Container lid for beverage preparation and bag retention

Abstract
Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The subject invention relates to lids and methods by which beverages may be prepared and consumed quickly and sanitarily. More particularly, the invention relates to lids and methods that facilitates the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of The bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Many liquid beverages are prepared by immersing a porous bag containing tea or coffee or other beverage preparation agent in a liquid for a given period of time. The immersion of the bag allows soluble components from the beverage preparation agent to go into solution thereby producing the beverage. This process is termed also steeping or brewing by infusion. The terms immersion, steeping, and brewing will be used largely interchangeably in the following to identify the step in the process and period when the bag is partially or wholly within the beverage preparation liquid. The beverage preparation agent will be identified in the following also as “bag contents” or simply “contents”. During the immersion process, and if the bag contents are a “non-instant” version of a dry or dried substance, such as ground coffee or leaf or shredded tea, the contents take up the liquid, thereby swelling in size and increasing in weight. Generally, the longer the bag remains in the solution, the stronger the beverage becomes. However, particularly with regard to tea, it is generally imperative that the bag not be allowed to remain in the liquid too long since the tea may become overly strong or bitter components from the tea may become solubilized. Preparing a beverage from a beverage bag provides the consumer with greater control over the steeping process since it can be stopped by removing the beverage bag from the liquid.




Beverage bags can be conventionally formed in a number of ways such as by the joining of two sheets of porous material at their edges such that the bag has opposing side walls and opposing edges or simply by gathering and/or joining a single sheet into a pouch-like shape having a generally continuous surrounding wall.




The porous bag must provide a large inner volume to accommodate contents that increase in size and weight during immersion and have a structure so that the bag can freely be moved within and removed from the beverage without tearing. Conventionally, a string is attached adjacent to one edge of the bag to allow the consumer to immerse a bag within the liquid and remove it without having to come into contact with the bag or the immersion liquid. A finger tip-sized tag may be attached adjacent to the string at a place generally opposite to the place at which the string is attached to the bag to facilitate the removal of the bag by the string. In this application, the terms “beverage bag” or “bag” will mean to identify any such porous bag that is sized and shaped and structured such that it can: contain a beverage preparation agent—whether tea, coffee, or other flavoring or beverage preparation material—; be immersed in a liquid to produce a beverage; and, be drawn up from the beverage such as by a string that may also contain a tag. Because more than one bag can be used in certain embodiments of the present invention, the term “bag” in the following can mean also a plurality of bags in the following.




Some of the many apparatus and systems that are directed to facilitate the preparation of beverages from such bags will be discussed.




U.S. Pat. No. 2,728,671 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,728,672 each describe a combination cover and beverage infusion commodity container in which the container is secured to a lower side of the cover so that the container is suspended from the cover. The combination apparatus is structured so that the cover may rest on the lip of a beverage making vessel and the commodity container is partially immersed in the liquid within the vessel to produce a beverage. Once the beverage has been produced, the steeping/infusion process cannot be stopped with the apparatus in place on the lip of the vessel. Also, the beverage cannot be consumed with the combination cover/container in place. To stop the steeping/infusion process and/or in order to consume the beverage, the entire combination cover/container must be raised from the lip of the beverage making vessel. To remove excess liquid from the dripping commodity container, the cover is folded over at a median fold line and the commodity container is squeezed between the divided portions of the cover. If the combination cover/container is placed back onto the beverage vessel—such as to keep a hot beverage from cooling down—the commodity container may become immersed in the beverage again thereby reinitiating the infusion process and preventing the beverage from being consumed until the apparatus is again separated from the lip of the vessel. After the cover to which is attached the wet commodity container is separated from the beverage vessel, the consumer must hold onto it or find a separate place on which it can rest or in which it can be properly discarded.




Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 2,800,408 describes an apparatus for preparing beverage in a cup from a tea bag, the apparatus comprising a thin cover formed from a sheet of material folded to provide two hinged sections and to which the tea bag is permanently secured. The cover includes an opening in the center of the sheet that is of a size and shape such that a string from the tea bag may be extended through it. The tea bag string is attached by a staple to the outside of the cover. The cover includes an inclined passage that leads from the edge of the cover to the central opening. In order to stop the steeping process and begin consumption of the beverage, the consumer must remove the cover/tea bag assembly. Dripping from the tea bag is prevented by the application of manual pressure on the outer surface of the two sections of the assembly so that the tea bag is squeezed therein between. The cover/tea bag assembly must be positioned on another receptacle or discarded altogether.




U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,927 is directed to a cord harness assembly including a supporting card and a suspension cord fastened to the tea or coffee bag. The supporting card is not sized and shaped to function as a lid but is shown and described as being of a size slightly larger than the periphery of a rolled-up compressed bag. Through the looping of the cord and drawing of the cord upward with one hand, while the supporting card is held by the other hand, the bag can be raised from the liquid and squeezed against the under surface of the card. Once in the undersurface squeezed position, the consumer must find a place to accommodate the cord harness assembly with wet bag in order to have free use of both hands.




U.S. Pat. No. 2,918,373 is directed to a tea brewing device described as including a disc member adapted such that the device may be placed on the rim of a tea cup. The disc member comprises a peripheral portion having a downwardly concave annular flange adapted such that the device may be placed on the tea cup rim and a circular inner portion that is depressed relative to the peripheral portion. The circular inner portion is formed with a pair of opposing substantially rectangular resilient fingers being of substantial width and closely adjacent straight free end edges that are spaced apart symmetrically on opposite sides of and parallel to the diameter of the disc member. The fingers may be formed by parallel slits spaced apart from each other so that a conventional tea bag may be received and gripped between the opposing edges of the slits. In use, a tea bag is gripped between the edges such that one portion of the tea bag is exposed above the disc and another portion is suspended below the disc. The disc is placed on the tea cup so that the suspended portion of the bag is within the hot water. After the infusion has been completed, the consumer may grasp the portion of the tea bag that is exposed above the upper surface of the disc—that upper bag portion presumably having drawn up some of the liquid from the container and therefore being wet—and draw up the remaining suspended portion of the tea bag through the spaced apart edges. This device does not provide the means by which a consumer may sample the liquid or consume the beverage without removing the device and therefore stopping the infusion process. The device does not provide the means by which the removed tea bag can be sanitarily stored or positioned adjacent to the container or without having to find an additional place to discard it. Furthermore, because this tea brewing device allows only a portion of the tea bag to be suspended below the disc, tea can be brewed only in those containers in which the level of the liquid is generally close to the rim. Attempting to brew tea in such a container may be dangerous since some cups—particularly those disposable cups having the typical small base and outwardly flaring surrounding wall—may become top heavy and prone to tip over when filled to such a level. Also, liquid at such a level may more easily splash out from openings in the cover and injure the consumer and/or require clean-up. As a result, such a cup would not likely be used by those on the go and not, for example, without the container and device positioned on a stable surface. U.S. Pat. No. 3,797,642 describes a suspending member that at least partly engages a rim of a vessel and that maintains a tea bag in a substantially horizontal position at about or near the top of the vessel so that the beverage is brewed without dunking or squeezing the tea bag. The suspending member is not described as being adjustable to permit tea to be brewed in cups that are filled with liquid at different levels. Because the suspending member permits tea to be brewed only when the cup is sufficiently filled with liquid so as to cover the horizontally aligned tea bag, the cup filled as necessary with suspending member and tea bag in place may be top heavy and therefore prone to tipping over. The suspending member is not described as providing the means by which the liquid may be sampled or the completely brewed beverage enjoyed with the member in place.




U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,284 describes a cup lid for brewing tea and the like including a base flange and a diametrical narrow flange extending vertically upward from the flange. One embodiment of the flange is open at both ends and described as having dimensions greater than a tea bag and into which a wet tea bag may be drawn. In use, the bag is lowered from the flange into the water within the cup and when steeping has been completed, the bag is drawn back up into funnel. The operator is instructed to use his or her fingers to depress the flat sides of the funnel in order to squeeze excess tea from the bag. As the cup lid does not provide the means by which the beverage may be consumed with the lid in place on the container, the lid together with the bag must be removed and discarded. A container on which the cup lid is fitted and with a wet tea bag drawn up into the flange may be top heavy and prone to tip over and therefore dangerous.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,110 describes a tag-like grasping means located at the end of retrieval means for infusion bags that include a shaped slit for forming an adjustable hook-like portion such that the grasping means may be clipped to the rim of a container. No means are provided for the storage of the infusion bag adjacent to the level of the beverage after the bag is removed.




Many other apparatus and systems are directed to facilitate the consumption, but not necessarily the preparation of beverages. For example, a wide variety of lids are known that are sized and shaped to be fitted on and around the edge of a container in which a beverage is stored and through which a beverage can be consumed. Generally, such beverage consumption lids are intended to prevent contaminants—such as dust, hair, dirt, or other matter—from entering the containerized beverage. Such lids also may prevent the liquid from splashing out from the container—such as when the container is carried—or from spilling out from the container—such as when the container is tipped over. Lids also may moderate the change in temperature of the containerized liquid, such as to slow the cooling of a hot liquid or the heating of a cold liquid.




More specifically, cup lids may include openings that allow the beverages to be consumed without removal of the lid. Some such cup lids openings are constructed to allow the consumer to drink from the container by direct contact of the consumer's lips with the surface of the cup lid around a “drink through aperture”. These “drink through apertures” include those that are raised relative to other portions of the lid upper surface, those having areas that are inverted to expose the drink aperture, those having areas covered by tear away strips or movable flaps, and those associated with complicated flexible drinking spouts extending from the lid. Other lids do not provide such drink through apertures. Other lids compliment such drink though apertures with or provide only an area aperture in which a separate apparatus may be inserted to allow a consumer to drink through the lid. Some of such insertion areas are sized and shaped to allow a suitably stiff or reinforced straw to be inserted through the area. Conventionally, the straw insertion areas are formed by placing two equally sized and symmetrically crossing incisions through the lid. By forcing the tip of the suitably stiff/reinforced straw against and through the incised area, an opening is formed that is no larger than and generally shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the outer diameter of the straw. Such a limited size and shape of the straw insertion area is considered advantageous in that little, if any fluid can splash or spill out from the area between the straw and the lid and gases below the lid cannot be exchanged with the outside environment thereby slowing the change in the temperature of the fluid. Because of the conventional resultant tight fit between straw and the straw insertion aperture, lids providing such an aperture must provide also a separate vent hole located elsewhere on the lid in order to prevent a vacuum from forming under the lid when the consumer attempts to draws liquid up through the straw. Such vent holes are conventionally taught as being pin hole size so that again little liquid can splash out from the hole while the cup is being carried or spill out in no more than minor amounts even if the cup is tipped over. Other lid openings include drain holes—that are conventionally located adjacent to the drink through aperture and are recessed and sized to allow liquid to flow back into the cup from above the lid recess area when too much is discharged.




The applicant's own application Ser. No. 08/529,061 filed on Sep. 15, 1995, and for which U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,898 was granted on Aug. 19, 1997 teaches an upwardly extending protrusion forming a retaining chamber into which a filter bag may be drawn and having an aperture that, due to its small size, does not allow the bag the bag to be easily extricated therethrough.




A number of disadvantages are associated with the conventional apparatus and systems intended to facilitate the consumption of beverages from a cup. Many are complicated structures that are relatively costly to manufacture and use. Many such apparatus and systems do not readily stack thereby making them more costly to ship and store. Many require other equipment—such as a straw or spout—to allow the liquid in the container on which the apparatus is fitted to be consumed from the container as intended.




Regarding conventional apparatus and systems directed to facilitate the preparation of beverages, a number of disadvantages are associated with them. Some of these will be discussed.




Some conventional preparation apparatus typically do not allow beverages to be produced quickly but instead require extensive, pre-use preparations and/or a series of manipulations so that the apparatus may be operated as intended. These include looping of cords and unfolding and folding of a sheet of covering material.




Such complications limit the usefulness of the apparatus in circumstances where the preparer has a limited amount of time to spend on the preparation process—such as in a carry-out food and/or beverage operation.




Many conventional preparation apparatus typically do not allow beverages to be produced from a conventional beverage bag. Many conventional apparatus are combinations of covers and bags or utilize bags made only for such apparatus. Such cover/bag combinations limit the type of beverages that may be made with the apparatus. Other conventional preparation apparatus and conventional beverage cups or other containers do not provide the means by which a bag can be held in place relative to the liquid during the steeping process and even when the beverage is being consumed.




Many conventional preparation apparatus grip or have secured to it one portion of the walls of the conventional sized beverage bags such that the distance at which any portion of the beverage bag can extend below the surface of the apparatus is not freely adjustable. As a result, such conventional apparatus cannot be used to prepare a beverage in containers in which the liquid level cannot be brought close enough to the rim of the container so that the beverage bag can actually contact the liquid. When such conventional preparation apparatus are fitted on a conventional container that allows the liquid to be brought to nearly the mouth of the container, a dangerous situation may develop. The liquid may more easily splash out from any openings in the conventional apparatus and, if hot, injure the person preparing, serving, or consuming the beverage and/or require clean-up. If the container that is filled has a conventional shape with small base area and an outwardly flaring surrounding wall, the container as filled nearly to the top can become more top heavy and more prone to tip over. This again may cause injury and liability. As a result, such conventional preparation apparatus should not likely be used by those on the go and not, for example, without the container and apparatus being positioned on a stable surface. Also, such conventional apparatus do not allow the gripped or attached bag to be moved relative to the depth or other inner shape of the container. Such apparatus are, as a result, best used for preparing beverages in only certain types of containers.




Many conventional preparation apparatus require the individual preparing the beverage to use both hands to support and manipulate the beverage preparation apparatus. Because the individual no longer has a free hand to hold onto the cup in which the beverage is being prepared, the beverage can be safely prepared only if the cup is stably positioned on a flat surface and not, for example, while the individual is in the process of serving the beverage or while the individual, who intends to consume the beverage, is on the go and/or carrying the cup. This limits the usefulness of such conventional apparatus.




Other conventional apparatus make no provision for the storage of the used tea, coffee, or other beverage bag once the beverage has been produced. Typically, conventional preparation apparatus and methods require that the beverage bag be separated and lifted away from the cup and either placed on another surface or in another container for possible reuse or disposal. The failure to provide a quick and convenient sanitary storage place for the used bag with or on the cup in which the beverage is produced increases the likelihood that additional clean up will be necessitated. Also, conventional apparatus that fail to provide such sanitary storage cannot be easily used by an individual on the go without at least the bag being improperly discarded.




A demand therefore exists for a simplified beverage preparation and retention apparatus and methods by which a beverage can be prepared according to the individual tastes of the consumer in a variety of containers from a bag sanitarily and without the need for the operator to, for example, directly contact or squeeze the bag and, after the beverage is prepared, provide for the quick and easy storage of the bag within the apparatus such that the beverage can be consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container. The present invention satisfies the demand.




The apparatus of the present invention are lids—termed retainers also herein—by which the preparation of a beverage within a container may be individually controlled by movement of a string attached to a beverage bag relative to the retainer and the liquid within the container. The retainer is sized and shaped to form a cover over the mouth of a container and that is structured to be openable or is open and such that a bag from which the beverage is to be prepared can be adjustably retained in a wide variety of positions relative to the retainer—thereby permitting the retainer to be used to prepare beverages in containers having a variety of internal shapes and sizes and that are partially or completely filled with liquid. Such containers include those in which the surface of the liquid may be at a wide variety of distances from the container mouth and whose depth varies. Embodiments of the retainer vary in profile and the position of the bag retention structure. The retainer is further structured such that the bag may be easily moved to a generally elevated position relative to the surface of the beverage to stop the steeping process and releasably secured there so that the beverage can be consumed even with the apparatus and elevated bag in place.




In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, the elevational retainer includes a bag retention structure that is movable and openable by the application of pressure on or adjacent to the retention structure. In certain preferred embodiments of the openable retention structure, the structure includes a patterned area such as weakenings or cuts made in or through the cover material that can be opened to provide an aperture with opposing resilient gripping edges by which a beverage bag can be secured to the retainer. In such movable and openable embodiments, the bag may be initially secured to the retainer, for example, by applying a relatively reduced amount of pressure at the patterned area—such as at the inner retainer surface or abutment surface described more completely below—so that the area is opened only slightly in order that the string—and if the string has one, the tag—can be only be drawn through the resultant string/tag securing aperture. In these embodiments, the string and/or tag may be gripped by the opposing gripping edges that may define the size and shape of the aperture such that the bag is suspended at a variety of distances relative to the lower inner surface of the retainer. By adjusting the point at which the opposing gripping edges grip the string or tag, the bag may be positioned within the container on which the retainer is seated at a variety of places—such as fully immersed and freely suspended within the liquid or closer to and possibly contacting the bottom of the container. When the preparation of the beverage has been completed, further contact of the bag with the beverage, and therefore further steeping can be prevented by simply pulling upward on the string and/or tag that is exposed above the upper surface of the retainer. The bag can thereby be raised from the immersion position to a position that is elevated relative to the surface of the beverage. By continuing to draw the string and/or tag upward, the bag encounters in certain embodiments the inner retainer surface—termed also abutment surface in the following—at the patterned area such that the bag and its contents are at least partially compressed and some fluid to be driven therefrom. By continuing to draw the bag upward, relatively greater pressure is placed against the abutment surface at the patterned area of the openable retention structure, causing the retention structure area to be further moved and opened outwardly so that at least an upper portion of the bag can be drawn through the opened pattern and the opposing resilient edges of the bag retention aperture area can grip and retain the bag in an elevated position without the application of any further upward pressure. During this step, additional fluid may be driven or drip from the bag. In certain of these preferred embodiments, the patterned area is structured such that it may be moved to form holding elements such as sharpened, pointed, or textured edges—as the bag is being drawn upward through the area. Such holding elements can catch the bag or, for example, the string or tag attached to the bag thereby preventing the bag from falling back into the beverage from the bag's elevated gripped position without the placement of any additional upward pressure on the bag by the consumer. This generally one-way catch advantageously further facilitates the use of the retainer to prepare beverages by those on the go and during the serving of the beverage.




In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, the elevational retainer includes a bag retention structure that is partially or completely open and may be movable. Embodiments of the partially open bag retention structure may include opposing resilient edges that by placing pressure against them may open the bag retention structure more so as to provide an open string/tag securing aperture having a shape and size such that the string of the bag and, if the string has one attached to it, The tag may be passed through the aperture yet which remain generally close enough that a space generally smaller than the transverse section of the tag and/or string is formed so that the edges may grip the string and/or tag and thereby loosely secure the bag to the retainer. The string/tag securing aperture may be sized and shaped in certain embodiments such that the aperture functions also as a vent by which the gases above the liquid in the container can be exchanged with those outside the container area. The string/tag securing aperture may be generally placed within a patterned area such that by drawing the string upward, the bag makes contact with and is compressed against the abutment surface of the retainer below and adjacent to the patterned area causing the string/tag securing aperture to generally enlarge so as to provide a bag retention aperture of sufficient size and shape such that a least an upper portion of the bag can be retained in an elevated gripped position. A string/tag securing aperture that is centrally placed within the patterned area allows the area to be opened generally uniformly. Other embodiments of the partially open bag retention structure include an open string/Tag securing aperture—having opposing edges that are spaced apart from each other and of a shape and size such that the string and/or tag may be passed through it and the bag thereby loosely secured to the retainer plus a separate openable or open string engaging portion into which the string of the bag may be drawn and by which the string may be gripped once the bag is positioned at the desired elevation relative to the liquid within the container and the retainer.




Embodiments of the open bag retention structure include a bag retention aperture having opposing gripping edges that are spaced apart from each other and are sized and shaped to accept a preparation beverage bag snugly without the user having to touch the bag by drawing the beverage bag by its string and/or tag from the fluid upwardly and through the aperture and retain the bag in an elevated position above the fluid level without the application of any further upward pressure being placed on the bag. The bag retention aperture of this open bag retention structure may be sized and shaped not only to allow the bag to be retained in an elevated position but also such that the same aperture can act as a vent through which gas may be vented out from or into the container. As above, such combination vent/open bag retention structure not only prevents a partial vacuum from forming under the cover and above the liquid when the beverage is withdrawn by the consumer but also allows an aroma to develop in the immediate area of the container. Such an aroma can heighten and extend the beverage consumption experience and, depending upon the aroma, act as a therapeutic agent.




Additional preferred embodiments of the present invention may include additional elements such as additional bag retention areas by which one or more additional beverage bags—either of the same or different size—may be releasably secured to the retainer. Certain such embodiments may include an additional open second bag retention area sized and shaped to accept a second beverage bag such as one that provides additional strength or flavorings to the beverage and/or provide fragrance to the area around the container to further heighten and/or extend the beverage consumption experience.




The apparatus may include an element that prevents the blockage of the drinking aperture by the elevated supported beverage bag such as when the container is rotated for drinking from it. An additional embodiment of the retainer including such a blocking element provides a wall projecting generally vertically perpendicular to the generally horizontal portion of the lower surface of the cover and between the drinking aperture and the bag retention structure. The wall of this embodiment may be formed from the same layer of material from which the elevational retainer is formed.




An advantage of the present invention is that the elevational retainer is sized and shaped such that one or more conventional tea, coffee, or other beverage bags can be used to prepare a beverage within a container quickly and easily, thereby increasing the convenience and utility of the retainer and specifically decreasing the amount of time and cost required to prepare and serve the beverage.




Another advantage of the present invention is that the retainer is sized and shaped to form a cover over the mouth of a container and structured such that a bag from which the beverage is to be prepared can be adjustably positioned at a wide variety of positions relative to the retainer. This permits the retainer to be used to prepare beverages in containers having a variety of internal shapes and sizes such as those in which the liquid level cannot necessarily be brought close to the mouth of the container and those having various depths.




An additional advantage of the present invention is that, after the preparation of the beverage has been completed, the bag may be moved from the beverage and releasably secured to a generally elevated position relative to the surface of the beverage to stop the steeping process and thereby allow a consumer to easily prepare a beverage according to his or her tastes and even reuse the bag if the consumer so chooses.




Also, an advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the beverage bag can be moved to a retained position without the need for both of, for example, the server's or consumer s hands to be in touch solely with the apparatus. As a result, an individual can prepare a beverage from one or more beverage bags, draw the bag or bags into an elevated position within the apparatus with one hand, and use the other hand to support, in part, the container, all the while the individual is walking with and/or serving the containerized beverage. This reduces the time needed to prepare and serve and for the consumer to begin to enjoy a freshly brewed beverage.




A further advantage of the present invention is that embodiments of the present invention allow the used beverage bag to be stored within the apparatus and the beverage to be consumed through the apparatus even while the apparatus remains in a covering position on the beverage container, thereby eliminating the need for the consumer to find a another place to store, place, or dispose of the bag.




An added advantage of certain embodiments of the present invention is that the bag retainer is sized and shaped such that the wet, and therefore heavier bag can be drawn up and into a position within the retainer and generally away from the outer wall of the beverage container such that the container on which the retainer is fitted remains generally balanced and less likely to accidentally tip over.




Additionally, an advantage of the present invention is that, after the consumption of the beverage, the container with the apparatus and bag in a retained position may be discarded sanitarily and all at once thereby preventing the need for additional clean up.




A further advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus is of a simplified construction that lessens the cost of manufacturing and use. Embodiments of the apparatus can be easily stacked thereby reducing transportation costs and lessen the need for costly storage space.




An added advantage of those embodiments of the present invention in which the retainer is not open but includes features that permit the retainer to be opened as needed so that the retainer as seated on the container and unopened can slow the change in the temperature of the liquid placed in the container and when needed can be opened for preparing and serving a beverage.




It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods by which a beverage may be prepared from one or more conventional bags quickly and easily and sanitarily.




It is another object of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods that permit a bag to be adjustably positioned relative to the fluid within a container such that a beverage may be prepared within containers having a variety of internal shapes and sizes.




An additional object of the present invention is to provide apparatus such that, after the preparation of the beverage, the position of the bag may be adjusted such that the bag is moved from the beverage and releasably secured at a generally elevated position relative to the beverage surface to stop the steeping process and thereby allow a consumer to easily prepare a beverage according to his or her tastes.




Also, an object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that allows a beverage bag to be moved to an elevated position without the need for both of, for example, the server's or consumer's hands to be in touch solely with the apparatus.




A further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods by which a bag that is used to prepare a beverage can be supported at or above the level of the beverage in a position such that the consumption of the beverage through the apparatus is not generally impeded even with the bag in the elevated position thereby eliminating the need for the consumer to find a another temporary or generally permanent place to store, place, or dispose of the used bag.




An added object of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods by which a beverage can be prepared within a container with one or more bags and the bags retained by and the gas vented into and/or out from the area adjacent to the beverage by the same retainer.




Also, an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and methods by which a bag that is to be used to prepare a beverage within a container can be quickly and easily secured to the container for the sanitary disposal of the bag and container simultaneously.




Another object of certain embodiments of the present invention including an openable retainer structure is that the retainer as unopened can better moderate the change in temperature of the liquid after the container is filled.




A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that is of a simplified construction that lessens the cost of manufacturing and use.











These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be clearly understood and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings and through a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1A

illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer and including a generally reduced profile movable openable bag retention structure that is partially opened and a beverage bag secured by the gripping of the bag's string by the opposing resilient edges of the retention structure.





FIG. 1B

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in

FIG. 1A

showing a beverage bag drawn up into a lower recess of the retainer and in part through the opened retention structure such that the bag is in an elevated position and the bag retention aperture forms generally a one-way catch for the beverage bag.





FIG. 1C

illustrates an overhead of another embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a retention structure having a generally reduced profile that is partially opened and may be further opened and having a patterned area and an open string/tag securing aperture centrally placed therein by which a beverage bag (in phantom) may be loosely secured to the retainer and thereby to the container by the threading of the bag tag and string through the open string/tag securing aperture of the retention structure.





FIG. 1D

illustrates an overhead of another embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a generally reduced profile partially opened bag retention structure that may be further opened and having a patterned area and a open string/tag securing aperture centrally placed therein showing a side view of the tag of a conventional beverage bag (in phantom), the tag being folded such that the tag and the string of the beverage bag may be threaded through the string/tag securing aperture in order that the bag may thereby be loosely secured to the retainer without at least initially any additional opening of the retention structure.





FIG. 2A

illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a full profile open retention structure having a shaped bag retention aperture through which an upper bag portion is drawn and thereby retained in an elevated position by the gripping of the side wall of the bag by the opposing resilient gripping edges of the bag retention aperture and such that a gap may be provided for venting gas from within the container.





FIG. 2B

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 2A

showing the beverage bag retained by the bag retention aperture in an elevated position.





FIG. 3A

illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a generally even profile open retention structure with shaped bag retention aperture through which a beverage bag is partially drawn and thereby retained in an elevated position by the gripping of the side wall of the bag by the bag retention aperture.





FIG. 3B

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 3A

showing the retention of the upper bag portion in an elevated position by the bag retention aperture.





FIG. 4A

illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a generally even profile open retention structure with shaped bag retention apertures showing two beverage bags in a secured position relative to the retainer and each retention aperture.





FIG. 4B

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 4A

showing two beverage bags drawn in part through and thereby retained in an elevated position by gripping of the side walls of each bag by the bag retention apertures.





FIG. 5A

illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a generally flattened upper surface and an openable retention structure having a generally even profile and zig-zag patterned area, and a depression between the zig-zag patterned area and the drinking aperture.





FIG. 5B

illustrates an overhead view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 5A

of the invention with the retainment structure opened and thereby forming a one-way catch for the beverage bag such that the bag is retained in an elevated position within the bag retention aperture.





FIG. 5C

illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 5A and 5B

showing the beverage bag retained by the one-way catch in an elevated position within the bag retention aperture and a wall projecting generally vertically perpendicular downward from to the generally horizontal portion of the lower surface of the retainer.





FIG. 6A

illustrates a perspective view partially in phantom of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a retention structure with complete profile having a generally flattened upper surface and a side wall generally perpendicular thereto through which two movable retention areas are individually openable such that one or two beverage bags may be drawn in part through and thereby retained in an elevated position by gripping of the side walls of each bag by the bag retention apertures.





FIG. 6B

illustrates a side view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 6A

showing the retainer with both retention areas opened and beverage bags in a secured position such that they may be drawn in part through and thereby secured in an elevated position by gripping of the side walls of each bag by each of the bag retention apertures.





FIG. 6C

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer that includes a retention structure with complete profile having a generally flattened upper surface and a side wall generally perpendicular thereto through which one or more movable retention areas may be openable showing one retention area with an openable hinged door and the retention of a beverage bag by the opened bag retention aperture.





FIG. 7A

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a full profile rounded open retention structure having a shaped bag retention aperture in which a beverage bag is retained in an elevated position.





FIG. 7B

illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of the present invention such as one illustrated in

FIG. 7A

showing a retainer including a full profile rounded raised open retention structure having two open bag retention apertures through which two beverage bags in part have been drawn and retained in an elevated position by gripping of the side walls of each bag by the two bag retention apertures.





FIG. 8A

illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a retention structure having a generally even profile and an open string/tag aperture through which the tag, and the string by which the tag is attached to the bag may be passed such as without folding and a string engaging portion into which the string may be drawn and gripped thereby securing the bag to the retainer.





FIG. 8B

illustrates an overhead view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 8A

of the invention after the tag has been passed through the string/tag aperture and the string drawn through and gripped by the opposing resilient edges of the opened string engaging portion such that the beverage bag is secured to the retainer.





FIG. 8C

illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 8A and 8B

and showing the string drawn through and gripped by the opposing resilient edges of the opened string engaging portion such that the beverage bag is retained in an elevated position and, in part, touching the lower surface of the retainer.





FIG. 9A

illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a retention structure having a generally even profile and an open shaped string/tag securing aperture through which the tag, and the bag string may be passed such as without folding and a string engaging portion into which the string may be drawn and secured thereby securing the bag to the retainer.





FIG. 9B

illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 9A

of the invention with the tag and in part the string passed through string/tag aperture and the string drawn through and gripped by the opposing resilient edges of the string engaging portion such that the beverage bag is secured to the retainer.





FIG. 9C

illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 9A and 9B

and showing the string drawn through and gripped by the opposing edges of the string engaging portion such that the beverage bag is retained in an elevated position and, in part, touching the lower surface of the retainer.





FIG. 10A

illustrates a perspective view partially in phantom of an embodiment of the present invention showing a retainer including a retention structure with complete profile having a generally flattened upper surface and a side wall generally perpendicular thereto through which two movable patterned areas may be individually opened to provide apertures such that the tag and string of each beverage bag may be drawn in part therethrough and the string drawn through and secured by the opposing edges of the narrowed string engaging portion.





FIG. 10B

illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 10A

showing the retainer with both patterned areas opened and the strings of two bags secured within the narrowed string engaging portion of the apertures.





FIG. 11A

illustrates a perspective view showing a retainer including a retention structure with an alterable profile, the retention structure being in a non-raised position such that the structure has a generally even profile with an open bag retention aperture by which a beverage bag may be loosely secured to the retainer and thereby to the container by the threading of the bag tag and string through the retention aperture of the retention structure.





FIG. 11B

illustrates a perspective view of the retainer illustrated in

FIG. 11A

showing the raisable retention structure in a raised position such that the structure has a generally reduced profile.





FIG. 11C

illustrates a cross-section of the retainer illustrated in

FIGS. 11A and 11B

showing the raisable retention structure in a raised position by the drawing of the bag upward and against the lower surface of the retention structure such that the bag is retained in an elevated position by the gripping of the side wall of the bag by the opposing gripping edges of the bag retention aperture.





FIG. 12A

illustrates an overhead view showing a retainer including a retention structure having a generally full profile and including a retention aperture sized and shaped such that the bag may be retained in a secured position or in an elevated position thereby.





FIG. 12B

illustrates a cross sectional view of the retainer illustrated in

FIG. 12A

showing the bag retained in an elevated position.





FIG. 12C

illustrates a perspective view of the retainer illustrated in

FIGS. 12A and 12B

showing the placement of the retention aperture in a non-centered position that is not directly opposite to the drinking aperture.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




A beverage preparation and bag retention apparatus according to the present invention is identified in the accompanying drawings as


21


.




The apparatus


21


—termed also “retainer” or “elevational retainer” in this application—is sized and shaped such that it may be used in conjunction with a container


11


. For convenience of description, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “outer”, “inner”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, and “outwardly” are used to refer to the apparatus in an orientation illustrated in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be understood that during use, the retainer


21


advantageously can be used in a variety of orientations—such as rotated while in contact with the container


11


and as the beverage within the container is being consumed.




The container


11


includes a surrounding container wall


12


having a composition and structure such that the container is suitable for holding a liquid


19


. The container


11


may, however, vary in construction and be made from a variety of materials including paper, plastic or other material that is preferably inexpensive and therefore suitable for one-time disposable use or otherwise. The container wall


12


includes an outer surface


12


A and an inner surface


12


B that meet to form a lip


12


C that defines a mouth


14


A. The size and shape of the inner surface


12


B—which does not necessarily always correspond directly to the size and shape of the outer surface


12


A—defines an inner space


14


. Because of the adjustability features of the present invention, the retainer


21


advantageously can be used with containers


11


having inner surfaces


12


B of a variety of depths and shapes.




The retainer


21


includes a cover panel


22


sized and shaped such that the panel


22


may extend over the container mouth


14


A in a covering position


22


A. Cover panel


22


includes an upper surface


24


and opposing lower surface


23


that meet at a peripheral rim


25


and may form a surrounding edge wall


25


A sized and shaped such that the retainer


21


can sit on and/or form a releasable sealingly grip on or about the lip


12


C and/or the outer surface


12


A and/or inner surface


12


B of the side wall


12


of the container


11


. A peripheral rim


25


with surrounding edge wall


25


A that is sized such that the retainer


21


has an internal circumference that is less than the circumference of the outer surface


12


A of the container


11


advantageously can provide generally a sealing grip between the retainer


21


and the container


11


to lessen spillage from the container. The container


11


may be filled with liquid


19


such that a supra-liquid space


14


B forms between the surface


19


A of the liquid


19


and the cover panel lower surface


23


of the retainer


21


when in a covering position


22


A such that a bag


15


retained in an elevated position


71


by the retainer


21


may be separated from the liquid


19


and, for example, the steeping process stopped thereby.




Preferred embodiments of the retainer


21


are intended to be made at low cost such that the retainer


21


may be discarded with the container


11


and therefore is preferably integrally made from a thin resilient sheet of inexpensive material—such as a polymer—that is suitable for efficient manufacturing—such as by a thermoforming operation—yet is sufficiently strong to facilitate the bag supporting and retention steps described herein.




Preferably, the retainer


21


includes an open or openable drinking aperture


91


that may be positioned generally adjacent to the surrounding edge wall


25


A through which the liquid may be drawn either directly by the consumer or indirectly—such as through the use of, for example, a straw or similar apparatus. In embodiments illustrated in certain of the accompanying drawings, the drinking aperture


91


is shown as open and rounded. However, the aperture


91


may be of any size and shape such that liquid may be withdrawn from the container


11


without general loss of the liquid


11


. For example, the drinking aperture


91


of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 11A through 11C

is openable and can be opened by partially separating the covering flap


92


from the cover panel


22


and rotating the flap


92


until the consumer can easily access the liquid


19


within the container


11


.




The elevational retainer


21


includes a bag retention structure


31


that, depending upon the embodiment, is openable and may be partially opened or more fully opened depending upon the pressure applied on the retention structure or is open such that a string/tag securing aperture


61


and/or a bag retention aperture


51


is provided by which a bag


15


may be releasably secured to the retainer


21


in a variety of positions relative to the retainer


21


and thereby the container


11


onto which the retainer


21


is fitted and the liquid


19


within the container


11


. It is contemplated that the retainer


21


can be sized and shaped such that it may be used with many different types of containers


11


and bags


15


. One of the many types of bags


15


that may be used with the apparatus


21


is shown in the accompanying drawings and includes a single sheet of porous material gathered to form a bag having a side wall


16


proportioned generously enough to accommodate tea, coffee, or other contents (not shown) therein even after the contents have been immersed and are swollen thereby. The illustrated bag includes a string


17


having a bag end


18


at which the string


17


is fastened—such as by a knotted loop


18


A or with a staple (not shown)—to an upper portion


16


A of the side wall


16


of the beverage bag


15


. The string


17


may include a tag


20


attached at or adjacent to the free end


20


A of the string


17


. Tag conventionally is planar in shape and sized so that it can be pulled between a user s thumb and forefinger. However, the present invention may be used with bags having tags


20


of a variety of sizes and shapes—such as non-planar and/or dimensioned larger than the aperture


51


and/or aperture


61


—to facilitate the positioning and/or retention of the bag


15


by the retainer


21


. Other types of bags that may be used with the invention include those that are of a size and shape that corresponds more closely to that of the lower surface


23


of the retainer


21


—such as the bag retention space


28


A—and those that do not include a string and/or tag.




Certain preferred embodiments of the retainer


21


include a retention structure


31


having a string/tag securing aperture


61


through which a string


17


and/or tag


20


attached to a bag


15


may be inserted such that the bag is in a secured position


70


relative to the retainer


21


, thereby permitting, for example, a consumer to move the bag


15


within the liquid


19


by use of the string


17


and/or tag


20


with less likelihood that the entire string


17


and tag


20


will fall into the liquid


19


after the consumer has released the string


17


and/or tag


20


. Among these embodiments are those in which the string


17


and/or tag


20


may be releasably gripped by edges


45


of the aperture


61


such that the bag is releasably secured to the retainer


21


in a position chosen, for example, by the consumer. Such embodiments permit beverages to be prepared in containers


12


having various shaped and sized internal surfaces


12


B and those that are filled to a variety of levels.




Preferred embodiments of the invention include those retainers


21


having a retention structure


31


with a full profile


201


—such as the embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 2A and 2B

,


7


A and


7


B, and


12


A-


12


C—, those retainers


21


having a retention structure


31


with a reduced profile


211


—such as the embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

and


1


C and


1


D—, those retainers


21


having an retention structure


31


with an even profile


221


—such as those embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 3A and 3B

,

FIGS. 4A and 4B

,

FIGS. 5A-5C

,

FIGS. 8A-8C

, and FIGS.


9


A-


9


C—, and those retainers


21


having a retention structure


31


with an alterable profile


231


that may be moved, for example, from an even profile to a reduced profile—such as the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 11A-C

. A retention structure


31


with a full profile


201


provides an inner retainer surface


28


defining a bag retention space


28


A of sufficient size and shape to accommodate a bag


15


that is of one of many different sizes and shapes even after the bag is swollen during immersion and drawn upward and held in an elevated position


71


. A retention structure


31


with reduced profile


211


provides an inner retainer surface


28


that defines a bag retention space


28


A of a confining size and shape such that a bag


15


of only a certain few different sizes and shapes can be drawn up into the space and squeezed due to the confinement. A retention structure


31


with even profile


221


places the retention structure


31


generally even with and not raised relative to the generally flattened upper surface


24


and provides an inner retainer surface


28


generally without a bag retention space


28


A. A retainer


21


with an even retention structure profile


221


can accommodate an even wider range of bags than a retainer with a full retention profile


201


. Dehydration of a bag in using a retainer with an even retention profile


221


is largely caused by the compression of the bag against the inner retention surface


28


and/or while the bag is drawn up into and releasably secured within the retention structure


31


. Further embodiments of the present invention include those in which the retainer


21


has a retention structure


31


with complete retention structure profile


241


—such as the embodiments illustrated in

FIGS. 6A

,


6


B, and


6


C and


10


A and


10


B—with one or more retention areas


26


positioned on a surrounding wall


26


A of the retention structure


31


. The illustrated embodiments of the retainers


21


include a nose/face accommodation area


24


A between the drinking aperture


91


and the retention areas


26


that further permits a consumer to drink from the aperture


91


with generally less likelihood that the consumer will encounter a moist bag


15


retained within and exposed outward from the retainer


21


. Additional details of the preferred embodiments will now be discussed.





FIGS. 1A and 1B

illustrate a preferred embodiment of the retainer


21


including an openable bag retention structure


31


having a reduced profile


211


that permits: a bag


15


to be adjustably placed in a secured position


70


relative to the depth of the liquid


19


in a container


11


so that the bag can be fully immersed and the steeping process can begin; the consumer to sample the container contents through a drinking aperture


91


with the retainer


21


still in place and without an interruption in the steeping process in order to determine if the beverage has been prepared according to his or her liking; and, if the preparation is completed, the bag to be raised to an elevated position


71


thereby stopping the steeping process. Because of the size and shape and the placement of the accommodation area


24


A relative to the structure


31


and the drinking aperture


91


, the nose or other parts of the consumer's face or body do not easily come into contact with an exposed portion of the wet bag


15


while the consumer enjoys the beverage.




Specifically, the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

embodiment is a retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


—with a bag retention structure


31


—in a covering position


22


A on a container


11


. The bag retention structure


31


includes a retention area


26


that rises above the other generally horizontal portions of the upper surface


24


of the cover panel


22


in a place spaced by the accommodation area


24


A away from and generally opposite to the drinking aperture


91


. The retention structure


31


of the

FIGS. 1A and 1B

embodiment includes side walls


26


A,


26


B of a reduced vertical height such that the retention structure


31


is of a generally reduced profile


211


and includes an inner retainer surface


28


of a size and shape to form a bag retention space


28


A in which some or all of a bag


15


that was used to prepare the beverage may be confined within the supra-liquid space


14


B. The raised retention area


26


of the

FIGS. 1A and 1B

embodiment includes also an upper retainer surface


27


having a patterned area


41


of weakenings such as scorings formed in or perforations or incisions cut through the flexible material sheet from which the retainer


21


may be made such that the structure


31


is openable. The patterned area


41


of this embodiment can be opened partially by the application of reduced pressure at the openable patterned area


41


—so as to provide a string/tag securing aperture


61


—or completely—to provide a bag retention aperture


51


—by the application of increased pressure at the openable patterned area


41


—such as onto the inner retainer surface


28


. The opening of the patterned area


41


of this embodiment, in part or entirely, exposes opposing generally pliable, yet resilient edges


45


—that, depending upon the degree to which the patterned area is opened, can grip, for example, the string


17


or tag


20


—such that the bag


15


is in a secured position


70


relative to the retainer


21


—or the upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


—such that the bag


15


is in an elevated position


71


relative to the retainer


21


and liquid


19


. The opposing gripping edges


45


may include opposing tips


47


that are pointed or textured such that, upon the more complete opening of the patterned area


41


, one or all of the tips


47


can catch the bag side wall


16


or other part of the bag


15


and further facilitate the retention of the bag in an elevated position


71


at or above the liquid surface


19


A. The height at which the patterned area


41


—and as a result the string/tag securing aperture


61


and the bag retention aperture


51


that may be formed therethrough—are carried relative to the liquid


19


in this embodiment and those embodiments with full profile


201


, complete profile


241


, or alterable profile


231


is advantageous in that the container


11


may be filled nearly to the mouth


14


A and a space


28


A is still provided for the storage of the bag


15


.





FIG. 1A

shows the retention structure


31


after the retention area


26


has been opened to a sufficient degree to permit the tag


20


and string


17


of the bag


15


to be threaded through the aperture


61


and gripped between and by the resultant opposing resilient edges


45


of the patterned area


41


—thereby releasably securing the bag


15


to the retainer


21


in a secured position


70


—and then to a greater degree by pulling up on the bag


15


by the tag


20


and/or string


17


until the upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


is between the opposing gripping edges


45


and one or all of the tips


47


catch the bag side wall


16


or other part of the bag


15


to permit the retention of the bag in an elevated position


71


at or above the liquid surface


19


A.





FIG. 1B

illustrates the patterned area


41


as opened—such as by the placement of upward pressure onto the inner retainer surface


28


under the openable patterned area


41


by the drawing of the bag


15


upward by the pulling on the string


17


and/or tag


20


—to form a bag retention aperture


51


that is of a size and shape to accommodate an upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


and such that the opposing pliable resilient edges


45


of the patterned area


41


grip the side wall


16


of the bag


15


snugly and the tips


47


of the patterned area


41


catch on the side wall


16


of the bag


15


and/or the loop


18


A or other portion of the bag


15


. The edges


45


and tips


47


of the opened retention structure


31


shown in

FIGS. 1A and 1B

thereby form a one-way catch


49


that retains the bag


15


in an elevated retained position


71


at or above the surface


19


A of the beverage


19


. Because the bag retention space


28


A in this embodiment is dimensioned to be at least equal to, but generally smaller than the dimensions of the bag


15


swollen after immersion, the process of drawing the bag


15


into this confining space and the upper portion


16


A of the bag


15


through the aperture


51


may cause some liquid


19


to be squeezed from the bag


15


. In such an elevated position


71


, liquid


19


may also drip from the bag


15


sanitarily back into the container


11


. As in the other embodiments, the storage of the bag


15


in this position


71


within the retainer


21


, eliminates the need for the separate storage of the wet beverage bag


15


or the clean up of other surfaces caused by the dripping of the bag on those surfaces.





FIG. 1C

illustrates another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a bag retention structure


31


having a reduced profile


211


that is opened in part and that can be opened further. The

FIG. 1C

embodiment includes, as does the

FIGS. 1A and 1B

embodiment, a raised retention area


26


with bag retention structure


31


having a patterned area


41


of weakenings formed in or perforations or incisions cut through the flexible cover panel


22


generally at the center


41


A of which an open string/tag securing aperture


61


is positioned. The string/tag securing aperture


61


of the

FIG. 1C

embodiment is rounded in shape and sized such that at least the string


17


(in phantom) and, depending on its size and shape, the tag


20


in unfolded or folded state (also in phantom) can be threaded therethrough generally without further opening of the pattern


41


and the bag


15


thereby loosely secured to the apparatus


21


in a secured position


70


and so that the portions of the string


17


and tag


20


that are above the surface


24


of the retainer


21


allow a consumer to easily move and remove the bag


15


as needed. A string/tag securing aperture


61


that is sized larger than the cross sectional dimensions of the string


17


—such as the securing aperture


61


shown in FIG.


1


C—is advantageous in that the securing aperture


61


even with string


17


threaded therethrough can function also as a vent


65


. Vent


65


permits the pressure within and outside the container


11


to equalize


25


thereby allowing a consumer to easily sample or drink from the covered container without a vacuum forming within—and for gases and aromas to exit from within the container


11


, thereby possibly increasing the beverage consumption experience. As in the

FIGS. 1A and 1B

embodiment, the application of pressure at the patterned area


41


—such as on the inner retainer surface


28


—of the

FIG. 1C

embodiment permits the area


41


to be opened to provide a bag retention aperture


51


such that at least a portion


16


A of the bag


15


can be drawn therethrough and the opposing resilient edges


45


and/or tips


47


of the patterned area


41


to form a one-way catch


49


such that the bag


15


can be retained in an elevated retained position


71


at or above the surface


19


A of the beverage


19


.





FIG. 1D

illustrates another embodiment of a bag retention structure


31


having a reduced profile


211


that is opened in part and that can be opened further and that includes an open string/tag securing aperture


61


that is sized and shaped to facilitate the threading of a tag


20


therethrough. The string/tag securing aperture


61


of the

FIG. 1D

embodiment is shown as rectangular in shape and sized such that a string


17


or a tag


20


of reduced width (not shown) or a conventional tag


20


(shown folded in phantom cross section) may be threaded therethrough and the bag


15


thereby loosely secured to the apparatus


21


in a secured position


70


. As in the

FIG. 1C

embodiment, the size and shape of the string/tag securing aperture


61


of the

FIG. 1D

embodiment permits a portion of the string


17


and tag


20


to be maintained above the upper surface


24


of the cover panel


22


to facilitate easy movement and positioning of the bag within the liquid and the easy withdrawal of the bag


15


through the area


41


. Because of the size and shape of the aperture


61


, it may function also as a vent


65


even with the string


17


threaded therethrough.




As in the

FIGS. 1A

,


1


B, and


1


C embodiments, the application of reduced pressure at the openable patterned area


41


—such as on the inner retainer surface


28


allows the patterned area


41


to be opened to increase the size of the aperture


61


and thereby permit, for example, the tag


20


to be easily passed therethrough or by the application of greater pressure at the patterned area


41


—such as on the inner retainer surface


28


—to provide a bag retention aperture


51


though which at least a portion


16


A of the bag


15


can be drawn and the bag retained in an elevated position


71


by the edges


47


.





FIGS. 2A and 2B

show another preferred embodiment of the retainer


21


including an open bag retention structure


31


having a full profile


201


that permits a bag


15


to be adjustably placed in a generally secured position


70


for the controlled preparation of a beverage and when the beverage preparation has been completed to draw the bag


15


up into an elevated position


71


. The retention structure


31


of this embodiment including surrounding side walls


26


A,


26


B. Surrounding wall


26


A rises in a curve adjacent to peripheral rim


25


and generally opposite to the drinking aperture. Wall


26


B meets surrounding wall


26


A and is linearly aligned to generally face the drinking aperture


91


. Horizontally connecting the side walls


26


A,


26


B is a generally flat upper retainer surface


27


that includes a retention area


26


that collectively define the full profile


201


and provide a bag retention space


28


A of sufficient size and shape to accommodate generally without squeezing confinement a bag


15


that can be one of many different sizes and shapes even after the bag is swollen after immersion within the container


11


and drawn upward and held in an elevated position


71


.




The open bag retention structure


31


of the

FIGS. 2A

,


2


B embodiment includes a shaped bag retention aperture


51


that is positioned generally centrally within the raised area


26


and spaced away by the accommodation area


24


A from and generally opposite to the drinking aperture


91


. Bag retention aperture


51


is sized and shaped such that the string


17


and tag


20


of a bag


15


can be easily and quickly threaded therethrough generally without folding of the tag


20


and so that the string


17


and tag


20


are loosely retained above or adjacent to the surface


24


of the retainer


21


and the bag


15


is loosely held in a secured position


70


to the apparatus


21


and the container lion which the apparatus


21


is fitted. The tag


20


and string


17


as exposed above the surface


24


of the retainer


21


in position


70


permit the consumer to easily manipulate the bag


15


—such as to raise and lower the bag


15


while it is immersed in order to speed up the beverage preparation process and to raise the bag


15


into an elevated position


71


. The illustrated aperture


51


is of a size and shape also such to permit the generally upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


, whose contents are swollen by the immersion process, to be drawn up and through the aperture


51


—by pulling upward on the such that the opposing resilient gripping edges


45


of the aperture


51


grip the bag


15


at or near the side wall portion


16


A and thereby retain the bag


15


in an elevated position


71


. While the open retention aperture


51


may be of a variety of shapes, the retaining aperture


51


of the

FIGS. 2A and 2B

embodiment is rounded in shape. An aperture


51


having a rounded shape is advantageous in that a bag


15


pulled through such an aperture does not encounter any sharpened edges or tips that may puncture, tear or otherwise damage what may be a fragile surrounding wall


16


A of the bag. An aperture


51


having the illustrated oval shape is further advantageous in that an upper portion


16


A of an appropriately sized bag


15


may be pulled through the aperture


51


and a gap


48


may form between the bag


15


and the generally vertical aperture side wall


43


of the aperture


51


. Such a gap


48


can function as a vent


65


so that the gases that form within the container


11


can be exchanged with those outside the container and vice versa even with upper portion


16


A of the bag retained in an elevated position


71


within the aperture


51


. Such a vent


65


allows liquid to be withdrawn from the container


11


freely and such that vacuum-like conditions do not easily form within the container.





FIG. 2B

provides a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 2A

further showing the retention of the beverage bag


15


by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the bag retention aperture


51


such that the bottom side wall portion


16


B of the bag


15


is above the surface


19


A of the liquid


19


and generally within the bag retention space


28


A of the supra-liquid space


14


B and contacting the inner retainer surface


28


. The bag retention space


28


A of this full profile


201


embodiment can accommodate many different sized and shaped bags


15


generally without confinement.





FIG. 3A

shows another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and an open bag retention structure


31


with even retention structure profile


221


. This embodiment permits the bag


15


to be placed in a generally secured position


70


for controlled brewing of a beverage and, when the beverage has been completed, the bag


15


to be drawn up into an elevated position


71


. As in other embodiments with an even profile


221


, this embodiment places the retention structure


31


generally even with and not raised relative to the generally flattened upper surface


24


and provides an inner retainer surface


28


generally without a bag retention space


28


A. The retention structure


31


includes a shaped open bag retention aperture


51


that is sized and shaped such that the string


17


and tag


20


of a bag


15


can be easily and quickly threaded therethrough generally without folding of the tag


20


and so that the string


17


and tag


20


are loosely retained above or adjacent to the surface


24


of the retainer


21


and the bag


15


is loosely secured in position


70


to the apparatus


21


and the container


11


on which the apparatus


21


is fitted for the easy manipulation of the bag


15


. The illustrated aperture


51


is of a size and shape also such to permit generally an upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


, whose contents are swollen by the immersion process, to be drawn up and through the aperture


51


—by pulling upward on the string or tag such that the opposing resilient gripping edges


45


of the aperture


51


grip the bag


15


at or near the side wall portion


16


A and thereby retain the bag


15


in an elevated position


71


. As with the

FIGS. 2A

,


2


B embodiment, the generally rounded shape of the aperture


51


advantageously lessens the likelihood that the aperture


51


may cause the bag


51


to rupture while it is being drawn into and partially through the aperture


51


. The oval-shaped aperture


51


advantageously facilitates the development of a gap


48


between the bag side wall


16


and the opposing resilient edges


45


that can function also as a vent


65


. The open aperture


51


of the

FIGS. 3A and 3B

embodiment of the retainer


21


is spaced by the accommodation area


24


A away from and generally opposite to the drinking aperture


91


such that it is less likely that the consumer will come into contact with the bag


15


as exposed in an elevated position


71


.





FIG. 3B

provides a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 3A

that shows the retention of the beverage bag


15


by the retaining aperture


51


and such that the bottom


16


B of the bag


15


is generally above the surface


19


A of the liquid


19


within the supra-liquid space


14


B. Compression of the bag


15


against the inner retention surface


28


and/or while the bag is drawn up into and releasably secured within the retention aperture


51


causes the dehydration of the bag.





FIGS. 4A and 4B

show another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and an open bag retention structure


31


with even retention structure profile


221


and two shaped bag retention apertures


51


. As in the

FIGS. 2A and 2B

and

FIGS. 3A and 3B

embodiments, aperture


51


is sized and shaped to facilitate the threading of the string


17


and tag


20


of a bag


15


therethrough and the subsequent easy manipulation while in a secured position


70


and the retention of the bag


15


in an elevated position


71


. Each aperture


51


includes opposing resilient edges


45


that permit one or more bags


15


to be retained in an elevated position


71


. The two apertures


51


of this embodiment advantageously facilitates, for example, the preparation of a beverage


19


that may require two separate flavoring agents stored in separate bags


15


. Such a beverage may be one that is made, for example, from a bag


15


containing tea or coffee and another bag


15


containing another flavoring agent such as a “booster” that provides a stronger or heightened or varied flavor to the beverage.




The apertures


51


of the embodiment of the retainer


21


illustrated in

FIGS. 4A and 4B

are aligned to open through opposite portions


29


A and


29


B of the cover panel


22


and spaced by the accommodation area


24


A away from the drinking aperture


91


such such that the nose of a consumer that is drinking beverage through the drink aperture


91


is less likely to encounter either or both of the bags pulled up and within the apertures


51


. Placement of the two apertures


51


on either side of the central vertical axis of the container as covered permits the container to remain generally balanced and not prone to tip over even with two swollen and therefore heavier bags retained in the elevated position


71


. As with the

FIGS. 2A and 2B

embodiment and the

FIGS. 3A and 3B

embodiment, the apertures


51


of the

FIGS. 4A and 4B

embodiment are shown as oval in shape. Such a shape of advantageously may provide a gap


48


between the bag


15


and the opposing resilient edges


45


formed from the vertical side wall


43


of the aperture


51


that can act as a vent


65


even with the upper portion


16


A of the bag


15


pulled through and within the aperture. As with the other embodiments, the drinking aperture


91


shown in the

FIGS. 4A and 4B

embodiment is illustrative of the many types that may be used with this embodiment.





FIG. 4B

illustrates a cross sectional view of the retainer


21


illustrated in

FIG. 4A

showing the retention of the beverage bags


15


in an elevated position


71


and between the opposing resilient edges


45


of each of the bag retention apertures


51


.





FIGS. 5A through 5C

show another embodiment of the retainer


21


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and an openable retention structure


31


with an even retention structure profile


221


. The bag retention structure


31


of this embodiment includes a patterned area


41


of weakenings formed in or perforations or incisions cut through the flexible cover panel


22


—such as the illustrated zig-zag pattern—that can be opened partially or completely to provide a string/tag securing aperture


61


or completely to provide a bag retention aperture


51


by the application of respectively increasing amounts of pressure at the patterned area


41


. By application of a relatively reduced amount of pressure at the patterned area


41


, the area may be partially opened. The partial opening of the patterned area


41


of this embodiment as shown in

FIG. 5A

exposes, in part or entirely, opposing resilient edges


45


—that, can grip, for example, the string


17


at any point along its length or the tag


20


, thereby permitting the bag


15


to be placed at a variety of secured positions


70


relative to the retainer


21


. By application of greater pressure at the openable pattern


41


, such as by drawing the bag upward against the lower retention surface


28


below the patterned area


41


after the steeping process has been completed by pulling upward on the string and/or tag, the bag


15


is compressed against the retention surface


28


—causing the bag to be at least partially dehydrated—and the pattern


41


to be opened even more. The bag


15


can then be drawn in between the opposing resilient edges


45


such that the bag upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag


15


is gripped and the bag


15


is retained in a position


71


that is elevated relative to the liquid surface. The opposing gripping edges


45


may include opposing tips


47


that are pointed or textured such that, upon the more complete opening of the patterned area


41


, one or all of the tips


47


can catch a portion on the upper portion


16


A of the bag


15


and/or the loop


18


A or other portion of the bag


15


thereby forming a one-way catch


49


that retains the bag


15


in a elevated position


71


at or above the surface


19


A of the beverage


19


. The retainer


21


of this invention may include additional means to further restrict the movement of a bag such as to prevent a retained or elevated bag from blocking another retainer passage such as the drinking aperture


91


.

FIGS. 5A through 5C

embodiment includes a depressed area


81


in the upper surface


24


of the cover panel


22


that extends vertically perpendicular and downward relative to the lower surface


23


thereby forming a wall


93


sized and shaped such that, when a bag


15


is secured by the string/tag securing aperture


61


or a portion


16


A of the bag


15


is pulled through the bag retention aperture


51


, the bottom portion


16


B of the bag


15


is prevented from blocking the drinking aperture


91


even when the container


11


is rotated for drinking. Such a wall


93


advantageously may be formed from the same sheet of material used to form the cover panel


22


.





FIG. 5B

shows an overhead view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG.


5


A. More specifically,

FIG. 5B

shows the patterned area


41


opened after a relatively greater amount of pressure has been applied at the area


41


such that the upper portion


16


A of a beverage bag


15


is drawn through and retained in an elevated position


71


by the gripping of the side wall


16


A of the bag


15


by the opposing resilient edges


45


and the tips


47


of the patterned area


41


.





FIG. 5C

shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 5A and 5B

and in particular the beverage bag


15


drawn in part through and thereby retained in an elevated position


71


within the supra-liquid space


14


B by the patterned area


41


and the wall


93


extending vertically perpendicular to the other portions of the lower surface


23


of the cover panel


22


.





FIG. 6A

illustrates an embodiment of the retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


with retention structure


31


with complete profile


241


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and a side wall


26


A generally perpendicular thereto through which two movable patterned areas


41


are individually openable such that at least the tag


20


and/or string


17


of one or two beverage bags


15


may be drawn in part through thereby retaining the bag or bags


15


in a secured position


70


. Each patterned area


41


includes weakenings—formed in or perforations or incisions cut through the surrounding side wall


26


A of the flexible cover panel


22


—that define an aperture cover


55


. By the application of pressure at the patterned area


41


—such as onto the inner retainer surfaces


28


at or adjacent to one or both openable patterned areas


41


—, the aperture cover


55


of one or both is freed from the retainer


21


—for subsequent disposal—and the aperture


51


of each exposed thereby. Each aperture


51


is sized and shaped to facilitate the threading of the string


17


and tag of a bag


15


therethrough and the subsequent easy manipulation of the bag while in a secured position


70


and such that at least an upper portion


16


A of a beverage bag


15


can drawn through and thereby retained in an elevated position


71


by the gripping of the side wall


16


of the bag


15


by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the bag retention apertures


51


. The apertures


51


of the

FIGS. 6A and 6B

embodiment are shown as having a rounded, extended shape that advantageously may provide a gap


48


, and thereby a vent


65


between the bag


15


and the vertical side wall


43


of the aperture


51


when the upper portion


16


A of the bag


15


is pulled through the aperture


51


. The

FIGS. 6A and 6B

embodiment and the

FIG. 6C

embodiment may include a drinking aperture


91


such as the one shown.





FIG. 6B

shows the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 6A

with both patterned areas


41


opened and two beverage bags


15


in a secured position


70


such that they may be further drawn in part through and thereby secured in an elevated position


71


by gripping of the side walls


16


of each bag


15


by the opposing resilient edges


45


and a side wall


43


of each of the bag retention apertures


51


. Such embodiments structured such that one or both of the areas


41


can be individually openable are advantageous in that either or both of the resultant apertures


51


can be opened in order to better control the preparation of a beverage within the container


11


. For example, the multiple individually openable patterned areas


41


allow the exchange of gases from the interior of the container


11


with the exterior to be controlled. This thereby allows the change of the temperature of the liquid


19


and, accordingly, the beverage that is being prepared within the container


11


to be controlled.





FIG. 6C

illustrates a partial cross sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention such as the one illustrated in

FIGS. 6A and 6B

that includes an openable patterned area


41


. The patterned area


41


of the

FIG. 6C

embodiment comprises weakenings formed in or incisions cut through the flexible cover panel


22


such that a rounded bag retention aperture


51


with a door


87


having a hinge


57


to the lower portion


51


A of the aperture


51


is formed. The patterned area


41


of this embodiment can be opened sufficiently to provide an aperture


51


by the application of pressure at the patterned area such as onto the inner retainer surface


28


of the side wall


26


A at or adjacent to the openable patterned area


41


. The opening of the patterned area


41


, in part or entirely, exposes at least one resilient edge


45


—that can facilitate the gripping of, for example, the upper side wall portion


16


A of the bag side wall


16


and further facilitate the retention of the bag


15


at or above the liquid surface


19


A within the supra-liquid space


14


B. The door


87


can advantageously provide further support to the bag


15


in the elevated retained position


71


and may act to direct any liquid


19


that may drain from the bag


15


back into the container


11


.





FIG. 7A

shows another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a rounded retention structure


31


having a full profile


201


through which a shaped open bag retention aperture


51


opens with a beverage bag


15


retained in an elevated position


71


thereby. The rounded raised retention structure


31


includes a continuous surrounding side wall


26


A that rises in part adjacent to peripheral rim and generally opposite to the drinking aperture


91


and defines a bag retention space


28


A of sufficient size and shape to accommodate generally without squeezing confinement a bag or bags


15


, each of which can be of many different sizes and shapes even after immersion within the container


11


and drawn upward and held in an elevated position


71


. The embodiment includes one or more bag retention apertures


51


that open through the wall


26


A on a side opposite to and spaced by the accommodation area


24


A away from the aperture


91


such that one or more bags


15


may be retained in an elevated position


71


with little likelihood that the beverage consumer will encounter the bag or bags with his or her nose.




The spacing of the apertures


51


on opposite sides


29


A,


29


B of the far side


29


of the wall


26


A make this an even more remote possibility.





FIG. 7B

shows an overhead view of an embodiment of a retainer


21


such as the one illustrated in

FIG. 7A

with a full profile


201


and two open bag retention apertures


51


through each of which a beverage bag


15


are drawn in part through and thereby retained in an elevated position


71


by the gripping of the side walls


16


of each bag by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the two retaining apertures


51


. Again, the placement of the two apertures


51


on either side of the central vertical axis of the container


11


as covered permits the container to remain generally balanced and not prone to tip over even with two swollen and therefore heavier bags retained in the elevated position


71


. As with certain of the embodiments described herein, the rounded shape of the apertures


51


may lessen the likelihood that the bag may be ruptured when it is drawn into an elevated position


71


. In particular, the oval shape of the apertures


51


may provide a gap


48


between the bag


15


and the opposing resilient edges


45


formed from the vertical side wall


43


of the aperture


51


that can act as a vent


65


even with the upper portion


16


A of the bag


15


pulled through and within the aperture.





FIG. 8A

shows an overhead view of another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a generally flat cover panel


22


and an even retention structure profile


221


through which a string/tag securing aperture


61


opens. The string/tag securing aperture


61


has a size and shape to facilitate the quick securement of the bag


15


to the retainer


21


. The string/tag securing aperture


61


of the

FIG. 8A

embodiment is elongated in shape and sized such that the tag


20


and thereby the string


17


of the bag


15


can be threaded therethrough easily and quickly and generally without further opening of the aperture


61


. The aperture


61


may be narrowed in size so that the portions of the string


17


and tag


20


that are above the liquid surface


19


A do not easily fall into the liquid


19


such as while the bag is in the secured position


70


and the beverage is being prepared. A string/tag securing aperture


61


that is sized as shown to be wider than the width of a tag


20


is advantageous in that the securing aperture


61


even with tag


20


threaded therethrough can function also as a vent


65


such that gases from within the container


11


can be exchanged with those outside the container and vice versa. The string/tag securing aperture


61


of the

FIGS. 8A through 8C

embodiment includes a string engaging portion


62


—having opposing resilient edges


45


that can grip and hold onto the string


17


as it is drawn into the portion


62


from the aperture


61


and thereby retain the bag


15


in an elevated position


71


. While the string engaging portion


62


may be open or openable, the

FIGS. 8A through 8C

embodiment includes a portion


62


that is open.





FIG. 8B

illustrates an overhead view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 8A

of the invention with the tag passed through the aperture


61


and the string


17


drawn through and gripped by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the open string engaging portion


62


such that the beverage bag


15


is secured to the retainer in an elevated position


71


.





FIG. 8C

illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 8A and 8B

and showing the string


17


drawn through and gripped by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the open string engaging portion


62


such that the beverage bag


15


is retained in an elevated position


71


within the supra-liquid space


14


B and in part touching the retention surface


28


of the retainer


21


. The embodiment Illustrated in

FIGS. 8A through 8C

includes an accommodation area that spaces the drinking aperture


91


from the retention structure


31


.





FIG. 9A

illustrates an overhead view of an embodiment of a retainer


21


including a retention structure


31


having a generally even profile


221


and an string/tag aperture


61


having an elongated rounded shape through which the tag


20


, and the string


17


by which it is attached to the bag


15


may be passed such as without folding and retained in a secured position


70


and a narrowed component—a string engaging portion


62


—having opposing resilient edges


45


that can grip and hold onto the string


17


as it is drawn into the portion


62


from the aperture


61


and thereby retain the bag


15


in an elevated position


71


.

FIG. 9B

illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 9A

of the invention with the tag passed through the aperture


61


and the string


17


drawn through and gripped by the opposing edges


45


of the string engaging portion such that the beverage bag


15


is secured to the retainer


21


in an elevated position


71


.

FIG. 9C

illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 9A and 9B

and showing the string


17


drawn through and gripped by the opposing edges


45


of the string engaging portion


62


such that the beverage bag


15


is retained in an elevated position


71


within the supra-liquid space


14


B and, in part, touching the lower surface


23


of the retainer


21


.





FIG. 10A

illustrates partially in phantom an embodiment of the retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


with retention structure with complete profile


241


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and a side wall


26


A generally perpendicular thereto through which two movable patterned areas


41


are individually openable such that at least the tag


20


and/or string


17


of one or two beverage bags


15


may be drawn in part through thereby retaining the bag or bags


15


such as in a secured position


70


. Each patterned area


41


is formed of weakenings in or perforations or incisions cut through the surrounding side wall


35


of the flexible cover panel


22


that define an aperture cover


55


. By the application of pressure at the patterned area


41


—such as onto the inner retainer surfaces


28


at or adjacent to one or both openable patterned areas


41


—, the aperture cover


55


of one or both is freed from the retainer


21


—for subsequent disposal—and the aperture


51


of each exposed thereby. Each aperture


51


is sized and shaped to facilitate the threading of the string


17


and tag


20


of a bag


15


therethrough and the subsequent easy manipulation of the bag while in a secured position


70


and such that at least an upper portion


16


A of a beverage bag


15


can drawn through and thereby retained in an elevated position


71


by the gripping of the side wall


16


of the bag


15


by the opposing resilient edges


45


of the bag retention apertures


51


. Each aperture


51


of this embodiment includes a string engaging portion


62


into which the string


17


may be drawn and secured by the gripping of the string


17


by the opposing gripping edges


45


of the portion


62


. Advantageously, an aperture of such a size and shape may act as a vent


65


.





FIG. 10B

shows the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 10A

with areas


41


opened and two beverage bags


15


positioned such that the strings


17


of each are drawn through and thereby secured in an elevated position


71


by gripping of the string


17


by the opposing resilient edges


45


of each of the portion


62


of the bag retention apertures


51


. As with the other embodiments that include multiple individually openable patterned areas


41


, this embodiment permits greater individual control of the preparation of a beverage within the container.





FIGS. 11A through 11C

illustrate an embodiment of a retainer


21


with alterable profile


231


.

FIG. 11

A illustrates a perspective view of the retainer


21


including a cover panel


22


having a generally flattened upper surface


24


and a movable retention structure


31


.

FIG. 11A

illustrates an embodiment of the movable raisable retention structure


31


in a non-raised position—such that the structure


31


has a generally even profile—with an open bag retention aperture


61


by which a beverage bag may be loosely secured to the retainer


31


and thereby to the container


11


by the threading of the tag


20


and string


17


through the retention aperture


61


of the retention structure


31


.

FIG. 11B

illustrates a perspective view of the retainer


21


illustrated in

FIG. 11A

showing the raisable retention structure


31


in a raised position—such that the structure


31


has a reduced profile.

FIG. 11C

illustrates a cross-section of the retainer


21


illustrated in

FIGS. 11A and 11B

showing the raisable retention structure


31


in a raised position by the drawing of the bag


15


upward and against the lower surface


24


of the retention structure


31


such that the bag is retained in an elevated position


71


by the gripping of the side wall


16


of the bag by the opposing gripping edges


45


of the bag retention aperture


31


.





FIGS. 12A through 12C

show another embodiment of a retainer


21


including a retention structure


31


having a full retention structure profile


201


including a rounded raised area


26


through which a string/tag securing aperture


61


opens for the placement of the bag


15


in a generally secured position


70


relative to the retainer


21


and the liquid


19


within the container


11


for preparation of a beverage. When the preparation has been completed, the bag


15


may be drawn upward and releasably secured into a generally elevated position


71


. The string/tag securing aperture


61


has a size and shape to facilitate the quick general securement of the bag


15


to the retainer


21


in a secured position


70


. The string/tag securing aperture


61


of this embodiment is elongated in shape and sized such that the tag


20


and thereby the string


17


of the bag


15


can be threaded therethrough generally without further opening of the aperture


61


to permit the easy manipulation of the bag


15


, such as upward and downward in the liquid


19


to further facilitate the preparation of a beverage. As shown in

FIG. 12B

, the bag may be pulled upward into an elevated position


71


such that a portion of the bag may be held by the gripping edges


45


of the aperture


51


. The edges


45


are preferably rounded so that the bag can be pulled smoothly pass the edges


45


and to facilitate the gripping of the bag


15


without, for example, rupture. The curved shape of the aperture


51


facilitates even more effective gripping by the edges


45


. Advantageously, the aperture


61


is placed offset from a position directly opposite to the drinking aperture


91


so that, for example, a consumer will not likely come into contact with a wet bag


15


exposed in an elevated position


71


yet the bag


15


remains in close enough proximity to the consumer's nose so that the fragrance from the wetted tea or other beverage preparation agent can be detected by the consumer while drinking thereby heightening the consumption experience. Also, while the bag is pulled through and gripped by the edges of the retainer such that the exposed area of the bag is off center and toward the surrounding edge of the retainer, the recess of the retainer is shaped such that the unexposed bag may collect in a location closer to the central axis of the cup. This allows the container with retainer in place and bag in a retained position to remain generally balanced and less likely to tip over.




The following will further describe the use of certain embodiments of the retainer


21


. In those embodiments having an openable retention structure


31


, a person, such as one in the food service industry or the ultimate consumer, may apply pressure to the patterned area


41


to open the area


41


to provide at least a string/tag securing aperture


61


such that string


17


and, if the bag


15


has one, the tag


20


may be threaded through the aperture


61


. This places the bag in a secured position


70


relative to the retainer with a portion of the string and tag above the upper surface


24


of the retainer


21


and the remaining portion of the string


17


and the bag


15


below the lower cover surface


23


. In those embodiments having an open retention structure


31


, the string


17


and tag


20


is threaded through the securing aperture


61


or retaining aperture


51


to place the bag in a secured position


70


. The person then places the retainer


21


with bag


15


releasably secured thereto onto the lip


12


C of the container


11


already holding the liquid


19


from which the beverage will be prepared such that the surrounding edge


25


A of the retainer


21


is seated on the lip


12


C of the container


11


and/or sealingly grips to the outer surface


12


A of the side wall


12


of the container


11


and the bag


15


comes to be fully immersed in the liquid


19


. At any time after the initial immersion of the bag


15


within the liquid


19


, and, for example, after the retainer


21


seated on the container


11


is served, the consumer may advantageously sample the liquid in order to determine if the beverage preparation has been completed without removing the bag


15


from the liquid or the retainer from its position on the container. When the consumer has determined that the beverage is of the desired strength and/or flavor, the person can easily move the bag


15


from the beverage and to an elevated position


71


at or above the level


19


A of the beverage


19


by pulling upward on the tag


20


and/or string


17


such that at least an upper portion


16


A of the bag


16


is gripped between the opposing edges


45


of the retaining aperture


51


and thereby held in place. Liquid from the bag in this elevated position advantageously drips back into the container


11


. The beverage consumer can then drink through the aperture


91


of the retainer


21


even with the bag in this elevated position


91


. The person does not need to come into direct contact with the wet bag


15


at any time in order to prepare a beverage with this apparatus and method. When the consumer is finished, the container


11


with retainer


21


and bag


15


retained in place can be disposed simultaneously thereby avoiding the need for the disposal of each of these items and additional cleanup. If the retainer


21


includes a second retention area


26


, and the person wishes to use a second bag, for example, to flavor the beverage, the relevant portions of the process described above can be repeated. Because of the fragrance produced, for example, by many teas when wetted, one or more bags filled with such content and retained in an elevated position


71


, and thereby exposed to the atmosphere can provide fragrance to at least the immediate area around the retainer


21


. This fragrance can further heighten the beverage consumption experience and may constitute a form of aromatherapy for the beverage consumer.




It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A reduced profile retainer for the controlled preparation of a beverage from a bag containing a beverage preparation agent and liquid within a container by movement of a string attached to the bag relative to the retainer seated on the container, the bag having a surrounding bag wall in which a beverage preparation agent is enclosed, the container including a surrounding container wall having an inner surface and outer surface that meet to form a lip, the lip defining a mouth of the container, the container wall being suitable to hold the liquid with which the beverage may be prepared by immersion of the beverage bag within the liquid for steeping, the string having a bag end attached to the beverage bag and a free end, said reduced profile retainer comprising:a cover panel including an upper surface having at least a partially flattened portion and sized and shaped such that said panel extends over the container mouth and a surrounding edge wall sized and shaped such that said retainer can be seated on or form a releasable sealing grip on or about the lip; a drinking aperture positioned on said cover panel and adjacent to said surrounding edge wall; a bag retention structure including a retention area having an upper retainer surface raised above said partially flattened portion of said cover panel by side walls to provide a bag retention space that is sized and shaped such that the bag when drawn upward into said space is confined and compressed and at least partially dehydrated thereby providing said retention structure of a reduced profile; said upper retainer surface including a patterned area of weakenings through which a string/tag securing aperture opens, said string/tag securing aperture sized and shaped such that at least the string may be passed therethrough and freely moved for easy movement and positioning of the bag in the liquid within the container, said string/tag securing aperture further openable by application of reduced pressure at said patterned area and more completely openable by application of greater pressure at said patterned area to provide a bag retention aperture sized and shaped such that the bag may be pulled through until the surrounding bag wall may be gripped by opposing resilient edges and thereby be releasably secured to said retainer at a position that is elevated relative to the liquid to stop said steeping.
  • 2. The reduced profile retainer according to claim 1, wherein said string/tag securing aperture is sized and shaped larger than a cross sectional dimension of the string such that said aperture may function also as a vent.
  • 3. The reduced profile retainer according to claim 1, wherein said string/tag securing aperture is sized and shaped such that the tag may be inserted therethrough.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of the U S. application Ser. No. 09/231,180 filed on Jan. 14, 1999, now abandoned U.S. application Ser. No. 09/231,180 was a continuation in part of the U.S. application Ser. No. 08/ 831,806 filed on Apr. 9, 1997, now abandoned U.S. application Ser. No. 08/831,806 was a continuation in part of the U.S. application Ser. No. 08/529,061 filed on Sep. 15, 1995, which was as of the filing date of that previous application, and for which U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,898 was granted on Aug. 19, 1997.

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Number Name Date Kind
1785878 Schachter Dec 1930 A
2887037 Setecka May 1959 A
2918373 Weston Dec 1959 A
3861284 Costello Jan 1975 A
4438865 Scattaregia Mar 1984 A
4589569 Clements May 1986 A
5025947 Leone Jun 1991 A
5147065 Rush et al. Sep 1992 A
5205530 Fish Apr 1993 A
RE34324 Haenni et al. Jul 1993 E
5398843 Warden et al. Mar 1995 A
5657898 Portman et al. Aug 1997 A
5692616 Baker Dec 1997 A
5782404 Robichaud et al. Jul 1998 A
5911331 Boller Jun 1999 A
6056144 Strange et al. May 2000 A
6460725 Portman et al. Oct 2002 B1
6464099 Portman et al. Oct 2002 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
9807047 Oct 1998 WO
Continuation in Parts (3)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/231180 Jan 1999 US
Child 09/525888 US
Parent 08/831806 Apr 1997 US
Child 09/231180 US
Parent 08/529061 Sep 1995 US
Child 08/831806 US