Patent ID: 7032503

Claim:
A hygiene device for use with or in an apparatus capable of generating and delivering hot water under pressure to a supply of flavor-containing materials in a container to produce a drink, said hygiene device comprising: an upper surface for receiving the hot water from the apparatus; a lower surface for facing the supply of flavor-containing materials in the container, said lower surface being adapted to be contaminated by the flavor-containing materials while preventing the flavor-containing materials in the container from contaminating the apparatus; at least one opening for allowing the hot water from said upper surface to pass through to said lower surface and to the flavor-containing materials in the container, said at least one opening being sufficiently small to substantially prevent the flavor-containing materials from reaching said upper surface; a handle for allowing a user to move said hygiene device to allow the flavor-containing materials contaminated on said lower surface to be washed away; and a seal member adapted to form an airtight seal with one of the rim and side wall of the container.