Patent Abstract:
Apparatus and method for constructing an espresso cartridge. A cartridge holder includes a generally horizontal holder rim for supporting an espresso cartridge rim of an espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base may be inserted into the horizontal holder rim vertically or horizontally in an interference fit positioning the espresso cartridge rim on a top edge of the horizontal holder rim of the cartridge holder. A spacer is closeable over the horizontal holder rim and aligned with an espresso cartridge mouth of the espresso cartridge base creating a scoop having an additional untamped brewing material volume provided by the spacer. A tamper is pressed into the spacer to tamp the brewing material into the espresso cartridge base to provide tamped brewing material even with the cartridge rim. A plastic rim/foil center lid is snapped onto the filled and tamped espresso cartridge base to complete construction of the espresso cartridge.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates brewed beverages and in particular to espresso cartridges. 
     Espresso beverages are made by forcing high pressure water into tightly packed, finely ground coffee. The ground coffee is contained in a holder commonly called a “portafilter” or into an espresso cartridge. High-pressure water is forced through the ground coffee and beverage is extracted in small, concentrated amounts. Many espresso drinkers prefer the simplicity of using the espresso cartridges, but are limited in the selection of ground coffee to varieties available in the pre-packaged espresso cartridges, and the cost of a single cartridge. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing an apparatus and method for constructing an espresso cartridge. A cartridge holder includes a generally horizontal holder rim for supporting an espresso cartridge rim of an espresso cartridge base. The espresso cartridge base may be inserted into the horizontal holder rim vertically or horizontally in an interference fit positioning the espresso cartridge rim on a top edge of the horizontal holder rim of the cartridge holder. A spacer is closeable over the horizontal holder rim and aligned with an espresso cartridge mouth of the espresso cartridge base creating a scoop having an additional untamped brewing material volume provided by the spacer. A tamper is pressed into the spacer to tamp the brewing material into the espresso cartridge base to provide tamped brewing material even with the cartridge rim. A plastic rim/foil center lid is snapped onto the filled and tamped espresso cartridge base to complete construction of the espresso cartridge. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge tool providing a scoop for measuring a pre-tamped portion of brewing material. The tool includes a spacer which attaches over a cartridge base and combines with the volume of the cartridge base to provide the proper pre-tamped volume of brewing material. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge tool providing a tamping for tamping a pre-tamped portion of brewing material into the cartridge base. The tamper sides through the spacer to compress the brewing material into the cartridge providing the proper tamping of the brewing material. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cartridge base and lid for assembling an espresso cartridge. The lid snaps onto the base and includes a foil center punctured by an espresso machine during use. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for constructing a brewing cartridge. The method includes inserting a brewing cartridge base into the cartridge holder, closing the spacer over the brewing cartridge base aligned with the brewing cartridge base, using the brewing cartridge base and spacer to scooping a portion of untamped brewing material, aligning a tamping piston with the spacer, pressing the tamping piston into the spacer, tamping the untamped brewing material completely into the brewing cartridge base, withdrawing the tamper piston from the spacer, opening the spacer, removing the brewing cartridge base from the cartridge holder, and attaching a brewing cartridge lid to the brewing cartridge base. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a tool for assembling a tamped brewing cartridge, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the tool for assembling the tamped brewing cartridge with a spacer closed on a cartridge holder, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the tool for assembling the tamped brewing cartridge with the spacer closed on the cartridge holder and a tamper closed on the spacer, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows the tool for assembling the tamped brewing cartridge with the spacer closed on the cartridge holder holding a cartridge base and a tamper closed on the spacer, according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a cartridge lid and base according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  shows attaching features of the cartridge lid according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6A  shows a side view of the tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  shows a front view of the tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6C  shows a rear view of the tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6D  shows a top view of the tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6E  shows a bottom view of the tool according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7A  shows a side view of the tool according to the present invention with a brewing cartridge base held in the tool. 
         FIG. 7B  shows a front view of the tool according to the present invention with the brewing cartridge base held in the tool. 
         FIG. 7C  shows a rear view of the tool according to the present invention with the brewing cartridge base held in the tool. 
         FIG. 7D  shows a top view of the tool according to the present invention with the brewing cartridge base held in the tool. 
         FIG. 7E  shows a bottom view of the tool according to the present invention with the brewing cartridge base held in the tool. 
         FIG. 8A  shows a perspective view of the tool according to the present invention, with the tamper removed and the spacer open. 
         FIG. 8B  shows a perspective view of the tool according to the present invention, with the tamper removed and the spacer closed. 
         FIG. 8C  shows a side view of the tool according to the present invention, with the tamper removed and the spacer closed. 
         FIG. 8D  shows a top view of the tool according to the present invention, with the tamper removed and the spacer closed. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the tool according to the present invention, with the tamper removed and the spacer closed, taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8D . 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12A  is a side view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12B  is a front view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12C  is a top view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 12D  is a bottom view of the cartridge holder according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom perspective view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15A  is a side view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15B  is a front view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15C  is a top view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 15D  is a bottom view of the spacer according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a bottom perspective view of the tamper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 17A  is a side view of the tamper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 17B  is a front view of the tamper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 17C  is a top view of the tamper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 17D  is a bottom view of the tamper according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a method for constructing a brewing cartridge according to the present invention, using the tool. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. 
     Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature&#39;s appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement. 
     A tool  10  for assembling a tamped brewing cartridge is shown in  FIG. 1 , the tool  10  with a spacer  18  closed on a cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 2 , the tool  10  with the spacer closed  18  on the cartridge holder  12  and a tamper  20  including a tamper piston  21  is closed on the spacer  18  is shown in  FIG. 3 , and the tool  10  with the spacer  18  closed on the cartridge holder  12  holding a cartridge base and the tamper  20  closed on the spacer  18 , is shown in  FIG. 4 . The cartridge holder  12  includes a generally horizontal holder rim  14  at the end of a holder arm  16 . The generally horizontal holder rim  14  may be a closed circle receiving the cartridge base vertically, or “U” shaped receiving the cartridge base horizontally, and the cartridge base  30  is preferably an interference fit into the generally horizontal holder rim  14 . A handle extension  28  extends back from a holder arm  16  for grasping by a user to scoop a portion of the untamped brewing material from a brewing material container. 
     The spacer  18  closes over the spacer  14  and preferably attaches to the spacer  14 , for example by latches  26   a  and  26   b . The spacer  14  may include a spacer pivot  19  which aligns a spacer passage  17  through the spacer  18  with a holder passage  15  through the holder rim  14 . The spacer passage  15  has diameter D, a height H, and a volume V. The diameter D is preferably between 1.0 and 1.2 inches and more preferably about 1.135 inches, the height H is preferably between 0.15 and 0.25 inches, and more preferably about 0.2 inches, and the volume is preferably about 0.2 cubic inches, plus or minus ten percent. The volume V determines the amount of brewing material tamped into the cartridge base to provide a tamped cartridge. 
     Initially, an empty cartridge base  30  is inserted into the cartridge holder  12 , and the spacer  18  is attached over the horizontal holder rim  14 . The tool  10  is then used as a scoop to fill the cartridge base  30  with brewing material and the volume V of the spacer  18 . Following filling, the tamper  20  is closed on the spacer  18  and the tamper piston  21  enters the spacer  18  compacting the brewing material to be entirely within the cartridge base  30 . The tamper  20  and spacer  18  may then be separated from the cartridge holder  12  and the filled and tamped cartridge base removed from the cartridge holder  12 , and a cartridge lid  32  attached to the cartridge base  30  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     A cartridge lid  32  and the cartridge base  30  are shown in  FIG. 5  and attaching features  34  of the cartridge lid  32  for attaching to the cartridge base  30  are shown in  FIG. 5A . The cartridge base  30  includes a cartridge mouth  33  for receiving brewing material  29 . The cartridge lid  32  includes a rim  38  and a foil center  36 . 
     A side view of the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 6A , a front view of the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 6B , a rear view of the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 6 c   , a top view of the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 6D , and a bottom view of the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 6E . 
     A side view of the tool  10  with a brewing cartridge base  30  held in the tool  10  is shown in  FIG. 7A , a front view of the tool  10  with a brewing cartridge base  30  held in the  10  is shown in  FIG. 7B , a rear view of the tool  10  with a brewing cartridge base  30  held in the  10  is shown in  FIG. 7C , a top view of the tool  10  with a brewing cartridge base  30  held in the  10  is shown in  FIG. 7D , and a bottom view of the tool  10  with a brewing cartridge base  30  held in the  10  is shown in  FIG. 7E . The cartridge base rim  31  (see  FIG. 5 ) is sandwiched between the spacer  18  and holder rim  14 . With the tamper open (see  FIG. 2 ), and the spacer  18  closed on the cartridge base rim  31 , the tool  10  may be used as a scoop to collect brewing material, the spacer providing an additional portion of untamped brewing material. The tamper  20  may then be closed on the filled brewing cartridge base  30  and spacer  18 , tamping all of the untamped brewing material into the brewing cartridge base  30  to provide a filled and tamped brewing cartridge base  30 . The cartridge lid  32  (see  FIG. 5A ) may then be attached to the brewing cartridge base  30  to complete construction of a brewing cartridge. 
     A perspective view of the tool  10 , with the tamper  20  removed and the spacer  18  open is shown in  FIG. 8A  and a perspective view of the tool  10 , with the tamper  20  removed and the spacer  18  closed is shown in  FIG. 8B . A side view of the tool  10 , with the tamper  20  removed and the spacer  18  closed is shown in  FIG. 8C , a top view of the tool  10 , with the tamper  20  removed and the spacer  18  closed is shown in  FIG. 8D , and a cross-sectional view of the tool  10  with the tamper  20  removed and the spacer  18  closed, taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8D , is shown in  FIG. 9 . The holder arm  16  includes a biasing arm  42  reaching forward and upward. When the tamper  20  is closed to tamp brewing material held in the spacer  18  and the brewing cartridge base  30 , the biasing arm  42  pushed down by the tamper arm  22 . When the tamper  20  is released, the biasing arm  42  pushes the tamper  20  up and away from the spacer. 
     A top perspective view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 10 , a bottom perspective view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 11 , a side view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 12A , a front view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 12B , a top view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 12C , and a bottom view of the cartridge holder  12  is shown in  FIG. 12D . The cartridge holder  12  includes hinge  46   a  cooperating with the hinge  46   b  (see  FIGS. 16-17D ) of the tamper arm  22  and hinge  44   a  cooperating with hinge  44   b  (see  FIGS. 13-15D ) of the spacer  12 . The cartridge holder  12  further includes the latch portion  26   a  for cooperation with the latch portion  26   b  (see  FIGS. 13-15D ) of the spacer  12  to latch the spacer  12  in the closed position for scooping brewing material. An O-ring  13  resides in the holder rim  14  to provide the interference fit to the brewing cartridge base  30 . 
     A top perspective view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 13 , a bottom perspective view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 14 , a side view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 15A , a front view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 15B , a top view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 15B , and a bottom view of the spacer  12  is shown in  FIG. 15B . The spacer  12  includes hinge portion  44   b  for cooperation with hinge portion  44   a  of the cartridge holder  12  (see  FIGS. 10-12D ) and latch portion  26   b  for cooperation with the latch portion  26   a  of the cartridge holder  12  to latch the spacer  12  in the closed position for scooping brewing material. 
     A bottom perspective view of the tamper  20  is shown in  FIG. 16 , a side view of the tamper  20  is shown in  FIG. 17A , a front view of the tamper  20  is shown in  FIG. 17B , a top view of the tamper  20  is shown in  FIG. 17C , and a bottom view of the tamper  20  is shown in  FIG. 17D . The tamper  20  includes the hinge portion  44   b  for cooperation with the hinge portion  44   a  of the cartridge holder  12  (see  FIGS. 10-12D ), and the tamper piston  21  for tamping the brewing material in the spacer  18  and brewing cartridge base  30 . 
     A method for constructing a brewing cartridge is described in  FIG. 18 . The method includes inserting a brewing cartridge base into the cartridge holder at step  100 , closing the spacer over the brewing cartridge base aligned with the brewing cartridge base at step  102 , using the brewing cartridge base and spacer to scooping a portion of untamped brewing material at step  104 , aligning a tamping piston with the spacer at step  106 , pressing the tamping piston into the spacer at step  108 , tamping the untamped brewing material completely into the brewing cartridge base at step  110 , withdrawing the tamper piston from the spacer at step  112 , opening the spacer at step  114 , removing the brewing cartridge base from the cartridge holder at step  116 , and attaching a brewing cartridge lid to the brewing cartridge base at step  118 . 
     The tool is preferably made from plastic and the spacer latches  26   a  and  26   b  preferably engage by bending the plastic. 
     While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1