# US 10,863,857 B2 · Container assembly and accessories therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,857 B2 - Document ID: US10863857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/304,763 - Filed: 2017-06-02 - Published: 2019-11-28 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-02 - Applicants: Jeffrey R. Herndon - Inventors: Jeffrey R. Herndon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863857B2 ## CPC - A47J 31/18: Apparatus in which ground coffee or tea-leaves are immersed in the hot liquid in the beverage container - A47J 31/38: operated by hand - A47J 31/20: having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters - A47J 31/3623: {Cartridges being employed (with tape of cartridges A47J31/3652)} - A47J 31/40: Beverage-making apparatus with dispensing means for adding a measured quantity of ingredients, e.g. coffee, water, sugar, cocoa, milk, tea - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract A container assembly includes a container, a plunger assembly including a plunger, a lid including a lid lever connected to actuate the plunger of the plunger assembly, and a housing disposed in the container and configured to receive mixing media. The lid and the plunger may define a fluid chamber. The plunger assembly may include a rod connected to the lid and the housing. The rod may include an internal fluid passage providing fluid communication between the housing and an opposite end of the rod. The rod may include at least one aperture disposed proximate the end of the rod. Rotation of the lid lever may cause rotation of the rod and translation of the plunger. Translation of the plunger may cause fluid disposed between the plunger and the housing to flow into the housing via at least one inlet port of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container assembly, comprising: a container; a plunger assembly including a plunger; a lid including a lid lever connected to actuate the plunger of the plunger assembly; and a housing disposed in the container and configured to receive mixing media; wherein the plunger assembly includes a rod connected to the lid and the housing; and the rod includes an internal fluid passage providing fluid communication between the housing and an end of the rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid lever is disposed at a top surface of the lid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the plunger is connected to the rod via a threaded engagement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the rod includes at least one aperture disposed proximate the end of the rod; the at least one aperture includes at least two apertures disposed in a side wall of the rod; and the end of the rod is a top end of the rod disposed proximate the lid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein rotation of the lid lever causes rotation of the rod and translation of the plunger along the rod. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The container assembly of claim 5, wherein translation of the plunger causes fluid disposed between the plunger and the housing to flow into the housing via at least one inlet port of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The container assembly of claim 6, comprising a fluid flow path that extends from the at least one inlet port of the housing to a fluid chamber provided between the plunger and the lid via (i) a fluid passage in a body of the housing, (ii) a first puncturing protrusion of the housing, (iii) a second puncturing protrusion, (iv) an outlet of the housing, (v) the internal fluid passage of the rod, and (vi) at least one aperture disposed proximate the end of the rod; and the end of the rod is disposed proximate the lid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The container assembly of claim 7, comprising a cartridge adapter including the first puncturing protrusion and the second puncturing protrusion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein an axial position of the rod is fixed relative to the container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, comprising a power pod including a drive lever configured to cause rotation of the lid lever and an electric motor connected to drive the drive lever. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the end of the rod is fixed to the lid lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a body and a cover connected to the body; and a first puncturing protrusion is connected to the body and a second puncturing protrusion is connected to the cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid includes a first port, a second port, and a trigger configured to selectively seal the first port and the second port, the trigger comprising: a connecting member; a trigger button connected to the connecting member; a first protrusion connected to the connecting member and configured to seal the first port; and a second protrusion connected to the connecting member and configured to seal the second port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The container assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing is fixed relative to the container. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The container assembly of claim 13, wherein the connecting member is rotatably fixed to the second protrusion; and the second protrusion is rotatably fixed to the lid via a hinge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The container assembly of claim 15, wherein the second protrusion is configured to rotate about a movable first axis relative to the connecting member and to rotate about a fixed second axis relative to the hinge; and the first axis is offset from the second axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The container assembly of claim 13, wherein the trigger includes a spring biasing the trigger button to a closed position; the trigger button is at least partially disposed in a recess formed in an outer surface of the lid; and the spring is disposed at least partially in the recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The container assembly of claim 13, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are fixed to the connecting member. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the container includes one or more axially-extending rails engaged with the plunger to restrict rotation of the plunger. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, comprising a second lid assembly, the second lid assembly including a second lid and a tamper diffuser. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The container assembly of claim 20, wherein the tamper diffuser includes at least one fluid channel and at least one diffusing hole. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, wherein the lid lever is disposed at least partially in a recess of a top surface of the lid. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The container assembly of claim 1, comprising a cooling jacket disposed at least partially around the container and configured to hold a cooling material.