Coffee filter

Abstract

To facilitate opening the opening for use. [Solution] Leg pieces (5,5) are provided on the left and right sides of the opening (4) made in the substrate (2), and connecting pieces (6,6) are provided on the front and back. A first folding line (9) is formed in the center of the leg piece, and a second folding line (10) is formed on both ends (6a) of the connecting piece, and the filter (3) is fixed to the bottom surface of the substrate. The leg pieces are folded downwards using the folding line (9) as a reference, and both ends of the connecting piece are folded downwards using the folding line (10) as a reference to fold the leg pieces into a flat shape. At the same time, the two leg pieces are brought parallel to each other and the filter is sandwiched between them. The upper surfaces of the front and back connecting pieces are brought together to close the opening, and the lower surfaces of the upper ends (5a) of the folded leg pieces are joined together. In addition, a weak point (14) is provided at the boundary between the connecting piece and the leg piece, and the tip of the connecting piece (6), which will become a pinch piece (13), is opened forwards and backwards from this point.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a disposable coffee filter.

Background Art

[0002] Simple disposable coffee filters are widely popular as filters for extracting regular coffee, and various forms and structures have been proposed, commercialized, and marketed. This simple disposable coffee filter (hereinafter referred to as "filter") is basically composed of a bag-shaped filter for storing coffee powder, usually made of non-woven fabric, plastic, or cardboard, and a support (substrate) made of cardboard or the like for hanging and supporting the filter on the edge of a container such as a coffee cup. Usually, this type of filter is generally stored and kept in a packaging container with excellent airtightness such as aluminum foil to maintain the freshness of the stored coffee powder.

[0003] When using this filter, the opening at the upper part of the bag-shaped filter is opened, and in this state, it is attached to the edge of a container such as a coffee cup using the support, or placed thereon, etc., to make it in a usable state, that is, a set state. Then, hot water is poured into the opened filter opening to extract coffee components inside, and the coffee liquid is directly received in the container while being filtered.

[0004] This filter is evaluated for its convenience by coffee lovers and widely used because regular coffee can be easily obtained simply by pouring hot water, the concentration of the extracted coffee liquid can be kept substantially constant because the amount of coffee powder stored in the filter is predetermined, and moreover, the filter itself can be discarded after use with coffee powder remaining in the filter.

[0005] Among such filters, the applicant has proposed, manufactured, and sells a simple type of filter that realizes a so-called drip-style extraction method, in which the filter is supported high above the container so that the filter does not come into contact with the coffee liquid extracted inside the container.

[0006] This filter consists of a rectangular cardboard substrate (support) and a filter for storing coffee grounds, which is integrally attached to the bottom (back) of the substrate. The substrate has an opening in the center, with a pair of leg pieces on the left and right sides, and connecting pieces running parallel to each other at the front and back, connecting the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces. Furthermore, the left and right leg pieces form a first fold line in the center, and when not in use, the entire substrate is folded in half along this fold line, with the filter for storing coffee grounds sandwiched in between, so that it can be stored in the packaging container in this state. When using it, the folded substrate is opened flat along the fold line, the opening of the filter facing the opening is opened, and the left and right leg pieces are bent downwards around this opening, folding into an arch shape, and the locking parts provided at the ends of each leg are hooked onto the edge of the container to complete the setup. Then, hot water is poured through the opening into the opening of the filter facing the opening, and the extracted coffee liquid is received in the container.

[0007] While this conventional filter has the significant advantage of easily facilitating drip brewing, one drawback is that when not in use, the base is folded in half, resulting in a flat shape. Therefore, to use it, one must unfold the base as described above, then bend the left and right leg sections downwards to create an arch shape, adjust the size of each leg end to match the rim of the container, and then hook the locking parts on each leg end onto the rim of the container. This process can be somewhat cumbersome for first-time users or those unfamiliar with its operation. Furthermore, opening the sealed opening of the filter, which prevents coffee grounds from spilling, presents an even more troublesome problem.

[0008] Furthermore, when this filter is not in use, the base folds in half, and the left and right leg sections extend outwards, resulting in a horizontally elongated shape. This leads to the problem of the filter's packaging being large, as the packaging container for it must also be horizontally elongated.

[0009] For the reasons described above, the applicant has created a first vertical fold line in the center of the left and right leg pieces to fold the substrate in half, and in addition, second fold lines are formed at each end of the front and rear connecting pieces, diagonally from the edge of the opening toward the outer edge of the connecting piece, so as to form a V shape with each other. When the filter is not in use, the left and right leg pieces (substrate) are folded downwards using the first fold line as a reference, and at the same time as this folding, the ends of the front and rear connecting pieces are folded so that their lower surfaces touch each other using the second fold line as a reference, thereby bringing the ends of the left and right leg pieces together as the substrate folds in half, aligning them parallel to each other, and successfully folding and compacting the horizontally extending substrate. (Invention described in Patent Document 1)

[0010] The filter described in Patent Document 1, when not in use, has its left and right leg sections folded in half, and these left and right leg sections are further folded in parallel, thereby miniaturizing the entire substrate and improving the problems of the conventional filter. In addition, when the substrate is folded in half, and the front and rear connecting sections are further folded with respect to the second folding line, the opening is closed, and as a result the front and rear connecting sections facing the opening rise up and face each other, these connecting sections form a tab for opening the opening, making it easier to open the opening.

[0011] The opening tab, which is made up of this connecting piece, has the advantage of being easy, reliable, and stable to open because the connecting piece itself is part of the substrate and has rigidity, allowing the opening operation using this tab to directly open the opening. However, on the other hand, since the connecting piece forms part of the substrate and has the rigidity of the material, when the substrate is folded and placed facing each other, there is a problem in that the front and rear connecting pieces come into contact with each other tightly and without any gaps. Because the joined surfaces are integrated, they may not be noticed as a tab for opening the opening, and opening them requires spreading the two connecting pieces apart and inserting a finger, which makes the process cumbersome. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-101992. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0013] Therefore, the present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems and aims to improve them, and its purpose is to improve the tab formed by the connecting piece used when opening the opening of the filter described in Reference Document 1, to make it clear that it is a tab for opening, to facilitate its use, and to provide a coffee filter that can be used reliably and safely when opened. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To achieve the above objective, the present invention integrally attaches a bag-shaped filter to the lower surface of a substrate made of a sheet-like cardboard material having the required rigidity, while providing a first vertical fold line in the center of the left and right leg pieces that are provided on either side of an opening in the center of the substrate, and providing a second fold line at both ends of the connecting piece that connects the left and right leg pieces across the front and back of the opening, so as to form a V-shape with each other, so that when not in use it it is folded along these first and second fold lines, and this folding closes the opening by bringing the left and right leg pieces together, The objective is to provide a coffee filter in which a connecting piece is erected above the leg piece to serve as a tab for opening the opening, wherein the lower surfaces of the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces, which are folded in half along the first folding line, are detachably joined to each other, thereby closing and holding the opening, while weak portions are provided at both ends of the connecting piece that rises from the upper ends of the leg piece to reduce the rigidity of the material, and as the upper ends of the leg piece are brought into close contact by the joining, the tips of the front and rear connecting pieces that become tabs are opened forward and backward from the weak portions, separating into individual, independent states.

[0015] To elaborate further, the present invention comprises a substrate made of a sheet-like cardboard material having the required rigidity, and a bag-shaped filter for storing coffee powder attached to the lower surface of the substrate. The substrate is a horizontally elongated rectangle with an opening in the center, and has a pair of leg pieces on either side of the opening, and connecting pieces connecting the upper ends of the leg pieces at the front and back of the opening. Each of the leg pieces on the left and right has a locking part for hooking onto the opening edge of a container such as a coffee cup, and each has a first fold line in the center between the upper end and the leg end for folding in half. On the other hand, the ends of the front and rear connecting pieces are angled outwards from the edge of the opening to the outer edge of the connecting piece. In a coffee filter, a pair of second fold lines are provided to form a shape, and the left and right leg pieces are folded in half using the first fold line as a reference to close the opening, and at the same time, the ends of the front and rear connecting pieces are folded in half using the second fold line as a reference so that their lower surfaces touch each other, thereby sandwiching the filter between the left and right leg pieces that are folded in half, and at the same time the leg pieces are brought together so that they face each other to form the folded state of the base, and at the same time the front and rear connecting pieces are raised above the respective upper ends of the left and right leg pieces and made to stand facing each other, so that the front and rear connecting pieces become tabs for opening the closed opening, The objective is to provide a coffee filter in which, at both ends of the connecting pieces that form the opening tabs, a weak portion is formed to weaken the rigidity of the cardboard material of the substrate, in the range from the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edge of the connecting piece, avoiding the second folding line, and this weak portion serves as the base of the opening tabs, while the foldable substrate is folded in half and the lower surfaces of the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces that come into contact are joined together in a detachable manner, thereby maintaining the closed state of the opening and, through this joining, the weak portions that form the base of the front and rear opening tabs are tightly fixed to each other, and the tips of the opening tabs are opened forward and backward from these respective weak portions, separating and becoming independent of each other.

[0016] According to this invention, the opening formed in the substrate can be securely closed by detachably joining the lower surfaces of the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces that are folded in half and come into contact with each other. As a result, the opening of the filter facing this opening can also be closed, resulting in a stable closed state that reliably prevents coffee powder from leaking out. At the same time, because the lower surfaces of the upper ends of the leg pieces that come into contact when folded in half are tightly joined by this joining, the weak parts provided at the base of the front and rear connecting pieces, i.e., the opening tabs, come into contact with each other, and as a result the front and rear connecting pieces, i.e., the tabs, which are standing facing each other starting from these weak parts, open their tips forward and backward. This open state of the tab tips indicates the independence of each tab and allows them to be recognized as opening tabs when using the filter.

[0017] Furthermore, when the opening is closed, the front and rear opening tabs are positioned with their tips open, making them easy to grasp with your fingertips when opening the opening. This allows for easy opening, and through this process, the folded filter can be unfolded into a usable state. Moreover, because the front and rear tabs are open and independent, making it easy to open the opening, it helps to prevent the scattering of coffee powder that may occur when opening the filter.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides a coffee filter characterized in that the fragile portion is formed in the shape of a linear groove that presses against the surface of the substrate in the range from the upper edge of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edge of the connecting piece, thereby weakening the rigidity of the cardboard material.

[0019] This invention allows for the easy formation of linear weak points. These can be formed by linearly pressing the surfaces of both ends of the connecting piece from the upper edge of the leg piece to the outer edge of the connecting piece, and are easily formed on cardboard substrate material. Furthermore, this pressing process can be performed in conjunction with the formation of the first and second fold lines, making it even more effective.

[0020] Further, in the coffee filter of the present invention, the vulnerable part is formed by making a sewing thread-like cut in the range from the upper edge part of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edge part of the connecting piece. The present invention provides a coffee filter characterized by this.

[0021] In this invention, when forming the vulnerable part, similarly to the above invention, cuts are made continuously at intervals linearly, that is, by forming a sewing thread. At this time, when opening the opening by the gripping piece (connecting piece), it is provided by the cuts within the range where this connecting piece is not separated from the leg piece. The formation of the vulnerable part by this sewing thread is also easy to mold, similar to the case by the pressing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a front view of the filter according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a left side view of the filter according to the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the filter taken as a cross section along the line A-A of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the filter in a deployed state. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view of the filter in a deployed state and further in a state where the substrate and the filter are disassembled. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view of a state where the two-folded state of the left and right leg pieces of the substrate is opened, and at the same time, the front and rear connecting pieces are folded in two at their ends and erected so as to face each other for use. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view for explaining the use state. [Figure 8] It is a longitudinal sectional view of a part for explaining the joining for closing the opening of the filter taken as a cross section along the line B-B of FIG. 2.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] The attached drawings show one embodiment of the filter according to the present invention. The present invention will be described below based on the embodiment shown in these drawings, and its features will be clarified. In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a coffee filter according to the present invention, 2 denotes a substrate that serves as a support for the filter 1, and 3 denotes a filter that is integrated with the substrate 2 and constitutes the filter.

[0024] The substrate 2 is formed in a horizontally elongated rectangular shape from a slightly thick cardboard material having the required rigidity, with an opening 4 in its center, leg pieces 5, 5 on the left and right sides of the opening 4, and front and rear connecting pieces 6, 6 are formed parallel to each other in front of and behind the opening 4, connecting the upper ends 5a, 5a of the leg pieces 5, 5.

[0025] The substrate 2 described above is sized to span over the container 7, such as a coffee cup, and the opening 4 is formed in a shape that is roughly square. The opening 4 described above serves as an inlet for pouring hot water into the coffee powder 8 stored in the filter 3, as will be described later, and is made with a diameter that accommodates this pouring.

[0026] In this example, the substrate 2 is shaped like a horizontal rectangle, but it is not limited to this shape; for example, it could be a shape closer to a horizontal ellipse. The shape will be selected based on the final shape of the filter 1, that is, the design of the filter, and will be chosen considering the intended design. However, given the arrangement of the two symmetrical leg sections 5,5, a rectangular or elongated ellipse shape is suitable.

[0027] As described later, the filter 1 of the present invention is assembled three-dimensionally in its completed state and can be further folded into a flat shape. Here, in order to clarify the structure of each part, we will explain it based on the respective drawings showing the unfolded and disassembled states.

[0028] Figure 4 shows the filter 1 of the present invention unfolded in a planar shape. The horizontally elongated rectangular substrate 2 has first straight fold lines 9,9 formed vertically on the left and right leg pieces 5,5 from the upper ends 5a,5a facing the opening 4 in the center to the leg ends 5b,5b, and the front and rear connecting pieces 6,6 have second fold lines 10,10 formed at both ends 6a,6a.

[0029] The first folding lines 9,9 described above serve as reference lines for folding the leg pieces 5,5 in half in the width direction, and the second folding lines 10,10 serve as reference lines for folding the leg pieces 5,5 that extend horizontally in a planar manner so that they face each other with the connecting pieces 6,6 in between. These first and second fold lines 9 and 10 are formed as groove-shaped linear recesses by embossing to facilitate the bending of the substrate 2. These fold lines can be formed by embossing, a combination of embossing and perforations, or by perforations alone.

[0030] The leg pieces 5, 5 have locking parts 11, 11 formed at their leg ends 5b, 5b for hooking onto the rim of the container 7. These locking parts 11, 11 have arc-shaped notches along the edges of the leg ends, and these notches provide arc-shaped outer clamping pieces 11a, 11a to the leg portion, and tongue-shaped pieces protruding from the upper center of these arc-shaped notches provide inner clamping pieces 11b, 11b, and the edge of the container 7 is clamped and fixed by these two pieces, one inside and one outside. Furthermore, these locking parts 11,11 are designed so that their left and right shapes (front and rear shapes in Figure 4) are symmetrical with respect to the first bending line 9, thereby positioning them in the center of the leg end.

[0031] The second fold lines 10, 10 are positioned diagonally at both ends 6a, 6a of the front and rear connecting pieces 6, 6. Here, these second fold lines 10, 10 are positioned at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the length direction of the substrate 2 (left-right direction in Figure 4), and are positioned so that they are at opposite angles to each other. In other words, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the two fold lines 10, 10 at both ends of the connecting pieces 6, 6 are positioned to form approximately a "V" shape, so that the fold lines 10, 10 form a symmetrical shape with respect to the opening 4, as shown in the drawings.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, the arrangement described above places one end of the second bend line 10 at the edge of the opening 4 that is in contact with the connecting piece 6, that is, at the end of this edge, and extends the other end from there toward the center of the outer edge of the connecting piece 6, so that the two lines 10,10 form a "V" shape.

[0033] The second fold lines 10, 10 at each end portion 6a, 6a of the connecting piece 6, 6 are designed to fold the end portions 6a, 6a of the connecting piece 6, 6 in half along the second fold lines 10, 10 when the left and right leg pieces 5, 5 are folded in half in the width direction with the first fold lines 9, 9 as a reference. At this time, these two types of fold lines 9, 10 work together to guide and assist each other's folding.

[0034] On the other hand, the filter 3, which is assembled to the substrate 2, is made of paper filter material. Here, the filter material is cut into a vertically elongated rectangular shape, the central part of the left and right side edges is cut out into a valley-shaped recess, and the left and right edges in this valley-shaped recess are joined together, thereby creating a boat-shaped bag portion in the central part of the filter material (see Figure 5).

[0035] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the substrate 2 and the filter 3, which are formed separately. The filter 3 is positioned facing the flattened substrate 2 from below, covering the opening 4 from below. In this state, the adhesive portion 12 provided on the periphery of the filter is attached to the bottom surface of the substrate, thereby assembling the substrate 2 and the filter 3. Furthermore, while the above-mentioned adhesive portion 12 may be bonded using an adhesive, it may also be joined by first applying a resin film to the lower surface of the substrate 2 and then heat-fusing it.

[0036] The filter 1, formed by integrating the substrate 2 and the filter 3 in this manner, takes on a planar unfolded form as shown in Figure 4 during the molding process. From this state, coffee powder 8 is placed into the filter 3, and by folding and folding it along the first and second folding lines 9 and 10, the filter 1 of the present invention is formed, which has a flattened, three-dimensional shape with a slight thickness in the front and back (see Figure 2). Further explanation follows.

[0037] Figure 6 shows the filter 1, which unfolds into a planar shape as shown in Figure 4, in the process of being folded along the first and second folding lines 9 and 10. Figure 6 also shows the filter 1 in the process of being unfolded when it is ready for use, which will be explained later.

[0038] The filter 1, formed by integrally fixing the filter 3 to the lower surface of the substrate 2, is first folded in half widthwise along its first fold line 9, with the left and right leg pieces 5, 5 being used as a reference. This folding closes the upper ends 5a, 5a together, bringing the lower surfaces into contact. Then, the closing that occurs with this folding guides the end portions 6a, 6a of the front and rear connecting pieces 6, 6 connected to the upper ends 5a, 5a to fold along the second fold lines 10, 10, respectively. Therefore, these folding operations along the first and second fold lines 9, 10 are performed simultaneously. Of course, the method of folding here is not specified, but since it is a process in manufacturing, it is usually performed by mechanical operation.

[0039] As the above bending progresses further, the lower surfaces of the left and right leg pieces 5,5 come together, and at the same time, the end portions 6a,6a of the connecting pieces 6,6 bend using the second bending lines 10,10 as a reference. As both of these bends proceed simultaneously, the leg pieces 5,5 are folded in half, and the connecting pieces 6,6 are folded in half again, creating a double-layered state in this area. Simultaneously, guided by this double-layered folding, the left and right leg pieces 5,5, which have been folded in half, pull their leg ends 5b,5b closer together and align parallel to each other. As a result, the substrate 2 is shortened in length, taking on a rectangular shape overall, and becomes flat due to being folded in half.

[0040] Figures 1 and 2 show the folded state described above, representing the completed state of filter 1. The dashed line in Figure 1 indicates the packaging container that houses this filter 1. As shown here, the left and right leg portions 5,5 of the substrate 2 are folded in half and flattened, with the filter 3 sandwiched in between. This folding of the leg portions 5,5 also folds the left and right edges of the opening 4 (these edges correspond to the edges of the upper ends 5a,5a of the leg portions 5,5), causing these edges to close in a linear fashion. Simultaneously, the front and rear edges of the opening 4, that is, the inner edges of the connecting portions 6,6, come together and close in a linear fashion, thereby closing the opening.

[0041] Furthermore, the left and right leg pieces 5, 5 are guided by the second folding lines 10, 10 to bend towards each other, causing them to face each other in parallel, thereby miniaturizing the overall shape of the filter and closing the opening 4. Moreover, these folds cause the front and rear connecting pieces 6, 6 to be folded in half along the folding lines 10, 10 at both ends of the leg pieces 5, 5, with their end portions 6a, 6a facing outwards in the same direction as the upper surfaces of the leg pieces 5, 5, and their central portions facing inwards, thus changing their orientation by approximately 90 degrees. In this way, the connecting pieces 6, 6 come together with their upper surfaces facing each other and rise above the closing opening 4.

[0042] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the above-described state. The connecting pieces 6,6 close the opening 4 by bringing their upper surfaces into contact with each other, and also close the opening of the filter 3 that faces this opening. On the other hand, as described above, by closing the opening 4, they stand upright above the opening 4, and in this way the connecting pieces 6,6 become the tabs 13,13 used to open the opening 4. Here, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the outer edges of the connecting pieces 6, 6 are slightly curved and expanded, and the parts that become the gripping pieces 13, 13 are expanded to make them easier to grip.

[0043] In this way, the filter of the present invention allows the required amount of coffee powder 8 to be put into the filter 3 through the opening 4 after the substrate 2 and the filter 3 are combined, or after the above folding is completed.

[0044] Reference numeral 14 in the figure indicates a weak point formed at both ends 6a, 6a of the connecting piece 6, 6. This weak point 14 is intended to reduce the rigidity of the material at the base of the front and rear connecting piece 6, 6, i.e., the pinch pieces 13, 13, which stand above the opening 4 that is closed when the substrate 2 is folded. Here, it is formed by pressing the surface of the cardboard material that makes up the substrate 2 to create a linear groove.

[0045] To elaborate further on this vulnerable portion 14, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the vulnerable portion 14 is provided along the boundary between the connecting piece 6 and the leg piece 5, with one end placed on the edge of the gently arc-shaped upper end 5a of the leg piece 5, and from there, it is formed in an arc shape toward the end portion 6b of the outer edge of the connecting piece 6 along the extension line of the arc. In this case, the vulnerable portion 14 is located at the boundary between the leg piece 5 and the connecting piece 6 and is positioned between it and the diagonally formed second bending line 10, so as shown in the figure, it forms a roughly triangular shape.

[0046] In the present invention, the filter is constructed by folding the left and right leg pieces 5,5 and the front and rear connecting pieces 6,6, then putting the coffee powder 8 into the filter 3, and finally closing the opening 4. Reference numeral 15 in the figure indicates a joint for closing the opening 4. As shown in Figure 8, this joint 15 is provided at the upper ends 5a, 5a of the leg pieces 5, 5 that are folded in half and bring their lower surfaces into contact with each other, and here it is provided linearly along the arc-shaped edge of the upper end as shown in the figure.

[0047] In this embodiment, the joint 15 is formed by heating and fusing the surfaces of the upper ends 5a, 5a of the overlapping leg pieces 5, 5 after closing the opening 4, so that it can be peeled off. This joint securely closes the opening 4 that was closed by the twisting, and reliably prevents the coffee powder 8 contained in the filter 3 from spilling out. At the same time, this joint applies a force that causes the connecting pieces 6, 6, i.e., the knob pieces 13, 13, which stand upright above the opening 4, to bend outwards.

[0048] The force causing the pinch pieces 13,13 to bend upward is due to the fact that the ends of the connecting pieces 6,6, which form the pinch pieces, are folded in half, creating a double layer when the upper ends 5a,5a of the folded leg pieces 5,5, which are in close contact with each other at the joint 15, are folded in half. Furthermore, as described above, the central parts of the connecting pieces 6,6 that overlap due to this folding overlap inward, and this thickness hinders the aforementioned close contact, resulting in the bending upward.

[0049] However, this bending force is mitigated because the gripping pieces 13, 13 (connecting pieces 6, 6) are integral with the leg pieces 5, 5, and the rigidity of the material maintains the flat surface. Therefore, even when the bending force is applied, the gripping pieces 13, 13 do not bend but remain in contact with each other, staying close together.

[0050] As described above, the present invention takes measures to weaken the rigidity of the material by providing a weak portion 14 at the base of the pinch pieces 13, 13. As a result, the front and rear connecting pieces 6, 6, i.e., the pinch pieces 13, 13, which are pulled together by the joining of the joint 15, will bend their tips in the front-rear direction starting from the weak portion 14, thereby opening up in the front-rear direction and each taking on an independent form.

[0051] The flared tips of these gripping pieces 13, 13 make it easier to grasp when opening the opening 4, thus facilitating the opening operation. Furthermore, since a portion of the substrate is being grasped directly, the filter can be held stably during the opening operation, thus preventing the coffee powder 8 from scattering when the opening is opened. Furthermore, since the two tabs 13, 13 on the top of the filter 1 are open and standing upright, a user encountering this type of filter for the first time can easily recognize them as tabs for opening, thus facilitating its use.

[0052] In the above embodiment, a case was described in which a groove shape is formed on the surface of the connecting piece 6 by pressing on the weak part 14. However, it may also be formed by perforations, or a method may be adopted in which notches are made at the ends of the weak part 14, that is, at the ends 6b facing the edge of the opening 4 or the outer edge of the connecting piece 6, thereby narrowing the width of the cardboard material itself in the part forming the weak part 14 and thereby weakening its rigidity.

[0053] Next, regarding the use of this filter, when the flattened filter 1 is removed from the packaging, as mentioned above, two tabs 13, 13 stand up in the upper center, opening forward and backward, thus clearly indicating that they are tabs for opening. Then, by holding these tabs 13, 13 and opening them forward and backward, the joint of the connecting part 15 is separated and the opening 4 is opened. This opening operation causes the left and right leg parts 5, 5 to open flat, with their leg ends 5b, 5b opening to the left and right, and are then assembled into the set (see Figure 6).

[0054] Figure 7 shows the filter 1 of the present invention, opened in this manner, set on a container 7 such as a coffee cup. To set up the device, the leg ends 5b, 5b of the upright leg pieces 5, 5 are lowered towards the edge of the container 7, the inner and outer clamping pieces 11a, 11b of the locking parts 11, 11 at the leg ends are opened, the inner clamping piece 11b is inserted into the inside of the cup, and the device is secured by clamping it from both the inside and outside to complete the setup.

[0055] With the attachment by these locking parts 11,11, the leg pieces 5,5 stand upright on the cup, supporting the filter 3 above the center of the coffee cup or other container 7. In this state, that is, in this set state, the user pours hot water through the opening 4 to extract coffee into the coffee cup 7.

[0056] As described above, the filter of the present invention can be folded in half along the first and second folding lines 9 and 10 by folding the leg pieces 5, 5 and connecting pieces 6, 6, respectively, and the filter 3 can be placed between the pieces of the substrate 2 and folded flat. Furthermore, by bringing the leg pieces 5, 5 together in parallel, it can be made smaller, making storage and management easier. At the same time, when in use, the tabs 13, 13 open forward and backward from the fragile part 14 and stand up independently on the top of the filter, allowing the user to immediately recognize that these are tabs for opening. Moreover, because the tabs 13, 13 stand up in an open state, they are easy to grasp, and therefore, even if the opening 4 is tightly closed by the joint 15, it can be opened reliably and safely. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1. Filter according to the present invention 2 circuit boards 3 filters 4. Openings to be made in the substrate 5 Leg piece 5a Upper end of leg portion 5b Leg end of leg section 6. Connecting piece 6a End portion of the connecting piece 6b Outer edge of the connecting piece 7. Containers such as coffee cups 8 Coffee powder 9. First fold line 10 Second fold line 11 Locking part 13 pieces 14 Vulnerable parts 15 Joint

Claims

1. The device comprises a substrate made of a sheet-like cardboard material having the required rigidity, and a bag-shaped filter for storing coffee powder attached to the lower surface of the substrate. The substrate is a horizontally elongated rectangle with an opening in the center, and has a pair of leg pieces on either side of the opening, and connecting pieces connecting the upper ends of the leg pieces at the front and back of the opening. Each of the leg pieces on the left and right has a locking part for hooking onto the opening edge of a container such as a coffee cup, and each has a first fold line in the center between the upper end and the leg end for folding in half. On the other hand, the ends of the front and rear connecting pieces are shaped so that they form a V-shape from the edge of the opening to the outer edge of the connecting piece. In a coffee filter, each having a pair of second folding lines, the left and right leg pieces are folded in half using the first folding line as a reference to close the opening, and at the same time, both ends of the front and rear connecting pieces are folded in half using the second folding line as a reference so that their lower surfaces touch each other, thereby sandwiching the filter between the left and right leg pieces that are folded in half, and at the same time the leg pieces are brought together so that they face each other to form the folded state of the substrate, and at the same time the front and rear connecting pieces are raised above the respective upper ends of the left and right leg pieces, so that they stand facing each other and the front and rear connecting pieces become tabs for opening the closed opening, A coffee filter characterized in that, in the connecting pieces at the front and rear that form the opening tabs, weak portions are formed at both ends, avoiding the second folding line, in the range from the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edges of the connecting pieces, thereby weakening the rigidity of the cardboard material of the substrate, and these weak portions serve as the base of the opening tabs, while the foldable substrate is folded in half and the lower surfaces of the upper ends of the left and right leg pieces that come into contact are joined together in a detachable manner, thereby maintaining the closed state of the opening and, through this joining, the weak portions that form the base of the front and rear opening tabs are tightly fixed to each other, and the tips of the opening tabs are opened forward and backward from these respective weak portions, separating and becoming independent of each other.

2. A coffee filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragile portion is formed in the shape of a linear groove that presses against the surface of the substrate in the range from the upper edge of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edge of the connecting piece, thereby weakening the rigidity of the cardboard material.

3. A coffee filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragile portion is formed by making perforated cuts in the range from the upper edge of the left and right leg pieces to the outer edge of the connecting piece.

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