초록 ▼

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 app

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.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 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 i

We claim: 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 cover 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 to open through 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 bag retention space the bag 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 aperture sized and shaped such that at least a tag may be passed therethrough and freely move for easy movement and positioning of the bag 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 tag 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 in a folded state may be inserted therethrough.