Filter

Abstract

A cooking oil filter is disclosed. The filter 100 comprises a main body 1 defining a chamber 2 comprising walls 3 of a filter material, which allows oil to pass through and filters unwanted particles,

Description

Field of invention This invention relates to a filter, in particular a filter for use in filtering cooking oil. Background of the invention A filter is used to remove unwanted particles from the liquid or gas passed through it. It is often beneficial to filter cooking oil which is used for deep frying food. Commercial kitchens use large cooking vats and therefore a lot of cooking oil which becomes dirty due to high use. It is useful to remove any impurities which may have come from the food being cooked. Filtering the cooking oil removes particles and odours thereby cleaning the oil and allowing it to be reused. Current filters may be hard to use and / or clean. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved filter which addresses some of the above mentioned problems of the prior art or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cooking oil filter comprising a main body defining a chamber comprising walls of a filter material which allows oil to pass through and filters unwanted particles. The cooking oil filter further comprising an inlet to the chamber and wherein at least a portion of the walls can be opened to permit removal of filtered particles from the chamber. Preferably, the walls are displaceable between a closed configuration defining the chamber and an open configuration of substantially planar form. Preferably, the main body comprises one or more sections having a removable connection forming a seal when closed. Preferably, the main body comprises a re-sealable seam joining the one or more sections. Preferably, the seam comprises hook and loop fasteners. Preferably, the main body comprises an elongate first portion which then widens to form a second portion with a greater cross-sectional area. Preferably, the first portion has a longitudinal axis defining the general direction of fluid flowthrough the chamber and wherein the second portion is positioned asymmetrically off the longitudinal axis. Preferably, the second portion forms a sump. Preferably, the main body is substantially boot-shaped when in the closed configuration. Preferably, the inlet comprises a pipe receiving portion comprising an opening configured to receive a pipe through which oil flows in use. Preferably, the cooking oil filter further comprises a clamping means to secure the pipe receiving portion to the pipe. Preferably, the clamping means comprises a butterfly clamp. Preferably, the filter material comprises a non-woven material. Preferably, the filter material is flexible. Preferably, the main body has a substantially symmetrical shape. Preferably, the main body is folded or unfolded along a line of symmetry to move it between the closed and open configurations. Brief description of the invention The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a cooking oil filter in an open configuration according to a first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the cooking oil filter of figure 1 in a configuration between open and closed; Figure 3 illustrates a right side view of the cooking oil filter of figure 1 in a closed configuration; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of the top of the cooking oil filter of figure 1 in a closed configuration alongside a pipe and a clamping means; Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the cooking oil filter, pipe and clamping means of figure 4 with the pipe inserted in an opening of the cooking oil filter and the clamping means positioned around the cooking oil filter and pipe; and Figure 6 illustrates a left side view of the cooking oil filter of figure 5 with the clamping means in a clamped position. Detailed description of the invention Referring now to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings there is illustrated a filter, generally indicated by arrow 100. The filter 100 is configured for use to filter cooking oil and in particular cooking oil from commercial deep fryers. The filter 100 may however have other applications in filtering other liquids. The cooking oil filter 100 may comprise a main body 1. The main body 1 defining a chamber 2. The chamber 2 being a volume into which cooking oil can flow into to be filtered. The chamber 2 comprising walls 3 of a filter material. The filter material allows oil to pass through and filters unwanted particles. The filter material filters the cooking oil by substantially preventing unwanted particles from passing through the filter material. The unwanted particles may include remnants of the food that was cooked in the oil, any unwanted odour particles or any other impurities. These unwanted particles are collected in the filter as filtered particles. The cooking oil filter 100 may further comprise an inlet 4 to the chamber 2. The inlet 4 receiving the cooking oil to be filtered in use. As shown in figures 4 to 6, the inlet 4 may comprise a pipe receiving portion 5 comprising an opening configured to receive a pipe 6 through which cooking oil to be filtered flows in use. The pipe 6 may in use connect to another pipe, a cooking vat, or a funnel. A clamping means may secure the pipe receiving portion 5 to the pipe 6. The clamping means may comprise a butterfly clamp 7. The butterfly clamp 7 is shown in the open position in figures 4 and 5 and may comprise two pieces that are rotatably connected around a hinge. The two pieces of the butterfly clamp 7 may be wrapped around the pipe receiving portion 5 and pipe 6 and the butterfly clamp 7 tightened to secure the pipe receiving portion 5 to the pipe 6. In other examples, the clamping means may comprise an alternative clamp for instance a rubber ring, or two threaded sealing rings. In the examples shown, at least a portion of the walls 3 can be opened to permit removal of filtered particles from the chamber 2. In the example shown in the figures, the walls 3 are displaceable between a closed configuration defining the chamber and an open configuration of substantially planar form. Figure 3 shows the cooking oil filter 100 in a closed configuration wherein the walls 2 are folded or bent to form the chamber 3. Figure 1 shows the cooking oil filter 100 in an open configuration wherein the walls 2 are substantially planar or flat. In use, when the cooking oil is being filtered, the cooking oil filter 100 is in the closed configuration, and when the cooking oil filter 100 is being cleaned, the cooking oil filter 100 is in the open configuration. The ability to open the main body 1 into a planar form or shape permits a user to remove the filtered particles from the chamber 2 of the cooking oil filter 100. In other examples (not shown) the walls 3 may only be partially opened so that the main body 1 is not displaced into a substantially planar form but rather maintains the shape of the chamber 2 and merely has an opening through which the filtered particles can be removed from the cooking oil filter 100. The ability to remove the filtered particles from the chamber 2 allows cleaning and therefore repeated use of the cooking oil filter 100. Cleaning of the cooking oil filter 100 may increase the lifespan of the filter and also allow for better filtering of the cooking oil. The main body 1 may comprise one or more sections 8 having a removable connection forming a seal when closed. The main body 1 may comprise a re-sealable seam joining one or more sections 8. In the example shown in the figures the seam comprises hook and loop fasteners. In other examples the seam comprises other forms of removable connections. The main body 1 may comprise an elongate first portion 9 which widens to form a second portion 10 with a greater cross-sectional area compared to the first portion 9. The chamber 2 may be formed by both the first portion 9 and the second portion 10. The first portion 9 may be proximal to the inlet 4 and the second portion 10 may be distal to the inlet 4. The first portion 9 may have a longitudinal axis defining the general direction of fluid flow through the chamber 2. The second portion 10 may be positioned asymmetrically off the longitudinal axis of the first portion 9. The second portion 10 may form a sump. The second portion 10 may be where the filtered particles accumulate and are then removed from when cleaning the filter. As shown in figure 3, the main body 1 may be substantially boot-shaped when in the closed configuration. As shown in the figures, the main body 1 may have a substantially symmetrical shape. The main body 1 may be folded or unfolded along a line of symmetry to move the main body 1 between the closed and open configurations. The line of symmetry may be parallel with the longitudinal axis of the first portion 9. As shown in figure 1, the sections 8 may be formed along the outside edges of the main body 1, except for the edge forming the inlet 4. The corresponding hook and loop fasteners may be located on opposite edges of the main body 1 such that when the main body 1 is folded along the line of symmetry they connect. The first portion 9 may taper in a direction towards the inlet 4. The second portion 10 may also taper in a direction towards the inlet 4. The taper of the second portion 10 may be greaterthan the taper of the first portion 9. The taper of the second portion 10 may be at an angle between 40° and 50°, and in some examples is approximately 45°, to the longitudinal axis of the first portion 9. The longitudinal length of the main body 1 may be between 450mm and 490mm, and in some examples is approximately 470mm. The width of the inlet 4 when the in the open configuration may be between 180mm and 220mm, and in some examples is approximately 200mm. The longitudinal length of the first portion 9 may be between 280mm and 320mm, and in some examples is approximately 300mm. The width of the widest part of the second portion 10, most distal from the inlet 4, when in the open configuration may be between 400mm and 440mm, and in some examples is approximately 420mm. A region of the second portion 10 may have a substantially isosceles trapezium shape when in the open configuration, as best seen in figure 1. In other examples the shape of the main body 1 maybe different, for instance it may be substantially triangular in shape when in the open configuration. The filter material may comprise a fabric. The filter material may comprise a non-woven material. The filter material may be a chemically bonded non-woven material. The filter material may be formed from polyester and viscose. The filter material may have a heavy body weight compared to other filter materials in order to filter the oil as required. The filter material may have a body weight between 150gsm and 250gsm, and in some examples may be approximately 200gsm. The filter material in some examples retains substances having a size of 50pm and above, i.e. the filtered particles have a size of at least 50pm. However, the filter material may also retain smaller substances, i.e. the filtered particles may have a size of less than 50pm. The filter material may also be relatively bendable. As in the example shown in the figures, the filter material is flexible such that it can be bent to form the shape of the chamber 2. Use of the cooking oil filter 100 may involve the following steps. Firstly, the cooking oil filter 100 may be put into the closed configuration, if not already in that configuration. This step involves closing the walls of the chamber 2 and may involve folding the main body 1 and then joining sections 8 to form a seam. This step may involve folding the main body 1 in half along a longitudinal axis. Secondly, a clamping means may be used to secure the pipe receiving portion 5 of the main body 1 to the pipe 6. This step may involve inserting the pipe 6 into the inlet 4 and then fitting and securing the butterfly clamp 7. Thirdly, cooking oil to be filtered is then passed through pipe 6 and inlet 4 into the chamber 2. Filtered cooking oil passes through the walls 3 and may be collected in another vessel for reuse. Filtered particles do not pass through the walls 3 and accumulate in the chamber 2 of the cooking oil filter 100. Fourthly, the cooking oil filter 100 is then moved into the open configuration. This step involves opening a portion of the walls 3 of the chamber 2 and may be achieved by separating sections 8. The cooking oil filter 100 may remain secured to the pipe 6 with the butterfly clamp 7 closed while the sections 8 are separated opening the seams and allowing access to chamber 2. The filtered particles may then be removed from the chamber 2. The cooking oil filter 100 may then be put back into the closed configuration for reuse. This may be done by re-joining the seams or sections 8 thereby allowing the cooking oil filter 100 to continue filtering oil. Alternatively, when cleaning the cooking oil filter 100 the clamping means may be removed and the main body 1 separated from the pipe 6. The cooking oil filter 100 may be removed from the pipe 6 prior to moving the cooking oil filter into the open configuration. The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooking oil filter comprising:a main body defining a chamber comprising walls of a filter material which allows oil to pass through and filters unwanted particles;an inlet to the chamber;wherein at least a portion of the walls can be opened to permit removal of filtered particles from the chamber.

2. The cooking oil filter of claim 1, wherein the walls are displaceable between a closed configuration defining the chamber and an open configuration of substantially planar form.

3. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the main body comprises one or more sections having a removable connection forming a seal when closed.

4. The cooking oil filter of claim 3, wherein the main body comprises a re-sealable seam joining the one or more sections.

5. The cooking oil filter of claim 4, wherein the seam comprises hook and loop fasteners.

6. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the main body comprises an elongate first portion which then widens to form a second portion with a greater cross-sectional area.

7. The cooking oil filter of claim 6, wherein the first portion has a longitudinal axis defining the general direction of fluid flowthrough the chamber and wherein the second portion is positioned asymmetrically off the longitudinal axis.

8. The cooking oil filter of claim 7, wherein the second portion forms a sump.

9. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 2 to 8 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the main body is substantially boot-shaped when in the closed configuration.

10. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the inlet comprises a pipe receiving portion comprising an opening configured to receive a pipe through which oil flows in use.

11. The cooking oil filter of claim 10, further comprising a clamping means to secure the pipe receiving portion to the pipe.

12. The cooking oil filter of claim 11, wherein the clamping means comprises a butterfly clamp.

13. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the filter material comprises a non-woven material.

14. The cooking oil filter of claim 13, wherein the filter material is flexible.

15. The cooking oil filter of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the main body has a substantially symmetrical shape.

16. The cooking oil filter of claim 15 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the main body is folded or unfolded along a line of symmetry to move it between the closed and open configurations.

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