Patent Application
20230232855
The present invention relates generally to the field of consumables (i.e. coffee and tea), and a method of making consumables. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel beverage or consumable pod for instantly making, for example, coffee or tea. The consumable pod includes a specific amount of, for example, dry coffee or tea product stored inside a cavity formed by a water-soluble body. The pod is dropped in water for preparing a beverage or consumable within seconds as the dry beverage product is mixed with the water and the water-soluble body is dissolved in water. The pod and a cover of the pod are biodegradable for reducing landfills waste. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, many people enjoy drinking coffee or tea as part of a daily routine. Preparing coffee and tea is time-consuming and typically requires one or several appliances to complete the beverage. This can be an inefficient use of time and energy. Coffee makers are bulky appliances which require electrical energy. Further, people who spend time outdoors may be unable to brew coffee or tea due to unavailability of coffee and tea makers.
Many people who go outdoors purchase sachets, bags, packets, or packages of coffee and tea powders for use. For making tea or coffee, an individual uses such a sachet, bag, or packet. Commonly, after removing beverage powder, such sachets, bags, packets, and packages are thrown away. As a result, tens of billions of such sachets, bags, packets, and packages, and more end up in landfills and create environmental hazards.
A common problem faced by people who love coffee and tea is unavailability of their favorite taste or a specific product. Accordingly, people end up having a beverage which they do not like and thus, desire a way that can offer a specific type or size of beverage product on a consistent basis.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a dissolvable pod that can be easily placed in hot or cold water to instantly make coffee or tea. There is also a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that is dissolved in water to make a beverage without any wastage. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a dissolvable beverage pod that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that allows people to make coffee or tea easily outdoors or away from home. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that can be provided to users through a subscription service. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for beverage pods that that come in different flavors and roasts. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that allows users to create coffee or tea without large, bulky appliances in an environmentally friendly manner.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a single use dissolvable beverage pod. The beverage pod is filled with specific types of either coffee or tea powder enabling instant preparation of the beverage. The beverage pod further comprising a body forming a cavity; the body is sealed and made from a water-soluble edible material; a dried beverage powder stored within the cavity; a biodegradable cover wrapping said body for protecting said beverage pod from surrounding environment, wherein the biodegradable cover is configured to be removed before dropping the beverage pod into water for forming a beverage without using any beverage making machine.
In this manner, the water-soluble beverage pod of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a unique, dissolvable pod designed to be placed in boiling or cold water to make coffee or tea. The pod utilizes biodegradable and water-soluble materials to easily dissolve in the water and allows users to create coffee or tea without large, bulky appliances. The pods can be obtained through a membership or subscription service and helps in reducing waste in landfills.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a single use dissolvable coffee pod. The coffee pod further comprising a body forming a cavity; the body is sealed and made from a water-soluble edible material; a dried beverage powder stored within the cavity; a biodegradable cover wrapping said body for protecting said coffee pod from surrounding environment, wherein the biodegradable cover is configured to be removed before dropping the coffee pod into water for forming a beverage.
In yet another embodiment, the body is configured to protect the dried beverage powder from moisture and oxygen (i.e. airtight).
In yet another embodiment, the body is made from food grade polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH).
In yet another embodiment, the body dissolves completely upon contact with water to form a beverage.
In yet another embodiment, the body is a sugar shell that makes a beverage formed by the coffee pod sweet.
In yet another embodiment, the coffee pod comes in a biodegradable packaging of 12 pods, 24 pods, 36 pods, and more.
In yet another embodiment, the coffee pod is available to a consumer through a membership or subscription service wherein a consumer subscribes for at least one type of beverage pod for a predetermined duration and frequency.
In yet another embodiment, a soluble beverage product is disclosed. The soluble beverage product is designed in the form of a dissolvable pod and comprises a water-soluble food grade paper body forming a cavity; the body has a flavoring coating for imparting a flavor to the beverage; a dry beverage composition stored inside the cavity, the composition including coffee powder, milk powder, and sugar; and a biodegradable cover for protecting said body and the stored beverage composition from physical damage, tears, and damage.
In yet another embodiment, the soluble beverage product, when combined with water, can form between 8 oz and 25 oz of coffee.
In yet another embodiment, the soluble beverage product is round or semi-flat in shape.
In yet another embodiment, the beverage composition is a liquid coffee concentrate.
In yet another embodiment, a method of instantly preparing a single serving of coffee without using any coffee preparing machine is described. The method includes the steps of providing a dissolvable coffee pod, the coffee pod includes a dry coffee powder stored in a dissolvable food grade paper body and the coffee pod is covered by a biodegradable paper cover; unwrapping the biodegradable paper cover; dropping the coffee pod into a single serving of hot water; stirring the hot water to prepare the single serving of coffee.
In yet another embodiment, a method of instantly preparing a single serving of cold coffee without using any coffee preparing machine is described. The method includes the steps of providing a dissolvable coffee pod, the coffee pod includes a dry coffee powder and sugar stored in a dissolvable food grade paper body and the coffee pod is covered by a biodegradable paper cover; unwrapping the biodegradable paper cover; dropping the coffee pod into a single serving of cold water; stirring the cold water to prepare the single serving of cold coffee.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a dissolvable pod that can be easily placed in hot or cold water to instantly make coffee or tea. There is also a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that is dissolved in water to make a beverage without any wastage. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for a dissolvable beverage pod that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that allows people to make coffee or tea easily outdoors or away from home appliances/electricity. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that can be provided to users through a subscription service. Furthermore, there is a long felt need in the art for beverage pods that that come in different flavors and roasts. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a beverage pod that allows users to create coffee or tea without large, bulky appliances in an environmentally friendly manner.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a method of instantly preparing a single serving of coffee or tea without using any beverage preparing machine. The method includes the steps of providing a dissolvable beverage pod, the coffee pod includes a dry coffee or tea powder stored in a dissolvable food grade paper body and the beverage pod is covered by a biodegradable paper cover; unwrapping the biodegradable paper cover; dropping the beverage pod into a single serving of water; stirring the water to prepare the single serving of the beverage wherein the single serving of water is from about 8 ounces to about 25 ounces.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The sealed food grade paper body 102 is made of water-soluble, recyclable, or biodegradable material or combination of materials. The paper body 102 immediately, for example within 5-10 seconds, dissolves when it comes into contact with the water thereby enabling the stored beverage powder 106 to mix in the water. The paper body 102 is colorless and may include a coating of a flavoring agent. The paper body 102 can be made from food grade polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and whereby the paper body 102 protects the stored beverage powder 106 therein from moisture and oxygen (i.e. airtight). The paper body 102 has an overall capacity equal to the amount of the beverage powder 106 stored therein. In one exemplary embodiment, the paper body 102 can store beverage powder 106 from about 5 grams to about 25 grams depending on a size of the paper body 102 and the pod 100.
A pod 100 is covered with a biodegradable cover 108 for protecting the paper body 102 and the stored powder 106 therein from physical damage, water contact, and weather elements. The cover 108 can be made from plant-based material, biodegradable plastic, or more. The cover 108 is configured to be easily torn or unwrapped for accessing the paper body 102 and for dropping in a single serving of water to make either tea or coffee. The pod cover 108 also helps in preventing prematurely releasing of the beverage powder 106 from the sealed food grade paper body 102. In one exemplary embodiment, the cover 108 is waterproof and may have a logo or any other indicia 110 printed thereon.
The packaging 200 can have a zippered opening 202 and may have a logo 204. Each pod 100 is individually and separately stored in the packaging 200 and can be accessed through the zippered opening 202. The packaging 200 can also include flavor information 206 and roast level information 208 of the pods 100 stored inside the packaging 200.
The packaging 200 comes in different colors and designs, and is lightweight in structure. A pod 100 can be easily pulled out of the packaging 200 for use and making a beverage anywhere without using any beverage making machine. The pods 100 and packaging or storage bag 200 are biodegradable to remain environmentally friendly when thrown away and the packaging 200 is printed in food grade ink.
It should be appreciated that the beverage pods 100 can also be available over the counter. The pods 100 come in a variety of flavors like Blueberry, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Vanilla, and more. Based on the preferences of a user, a flavor and a roast level 310 can also be selected by a user using the application 302.
It should be noted that the dissolvable beverage powder or consumable powder can be selected from a group consisting of a coffee powder, a tea powder, a baby formula powder, a soup powder, and other dissolvable consumables. Further, in one embodiment, the powder may have sugar for providing a sweet texture to the beverage. In another embodiment, the body 102 can be coated with sugar or other dissolvable flavoring agent.
Other shapes, designs, and configurations of the beverage pod 100 are contemplated and fall within the scope of the invention without affecting the utility of the device. Since the food grade paper body is dissolvable and the cover is biodegradable in various embodiments, no trash is generated when using the soluble coffee pod and therefore helps in maintaining the environment.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “dissolvable beverage pod”, “water-soluble beverage pod”, “coffee pod”, “tea pod” and “single-serving beverage pod” are interchangeable and refer to the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 important design parameters for user convenience, the environmentally friendly and water-soluble beverage pod 100, 500 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/303,254, which was filed on Jan. 26, 2022 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63303254 | Jan 2022 | US |
