GB2183459A

GB2183459A - Coffee filter pack

Info

Publication number: GB2183459A
Application number: GB08529504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leon P Shah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-11
Filing date: 1985-11-29
Publication date: 1987-06-10
Also published as: BR8602262A; FR2589344A1; DE3612227A1; GB8529504D0

Abstract

A coffee filter pack has a pre-measured amount of ground coffee sealed within a receptacle region. In a first embodiment, the receptacle region is defined by a frusto-conical outer liner 10 and an inner circular disk 15 adhered at the edges thereof to the adjacent inner wall surface of the outer liner. In a second embodiment, the receptacle region is defined by a pair of frusto-conical liners mutually adhered. The liners and the disk are fabricated of porous filter paper. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coffee Filter Pack Background of the Invention This invention relates to coffee brew machines of thetypeemploying a disposable paperfilterfor holding ground coffee.

Coffee brew machines are available for both com- mercial and home use and typically comprise a base member with a heaterelement used to support a glass coffee pot, and a coffee filter holder attached to the base in a position above the coffee pot. The coffee filter holder is typicallyfrusto-conical in shape with one or more central aperturesthrough the bottom wall, and is designed to receive a disposable coffee filter. The coffee filter is normally fabricated from porous paper and is designed to be received within the coffee filter holder.In use, a measured amount of coffee is placed in the bottom portion ofthe coffee filter, either before or after instailation in the coffee filter holder, and a measured quantity of hot water is directed into the interior of the coffee filter onto the ground coffee. The water percolates th rough the ground coffee, through the bottom and lower side portions ofthe porous coffee filter, and th rough the coffee filter holder apertures down into the coffee pot.

While not inconvenient to use, the above arrangement suffers from several disadvantages. Firstly, the ground coffee must be individually measured into the coffee filter each time a pot of coffee is to be brewed, which is time consuming. In addition, separate receptacles must be provided forthe individual coffee filters andfortheground coffee. Moreover, in the process of measuring outtheground coffee into the interior of the filter, the ground coffee is frequently spilled onto the counter area or the floor area.

Summary of the Invention The invention comprises a coffee filter packwhich is devoid ofthe above disadvantages and wich provides a sealed pre-measured amountofground coffee within the coffee filter.

The coffee filter pack comprises an outerliner means having a porous bottom wall and a substantially continuous upstanding side wall, an inner liner means having a porous wall substantially co-exten- sive with the porous bottom wall and spaced therefrom to define a receptacle region, and a quantity of ground coffee located in the receptacle region. The outer liner means has afrusto-conical shape, preferably with a corrugated wall structure, and an external configuration conformable with a standard coffee filter holder of a coffee brew device.

In a first embociiment of the invention,the lower portion ofthe outer liner means side wall is substantially perpendicularto the porous bottom wall, and the inner liner means comprises a substantially circular disk adhered along the peripheral edges thereoftothe adjacent inner surface ofthe upstanding side wall to form a sealed receptacle region.

In an alternate embodiment ofthe invention, the outer liner means and the inner liner means are both frusto-conical in shape, and a portion of the outer surface ofthe inner liner means is adhered to a portion of the inner surface of the outer liner means to form a sealed receptacle region.

In both embodiments of the invention, the outer linermeans porous bottom wall and the inner liner means porous wall are both fabricated from a suitable porous flexible sheet-like material, preferably porous paper having a flow rate of about 70 seconds per gallon.

In use, the individual coffeefilterpackissimply installed in the coffee filter holder of the associated coffee brew device, withoutthe need for pre-measuring the coffee, which is already contained within the coffee filter pack. This avoids the necessity for individual coffee measurement when brewing fresh coffee, and also avoids spillage ofthe ground coffee, which is sealed within the coffee filter pack.

For a fuller understanding ofthe nature and advantages ofthe invention, reference should be had to the ensuing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view ofthe Fig. 1 device partially in section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the region indicated in Fig. 2with the circular detail double arrowed line 3-3; and Fig. 4 is a full sectional view of an alternate embodimentofthe invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Turning now to the drawings, Fig. 1-3 illustrate a first embodiment ofthe invention. As seen in these Figs., an outer liner 10 has a generally frusto-conical shape with a corrugated sidewall 11. The bottom portion ofthe outer liner 10 has an inwardlyoffset generally vertically extending wall portion 12terminating in a substantially flat bottom wall 13.

The outer configuration ofthe outer liner means 10 is dimensioned to be conformable with the inner wall portion of a standard coffee filter holder shown in phantom in Fig. 1.

Located within the interior portion of outer liner 10 is a circular porous disk 15. Disk 15 is adhered to the lowerinnerwallsurfaceofsidewall 11 by means of a double adhesive arrangement. More specifically, as best shown in Fig. 3 a layer of adhesive 16 is adhered to the lowersurface ofdisk 15, and a layerofadhesive 17 is adhered to the lowerinnersurface of side wall 11 and vertical wall portion 12. A suitable adhesivefor this purpose isan adhesive sold underthe trademark Vinyon. Other suitable adhesives will occurto those skilled in the art. Disk 15 andthe lower portions of outer liner 12 define a receptacle region 18 for containing a measured amount of ground coffee 19.

The outer liner 10 and the circular disk 15 are preferably fabricated from any suitable porous flexible material capable of being formed to the frustoconical and flat disk shapes illustrated, such as standard coffee filter paper having a flow rate of 70 seconds per gallon available from Dexter Corporation of Dallas Texas. Other suitable materials will occurto those skilled in the art, such as porous flexible plastic or cloth or a hybrid combination thereof.

Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment ofthe invention in which the outer liner 20 hasthe frusto conical shape illustrated with side wall 21 and a substantially flat bottom wall 22. In the Fig. 4 em bodiment, the disk 15 is supplanted by an inner frusto-conical liner23 having a side wall 24 and a bottom wall 25. The outer surface ofthe inner liner 23 and the inner surface ofthe outer liner 20 are each provided with an adhesive layer 26,27, respectively for the purpose of providing a sealed receptacle region 28 for containing a pre-measured amount of ground coffee 29.

To prepare thefirst embodiment ofthe invention, a pre-measured amount of coffee is arranged within the receptacle region 18, preferably at an automated filling station, after which the inner liner disk 15 is manipulated downward into the central interior of the outer liner 10 and adhered along the periphery thereof to the adjacent inner surface ofthe side wall 11. This is preferably accomplished at a sealing station employing a vacuum chuckfor manipulating the disk 15, a suitable holding fixture having a shape essentially identical with the outer lower wall structure of the outer liner 10 and a conventional ram press to firmly squeeze the mating portions together.

The Fig. 4embodiment is prepared in essentiallythe same manner, using differently shaped fixtures to accomplishthesame purpose.

As will now be apparent, coffee filter packs fabri- cated according to the teachings ofthe invention afford several advantages over known coffeefilter arrangements. Firstly, the prepared coffee filter packs may be vended in a single container, with several packs nested within the container. In addition, no individual ground coffee measurement is required priorto installing the coffee filter pack into the coffee filter holder ofthe associated coffee brew device, which speeds up the brewing process. In addition, there is no possibility of spilling ground coffee, which is both sanitary and economical.

While the above provides a full and complete disclosure ofthe invention, various modifications, alternate constructions and equivalents may be employed. For example, the height ofthe outer liner means 10 inthe Fig. 1 embodiment, orthe height of the inner and outer liner means 23,20 in the Fig. 4 embodiment may be reduced, if desired. The height should not be reduced below a minimum value which ensures that substantially all of the brewing water will pass through the ground coffee. Therefore, the above disclosure should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined bythe appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A coffee filter pack comprising: outer liner means having a porous bottom wall and substantially continuous upstanding or upwardly extending side wall; inner liner means having a porous wall substantially co-extensive with said porous bottom wall and spaced therefrom to define a receptacle region or coffeecontaining region; and a quantity or ground coffee located in said coffeecontaining region.

2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the outer liner means has a frusto-conical shape.

3. Apack as claimed in claim 1 or2, in which the outer liner means has a corrugated wall structure.

4. A pack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the lower portion of the sidewall ofthe outer liner means is substantially perpendicularto said porous bottom wall.

5. A pack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the inner liner means comprises a substantially circular disk.

6. A pack as claimed in claim 5, in which the disk adhered along the peripheral edges thereofto the adjacent inner surface of said upwardly extending side wall to form a sealed coffee-containing region.

7. A pack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the outer liner means and the inner liner means are both frusto-conical in shape.

8. A pack as claimed in claim 7, in which a portion oftheoutersurface ofsaid inner liner means is adhered to a portion ofthe inner surface of said outer liner meanstoformasealed coffee-containing region.

9. A pack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the outer liner means porous bottom wall and said inner liner means porous wall are both fabricated from porous paper.

10. A pack as claimed in claim 9, in which the porous paper has a flow rate of about 70 seconds per gallon.

11. A pack as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, in which the outer liner means has an external configuration conformable with a coffee filter holder of a coffee brew device.

12. A pack substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.