Portable beverage system and assembly

#The present invention relates generally to a lid formation and single-service beverage media container usable in combination with one another to provide a single-service beverage directly into a low-cost disposable beverage container as exemplified by coffee cups and the like. Associated support elements and liquid delivery means are further described to provide the basis for the portable beverage service system according to the present invention.

#Following the debut of the popular K-Cup single-service coffee container or pod in the 1990's, single-service beverage media containers have continued to gain in popularity for the purpose of single-service beverage preparations. Rideshare services offered by transportation network companies, mobility service providers, or ride-hailing services have similarly seen an ongoing gain in popularity while beverage consumption has remained a vital everyday need for consumers.

#In view of these trends, the prior art perceives a need for a low cost, portable beverage service system, apparatus, and method for enabling consumers to consume a single-service beverage as output from a single-service beverage media container directly into an low cost disposable liquid container as provided on the go with ridesharing serving as an exemplary scenario for such beverage services. The present invention attempts to address this perceived need by providing a portable beverage service system, assembly, and method, as summarized in more detail hereinafter.

#Other features and objectives of the invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a first single-service beverage container assembly according to the present invention depicted in an exploded manner to show from top to bottom a first single-service beverage media container, a first lid formation, and a prior art liquid container.

#FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the first single-service beverage container assembly according to the present invention as otherwise shown in FIG. 1 and depicted in an assembled manner.

#Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the following specifications generally describe a beverage service system for enabling a consumer to portably consume a beverage output from a single-service beverage media container. Single-service beverage media containers usable in combination with the subject invention may be exemplified by K-cups and similar other single-serve beverage containers otherwise referred to as beverage pods and/or beverage capsules. Notably, beverage media other than coffee grounds can be contained with these single-service vessels, which beverage media may include tea, instant or soluble coffee preparations, cocoas, dairy-based beverages, lemonades, cider, and other fruit-based drinks.

#A cup type single-service beverage media container usable in combination with the subject invention is generally depicted and referenced at 12, and a pod type single-service beverage media container usable in combination with the subject invention is generally depicted and referenced at 13. Both the cup type single-service beverage media container 12 and the pod type single-service beverage media container 13 typically comprise an upper planar seal or cover that is piercable by a water/liquid delivery nozzle for delivering water or liquid into the beverage media contained by the lower portions of the containers 12 or 13. The lid formation 11 according to the present invention cooperates with both state of the art containers of these types as well as newly conceived containers of these types so as to position containers of these types for use with low-cost disposable beverage or liquid containers.

#In the case of the cup type single-service beverage media container 12, the lower media-containing portion 71 is typically formed of a lightweight plastic material that is piercable through bottom portion(s) 72 of the media-containing portion 71 and through which piercing liquid-turned-beverage is allowed to permeate. In the case of the pod type single-service beverage media container 13, the lower media-containing portion 73 is typically formed of a liquid permeable (paper) filter material through which material liquid-turned-beverage is allowed to permeate.