Abstract:
A beverage brewer having a cartridge for placement of a disposable single use filter basket filled with beverage grounds. The filter basket includes a plastic frame having a bottom, a plurality of ribs, and a top rim that define a plurality of openings covered by a non-woven or woven plastic filter material. The basket filled with beverage grounds is enclosed with a film cover. The inlet probe of the brewer pierces the cover and admits a heated liquid into the beverage grounds, and creates a brewed beverage that flows through the filter material and exits an opening in a bottom portion of the cartridge.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/191,219, filed Jul. 26, 2011 (pending), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/889,144, filed Sep. 23, 2010 (pending), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 611246,796, filed Sep. 29, 2009 (expired), the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Single serve beverage brewing is popular among consumers. There are many formats of single serve brewers on the market. These brewers are designed to quickly brew a single cup of coffee or tea. The coffee or tea grounds are sold in prepared, single serving portions. 
         [0003]    Reusable devices for single serve brewers, such as devices with metal or steal filters, may not suitable in some situations. For example, when efficiency is required such as in a busy home, in an office environment, or in a waiting-room environment. Reusable devices require cleaning, which may be complicated by the tendency of beverage grounds to cake into the filter openings. Additionally, to accommodate cleaning of reusable devices, the single serve brewer will be required to be placed near a source of water and a sink or drain. Provision of a sink or drain may be impracticable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A disposable single use beverage package. The package may include a barrier, which may be an impermeable barrier surrounding a basket, which may be a permeable single walled basket. The basket may include a frame and a filter medium. The basket may also include a lid. The basket may be provided preloaded with beverage grounds or may be loaded with beverage grounds during use. 
         [0005]    Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a disposable single use beverage package includes a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at a top of the frame, a bottom portion that is closed, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom. The bottom portion, plurality of ribs and rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. The bottom portion defines a groove or indentation configured to cooperate with a complementary feature of a cartridge to control alignment of the basket within the cartridge In a further aspect, a disposable single use beverage package includes a frame. The frame includes a continuous rim that defines an opening at a top of the frame, a bottom portion that is closed, and a plurality of spaced apart ribs that extend from the rim to a peripheral edge of the bottom. The bottom portion, plurality of ribs and rim define a plurality of openings that facilitate fluid flow. The basket is tapered to facilitate stacking of multiple baskets. At least one rib includes a ledge positioned in a center region configured to limit an amount by which an upper basket is insertable into a lower basket to thereby define a space between respective bottoms of the upper basket and the lower basket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket with packaging. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket and lid. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket with exemplary dimensions. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates use of a disposable beverage portion basket. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary lid for a disposable beverage portion basket. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary package of multiple disposable beverage portion baskets. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7A  illustrates an exemplary filter medium side portion configured to be molded into a basket. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7B  illustrates an exemplary filter medium bottom portion, if needed, configured to be molded to a bottom surface of a frame of a basket. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7C  illustrates an exemplary filter side portion and filter bottom portion molded to a basket. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8A  illustrates the placement of a logo on the exemplary lid. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8B  illustrates the placement of a logo of the basket. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8C  illustrates the placement of a logo on underside of the basket. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9A  illustrates a disposable beverage portion basket that defines a groove on a bottom portion. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9B  illustrates a disposable beverage basket that defines a groove and indentation on a bottom portion. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10A  illustrates an exemplary cartridge with an annular ring used in connection with the beverage basket of  FIG. 9A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10B  illustrates an exemplary cartridge with a button used in connection with the beverage basket of  FIG. 9B . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11A  illustrates a disposable beverage basket with a group of outwardly extending ledges. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11B  illustrates a disposable beverage basket with a group of inwardly extending ledges. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12A  illustrates stacking of disposable beverage baskets that include outwardly extending ledges. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12B  illustrates stacking of disposable beverage portion baskets that include inwardly extending ledges. 
           [0027]      FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate perspective, side, and bottom views, respectively, of yet another beverage basket embodiment. 
           [0028]      FIGS. 14A and 14B  illustrate a first lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of  FIGS. 13A-13C . 
           [0029]      FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate a second lid embodiment for covering the beverage basket of  FIGS. 13A-13C . 
           [0030]      FIGS. 16A and 16B  illustrate a basket and lid that twist lock together. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  illustrates a basket and lid formed together. 
           [0032]      FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate liquid distribution fins positioned on a lower surface of an exemplary lid. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    Single serve beverage brewing is popular among consumers due to the convenience and flexibility that it provides. Many single serve beverage brewers have entered the market. Traditional brewers typically produce between four and twenty cups of beverage at a time. The beverage sits on a hot plate until it is consumed. As time passes, the taste of the beverage may decline. Single serve brewing allows a consumer to enjoy beverages, such as coffee and tea, in an efficient fashion and without a decline in the taste profile of the beverage. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 1 , coffee or tea grounds for use in a single serving brewer may be packaged in a disposable single use beverage package  100 . A disposable single use beverage package  100  may include a basket  110 , which may be a permeable basket and barrier  112 , which may be a disposable impermeable barrier. 
         [0035]    The barrier  112  may have a first side  114  and a second side  116 . The first side  114  may include a score, a tab, a zip, an embedded string, or otherwise provide a means for assisting a user to open the barrier  112 . The barrier  112  may be sealed at the second side  116  or other sides by gusseting, pinching, heat sealing, stapling, or otherwise. Alternatively or additionally, the barrier  112  may be a shrink wrap barrier or a wax barrier, among others. 
         [0036]    The barrier  112  may be substantially resistant to the passage of liquids, gases, and solids. For example, the barrier  112  may be hermetically sealed to block moisture and oxygen from entering the pouch and to retain the aroma of the coffee. Additionally or alternatively, several baskets may be prefilled and packaged together in an egg crate type configuration, a tube, or other packaging, to maintain freshness during shipping and storing. The barrier  112  may be made of materials such as foil laminate, metalized films, EVOH films, polyolefin based material, parafilm, plastics, and combinations of these, among others. 
         [0037]    A user may open the package  100 , for example, by tearing the barrier  112  along the first side  114  to reveal the basket  110 . The user may remove the basket  110  from the barrier  112  and place the basket  110  into a single serve brewer. The basket  110  may be prefilled with grounds, or alternatively, the user may add grounds to the basket  110 . 
         [0038]    The basket  110  may be a single-wall permeable basket including a first end  118 , which may be reversibly closed or an open end, and a second end  120 , which may be a closed end. The basket  110  may be a cup shaped basket and may be used with a lid  122 . The basket  110  may also have a side wall  124  and a rim  126 . The side wall  124  may connect the second end  120  and the rim  126 . The side wall  124  may include a frame  128  and a filter medium  130 . 
         [0039]    The frame  128  may provide structure, stability, and integrity to the filter medium  130 . The frame  128  may be formed by injection molding or by a different process suitable for manufacturing a rigid form around a relatively flexible filter medium. The frame  128  may be made of any one of many commercially available materials, such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyamide or Nylon, or other synthetic or natural plastics or combinations thereof. The frame may be made from other materials such as a bio-based polymer, such as polylaticacid (PLA), poly hydroxybutaric acid (PHA) or a starch based polymer. The frame  128  may be made of other materials known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 2 , the side walls  124  of the basket  110  may be defined by the frame  128  and a filter medium  130 . The filter medium  130  may be secured to the basket  110 , for example, at the second end  120 , the rim  126 , and/or at that frame  128 . The filter medium  130  may be secured for example, by thermal bonding of the plastic used for the frame  128 , or with an adhesive, by crimping, by heat sealing, or any other way. The filter medium  130  may be secured in the frame  128  in insert-injection molding of the plastic frame around a filter medium insert. For example, a pre-die cut blank of filter medium may be placed on a mandrel which has channels around the shape of the pre die-cut blank. Molten plastic may flow in and bond to the blank of the filter medium  130  during inert-injection molding. The plastic may solidify into the frame  128 , for example, upon cooling. Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7C , in an alternative embodiment the filter medium  700  and  705  may be first formed into a generally cylindrical and tapered portion  700  and an optional bottom circular filter medium  705  herein after referred to as the circular portion  705 . The filter medium  700  and  705  may then be placed or inserted onto a mold for insert injection molding to form the basket  710  with the filter media  700  and  705  supported by the frame of the basket  710 . The bottom end  715  of the frame of the basket  710  may be substantially open and a circular filter portion  705  may cover the open portions. 
         [0041]    The filter medium  130  may be a porous material and may be permeable to liquids and some oils. It may be formed of many materials, for example, non-woven materials such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, cellulosic fibers, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starch, filter paper, other paper materials, polymer materials, a combination of these or any other material. The filter medium  130  may also be formed from a polymer or plastic filtration mesh, or microporous or apertured films made of various plastic materials, such as polypropylene, Nylon 6 and high density polyethylene or other materials known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the filter medium  130  may be formed from a bio-based polymer, such as polylatic acid (PLA), poly hydroxybutaric acid (PHA) or starch based polymer. 
         [0042]    Characteristics of the filter medium  130  may be selected to meet the filtration needs of different products, such as ground coffee, tea powders or leaves, or other brewed products. For example, the basis weight, thickness, strand count, mesh size, flow rate and strength of the filter medium  130  may be selected based on the product to be brewed. 
         [0043]    The filter medium  130  may be compostable, biodegradable, recycled, and/or recyclable. If the filter medium  130  is a non-woven material, it may have a greater resistance than, for example, a woven material or a metal filter. A non-woven filter medium  130  may retain water in the basket for longer than, for example, a woven or metal filter. The length of time that the water is retained in the basket with the grounds may influence the strength and therefore the taste profile of the resulting beverage. This may be because a woven material or a metal material may have technological limitations on the size of the openings there through. A non-woven material may not have the same technological limitations. Therefore, the difference may be that, in a woven material or metal material, the path of the water may be straight through the wall and in the non-woven material, the path may be indirect and convoluted. 
         [0044]    The basket  110  may include a lid  122 . The lid  122  may include a rim  202  and a cover  200 . The cover  200  may be disposed below the rim  202  for secure fitting with the basket  110 . Alternatively, the cover  200  may not include a rim  202 . The cover  200  may be made from a material that may be punctured to allow a liquid to enter into the basket. For example, the cover  200  may be a material, such as a foil, film, coated film, or multilayer laminate, which is sealed to or across the rim  126  of the permeable basket  110  to maintain contents therein. The cover  200  may keep dry contents dry, wet contents wet, and may maintain a freshness of the contents. The cover  200  may be formed of a plastic, metallic foil, filter material, thermoplastic starch, or a laminate or composite thereof. 
         [0045]    The basket  110  may be dimensioned for use with a commercial single serve coffee brewer.  FIG. 3  shows an exemplary basket  110 . The basket  110  may have width of the open end  312 , and a height  316 . The open end  312  may be, for example but not limited to, about 38-42 mm. The height  316  may be, for example but not limited to, 38-42 mm. The rim  126  may have a dimension  314  of, for example but not limited to, 3.5-5.5 mm. The frame  128  may have a dimension  320  of, for example but not limited to, 5 mm, and a dimension  318  of, for example but not limited to 2 mm. These dimensions are merely exemplary and not limiting. The basket  110  may also have other dimensions or shapes, for example, dimensions that permit use in various single serve beverage machines. 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 4 , a basket  110  may be prefilled with beverage grounds  414 , for example but not limited to, coffee or tea grounds. Alternatively or additionally, the basket  110  may be loaded with beverage grounds  414  immediately prior to use. If the basket  110  is prefilled with beverage grounds  414  it may be sealed with a lid  122 . Alternatively, if the permeable basket  110  is not preloaded with beverage grounds  414 , it may not have a lid  122 , additionally or alternatively; it may have a removable lid  122 , or otherwise. 
         [0047]    During use, a user may open the barrier  112 , take out the basket  110  and place the basket  110  into a single serve beverage machine. A heated liquid  410  may be received by the basket  110  through an opening in the cover  200  or otherwise. For example, during use, a preloaded basket  110  may be placed inside a cartridge  400  for a single serve beverage machine. The cartridge  400  may be reusable or disposable. During a brewing cycle, the cover  200  may be pierced by a probe  416  to admit heated liquid  410  into the basket  110 . The heated liquid may interact with the beverage grounds  414  creating a beverage medium. The beverage medium  418  may flow through the filter medium  130  and exit through an opening in the cartridge  400 . 
         [0048]    As a second example, during use, an unloaded permeable basket  110  may be placed inside a cartridge  400  for a single serve beverage machine. The cartridge  400  may be reusable or disposable. The beverage grounds  414  may be placed into the basket  110 . A cover  200  may be attached to maintain the contents of the basket  110 . During a brewing cycle, the cover  200  may be pierced by a probe  416  to admit heated liquid  410  into the basket  110 . The heated liquid may interact with the beverage grounds  414  creating a beverage medium. The beverage medium  414  may flow through the filter medium  130  and exit through an opening in the cartridge  400 . Alternatively, no cover  200  may be required. In this case, the heated liquid  410  will flow directly into the basket  110 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  illustrates one example of a lid  122  for a basket  110 . The cover  200  of the lid  122  may include an opening  500  for entry of a liquid probe. The opening  500  may be a weakened portion of the material of the cover  200  which may give easily under the pressure of a probe. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 6 , unloaded tapered baskets  110  may be configured for efficient nesting. The baskets  110  may be sold nested in a stack or tube, which may be packed in a sleeve of plastic film, or otherwise. The unloaded basket  110  may allow the end user to select a variety of beverage grounds  414  for use in their single serve brewer. The end user may also be able to modify the amount of beverage grounds  414  for use in their single serve brewer. 
         [0051]    The components of the single use beverage package  100  may be selected with the intention of creating an environmentally friendly product. For example, the filter medium  130  may be made from a range of synthetic or biodegradable, recycled or recyclable, or compostable materials such as polyolefins, polylacticacid, cellulosics, polyhydroxyalkanoates, thermoplastic starch, a combination of these or other materials. The basket frame  128  material, cover  200  and barrier  112  may also be made out of these materials or similar synthetic, biodegradable, recycled or recyclable, or compostable materials which retain the properties of structural integrity (e.g., frame  128 ) and impermeability (e.g., barrier  112 ). 
         [0052]    While various embodiments of the embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the claims. For example, referring to  FIGS. 8A-8C , logos  805  of various configurations may be placed on the lid  122  ( FIG. 9A ), the basket  110  ( FIG. 8B ), or the underside of the basket  110 . The logos  805  may also be printed on the filter medium  130 . The logos  805  enable a vendor to, for example, place descriptive information about the product that is in the basket, such as whether the product is coffee or tea, a type of blend, and the like. Other information known to those skilled in the art may also be printed. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrate yet other embodiments of disposable beverage baskets.  FIG. 9A  and  FIG. 9B  illustrate beverage basket embodiments configured to control the positioning of the basket within a cartridge or brewer. Referring to  FIG. 9A , the beverage basket  900  (shown upside down) includes a frame  128  and filter material  903 . The frame  128  includes a rim  126 , a bottom portion  120 , and a group of ribs  906 . The rim  126  defines an opening that corresponds to the top of the frame  128  when the frame  128  is in an upright position. The rim  126  may be continuous and have a circular shape, oval shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion  120  is a closed surface that corresponds to the bottom of the frame  128 . The ribs  906  extend from the rim  126  to the edge of the bottom portion  120 . The ribs  906 , rim  126 , and bottom portion  120  define a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea, or a different beverage. 
         [0054]    The bottom portion  120  defines a groove  905  and/or an indentation  907  (See  FIG. 9B ). The groove  905  may extend in a continuous manner along and inward of the edge of the bottom portion  120 . The groove  905  and/or indentation  907  are configured to cooperate with a complementary feature, e.g., a protruded needle in the bottom of a cartridge or brewer to accurately position the basket  900  within the cartridge or brewer. That is the groove  905  and/or indentation  907  are configured to mesh with a complementary feature of the cartridge or brewer to control alignment of the basket  900  so that the outer walls of the basket  900  are not up against inner walls of the cartridge or brewer during use, which could otherwise limit fluid flow through the basket  900 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B , illustrate exemplary cartridges  1000  and  1015  with alignment features. The same alignment features may be provided in a brewer independently of a cartridge. Referring to  FIG. 10A , the feature corresponds to an annular ring  1005 . The annular ring  1005  may be suspended within the cartridge by one or more bridge members  1007  to facilitate fluid flow around the annular ring  1005 . The annular ring  1005  may be sized to fit within the groove  905  of the beverage basket  900 . In a brewer implementation, the annular ring  1007  may be formed in a portion of the brewer configured to receive the beverage basket  900 . In other implementations, the annular ring  1005  and one or more bridge members  1007  may correspond to a separate component configured to fit substantially near the bottom of the cartridge  1000  or brewer and to maintain a distance between sidewalls of the cartridge  1000  or brewer. 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 10B , the feature corresponds to a button  1017 . The button  1017  may be sized to fit within the indentation  907 , described above. The button  1017  may be supported by a bridge member  1019  to enable fluid flow around the button  1017 . In a brewer implementation, the button  1017  may be formed in a portion of the brewer configured to receive the beverage basket  900 . In other implementations, the button  1017  and bridge member  1019  may correspond to a separate component configured to fit substantially near the bottom of the cartridge  1015  or brewer and to maintain a distance between sidewalls of the cartridge  1015  or brewer. 
         [0057]      FIG. 11A  and  FIG. 11B  illustrate beverage basket embodiments  1100  and  1150  configured to be stacked. Referring to  FIG. 11A , the beverage basket  1100  includes a frame  128  and filter material  903 , as described above. For example, the frame includes a rim  126 , a bottom portion  120 , and a group of ribs  906 . The rim  126  defines an opening that corresponds to the top a top of the frame  128 . The rim  126  may be continuous and have a circular shape, oval shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion  120  is a closed surface that corresponds to the bottom of the frame  128 . The ribs  906  extend from the rim  126  to the edge of the bottom portion  120 . The ribs  906 , rim  126 , and bottom portion  120  define a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea, or a different beverage. 
         [0058]    Each rib  906  includes a ledge  1105  and  1110  ( FIG. 118 ) positioned in a center region. The ledges  1105  and  1110  are configured to limit an amount by which respective baskets  1100  and  1150  are insertable into one another. Limiting the insertion amount results in a space  1210  ( FIG. 128 ) between respective bottoms  120  of the baskets  1100  and  1150 . The space  1210  may be sized to facilitate storage of beverage grounds, such as coffee ground, tea grounds, or other grounds, which the baskets  1100  and  1150  are stacked. That is, the position of the ledges  1105  and  1210  along the ribs  906  may be configured to result in a desired amount of space  1210  between respective baskets. Thus, several baskets may be advantageously filled with grounds and then stacked to save space. 
         [0059]    In some configurations, the ledge  1105  extends outwardly away from the center of the basket. (See  FIG. 11A ). Referring to  FIG. 12A , in this configuration, the ledge  1105  of a top basket  1205  rests upon the rim  126  of a lower basket  1207 . In this regard, the distance between opposing ledges  1105  (i.e., ledges  1105  on opposite sides of the basket  1100 ) may be equal to about the inner diameter of the rim  126 . 
         [0060]    In other configurations, the ledge  1110  extends inwardly towards the center of the basket. (See  FIG. 11B ). Referring to  FIG. 12B , in this configuration, the bottom portion  120  of the top basket  1205  rests upon the ledge  1110  of the lower basket  1207 . In this regard, the distance between opposing ledges  1110  (i.e., ledges  1105  on opposite sides of the basket  1100 ) may be equal to about the outer diameter of the bottom portion  120 . 
         [0061]      FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate perspective, side, and bottom views, respectively, of yet another beverage basket embodiment  1300 . The beverage basket  1300  is configured to be placed into a brewer (not shown) without the need for a cartridge  400 . Such brewers typically include a receiving member sized to receive a basket with a similar although not identical shape. A protruded membrane-piercing needle is positioned in the lower portion of the receiving member and is configured to pierce the lower portion of a typical plastic cup (e.g., a generally cylindrically shaped cup with a flat and closed bottom surface) so as to facilitate fluid flow out of the basket, through the needle, and then into a cup. 
         [0062]    The beverage basket embodiment  1300  includes a frame  1305 . The frame  1305  includes a rim  1310 , a bottom portion  1315 , and a group of ribs  1320 . The rim  1310  defines an opening that corresponds to the top of the frame  1305  when the frame  1305  is in an upright position. The rim  1310  may be continuous and have a circular shape, oval shape, or a different shape. The bottom portion  1315  is a closed surface that corresponds to the bottom of the frame  1305 . The ribs  1320  extend from the rim  1310  to the edge of the bottom portion  1315 . The ribs  1320 , rim  1310 , and bottom portion  1315  define a group of openings that facilitate fluid flow, such as coffee, tea, or a different beverage. The beverage basket embodiment  1300  also includes a filter material that covers the openings, such as any of the filter materials described above, which is not shown in this instance for clarity. 
         [0063]    A first portion  1325  ( FIG. 13C ) of the bottom portion  1315  is substantially flat. Whereas a second portion  1330  of the bottom portion  1315  defines an indentation  1335 , which can be either fully enclosed or semi enclosed. The first portion  1325  may occupy % or more of the surface area of the bottom portion  1315 . The second portion  1330  may occupy the remaining area. The indentation  1335  is sized so that when the basket  1300  is inserted into the receiving member, the membrane-piercing needle fits within the indentation  1335  and does not pierce the bottom portion  1315 . For example, a depth D of the indentation  1335  relative to the lower surface of first portion  1325  of the bottom surface may be, for example but not limited to, about 0.388 inches. The width of the indentation  1330  may be, for example but not limited to, about 0.287 inches, and the indentation  1335  may be offset towards a side edge of the bottom portion  1315 , which corresponds to the location of the membrane-piercing needle in some brewer implementations. However, the indentation  1335  may be located in a different location when the membrane-piercing needle is positioned differently. Limiting the space occupied by the indentation  1335  (i.e., maximizing the space occupied by the first portion) results in more space within the basket  1300  for grounds, such as coffee grounds. This in turn facilitates the production of stronger blends. 
         [0064]      FIGS. 14A-168  illustrate various exemplary lids for covering the beverage basket embodiment  1300 . The respective lids are configured to selectively substantially seal the opening defined at the top of the frame  1305 .  FIGS. 14A and 148  illustrate a first exemplary lid  1400 . The lid  1400  includes an opening  1402  in a center region through which a liquid flows into the basket  1300 . The lid  1400  also includes an annular ring  1405  configured to be friction fit against an inner surface of the rim  1310  of the frame  1305  to thereby form a seal between the lid  1400  and the beverage basket  1300 . That is, a seal between the outer surface of the annular ring  1405  and the inner surface of the rim  1310 . The diameter of the annular ring  1405  may be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid  1400  and the basket  1300  while still facilitating removal of the lid  1400 . 
         [0065]      FIGS. 15A and 18  illustrate a second exemplary lid  1500 . The lid  1500  includes an opening  1502  in a center region through which a liquid flows into the basket  1300 . The lid  1500  includes a sidewall  1505  configured to be snap fit over an outer edge of the rim  1310 . In other words, the seal between the lid  1500  and the beverage basket  1300  is formed between the inner surface of the sidewall  1505  and the outer surface of the rim  1310 . The diameter of the sidewall  1505  may be sized to provide a tight fit between the lid  1500  and the basket  1300  while still facilitating removal of the lid  1500 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 16A and 168  illustrate another exemplary beverage basket  1600  and lid  1610 . The beverage basket  1600  includes the features of the beverage basket  1300  described above. However, the rim  1605  defines one or more cutouts  1612 . The lid  1610  includes one or more tracks  1615  configured to cooperate with the one or more cutouts  1612  to facilitate twist locking of the lid  1610  to the beverage basket  1600 . In this regard, the thickness of the rim  1605  may gradually increase with a distance away from the cutouts  1612  so that the tightness between the lid  1610  and the beverage basket  1600  increases with further twisting of the lid  1610 . 
         [0067]    The configurations above may be varied. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the basket  1700  and lid  1705  shown in  FIG. 14  may be formed together so that in an open configuration the lid  1705  is attached to the basket  1700 . The lid  1705  may then be folded over the basket  1700  to close the top opening of the basket  1700  defined by the rim  1710 . A cutout  1715  may be formed in the rim  1710  to expose an underside of the lid  1705  when the lid  1400  is in the closed configuration. The cutout  1715  facilitates removal of the lid  1705  from the basket  1700 . 
         [0068]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 18A and 18B , liquid distribution fins  1810  may be formed on the underside of the lid  1805 . During operation, liquid flowing into the lid opening will, through capillary pressure, be drawn over the liquid distribution fins  1810  and then drop onto the grounds in the basket  1800 . The liquid distribution fins  1810  distribute the liquid over a larger portion of the grounds in the basket  1800  than would occur without the use of fins  1810 . This in turn facilitates more even brewing of the beverage. It is understood that the shape and number of fins  1810  are only exemplary. 
         [0069]    Accordingly, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the claims. Therefore, the embodiments described are only provided to aid in understanding the claims and do not limit the scope of the claims.