Liquid Filtering Bag

Abstract

A liquid filtering bag comprises a liquid-permeable fabric and zipper. When the zipper is fully engaged, the fabric folds to form a liquid filtering bag suitable for filtering liquids. When the zipper is fully disengaged, the fabric unfolds to form a flat sheet suitable for thorough washing.

Claims

1. A liquid filter comprising: a single unitary sheet; and a zipper having a gauge size between #3 and #10, the zipper being disposed on a portion of a perimeter of the single unitary sheet, wherein the single unitary sheet comprises a liquid-permeable fabric, wherein engaging the zipper forms the single unitary sheet into a pouch configuration with an opening, wherein, when an unfiltered liquid is received in the pouch configuration, the liquid-permeable fabric of the liquid filter retains particulates of the unfiltered liquid, wherein the opening comprises a closure device, wherein disengaging the zipper forms the single unitary sheet into a flat configuration, and wherein the flat configuration of the single unitary sheet is machine-washable to remove debris from the liquid-permeable fabric.

2.-6. (canceled)

7. The liquid filter of claim 1, wherein the pouch configuration comprises: a height from a lower edge of a bottom portion to an upper edge of the opening proximate a top portion that is in a range of 200-900 millimeters, wherein the bottom portion is disposed opposite the top portion, a width from a first side to a second side that is in a range of 100-500 millimeters, wherein the first side is disposed opposite the second side, and a height to width ratio in a range of 1.5 to 3.

8. The liquid filter of claim 7, wherein: the height is in the range of 300-500 millimeters, the width is in the range of 150-250 millimeters, and the height to width ratio is 2.

9. The liquid filter of claim 1, wherein the flat configuration comprises: a height from a lower edge of a bottom portion to an upper edge of a top portion that is in a range of 200-900 millimeters, wherein the bottom portion is disposed opposite the top portion, a width from a first side to a second side that is in a range of 200-900 millimeters, wherein the first side is disposed opposite the second side, and a height to width ratio in a range of 0.75 to 1.5.

10. The liquid filter of claim 9, wherein: the height is in the range of 300-500 millimeters; the width is in the range of 300-500 millimeters; and the height to width ratio is 1.

11. The liquid filter of claim 1, wherein the closure device comprises: a fold, a flap, a clamp, a drawstring, another zipper, or a hook-and-loop fastener.

12. The liquid filter of claim 1, wherein the liquid-permeable fabric comprises: mesh, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, fiber, cloth, cotton, nylon, polyester, or cotton paper.

13. The liquid filter of claim 12, wherein the liquid-permeable fabric comprises the mesh, and wherein the mesh comprises spacing in a range of 25-500 micrometers.

14. (canceled)

15. A method to filter a liquid using the liquid filter bag of claim 17, comprising: disengaging the zipper to convert the liquid filter bag to the flat configuration; washing the flat configuration of the liquid filter bag; folding the flat configuration of the liquid filter bag; engaging the zipper to convert the flat configuration of the liquid filter bag to a pouch configuration; and pouring a liquid into the opening of the pouch configuration of the liquid filter bag to filter the liquid.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: washing the flat configuration of the liquid filter bag; drying the washed flat configuration of the liquid filter bag; and storing the dried flat configuration of the liquid filter bag.

17. A liquid filter bag comprising: an opening; and a body portion comprising a first side disposed opposite a second side and a bottom portion disposed opposite a top portion, wherein the body portion comprises: a single unitary sheet comprising a liquid-permeable fabric; and a zipper disposed on a portion of a perimeter of the body portion, wherein: a height from a lower edge of a bottom portion to an upper edge of the opening proximate the top portion that is in a range of 150-700 millimeters, a width from the first side to the second side that is in a range of 150-700 millimeters, and a height to width ratio in a range of 0.75 to 1.5; wherein, when an unfiltered liquid is received in the body portion, the liquid-permeable fabric of the body portion retains particulates of the unfiltered liquid, and wherein disengaging the zipper forms the liquid filter bag into a flat configuration that is machine-washable to remove debris from the liquid-permeable fabric.

18. The liquid filter bag of claim 17, wherein the washed flat configuration of the liquid filter bag is dryable and storable.

19. (canceled)

20. The liquid filter of claim 17, wherein: the height is in the range of 200-400 millimeters; the width is in the range of 200-400 millimeters, and the height to width ratio is about 1.

21. (canceled)

22. The liquid filter of claim 17, wherein: the height is in the range of 200-400 millimeters; and the width is in the range of 500-700 millimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a tall and narrow liquid filtering bag in an assembled open-top bag configuration with the zipper fully engaged. Said configuration represents the state during which said bag can be used to filter liquids.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a tall and narrow liquid filtering bag in a disassembled flat-sheet configuration with the zipper fully disengaged. Said configuration represents the state during which said bag can be washed, dried, and stored.

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a short and wide liquid filtering bag in an assembled open-top bag configuration with the zipper fully engaged. Said configuration represents the state during which said bag can be used to filter liquids.

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a short and wide liquid filtering bag in a disassembled flat-sheet configuration with the zipper fully disengaged. Said configuration represents the state during which said bag can be washed, dried, and stored.

SPECIFICATIONS

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a tall and narrow liquid filtering bag according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Said bag is shown in an assembled open-top bag configuration representing the state during which said bag can be used to filter liquids. An outer surface 10 of said filtering bag exudes filtered liquid during filtering operation. An inner surface 20 of said bag receives unfiltered liquid and traps filtered particulates during filtering operation. A fully engaged zipper 30 forms the bottom and side edge of said filtering bag. A zipper slider 40 and puller 50 are configured to rest at the top edge of said bag when fully engaged.

[0018] In embodiments of the invention, the filter bag is made from mesh, fabric, non-woven fabric, fiber, cloth, cotton, nylon, polyester, or cotton paper. Said embodiments are fashioned with a mesh spacing selected from about 25-500 micrometers and preferably 70-150 micrometers. Said embodiments are configured with an open top further configured with one or more closure devices selected from the group comprising crimp, fold, flap, clamp, drawstring, zipper, and hook-and-loop fastener.

[0019] In embodiments of the invention, the zipper 30 may be selected from gauge sizes #3 up to #10.It was discovered that said zipper selected from these gauge sizes was sufficiently tightly engaged to prevent the escape of filtered particulates from between its teeth out of the bag into the filtered liquid.

[0020] In embodiments of the invention, tall and narrow filtering bags would be selected from sizes that can conveniently process about 200-10000 milliliters of unfiltered liquid and preferably 500-2000 milliliters of unfiltered liquid. Said embodiments have a height of about 200-900 millimeters and preferably 300-500 millimeters. Said embodiments have a width of about 100-500 millimeters and preferably 150-250 millimeters. Said embodiments have a height to width ratio of about 1.5 to 3 and preferably around 2.

[0021] It was discovered that when reduced to practice, a tall and narrow liquid filtering bag is ideally suited for many food and beverage filtering tasks when it is supported by a tall and narrow supporting pitcher common to most kitchens because the bag is less sufficiently stable to staying upright on its own during filling.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a tall and narrow liquid filtering bag in a disassembled, flat-sheet configuration according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The flat-sheet configuration represents the state during which said bag can be washed, dried, and stored. A visible, formerly outer surface 10 and hidden, formerly inner surface 20 are fully exposed to laundering agents and washing water during automatic machine washing. The fully exposed surfaces facilitate the unhindered release of trapped debris from said surface 20 directly into the bulk phase of washing water. A fully disengaged zipper 30 forms the bottom edge and both side edges of said disassembled filtering bag. A zipper slider 40 and puller 50 are configured to rest at the innermost center of bottom edge of said bag where the two opposing zipper edges remain connected when fully disengaged.

[0023] In preferred embodiments of the invention, disassembled filtering bags would be washable in an automatic washing machine without the need for extensive hand pre-washing. Said filtering bags would also be compatible with high-temperature washing, disinfection, and high-temperature drying in order to ensure proper sanitation for reuse in a commercial food establishment.

[0024] In embodiments of the invention, the disassembled, flat-sheet configurations of tall and narrow filtering bags have height of about 200-900 millimeters and preferably 300-500 millimeters. Said embodiments have a width of about 200-900 millimeters and preferably 300-500 millimeters. Said embodiments have a height to width ratio of around 0.75 to 1.5 and preferably around 1.

[0025] It was discovered that laundering the disassembled, flat-sheet configuration of filtering bags was far more effective than laundering of a conventional filtering bag; nearly all the original filtering performance of the filtering bag could be retained after every cycle of filtering, washing, and drying. The superior filtration performance of embodiments of the invention after washing has enabled their use with more challenging filtration tasks involving finer particulates, which, in turn, has enabled the development of unprecedented new techniques of cold brew beverage production involving much finer grinding and better flavor extraction from brewing materials than previously anticipated.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a short and wide liquid filtering bag according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Said bag is shown in fully assembled configuration representing the state during which said bag can be used to filter liquids. An outer surface 10 of said filtering bag exudes filtered liquid during filtering operation. An inner surface 20 of said bag receives unfiltered liquid and collects filtered particulates during filtering operation. A fully engaged zipper 30 forms bottom and side edge of said filtering bag. A zipper slider 40 and puller 50 are configured to rest at the top edge of said bag when fully engaged.

[0027] In embodiments of the invention, short and wide filtering bags would be selected from sizes that can conveniently process about 200-10000 milliliters of unfiltered liquid and preferably 500-2000 milliliters of unfiltered liquid. Said embodiments have a height of about 150-700 millimeters and preferably 200-400 millimeters. Said embodiments have a width of about 150-700 millimeters and preferably 200-400 millimeters. Said embodiments have a height to width ratio of about 0.75 to 1.5 and preferably around 1.

[0028] It was discovered that when reduced to practice, a short and wide liquid filtering bag is ideally suited for many food and beverage filtering tasks when it is supported by a flat pan or shallow pot common to most kitchens because the bag is more sufficiently stable to staying upright on its own during filling.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a short and wide liquid filtering bag in a fully disassembled configuration representing the state during which said bag can be washed, dried, and stored. A visible, formerly outer surface 10 and hidden, formerly inner surface 20 are fully exposed to laundering agents and washing water during automatic machine washing enabling the complete release of trapped debris from said surface 20. A fully disengaged zipper 30 forms the bottom and both side edges of said disassembled filtering bag. A zipper slider 40 and puller 50 are configured to rest at the innermost center of bottom edge of said bag where the two opposing zipper edges remain connected when fully disengaged.

[0030] In embodiments of the invention, short and wide filtering bags in a fully disassembled configuration have a height of about 150-700 millimeters and preferably 200-400 millimeters. Said embodiments have a width of about 300-1300 millimeters and preferably 500-700 millimeters. Said embodiments have a height to width ratio of about 0.25 to 0.75 and preferably around 0.5.

[0031] While the above text and accompanying figures are a complete description of specific embodiments of the invention, they should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For instance, the filtering bags described by this invention could be implemented for the separation of any solid and liquid mixture that may or may not be beverage or aqueous. The filtering bags could be implemented to operate at any given temperature and pressure.