Compositions, systems and methods for portion-packaged soups and meals
AssigneeKeurig Green Mountain, Inc.
InventorsRichard Estabrook, Marc Angotti, Thomas J. Novak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for producing a food product having a liquid component and an insoluble component, such as soups or stews. A food product assembly may include a cartridge containing a liquid component medium that is usable by a beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of the food product. A second container, to which the cartridge may be removably attached, may contain the insoluble component of the food product, and may receive the liquid component so as to hold both the insoluble component and liquid component together, e.g., for consumption by a user.
Claims22
A food product assembly for use with a beverage forming machine to make a food product, comprising:
- a cartridge, including a first container having a closed interior space and a liquid component medium located in the interior space, wherein the cartridge is received and used by a beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of a food product by introducing liquid into the cartridge via a cartridge inlet for interaction with the liquid component medium, the cartridge inlet being formed by piercing the cartridge with the beverage forming machine;
- and
- a second container attached to the cartridge, the second container including a closed interior space and an insoluble component located in the closed interior space, wherein the second container receives a liquid component formed using the cartridge, and dispensed by the beverage forming machine via a cartridge outlet directly into the second container such that the second container holds the liquid component and the insoluble component of the food product, the cartridge outlet being formed by piercing the cartridge with the beverage forming machine;
- wherein the cartridge and the second container are attached together and are separable by hand and without tools to allow the cartridge to be held alone by the beverage forming machine.
A food product assembly for use with a beverage forming machine to make a food product, comprising:
- a cartridge including a closed interior space and a liquid component medium located in the interior space, the cartridge being arranged for receipt and use by a beverage forming machine to produce a liquid component of a food product by introducing liquid into the cartridge via a cartridge inlet for interaction with the liquid component medium, the cartridge inlet being formed by piercing the cartridge with the beverage forming machine;
- and
- a second container including a closed interior space and an insoluble component located in the closed interior space, the second container being arranged to receive a liquid component formed using the cartridge and dispensed by the beverage forming machine directly into the second container via a cartridge outlet such that the second container holds the liquid component and the insoluble component of the food product, the cartridge outlet being formed by piercing the cartridge with the beverage forming machine;
- wherein the cartridge is attached to a lid of the second container, the lid closing the interior space of the second container, the cartridge being at least partially received in a recess of the lid;
- wherein the cartridge and the second container are separable by hand and without tools to allow the cartridge to be held alone by the beverage forming machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.