down through the channels. 
         [0012]    Yet another object of the invention is to form the outer side walls of the single-serve beverage pod with an oxygen blocking and scavenging additive which seals the beverage pod from the intrusion of oxygen, which causes the rapid reduction in quality of the roasted and ground coffee or tea or other beverage forming material. 
         [0013]    It is a further object of the invention to improve the quality of beverages, and in particular, coffee, prepared with the use of single-serving technology. 
         [0014]    Yet still a further objection of the invention is to provide a single-serving beverage pod which sits flat on a surface prior to use, with out gassing of carbon dioxide from the roasted coffee causing the upper cover to bow outwardly while the bottom cover lays flat. 
         [0015]    To these ends, a first embodiment of the present invention is a beverage pod comprising a frustoconical sleeve, open at top and bottom, and having a larger diameter at the top than at the bottom. The sleeve terminates at the top at a flange. The flange extends outwardly around the top of the sleeve. A filter pouch for a beverage material such as ground coffee or tea leaves, is disposed within the sleeve. The top portion of the filter pouch is sealed to the inside surface of the sleeve proximate to the top thereof. Once beverage material has been placed in the filter pouch, a cover is sealed to the flange extending about the top of the sleeve to provide an oxygen barrier at the top of the sleeve. A cover is also sealed to the bottom of sleeve to form a sealed beverage pod. The top and bottom covers are pierced by a tubular needle which is a part of a beverage brewing machine. 
         [0016]    The beverage pod may also include a plug, or stopper, which is inserted into the bottom edge of the sleeve to seal the bottom of the sleeve. The plug may be held within the bottom of the sleeve by an interference or screw fit, or be a part of the bottom cover, providing an oxygen barrier at the bottom of the sleeve. The plug may incorporate a one-way degassing valve of the types long-used in packages of coffee products, in order to permit gases escaping from the contents of the filter pouch to vent from the sleeve, so that pressure will not build up and cause any seal to rupture, all without permitting any oxygen to enter the sleeve. The plug is intended to be removed from the bottom edge of the sleeve immediately prior to use in a beverage brewing machine. 
         [0017]    In a variation of this first embodiment, the beverage pod does not include a plug or stopper. Instead, the bottom of the frustoconical sleeve is open, so that the beverage pod may be used without first removing a plug. In this variation, a plurality of beverage pods, for example six or twelve of them, are provided in a resealable package of an oxygen-barrier material. The resealable package preferably includes a one-way degassing valve. 
         [0018]    A second embodiment of the present invention is a beverage filter cartridge comprising a beverage filter pod and a reusable sleeve. 
         [0019]    The beverage filter pod comprises a cap and a filter element for holding materials from which a beverage may be brewed. The cap is generally circular in shape and is made of a biodegradable material. The top of the cap has a central recessed portion which is thinner than other portions of the cap and designed to be pierceable by a sharp, needle-like tube in a single serving, beverage-making machine. 
         [0020]    On the underside of the cap is a surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top of the cap, and extending circumferentially around the underside. The filter element is sealed to this surface once it has been filled with a brewable ingredient. The cap finally also has a flange extending about the perimeter of the cap above the oblique surface. The flange is used to stabilize the beverage filter pod on the sleeve. 
         [0021]    The sleeve, perhaps made of plastic or some other durable material, is designed to be reused many times. In this regard, the use of the present beverage filter system will contribute less non-biodegradable waste than conventional beverage filter cartridges. 
         [0022]    The sleeve may be frustoconical in shape and have open ends. At the top end, a shoulder extends around the inside surface of the rim. The shoulder has a surface making an oblique angle relative to the plane formed by the rim. The surface of the shoulder cooperates with the oblique surface on the underside of the cap to stabilize the cap when the beverage filter pod is disposed on the sleeve. The flange extending around the cap enhances this stability. 
         [0023]    At the lower end of the sleeve is a flange oriented obliquely inward toward the axis of the sleeve both for stability of the sleeve as a whole and to prevent liquid from getting trapped within the sleeve. Within the sleeve proximate to but recessed from the lower end are cross beams which are provided to prevent a saturated filter element from sagging low enough to be punctured or torn by any element of the coffee maker. The upper surfaces of the cross beams are crowned or peaked to ensure that liquid on them will roll off and downward out of the sleeve. 
         [0024]    In a fifth embodiment of the beverage filter cartridge, the outer cup has a plurality of spaced vertical vents disposed circumferentially about the lower portion thereof. The inner surface of the outer cup has vertically oriented channels, each of which leads to one of an equal number of circumferentially disposed holes on the bottom. A central hole is also provided in the bottom. The holes and vents permit a brewed beverage to drain from inside the beverage filter cartridge. 
         [0025]    Finally, in a sixth embodiment of the beverage filter cartridge, the outer cup has a recessed bottom with a plurality of circumferentially disposed holes. Within the outer cup is a plurality of vertically oriented channels, each leading to one of the holes in the bottom. The lower rim of the outer cup may be sealed with a bottom which is pierced by the bottom needle of the beverage making machine, or may have a plug, which may be removed prior to use on a coffee brewing machine. The plug may include a one-way degassing valve. 
         [0026]    In another preferred embodiment of the beverage filter cartridge, the body of the cartridge is formed as a frustoconical shell which is of greater diameter at the top than at the bottom, with a series of vertically oriented channels on the inside of the shell arranged radially around the body, each of the channels extending below the bottom of the filter and the bottom of the filter extending vertically below the plane that the bottom needle reaches in a central portion, the central portion being positioned inside the radius from the center that the bottom needle is positioned, so that the needle will not pierce the filter in the central portion or elsewhere and the beverage material in the central portion enhance the fill capacity of the beverage cartridge, enhances the quality of the flow rate during the brew and creates a significant flow of brewed beverage out of the sides of the filter into the channels on the way out of the beverage cartridge. 
         [0027]    The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of part and processes which will be exemplified in the constructions and processes as hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The present invention will now be described in more complete detail with frequent reference being made to the figures identified below. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a beverage cartridge constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of a beverage cartridge constructed in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a beverage cartridge taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the beverage cartridge of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the beverage cartridge of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view the beverage cartridge of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of a filter utilized in the beverage cartridge in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a beverage cartridge with a filter and dry beverage making material shown in accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 1   
           [0037]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a filter bag used in the cartridge in accordance with the invention; 
           [0038]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0041]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0042]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a beverage cartridge in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 1-7 , wherein the single serving beverage container, generally indicated as  100 , constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, is depicted. As seen in  FIG. 1 , beverage cartridge  100  includes central body  112 , upper flange  114 , top number  116  and bottom cover  118 . In the current preferred embodiment the top cover  116  and the bottom cover  118  are oxygen impermeable layers which can be made either of foil or plastic layers which seal to the flange  114  at the top of body  112  and to the bottom of body  112  as shown more particularly in other views. 
         [0044]    Reference is next made to  FIG. 2 , which is a perspective view of beverage cartridge  100  without top cover  116 . As can be seen, body  112  has a series of channels  120  vertically oriented running from proximate the top surface of body  112  to proximate the bottom of body  112 . The channels are made in the sides of beverage cartridge  100  in a fashion best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 . 
         [0045]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the channels  120  are oriented radially around the circumference of body  112  extending from near the upper flange  114  to the bottom section of body  112 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the bottom surface of beverage cartridge body  112  includes a cage used to support the filter and beverage grinds placed therein. The cage is formed by ribs  132  extending to a central support platform  128  with an inner dropped cage volume  126  formed by vertical cage portions  122  and horizontal cage portions  124 . 
         [0046]    The beverage machines (not shown), in accordance with the prior art, have an upper needle used for injecting hot water into the beverage cartridge  100  by piercing upper cover  116  and a lower hollow needle (not shown), which is used to pierce a hole in the bottom cover  118  to allow the beverage to drain out of the cartridge  100 . The lower needle is positioned off-center from the bottom center of the cartridge. Because the cartridges are not indexed into a particular orientation, the needle can, thus, pierce any portion of the bottom cover  118 , which is the appropriate distance from the center where the needle is located. The traditional types of beverage cartridges, such as the Keurig brand K-Cup beverage cartridges, the filter with the ground coffee is maintained an adequate distance from the base of the cartridge so that when the bottom needle pierces the base of the Keurig brand K-Cup cartridge the needle does not also pierce the filter containing the coffee grinds. However, this approach limits the amount of coffee which can be utilized in the beverage cartridge because the overall volume of the beverage cartridge is limited to the size which fits within the beverage machine. However, by utilizing the central cage, which extends downwardly below the level at which the lower needle pierces, but within the radius at which it resides, an additional volume is achieved for coffee or other dry material to brew a beverage. In addition to the benefit of additional volume of the dry particles, by adding a deeper central brewing area, the finer and/or slower dissolving particles within the filter begin to clog the bottom surfaces of the filter adding additional resistance. The increase in resistance to the flow of the brewed beverage redirects the water flow creating internal turbulence, which leads the liquid to be disbursed through the outer side vertical channels  120  of the cup. The vertical channels provide a path for the brewed beverage to flow through all of the filtered surfaces simultaneously. 
         [0047]    The bottom basket in the design formed by vertical members  122  and horizontal members  124  produce several important benefits measured against designs that do not have this feature. This basket approach includes an increased internal fill volume while maintaining a needle barrier and support for the filter. It provides for an increased open area for brewed liquid to flow through with balanced resistance. The horizontal portion  124  of the basket provide a sealing area for the bottom, covered to maintain a flat bottom surface area so the cup sits level on a counter or other flat surface. The top cover  116  would flex upward from the internal degassing pressure and not the bottom surface, which is bound to the rigid horizontal member  124 . The sealing area on the bottom surface of the cartridge  100  creates more precise tension. 
         [0048]    With the cage system one can put in as much as 13.5 grams of coffee, 10 grams of tea or 20 grams of other soluble products for optimal flavor and intensity by maximizing the internal volume. This allows the brew time to stay within the optimal 45 to 90 second range. Testing the cage system in accordance with the invention has revealed high levels of total dissolved solids for all beverages. 
         [0049]    Reference is next made to  FIG. 8 , wherein a cross-sectional view of the beverage cartridge  100  in accordance with the invention is depicted in the beverage making machine with hollow needle  50  shown piercing the bottom cover  118  of cartridge  100 . The remainder of the beverage making machine, constructed in accordance with the prior art is not depicted. A variety of machines operate in a similar fashion, one of which is the Keurig brand K-cup system brewing machines. Needle  50  is located a distance from the center of the base of cartridge  100  and the basket horizontal supports  124  and bulge section  151  of filter  150  are not pierced by needle  50  in use. In this way, the additional volume created in the bulge region allows additional coffee grounds or other beverage making dry material to fit within the cartridge  100  without affecting the overall volume of the cartridge or creating a situation where the needle  50  might inadvertently pierce the filter  150 , thereby allowing the grinds to enter the brewed beverage. The beverage making machine is a conventional machine such as that sold by Keurig under the brand K-Cup brewing system. The machines are designed to receive a standard size beverage cartridge. They have the needles at the top to inject hot water or other heated liquid into the top of the cartridge (not shown) and the bottom needle  50  shown herein, which pierces the bottom of cartridge  100  to allow the brewed beverage to exit from the cartridge. 
         [0050]    In the current preferred embodiment, the cartridge  100 , including the side wall  112 , flange  114  and cage members  122  and  124 , are all formed from high density polyethylene (HDPE), which can be recycled under the number sign 2 symbol. In a preferred embodiment, the cup will be injection molded with the ability to add oxygen scavenging additives to the mix. When added, these additives will scavenge residual oxygen in the cup and act as an additional barrier, preventing oxygen from entering the cup and extending its shelf life. 
         [0051]    The comparisons that were made between the existing, current market products, such as the Keurig brand K-Cup cartridges and the beverage cartridge in accordance with the invention were made using existing brewers, such as the Keurig brand K-Cup machines. Testing of various designs, including cups with varying channels mentioned and hole configurations yielded substantially different and unsatisfactory results. Brew times exceeding 90 seconds are not conducive to the convenience nature of the single serving market segment. In addition, they tend to produce a bitter-tasting, overly extracted beverage. Also, the flow characteristics of the cup designed with the cage produce a good balance of total dissolved solids and flavor within the optimum brew time for products of this type. The beverage container is suitable for use with coffee, tea or other soluble products. 
         [0052]    The additive which is utilized as the oxygen scavenging material has been used primarily in PET applications for the beverage industry. However, using it with the monolithic HDPE material designed for use with the beverage cartridge  100  is expected to be able to maintain peak freshness for a minimum of 9 to 12 months. The brew time was measured using a stopwatch to determine the effects of different configurations of the beverage cartridge on brew time. Total dissolved solids was measured using a total dissolve solids measuring tool utilized in the industry and flavor was measured using a specialty coffee association cupping criteria. 
         [0053]    The use of the channels  120  and cage  140  together were derived to address the internal resistance during the brewing process of the traditional beverage cartridge and the desire to increase the volume of coffee and enhance the flavor of the brewed coffee beverage, without having the bottom needle puncture the filter. If the filter is punctured, then the grinds enter the brewed beverage, which is gritty and generally not acceptable. Because the beverage cartridge  100  constructed in accordance with the invention is an injection molded product with more wall stiffness than the conventional Keurig brand K-Cup design, the wall thickness can be made less creating an internal volume of the cup can be made slightly larger, with a slightly wider cup. Top and bottom dimensions of the beverage cartridge  100  have the same dimensions as the K-Cup so that it fits smoothly into the Keurig beverage machines, but has increased internal dimension in the middle section of the cup. 
         [0054]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , the channels  120  are oriented radially about the circumference of the body  112  of cartridge  100 . The channels run down to openings  130  proximate the support shelf  128  and horizontal ribs  132 . In this way, with the filter in place inside the cartridge, the vertical side walls of the filter press up against the inside surface of body  112  with the channels  120  creating a volume to allow the brewed beverage to exit the filter and freely run down the inside of cartridge  100  and out the bottom of openings  130  to the bottom of the cartridge. The open channels running vertically along the inside of body  112  create a slight vacuum effect helping to draw the brewed beverage out of the sides of the filter  150  so that more of the heated water comes in contact with relatively fresh and dry beverage forming material while maintaining a good flow rate through the cartridge  100 . As the bottom of the cartridge has been pierced in the beverage making process by the lower needle  50  of the beverage machine, the brewed beverage flows out of the bottom of the cartridge. The brewing process can be simplified to be the introduction of hot water into contact with the beverage forming material which causes the beverage to be brewed as the solids and oils in the beverage forming material join with the water and exit the beverage cartridge as the brewed beverage. 
         [0055]    As seen in  FIG. 5 , the horizontal section  124  formed in a crossing pattern at the base of the basket or cage  140 , is generally coplanar with the base of body  112  so that the bottom cover  118  can be secured both to the bottom perimeter of body  112  and the flat bottom surface of members  124 . This assures that, as the roasted and ground coffee outgases, producing carbon dioxide, the expansion of volume within the cartridge results in a bowing outward of only the upper cover  116  rather than lower cover  118 . By fixing lower cover  118  both in the center and around the perimeter, the bottom cover retains its generally flat orientation so that the cartridge  100  will sit securely on its base. 
         [0056]    Reference is next made to  FIG. 7 , which shows the filter bag  150 , which sits inside of cartridge  100  and is secured at its upper portion  153  to the inside of body  112 , proximate flange  114 . The filter  150  includes lower bulge portion  151 , which fits within the basket region  140  formed by members  122  and  124 . A ground coffee, tea or other dry product  152  is shown inside of filter  150 . In practice, the cartridge  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  would be sealed with filter  150  with coffee, tea or other dry material  152  inside in a Nitrogen environment so that oxygen is prevented from coming in contact with the ground coffee or tea. Oxygen tends to cause the coffee or tea to degrade quickly and become stale, losing much of the volatile oils which provide the distinctive aromas and flavors of coffee and tea. 
         [0057]    The cartridge  100  is designed to have primary and secondary paths for the flow of liquid. Initial flow will be injected in the center of the cup (directly below the water inlet needle which while not shown is in the center of the top of the cartridge  100 ). This is where the deepest bed of dry particles is found, with the additional depth in the central bulge region  151 . During the brew cycle, the finer and or slower dissolving particles begin to clog the bottom surfaces of the filter paper  150  adding intentional resistance. The increase in resistance re-directs the water flow creating internal turbulence which leads the liquid to be dispersed through the outer side vertical channels  120  of the cup  100 . The vertical channels  120  provide a path for the brewed beverage to flow through all filtered surface areas simultaneously. The bottom basket design  140  produces a number of important benefits when measured against designs that do not have this feature or have a “flat or convex” patterned bottom.
       (1) Increased internal fill volume while maintaining a needle barrier and support for filter.   (2) Increased “open” area for brewed liquid to flow through with balanced resistance.       
 
         [0060]    (3) Sealing area for the bottom sealing material to maintain a “flat” bottom surface area so cup sits level on the counter. We want the top lid to flex upward from internal degassing pressure and not the bottom.
       (4) Sealing area creates more precise tension to guarantee bottom needle cleanly punctures 100% of the time even with dull needles.   (5) Allows the use of either conventional or biodegradable filter material.       
 
         [0063]    This system allows us to place as much as 13.5 grams of coffee, 10 grams of tea and or 20 grams of soluble product for optimal flavor and intensity by maximizing the internal volume. This allows the brew time to stay within the optimal 45-90 second range. Tests have revealed high levels of TDS (Total dissolved solids) for all beverages using the beverage cartridge  100  in accordance with the invention. 
         [0064]    A preferred choice for cup materials is HDPE which will be recycled under the #2 symbol. This material is injection molded with the ability of adding oxygen scavenging additives to the mix. When added these additives will scavenge residual oxygen in the cup and act as an additional barrier, preventing oxygen from entering the cup and extending its shelf life. A current preferred additive, is ValOR® Active Bloc  100  barrier resin from Valspar Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pa., to give it improved oxygen barrier characteristics. PLA (poly-lactic-acid) Blend Resin from C-Stone LLC of San Diego, Calif., ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PHA, or polystyrene may also be used as the plastic resin material, to which the oxygen barrier material may be added. 
         [0065]    Comparisons have been made versus the current market products using existing brewers. Testing of various designs including cups with varying channel dimensions and hole configurations yielded substantially different and unsatisfactory results. Brew times exceeding 90 seconds are not conducive to the “convenience” nature of this product and market segment. In addition they produce a bitter tasting overly extracted beverage. The flow characteristics of the disclosed cup design allow one to produce the best balance of TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and flavor within optimal brew time for products of this type. 
         [0066]    Turning now to these figures,  FIG. 1  is a side view of the beverage filter cartridge  10  of the first embodiment of the present invention. The beverage filter cartridge  10  includes a frustoconical sleeve  12 , which, as will be shown below, is open at its top and bottom and has a larger diameter at the top than at the bottom. At the top of the frustoconical sleeve  12  is a flange  14 , which extends outwardly around the top. A cover  16  is sealed to the flange  14  to provide an oxygen barrier at the top of the frustoconical sleeve  12 . The cover  16  may be of a laminated foil material and is pierceable by an inlet needle on a beverage brewing apparatus. The cover  16  may be removable for recycling. 
         [0067]    The frustoconical sleeve  12  also includes a shelf  24  having openings to enable a brewed beverage to drain therethrough. Among these openings are openings  26 , one for each channel  22 , which allow brewed beverage flowing along the channels  22  to drain quickly through the shelf  24 . Other openings  28  allow brewed beverage seeping from the bottom of a filter pouch to drain through the shelf  24 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 5  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the frustoconical sleeve  12  and plug  18  shown in  FIG. 4 . It will be noted that proximate to the flange  14  at the top of the frustoconical sleeve  12  and above the channels  22  is a smooth area  30  to which the top of a filter pouch is sealed. At the bottom of the frustoconical sleeve  12  is a bead  32  which is provided to hold the plug  18  in place in a manner to be described below. Bead  32  extends circumferentially around the inside of the bottom of the frustoconical sleeve  12 , except where interrupted by notches  20 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a filter pouch  150 . As shown, the filter pouch  150  is generally cup-shaped, and does not have corrugations. Filter pouch  150  may incorporate a heat-sealable adhesive, so that the top portion  152  may be heat sealed to the smooth area  113  on the inside of the frustoconical sleeve  112  proximate to the flange  114 . Filter pouch  150  preferably does not extend from smooth area  113  as far as the top surface of the shelf  128  in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Filter  150  is drawn without bulge section  151  as seen in  FIG. 8  for ease or representation and as an alternate approach. The filter  150  can be without the bulge section  150  which reduces the flow but still allows the use of the channels  120  to increase the alternate flow paths. 
         [0070]    Rather than having the vertically oriented channels  120 , the inside of the sleeve  112  may be provided with spiraling channels  153 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , or with vertically oriented channels  154 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Alternatively, spiraling ridges  156  may be provided on the inside surface of sleeve  112 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , or vertically oriented ridges  158 ,  160 , as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , with desired amounts of spacing separating them from one another. Instead of ridges  156 ,  158 ,  160 , the inside surface of sleeve  112  may be provided with bumps or moguls for the same purpose, namely, to ensure that some space will be available between the inside of the sleeve  112  and the filter  150  for the drainage of a brewed beverage downward out of the sleeve  130 . 
         [0071]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent in the preceding description, are efficiently obtained, and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0072]    It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.