Dripper

Abstract

To provide a dripper capable of accommodating to various cup sizes and retaining high stability on a cup even when an opening of a filter is large.SOLUTION: A dripper 10A includes a bag-like filter 1, a cylindrical support body 2 formed foldably, with the filter 1 located inside thereof, and a flat pedestal 3A formed attachable such that the cylindrical support body 2 is locked thereto. A hole 3a allowing insertion of the support body 2 from a second opening 8 side is formed in the pedestal 3A, a locking hole 2a is formed in a side face of the support body 2, so that when the support body 2 is inserted into the hole 3a, it is locked to the pedestal 3A, and a locking claw 3c is formed at an edge of the hole 3a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dripper, for example, a dripper used when filtering contents having components to be extracted (e.g., regular coffee powder, black tea leaves, green tea leaves, etc.), and a dripper in which contents having components to be extracted are previously stored. [Background technology]

[0002] Disposable coffee drippers have been known for some time, consisting of a bag-shaped filter containing ground regular coffee and a cylindrical support (sleeve-shaped backing) that holds the filter over a cup. The support is often made of cardboard, and before use, the support is folded with the filter attached inside. When brewing coffee, the support is folded from its folded state into an open cylindrical state, the dripper is placed over a cup, and ground regular coffee is poured into the filter. In types where ground regular coffee is already sealed in the filter, the filter is opened, the support is folded from its folded state into an open cylindrical state, and the dripper is then placed over the cup. In either case, when hot water is poured into the filter, the extracted coffee passes through the filter and accumulates in the cup.

[0003] The above-described coffee dripper is convenient because it can be easily disposed of and still brew drip coffee. However, in order to pour hot water into the filter, the support must be held in an open, cylindrical position. Various types of drippers have been proposed. For example, the drippers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have locking mechanisms on both sides that lock the support in an open, cylindrical position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-99462 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-711 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the drippers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the dripper is not secured to the cup by a locking mechanism, so the widths of the upper and lower parts of the support are roughly the same to stabilize the dripper on the cup. The width of the filter is also roughly the same as the width of the support. In other words, the support and filter are both bag-shaped, nearly rectangular, with steeply sloping sides of the filter. This makes it impossible to steam the coffee grounds on the sides of the filter or to allow the coffee to flow slowly along the sides of the filter.

[0006] If the shape of the support and filter is closer to a fan shape with a larger opening, the gentle slope of the filter side and the contact of the filter side with the support allow for effective steaming of the coffee grounds and control of the coffee flow rate, making it possible to increase the capacity. Furthermore, it becomes easier to pour hot water into the filter, and coffee is less likely to splash out of the filter. However, the closer the filter shape is to a fan shape, the higher the center of gravity of the dripper becomes due to the coffee grounds that have become heavier as they absorb hot water, making the dripper less stable on the cup. Furthermore, if the dripper does not fit the cup size, it becomes even less stable.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a dripper that can accommodate various cup sizes and maintain high stability on the cup even if the filter opening is large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the dripper of the first invention is characterized by having a bag-shaped filter, a tubular support formed so as to be foldable with the filter located inside, and a flat base formed so as to be attachable to the tubular support so as to engage with it.

[0009] The dripper of the second invention is the dripper of the first invention, wherein the cylindrical support has a first opening that constitutes one opening and a second opening that constitutes the other opening; an opening of the filter is attached to the first opening so that the filter opens when the support body is changed from a folded state to a cylindrical open state; a hole that allows the support to be inserted from the second opening side is formed in the base, A locking claw is formed on the edge of the hole, and a locking hole is formed on the side of the support, so that the support is locked to the base when inserted into the hole.

[0010] The dripper of the third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, an openable and closable flap that defines the hole is formed on the base.

[0011] The dripper of the fourth invention is the dripper of the third invention, characterized in that, when the support body is attached to the base, the angle of the flap with respect to the hole is 90° or more.

[0012] The dripper of the fifth invention is any one of the first to fourth inventions, characterized in that the base is provided with a window located around the hole or a window formed by expanding a portion of the hole.

[0013] The dripper of the sixth invention is any one of the first to fifth inventions, characterized in that the support has a locking structure that fixes the shape of the support in an open, tubular state with a fold formed by pushing the support inward.

[0014] The dripper of the seventh invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to sixth inventions, the opening formed by the first opening is larger than the opening formed by the second opening, and the filter has a fan shape.

[0015] The dripper of an eighth invention is any one of the first to seventh inventions, characterized in that the support body and the base are both made of paper.

[0016] A dripper according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, wherein the support body is made of paper and the base is made of plastic.

[0017] The dripper of a tenth invention is any one of the first to ninth inventions, characterized in that a content containing a component to be extracted is enclosed in the filter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, the cylindrical support can be attached to a flat base, making it compatible with various cup sizes and maintaining high stability on the cup even with a large filter opening. Therefore, by arranging the support and filter in a shape similar to a fan, with the opening side larger, the gentle slope of the filter side and the contact of the filter side with the support allow for effective steaming of coffee grounds and control of coffee flow rate, and also allows for larger volumes. Furthermore, pouring hot water into the filter is easier, reducing the risk of coffee splashing outside the filter or dripper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view showing a first embodiment of a dripper in use. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is an external view showing a second embodiment of the dripper in use. [Figure 3]3A and 3B are front views showing the filter and the support body constituting the first and second embodiments before and after opening. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a sheet material of the filter constituting the first and second embodiments. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a blank plate of the support body constituting the first and second embodiments. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the base of the first embodiment in a pre-use state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state before use of the base constituting the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of the base in a pre-use state. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of the base in a pre-use state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, drippers and the like according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that identical or corresponding parts among the embodiments and specific examples will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted where appropriate.

[0021] 1 and 2 show drippers 10A and 10B according to the first and second embodiments, respectively. FIG. 1 shows the appearance of dripper 10A set on cup 11 in use after opening, where (A) is a top view of dripper 10A, (B) is a front view of dripper 10A, and (C) is a side view of dripper 10A. FIG. 2 shows the appearance of dripper 10B set on cup 11 in use after opening, where (A) is a top view of dripper 10B, (B) is a front view of dripper 10B, and (C) is a side view of dripper 10B.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows the filter 1 and support 2 that make up drippers 10A and 10B. In Fig. 3, (A) is a front view of the filter 1 and support 2 before opening (support 2 is folded), and (B) is a front view of the filter 1 and support 2 after opening (support 2 is in a cylindrical open state).

[0023] Dripper 10A, 10B includes bag-shaped filter 1, cylindrical support (sleeve-shaped backing) 2 that is foldable with filter 1 positioned inside, and flat bases 3A, 3B that are attached so that cylindrical support 2 can be locked. Dripper 10A, 10B is suitable for portability because support 2 is foldable and bases 3A, 3B are flat. Dripper 10A, 10B has a simple structure that can be constructed from easily disposable materials (such as paper), making it suitable for disposable use. In other words, while being portable and disposable, it offers the advantage of being able to easily brew, for example, drip coffee.

[0024] Contents 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2(A); for example, regular coffee grounds, black tea leaves, green tea leaves, etc.) containing the components to be extracted are either placed in filter 1 at the time of use or are pre-sealed in filter 1. When contents 12 are pre-sealed in filter 1, opening 9a of filter 1 is peelably closed by ultrasonic sealing via support 2 so that contents 12 do not spill out of filter 1 before use of drippers 10A and 10B.

[0025] As the material for filter 1, it is preferable to use a sheet material having thermal adhesive properties as a raw material or a sheet material having thermal adhesive properties on one side (the innermost layer when made into a bag) in consideration of the processability when making the bag. Examples include water-permeable nonwoven fabrics made of polyolefin-based materials (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), polyester-based materials, etc., and multilayer filter paper containing a thermoplastic resin such as polyolefin-based materials (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.), polyester-based materials, etc. on one side (the innermost layer when made into a bag). The bag-shaped filter 1 is made by, for example, folding the sheet material in half or gusset-folding it, overlapping it, thermally bonding it to a predetermined shape, and cutting and die-cutting it. Note that gusset-folding the bottom of filter 1 can effectively increase the capacity of drippers 10A and 10B.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the sheet material 1A of the filter 1 used in the drippers 10A and 10B. First, the sheet material 1A is folded along the folding line N1, overlapped, and then heat-sealed on both sides to form a bag. When the contents 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2(A)) are to be pre-filled into the filter 1, the contents 12 are placed in the filter 1, and then the filter opening 9a is releasably closed by ultrasonic sealing via the support 2, as described above. Next, the upper end of the filter is folded along the folding line N2 and adhered to the support 2, resulting in the unopened state shown in FIG. 3(A).

[0027] The cylindrical support 2 allows the filter 1 to be set on the cup 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in combination with the bases 3A and 3B while maintaining the filter 1 in a predetermined shape. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support 2 has a first opening 7 that forms one opening 7a, a second opening 8 that forms the other opening 8a, and a locking structure 13 that fixes the shape of the support in an open cylindrical state with folds M1 and M2 formed by pushing inward (arrow mP in FIG. 3(A)).

[0028] The support body 2 is formed by folding and gluing a single blank plate 2A shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a developed view of the support body 2, and the blank plate 2A is formed by punching out a plate-shaped sheet material as shown in FIG. 5. The material of the blank plate 2A is not particularly limited, but the support body 2 is preferably made of paper. For example, it is preferable to use cardboard such as waterproof cardboard or ivory paper, or cardboard coated with resin (polyethylene, etc.) on both sides (particularly the inner surface of the support body 2) as the sheet material. Note that if the blank plate 2A is made of resin-coated cardboard, it is possible to prevent a decrease in rigidity of the support body 2 even when hot water or steam is splashed on it.

[0029] The blank sheet 2A (FIG. 5) is composed of three parts, namely, a front panel 4, a back panel 5, and a glue tab 6, bounded by a linear folding line L1. The front panel 4 and the back panel 5 are provided with symmetrical slit-shaped locking holes 2a, crescent-shaped holes 2b, and a curved folding line L2. Specific examples of folding lines L1 and L2 include pressed creases, cut creases, perforated creases, and lead creases. Here, folding lines L1 and L2 are formed by a combination of multiple cut sections and multiple non-cut sections. In other words, folding line L1 is assumed to be a cut with a partially pressed crease, and folding line L2 is assumed to be a cut with a partially joined section (blade stop section).

[0030] When assembling the support body 2, first, the blank plate 2A is folded along the folding line L1 at the boundary between the front panel 4 and the back panel 5, so that the front panel 4 and the back panel 5 overlap. Next, the blank plate 2A is folded along the folding line L1 at the boundary between the front panel 4 and the adhesive strip 6, so that the adhesive strip 6 overlaps the back panel 5. When the adhesive strip 6 is adhered to the back panel 5 in this state, the blank plate 2A becomes cylindrical, and the support body 2 is obtained in a folded state. Furthermore, when the filter 1 is attached inside the support body 2, the filter 1 and support body 2 (Figure 3(A)) in a folded state are obtained as described above.

[0031] Bending the blank plate 2A along each folding line L1 forms a linear fold M1 (FIGS. 1 to 3) at each folding line L1. When the left and right folding lines M1 are pressed toward each other (in the direction of arrow mP) on the folded support body 2 (FIG. 3(A)), force is concentrated on the curved folding line L2. This allows the blank plate 2A to be easily folded along the folding line L2. This bending forms a curved fold M2 at each folding line L2 (FIG. 3(B)), forming openings 7a and 8a (FIGS. 1 and 2(C)) at the first opening 7 and the second opening 8 of the support body 2. Then, as the support body 2 assumes a cylindrical open state, an opening 9a (FIGS. 1 and 2(A)) is also formed at the filter opening 9. The folds M1 and M2 thus formed function as a locking structure 13 that locks the shape of the support body 2 in the cylindrical open state.

[0032] As described above, the locking structure 13 is formed by folding the support body 2 and consists of a fold M1 that is deformed by being pressed inward, and a fold M2 that is formed by being pressed against the fold M1. The fold M1 is formed linearly from the first opening 7 to the second opening 8 on both sides of the support body 2 in the folded state (FIG. 3(A)). The support body 2 in the folded state has symmetrical curved fold lines L2, and bending along the fold lines L2 forms the fold M2 in a curved shape (FIG. 3(B)). Pressing the support body 2 from the left and right (arrow mP in FIG. 3(A)) causes the fold M2 to bend outward in a mountain-like curve, fixing the shape of the support body 2 in the open, tubular state. At this time, the curved deformation of the fold M1 strengthens the shape fixation and locking feel of the support body 2.

[0033] A filter opening 9 (FIGS. 1 and 2A) is attached to the first opening 7 so that the filter 1 opens when the support 2 is changed from the folded state (FIG. 3A) to the cylindrical open state (FIG. 3B). As described above, the filter 1 is attached by folding the upper end of the filter along the folding line N2 (FIG. 4) and adhering it to the support 2. That is, the filter 1 is inserted into the support 2, and a portion of the filter opening 9 is folded outward at the edge of the first opening 7 of the support 2, and the folded portion is attached to the outer surface of the support 2 (two points on the upper end of the support 2). With the filter 1 attached in this manner, when the support 2 is changed to the cylindrical open state (FIG. 3B, etc.) during use, the filter 1 opens wide, making it suitable for pouring hot water or dripping.

[0034] When the support 2 assembled as described above is set on the bases 3A and 3B as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, drippers 10A and 10B are completed. The plan view of FIG. 6 shows the base 3A constituting dripper 10A, and the plan view of FIG. 7 shows the base 3B constituting dripper 10B. Bases 3A and 3B are formed with holes 3a that allow insertion from the second opening 8 side of the support 2, and locking pawls 3c are formed on the edges of the holes 3a. However, before use, base 3B is formed with openable flaps 3d that define the holes 3a, so that the holes 3a are closed by the two flaps 3d before the support 2 is inserted. The two flaps 3d that close the holes 3a are connected at the cutting line C1. When the two flaps 3d are separated at the cutting line C1, they become rotatable (enabling folding like a double door) around the creased fold line L3 (FIG. 7).

[0035] When the support 2 is inserted into the hole 3a, the locking claw 3c engages with the locking hole 2a formed on the side of the support 2, locking the support 2 to the bases 3A and 3B (Figs. 1 and 2). This locked state stabilizes the fixation between the support 2 and the bases 3A and 3B. When the locking claw 3c engages with the locking hole 2a, a clicking sensation is heard, providing a reliable indication that the fixation is complete (strengthened locking sensation). The height of the filter 1 relative to the cup 11 can be determined by adjusting the position of the locking hole 2a on the support 2. For example, by positioning the locking hole 2a so that the bottom end of the filter 1 is positioned higher than the cup 11, the filter 1 can be prevented from being submerged in the coffee in the cup 11 (ensuring the steeping time, etc.).

[0036] Because the support 2 and the bases 3A and 3B are separate parts, it is possible to obtain a configuration similar to that of commercially available drip brewers, and this configuration can be stably maintained by the locking structure 13. In other words, it is possible to generate a coffee flow similar to that obtained when using a commercially available drip brewer, and to effectively steam the coffee powder and control the coffee flow rate. Furthermore, because the bases 3A and 3B are flat, it is possible to accommodate various cup sizes and to place the cup 11 stably.

[0037] The crescent-shaped hole 2b formed in the support body 2 acts to make it easier for the locking claw 3c to be caught in the locking hole 2a. In other words, when the locking claw 3c is caught in the locking hole 2a and the support body 2 is locked to the bases 3A and 3B, the hole 2b acts to form a flat surface between the locking hole 2a and the hole 2b, making it easier for the locking claw 3c to be caught in the locking hole 2a. The hole 2b can also be used to check the liquid level in the filter 1.

[0038] Flap 3d on base 3B (FIG. 7) is rotatable about folding line L3, so that flap 3d is pushed by second opening 8 of support 2 and rotates (arrow mR in FIG. 2(C)). When locking claw 3c engages with locking hole 2a and support 2 is attached to base 3B, the angle of flap 3d relative to hole 3a becomes 90° or greater (FIG. 2(C)). The inclusion of flap 3d improves the strength of base 3B. Furthermore, even if dripper 10B moves on cup 11, flap 3d abuts against the inner surface of cup 11, restricting its movement, effectively preventing dripper 10B from falling off cup 11. Therefore, dripper 10B can maintain high stability on the cup.

[0039] When using drippers 10A and 10B, for example, to brew coffee, the support 2 is pushed from the left and right (arrow mP in FIG. 3A) to change the support 2 from its folded state (FIG. 3A) to its cylindrical open state (FIG. 3B), opening the filter 1. The drippers are then set on the bases 3A and 3B to complete the drippers 10A and 10B. The drippers 10A and 10B are then placed on the cup 11, and regular coffee grounds are poured into the filter 1 as the contents 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2A). In the case of a type in which regular coffee grounds are already sealed in the filter 1, the filter 1 is opened, the support 2 is changed from its folded state to its cylindrical open state, and the base is then set on the bases 3A and 3B to complete the drippers 10A and 10B. The drippers 10A and 10B are then placed on the cup 11. In either case, when hot water is poured into the filter 1 through the opening 9 a, the extracted coffee passes through the filter 1 and accumulates in the cup 11 .

[0040] As described above, by pouring a predetermined amount of hot water into the filter 1 through the opening 9a, a beverage (coffee, black tea, green tea, etc.) containing the desired components extracted from the contents 12 in the filter 1 can be obtained in the cup 11. The opening 7a formed by the first opening 7 is larger than the opening 8a formed by the second opening 8, and the filter 1 is configured to have a fan-like shape. In other words, the shape of the support 2 and the filter 1 approximates a fan shape with the larger openings 7a and 9a. Therefore, the gentle slope of the side of the filter 1 and the contact of the side of the filter 1 with the support 2 create a coffee flow similar to that of commercially available drip coffee makers, enabling effective steaming of the coffee grounds and control of the coffee flow rate, as described above. This also enables larger volumes (e.g., increased amounts of coffee grounds) and facilitates pouring hot water into the filter 1. The instability of the fan-like shape can be eliminated by attaching the flat bases 3A and 3B to the support 2.

[0041] For example, even if coffee splashes when hot water is poured into filter 1, the splash is blocked by bases 3A and 3B, so coffee that splashes out of drippers 10A and 10B will not stain a table or other surface. Furthermore, while drippers 10A and 10B are in use, the interior of cup 11 (such as the liquid level) can be seen through locking holes 2a and 3a, making it easy to check the amount of coffee in cup 11 while pouring hot water. Base 3B has window 3b (FIG. 7) around flap 3d, so while dripper 10B is in use, the interior of cup 11 (such as the liquid level) can be seen through window 3b located around hole 3a. Therefore, it is even easier to check the amount of coffee in cup 11 while pouring hot water.

[0042] The plan views of Figures 8 and 9 show bases 3C and 3D that can be used with drippers 10A and 10B before use. Like base 3B, bases 3C and 3D have openable flaps 3d that define holes 3a, with locking pawls 3c formed around the edges of holes 3a. However, instead of the window 3b (Figure 7) located around the periphery of flap 3d, flap 3d is partially expanded to define a window 3b that forms part of hole 3a. Because the interior of cup 11 (such as the liquid level) can be seen through window 3b, which forms part of hole 3a, the amount of coffee in cup 11 can be easily confirmed while pouring hot water, just like dripper 10B.

[0043] The bases 3A to 3D may be made of paper or plastic. If the support 2 and the bases 3A to 3D are both made of paper, the drippers 10A, 10B can be disposed of as is after the extraction of coffee or the like is complete. This simplifies cleanup. If the support 2 is made of paper and the bases 3A to 3D are made of plastic, the filter 1 and the support 2 can be disposed of and the bases 3A to 3D can be reused. Reusing the bases 3A to 3D reduces waste.

[0044] As mentioned above, drippers 10A and 10B are configured so that cylindrical support 2 can be attached to flat bases 3A-3D, allowing them to accommodate a variety of cup sizes and maintain high stability on cup 11 even when filter 1 has a large opening. Therefore, by making the shapes of support 2 and filter 1 similar to a fan shape with a larger opening, the gentle slope of the filter 1 side and contact of the filter 1 side with support 2 enable effective steaming of coffee grounds and control of coffee flow rate, enabling larger volumes. Furthermore, pouring hot water into filter 1 becomes easier, reducing the likelihood of coffee splashing outside filter 1 or drippers 10A and 10B. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 filter 1A Sheet material 2 Support 2A Blank Plate 2a Locking hole 2b hole 3A,3B,3C,3D pedestal 3a hole 3b window 3c Locking claw 3D flap 4 Front plate 5 Back plate 6 Glue allowance piece 7 First opening 8 Second opening 9 Filter opening 7a,8a,9a opening 10A, 10B Dripper 11 cups 12 Contents 13 Locking Structure L1, L2, L3 bending lines M1, M2 folds N1, N2 bending lines C1 Cutting line

Claims

1. The device comprises a bag-shaped filter, a cylindrical support formed to be foldable with the filter positioned therein, and a flat base formed to be attachable so that the cylindrical support can be locked, the cylindrical support body has a first opening that constitutes one opening and a second opening that constitutes the other opening, an opening of the filter is attached to the first opening so that the filter opens when the support body is changed from a folded state to a cylindrical open state; a hole that allows the support to be inserted from the second opening side is formed in the base, a locking claw is formed on an edge of the hole, and a locking hole is formed on a side surface of the support so that the support is locked to the base when inserted into the hole; The dripper is characterized in that a crescent-shaped side hole is formed in the side surface of the support body at a position closer to the first opening than the locking hole.

2. 2. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein an openable and closable flap defining the hole is formed on the base.

3. 3. The dripper according to claim 2, wherein the angle of the flap relative to the hole is 90 degrees or more when the support is attached to the base.

4. 4. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein the base is provided with a window located around the hole or a window formed by enlarging a part of the hole.

5. 5. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein the support has a locking structure that fixes the support in an open, cylindrical state by a fold formed by pressing the support inward.

6. 6. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein the opening formed by the first opening is larger than the opening formed by the second opening, and the filter has a fan shape.

7. 7. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein both the support and the base are made of paper.

8. 7. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein the support is made of paper and the base is made of plastic.

9. 9. The dripper according to claim 1, wherein the filter contains a content containing a component to be extracted.