APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INFUSING OILS
An apparatus for infusing oils is provided that employs a removable pod that contains infusing material such that the resultant infusion is substantially free from particulate matter. The removable pod is comprised of a flexible bag that is expanded by an internally-disposed cage.
1 . A pod for receiving an infusing material, comprising:
a permeable member having an open end;
a cage configured to fit within the permeable member and generally maintain the permeable member in an expanded configuration, the cage having a plurality of openings and an upper portion with at least one inwardly-extending protrusion; and
a clip having an upper surface and a lower surface configured to fit within the upper portion of the cage, wherein the lower surface engages the at least one protrusion to position a portion of the open end of the permeable member between the cage and the clip.
2 . The pod of claim 1 , wherein the permeable member is a flexible bag made of mesh.
3 . The pod of claim 1 , wherein the cage is comprised of first portion and a second portion.
4 . The pod of claim 3 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a non-permeable wall.
5 . The pod of claim 1 , further comprising a cap with a portion configured to be inserted within the clip.
6 . The pod of claim 5 , wherein the cap is integrated into the clip, the cap being configured to move from an open to a closed position.
7 . The pod of claim 5 , wherein the cap employs a removable membrane.
8 . An apparatus for infusing a solvent, comprising:
a housing having an infusing chamber adapted to receive the solvent;
a heating element associated with the infusing chamber;
a drain associated with the infusing chamber;
a removable pod interconnected to an inner surface of the infusing chamber, the pod adapted to receive infusing material, and the pod comprising:
a permeable member having an open end;
a cage configured to fit within the permeable member and generally maintain the permeable pod in an expanded configuration, the cage having a plurality of openings and an upper portion with at least one inwardly-extending protrusion;
a clip having a upper surface and a lower surface configured to fit within the upper portion of the cage, wherein the lower surface engages the at least one protrusion with a portion of the open end of the permeable member positioned therebetween;
a cap with a portion configured to be inserted within the clip to close the permeable member; and
a mount that selectively secures the pod to the infusing chamber.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the permeable member is a flexible bag made of mesh.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mount comprises a ring with an internal diameter of a dimension greater than a maximum outer dimension of the permeable member, and a greater than maximum outer dimension of the cage, and less than a maximum outer dimension of the clip.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mount is selectively interconnected to the infusing chamber.
12 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mount is interconnected to an internal side wall of the infusing chamber, and further comprising an agitator positioned within the infusing chamber and operatively interconnect at a center point of a bottom surface of the infusing chamber.
13 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cap is integrated into the clip, the cap being configured to move from an open to a closed position.
14 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cap employs a removable membrane.
15 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cage is comprised of first portion and a second portion.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a non-permeable wall.
17 . A method of filling a pod with infusing material, comprising:
providing a permeable member having an open end;
inserting a cage within the permeable member;
folding a top edge of the permeable member over an upper edge of the cage; and
inserting a clip into the cage such that a lower edge of the clip is captured by the at least one protrusion, and wherein a portion of the permeable member is captured by the clip and the cage.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the pod further comprises a cap with a portion configured to be inserted within the clip to seal the permeable member.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cage is comprised of a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is filled with a first infusing material at one geographic location and the second portion is filled with a second infusing material at a second geographic location.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the second infusing material is illegal in the first geographic location.