FILTER DISC FOR A BEVERAGE POD
A pod assembly for use in a beverage machine is provided. The pod assembly includes a container and a filter disc that is detachably coupled to the container. The container includes a base, a side wall having a lower rim coupling the side wall to an outer perimeter of the base, and a flange coupled to an upper rim of the side wall and extending radially outward from the upper rim. The filter disc includes a central portion with multiple central openings, an inclined portion with multiple secondary openings, and an outer flange situated at a perimeter of the inclined portion and having a substantially square shape.
1 . A pod assembly for use in a beverage machine, the pod assembly comprising:
a container comprising:
a base;
a side wall having a lower rim coupling the side wall to an outer perimeter of the base; and
a flange coupled to an upper rim of the side wall and extending radially outward from the upper rim;
a filter disc detachably coupled to the container and comprising:
a central portion comprising a plurality of central openings;
an inclined portion comprising a plurality of secondary openings; and
an outer flange situated at a perimeter of the inclined portion and having a substantially square shape.
2 . The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a locating protrusion disposed on an interior surface of the side wall.
3 . The pod assembly of claim 2 , wherein the locating protrusion is configured to retain the filter disc between the base and the lower rim.
4 . The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filter disc is detachably coupled to the container using a snap fit assembly process.
5 . The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filter disc further comprises a plurality of chamfered surfaces.
6 . The pod assembly of claim 5 , wherein the filter disc is detachably coupled to the container at a plurality of discrete regions proximate the plurality of chamfered surfaces.
7 . The pod assembly of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of secondary openings comprise a plurality of sizes.
8 . The pod assembly of claim 7 , wherein a first plurality of secondary openings having a greater size than the rest of the plurality of secondary openings are located proximate the plurality of chamfered surfaces.
9 . The pod assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the container and the filter disc is fabricated using an injection molding process.
10 . A filter disc for use in a beverage pod assembly, the filter disc comprising:
a central portion comprising a plurality of central openings;
an inclined portion comprising a plurality of secondary openings; and
an outer flange situated at a perimeter of the inclined portion and having a substantially square shape.
11 . The filter disc of claim 10 , wherein the filter disc further comprises a plurality of chamfered surfaces.
12 . The filter disc of claim 11 , wherein the filter disc further comprises a plurality of foot portions extending below the outer flange and proximate the plurality of chamfered surfaces.
13 . The filter disc of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of central openings and the plurality of secondary openings is arranged in a radial pattern that is rotationally symmetric about a central axis extending perpendicularly from a center point of the central portion.
14 . The filter disc of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary openings has an elongated slot shape.
15 . The filter disc of claim 10 , wherein the central portion is substantially planar.
16 . The filter disc of claim 10 , wherein the filter disc is fabricated using an injection molding process.
17 . A method of providing a pod assembly for use in a beverage machine, the method comprising:
providing a container comprising:
a base;
a side wall having a lower rim coupling the side wall to an outer perimeter of the base; and
a flange coupled to an upper rim of the side wall and extending radially outward from the upper rim;
providing a filter disc comprising:
a central portion comprising a plurality of central openings;
an inclined portion comprising a plurality of secondary openings;
an outer flange situated at a perimeter of the inclined portion and having a substantially square shape; and
a plurality of chamfered surfaces; and
detachably coupling the filter disc to the container using a snap fit assembly process.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the container further comprises a locating protrusion disposed on an interior surface of the side wall.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein detachably coupling the filter disc to the container comprises sliding the filter disc over the locating protrusion toward the base.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the filter disc is detachably coupled to the container at a plurality of discrete regions proximate the plurality of chamfered surfaces.