BEVERAGE PREPARATION DEVICE

A beverage preparation system for preparing beverages within a container by just adding water is provided. The beverage preparation system embodies an enclosure device forming a beverage admixture-filled enclosure with a permeable first membrane extending between first and second boundary elements. Attachment points may be disposed along the first and second membrane elements so as to enable formation of the beverage admixture-filled enclosure along the interior walls of the container by adhering the attachment points thereto. Alternatively, the enclosure device may provide a second membrane extending between the first and second boundary elements, forming a beverage admixture-filled reservoir so that the enclosure device may be received into and attached to any suitably sized pre-existing container. Whereby adding a suitable liquid to the container, the liquid permeates the first membrane so as to interact with the beverage admixture, resulting in a beverage mixture the user may drink from the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to beverage preparation systems and, more particularly, to a system for preparing beverages within a container by just adding water.

The preparation of fresh beverages can consume time and energy that, at least for on-the-go type personalities, could be better utilized for other things. And thus busy individuals would find a simpler, faster, and “less wasteful” beverage preparation method a boon.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system for preparing beverages within a container by just adding water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an enclosure device includes a permeable first membrane extends between two opposing boundary elements so that the first membrane defines a hollow shape; and at least one attachment point disposed along each of the two opposing boundary elements, wherein a middle portion of the first membrane is concave relative to and into the hollow shape, and further including a second membrane extending between the two opposing boundary elements so as to define a reservoir between the first and second membranes, and wherein a beverage admixture is retained within the reservoir. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of preparing a beverage using the above-mentioned enclosure device, includes the steps of providing a container having an inner surface defining a cavity; sliding said enclosure device into the container; providing a beverage admixture; and urging the at least one attachment point of each of the two opposing boundary elements against the inner surface so as to define an enclosure filled with the beverage admixture, and further including the step of defining the enclosure so that a middle portion of the beverage admixture bulges into the hollow shape, and pouring a liquid into the hollow shape of the enclosure device.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a beverage preparation system includes a container having an inner surface defining a cavity; an enclosure device having a permeable first membrane extends between two opposing boundary elements so that the first membrane defines a hollow shape; and at least one attachment point disposed along each of the two opposing boundary elements, wherein each attachment point adheres to the inner surface, defining an enclosure between the first membrane and the inner surface; wherein a beverage admixture is housed within the enclosure, and wherein a middle portion of the first membrane bulges into the hollow shape, and further including a liquid received within the cavity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a beverage preparation system for preparing beverages within a container by just adding water. The beverage preparation system may embody an enclosure device forming a beverage admixture-filled enclosure with a permeable first membrane extending between first and second boundary elements. Attachment points may be disposed along the first and second membrane elements so as to enable formation of the beverage admixture-filled enclosure along the interior walls of the container by adhering the attachment points thereto. Alternatively, the enclosure device may provide a second membrane extending between the first and second boundary elements, forming a beverage admixture-filled reservoir so that the enclosure device may be received into and attached to any suitably sized pre-existing container. Whereby adding a suitable liquid to the container, the liquid permeates the first membrane so as to interact with the beverage admixture, resulting in a beverage mixture the user may drink from the container.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include a beverage preparation system100for preparing beverages within a container10by just adding water. The beverage preparation system100may embody an enclosure device11defining an enclosure that houses a beverage admixture18, and a method of using the same within the container10.

The enclosure device11provides a first membrane12extending from a first boundary element14to a second boundary element16, taking on a hollow shape for sliding in a cavity of the containers10. If the container is cylindrical, then the over shape of the enclosure device11would be tubular forming a lumen. Though not shown specifically in the incorporated illustrations, the enclosure device11could be any hollow shape—oval, rectangular, and the like—so as to function in accordance with the present invention as described herein; for example, so as to slide into an oval, rectangular or the like shaped container10.

The first membrane12may be made of water permeable material. The first membrane12of the enclosure device11may be concaved, curving into the hollow portion that it defines. The concave structure of the first membrane12enables defining a reservoir along the walls of the cavity of the container10that bulges with retained beverage admixture18, wherein the first and second boundary elements14,16pinch off the resulting bulge. Such a bulging configuration provides greater surface area of the beverage admixture18-filled reservoir that would be accessible to a liquid20it may be submerged and/or steeped into.

A first and second boundary elements14,16may provide attachment points, respectively. Each attachment point may be adapted to removably attach to a supporting surface, such as the inner surface of the container10, after being slid therein. In certain embodiments, the enclosure device11may provide a second membrane13extending between the first and second boundary elements14,16, defining a reservoir sealed there between, wherein the beverage admixture18is retained within the reservoir. In such embodiments, the enclosure device11may be received into and attached to (via the same method describe above) any suitably sized pre-existing container10.

The beverage admixture18may include any ingestible food or additive material, such as powder, that is at least in part water soluble, capable of saturating water, dissolving in water or otherwise interacting with a liquid containing water20so as the resulting mixture30of liquid20and the beverage admixture18is an ingestible beverage. For example, the beverage admixture18may be tea leaves, coffee grounds or the like, and the liquid20water.

The first and second membranes12,13and the first and second boundary elements14,16may be adapted to take the shape of differently shaped containers10when the attachment points are adhered therein.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The beverage preparation system100disclosed above may be provided. A thirsty user may slide into a suitable container10, the enclosure device11housing a desired beverage admixture18within a reservoir defined between the first and second membrane12,13. In certain embodiments, the user may urge the attachment points of the boundary elements14,16to removable adhere to the inner walls of the container10so that the enclosure device11does not move around during use, which includes the pouring of a liquid20into the container10. Then the user may add the liquid20into the container10, such as water, by pouring it through into the hollow defined by the enclosure device11. The liquid20may be cooled or heated or any desirable temperature. The liquid20seeps through the permeable first membrane12so as to interact with the beverage admixture18housed thereby, resulting in the beverage mixture30within the container10, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. As soon as desired, the user may enjoy the beverage mixture on the go, wherein the enclosure device11ensures that the beverage admixture18is not directly consumed, and wherein the attachment points keep the enclosure device11from sliding out of the container10.

In certain embodiments, the first membrane12-only enclosure device11is attached along the inner walls of the container10so as to form an enclosure between said inner walls and the first membrane12, wherein the beverage admixture18is retained in between by the affixing of the attachment points of the first and second boundary elements14,16.