EP3463003A1

EP3463003A1 - Filter device for a coffee or tea pot and a coffee or tea pot

Info

Publication number: EP3463003A1
Application number: EP17722796.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sigrid Eckhoff; Ola BRATTÅS
Original assignee: Os Tableware As
Current assignee: Os Tableware As
Priority date: 2016-05-23
Filing date: 2017-05-11
Publication date: 2019-04-10
Also published as: WO2017202616A1; NO20160868A1; NO340230B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter device (10) for filtering coffee and/or tea particles from a liquid provided in a coffee or tea pot (1). The filter device (10) comprises a first filter wall portion (30) comprising a plurality of filter openings (31) and a first weir (33) and a second filter wall portion (20) provided at a distance from the first filter wall portion (30). The second filter wall portion (20) comprises a lower wall area (21) forming a second weir (23). A lower supporting portion (14) is connected between the first and second filter wall portions (30, 20). The invention also relates to a coffee or tea pot (1) comprising a spout (2) wherein the filter device (10) may be inserted.

Description

Filter device for a coffee or tea pot and a coffee or tea pot

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filter device for a coffee or tea pot and a coffee or tea pot comprising such a filter device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEN

Various methods and equipment for preparing coffee are known. One of the oldest methods of preparing coffee is to add ground coffee into a coffee pot filled with hot or boiling water. After a while, the coffee particles will be soaked with water and will sink into the bottom of the coffee pot, and it is possible to pour coffee through the spout of the coffee pot.

Often, at least some coffee particles are still floating in the pot and they are poured out through the spout. Some pots are equipped with a filter in or adjacent to the spout to stop such particles from exiting the pot. However, these filters are often clogged, with the result that no coffee is exiting the pot either. One example of such a filter is known from GB 4980040, where it is described a filter made of a fine mesh wire shaped as a cone and inserted into the spout of the pot.

Another disadvantage with the above prior art coffee pot having such a filter is that it is difficult to clean. In EP 1062897 it is disclosed a kettle for boiling water, where a filter element is provided in the spout to prevent water from spitting out of the spout when water is boiling.

Many of the same disadvantages are present when preparing tea in a tea pot. As tea leaves tend to not sink into the bottom of the pot when soaked with water, it is even more difficult to avoid tea leaves when pouring tea through the spout. A tea bag is often used to overcome this problem.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved filter device for a coffee or tea pot and a coffee or tea pot with such a filter device, where the above

disadvantages are avoided. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filter device for filtering coffee and/or tea particles from a liquid provided in a coffee or tea pot, the filter device being removably connected inside a spout of the pot, characterized in that the filter device comprises:

- a first filter wall portion comprising a plurality of filter openings and a first weir;

- a second filter wall portion provided at a distance from the first filter wall portion, where the second filter wall portion comprises a lower wall area forming a second weir;

- a lower supporting portion connected between the first and second filter wall portions.

In one aspect, the first filter wall portion comprises a lower wall area and a upper wall area, where the filter openings are provided in the lower wall area and the upper wall area is forming the first weir.

In one aspect, the lower wall area of the first filter wall portion is provided substantially in parallel with the second filter wall portion.

In one aspect, the upper wall area is oriented with an angle β in relation to the lower wall area, the angle β being between 5 ° - 90° in a direction away from the second filter wall portion.

In one aspect, the first filter wall portion comprises a funnel portion for guiding liquid towards the first filter wall portion.

In one aspect, the lower supporting portion is forming a liquid reservoir between the first and second wall portions.

In one aspect, the lower wall area of the second filter wall portion is U-shaped, where the second weir is formed by an opening through the second filter wall portion.

The present invention also relates to a coffee or tea pot comprising a spout having an upper area, a lower area and a pouring opening, where the pot further comprises a filter device removably connected inside the spout;

characterized in that the filter device comprises:

- a lower supporting portion connected between the first and second filter wall portions, where the lower supporting portion is configured to be provided in contact with the lower area of the spout. In one aspect, the filter device comprises an upper supporting portion connected to the second filter wall portion, where the upper supporting portion is configured to be provided in contact with the upper area of the spout. In one aspect, the upper supporting portion comprises a stop element protruding out from the spout and being configured to be engaged with the upper rim area of the spout.

In one aspect, the stop element, the upper supporting portion and/or the second filter wall portion is made of a flexible material, thereby allowing the stop element to be pushed inside the spout.

In one aspect, the second filter wall portion is proximal to the opening of the spout and where the first filter wall portion is distal to the opening of the spout, and where the upper wall area of the first filter wall portion is protruding into an compartment of the pot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, where:

fig. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a coffee pot having a filter device in its spout;

fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the filter device;

fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the filter device;

fig. 4 illustrates a top view of the filter device;

fig. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the filter device;

fig. 6 illustrates a rear view of the filter device;

fig. 7 illustrates a front view of the filter device;

fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the circle A of fig. 1 ;

It is now referred to fig. 1. Here it is shown a coffee pot 1 with a spout 2 provided in the side wall portion 3 thereof. It is also shown that the pot 1 comprises a bottom 4 and a top opening 5 into a compartment 6 of the pot, the compartment 6 being defined within the boundaries of the side wall portion 3 and bottom 4.

It should be noted that in the description herein, the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "above", "below" etc. is used referring to the normal orientation of the coffee pot 1 , i.e. as shown in fig. 1 with the bottom 4 provided in the horizontal plane and facing downwardly with the side wall portion 3 protruding generally upwardly from the bottom 4. Moreover, the term "rear" or "rear side" of the filter device 10 is used to describe the side of the filter device 10 being closest to or proximal to the compartment 6, while the term "front" or "front side" is here used to describe the side of the filter device 10 being furthest away from or distal to the compartment 6. Accordingly, the rear view of fig. 6 illustrates the filter device as seen from within the compartment 6.

In fig. 8 it is shown that the spout 2 comprises an upper area 2a, a lower area 2b, an opening 2c defined by the rim 2d of the spout 2. As indicated, there is an upper rim area 2da and a lower rim area 2db. When a liquid is poured slowly from the pot 1 , the liquid will typically only be in contact with the lower area 2b and lower rim area 2db, while when a liquid is poured fast from the pot 1 , the liquid will also be in contact with the upper area 2a and the upper rim area 2da. Moreover, the area of the side wall portion 3 above the spout 2 is referred to as the upper wall portion area 3a while the area of the side wall portion 3 below the spout 2 is referred to as the lower wall portion area 3b. It is now referred to fig. 1 and 2, where it is shown that the filter device 10 in fig. 2 is configured to be connected inside the spout 2 of the pot 1 shown in fig. 1. The filter device 10 is removably connected inside the spout 2 to ease the cleaning of the pot 1 and the filter 10.

As is known, coffee and tea is brewed by first pouring hot water into the

compartment 6 of the pot 1 and then adding ground coffee or tea leaves into the hot water. After a brewing period of typically a couple of minutes, the coffee or tea is poured from the pot 1 through the spout 2 by elevating and orienting the pot 1 in an inclined position, i.e. by gradually decreasing the angle a_spout between the horizontal axis H and the longitudinal axis A2 of the spout 2, as is generally indicated in fig. 8. In the present embodiment, the initial angle a_spout is about 60° (i.e. when the pot is oriented with its bottom 4 on a horizontal surface).

The purpose of the filter is to perform filtering of coffee grounds and/or tea leaves from the liquid during the pouring of the coffee or tea from the pot 1. Such coffee grounds and/or tea leaves from the brewing process are hereinafter referred to as particles (coffee particles or tea particles).

As best shown in fig. 2 and 8, the filter device 10 comprises a first filter wall portion 30, a second filter wall portion 20 provided at a distance from the first filter wall portion 30 and a lower supporting portion 14 connected between the first and second filter wall portions 30, 20. As shown in fig. 8, the second filter wall portion 20 is proximal to the opening 2c of the spout 2 and the first filter wall portion 30 is distal to the opening 2c of the spout 2. Accordingly, the liquid in the compartment 6 is first arriving at the first filter wall portion 30, and the liquid passing the first filter wall portion 30 is then arriving at the second filter wall portion 20, and then out through the opening 2c of the spout 2. The lower supporting portion 14 preferably has a shape adapted to be in contact with the lower area 2b of the spout 2, to avoid that particles are exiting the spout 2 below the lower supporting portion 14. Preferably, the lower supporting portion 14 is sealingly engaged with the lower area 2b of the spout 2. As shown in fig. 2 and 7 the cross sectional shape of the lower supporting portion 14 is generally U-shaped. A liquid reservoir 40 is provided in the lower supporting portion 14 between the first and second wall portions 30, 20.

The first filter wall portion 30 protrudes generally upwards from the lower supporting portion 14 and comprises a plurality of filter openings 31. The diameter D31 (indicated in fig. 6) of each of the circular filter openings 31 is 2.5 mm.

However, they may be between 1.5 - 3.5 mm, depending on the expected particle size of the coffee or tea particles. It should also be noted that it is possible to provide the openings 31 as rectangular or polygonal openings, preferably with a similar cross sectional area as the circular openings of the preferred embodiment. The purpose of the filter openings 31 is to separate liquid from the particles in the compartment 6 while pouring the liquid from the pot 1.

The first filter wall portion 30 comprises a lower wall area 30a and a upper wall area 30b The filter openings 31 are provided in the lower wall area 30a. Some filter openings 31 are also provided in the lower part of the upper wall area 30b. In the upper wall area 30b, above the filter openings 31 , it is provided a larger opening 32. The upper wall area 30b below the opening 32 is forming a first weir 33.

If all of the filter openings 31 gets clogged while pouring liquid from the pot 1 , and the person using the pot is decreasing the above-mentioned angle a_spout slowly, liquid will run over the first weir 33 while particles floating in the liquid will be kept inside the compartment 6.

Of course, if the above-mentioned angle a_spout is decreased fast, the liquid together with particles will be poured through the opening 32 and into the liquid reservoir 40. In such a situation, the first weir 33 will not work as intended.

It is now referred to fig. 8, where it is shown that the upper wall area 30b is oriented with an angle β in relation to the lower wall area 30a. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the angle β is about 45° in a direction away from the second filter wall portion 20. Preferably, the angle is between 5° - 90°.

In the present embodiment, the upper wall area 30b of the first filter wall portion 30 is protruding into the compartment 6 of the pot 1. Moreover, the lower wall area 30a and the upper wall area 30b is arranged at a distance D below the upper area 2a of the spout 2. In this way, liquid containing particles may enter the reservoir 40 also above the upper wall area 30b. In fig. 8, it is also shown an angle (Xwaiii between the spout axis A2 and the lower wall area 30a of the first wall portion 30. The angle awaiii is in in the present embodiment ca 75 °.

In fig. 6 and fig. 18 it is shown that the first filter wall portion 30 comprises a funnel portion 18 for guiding liquid towards the first filter wall portion 30. The purpose of the funnel portion 18 is to guide liquid (containing particles) from the compartment 6 towards the first filter wall portion 30.

In fig. 4, the height H32 of the opening 32 is indicated by a dashed line. In the present embodiment, the height H32 is 12.8 mm. The width of the opening 32 is larger than its height H32.

The second filter wall portion 20 protrudes generally upwards from the lower supporting portion 14. The second filter wall portion 20 is provided substantially in parallel with the first filter wall portion 30. In fig. 8, it is shown an angle a_waii2 between the spout axis A2 and the second wall portion 20. The angle a_waii2 is in in the present embodiment ca 70°.

The second filter wall portion 20 comprises a lower wall area 21. It is provided a opening 22 in the second filter wall portion 20, larger than the above filter openings 31 , where the lower wall area 21 below the opening 22 is forming a second weir 23. The lower wall area 21 of the second filter wall portion 20 is substantially U- shaped, with the opening 22 provided centrally through the second filter wall portion 20.

Even if the liquid passing the first filter wall portion 30 is containing small amounts of particles, and the person using the pot is decreasing the above-mentioned angle spout slowly, liquid will run over the second weir 23 through the opening 22 while particles floating in the liquid will be kept inside the liquid reservoir 40. Hence, a further filtering process is achieved.

Again, as described above, if the above-mentioned angle a_spout is decreased fast, the liquid together with particles will also be poured through the opening 22 and out from the opening 2c of the spout. In such a situation, the second weir 23 will not work as intended.

In fig. 7, the height H22 and the width W22 of the opening 22 is indicated by dashed lines. In the present embodiment, the height H22 is 15.5 mm. The width W22 of the opening 22 is about 5 mm, it should be at wider than the diameter of filter openings 31 and preferably 1.5 - 2 times wider than the diameter of the filter openings 31.

The filter device 10 further comprises an upper supporting portion 12 connected to the second filter wall portion 20. The upper supporting portion 12 is configured to be provided in contact with the upper area 2a of the spout 2. In this way, it is provided contact between the filter device 10 and both the upper and lower areas 2a, 2b of the spout 2, and proper alignment between the spout 2 and the filter device 10 is achieved. In the present embodiment, the upper supporting portion 12 comprises a stop element 16 protruding out from the opening 2c of the spout 2. The stop element is configured to be engaged with the upper rim area 2da of the spout 2. In this way, it is avoided that the filter device 10 is falling unintentionally into the compartment 6 of the pot. The stop element 16, the upper supporting portion 12 and/or the second filter wall portion 20 is preferably made of a flexible material, thereby allowing the stop element 16 to be pushed inside the spout 2.

The person using the pot 1 and filter device 10 is initially inserting the filter device 10 from the compartment 6 and into the spout 2 until the stop element 16 is protruding out from the opening 2c. Now, the stop element is engaged with the upper rim area 2da of the spout 2. When finished using the pot 1 , the person is pressing the stop element 16 and consequently the filter device 10 into the spout 2, causing the filter device 10 to fall into the compartment 6. Hence, the filter device and pot may be removed from the pot 1 and they may be cleaned separately from each other.

It should be noted that the filter device 10 may be held in place in the spout 2 by means of the engagement of the lower and upper supporting portions 12, 14, i.e. the stop element 16 is not strictly necessary.

Claims

1. Filter device (10) for filtering coffee and/or tea particles from a liquid provided in a coffee or tea pot (1), the filter device (10) being removably connected inside a spout (2) of the pot (1), characterized in that the filter device (10) comprises: - a first filter wall portion (30) comprising a plurality of filter openings (31) and a first weir (33);

- a second filter wall portion (20) provided at a distance from the first filter wall portion (30), where the second filter wall portion (20) comprises a lower wall area (21) forming a second weir (23);

- a lower supporting portion (14) connected between the first and second filter wall portions (30, 20).

2. Filter device according to claim 1 , where the first filter wall portion (30) comprises a lower wall area (30a) and a upper wall area (30b), where the filter openings (31) are provided in the lower wall area (30a) and the upper wall area (30b) is forming the first weir (33).

3. Filter device according to claim 2, where the lower wall area (30a) of the first filter wall portion (30) is provided substantially in parallel with the second filter wall portion (20).

4. Filter device according to claim 2 or 3, where the upper wall area (30b) is oriented with an angle β in relation to the lower wall area (30a), the angle β being between 5 ° - 90° in a direction away from the second filter wall portion (20).

5. Filter device according to any one of the above claims, where the first filter wall portion (30) comprises a funnel portion (18) for guiding liquid towards the first filter wall portion (30).

6. Filter device according to any one of the above claims, where the lower supporting portion (14) is forming a liquid reservoir (40) between the first and second wall portions (30, 20).

7. Filter device according to any one of the above claims, where the lower wall area (21) of the second filter wall portion (20) is U-shaped, where the second weir (23) is formed by an opening (22) through the second filter wall portion (20).

8. Coffee or tea pot (1) comprising a spout (2) having an upper area (2a), a lower area (2b) and a pouring opening (2c), where the pot (1) further comprises a filter device (10) removably connected inside the spout (2);

characterized in that the filter device (10) comprises:

- a first filter wall portion (30) comprising a plurality of filter openings (31) and a first weir (33);

- a lower supporting portion (14) connected between the first and second filter wall portions (30, 20), where the lower supporting portion (14) is configured to be provided in contact with the lower area (2b) of the spout (2).

9. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to claim 9, where the filter device (10) comprises an upper supporting portion (12) connected to the second filter wall portion (20), where the upper supporting portion (12) is configured to be provided in contact with the upper area (2a) of the spout (2).

10. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to claim 9, where the upper supporting portion (12) comprises a stop element (16) protruding out from the spout (2) and being configured to be engaged with the upper rim area (2da) of the spout (2).

1 1. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to claim 10, where the stop element (16), the upper supporting portion (12) and/or the second filter wall portion (20) is made of a flexible material, thereby allowing the stop element (16) to be pushed inside the spout (2).

12. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to any one of claims 8 - 1 1 , where the first filter wall portion (30) comprises a lower wall area (30a) and a upper wall area (30b), where the filter openings (31) are provided in the lower wall area (30a) and the upper wall area (30b) is forming the first weir (33).

13. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to any one of claims 8 - 12, where the lower supporting portion (14) is forming a liquid reservoir (40) between the first and second wall portions (30, 20).

14. Coffee or tea pot (1) according to any one of claims 12 - 13, where the second filter wall portion (20) is proximal to the opening (2c) of the spout (2) and where the first filter wall portion (30) is distal to the opening (2c) of the spout (2), and where the upper wall area (30b) of the first filter wall portion (30) is protruding into an compartment (6) of the pot (1).