FILTERING RECEPTACLE AND METHOD OF USING IT

Abstract

A filtering receptacle (1) for a solid flavour base is dimensioned to fit inside a pot (23) of a French press (24). The filtering receptacle (1) has a circumferential central wall part (3) that extends upwards from a bottom wall part (4) and terminates in a free edge (5) of a circumferential upper wall part (2) opposite the bottom wall part (4), which free edge (5) delimits an opening (6) for adding the solid flavour base to the filtering receptacle (1). The circumferential upper wall part (2) has a plurality of through-going drain passages (7), said through-going drain passages (7) are distributed spaced apart along the circumferential upper wall part (2) and are retracted from the free edge (5), at least some of the through-going drain passages (7) of the circumferential upper wall part (2) extend into an associated channel (8) formed in the exterior face (9) of at least the circumferential central wall part (3), wherein a channel (8) extend from its through-going drain passage (7) down towards the bottom wall part (4) along the majority of the circumferential central wall part (3). The filtering receptacle keeps hold of spend flavour base to that said flavour base can be easily discarded separate.

Claims

1. Filtering receptacle for a solid flavour base, which filtering receptacle is dimensioned to fit inside a pot of a French press, wherein the filtering receptacle has a circumferential central wall part that extends upwards from a bottom wall part and terminates in a free edge of a circumferential upper wall part opposite the bottom wall part, which free edge delimits an opening for adding the solid flavour base to the filtering receptacle, wherein the circumferential upper wall part has a plurality of through-going drain passages, said through-going drain passages are distributed spaced apart along the circumferential upper wall part and are retracted from the free edge, at least some of the through-going drain passages of the circumferential upper wall part extend into an associated channel formed in the exterior face of at least the circumferential central wall part, wherein a channel extend from its through-going drain passage down towards the bottom wall part along the majority of the circumferential central wall part.

2. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the channel extends towards the bottom wall part substantially perpendicularly in relation to the free edge, preferably all the through-going drain passages have an associated channel.

3. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall part has a foot part protruding away from the opening of the filtering receptacle.

4. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein an interior diameter of the filtering receptacle is larger at the upper wall part than the smallest diameter of circumferential central wall part.

5. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein an exterior diameter of the filtering receptacle at least at the circumferential upper wall part is selected to be equal to or slightly, smaller than the interior diameter of a pot of a French press inside which the filtering receptacle is to be used, preferably the exterior diameter of the filtering receptacle at least at the circumferential upper wall part is between 0.2% and 5% smaller than the interior diameter of the pot of the French press.

6. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall part has an inverted centre section, optionally the foot part is at least partly located at and protruding from the inverted centre section.

7. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the filtering receptacle is made of a material that expands when subjected to at temperature range between 80 C. and 100 C. and retracts again when cooled below 50 C.

8. Filtering receptacle according to any claim 7, wherein the material is a plastic material, a rubber material, preferably the material is silicone or polypropylene.

9. Filtering receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the solid flavour base is ground coffee or tea leaves.

10. A method of operating the filtering receptacle according to claim 1 in a French press to make a flavoured beverage by, infusion of a solid flavour base, wherein method comprises the steps of a) placing the filtering receptacle at a bottom of a pot of the French press, b) adding the solid flavour base to the filtering receptacle before or after step a), c) adding hot water to the pot, d) allowing the flavour of the solid flavour base to infuse the hot water, e) depressing a filter piston of the French press down towards the filtering receptacle to separate the brewed beverage from the solid flavour base, f) pouring the beverage from the French press while the filter piston remains situated above the filtering receptacle, g) allowing the filtering receptacle to cool if not already cooled, h) pressing the filter piston in engagement with the filtering receptacle, i) retracting the engaged filter piston and filtering receptacle out of the pot, and j) disengaging the filter piston and filtering receptacle, optionally by rotating and/or a twisting of the filtering receptacle in relation to filter piston, k) optionally emptying the filtering receptacle and cleaning said filtering receptacle and French press.

Description

[0046] The invention will now be described with references to the drawing in which

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the filtering receptacle seen from the side,

[0048] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the filtering receptacle seen from the exterior face of the bottom wall part,

[0049] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1,

[0050] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1,

[0051] FIG. 4a is an enlarged scale view of the encircled detail in FIG. 4 in cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1,

[0052] FIG. 4b is sectional view of FIG. 1 taken at the location of a through-going drain passage,

[0053] FIG. 4c is an enlarged scale view of the encircled detail in FIG. 4b,

[0054] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fragment of a French press with a filtering receptacle,

[0055] FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view inside the filtering receptacle seen in FIG. 1, and

[0056] FIGS. 7a-7i illustrate schematically the method of using the filtering receptacle to produce a beverage from a flavour base placed in the filtering receptacle located in a French press, and the operation of the receptacle together with the filter piston of said French press.

[0057] The filtering receptacle 1 seen in FIG. 1 has a circumferential upper wall part 2 that extends via a circumferential central wall part 3 into a bottom wall part 4.

[0058] The filtering receptacle 1 is thus shaped as a cup with a free edge 5 defining the outer perimeter of the circumferential upper wall part 2 and having an opening 6 with and interior diameter d1.

[0059] The circumferential upper wall part 2 has a plurality of through-going drain passages 7, which in the present example are distributed equidistantly spaced apart along said circumferential upper wall part 2 and are retracted from the free edge 5. Each of the through-going drain passages of the circumferential upper wall part 2 extend into an associated channel 8 formed in the exterior side 9 of the circumferential central wall part 3, wherein a channel 8 extends perpendicular to the free edge 5 from its through-going drain passage 7 down along the exterior side of circumferential central wall part 3 to the bottom wall part 4.

[0060] As seen best in the sectional views of FIG. 4, FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b and FIG. 4c, in the present embodiment the channels 8 have intact bottoms and are without perforations that could create open access for any fluid transmission from chamber of the filtering receptacle to the outside of the filtering receptacle. The channels 8 curve slightly along the sloping wall at the transition 10 between the circumferential central wall part 3 and the bottom wall part 4. The channels follow the curvature of the exterior face of the circumferential central wall part 3, which in the present embodiment is slightly constricted at the middle section. Thus for the present embodiment of a filtering receptacle 1, the bottom wall part and upper wall part may have substantial same largest exterior diameters and the exterior diameter of the middle section be smaller, so that a gap is created to the pot wall, as seen in FIG. 5.

[0061] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 the bottom wall part 4 has a slightly inverted centre section 12 protruding upwards towards the opening 6. A foot part 13 in the form of the GRUMS logo 14 is protruding from an exterior surface 11 of the inverted centre section 12.

[0062] As seen best in FIG. 3 the wall thickness of the circumferential upper wall part 2 tapers as a flared lip 15 towards its free edge 5. The interior diameter d2 at the middle of the circumferential central wall part 3 is smaller than the interior diameter d1 at the free edge 5. The flared lip 15 of the free edge 5 of the upper wall part 2 can have an increased exterior diameter of 1-10%, preferably 5-8% compared to the interior diameter of the upper wall part 2, as well as being increased by 5-10% of the interior diameter d2 at the middle of the circumferential central wall part 3.

[0063] As seen in the enlarged detailed view of FIG. 4c the inlet opening 20 of the through-going drain passage 7 starts closer to the free edge 4 than the outlet opening 21 of the through-going drain passage 7. Thus the flow passage 22 of the through-going drain passage 7 turns towards the bottom wall at its exit into the channel 8.

[0064] As seen in FIG. 5 the interior face 16 of the filtering receptacle 1 has three inwards protruding brewing ribs 16, 17, 18 with respective indications STRONG, MEDIUM, and MILD integrally molded and protruding. If the brewer wishes a strong coffee flavour the filtering receptacle is filled with ground coffee to the first rib 17 and after infusion of the ground coffee the filter piston is depressed until the first position where it contacts the first rib 17, indicating STRONG. When the pot is emptied, e.g. when the coffee infusion is drunk, the filter piston is forced further down into the filtering receptacle towards the bottom wall part 4 to obtain firm engagement in order to safely retract the filtering receptacle 1 with its content of compacted wet ground coffee.

[0065] Similarly, if the brewer wishes a medium coffee flavour the filtering receptacle is filled with ground coffee to the second rib 18. After infusion of the ground coffee, the filter piston is depressed until the second position where it contacts the second rib 18, indicating MEDIUM.

[0066] If the brewer only wishes a mild coffee flavour the filtering receptacle is only filled with ground coffee to the third rib 19. After infusion the filter piston is depressed until it is in the third position where it contacts the third rib 19, indicating MILD.

[0067] At the respective first position, second position and third position contact between ground coffee and hot water has been disrupted to the extent possible so that infusion substantially stops.

[0068] The molded indications STRONG, MEDIUM and MILD are not mandatory but preferred. The ribs further provide a tactile guidance to the user to stop depression temporarily until the pot is empty of brew and the filter piston is about to be retracted.

[0069] In FIG. 6 the filtering receptacle 1 has been inserted into the pot 23 of an empty French press 24, Only the lower part of the pot 23 and of the filter piston 25 with the meshed front part 26 mounted on the plunger rod 27 is seen in FIG. 6 The meshed front part 26 of the filter piston 25 is depressed below the first rib 17.

[0070] The meshed front part 26 of the filter piston 25 consists of a base filter (not visual in FIG. 6, a micro mesh filter 27, and a spring filter 28. The spring filter 28 has a circumferential spring 29, and the base filter has an upwards male screw means 30 secured inside a female screw means 31 at the distal end of the plunger rod 27.

[0071] FIGS. 7a-7j illustrate schematically the various steps of the method of using the filtering receptacle 1 in accordance with the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 7a shows schematically step b). The filtering receptacle 1 has been filled with flavour base 32, in the present example ground coffee 33 to level MEDIUM. The pot 23 is made ready for brewing coffee.

[0073] FIG. 7b shows step a) wherein the flavour-base-filled filtering receptacle 1 is placed in the pot 23 and allowed to sink to the bottom 34 of the pot 23, as indicated by arrow A.

[0074] In the situation shown in FIG. 7c the method has reached steps c) and d) in that water 35 has been added to the pot 23 to extract the flavour of the flavour base by infusion, thus extract the coffee flavour to make coffee, Extraction time is e.g. 3-7 minutes depending on type of coffee, and how strong the coffee should be. The filter piston 25 is arranged at the top of the pot 23, substantially at the water level, and the circumferential spring 29 resiliently engages the pot wall 37. For the purpose of illustrating the method of the present invention, the meshed front part 26 is shown schematically without the many perforations and through-going opening that allows the water 35 to pass through while keeping the ground coffee below it.

[0075] FIG. 7d illustrates step e) in which the filter piston 25 has is being pushed down towards the filtering receptacle 1, as indicated by arrow B, to separate the brewed beverage 36, the coffee, from the solid flavour base 32, the ground coffee 33.

[0076] In the situation shown in FIG. 7e, step f) has been performed partly. Thus some of the brewed coffee 36 has been poured from the pot 23, while the filter piston 25 remains situated above the filtering receptacle 1. When all the coffee 36 has been poured from the pot 1 the temperature of the filtering receptacle 1 has dropped, in accordance with step g) and in accordance with the explanation of temperature drop stated above.

[0077] Now, as illustrated in FIG. 7f, step h) is performed. In step h) the meshed front part 26 of the filter piston 25 has been pressed, as indicated by arrow C, down into the filtering receptacle 1 to obtain firm engagement and coupling to said filtering receptacle 1, so that when the upwards translatory movement of step i), which is indicated by arrow D in FIG. 7g, is performed, the filtering receptacle 1 and the meshed front part 26 does not disengage due to the spring force of the circumferential spring 29 of the spring filter that acts on opposite circumferential wall 2, 3, 4 of the filtering receptacle, e.g. on the upper circumferential wall part 2 or on the central circumferential wall part 3 depending on the filling level of the filtering receptacle 1 and on the extent to which the meshed front part 26 has been moved down into the filtering receptacle 1. The filtering receptacle 1 comes along easily up the pot 23 due to the resiliency of the circumferential spring 29. Due to the same force, and optionally any potential inherent shrinkage of the filtering receptacle 1 back to its start configuration before hot water was added, contributes to the firm engagement during pulling the filtering receptacle 1 up the pot 23 by means of the filter piston 25.

[0078] FIG. 7h illustrates that in step j) a simple rotation about the central axis of the plunger rod, as indicated by arrow E, may suffice to disengage the filled filtering receptacle 1 from the filter piston 25. Optionally also a twisting or tilting movement can be used in addition or exclusively for that purpose. If twisting or tilting is used, e.g. during the rotation the plunger rod 27, said plunger rod 27 is simply tilted slightly in relation to the central axis X of the filter piston.

[0079] In step k) shown in FIG. 7i, the filter piston 25 and the filtering receptacle have been separated and the spent coffee ground is being disposed.

[0080] Thus to summarise, the meshed front part 26 of the filter piston 25 will after the coffee grounds has saturated just with a gentle push towards the filtering receptacle 1 locate into said filtering receptacle 1. Once situated into the filtering receptacle 1 for the retraction of same, said filtering receptacle 1 will, due to the now embedded circumferential spring 29 of the spring filter 28 of the filter piston 25, connect the filtering receptacle 1 and the filter piston 25 by way of a frictional force exerted by a.o. said circumferential spring 29. The frictional force and the spring force will all together at all times exceed the downward gravitational force acting on the filter piston 26 and filtering receptacle 1 from the compacted ground flavour base and water inside the filtering receptacle as well of its own weight.