Filter and beverage extractor

Abstract

Provided are a filter and a beverage extractor with which a beverage can be extracted and poured more easily. A filter (1) is provided with: a substantially cylindrical frame section (10) formed from an elastic member, the frame section (10) being detachably attached to an opening (30) of a container (3) that accommodates an object to be extracted and a liquid; and a filter unit (20) that is disposed in a region (R) surrounded by the frame unit (10), allows the outflow of the beverage extracted from the extract in the container (3) to the outside, and prevents the outflow of the extract, is made of a porous ceramic, and can be attached to and detached from the frame unit (10), the frame unit (10) having: an annular large-diameter part (11) in which the filter unit (20) is disposed; and a small-diameter section (12) which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter section (11) and is inserted into an opening (30) of the container (3) when the frame section (10) is attached to the container (3), the small-diameter section (12) having a flange-shaped attachment section (123) which extends radially outward thereof and which can be bent toward the large-diameter section (11), and the small-diameter section (12) being a site where the frame section (10) is inserted into the opening (30) of the container (3) when the frame section (10) is attached to the container (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter and a beverage extractor. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, devices for extracting beverages such as coffee and tea are known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device comprising a container for receiving tea leaves and liquid, and a concave filter secured to the edge of the container and having multiple openings that prevent the outflow of tea leaves but allow the outflow of tea extract.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-246187 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] In the device of Comparative Document 1, although a beverage extracted from tea leaves can be provided by placing tea leaves and hot water in a container and locking and installing a concave filter on the edge of the container, in order to prevent the filter from falling out of the container when pouring the beverage, the size and shape of the filter need to accurately match the size and shape of the container.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a filter and a beverage extractor that make it easier to extract and pour beverages.

[0009] Solutions for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present invention relates to a filter comprising: a frame portion, which is detachably mounted on an opening of a container for storing an extract and a liquid and is formed of an elastic member; and a porous filter portion, which is arranged in an area surrounded by the frame portion, allows the beverage extracted from the extract in the container to flow out to the outside and hinders the outflow of the extract.

[0011] The frame portion is substantially cylindrical and has a flange-shaped mounting portion extending radially outward.

[0012] The filter portion is made of porous ceramics.

[0013] The filter portion is attachable to and detachable from the frame portion.

[0014] The filter portion has a substantially circular shape in a plan view when the frame portion is attached to the container, and includes a pouring portion tapering toward the radially outer side and an opening formed on the side opposite to the pouring portion.

[0015] In addition, the present invention relates to a beverage extractor, which comprises: the filter; and a container that houses the material to be extracted and a liquid, and the filter can be installed at its opening.

[0016] Effects of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to more easily extract and pour the beverage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view of a beverage extractor showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 FIG. is a side view of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 FIG. is a top view of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 FIG. is a bottom view of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 is Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of the beverage container shown along line V-V.

[0023] Figure 6 FIG. is an exploded perspective view of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 7 FIG. is a top view of a filtering portion of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 8 FIG. is a bottom view of a filtering portion of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 9 FIG. is a top view of a frame portion of a filter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 10 FIG. is a cross-sectional view of a beverage extractor in which the material to be extracted and a liquid are housed in a container.

[0028] Figure 11 FIG. is a schematic view showing a situation where a beverage extracted from the material to be extracted is poured into a beverage container using the beverage extractor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0030] Refer toFigure 1 to illustrate the filter 1 of the present embodiment. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the beverage extractor 100. In addition, in Figure 1 the container 3 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0031] The filter 1 of the present embodiment is an appliance that is installed in a container 3 for storing an extract and a liquid and is used to pour the beverage extracted in the container 3 into a beverage container or the like. As the extract, for example, coffee beans, tea leaves, etc. can be cited. As the beverage, coffee extracted from coffee beans, tea extracted from tea leaves, etc. can be cited.

[0032] The container 3 is, for example, a bottomed cylindrical shape and stores the extract and the liquid. As the liquid, for example, hot water, which is an extraction solvent for coffee beans and tea leaves, etc. can be cited. The filter 1 is installed at the opening 30 of the container 3. The beverage extractor 100 that extracts a beverage from the extract and pours the extracted beverage into a beverage container or the like is constituted by the filter 1 and the container 3 to which the filter 1 is installed.

[0033] Refer to Figures 1 to 9 to illustrate the configuration of the filter 1. Figure 2 is a side view of the filter 1. Figure 3 is a top view of the filter 1. Figure 4 is a bottom view of the filter 1. Figure 5 is Figure 3 a cross-sectional view of the filter 1 shown along the line V-V. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the filter 1. Figure 7 is a top view of the filtering portion 20. Figure 8 is a bottom view of the filtering portion 20. Figure 9 is a top view of the frame portion 10.

[0034] As Figure 1 shown, the filter 1 includes a frame portion 10 that is installed on the container 3 and a filtering portion 20 that filters the beverage. In addition, in the following description, the vertical up-and-down orientation in the state where the filter 1 is installed on the container 3 is set as the up-and-down direction of the filter 1.

[0035] The frame portion 10 is a part that is detachably installed on the opening 30 of the container 3 and on which the filtering portion 20 is disposed. The frame portion 10 is formed of an elastic member and can be elastically deformed as a whole. As the elastic member forming the frame portion 10, for example, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, etc. can be cited. The elastic member forming the frame portion 10 of the present embodiment is silicone rubber.

[0036] As Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the frame portion 10 is cylindrical, having a large-diameter portion 11, a small-diameter portion 12 with a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion 11, and a connecting portion 13 connecting the large-diameter portion 11 and the small-diameter portion 12. The large-diameter portion 11 is located above the small-diameter portion 12 when the frame portion 10 is installed on the container 3. The connecting portion 13 is located between the large-diameter portion 11 and the small-diameter portion 12.

[0037] The large-diameter portion 11 will be described. As Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 9 shown, the large-diameter portion 11 is annular as a whole, and its outer peripheral surface 111 is formed in a conical shape with the diameter increasing as it moves away from the connecting portion 13. The opening portion 110 of the large-diameter portion 11 is shaped such that a part of the edge extends radially outward in a top view as Figure 9 shown. An engaging groove portion 113 and a conical surface 114 for fitting the filtering portion 20 are formed on the inner peripheral surface 112 of the large-diameter portion 11.

[0038] As Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 9 shown, the engaging groove portion 113 is an annular groove formed on the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface 112 of the large-diameter portion 11. The engaging groove portion 113 engages with an engaging protrusion portion 24 (described later) of the filtering portion 20. That is, the filtering portion 20 is disposed in the region R surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 112 where the engaging groove portion 113 is formed.

[0039] The conical surface 114 is a surface formed on the upper end side of the inner peripheral surface 112 of the large-diameter portion 11 (the side opposite to the connecting portion 13 in the axial direction of the frame portion 10). The conical surface 114 forms the upper surface of the filter 1 in a state where the frame portion 10 is installed on the container 3. The conical surface 114 is in a conical shape with the diameter increasing as it moves away from the small-diameter portion 12.

[0040] In addition, a pouring portion 115 whose width becomes smaller toward the radially outer side is formed on the conical surface 114 in a top view. That is, the pouring portion 115 is shaped such that its tip becomes thinner toward the radially outer side of the large-diameter portion 11. The outer peripheral surface 111 of the portion where the pouring portion 115 is formed is formed to protrude radially outward when viewed from below. According to this configuration, the beverage flowing out from inside the container 3 through the filtering portion 20 can be smoothly guided to the outside.

[0041] The small-diameter portion 12 will be described. The small-diameter portion 12 is a portion that is inserted into the opening portion 30 of the container 3 when the frame portion 10 is installed on the container 3. The small-diameter portion 12 is formed in an annular shape with a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion 11.

[0042] The small-diameter portion 12 is formed such that its inner diameter and outer diameter are substantially constant in the axial direction of the frame portion 10. That is, the outer peripheral surface 121 and the inner peripheral surface 122 of the small-diameter portion 12 are surfaces substantially parallel to the axial direction of the frame portion 10. The size of the opening portion 120 of the small-diameter portion 12 is smaller than the sizes of the opening portion 110 of the large-diameter portion 11 and the filter portion 20.

[0043] The small-diameter portion 12 has a flange-shaped mounting portion 123 that extends radially outward from its outer peripheral surface 121 toward the frame portion 10. The mounting portion 123 elastically adheres to the inner peripheral surface 32 of the container 3 in a state where the frame portion 10 is mounted on the container 3.

[0044] The length L1 of the mounting portion 123 in the radial direction of the frame portion 10 is preferably equal to or less than the interval L2 from the surface on the side of the connecting portion 13 of the mounting portion 123 to the surface on the side of the small-diameter portion 12 of the connecting portion 13 in the axial direction of the frame portion 10. In the present embodiment, the length L1 of the mounting portion 123 is formed to be substantially equal to the interval L2. In addition, the length L1 of the mounting portion 123 and the thickness (width of the mounting portion 123 in the axial direction of the frame portion 10) T1 of the mounting portion 123 are adjusted within a range where the mounting portion 123 can be bent. According to this configuration, when the filter 1 is inserted into the container 3 having an opening portion 30 larger in diameter than the diameter up to the outer peripheral surface 121 of the small-diameter portion 12, as the frame portion 10 is inserted into the opening portion 30, the mounting portion 123 is bent toward the large-diameter portion 11 through the upper end portion 31 of the container 3. In this state, the mounting portion 123 is pressed and adhered to the inner peripheral surface 32 of the container 3 by the restoring force toward its radial outer side.

[0045] The connecting portion 13 is formed in a ring shape in a plan view inside the lower portion of the large-diameter portion 11. The connecting portion 13 is a portion that connects the lower end portion of the large-diameter portion 11 and the upper end portion of the small-diameter portion 12 and mounts the filter portion 20. The connecting portion 13 has a substantially circular shape in which a part of the circumference protrudes radially outward in a plan view.

[0046] The filter portion 20 is Figure 6 shown as being disk-shaped as a whole, and Figure 7 shown as being substantially circular in a plan view. In addition, in the present specification, the substantially circular shape means a circular shape and a shape close to a circular shape, for example, including an elliptical shape, an oblong shape, a circular shape in which a part of the circumference protrudes radially outward, and the like. The filter portion 20 of the present embodiment has a shape corresponding to the opening portion 110 in the large-diameter portion 11 of the frame portion 10. That is, the filter portion 20 has a substantially circular shape in which a part of the circumference protrudes radially outward in a plan view.

[0047] The filter portion 20 has a size and shape corresponding to the region R of the large-diameter portion 11, and is disposed in the region R surrounded by the inner peripheral surface 112 of the frame portion 10. In addition, the size of the filter portion 20 is larger than the size of the opening portion 120 of the small-diameter portion 12.

[0048] The filtering unit 20 of this embodiment can be installed on the frame unit 10 and can be detached from the frame unit 10. Specifically, the filtering unit 20 is not fixed to the frame unit 10. By elastically deforming the frame unit 10, it can be arranged in the region R within the large-diameter portion 11 and can be taken out from the region R to the outside of the large-diameter portion 11.

[0049] The filtering unit 20 is composed of a porous ceramic filter element. The central pore diameter of the fine pores of the filtering unit 20 is preferably 300 μm to 430 μm. The size, porosity, etc. of the fine pores of the filtering unit 20 are appropriately set according to the types of the extract and the beverage. When the frame unit 10 is installed on the container 3, the filtering unit 20 allows the beverage extracted from the extract within the container 3 to flow out to the outside and obstructs the outflow of the extract.

[0050] From the viewpoints of maintaining the strength of the filtering unit 20 and facilitating the flow of the beverage from inside the container 3 to the outside, the thickness of the filtering unit 20 is preferably 3 mm to 4 mm.

[0051] The filtering unit 20 has an upper surface 21 that is slightly curved inward, a bottom surface 22 that is in an arc shape slightly bulging downward, a pouring part 23, a fitting protrusion 24, an opening 25, and a rib part 26.

[0052] The pouring part 23 has a shape that tapers at the top toward the radially outer side of the filtering unit 20. That is, the pouring part 23 is a part where a part of the circumference protrudes radially outward when the filtering unit 20 is viewed from above. The pouring part 23 forms a flow path through which the beverage flowing out from inside the container 3 to the outside passes when the filter 1 is installed on the container 3.

[0053] The fitting protrusion 24 is an annular part that protrudes radially outward from the peripheral edge of the filtering unit 20. The fitting protrusion 24 fits into the fitting groove part 113 formed on the inner peripheral surface 112 of the frame unit 10. When the fitting protrusion 24 of the filtering unit 20 fits into the fitting groove part 113, the pouring part 23 of the filtering unit 20 is arranged at a position corresponding to the pouring part 115 of the frame unit 10.

[0054] The opening 25 is formed on the side opposite to the pouring part 23. Specifically, as Figure 7 shown, the opening 25 is a part that is formed on the side opposite to the pouring part 23 across the center of the upper surface 21 when viewed from above and penetrates from the upper surface 21 to the bottom surface 22. In addition, as Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the opening 25 is formed between the center of the upper surface 21 and the connecting portion 13 on the side opposite to the pouring portion 115 in a plan view in a state where the filtering portion 20 is disposed in the region R of the frame portion 10. Since the opening 25 is formed in the filtering portion 20, the space inside the container 3 communicates with the outside through the opening 120 of the small-diameter portion 12 and the opening 25. Thus, it is possible to add the extract and the liquid into the container 3 from the opening 25 with the filter 1 being installed in the container 3 as it is. In addition, as Figure 3 shown, the portion of the opening 120 of the small-diameter portion 12 other than the portion where the opening 25 is located in a plan view is blocked by the filtering portion 20.

[0055] The rib portion 26 is formed to protrude downward from the bottom surface 22. The rib portion 26 is formed around the opening 25 in the bottom surface 22, near the peripheral edge portion of the filtering portion 20, and the like. In a state where the filtering portion 20 is disposed in the region R of the large-diameter portion 11, the rib portion 26 formed near the peripheral edge portion of the filtering portion 20 abuts against the connecting portion 13.

[0056] Next, with reference to Figure 10 and Figure 11 the usage example of the filter 1 will be described. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a beverage extractor 100 in which tea leaves 4 as an extract and a liquid are stored in the container 3. Figure 11 is a schematic view showing a situation where tea, which is a beverage extracted from the tea leaves 4, is poured into the beverage container 6 using the beverage extractor 100. In Figure 10 and Figure 11 the case where the extract is tea leaves is described as an example.

[0057] First, tea leaves 4 and hot water are poured into the bottomed cylindrical container 3 in a state where the filter 1 is not installed from the opening 30. Next, the filter 1 in which the filtering portion 20 is disposed in the region R of the frame portion 10 is installed in the container 3 storing the tea leaves 4 and the hot water. Specifically, the small-diameter portion 12 of the filter 1 is inserted into the opening 30 of the container 3. At this time, along with the insertion operation of the small-diameter portion 12 into the opening 30, the flange-shaped mounting portion 123 of the small-diameter portion 12 is bent upward (toward the large-diameter portion 11 side) through the upper end portion 31 and the inner peripheral surface 32 of the container 3. In this state, the mounting portion 123 is pressed and abutted against the inner peripheral surface 32 of the container 3 by the restoring force toward the radially outer side of itself. In addition, it is also possible to, as Figure 10 shown, after installing the filter 1 in the container 3, put the tea leaves 4 and the hot water into the container 3 from the opening 25 of the filtering portion 20.

[0058] After a predetermined time for extracting the beverage from the tea leaves 4 has passed, the beverage extractor 100 including the filter 1 and the container 3 in which the filter 1 is installed is tilted, and the beverage in the container 3 is poured into the beverage container 6. Specifically, asFigure 11 As shown, the beverage extractor 100 is tilted so that the pouring portions 115 and 23 are on the lower side in the filter 1, and the beverage is poured into the beverage container 6. At this time, as Figure 11 shown, through the filtering portion 20, the beverage passes through the fine pores of the filtering portion 20 from inside the container 3 and is poured into the beverage container 6 via the pouring portion 23. On the other hand, the tea leaves 4 cannot pass through the fine pores and are blocked by the bottom surface 22 of the filtering portion 20, remaining inside the container 3. Thus, only the beverage can be poured from the container 3 into the beverage container 6. In addition, even when the beverage extractor 100 is tilted, the mounting portion 123 elastically clings to the inner peripheral surface 32 of the container 3 by the restoring force toward the radially outer side of itself, so that the filter 1 can be prevented from falling off the container 3. In addition, when the beverage in the container 3 becomes less, since the outside communicates with the inside of the container 3 via the opening 25 of the filtering portion 20, hot water and tea leaves can be easily added from the opening 25.

[0059] The filter 1 and the beverage extractor 100 according to the present embodiment have the following effects.

[0060] (1) The filter 1 is configured as follows: It includes a frame portion 10 that is detachably mounted to the opening 30 of the container 3 for storing the extract and the liquid and is formed of an elastic member; and a porous filtering portion 20 that is disposed in the region R surrounded by the frame portion 10, allows the beverage extracted from the extract in the container 3 to flow out to the outside, and blocks the outflow of the extract. Thus, since the frame portion 10 around the filtering portion 20 having a filtering function is formed of an elastic member having shape followability, even if the size and shape of the filter 1 do not exactly match the opening 30 of the container 3, the beverage can be poured in such a way that the filtering portion 20 does not fall off the container 3. In addition, it can be mounted to more containers 3 of different sizes and shapes to extract and pour the beverage. Thus, the beverage can be extracted and poured more easily.

[0061] (2) The filter 1 is configured as follows: The frame portion 10 is substantially cylindrical and has a flange-shaped mounting portion 123 that extends radially outward therefrom and elastically clings to the inner peripheral surface 32 on the opening 30 side of the container 3. Thus, when the container 3 is tilted and the beverage in the container 3 is poured into the beverage container 6 or the like, the filter 1 can be more reliably prevented from falling off the container 3.

[0062] (3) The filtering portion 20 of the filter 1 is configured as follows: It is formed of porous ceramics. Thus, the liquid will drip through the fine pores of the ceramics, so that the taste of the liquid can be mellowed. For example, by being used for the extraction of tea and coffee, tea and coffee with more excellent taste and flavor can be easily provided.

[0063] (4) The filtering part 20 of the filter 1 is configured to be mountable to and detachable from the frame part 10. Thereby, after the extraction of the beverage, the filtering part 20 can be removed from the frame part 10, so that it is easy to remove the extract adhering to the filtering part 20 during the cleaning of the filter 1, and the cleaning operation becomes easy.

[0064] (5) The filtering part 20 of the filter 1 is configured to be substantially circular in plan view when disposed in the region R of the frame part 10 mounted on the container 3, and has: a pouring part 23 having a shape that tapers towards the radially outer side thereof; and an opening part 25 formed on the side opposite to the pouring part 23. Thereby, it is possible to add the extract and the liquid as the extraction solvent from the opening part 25 while the filter 1 is mounted on the container 3 as it is, improving convenience.

[0065] (6) The beverage extractor 100 is configured to include: a filter 1; and a container 3 that stores the extract and the liquid, and the filter 1 can be mounted on the opening part 30 thereof. Since the frame part 10 around the filtering part 20 having a filtering function is formed of an elastic member having shape followability, even if the size and shape of the filter 1 do not exactly match the opening part 30 of the container 3, it is possible to pour the beverage in such a manner that the filtering part 20 does not fall off from the container 3. Thus, it is possible to more easily extract and pour the beverage.

[0066] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately changed.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the filtering part 20 is mountable to and detachable from the frame part 10, but the filtering part 20 may also be fixed to the frame part 10.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the filtering part 20 is substantially circular in plan view, but its shape is not particularly limited. For example, the filtering part 20 may also be polygonal in plan view.

[0069] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 1 Filter

[0071] 3 Container

[0072] 10 Frame part

[0073] Twenty filtering parts

[0074] 30 Opening part

[0075] 100 Beverage extractor

[0076] R area.

Claims

1. A filter, characterized in that, Comprising: a frame portion, which is detachably attached to an opening portion of a container for storing an extractant and a liquid, and is formed of an elastic member; and a porous filter portion, which is disposed in a region surrounded by the frame portion, allows a beverage extracted from the extractant in the container to flow out to the outside, and blocks the outflow of the extractant, the frame portion having: a large-diameter annular portion for disposing the filter portion; and a small-diameter portion, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the large-diameter portion, and is a portion inserted into the opening portion of the container when the frame portion is attached to the container, the small-diameter portion having a flange-shaped mounting portion extending radially outward therefrom and bendable toward the large-diameter portion side.

2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter portion is made of porous ceramic.

3. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter portion can be attached to and detached from the frame portion.

4. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the filter portion is substantially circular in plan view in a state where the frame portion is attached to the container, and has: a pouring portion having a shape that tapers toward the outside in its radial direction; and an opening portion formed on the side opposite to the pouring portion.

5. A beverage extractor, characterized in that, Comprising: the filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and a container, which stores an extractant and a liquid, and to the opening portion of which the filter can be attached.

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