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A substance holder and an insert for use in the substance holder. The insert elevates a brewing substance, filter or pod above a floor of the substance holder. The substance holder and insert allow water to infuse the brewing substance and allow beverage to drain through a portion of the insert for

A substance holder and an insert for use in the substance holder. The insert elevates a brewing substance, filter or pod above a floor of the substance holder. The substance holder and insert allow water to infuse the brewing substance and allow beverage to drain through a portion of the insert for draining into a container. The insert is retained in the holder and is selectively removable from the holder to facilitate actions, for example but not limited to cleaning of the holder and insert as well as replacing the insert with other structures which may be used with the holder.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A holder for use in a beverage maker, the beverage maker including a body, a base and an upper portion generally extending from the body over the base,the upper portion comprising a drawer,the drawer comprising a holder releasably retainable on the upper portion of the beverage maker and retainin

1. A holder for use in a beverage maker, the beverage maker including a body, a base and an upper portion generally extending from the body over the base,the upper portion comprising a drawer,the drawer comprising a holder releasably retainable on the upper portion of the beverage maker and retaining a beverage making substance for use in a beverage making process,the holder including at least one wall, a floor extending from the wall, the wall and floor at least partially defining a cavity in the holder, a drain extending through the floor and communicating with the cavity,an insert removably positionable in the holder for positioning a beverage making substance above at least a portion of the floor,the insert having a unitary single piece construction having an upper portion and a single extension projecting from an underside of the upper portion, the upper portion having at least one liquid permeable portion for allowing beverage to flow from the brewing substance retained thereon,the upper portion being removably positionable in the cavity and overlying at least a portion of the floor of the holder, the liquid permeable portion permitting the flow of fluid from a beverage substance from an area above the upper portion to the drain into a lower area of the cavity defined between the underside of the upper portion and the floor for allowing brewed beverage to flow through the liquid permeable portion of the upper portion and towards the drain in the floor,the upper portion having a plurality of generally radially extending arms along the upper section extending from the single extension to the underside of the upper portion, openings defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained;the center of the single extension extending from the underside of the upper portion and extending axially through the drain for releasably engaging the holder, the single extension being dimensioned and positioned for extending into the drain generally along a central axis of the drain with an end extending from the drain spaced from the upper portion, the end being enlarged relative to the drain for engaging a rim on the outside of the drain, the extension having a blade shape having an elongated width dimension and a central axis extending coaxially with the central axis of the drain for promoting a columnate flow of beverage from the holder. 2. The holder of claim 1, the extension being dimensioned and positioned for extending into the drain with an end extending from the drain, the end being dimensioned for engaging the drain to create a releasable interference fit. 3. The holder of claim 1, the insert further comprising an upper portion and an extension, the upper portion positioned in the cavity and overlying at least a portion of the floor of the holder, the extension extending from the upper portion for releasably engaging the holder, the extension being dimensioned and positioned for extending into the drain with an end extending from the drain, the end being enlarged relative to the drain for engaging a rim of the drain. 4. The holder of claim 1, the insert further comprising an upper portion having openings extending through at least a portion of the upper portion, the openings at least permitting the flow of fluid from a beverage substance to the drain. 5. The holder of claim 4, the openings in the upper portion being generally vertically aligned relative to the holder. 6. The holder of claim 4, the openings in the upper portion being defined by a mesh material attached to the upper portion of the insert. 7. The holder of claim 6, mesh material being sized for use with a suitable beverage making substance. 8. The holder of claim 6, mesh material being sized for use with a suitable beverage making substance to retain a portion of the beverage making substance from flowing through the drain. 9. The holder of claim 4, the openings in the upper portion being defined by a mesh material molded into to the upper portion of the insert. 10. The holder of claim 4, the openings in the upper portion being defined by a mesh material adhesively attached to the upper portion of the insert. 11. The holder of claim 1 further comprising protrusions on a bottom side of the at least one arm for rising the bottom side of the arm off of the floor of the holder to facilitate the flow of beverage between the bottom side of the at least one arm and the floor. 12. The holder of claim 1 further comprising a locking and release assembly for locking and releasing the drawer with respect to the beverage maker. 13. The holder of claim 12 wherein the locking and release assembly comprises a release button operable to release the holder. 14. The holder of claim 1 wherein the drawer comprises a generally planar surface located to permit the drawer to be inverted and to knock the generally planar surface against another surface to dislodge a pod from the holder. 15. A holder for use in a beverage maker, the beverage maker including a body, a base and an upper portion generally extending from the body over the base,the upper portion comprising a drawer,the drawer comprising a holder releasably retainable on the upper portion of the beverage maker and retaining a beverage making substance for use in a beverage making process,the holder including at least one wall, a floor extending from the wall, the wall and floor at least partially defining a cavity in the holder, a drain extending through the floor and communicating with the cavity,an insert removably positionable in the holder for positioning a brewing substance above at least a portion of the floor,the insert a unitary single piece construction having including an upper portion and a single extension extending from an underside of the upper portion, the upper portion positioned in the cavity and overlying at least a portion of the floor of the holder,the single extension extending from the underside of the upper portion and extending generally coaxially with a central axis of the drain for releasably engaging the drain of the holder,the single extension being dimensioned and positioned for extending into the drain generally along a central axis of the drain with an end extending from the drain spaced from the upper portion,the end being enlarged relative to the drain for engaging a rim of the drain,the extension having a blade shape having an elongated width dimension and a central axis extending with the central axis of the drain for promoting a columnate flow of beverage from the holder,the upper portion having a plurality of generally radially extending arms along the upper section extending from the single extension to the underside of the upper portion, openings defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained;the openings at least permitting the flow of fluid from a beverage substance from an area above the upper portion to the drain into a lower area of the cavity defined between the underside of the upper portion and the floor for allowing brewed beverage to flow through the openings in the upper portion and towards the drain in the floor, the holes in the upper portion being generally vertically aligned relative to the holder. 16. The holder of claim 15, the holes in the upper portion being generally vertically aligned relative to the holder. 17. The holder of claim 15, the insert further comprising an upper portion having at least one arm generally radially extending along the upper portion, an open defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained. 18. The holder of claim 15, further comprising protrusions on a bottom side of the at least one arm for rising the bottom side of the arm off of the floor of the holder to facilitate the flow of beverage between the bottom side of the at least one arm and the floor. 19. An insert for use in a beverage making substance holder of a beverage maker for use in a beverage making process, the beverage maker including a body, a base and an upper portion generally extending from the body over the base, the upper portion comprising a removable drawer,the drawer comprising a holder releasably retainable on the upper portion of the beverage maker for retaining a quantity of beverage making substance for use in the beverage making process, the holder including at least one wall, a floor extending from the wall, a wall and floor at least partially defining a cavity in a holder, a drain extending through the floor and communicating with the cavity, the insert being a unitary single piece construction configured for removable positioning in a holder for positioning a brewing substance above at least a portion of a floor, the insert comprising:an upper portion and a single extension;the upper portion positioned in the cavity and overlying at least a portion of a floor of a holder;the single extension extending from the underside of the upper portion for releasably engaging a holder and extending generally coaxially through the drain generally along a central axis of the drain;an end of the single extension extending beyond a rim of the drain and having a dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of the drain for engaging the rim of the drain for retaining the insert in the holder;the single extension having a blade shape having an elongated width dimension and a central axis extending coaxially with the central axis of the drain for promoting a columnate flow of beverage from the drain of the holder;the upper portion having a plurality of generally radially extending arms along the upper section extending from the single extension to the underside of the upper portion, openings defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained;the openings at least permitting the flow of fluid from a beverage substance from an area above the upper portion to the drain into a lower area of the cavity defined between the underside of the upper portion and the floor for allowing brewed beverage to flow through the openings in the upper portion and towards the drain in the floor. 20. The insert of claim 19, further comprising the upper portion having at least one arm generally radially extending along the upper section, an opening defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained, and protrusions on a bottom side of the at least one arm for rising the bottom side of the arm off of a floor of a holder to facilitate the flow of beverage underneath the bottom side of the at least one arm. 21. A beverage maker including a substance holder for retaining a beverage making substance in a beverage making process, the beverage maker including a body, a base and an upper portion generally extending from the body over the base,the upper portion comprising a removable drawer,the drawer comprising a holder releasably retainable on the upper portion of the beverage maker,the holder including at least one wall, a floor extending from the wall, the wall and floor at least partially defining a cavity in the holder, a drain extending through the floor and communicating with the cavity,an insert removably positionable in the holder for positioning a brewing substance above at least a portion of the floor, the insert having a unitary single piece construction with an upper portion of the insert positioned in the cavity and overlying at least a portion of a floor of a holder,a single extension of the insert extending from the underside of the upper portion for releasably engaging a holder and extending generally coaxially through the drain generally along a central axis of the drain, the extension having a blade shape having an elongated width dimension and a central axis extending coaxially with the central axis of the drain for promoting a columnate flow of beverage from the holder, an end of the extension extending beyond a rim of the drain and having a dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of the drain for engaging the rim of the drain for retaining the insert in the holder,the upper portion having a plurality of generally radially extending arms along the upper section extending from the single extension to the underside of the upper portion, openings defined between neighboring arms for providing holes through which beverage is drained;the openings at least permitting the flow of fluid from a beverage substance from an area above the upper portion to the drain into a lower area of the cavity defined between the underside of the upper portion and the floor for allowing brewed beverage to flow through the openings in the upper portion and towards the drain in the floor.