Coffee package

(42) Date of commencement of the patent: 15. 7.1990 (45) Date of issue: 27.12.1990 (50) Priority:

27.12.1980 JP 55-185091 claimed. 7. 5.1981 JP 56-031751 claims.

24th 3.1981 JP 56-040286 claims.

16th 4,181 JP 56-053789 claims.

25th 7.1981 JP 56-109796.

12th 8.1981 JP 56-118711 claims.

12th 8.1981 JP 56-118712 claims.

14th 8.1981 JP 56-119955 claims.

Third 9.1981 JP 56-130371 claims.

(56) Documents:

(73) Patent owner:

KATAOKA BUSSAN KABUSHIKI KAISHA 105 TOKYO (JP).

AT-PS 306278 AT-PS 337391 CH-PS 410324 CH-PS 448878 DE-0S1429974 DE-AS2235214 US-PS 2863376 US-PS 3971305 JAPANESE USAGE PATTERN 52-2703 / 1977 (54) FILTER DEVICE FOR COFFEE OD. DGL.

(57) Filter device for coffee or the like which has a carrier with a middle section, having an opening for pouring hot water, in the area of ​​which a filter paper bag is arranged, and a pair of support legs, which extend away from it on both sides of the middle section and are continuously connected to it and foldable into the position of use, and provided at the free ends with locking means, the carrier (4, 101 200) is optionally foldable by arranging a plurality of fold lines (9) in a plurality of desired operating positions, and each of the support legs (10, 102, 214) having a substantially U-shaped, formed at a distance from the edge of the support leg and with respect to the longitudinal center line (11) of the carrier symmetrically arranged slot (21), wherein the U-shaped slot forms a tongue-shaped inner holding part on the inside of the "U" and an elongated outer holding part on the outside of the "U".

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1766 T6 £ IV niRCBroais

No. 391 994

The invention relates to a filter device for coffee od. Like., Which has a carrier with a central portion having an opening for pouring hot water, in the area of ​​a filter paper bag is arranged, and a pair of support legs, which on either side of the central portion away from him extend and continuously connected to it and are foldable into the position of use, wherein each support leg is provided at its free end with locking means.

For example, coffee is produced today as a continuous coffee. In this case, a filter in the form of a piece of cloth, plastic piece or a ceramic part is used, but with the disadvantage that these parts must be cleaned consuming after use. There were also filters made of plastic>

suggested that are inexpensive and relatively easy to handle.

Such a filter describes Japanese Utility Model Application 52-2703 / 1977. This filter has a carrier provided in its central part with an opening and supports at the ends. The supports * · are connected to the rest of the support plate via folding lines. Projections extend outward from the ends of the columns. A bag of filter paper is connected with its opening to the underside of the support plate around the opening. The supports are folded along the fold lines and then placed perpendicular to the top of a cup or similar container, the projections engaging the container. However, since the filter is merely placed on the container, it therefore has an unstable position due to the mere engagement of the projections on the container. The filter device therefore tends to fall or the supports will come off the edge of the container when hot water is poured into the filter. The unfolded position of this filter device is therefore very unstable and the support legs tend to take their flat position, wherein they move away from each other again. The support formed by the projections is therefore too weak, so that you can not use this filter device without special care.

DE-OS 1429 974 shows a filter device consisting of a closed aluminum outer bag with filter enclosed therein and two wing-like supports attached to opposite edges of the aluminum outer bag. The lower edge of the aluminum outer bag forms the outlet for the coffee and is reinforced with a wooden plate. The folding support wings each have on each side a rectangular recess with which they engage the edge of a cup or jug.

DE-AS 2 235 214 shows a filter device with foldable support wings whose edges are wave-shaped and are placed on a vessel edge. The wings are glued to the filter bag in this device as in that disclosed in DE-OS 1429 974.

The CH-PS 448 878 shows a filter device that can be used only in the highest possible vessel, otherwise it dips into the already filtered liquid. It is only suitable for certain vessel diameters. The filter provided with drain channels requires an exaggerated amount of effort to produce it.

US-PS 3,971,305 shows a filter device with a plurality of funnel-shaped filter elements nested in one another, wherein two support legs engaging the vessel edge are to give the filter the necessary stability. However, these support legs are just like those in the previously described writings only on the outer edge of the respective vessel, without fixing it from the outside and from the inside at the same time at the edge of the vessel.

As a result, even with these support legs, it must always be feared that the filter thus held will slip into the cup or can and better refrain from unattended filtering.

The main disadvantages of the above filter devices are undoubtedly their complex production and their multi-part design, wherein in DE-OS 1 429 974 and DE-AS 2 235 214 glued to the filter bags support legs by the action of hot water can relatively easily detach from these ,

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a filter device that can be stably mounted upright on a cup or a similar container while firmly engaging the container. You should also easily and quickly take their unfolded, upright position and therefore be easy to handle.

The invention solves the problem by that the carrier is optionally foldable by arranging a plurality of fold lines in a plurality of desired operating positions, and that each of the support legs is substantially U-shaped, is formed at a distance from the edge of the support leg and with respect to the longitudinal center line of the carrier symmetrically arranged slot, wherein the U-shaped slot forms a tongue-shaped inner holding part on the inside of the U and an elongate outer holding part on the outside of the U.

The filter device can thereby assume and maintain its stable, unfolded position by attaching only the inner and outer retainers to a cup or similar container.

The holding parts can not collapse or detach from the container when hot water is poured into the filter device. They also can not slip into the container, even then, if they are pushed down from above.

The opening in the middle part of the support plate can be formed in the manufacture of the filter device. Alternatively, if the filter bag is filled with coffee powder or the like and the *

Filter device is hermetically enclosed with such a filter bag in a sheath, wherein the opening of the bag remains unlocked, the central part of the carrier are provided with continuous notches, whereby a removable lid is formed, which creates the opening when removed.

Another feature of the invention is that a pair of spaced from the inner support member

-2Nr. 391 994

Protrude projections.

Another feature of the invention is that the outer support member has at the side edges narrow projections facing the inner support member and incisions extending from the opposite side edges of a base portion of the inner support member to each other and form relatively small pieces with increased flexibility.

Another, other feature of the invention is that the U-shaped slot is arranged with its base remote from the edge of the support leg, and that the inner support member is foldable to collapse the filter device at the upper edge of a vessel to hold with the edge of the support leg.

Another feature of the invention is that the central portion having the aperture has at least a pair of fold lines which are symmetrical with respect to the aperture and which divide the carrier into a central portion with the aperture and the support legs and the fold lines wrap around extend the opening of the central portion.

Another feature of the invention is that the filter bag is adhered to the underside of the carrier and has an open end whose opposite edges are partially connected to a surface of the support legs.

An additional feature of the invention is that the filter bag has a flat opening, which is formed by a double folding of a sheet of filter paper, from which the resulting two parts overlap each other, mutually opposite side edges are interconnected, further wherein edge fields from the opposing edges of the filter bag, that form the open end of the sack, extend outwards and the open edges of the filter bag are aligned with a flood line, along which the carrier is foldable, wherein the edge panels are connected to a surface of the carrier along its peripheral edges.

Another feature of the invention is that the opposing sidewalls formed by the double folding of the carrier are joined together along the lower edge by a double folded connecting strip, and that the carrier is foldable along a fold line with the longitudinal centerline of the carrier matches.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the carrier is foldable along a fold line extending perpendicular to its longitudinal centerline.

Another feature of the invention is that the opening for pouring hot water extends on both sides of the fold line

Another feature of the invention is that the carrier is substantially rectangular

A final feature of the invention is that the opening for pouring hot water is formed by four bends

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments with the aid of the attached drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 - perspective view in a partially broken view of a coffee bag with a filter device according to the invention, wherein the filter is folded;

2 shows a section along the line (II-II) of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 - the unfolded filter bag; the

Fig. 4 to 6 - views of another embodiment of the filter device according to the invention;

Fig. 7 - perspective another embodiment of the filter device according to the invention for explaining the filling of coffee powder in the filter bag;

Fig. 8 is a section along the line (XVI-XVI) of Fig. 7;

9 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the filter device for explaining the closing of the filter bag;

Fig. 10 is a view of another embodiment of the invention, wherein in particular the filter bag is shown;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the filter device of FIG. 10; FIG.

Fig. 12 is a section along the line (XX-XX) of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view of the unfolded filter bag of Fig.10;

Fig. 14 - in perspective, the filter device of Figure 10 in use.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line (ΧΧΙΙΙ-ΧΧΙΠ) of Fig. 14;

16 shows a view of a further embodiment of the filter device;

Fig. 17 is a section along the line (XXV-XXV) of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 - in perspective, the filter device of FIG. 16 in use and

19 shows a section along the line (XXVII-XXVII) of FIG. 18.

First, let the first embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 explained in more detail, od together with a pack of coffee powder. like. is used. The coffee powder is to be stored while using the filter device to produce a filtrate. The coffee powder package generally consists of a casing (1) and the filter device (2) hermetically enclosed in the casing (1), together with a weighed amount of coffee powder (3). The filter device (2) has a support (4) which is substantially rectangular. The carrier is made of a material of appropriate rigidity

-3Nr. 391 994 cut out, for example, from cardboard or plastic material of appropriate thickness. The filter bag (5) consists for example of viscose. It is glued to the underside of the carrier (4).

The carrier (4) has in its middle part a substantially circular lid (8) which can be lifted off. The lid (8) is formed by notches (6). It is integrally connected to the rest of the carrier via notches (6a). After removal of the lid (8) remains a substantially circular opening (7). Several fold lines are located on both sides of the lid (8), symmetrically to this. These fold lines (9) form opposite side edge portions of the carrier (4) cooperating with the corresponding ends of the carrier. A pair of symmetrical support legs (10) are formed in these edge portions of the carrier. The opening (7) can also be formed in the carrier in the manufacture of the filter device. It can also be square or polygonal. Triangular and other openings that are not so suitable should not be used

The carrier (4) with the lid (8) and the support legs (10) is foldable along a longitudinal centerline (11). Each support leg (10) has substantially U-shaped slots that are symmetrical to each other with respect to the longitudinal centerline (11). The slots (21) hold the filter device on a cup or on a similar container, as will be explained in more detail below.

The bag (5) is folded flat to filter the coffee powder in it. FIG. 3 shows that the bag (5) is made in this embodiment by cutting out a substantially rectangular piece of filter paper. This blank is folded along its centerline (13) with an adhesive applied to the opposite side edges (15) between the centerline (13) and transverse lines (14), substantially between the centerline (13) and top and bottom lower ends of the blank. Subsequently, the folded parts along the edges (15) are glued. The bag is thus open at the top along the center line. Edge panels (16) extend outwardly from the transverse lines (14) and are placed on the underside of the carrier (4) and connected thereto. As a result, the carrier is formed with the filter bag as a structural unit. Normally, the bag is connected to the underside of the carrier. The opposite edges of the opening of the bag are parallel and touching each other to close the opening. The lateral dimensioning of this open end of the filter bag is greater than the distance between the fold lines (9) on the support (4). The opposing edges of the edge panels (16) have a distance from each other which is greater than the diameter of the lid (8). The thus sized bag (5) is thus connected to the underside of the carrier (4) such that the transverse lines (14) which form the edges of the open end of the bag, with the longitudinal center line (11) of the carrier (4). are aligned while the open end of the bag is just below the lid (8) along the longitudinal centerline (11).

When the edge panels (16) are glued to the carrier (4), the open end of the bag is closed by the lid (8) and by the blank portions of the carrier (4) adjacent the lid.

The bag (5) is filled with a predetermined volume of coffee powder (3) before it is glued to the carrier (4). After bonding, the coffee powder is thus enclosed in the filter bag.

The filter device produced in this way is enclosed in the casing together with the coffee powder (3) present in the filter bag (5). In this embodiment, the carrier (4) is folded along its longitudinal centerline (11) with the coffee powder sac between the halves of the carrier. Then, the envelope is evacuated or filled with an inert gas after evacuation, in which case Filter device (2) is enclosed airtight in the enclosure.

But it can also be entered a desired volume of coffee powder only when using the filter device in the filter bag.

Figures 4 to 6 show other embodiments of the holding parts, which are located near the ends of the filter device. In Fig. 4 each leg of the wearer is formed with a substantially U-shaped slot (21) located adjacent the edge of the support leg but spaced therefrom. The slot (21) is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the carrier. In each support leg (10), the slot (21) defines a tongue-shaped inner support member (12) on the inner edge and a strip-shaped outer support member (22) on the outer edge. The slots (21) are formed symmetrically with respect to each other with respect to a transverse centerline (20) of the carrier (4). This filter device can be attached to a container with a single hand, wherein the outer holding parts (22) bear against the surface of the outer edge of the container and the inner holding parts (23) are bent inwards, thereby engaging from the inside to the container edge. If the container has an outwardly bent edge, then the outer holding parts (22) also cooperate with the inner holding parts (23), thereby keeping the filter device on the container similar to that described above with reference to FIG. 3 explained.

A modified embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 shown, wherein the carrier (4) is formed with its opening (7) in the manufacturing process. In Fig. 5 the inner support member (23) is also formed by the substantially U-shaped slot extending perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline (11) of the support. The U-shaped slot is additionally notched here, in its central part, whereby the slot (21) in FIG. 5 essentially shaped like an E. Such a shape of the slot (21) results in an outer support member (22) adjacent the edge of the support leg (10) and a pair of projections (25) extending outwardly from the inner edge (26) of the slot (21) outer holding part (22) opposite. The projections (25) of the inner holding part (23) are symmetrical to each other and to the longitudinal center line (11) of the

-4Nr. 391 994

Carrier (4).

Thereby, the filter device (2) is firmly supported at three points in each of the support legs (10) when it is on a container. Two support points form the projections (25) which bear against the inside of the container, and a support point forms the outer holding part (22), which fits snugly against the outer surface of the container and follows its curvature. This construction is therefore special stable. It is also largely independent of the diameter of the container.

In Fig. 6, recesses (27) extend inwardly from the outer ends of the projections (25) at each inner support member (23), thereby forming small flexible members (28). These cuts (27) make the projections (25) on the inner holding part (23) relatively flexible and therefore attach themselves particularly well to containers with a relatively small diameter.

Further, each outer holding member (22) in Fig. 6 has a pair of narrow protrusions (29) projecting from the opposite ends of this holding member (22) and opposed to the inner holding member (23). The inner and outer retainers on each support leg (10) therefore support the filter device at four points on the container. This is even better than the three-point support according to FIG. 5. The small projections (29) can also be provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 4 or 5.

In the Figs. 7 and 8, the filter bag (5) has the peripheral panels (16) extending outwardly from opposite edges (41) of the open end of the filter bag (5). The filter bag (5) is firmly connected to the carrier (4) by the edge panels (16) with the underside of the carrier (4) along its peripheral edges (15a) are glued. At the edges (41) the opposite inner surfaces of the filter bag are separably connected to each other, for example, glued, pressed or sealed by heat. Thereby, a predetermined volume of coffee powder (3) or the like is formed in the filter bag.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the opening for pouring hot water through the lid (8) is closed when the filter device is no longer used.

If no such cover is provided, then the edges (41) of the opening of the filter bag must be connected to each other. Sealing of the opening of the filter bag is superfluous, even if no cover (8) is provided, as long as the filter device is not arranged in a shell, but only used as a filter in which a desired volume of coffee powder is entered when coffee brewed should.

If the envelope of the filter bag to be evacuated hermetically, this can be done according to the invention in that the closed end of the filter bag prevents its contents being sucked out, while at the same time air can be sucked.

The connection of the opposite edges of the open bag should just be so strong that a person can easily open it with his finger without damaging the filter paper.

FIG. 9 shows that a cover part (42) can cover the opening of the filter bag. This lid member may be replaced by an elongate strip which is separably applied to the top of lid panels 44, 45 along the open edges 41 of the bag opposite the opening 7. Such a strip closure may include a pull tab (43) at one end projecting from the opening (7). With the help of the pull tab, the strip closure can be easily opened.

FIGS. 10 to 13, 15 and 16 show a further embodiment.

Here, a carrier (101) similar to the carrier (4) in Fig. 4 is provided. The carrier (101) has a pair of support legs (102) at the ends of the carrier, an opening (103) for pouring hot water, and a filter bag (104) attached to the underside of the carrier (101) open end covers the opening (103).

The carrier (101) and the support legs (102) are integrally formed from a substantially rectangular piece, preferably of cardboard or similar material. At the same time this holding parts (105) are cut out.

These holding parts (105) on the holding legs (102) can fix the filter device to a container (106). In this embodiment, each retaining member (105) has a transversely extending slot (107) at its end. The slot (107) is shaped to form an inner retention tab (108) and an outer retention tab (109) integral with the rest of the retention leg (102).

The filter bag (104) includes opposing side walls (110a), (110b) and panels (purple), (111b) extending in opposite directions from the respective side walls (110a), (110b). In addition, a connection strip (112) is provided, which connects the side walls together.

In making the filter bag, the sheet is folded along the centerline (113) of the tie strip (112) and the opposite edges (114) of the tie strip (112) are folded in opposite directions while the remainder are folded together with the tie strip (112) therebetween becomes. Then the panels (purple) and (111b) are folded outwardly along the edges (115) and the intermediate sidewalls (110a), (110b) are joined along their side edges (116) together with the side edges of the connecting strip (112) be superimposed. The filter bag (104) thus has the shape of a flat bag whose bottom is formed by the connecting strip (112). The edges (114) of the connection strip (112) define the lower edges of the side walls (110a), (110b). The upper edge (115) of each side wall (110a), (110b) defines an open edge so that the fields (purple), (111b) become

-5Nr. 391 994 from the edges of the open end of the bag.

The filter bag (104) is brought to the underside of the carrier (101) so that the adjacent upper edges (115) of the side walls (110a), (110b) are aligned with the center line of the carrier (101). The panels (purple), (111b) extend from the edges (115) and abut the underside of the carrier (101) and also adjacent abutment legs (102). In this position, the fields (purple), (111b) on the support and on the support legs along the peripheral edges (117) attached, preferably glued.

Before use, the side walls (110a), (110b) of the filter bag are folded in contact with the connecting strip (112) in-between. The filter bag in this position can be folded so that either the field (purple) or the field (111b) abuts the underside of the carrier (101), whereby the Filtervomchtung is very flat.

When the support legs (102) on the opposite sides of the support (101) are bent downwardly relative to the central part of the support, the side walls (110a), (110b) of the filter sack are released along their upper edges (115) because of the above-described construction of the filter bag. As a result, the opposite side edges (116) approach each other and thereby open the filter bag.

The thus unfolded filter bag is placed on a vessel (106) with the ends of the support legs (102) facing the upper edge of the vessel (106). The outer retaining strip (109) on each support leg (102) then engages the outer surface of the vessel (106) and the inner retention tab (108) engages the inner surface of the vessel. FIG. 15 shows that the retaining strip (109) and the retaining tongue (108) the wall of the vessel (106) from the outside or hold inside, whereby the filter device is well attached to the vessel.

Subsequently, a desired volume of coffee powder and then hot water is introduced into the filter bag, which is now wide open. Fig. 17 shows that the weight of the coffee powder and hot water causes the folded connection strip (112) to be opened now and hang down from the lower edges of the side walls (110a), (110b). The filter bag is therefore now shell-shaped.

The filter device of this embodiment can be folded flat and is then automatically opened in use, the filter bag being conically shaped by the weight of the coffee powder with the tip of the cone down. This tip of the filter bag collects the filtrate, which drips from there into the container.

The filtrate can therefore no longer reach outside the container. The expansion of the connection strip (112) also increases the filter area and improves the filtering effect.

The connecting strip (112) has a certain width. It is integrally connected to the edges (116) of the side walls (110a), (110b) along their side edges, preferably glued. It is preferred that the side walls (110a), (110b) do not project with their lower edges from the underside of the carrier or the support legs when unfolded.

In the following, the embodiment of Fig. 14,16,18 and 19 will be described. This Filtervomchtung has a support (200) with inclined portions (201), (202) in its central part, and a filter bag (203) for receiving coffee powder (204).

The inclined portions (201), (202) are equal to each other and rectangular in shape. They are connected at their upper edges (201 *), (202 ') by a connection strip (205) or a connection field. The inclined portions (201), (202) are foldable along their edges (201 *), (202 ') substantially as inverted V. Each section (201), (202) is connected to a carrier (214) via a fold line (211), (212) and has a substantially U-shaped slot (206) at its end. This U-shaped slot (206) is formed to form an inner support member (207) and an outer support member (208) integral with the remainder of the support leg. The inclined portion (201) has a rectangular opening (209) for pouring hot water. The filter bag (203) is attached to the bottom of the inclined portion (201) at the edge of the opening (209) and depends therefrom, along the edges forming an opening of the filter bag (203), such that the opening (209) is covered. The filter bag (203) is received in the folded carrier (200). The filter bag (203) at one splice (210) is locally bonded to the back of the other, inclined portion (202) and thus depends on both inclined portions (201), (202) down.

The fold lines (211), (212) extend transversely between the middle part of the carrier (200) and its support legs (214).

If the filter device is not used, it is folded back flat, wherein the carrier (200) is folded onto each other and the filter bag is located between the parts of the carrier. In use, the carrier (200) is unfolded and the support legs (214) are attached to the upper edge of a coffee cup or similar container. This is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19.

If the carrier (200) unfolded, the filter bag (203) is pulled at the splice (210) and thereby unfolded. If the filter device is placed on a coffee cup (213), then the outer holding part (208) engages the outer wall of the coffee cup and the inner holding part (207) presses against the wall of the coffee cup from the inside. Therefore, the outer and inner holding parts work together and the edge of the coffee cup is located between these holding means. It can then be added to coffee powder (204) and then hot water in the filter bag, so that the filtrate enters directly into the coffee cup. The distance between the support legs is designed so that the distance depends on the diameter of the coffee cup. To the

-6Nr. 391 994 stable position of the filter device to secure the cup, the carrier with the inclined portions (201), (202) and the support legs (214) along their fold lines (211), (212) are folded until the corresponding holding parts ( 207) and (208) are as straight as possible in extension of the top wall of the cup.

The filter device described is easy to handle and can be stored to save space, because it can be folded flat. It can be very easily stable secured to a container, to which the carrier must be unfolded only approximately to the particular desired size of the container. Subsequently, the outer and inner holding parts are folded so that they capture the upper edge of the container between them.