Abstract:
A container that enables a food product with one or more pieces of solid food, such as soup, to be made utilizing a brewing machine. The container can be configured to hermetically contain a soup extract and dried pieces of solid food. The container can be pierceable to accommodate an injection of water into the container for combination with the soup extract to produce a broth, and an outflow of the broth from the bottom of the container. The container can also contain one or more inner chambers holding solid food pieces in an isolated location that can be kept separate and dry from both the water that flows into the container as well from the broth that is produced when the soup extract is infused with the water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    This relates to containers for food products for use in single-serve brewing machines, including food products comprising both liquid and solid food. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Single-serve brewing machines produce one cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate at a time using a single-serve cartridge. An example of a single-serve brewing machine is the brewing system manufactured by Keurig, Inc., which uses single-serve K-Cup® cartridges that are also manufactured by Keurig, Inc. The single-serve cartridge is a small plastic cup designed for placement within the single-serve brewing machine, and contains several elements including a foil lid, a plastic outer shell, and usually a filter. For instance, a single-serve cartridge that brews coffee or tea has a filter to hold the coffee grinds or tea leaves in place. In contrast, a single-serve cartridge that brews hot chocolate typically does not contain a filter. 
         [0003]    To use a single-serve cartridge, a user places the cartridge within a single-serve brewing machine, closes the lid of the machine and presses a brew button. The machine contains an inlet needle and an outlet needle, which penetrate the top and bottom, respectively, of the cartridge. The machine injects heated water through the inlet needle into the cartridge, and drains the brewed beverage from the bottom of the cartridge through the outlet needle into the user&#39;s cup. Once the beverage has been brewed, the cartridge is removed from the machine and discarded. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A container is disclosed that enables a food product with one or more pieces of solid food, such as soup, to be made utilizing a needle-based brewing machine. For example, the container can be configured to hermetically contain a soup extract and dried pieces of solid food. The container can be pierceable to accommodate an injection of water into the container for combination with the soup extract to produce a broth, and an outflow of the broth from the bottom of the container. The container can also contain one or more inner chambers holding solid food pieces in an isolated location that can be kept separate and dry from both the water that flows into the container as well from the broth that is produced when the soup extract is infused with the water. 
         [0005]    The container can also be configured with a peelable lid to allow a user to peel back the lid and pour the solid contents, which are contained in the separate chamber or “cup-within-a-cup” into the user&#39;s brewed broth. To create a cup of soup, for example, the user can place the container into the brewing machine and press the brew button. The lid and the bottom of the container can be pierced by the brewing machine&#39;s needles. Heated water can flow through the container and mix with the soup extract forming a broth, which can exit the container into the user&#39;s cup through the outflow needle of the brewing machine. When the water flow is complete, the user can remove the container from the brewing machine and, rather than discarding the container, open the container utilizing the peelable lid. The solid food contents of the container can then be poured into the user&#39;s cup of broth. In other embodiments, the one or more inner chambers can contain small perforations that enable the heating of the solid food contained within those chambers by the heated water during the brewing process. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a lid portion of a container according to the present disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a base portion of a container with a substantially cylindrical holding chamber according to the present disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example of a perspective view of a container according to the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example of a base portion of a container with a substantially conical holding chamber according to the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example of a base portion of a container with multiple holding chambers according to the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example of a base portion of a container with a perimeter-encircling holding chamber according to the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a base portion of a container with a perforated holding chamber and infusion chamber pierced by inlet and outlet needles according to the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of process for making a container according to the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of process for using a container according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    A container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a base portion and a lid portion removably attached to the base portion. An example of a lid potion of the container, lid portion  100 , is shown in  FIG. 1 . Examples of a base portion of the container, base portions  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500 ,  600  and  700 , are shown in  FIG. 2-7 . An example of the container, container  300 , with lid portion  100  attached to base portion  200 , is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , lid portion  100  of the container comprises cover  105  with pull tabs  110  and  120  attached thereto. Pull tabs  110  and  120  can be configured to allow a user to pull on one of the pull tabs to peel back cover  105  from a base portion of the container to which cover  105  is attached. Pull tabs  110  and  120  are shaped in a thin and narrow manner, but can take any suitable shape to simplify handling, such as a wider shape for example. Pull tabs  110  and  120  are arranged on opposite sides of cover  105 , but can be arranged in any suitable location around the perimeter of cover  105  to simplify handling. Further, although lid portion  100  is shown to have two pull tabs in  FIG. 1 , lid portion  100  can have only one pull tab or more than two pull tabs in other embodiments. 
         [0017]    Cover  105  can be made of foil, plastic or other suitable pierceable and peelable material. The one or more pull tabs attached to cover  105  can be made of the same material as cover  105  or a different material. For example, the one or more pull tabs can be made from a heat resistant material. The oppositely arranged heat resistant pull tabs can allow a user to safely remove a hot container from a brewing machine with two fingers. The one or more pull tabs can also be used to peel back cover  105  from a base portion of the container. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , base portion  200  of the container comprises infusion chamber  210  and holding chamber  220 . Holding chamber  220  contains solid food pieces (not shown). Infusion chamber  210  contains a water soluble food extract. The water soluble food extract produces a liquid food when infused with a heated liquid, such as hot water provided by a brewing machine through infusion chamber  210  for example. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , lid portion  100  is attached to base portion  200 . Lid portion  100  can be attached to base portion  200  with any suitable adhesive that provides an adequate seal for infusion chamber  210  and holding chamber  220 , and allows a user to pull on one of the pull tabs to peel back cover  105  from base portion  200 . The one or more pull tabs attached to lid portion  100  can also be bent downward in proximity to base portion  200  for safe handling by a user when container  300  is hot due to a brewing process. 
         [0020]    The food product provided in the container can be any food product that combines both liquid and solid food. For example, in one embodiment, the food product can comprise a soup that combines solid food, such as meat pieces, with liquid food, such as a broth of the soup. For a soup food product, for example, the container can provide the non-water soluble solid food pieces in a dried form in holding chamber  220 , and a water soluble broth extract in infusion chamber  210 . In another embodiment, the food product can comprise a beverage that combines solid food, such a miniature marshmallows, with liquid food, such as hot chocolate. For a beverage food product, for example, the container can provide the solid food pieces in holding chamber  220 , and a water soluble beverage extract in infusion chamber  210 . 
         [0021]    Examples of soup food products that can be provided in a container in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure can include chicken broth with mushrooms and scallions, beef broth with mushrooms and scallions, miso soup with tofu and scallions, chicken and noodle soup, beef and noodle soup, mixed vegetable soup with chicken broth, mixed vegetable soup with beef broth, vegetable soup with vegetable broth, shrimp flavored broth and noodles, thai shrimp soup, onion soup, leek and potato soup, coconut milk and shrimp soup, chicken dumplings soup, beef dumpling soup, pork dumpling soup, etc. 
         [0022]    Infusion chamber  210  provides a channel between lid portion  100 , when attached to base portion  200 , and a bottom of base portion  200 . The channel can provide a pathway for heated liquid injected into infusion chamber  210  by an inlet needle of a brewing machine penetrating the attached lid portion  100  and drained from the bottom of base portion  200  by an outlet needle of the brewing machine penetrating the bottom of base portion  200 . Infusion chamber  210  is located centrally in base portion  200  to accommodate penetration of an inlet needle and an outlet needle of a brewing machine into infusion chamber  210  at a central location at the top and bottom of the container. Holding chamber  220  is therefore located peripherally in base portion  200  to prevent penetration of an inlet needle or an outlet needle of a brewing machine into holding chamber  220 . 
         [0023]    In other embodiments, infusion chamber  210  and holding chamber  220  can be located in other arrangements relative to one another in order to accommodate a different placement of inlet and outlet needles in the manner indicated above. For example, to accommodate a brewing machine that penetrates a container at a peripheral location at the top and bottom of the container, for example, infusion chamber  210  can be peripherally located and holding chamber  220  can be centrally located in base portion  200 . 
         [0024]    Holding chamber  220  has a top opening that can either be sealed by the attached lid portion  100  or be disposed in close enough proximity to the attached lid portion  100  to prevent the solid food pieces contained therein from exiting into infusion chamber  210  due to handling of the container. Holding chamber  220  extends downward from the attached lid portion  100  and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Holding chamber  220  extends downward only partially toward the bottom of base portion  200  (i.e., the bottom of holding chamber  220  is raised from the bottom of base portion  200 ), but can extend fully to the bottom of base portion  200  in other embodiments. 
         [0025]    The configuration of holding chamber  220  can vary in any suitable manner, as illustrated in the embodiments of  FIGS. 4-7 .  FIGS. 4-7  depict base portions comprising infusion chambers and holding chambers that generally correspond to those depicted in  FIG. 2 . For example, base portion  400  of  FIG. 4  has a holding chamber, holding chamber  420 , with a substantially conical shape. Base portion  500  of  FIG. 5  has multiple holding chambers, holding chamber  520  and holding chamber  530 , that are peripherally located in base portion  500 . This configuration allows the container to hold more solid food pieces than containers with a single holding chamber. To accommodate even greater portions of solid food pieces, base portion  600  of  FIG. 6  has a holding chamber, holding chamber  620 , that extends around a perimeter of the attached lid portion (not shown). Holding chamber  620  has a substantially toroidal shape, but can take any other suitable shape that extends around the perimeter of the attached lid portion in other embodiments. 
         [0026]    Note that holding chamber  620 , as well as the holding chambers of the other illustrated embodiments, are configured such that a channel between an attached lid portion and the bottom of the base portion is preserved. The depth and width of the holding chambers in these embodiments can vary to accommodate a desired portion of solid food pieces, but the placement of the holding chambers can be restricted to avoid penetration by an inlet needle of a brewing machine. Further, the shape of the holding chambers is not limited to those illustrated herein, but can be any suitable shape in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. Examples of holding chamber shapes can include, but are not limited to, cylindrical, conical, toroidal, frustum, semispherical and cuboidal. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , base portion  700  has a perforated material separating holding chamber  720  from infusion chamber  710 . The perforated material defines the bottom of holding chamber  720  in the illustrated embodiment, but can be located at any other suitable location in other embodiments, such as the side of holding chamber  720  or any similar or otherwise suitable location of the holding chambers of any of the other disclosed embodiments. The perforations can allow for heating of the solid food pieces during brewing by the heated liquid injected into infusion chamber  710 . For example, the solid food pieces can be heated by steam coming off the injected heated liquid or by the injected heated liquid itself as the liquid level rises in infusion chamber  710  during brewing. The perforations can also be configured small enough to prevent the solid food pieces from exiting into infusion chamber  710 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 7  further depicts the penetration into infusion chamber  710  of inlet needle  740  and outlet needle  750  of a brewing machine. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to inlet and outlet needles of only brewing machines to provide the functionality described herein. Rather, any type of machine that is configured to penetrate a container with an inlet needle and outlet needle, inject a liquid into the container through the inlet needle, and drain liquid from the container through the outlet needle can be utilized in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         [0029]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example of how the container can be assembled. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a water soluble food extract can be introduced (block  800 ) into the infusion chamber of the container. One or more solid food pieces can be introduced (block  810 ) into the one or more holding chambers of the container. The solid food pieces and food extract can be introduced into the base portion of the container in any suitable order or concurrently. After the solid food pieces and food extract have been introduced, the container can be sealed (block  820 ) with the peelable lid portion. In one embodiment, the top opening of the one or more holding chambers is sealed by the peelable lid portion. In another embodiment, the top opening of the one or more holding chambers is not sealed by the peelable lid portion but is disposed in close enough proximity to the peelable lid portion to prevent the solid food pieces contained therein from exiting into infusion chamber  210  due to handling of the container. The aforementioned steps can be performed solely by one or more pieces of equipment or solely by one or more persons, or by any suitable combination of equipment and persons. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example of how the container can be employed with a brewing machine. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 9 , user  900  can place (block  910 ) the container inside brewing machine  905  and activate a brew button associated with brewing machine  905 . In response to the brew button being activated, brewing machine  905  can inject (block  920 ) heated liquid, such as water, into the infusion chamber of the container through an inlet needle of brewing machine  905  piercing the peelable lid portion of the container. Brewing machine  905  can subsequently drain (block  930 ) liquid food, produced when the water soluble food extract in the infusion chamber is infused with the heated liquid, from the container through an outlet needle of brewing machine  905  piercing the bottom of the base portion of the container. User  900  can capture (block  940 ) the liquid food drained from brewing machine  905 , for example, by placing a cup or bowl below the outlet needle. After the liquid food is captured, user  900  can remove (block  950 ) the container from brewing machine  905 , peel back (block  960 ) the lid portion of the container thereby exposing the solid food pieces in the holding chamber or chambers, and dump (block  970 ) the solid food pieces from the holding chamber or chambers into the captured liquid food to complete the preparation of the food product. 
         [0031]    By separating the solid food pieces in a chamber separate from the chamber through which heated liquid form a brewing machine is injected and from which the resulting liquid food is drained, the container according to embodiments of the present disclosure prevents the solid food pieces from clogging the outlet needle of the brewing machine, which can result in a failed brew, and/or becoming trapped in the container in a soaked state, which can make removal of the food pieces very difficult after brewing. 
         [0032]    Additionally, purchasers of brewing machines can expand the use of their brewers to now brew soups and other food products comprising liquid and solid food. The disclosed food product containers are ideal for travel and provide compact, easy-to-use meal solutions for kids, adults, and the elderly. Businesses can stock these containers as convenient and quick meal solutions for employees who need a healthy snack. Healthy, nutritional, and portion controlled meals can be made with the disclosed containers in less than one minute, for example, for a modest price. The ease-of-use is particularly beneficial for kids and the elderly who may have difficulty in preparing more elaborate meals. The disclosed containers are also highly environmentally sound, potentially acting as a replacement for the existing large Styrofoam instant soup cups in the market that lack inner chambers and merely require the addition of hot water to complete preparation of the soup, which is eaten out the instant soup cup. 
         [0033]    One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that many possible modifications and combinations of the disclosed embodiments can be used, while still employing the same basic underlying mechanisms and methodologies. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, has been written with references to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations can be possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical applications, and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated. 
         [0034]    Further, while this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what is being claimed or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.