Lid for beverage container with removable inner cover having an attached infuser unit

A cover piece for use with a lid for a beverage container, said cover piece being separate from said lid, said cover piece having an infuser unit attached thereto, comprising:

• said lid having a container attachment portion for removable association with the rim of an associated liquid container in a snug, liquid-tight relation, said lid having an annular cover panel portion extending radially inwardly from said container attachment portion, said annular cover panel portion having a substantial opening centrally-located therein for the passage of large quantities of liquid into said associated container while said container attachment portion is attached to said associated container,
• said lid having a drinking area formed in a portion of said annular cover panel portion, said drinking area including an opening having at least one portion lying radially inwardly of said container attachment portion, and
• said cover piece being constructed for seating engagement within said centrally-located opening of said annular cover panel portion of said lid,
• said cover piece having an infuser unit attached thereto, said infuser unit including an area for holding a charge of flavoring material, at least a portion of said infuser unit extending below the level of a liquid in said associated container to form a drinkable beverage in said associated container, at least a portion of said infuser unit being liquid-permeable to permit water circulation between the regions lying respectively inside and outside said infuser unit to permit infusion of flavors from said flavoring materials to said liquid.

A method of making beverages with an infuser unit and an associated container from a material from which flavors are extracted at elevated temperatures, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing a lid on an associated container, said lid having a container attachment portion for removable association with the rim of an associated liquid container in a snug, liquid-tight relation, said lid having an annular cover panel portion extending radially inwardly from said container attachment portion, said annular cover panel portion having a substantial opening centrally-located therein for the passage of large quantities of liquid into said associated container while said container attachment portion is attached to said associated container, said lid having a drinking area formed in a portion of said annular cover panel portion, said drinking area including an opening having at least one portion lying radially inwardly of said container attachment portion,
• said lid having a separate cover piece, said cover piece being constructed for seating engagement within said centrally-located opening of said annular cover panel portion of said lid, said cover piece having an infuser unit attached thereto, said infuser unit including an area for holding a charge of flavoring material,
• adding water at an elevated temperature through said annular cover portion into said associated container,
• placing said cover piece over said centrally-located opening after said water addition, at least a portion of said infer unit extending below the level of liquid in said associated container to cover said flavoring material, at least a portion of said infuser unit being liquid-permeable to permit water circulation between the regions lying respectively inside and outside said infuser unit to permit infusion of flavors from said flavoring materials to said liquid,
• permitting said water to flow over said charge of flavoring material and through said liquid-permeable infuser unit from said associated container,
• allowing said liquid to circulate between said outside and inside of said infuser unit to permit infusion of flavors from said flavoring materials to said liquid in said associated container.