GB2120951A - Beverage filters - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage filter comprises a filter bag 1 made out of pieces of nylon fabric heat sealed together and having an opening which may be moulded into a collar 9 with a handle 10. The filter is durable, reusable and easily removable from a cup or jug into which the beverage filters. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beverage filters This invention relates to beverage filters particularly for use with filter-fine ground coffee.

Conventionally, manually filtered coffee is made by first of all placing a quantity, preferably measured, of filter-fine ground coffee grains inside a paper filter. The filter is made of porous paper and has two leaves joined together at three edges, having a generally similar cross-section to that shown in Figure 2. The filter is housed in use in a holder substantially the same internal shape as the filter and an outlet in the base of the holder is located in use over a container such as a jug or cup. A quantity of newly-boiled water according to the amount of coffee required is poured over the ground coffee grains in the filter and the filtrate, comprising the water and dissolved coffee seeps out of the paper filter and the holder into the container, ready for drinking.

A dense residue of water-clogged coffee remains in the filter. The paper has usually become so soggy by now that removal of the filter is awkward in that the residue is prone to fall through the filter, which splatters all over the surface it lands on, thus causing a time-consuming task of cleaning the surface.

Another disadvantage related to this is that the paper filter is not re-usuable.

According to this invention, I propose a beverage filter comprising a filter bag which is made of synthetic material and has an opening by which a quantity of beverage grains may be introduced into the bag. The opening of the filter bag may be attached to a stiffening collar which is seatable on a filter holder. The collar may have a handle.

An embodiment of this invention is described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a beverage filter bag before sealing; Figure 2 shows a beverage filter bag after sealing; Figure 3 shows a side view of a beverage filter comprising a bag attached to an integral collar and holder, and Figure 4 shows a plan view of the beverage filter shown in Figure 3.

A filter bag for coffee is made out of two pieces 2,3 of synthetic material, which are cut wider than required for the bag but of the same dimension H and curvature C, as shown in Figure 1. The two pieces 2,3 are heat-sealed together at three pairs of corresponding edges 4, 5, 6 to form a bag of approximately truncated conical cross-section. This bag fits around the internal walls of filter holders of standard shape. It may be of the appropriate size e.g.

2-cup, 4-cup or 6-cup.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the opening of the bag is attached to the internal rim 8 of a collar member 9 for stiffening. The collar 9 has a handle portion 10. The bag may be attached by a vacuum method.

In use, the bag is placed inside the filter holder which is located with its outlet over a container for instance, a jug or a cup, with the collar 9 resting on the rim of the holder (not shown). Projections 11 may be placed over the rim of the holder for secure location. The desired quantity of ground coffee is tipped into the filter bag and the desired quantity of hot water is poured over the coffee grains. The resulting solution of coffee and water flows out of the bag, through the holder outlet and into the container below.

A water-sodden residue of spent coffee grains is left in the filter bag. This is discarded and the filter bag may be flushed out so that it is clean for re-use.

The bag may be made of nylon for example e.g.

100% Nylon Taffeta 190T.

The collar 9 may be made of polythene by injection moulding under a low injection pressure and a high temperature of about 300"C for a period of 15 seconds.

Afilter made out of these material is most durable and it is also resistant to boiling water. The filter can be used in electric coffee making machines as well as the manual method.

The filter according to this invention is extremely effective because it is re-usable and easily removable from the holder.

1. A beverage filter comprising a filter bag which is made of synthetic material and has an opening by which a quantity of beverage grains may be introduced into the bag.

2. A beverage filter according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the filter bag is attached to a stiffening collarwhich is for resting on a filter holder.

3. A beverage filter according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening collar has a handle.

4. A beverage filter according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the synthetic material is nylon.

5. A beverage filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the bag is of truncated conical cross section.

6. A beverage filter constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Beverage filters This invention relates to beverage filters particularly for use with filter-fine ground coffee. Conventionally, manually filtered coffee is made by first of all placing a quantity, preferably measured, of filter-fine ground coffee grains inside a paper filter. The filter is made of porous paper and has two leaves joined together at three edges, having a generally similar cross-section to that shown in Figure 2. The filter is housed in use in a holder substantially the same internal shape as the filter and an outlet in the base of the holder is located in use over a container such as a jug or cup. A quantity of newly-boiled water according to the amount of coffee required is poured over the ground coffee grains in the filter and the filtrate, comprising the water and dissolved coffee seeps out of the paper filter and the holder into the container, ready for drinking. A dense residue of water-clogged coffee remains in the filter. The paper has usually become so soggy by now that removal of the filter is awkward in that the residue is prone to fall through the filter, which splatters all over the surface it lands on, thus causing a time-consuming task of cleaning the surface. Another disadvantage related to this is that the paper filter is not re-usuable. According to this invention, I propose a beverage filter comprising a filter bag which is made of synthetic material and has an opening by which a quantity of beverage grains may be introduced into the bag. The opening of the filter bag may be attached to a stiffening collar which is seatable on a filter holder. The collar may have a handle. An embodiment of this invention is described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a beverage filter bag before sealing; Figure 2 shows a beverage filter bag after sealing; Figure 3 shows a side view of a beverage filter comprising a bag attached to an integral collar and holder, and Figure 4 shows a plan view of the beverage filter shown in Figure 3. A filter bag for coffee is made out of two pieces 2,3 of synthetic material, which are cut wider than required for the bag but of the same dimension H and curvature C, as shown in Figure 1. The two pieces 2,3 are heat-sealed together at three pairs of corresponding edges 4, 5, 6 to form a bag of approximately truncated conical cross-section. This bag fits around the internal walls of filter holders of standard shape. It may be of the appropriate size e.g. 2-cup, 4-cup or 6-cup. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the opening of the bag is attached to the internal rim 8 of a collar member 9 for stiffening. The collar 9 has a handle portion 10. The bag may be attached by a vacuum method. In use, the bag is placed inside the filter holder which is located with its outlet over a container for instance, a jug or a cup, with the collar 9 resting on the rim of the holder (not shown). Projections 11 may be placed over the rim of the holder for secure location. The desired quantity of ground coffee is tipped into the filter bag and the desired quantity of hot water is poured over the coffee grains. The resulting solution of coffee and water flows out of the bag, through the holder outlet and into the container below. A water-sodden residue of spent coffee grains is left in the filter bag. This is discarded and the filter bag may be flushed out so that it is clean for re-use. The bag may be made of nylon for example e.g. 100% Nylon Taffeta 190T. The collar 9 may be made of polythene by injection moulding under a low injection pressure and a high temperature of about 300"C for a period of 15 seconds. Afilter made out of these material is most durable and it is also resistant to boiling water. The filter can be used in electric coffee making machines as well as the manual method. The filter according to this invention is extremely effective because it is re-usable and easily removable from the holder. CLAIMS

1. A beverage filter comprising a filter bag which is made of synthetic material and has an opening by which a quantity of beverage grains may be introduced into the bag.

2. A beverage filter according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the filter bag is attached to a stiffening collarwhich is for resting on a filter holder.

3. A beverage filter according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening collar has a handle.

4. A beverage filter according to claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the synthetic material is nylon.

5. A beverage filter according to any preceding claim, wherein the bag is of truncated conical cross section.

6. A beverage filter constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to any of the figures of the drawings.