Filter cup

Abstract

The utility model provides a filter cup which comprises a cup wall, the upper side edge of the cup wall forms a feeding port in a surrounding mode, the lower side edge of the cup wall forms a liquid outlet in a surrounding mode, and a plurality of grooves which extend between the feeding port and the liquid outlet and are different in length are formed in the inner wall of the cup wall. And a plurality of adjacent grooves are intersected at the lower part of the filter cup to form a groove and extend to the lower side edge of the filter cup. According to the filter cup provided by the utility model, the flow velocity of the filtered liquid in each section of the filter cup can be stabilized, so that raw materials are extracted more fully, excessive extraction is avoided, and the taste of drinks is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of beverage filtration devices, specifically to a filter cup. Background Technology

[0002] A filter cup is a common device used for filtering beverages such as tea and coffee. These types of beverages typically require the addition of solvents such as water to the ingredients to extract their flavor compounds and create a drink that suits the drinker's taste.

[0003] The flavor of a beverage typically depends on the extraction rate of the ingredients and the concentration of the drink. Extraction rate refers to the proportion of the water-soluble components in the ingredients to the total mass of the ingredients. For beverages like tea or coffee, where extraction is involved, a higher extraction rate isn't always better; over-extraction can negatively impact the flavor. Take pour-over coffee as an example: the first substances extracted are the organic acids from the coffee grounds, which contribute to the sweet and sour flavor and are the substances we want to extract fully. However, as the extraction time increases, the bitter phenolic compounds in the coffee grounds are gradually extracted. Over-extraction can make the coffee too bitter, resulting in a poor flavor. Concentration refers to the proportion of the solute's mass to the total mass of the drink. Different people have different preferences for concentration, which can be adjusted by controlling the amount of water and ingredients used. For pour-over coffee, the current popular preference is for "high concentration, low extraction," meaning a full-bodied coffee with a stronger sweet and sour taste.

[0004] Extraction in instant beverages primarily occurs within the filter cup. The filter cup is typically funnel-shaped; ingredients and water are added through the top inlet, and extraction occurs within the cup. The resulting beverage flows from the bottom outlet into a collection container. Filter cups are usually used in conjunction with filter paper, which is typically conical with only a top inlet and no opening at the tip. The filter paper prevents leakage or clogging of the outlet.

[0005] Existing filter cups typically utilize their structure to adjust flow guidance performance and water flow rate, thereby affecting beverage extraction. These filter cups usually have protruding guide bones on their inner wall. These guide bones guide the flow direction of the filtered liquid, supporting the filter paper and creating a gap between the filter paper and the filter cup. The liquid formed after water and raw materials mix and are extracted can flow through the filter paper opposite the inner wall of the filter cup into the filter cup, flowing downwards along the guide bones. Simultaneously, it can permeate downwards along the raw materials under gravity and flow out from the outlet at the bottom of the filter cup.

[0006] While existing filter cups can adjust flow performance and water flow rate, the flow velocity of the liquid varies significantly across different sections of the filter cup, especially at the bottom where the raw materials accumulate, leading to a slower flow velocity and a higher risk of over-extraction. Furthermore, due to poor adhesion between the filter paper and the filter cup, insufficiently extracted liquid can easily leak through the gaps between the filter paper and the filter cup, increasing the bypass rate—the proportion of water that passes through the filter paper without being fully extracted from the raw materials—resulting in a weaker beverage flavor. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a filter cup to solve the problem of unstable extraction effect of existing filter cups, which affects the taste of beverages.

[0008] This utility model provides a filter cup, wherein the filter cup includes a cup wall, the upper side of the cup wall forms an inlet, the lower side forms an outlet, and the inner wall of the cup wall is provided with a plurality of grooves extending between the inlet and the outlet with different lengths. The plurality of adjacent grooves converge at the lower part of the filter cup to form a single groove and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

[0009] Preferably, the groove includes a first groove, a second groove, and a third groove with decreasing lengths, and multiple adjacent first grooves, second grooves, and third grooves converge into a single groove at the lower part of the filter cup and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

[0010] Preferably, the first groove, the second groove, and the third groove are alternately arranged on the inner wall of the filter cup.

[0011] Preferably, the inner wall of the cup is provided with a plurality of first grooves, and a second groove or a third groove is provided between two adjacent first grooves, and the second groove and the third groove are respectively connected to two adjacent first grooves.

[0012] Preferably, the second and third grooves are alternately disposed between two adjacent first grooves, and are respectively connected to the adjacent first grooves at the lower part of the filter cup.

[0013] Preferably, the second groove and the third groove are connected at their ends to two adjacent first grooves via two connecting grooves.

[0014] Preferably, the second groove and the third groove are alternately arranged between two adjacent first grooves, and the second groove and the third groove on both sides of the first groove are connected to the same connection point of the first groove at their ends by connecting grooves.

[0015] Preferably, the planes containing the inlet and outlet are parallel to each other, and the angle of inclination of the cup wall relative to the planes containing the inlet and outlet is 62 degrees.

[0016] Preferably, the length of the first groove and / or the second groove and / or the third groove is set along the height direction of the cup wall.

[0017] Preferably, there are 12 first grooves, and 6 second and 6 third grooves.

[0018] The filter cup provided by this utility model can stabilize the flow rate of the filtered liquid in each section of the filter cup, making the raw material extraction more complete, avoiding over-extraction, and thus improving the taste of the beverage. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present invention and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a filter cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a top view of a filter cup according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a comparison chart of flow rates obtained from a mixing experiment using filter cups from existing technologies and the filter cup of this invention.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0024] 1. Cup wall; 11. First groove; 12. Second groove; 13. Third groove; 14. Connecting groove; 2. Inlet; 3. Outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.

[0026] In this invention, unless otherwise stated, directional terms used should be interpreted appropriately in conjunction with the directions shown in the accompanying drawings and the directions in actual applications.

[0027] This utility model provides a filter cup, wherein the filter cup includes a cup wall 1, the upper side of the cup wall 1 forms an inlet 2, the lower side forms an outlet 3, and a plurality of grooves of different lengths extending between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 are provided on the inner wall of the cup wall 1. The plurality of adjacent grooves converge into a single groove at the lower part of the filter cup and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

[0028] The filter cup of this invention features grooves instead of ridges on its inner wall. After the liquid seeps from the filter paper into the filter cup, it is guided along the edges of the grooves on the inner wall. That is, both sides of the inner wall edge of each groove serve a guiding function. The portion of the groove away from the filter paper allows for air circulation and pressure balancing. The filter cup of this invention has multiple grooves of different lengths, meaning there are different numbers of grooves at different filter cup heights. Therefore, the filter cup can have different guiding properties at different liquid levels, thereby achieving the function of adjusting the flow rate. After water is poured into the filter cup, the water level is high and the water pressure is high at the top. Other factors determine that the flow rate at this level is relatively high. Therefore, the number of grooves corresponding to this length is set less at this height to reduce the flow-guiding performance of the filter cup at this height, thereby reducing the flow rate and allowing the water to fully extract the raw materials. As the water level decreases, the water pressure gradually decreases, and other factors determine that the flow rate at this level also decreases. Therefore, the flow-guiding performance of the filter cup at this height is appropriately improved by increasing the number of grooves corresponding to this length, thereby increasing the flow rate. At the bottom of the filter cup, not only is the water pressure lowest, but the raw materials also accumulate, resulting in the lowest flow rate and a tendency for over-extraction. Therefore, the number of grooves at this height is further increased to increase the flow rate. The technical solution of this invention can balance the flow rate at different liquid levels, ensuring that the flavor substances in the raw materials are fully extracted while avoiding over-extraction caused by slow flow rates, resulting in a beverage with a better flavor.

[0029] In addition, the flow guiding structure of the filter cup of this utility model adopts a groove rather than a ridge, which allows the filter paper and the inner wall of the filter cup to fit better, preventing the liquid that is not fully extracted from flowing out through the gap between the filter paper and the filter cup, reducing the bypass rate of the liquid, and preventing the beverage from becoming bland.

[0030] It should be noted that this utility model does not limit the length, width, shape, or extension direction of the multiple grooves. Any arrangement that can achieve the purpose of this utility model should fall within the protection scope of this utility model. For example, multiple grooves with lengths gradually decreasing from penetrating the filter cup can be provided, or the grooves can have multiple different lengths, with one or more grooves provided for each length.

[0031] Preferably, the groove includes a first groove 11, a second groove 12, and a third groove 13 with decreasing lengths. Multiple adjacent first grooves 11, second grooves 12, and third grooves 13 converge into a single groove at the lower part of the filter cup and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

[0032] By setting the number and length of the three types of grooves, this invention can achieve segmented control of the flow rate along the height of the filter cup. That is, when the water poured into the filter cup flows through the filter cup at different heights, the flow rate of the beverage flowing into the filter cup through the filter paper is controlled by setting the number and length of the three types of grooves, thereby making the flow rate more stable throughout the extraction process.

[0033] The filter cup of this invention can be divided into three sections along its height: the first section is above the upper end of the second groove 12, where the water level is high, the water pressure is high, and the liquid flow rate is fast. The inner wall of this section has fewer grooves, only the first groove 11, to control and reduce the liquid flow rate. The second section extends from below the upper end of the second groove 12 to the upper end of the third groove 13. The water level and water pressure are moderate in this section, and the liquid flow rate is slower than in the first section. The inner wall of this section has more grooves corresponding to the first groove 11 and the second groove 12 compared to the first section, to control and increase the liquid flow rate. The third section is below the upper end of the third groove 13, where the water level and water pressure are lowest, and the liquid flow rate is slowest. The inner wall of this section has the most corresponding grooves, including the first groove 11, the second groove 12, and the third groove 13, to further increase the flow rate. This invention adjusts the liquid flow rate through grooves, balancing the flow rate differences caused by water level and water pressure in each section, thus making the flow rate more stable throughout the extraction process.

[0034] The flavor of instant beverages usually depends on the extraction rate of the raw materials and the concentration of the beverage. The flow rate affects the extraction rate and concentration of the beverage, so a stable flow rate plays a very important role in the flavor of instant beverages.

[0035] The filter cup provided by this utility model can control the flow rate in segments. Since the coffee powder accumulates at the bottom of the filter cup (on the filter paper) under the action of gravity, the flow rate in the first and second segments of the filter cup is relatively slow after hot water is poured in, so that the water can fully contact the coffee powder at this height and ensure the full extraction of organic acids. The coffee powder will accumulate downwards in the third segment at the bottom of the filter cup due to gravity and the force of the water. Various factors cause the liquid flow rate to be slow at this height. The flow rate in the third segment is accelerated by the grooves on the inner wall of the filter cup, so as to avoid over-extraction of coffee powder.

[0036] When coffee grounds are mixed with water, extraction occurs, and some water is absorbed and retained in the coffee grounds. The filter cup of this invention can control the flow rate of the liquid more evenly and stably throughout the extraction process, allowing the water to fully contact the coffee grounds. Therefore, more water is retained in the coffee grounds, and less seeps out, thereby increasing the concentration of the coffee liquid.

[0037] Taking pour-over coffee as an example, under the same conditions of coffee powder, water temperature, water quality, extraction method, and extraction time, the coffee liquid data obtained from brewing experiments using existing filter cups and the filter cup of this invention are compared in Table 1:

[0038]

[0039] Table 1

[0040] As can be seen from the above experimental data, the filter cup using the present invention can produce beverages with higher concentration and lower extraction rate.

[0041] Furthermore, taking pour-over coffee as an example again, under the same conditions of coffee powder, filter paper, water temperature, and water quality, the same barista used a three-stage pouring method. A comparison of the filter flow rates obtained from brewing experiments using existing filter cups and the filter cup of this invention is shown below. Figure 3 .

[0042] Figure 3 In the diagram, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents flow rate. The flow rates were measured at three time points: 00:00, 00:30, and 01:00. The experimental data shows that the filter cup of this invention can reduce the flow rate when the flow rate is high in existing filter cups, and can increase the flow rate when the flow rate is low in existing filter cups, resulting in a more uniform and stable flow rate throughout the extraction process.

[0043] Preferably, the first groove 11, the second groove 12, and the third groove 13 are alternately arranged on the inner wall of the filter cup. According to this embodiment, the three grooves are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction, enabling the filter cup to filter and guide water evenly in the circumferential direction.

[0044] Preferably, the inner wall of the cup wall 1 is provided with a plurality of first grooves 11, and a second groove 12 or a third groove 13 is provided between two adjacent first grooves 11, and the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 are respectively connected to the two adjacent first grooves 11.

[0045] In this preferred embodiment, two shorter second grooves 12 and a third groove 13 are both disposed between two adjacent first grooves 11, forming an alternating groove arrangement of short and long sections, further ensuring that the filter cup can filter and guide the flow uniformly in the circumferential direction. In addition, the second grooves 12 and the third grooves 13 are connected to the two first grooves 11 adjacent to them on the left and right, thereby increasing the grooves on the inner wall and increasing the flow rate in the corresponding sections.

[0046] Preferably, the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 are alternately disposed between two adjacent first grooves 11, and are respectively connected to the adjacent first groove 11 at the lower part of the filter cup. This preferred embodiment allows for uniform flow guidance in the circumferential direction of the second and third sections of the filter cup.

[0047] Preferably, the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 are connected at their ends to two adjacent first grooves 11 via two connecting grooves 14.

[0048] During the process of adding water into the filter cup, the raw materials will accumulate downwards due to the force of the water and gravity, and the gaps between the raw material particles will become smaller. Therefore, the flow rate is slowest in the third stage of the extraction process at the liquid surface. In this preferred embodiment, the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 are respectively connected to the first grooves 11 on the left and right sides through two connecting grooves 14 at their ends, thereby increasing the number of grooves in the third stage, increasing the flow rate in the third stage, and preventing the flow rate from slowing down in the third stage due to water level, water pressure, raw material accumulation, etc.

[0049] Preferably, the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 are alternately arranged between two adjacent first grooves 11, and the second groove 12 and the third groove 13 on both sides of the first groove 11 are connected to the same connection point of the first groove 11 through the connecting groove 14.

[0050] In this preferred embodiment, the first groove 11, the second groove 12, and the third groove 13 are all evenly distributed along the circumferential direction of the filter cup, thereby enabling the filter cup to filter and guide the flow evenly in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, since adjacent second grooves 12, first grooves 11, and third grooves 13 are connected to the same connection point on the first groove 11 via connecting grooves 14, these three adjacent grooves converge on the first groove 11 at the lower part of the filter cup. Preferably, the connection points of each first groove 11 are at the same position, making the pattern formed by the grooves on the inner wall of the filter cup more aesthetically pleasing. Preferably, the first groove 11, second groove 12, third groove 13, and connecting groove 14 together form a flower pattern. The filter cup provided by this invention offers both high practicality and aesthetic appeal.

[0051] Preferably, the planes containing the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 are parallel to each other, and the angle of inclination of the cup wall 1 relative to the planes containing the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 is 62 degrees. Currently, the unfolding angle of the cone-shaped coffee filter paper on the market is usually 62 degrees. In order to better fit with the filter paper, the filter cup of this utility model is preferably set as a truncated cone shape, with the planes containing the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 being parallel to each other, forming the bottom surface. The angle (i.e., the inclination angle) between the arc surface of the cup wall and the bottom surface is 62 degrees. Therefore, it fits better with the filter paper commonly used on the market, avoiding an increase in bypass rate due to poor adhesion between the filter paper and the inner wall of the filter cup.

[0052] Preferably, the lengths of the first groove 11 and / or the second groove 12 and / or the third groove 13 are arranged along the height direction of the cup wall. In this preferred embodiment, the groove length is the shortest, resulting in the shortest liquid flow path. Depending on the characteristics of different raw materials and extraction requirements, the grooves can also be configured in other forms, such as spiral types.

[0053] Preferably, there are 12 first grooves 11, and 6 second grooves 12 and 6 third grooves 13. The second grooves 12 and 6 third grooves 13 are alternately arranged among the 12 first grooves 11, resulting in a total of 24 connecting grooves. Depending on the material and manufacturing process of the filter cup, as well as variations in parameters such as the width and depth of the grooves, the number of grooves can be set to other appropriate quantities; this invention does not impose any limitations on this.

[0054] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present invention, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0055] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable way without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this utility model will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0056] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this utility model can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this utility model, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed by this utility model.

Claims

1. A filter cup, characterized in that, The filter cup includes a cup wall (1), the upper side of which forms an inlet (2) and the lower side forms an outlet (3). The inner wall of the cup wall (1) is provided with a plurality of grooves extending between the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) and of different lengths. The plurality of adjacent grooves converge at the lower part of the filter cup to form a single groove and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

2. The filter cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove includes a first groove (11), a second groove (12), and a third groove (13) with decreasing lengths. Multiple adjacent first grooves (11), second grooves (12), and third grooves (13) converge into a single groove at the lower part of the filter cup and extend to the lower side of the filter cup.

3. The filter cup according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first groove (11), the second groove (12) and the third groove (13) are alternately arranged on the inner wall of the filter cup.

4. The filter cup according to claim 2, characterized in that, The inner wall of the cup wall (1) is provided with a plurality of first grooves (11), and a second groove (12) or a third groove (13) is provided between two adjacent first grooves (11). The second groove (12) and the third groove (13) are respectively connected to the two adjacent first grooves (11).

5. The filter cup according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second groove (12) and the third groove (13) are alternately arranged between two adjacent first grooves (11), and are respectively connected to the adjacent first grooves (11) at the lower part of the filter cup.

6. The filter cup according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second groove (12) and the third groove (13) are connected at their ends to the two adjacent first grooves (11) by two connecting grooves (14).

7. The filter cup according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second groove (12) and the third groove (13) are alternately arranged between two adjacent first grooves (11), and the second groove (12) and the third groove (13) on both sides of the first groove (11) are connected to the same connection point of the first groove (11) by connecting grooves (14) at their ends.

8. The filter cup according to claim 1, characterized in that, The planes containing the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) are parallel to each other, and the angle of inclination of the cup wall (1) relative to the plane containing the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) is 62 degrees.

9. The filter cup according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lengths of the first groove (11) and / or the second groove (12) and / or the third groove (13) are set along the height direction of the cup wall.

10. The filter cup according to any one of claims 2-7 and 9, characterized in that, There are 12 first grooves (11), and 6 second grooves (12) and 6 third grooves (13).

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