Abstract:
The present invention relates to a steeping device for providing a liquid mixture. The steeping device ( 38, 138, 238 ) comprises a housing ( 27, 127, 227 ) defining a steeping chamber ( 44, 144 ) adapted to contain a steeping material therein and the housing ( 27, 127, 227 ) having an outlet aperture ( 78, 178 ) allowing the withdrawal of a fluid introduced into the steeping chamber ( 44, 144 ); and a one-way flow control member allowing the introduction of the fluid into the steeping chamber ( 44, 144 ) while preventing the introduced fluid to flow out from the steeping chamber ( 44, 144 ) therethrough.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application 60/546,939 filed on Feb. 24, 2004, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1) Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a steeping device adapted to contain a steeping material for producing a liquid mixture and, more particularly, to a container provided with a steeping device.  
         [0004]     2) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     It is well known that drinking coffee, tea, or other infused or mixed liquid is a habit that extends from nearly every home to the work place. Preparing a cup of coffee, for example, requires a coffee making equipment which is designed from the more simple coffee pot to complicated coffee machines. This either takes too much time or relies on very expensive pieces of equipment.  
         [0006]     The prior art is loaded with coffee machine equipments. However, the field of disposable cups which readily provide a cup of coffee, or another infusible material, is somewhat restricted and has not offered a device which gives complete satisfaction. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,915,176 suggests placing a wafer of a beverage concentrate at the bottom of the cup. U.S. Pat. No. 4,134,492 suggests adding a concentrate at the bottom of the cup and placing an expandable plastic film liner over it with the intention of piling a plurality of cups over one another. These two designs are of course not suitable for preparing a cup of good quality coffee. U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,492 discloses an apparatus for making a coffee beverage. The apparatus, which is provided with a cup, encloses a filter bag, filled with a portion of coffee. A bellows member is formed beneath the cup and separated by a perforated wall. The bellows member provides a pump-like action driving a current of water transversely through the filter bag.  
         [0007]     Although the above described devices solves the problem to a certain extent, there is still a need for a device that allows to prepare rapidly several types of good quality beverages without having to manipulate bulk material.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a device allowing to rapidly manufacture a liquid mixture without having to manage bulk material and incurring high maintenance expenses.  
         [0009]     One aspect of the invention provides a container for providing a liquid mixture. The container comprises: a container member defining a charge holding space adapted to contain a fluid mixture, the charge holding space being opened for allowing to withdraw the liquid mixture, and a steeping device having a housing defining a steeping chamber in the housing. The steeping device has a one-way flow control member allowing the introduction of a fluid in the steeping chamber without allowing leakages of the introduced fluid. The steeping device has an outlet aperture adapted for allowing the fluid introduced in the steeping chamber to flow into the charge holding space.  
         [0010]     Another aspect of the invention provides a steeping device for providing a liquid mixture. The steeping device comprises: a housing defining a steeping chamber adapted to contain a steeping material in the steeping chamber and the housing having an outlet aperture allowing the withdrawal of a fluid introduced into the steeping chamber; and a one-way flow control member allowing the introduction of the fluid into the steeping chamber while preventing the introduced fluid to flow out from the steeping chamber therethrough.  
         [0011]     A further aspect of the invention provides a steeping device in combination with a container adapted to contain a liquid. The steeping device comprises: a housing defining a steeping chamber adapted to contain a steeping material and having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture adapted to be in fluid communication with the steeping chamber, the housing being securable to the container, the outlet aperture being in fluid communication with the container when the steeping device is mounted to the container; and an inlet membrane covering the inlet aperture, the inlet membrane allowing the introduction of a fluid into the steeping chamber and preventing the introduced fluid from leaking outside the steeping chamber through the inlet aperture; and the container comprising an aperture allowing the withdrawal of the liquid from the container.  
         [0012]     In this specification, the term “steeping” is intended to mean brewing, infusing, mixing, dissolving, soaking, suffuse, and the like wherein a fluid is bring in contact with a liquid or a solid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]     Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional beverage container;  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the container including a steeping device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the steeping device shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the steeping device shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the container including a steeping device in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the container including the steeping device shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a mug having a steeping device mounted thereto in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the mug shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein the steeping device is removed from the mug; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the mug including the steeping device shown in  FIG. 8 .  
     
    
       [0023]     It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a container  20  having a frusto-conical cup shape with lateral walls  22  of standard construction having interior and exterior surfaces  24 ,  26 . The lateral walls  22  have an upper portion  28  and a lower portion  30 . The upper portion  28  of the lateral walls  22  terminates into a rim  32 , that circumscribes a drinking aperture  34 . The lower portion  30  of the lateral walls  22  terminates with an edge  36  ( FIG. 2 ). One skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of the container  20  can differ from the one illustrated in  FIG. 1  and that the container  20  can include more than one drinking portion of a liquid mixture therein. Moreover, the shape of the drinking aperture  34  can differ from the one illustrated and the container  20  can be designed for other purposes than drinking.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , it will be seen that a steeping device  38  in accordance with an embodiment is mounted to the lower portion  30  of the container  20  in place of the bottom wall thereof. The steeping device  38  has a housing  27  that includes a lower member  40  and an upper member  42  adapted to be sealingly mounted to the lower portion  30  of the lateral walls  22 . Upper member  42  can also be mounted directly to the container  20 , or any section of the steeping device  38  or the container  20 . Lower member  40  and upper member  42  together define a steeping chamber  44  wherein a steeping material (not shown) can be disposed. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the steeping device  38  sealingly closes the bottom end of the container, thereby defining a charge holding space  39  above the steeping device  38  and within the volume confined by the sidewall  22  of the container.  
         [0026]     The steeping device  38  also includes an input membrane  46  associated with lower member  40 , that allows the introduction of a fluid into the steeping chamber  44  and an output membrane  48  that is associated with upper member  42  and permits the introduced fluid to exit from the steeping chamber  44  into the charge holding space  39  of the container  20 . The input membrane  46  is made of a material that resumes its sealing properties after a thin object such as a needle has been inserted therein.  
         [0027]     In a preferred embodiment, the input membrane  46  can be produced from silicone, latex, rubber material, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoset elastomer, elastomeric material, and the like. Similarly, the output membrane  48  can be made of a similar material than the input membrane  46 , allowing the peripheral portion of the membrane  48  to be slightly deformed due to pressure applied thereon. However, other materials can be used as output membrane  48 , as will be described in more details later.  
         [0028]     More specifically, referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it will be seen that the steeping device  38  includes a disc shaped support member  50  mounted to lower member  40  to hold the input membrane  46  thereto. Support member  50  has a lateral flange  52  and a recess portion  54  in which the input membrane  46  is seated. The lateral flange  52  of support member  50  is sealingly mounted to lower member  40  of the steeping device  38 . Support member  50  can be made of at least one of a laminated aluminum foil, a plastic membrane, a laminated thermoplastic film, a plastic film and the like. Nevertheless any other material known to one skilled in the art can be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0029]     Lower member  40  has an engaging section  56  located on its periphery for sealingly mounting lower member  40  to the upper member  42 , as will be described in more details below. The engaging section  56  includes an upwardly open groove  58  and an outward flange  60 .  
         [0030]     Lower member  40  also has an aperture  62  located above the input membrane  46 . The aperture  62  allows the insertion of a fluid injection device therein through which the fluid flows inside the steeping chamber  44 , as will be described in more details below.  
         [0031]     The steeping device  38  can also include a filter paper  64  that prevents the steeping material disposed in the steeping chamber  44  to flow outside the steeping chamber  44  into the charge holding space  39  of the container  20 . The filter paper  64  can be placed against an output membrane support  66 . The output membrane support  66  has a central upper portion  76  and a peripheral engaging section  77  for engagement with upper member  42 , as will be described in more details below. The central upper portion  76  has a plurality of apertures  78  that permit the fluid to flow outside the steeping chamber  44  into the charge holding space  39  of the container  20 . The output membrane  48  rests against the central upper portion  76  of the paper filter support  66  and covers the apertures  78 .  
         [0032]     Upper member  42  of the steeping device  38  is in the form of a generally cylindrical member having downwardly extending lateral walls  82 , merging with an outwardly flaring flange  92  that terminates into an engaging section  88 , similar to the engaging section  56 , defining an upwardly open groove  90 . In addition upper member  42  has an upper surface  84  that is shaped to be engaged by the output membrane support  66  as will be explained in more detail below. The engaging section  88  is snugly inserted into the groove  58  and the edge  36  ( FIG. 2 ) of the lateral walls  22  is engaged into the groove  90  so as to constitute a watertight assembly. In this manner, the steeping device  38  is sealingly mounted in the lower portion  30  ( FIG. 2 ) of the container  20 .  
         [0033]     More particularly, the upper surface  84  includes an upper retaining portion  94  and a central stilted portion  96 . The upper retaining portion  94  includes a peripheral U-shaped member  100  enabling to mount output membrane support  66  under upper member  42  as shown. The engaging section  77  of the output membrane support  66  is engaged into U-shaped member  100  of the upper surface  84 . The central stilted portion  96  has a plurality of apertures  104  that permit the fluid to flow outside the steeping chamber  44  into the charge holding space  39  ( FIG. 2 ) of the container  20 . The central portion  96  is stilted for insertion of the output membrane  48  therein. As shown, the apertures  104  of the central stilted portion  96  are located above the output membrane  48 . The central stilted portion  96  also has a recess  105  located in the middle thereof. The recess  105  applies pressure on the output membrane  48 , prevents the deformation of the central portion of output membrane  48 , and allows deformation of the peripheral outer portion of the output membrane  48 . Therefore, when pressure is applied on the output membrane  48 , as will be described in more details below, the central portion of the output membrane  48  remains in contact with the recess  105 .  
         [0034]     For producing a liquid mixture, a needle (not shown) or any other appropriate fluid injection device which can carry a fluid extends through support member  50 , the input membrane  46  and the inside aperture  62  of lower member  40  and injects a predetermined amount of the fluid into the steeping chamber  44 . The fluid gradually fills the steeping chamber  44  until the latter is full. At this point, the sides of the output membrane  48  are slightly separated from the output membrane support  66  due to the pressure applied on the output membrane  48  by the fluid and the latter can then flow into the charge holding space  39 . The central portion of the output membrane  48  is not deformed and remains in contact with the recess  105  of the upper surface  84 . Once the charge holding space  39  of the container  20  is full, the needle is retracted from support member  50  and the input membrane  46 . The filled container  20  is ready to be used.  
         [0035]     Once the filling operation is terminated, the input membrane  46  preferably immediately reacts to close and seal the opening made by the needle or the fluid injection device to prevent leakages of the introduced fluid. The pressure in the steeping chamber  44  returns to normal and the sides of the output membrane  48  can return to their original position, i.e. resting on the output membrane support  66  and, therefore, preventing liquid exchanges between the charge holding space  39  and the steeping chamber  44 .  
         [0036]     The input membrane  46  can be pre-pierced with a small slit  67  to facilitate the insertion of the fluid injection device. As it will be easily understood by one skilled in the art, the pre-piercing input membrane  46  does not reduce the sealing properties of this membrane.  
         [0037]     The steeping device  38  is preferably disposable, but it can also be recyclable. Once the container  20  has been filled, support member  50  has a small hole therein, caused by the needle, showing that this container  20  has already been used.  
         [0038]     During the production of the steeping device  38  in accordance with the above described embodiment, upper member  42 , the output membrane  48 , the output membrane support  66 , and the filter paper  64  are first mounted to the container  20  by engaging the lower edge  36  into the groove  90 . Then, a portion of the steeping material is suitably disposed in the steeping chamber  44  and lower member  40  including the input membrane  46  and support member  50  are then mounted to the container  20  by mounting the groove  58  over the engaging section  88  of upper member  42 . Lower member  40  can be mounted immediately after filling the steeping chamber  44  with the steeping material, even if the steeping material is warm when inserted. When the pressure in the steeping chamber  44  becomes too high, for example, due to warm gases formed therein, the gas excess will be evacuated through the output membrane  48  as described earlier for the introduced fluid.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it will be seen another embodiment of a steeping device  138  mounted to the container  20 . As for the steeping device  38 , the steeping device  138  has a housing  127  with a lower member  140  and an upper member  142 . Upper member  142  is one piece with the container  20  and they are joined at the edge  36  of the container  20 . Upper member  142  and the container  20  define a charge holding space  139  above the steeping device  138  in which the liquid mixture can be contained. Lower member  140  is mounted to the lower portion  30  of the lateral walls  22  of the container  20 .  
         [0040]     Lower member  140  and upper member  142  together define a steeping chamber  144  in which the steeping material  143  is disposed. The steeping device  138  includes an input membrane  146 , associated with lower member  140 , that allows the introduction of the fluid into the steeping chamber  144  and an output membrane  148  allowing the introduced fluid to exit from the steeping chamber  144  into the charge holding space  139  of the container  20 .  
         [0041]     The input membrane  146  has a central section  145  with a surrounding thinner flange  147 . The output membrane  148  is a thin film sealingly mounted to the steeping device  138 , as will be described in more details below.  
         [0042]     The steeping device  138  includes an annular support member  150  designed to mount the input membrane  146  to lower member  140 . The support member  150  can have an aperture  151  therein allowing the passage of the fluid injection device therein to fill the steeping chamber  144  with the fluid.  
         [0043]     Lower member  140  has a peripheral groove  158  and an outward flange  160  adapted for sealingly mounting lower member  140  to the container  20 , the outward flange  160  abutting the lateral wall  22 . Lower member  140  also has an aperture  162  located above the input membrane  146 . The aperture  162  permits the insertion of the fluid injection device therein through which the fluid flows inside the steeping chamber  144 .  
         [0044]     The steeping device  138  can also include a filter paper  164  that prevents the steeping material  143  disposed in the steeping chamber  144  to flow outside the steeping chamber  144  into the charge holding space  139  of the container  20 . The filter paper  164  has a hemispherical shape with a surrounding flange  165  inserted between lower and upper members  140 ,  142  to maintain the filter paper  164  in a predetermined position in the steeping chamber  144 .  
         [0045]     The steeping device  138  also includes an output membrane support  166 , mounted to an upper surface  184  of upper member  142 . The output membrane support  166  has an annular shape with a central aperture  178  that permit the introduced fluid to flow outside the steeping chamber  144  into the charge holding space  139  of the container  20 .  
         [0046]     The output membrane  148  is preferably sealingly mounted to the output membrane support  166 . The output membrane  148  is preferably an aluminum foil laminated with a polymer that is sealingly mounted to the output membrane support  166  over the aperture  178 . When sealingly mounted to the output membrane support  166 , the output membrane  148  keeps the steeping material  143  fresh until the steeping device  138  is used. When the fluid is injected into the steeping chamber  144 , the pressure on the output membrane  148  increases. When the pressure is over a certain level, the output membrane  148  delaminates, allowing the fluid to flow into the charge holding space  139 .  
         [0047]     For example, the output membrane  148  can be made from a laminated film which is peelable. The laminated film can be made of a support material such as an aluminum foil and/or a thermoplastic film and a sealing layer which is preferably made of a thermoplastic material. The support material of the laminated film is the mechanical support that offers the mechanical resistance to the film from tearing when peeled. The sealing layer provides an oxygen barrier to preserve the properties of the steeping material  143  inserted into the steeping chamber  144 . The sealing layer seals the support material of the laminated film to the steeping device  138 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that depending on the nature of the container material and the desired pressure to open the output membrane  148 , the nature of the output membrane  148  can vary.  
         [0048]     Upper member  142  of the steeping device  138  is in the form of a generally cylindrical member having lateral walls  182  downwardly extending from the upper surface  184 , merging with an outwardly flaring flange  192  contiguous to the edge  36  of the container  20 .  
         [0049]     More particularly, the upper surface  184  includes a central stilted portion  196  and a plurality of apertures  204  on its periphery that permit the fluid to flow outside the steeping chamber  144  into the charge holding space  139  of the container  20 . The central portion  196  is stilted for insertion of the output membrane  148  therein when delaminated.  
         [0050]     The steeping device  138  can include a conservation seal  198  mounted below the support membrane  150  for preserving the properties of the steeping material  143 .  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-9 , there is shown another embodiment of a container  220 , having the shape of a mug with a lateral wall  222 , with a steeping device  238 , mounted to a lower portion  230  of its lateral wall  222 . The container  220  can be made of any material known to one skilled in art appropriate for mugs such as porcelain, stainless steel, plastic, ceramic, glass, and the like. The container  220  can include a handle  237  to facilitating its handling.  
         [0052]     The steeping device  238  includes a base  241  adapted for mounting the latter to the container  220 . The container  220  and the base  241  include cooperating engaging members  245   a ,  245   b  adapted to engage one another for mounting the base  241  to the container  220 . On  FIGS. 8 and 9 , there is shown that cooperating engaging members  245   a ,  245   b  are cooperating threads allowing to screw the base  241  to the container  220 . However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that other cooperating engaging members  245   a ,  245   b  can be used. Cooperating engaging members  245   a ,  245   b  preferably sealingly mount the base  241  to the container  220 . The steeping device  238  and the container  220  define a charge holding space  239 , above the steeping device  238 , in which the liquid mixture can be contained.  
         [0053]     As for the steeping devices  38 ,  138 , the steeping device  238  has a housing  227  with a lower member  240  and an upper member  242 , sealingly mounted to lower member  240 , together defining a steeping chamber  244  in which the steeping material (not shown) is disposed. The steeping device  238  can include an output membrane allowing the introduced fluid to exit from the steeping chamber  244  into the charge holding space  239  of the container  20 .  
         [0054]     Except for the base  241 , the steeping device  238  has a structure similar to the one of the steeping devices  38 ,  138  and will not be described in details.  
         [0055]     The base  241  includes an input membrane  246  allowing the passage of the fluid injection device (not shown) into the steeping chamber  244 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the input membrane  246  that allows the introduction of a fluid into the steeping chamber  244  without leaking can either be mounted to the base  241  or the lower member  240 .  
         [0056]     For using the container  220 , one dismounts the base  241  from the container  220 , introduces the steeping chamber  244  as shown on  FIG. 8 , mounts the base  241  on the container  220 , and introduces the fluid injection device into the input membrane  246  and the steeping chamber  244  until the container  220  is filled with the liquid mixture.  
         [0057]     Once the container  220  is empty, the base  241  is dismounted from the container  220 , the used steeping chamber  244  is removed, a new steeping chamber  244  is introduced and the base  241  is mounted to the container  220 , which can be filled with a fluid. Therefore, the container  220  can be used several times with different steeping chambers  244  containing various steeping materials.  
         [0058]     Several steeping materials can be disposed in the steeping chambers  44 ,  144 ,  244 . For example, without being limitative, it can be solid steeping materials such as tea, coffee, chocolate powder, herbal tea, and the like. It can also be liquid steeping materials such as chocolate syrup and soft drink syrup. Neutraceutics and pharmaceutics products, which need to be diluted in a liquid before being used, can also be disposed within the steeping chambers  44 ,  144 ,  244 . The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  can be used to produce liquid mixtures that are not drinkable.  
         [0059]     Several fluids can be inserted into the steeping devices  38 ,  138 ,  238 . For example, without being limitative, it can be water, milk or gas. For example, gas and liquid can be introduced into the same steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  to produce a soft drink into the container  20 ,  220 . Moreover, the temperature of the fluid can vary. For example, cold water can be introduced into the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  to produce a soft drink while warm water can be introduced into the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  to produce a coffee beverage.  
         [0060]     The shape of the membranes  46 ,  48 ,  146 ,  148  can differ from the ones shown in the above described embodiments. Moreover, the method from mounting the steeping devices  38 ,  138 ,  238  to the container  20 ,  220  can also differ from the ones shown hereinabove.  
         [0061]     The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  might not include the output membrane  48 ,  148 . If it includes the output membrane  48 ,  148 , the output membrane  48 ,  148  is preferably sealingly mounted to the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  to preserve the properties, such as the freshness, of the steeping material disposed therein.  
         [0062]     Support member  50 ,  150  is preferably pre-pierced to facilitate the insertion of the fluid injection device into the steeping chamber  44 ,  144 ,  244 . The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  can also include a conservation seal, such as the conversation seal  198 , which can be pre-pierced or not. If the conservation seal  198  is not pre-pierced, once pierced, it indicates that the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  has already been used.  
         [0063]     The filter paper  64 ,  164  is not mandatory to the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238 . For example, if a liquid steeping material is disposed in the steeping chamber  44 ,  144 ,  244 , there is no need to have the filter paper  64 ,  164 . If the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  includes the filter paper  64 ,  164 , the latter is preferably mounted above the steeping material.  
         [0064]     Moreover, the steeping chamber  44 ,  144 ,  244  can contain more than one steeping material. For example, a first steeping material can be disposed under the filter paper  64 ,  164  and a second steeping material can be disposed over the filter paper  64 ,  164 . The first and the second steeping materials can be respectively coffee and chocolate, for example.  
         [0065]     One skilled in the art will appreciate that the inlet membrane and the inlet aperture can be replaced by other one way flow control member that allows the introduction of a fluid in the steeping chamber without allowing leakages of the introduced fluid.  
         [0066]     The steeping material can be directly disposed in the steeping chamber or can be disposed in a small bag (not shown) such as a tea bag.  
         [0067]     The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, while allowing to obtain good quality liquid mixture in a fast and easy way.  
         [0068]     The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  does not require the purchase and management of bulk steeping material.  
         [0069]     The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  prevents the accumulation of garbage since disposal of the steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  is the responsibility of the user.  
         [0070]     The steeping device  38 ,  138 ,  238  decreases the cost of making liquid mixtures and the maintenance cost. The variety of the products offered is unlimited.  
         [0071]     The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.