Filter and filtration tool set

Abstract

This filter is detachably provided to a filter-holding tool including a grip part and a frame-form part provided to the grip part. The filter has an upper-surface opening and includes a filtration part configured from at least one base material. The filtration part has an insertion part through which the grip part can be inserted. It is thereby possible to provide a filter that can be easily attached to and detached from the filter-holding tool, and a filtration tool set comprising such a filter. It is also possible to provide a filter that can be easily stored in water, and a filtration tool set comprising such a filter.

Description

Filters and filtration sets

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter and a filtering tool set, in particular to a filter and a filtering tool set for coffee brewing.

[0002] When extracting coffee using the drip method, cloth filters are used to enjoy the original flavor of the coffee, and paper filters are used to enjoy coffee easily (for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes the problems with both paper filters and cloth filters.

[0003] Specifically, paper filters have the problem of placing a heavy burden on the environment because they use virgin pulp, and also have the problem of reducing the coffee aroma and flavor because coffee components (such as coffee oil) are difficult to pass through paper filters.

[0004] On the other hand, cloth filters (e.g., flannel cloth filters) are prone to bacterial growth after use, and when the cloth filter dries after use, it can emit the oxidized odor of coffee oil. For this reason, the cloth filter needs to be soaked in water and stored between uses.

[0005] Furthermore, cloth filters are used with a filter holder having a handle portion (gripping portion) and a wire portion (frame-shaped portion) (see, for example, Patent Document 2). As described in Patent Document 2, the frame portion must be inserted into the wire insertion portion (upper end) of the cloth filter, which is extremely time-consuming. Furthermore, the cloth filter must be removed from the frame portion to perform the maintenance described above. This removal process is even more time-consuming than the insertion process. This is due to the increased friction of the wet cloth filter during the coffee extraction process, etc. For this reason, cloth filters attached to the filter holder are sometimes stored immersed in water. This type of storage poses hygiene problems due to the proliferation of bacteria attached to the grip portion.

[0006] To solve these problems, Patent Document 1 discloses a device that does not use a filter holder. However, this does not meet the expectations of consumers who prefer the Nel drip coffee brewing style, in which a cloth filter-attached filter holder is held in one hand and hot water is poured with the other to maximize the coffee's flavor. Furthermore, installing a cloth filter in a paper dripper, as in Patent Document 1, has the drawback of taking too long to brew, resulting in changes to the brewed content. For example, it is prone to producing an oxidized oil odor. It may also accentuate the bitterness from the coffee bean's astringent skin.

[0007] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a device for improving the flannel drip method, but does not solve the above-mentioned problems of the flannel drip method. In particular, the device of Patent Document 2 still requires the insertion of a frame-shaped part. Therefore, the device of Patent Document 2 does not solve the above-mentioned problems caused by the insertion of a frame-shaped part.

[0008] In addition to these user-side issues, there are also producer-side issues. For example, there is the problem that the contract price for producing cloth filters is not set appropriately. The production of cloth filters is sometimes carried out by workers with disabilities and is a form of social welfare work. The inventor is a wheelchair user and is actually involved in such social welfare work. For this reason, the inventor recognizes the need for cloth filter producers to obtain fair contract prices. Therefore, there is a need to invent a filter that solves the user-side issues and thereby solves the producer-side issues.

[0009] Utility Model Registration No. 3233536 Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 7-12028

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a filter that can be easily attached to and detached from a filter holder, and a filtering tool set including such a filter.

[0011] The above object is achieved by the present invention as set forth in (1) to (12) below: (1) A filter that is detachably provided to a filter holder that includes a gripping portion and a frame-shaped portion provided on the gripping portion, the filter including a filtering portion that has an upper surface opening and is made of at least one base material, the filtering portion having an insertion portion that allows the gripping portion to be inserted therethrough.

[0012] (2) The filter according to (1) above, wherein the insertion portion is a notch.

[0013] (3) The filter according to (1) above, wherein the insertion portion is provided on the filtering portion on the side of the upper surface opening.

[0014] (4) The filter according to (1) above, wherein the insertion portion is provided along the circumferential direction of the filtering portion.

[0015] (5) The filter according to (1) above, wherein the filtering portion is made up of a plurality of base material pieces divided along the circumferential direction thereof, and the insertion portion is provided near a gap between two of the plurality of base material pieces.

[0016] (6) The filter according to (1) above, further including an engagement portion provided at an upper end of the filtering portion and configured to engage with the frame-shaped portion.

[0017] (7) The filter according to (6) above, wherein the engaging portion is engaged with the frame-shaped portion by being folded back.

[0018] (8) The filter according to (6) or (7) above, further including an auxiliary portion provided at the engaging portion to assist the engaging portion in engaging with the engaging portion.

[0019] (9) The filter according to (8) above, wherein the auxiliary portion includes a fixing member that fixes the engaging portion to the frame-shaped portion, and a holding member that maintains the fixing of the engaging portion to the frame-shaped portion.

[0020] (10) The filter according to (6) above, wherein the insertion portion is provided vertically below the engagement portion.

[0021] (11) A filter tool set including: a filter holder including a grip portion and a frame portion provided on the grip portion; and a filter that is detachably provided on the filter holder, wherein the filter includes a filtering portion having an upper surface opening and made of at least one base material, and the filtering portion has an insertion portion that allows the grip portion to be inserted.

[0022] (12) The filtering tool set according to (11) above, further comprising a container for storing the filter.

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a filter that can be easily attached to and detached from a filter holder, and a filtering tool set including such a filter.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a filtering device set according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a filter holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top view showing a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view showing a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of a method for attaching a filter to a filter holder in a filtering device set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a method for attaching a filter to a filter holder in a filtering device set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of a method for attaching a filter to a filter holder in a filtering device set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the function of an auxiliary part of a filter in a filtering device set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the function of an auxiliary part of a filter in a filtering device set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for storing a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Before describing the filter of the present invention, the filtering tool set of the present invention will be described in detail below based on a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in the drawing will be referred to as "upper," the lower side as "lower," the left side as "left," the right side as "right," the front side of the paper as "front," and the back side of the paper as "rear."

[0026] <<First Embodiment>>

[0027] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a filtering tool set according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a filter holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] 1. Filter Set As shown in FIG. 1 , the filter set 10 of this embodiment includes a filter 1 and a filter holder 7. The filter set 10 is configured to extract coffee using the Nel drip method. The Nel drip method includes a method in which the filter set 10 is held by hand and a method in which it is held in a filter server or the like. The filter set 10 is applicable to, but is not limited to, beverage extraction, cooking, and other applications. Beverage extraction applications include coffee extraction and tea extraction for making black tea, green tea, and the like. Cooking applications include fruit juice extraction (e.g., lemon juice), and meat or fish broth extraction. Among these, the filter set 10 is preferably applied to beverage extraction, and more preferably to coffee extraction. In addition, the filter set 10 may include other components (e.g., a container 6 shown in FIG. 11 ). The inclusion of the container 6 in the filter set 10 improves user convenience by storing the container 6 after use. The container 6 will be described later. Next, the filter holder 7 will be described.

[0029] 2, the filter holder 7 has a grip portion 71 and a frame portion 72. The grip portion 71 has a function of being held by the hand of a user of the filtering tool set 10. The grip portion 71 in this embodiment is made of an elongated metal member.

[0030] Specifically, the grip portion 71 has a bending portion 711, a first rod-shaped portion 712, a second rod-shaped portion 713, and a curved portion 714 connecting the first rod-shaped portion 712 and the second rod-shaped portion 713. The bending portion 711 is bent in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 71 toward the opposite side from the second rod-shaped portion 713. The first rod-shaped portion 712 extends linearly from the bending portion 711 to the curved portion 714. The second rod-shaped portion 713 extends linearly from the curved portion 714 to the frame-shaped portion 72. The curved portion 714 connects the base end of the first rod-shaped portion 712 to the base end of the second rod-shaped portion 713.

[0031] The first rod-shaped portion 712 and the second rod-shaped portion 713 are arranged parallel to each other, and their width and the distance between them correspond to the width W2 of the grip portion 71. The width W2 of the grip portion 71 is not particularly limited and is, for example, 1 cm to 5 cm. The length of the grip portion 71 along the longitudinal direction is not particularly limited and is, for example, 5 cm to 10 cm. The configuration of the grip portion 71 is not limited to the shapes, materials, etc. described above. For example, the grip portion 71 may be made of a wooden rod-shaped member. In this case, the filter holder 7 may be configured to have a wooden grip portion 71 and a metal frame-shaped portion 72.

[0032] The frame-shaped portion 72 has an annular shape in a plan view. Specifically, the frame-shaped portion 72 extends in an annular shape from the second rod-shaped portion 713 to the bent portion 711. The inner and outer diameters of the frame-shaped portion 72 are not particularly limited and can be set according to the size of the filter 1. For example, the inner diameter of the frame-shaped portion 72 is 6 cm to 15 cm, and preferably 9 cm to 13 cm. The shape of the frame-shaped portion 72 in a plan view is not particularly limited and may be elliptical, semicircular, polygonal, or the like. Furthermore, the material of the frame-shaped portion 72 may be the same as or different from the material of the grip portion 71.

[0033] The tip 721 of the frame-shaped portion 72 is in contact with the bent portion 711 so as to be separable. This allows a conventional cloth filter to be attached. Specifically, the upper end of a conventional cloth filter (e.g., the wire insertion portion of Patent Document 2) is configured so that the frame-shaped portion can be inserted therethrough. In a conventional cloth filter, the tip 721 must be inserted through this upper end, and the entire frame-shaped portion 72 must be inserted therethrough. On the other hand, as will be described later, the filter 1 of this embodiment does not require insertion into the frame-shaped portion 72. Therefore, the tip 721 and the bent portion 711 may be fixed. In other words, the grip portion 71 and the frame-shaped portion 72 may be integrally molded. Next, the filter 1 will be described.

[0034] 2. Filter Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a filter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a top view showing a filter according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a side view showing a filter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 , the filter 1 of this embodiment has a conical shape. The shape of the filter 1 is not limited to this. For example, the filter 1 may be trapezoidal, truncated cone-shaped, pyramidal, hemispherical, or the like. The filter 1 may also be used as a beverage extraction filter or a cooking filter. The filter 1 is preferably a beverage extraction filter, particularly a coffee extraction filter. In this case, the filter 1 may be applied to a coffee extraction device. For example, the filter 1 may be attached to a coffee maker that can control the extraction temperature. The filter 1 includes a filtering portion 2 having an insertion portion 3, an engagement portion 4, and an auxiliary portion 5.

[0036] (Filtration Section) The filtration section 2 constitutes the main body of the filter 1. The filtration section 2 accommodates a filtering target (e.g., coffee grounds) and functions to filter the target to obtain an extract (e.g., a liquid containing coffee components). To perform this function, the filtration section 2 is composed of at least one substrate. In this embodiment, the substrate of the filtration section 2 is composed of a fibrous material (e.g., cloth, paper, flannel fabric), but is not limited thereto. For example, the filtration section 2 may be composed of a metal material, a polymer material, a rubber material, or the like. Among these, it is preferable that the filtration section 2 be composed of a fibrous material. The fibrous material includes natural fibers and chemical fibers, but natural fibers (e.g., plant fibers such as cotton and hemp) are preferred.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 , the filtration unit 2 includes fabric pieces 2a and 2b, a first sewn portion 21, a second sewn portion 22, an upper surface opening 23, and a connecting portion 24 connecting the fabric pieces 2a and 2b. The filtration unit 2 of this embodiment is composed of a single base material (one piece of fabric). Specifically, this base material is molded so that the fabric pieces 2a and 2b, which are generally fan-shaped or triangular, are arranged symmetrically around the connecting portion 24. That is, as shown in FIG. 3 , the connecting portion 24 is configured as an axis-symmetrical member of the base material, connecting the upper left end of fabric piece 2a and the upper right end of fabric piece 2b. The first sewn portion 21 and the second sewn portion 22 are formed by overlapping and sewing both sides of the fabric pieces 2a and 2b of the base material thus formed. The filtering section 2 does not necessarily have to have the connecting section 24, but it is preferable that the filtering section 2 has the connecting section 24 so that the insertion section 3, which will be described later, is provided so as to avoid the first sewn section 21. This makes it possible to easily form the insertion section 3. For example, the insertion section 3 can be formed before the first sewn section 21 and the second sewn section 22 are formed.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 5, the first sewn portion 21 is provided so as to extend from the lower end of the filtering portion 2 to the connecting portion 24 (to the middle of the height direction of the filter 1). The first sewn portion 21 may be provided so as to extend from the lower end of the filtering portion 2 to the insertion portion 3. On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the second sewn portion 22 is provided so as to extend from the lower end to the upper end of the filtering portion 2 (across the height direction of the filter 1).

[0039] In an open state, the filtration section 2 is bag-shaped. From this state, the engagement portion 4 provided at the upper end of the filtration section 2 is folded back as shown in FIG. 1 , thereby configuring the filtration section 2 to have an upper opening 23. The shape and dimensions of the upper opening 23 preferably correspond to the shape and dimensions of the frame-shaped portion 72. For example, if the frame-shaped portion 72 has a rectangular shape in plan view, the upper opening 23 preferably also has a rectangular shape in plan view. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the upper opening 23 is preferably set slightly larger than the outer diameter of the frame-shaped portion 72. This allows the engagement portion 4, described below, to reliably engage with the frame-shaped portion 72. Furthermore, the shape and dimensions of the upper opening 23 may be the same as the shape and dimensions of the frame-shaped portion 72. This allows the above-mentioned effects to be more effectively achieved.

[0040] (Engagement Portion) The engagement portion 4 is provided at the upper end of the filtration unit 2 and is configured to engage with the frame-shaped portion 72. This facilitates attachment and detachment of the filter 1 to and from the filter holder 7, compared to conventional fabric filters, which require the frame-shaped portion 72 to be inserted over the upper end of the filter. The engagement portion 4 in this embodiment is provided along the upper end of the filtration unit 2. This allows for more reliable engagement with the frame-shaped portion 72. In this embodiment, the filtration unit 2 and the engagement portion 4 are integrally formed. That is, the engagement portion 4 is made of the base material of the filtration unit 2. The engagement portion 4 is also annular and has an upper peripheral edge corresponding to the upper end of the filter 1 and a lower peripheral edge corresponding to the upper end of the filtration unit 2 and having a smaller inner diameter than the upper peripheral edge. This allows the engagement portion 4 to be easily folded back along the frame-shaped portion 72. From this perspective, the width (height) of the engagement portion 4 is preferably, but not limited to, approximately 1 cm to 2 cm.

[0041] 1, the engaging portion 4 can be folded back to engage with the frame-shaped portion 72. As a result, a fold 41 is formed to define the top opening 23 of the filtering section 2. The fold 41 corresponds to the lower peripheral edge of the engaging portion 4. As a result, during coffee extraction, the filter 1 can hold coffee grounds that expand across the top opening 23, with the fold 41 acting as the peripheral edge.

[0042] In this way, it is preferable that the engaging portion 4 has a simple configuration in order to use the entire top surface opening 23. Note that the configuration of the engaging portion 4 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the function of engaging with the frame-shaped portion 72. For example, the filtering portion 2 and the engaging portion 4 may be separate bodies.

[0043] (Insertion Portion) The insertion portion 3 has a function (first function) of inserting the grip portion 71. The insertion portion 3 in this embodiment is formed by cutting out a part of the base material constituting the filtering unit 2 (in this embodiment, the connection portion 24). That is, in this embodiment, the insertion portion 3 is a notch. The notch is open before the grip portion 71 is inserted, so the grip portion 71 can be easily inserted into the insertion portion 3. As a result, the filter 1 can be easily attached to and detached from the filter holder 7. It is preferable that the notch has a sewn edge. This can improve the strength of the insertion portion 3. As a result, the above-mentioned effects can be exerted more continuously.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5 , the insertion portion 3 of this embodiment is provided on the side of the upper surface opening 23 of the filtering unit 2. This allows the above-described effects of the insertion portion 3 to be achieved without interfering with the function of the filtering unit 2. Furthermore, the insertion portion 3 is configured to be aligned with the lower peripheral edge of the engagement portion 4 in a side view of the filter 1. Preferably, the insertion portion 3 is configured to be aligned parallel to or colinear with the lower peripheral edge of the engagement portion 4 along the left-right (horizontal) direction. This allows the insertion portion 3 to function as a starting point for folding back the engagement portion 4 (second function), as described below. As a result, the insertion portion 3 also functions as a starting point for defining the upper surface opening 23 of the filtering unit 2 (third function). In this way, the insertion portion 3 has a main function (first function) of inserting the grip portion 71 and multiple sub-functions (second and third functions). This allows the filter 1 to be provided that is simple in configuration and easy to use.

[0045] Furthermore, the insertion portion 3 is provided extending at the connection portion 24 of the filtering portion 2 along the circumferential direction of the filtering portion 2. As a result, when inserting the gripping portion 71 into the insertion portion 3, the filter 1 can be moved while grasping the first sewn portion 21. Conversely, when removing the filter 1 from the filter holder 7, the filter 1 can be moved while grasping the second sewn portion 22. This makes it easier to attach and detach the filter 1 to and from the filter holder 7. This effect is more pronounced when the insertion portion 3 is provided near the space between the fabric pieces 2 a, 2 b (near the connection portion 24).

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5 , in a side view of the filter 1, the insertion portion 3 is arranged to intersect (preferably perpendicular to) the center line of the filter 1 (a two-dot chain line extending vertically in Fig. 5 ) that passes through the bottommost part of the filter 1 (the connection point between the first sewn portion 21 and the second sewn portion 22, i.e., the apex) and the center of the top opening 23. This allows the gripping portion 71 to be inserted into the insertion portion 3 while being aligned with the center line ( Fig. 6 ). This ensures stable attachment of the filter 1 to the filter holder 7. The insertion portion 3 is also arranged to intersect (preferably perpendicular to) the line along the first sewn portion 21. This arrangement also ensures stable attachment of the filter 1 to the filter holder 7.

[0047] 5, the center of the insertion portion 3 (the midpoint of the longitudinal length) is offset from the line along the first sewn portion 21 in the side view of FIG. 5. That is, the center of the insertion portion 3 does not coincide with the first sewn portion 21 in the side view of FIG. 5. As a result, when the filter 1 is attached to the filter holder 7, the first sewn portion 21 is offset from the grip portion 71. For example, in FIG. 10, the first sewn portion 21 is located on the far side of the page. As a result, when the user handles the filtering tool set 10, the fingers holding the grip portion 71 can be prevented from coming into contact with the first sewn portion 21. This allows the user to handle the filtering tool set 10 smoothly.

[0048] In this embodiment, the insertion portion 3 is located vertically below the engagement portion 4. As a result, when the filter 1 is rotated (when the filter 1 changes from the state shown in FIG. 6 to the state shown in FIG. 7 ), the periphery of the insertion portion 3 is folded back. Therefore, the insertion portion 3 can effectively function as a starting point for the engagement portion 4 to engage with the frame portion 72. Furthermore, when the engagement portion 4 is folded back along the frame portion 72, the fold 41 of the engagement portion 4 and the insertion portion 3 are aligned along the radial direction (the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9 ) of the top opening 23 through which the insertion portion 3 passes ( FIG. 9 ). This alignment results in a flat configuration from the fold 41 to the vicinity of the upper end of the filtering unit 2. As a result, the entire surface of the top opening 23 can be effectively used. For example, when brewing coffee, expanded coffee grounds can be held over the entire surface of the substrate (the portion near the upper end of the filtering unit 2) and the top opening 23. The fold 41 of the engagement portion 4 and the insertion portion 3 may also be aligned vertically. In this case as well, the above-mentioned effects can be achieved.

[0049] 3, the insertion portion 3 is provided along the circumferential direction of the filtering portion 2. This allows the above-mentioned effect resulting from the alignment of the engaging portion 4 with the fold 41 to be more effectively exerted.

[0050] The width W1 of the insertion portion 3 is not particularly limited, but is preferably set to correspond to the width W2 of the grip portion 71. This allows the filter 1 to be attached from the grip portion 71 to the frame portion 72 via the insertion portion 3. In this embodiment, the width W1 of the insertion portion 3 is the length of the insertion portion 3 in the longitudinal direction. The width W1 is preferably 1 cm to 5 cm, more preferably 1 cm to 3 cm, and particularly preferably 11 mm to 24 mm. Furthermore, compared to conventional fabric filters that require the frame portion 72 to be inserted into the upper end of the filter, the contact area between the filter 1 and the filter holder 7 is reduced when the filter 1 is attached to or detached from the filter holder 7. As a result, the filter 1 can be attached to or detached from the filter holder 7 more smoothly.

[0051] The configuration of the insertion portion 3 is not limited to the configuration described above. The insertion portion 3 may be configured so that the grip portion 71 can be inserted therethrough. For example, the insertion portion 3 may be a through-hole formed in a circular or polygonal shape. The position of the insertion portion 3 is also not particularly limited. For example, the insertion portion 3 may be provided between the first sewn portion 21 and the second sewn portion 22. The filter 1 may have the insertion portion 3 as a substitute for or in addition to the conventional component (wire insertion portion) that inserts the frame portion 72 into the filter 1.

[0052] (Auxiliary Part) The filter 1 has an auxiliary part 5 that assists the engagement of the engagement part 4 with the frame-shaped part 72. This makes it possible to ensure the engagement force of the engagement part 4 with the frame-shaped part 72 while keeping the configuration of the engagement part 4 simple.

[0053] The auxiliary part 5 of this embodiment includes a fixing member 51 that functions to fix the engaging part 4 to the frame-shaped part 72 and a retaining member 52 that functions to maintain this fixation. By providing the fixing and retaining functions to separate parts in this manner, the respective parts can be simplified in configuration, reducing the cost of the filter 1. In this embodiment, the fixing member 51 is a string member, but is not limited to this. The auxiliary part 5 includes a loop member 511 through which the fixing member 51 is threaded. When the engaging part 4 is not folded back, the loop member 511 is sewn to the inside of the engaging part 4 ( FIG. 4 ). The fixing member 51 is movable within the loop member 511. The retaining member 52 is a metal hook that can adjust the retention state of the engaging part 4 on the frame-shaped part 72, but is not limited to this. The retaining member 52 is slidably attached to the fixing member 51. The configuration (shape, material, etc.) of the auxiliary part 5 is not limited to the above-described configuration. For example, the fixing member 51 may be made of a metal wire or a resin material. The holding member 52 may be made of plastic. The auxiliary part 5 may be composed of a clip member. The entire auxiliary part 5 may be composed of a fabric made of a stretch material. In this case, the member made of a fabric made of a stretch material may be additionally provided on the upper side (for example, the upper end) of the filter 1, or may be provided as a substitute for a member above the insertion part 3 in the filter 1. The position of the auxiliary part 5 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably positioned so as not to interfere with the insertion part 3. The position of the auxiliary part 5 may be set taking into consideration the dominant hand of the user.

[0054] 3. Method of Attaching and Detaching the Filter Figures 6 to 8 are perspective views showing an example of a method of attaching a filter to a filter holder in the filtering tool set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figures 9 and 10 are views for explaining the function of the auxiliary part of the filter in the filtering tool set according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] As shown in Figure 6, with the filter 1 in an inverted state, the base end of the gripping portion 71 is inserted into the insertion portion 3. When the insertion portion 3 reaches the bent portion 711 and the frame-shaped portion 72, the filter 1 is rotated so that the filtering portion 2 passes inside the frame-shaped portion 72 (Figure 7). This rotation is performed with the insertion portion 3 as the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the timing of the rotation is not particularly limited. For example, the filter 1 may be rotated when the insertion portion 3 reaches near the middle of the gripping portion 71. Furthermore, when the base end of the gripping portion 71 is inserted into the insertion portion 3, the filter 1 does not have to be inverted.

[0056] 7, the engaging portion 4 is folded back along the fold 41 from the insertion portion 3 along the frame-shaped portion 72. As a result, the engaging portion 4 engages with the frame-shaped portion 72 (FIG. 8). At this time, the fold 41 of the engaging portion 4 is formed along the frame-shaped portion 72.

[0057] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the fixing member 51 is pulled downward while the holding member 52 is slid upward. As a result, as shown in Fig. 10, the fixing member 51 tightens the engaging portion 4. Furthermore, the holding member 52 moves to the vicinity of the engaging portion 4 and stays there, so the fixation by the fixing member 51 can be maintained.

[0058] The filter 1 can be removed from the filter holder 7 by reversing the above-described attachment procedure. That is, the auxiliary part 5 is released from its fixed position, the filtering part 2 is removed from the inside of the frame part 72, and the filter 1 is separated from the filter holder 7 via the insertion part 3.

[0059] In this way, the method of attaching and detaching the filter 1 via the grip portion 71 is extremely simple compared to the conventional method of inserting the frame portion 72 into the upper end of the filtration unit 2. This allows the user to perform maintenance of the filter 1 without stress. As a result, it is possible to avoid storing the filter 1 while it is attached to the filter holder 7. Furthermore, contamination of the filter 1 due to the growth of bacteria adhering to the grip portion 71 during storage of the filter 1 can be prevented.

[0060] The user can also use the filter set 10 in the state shown in Figure 8 to implement the Nel drip method. For example, the user can use the filter set 10 while pressing the fold 41 of the engagement portion 4 with the fingers on the grip portion 71 side. In other words, the filter 1 does not need to have the auxiliary portion 5.

[0061] 4. Filter Storage Method Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of a filter storage method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 11 , the filter 1 is stored in a container 6 after use. Storing the filter 1 underwater prevents bacterial growth on the filter 1 and also prevents the oxidized odor of coffee oil that occurs when the filter 1 dries. The container 6 includes a main body 61 and a lid 62. The main body 61 is filled with water W. The dimensions of the main body 61 are, for example, approximately 5 cm in diameter and 17 cm in height, but are not limited thereto. According to this embodiment, the filter 1 can be easily removed from the filter holder 7, allowing the container 6 to be selected based solely on the filter 1, without considering the filter holder 7. This dramatically reduces the volume and storage space of the container 6, making it easier to store the filter 1 underwater. In particular, the storage space required can be reduced by approximately 30% to 90% compared to a flat-laid Tupperware container.

[0063] The method for storing the filter 1 is not particularly limited. For example, the filter 1 can be stored frozen. However, since the filter 1 stored frozen needs to be blanched to raise the temperature of the filter 1 itself, frozen storage is more time-consuming than underwater storage. Alternatively, the filter 1 can be sterilized by boiling after use and then stored underwater. As described above, the filter 1 can be easily removed from the filter holder 7, and therefore such maintenance, such as storage, can be carried out smoothly.

[0064] 5. Method for Manufacturing the Filter The above-described filter 1 can be manufactured as follows. First, a piece of fabric made of flannel is prepared (preparation step). This fabric is cut into a predetermined shape to have fabric pieces 2a and 2b (cutting step). In the cutting step, this substrate is molded so that fabric pieces 2a and 2b are provided symmetrically with respect to the connecting portion 24 (see FIG. 3).

[0065] Thereafter, the insertion portion 3 is formed in the connecting portion 24. The fabric pieces 2a and 2b are then overlapped, and both ends of the fabric pieces 2a and 2b are sewn together to form the first sewn portion 21 and the second sewn portion 22, thereby forming the filtering portion 2 (filtering portion forming process). Furthermore, the upper ends of the fabric pieces 2a and 2b are subjected to anti-fraying treatment to form the engaging portion 4 (engaging portion forming process). Examples of anti-fraying treatment include, but are not limited to, sewing treatments such as overlocking and laser processing. Next, a loop member 511 is provided inside the engaging portion 4, and the fixing member 51 (string member) is threaded through the loop member 511 (fixing member forming process). Subsequently, a holding member 52 (claw metal fitting) is attached to the fixing member 51 (holding member forming process). The fixing member forming process and the holding member forming process are auxiliary portion forming processes. In this manner, the filter 1 can be manufactured.

[0066] The method for manufacturing the filter 1 is not limited to the above-described manufacturing method. For example, the number of fabric pieces is not particularly limited. That is, the filtration unit 2 may be composed of multiple fabric pieces (for example, four fabric pieces). The filtration unit 2 may or may not have a connecting portion 24. The order of the above-described steps may be changed as appropriate, and some steps may be omitted. Furthermore, in the filtration unit forming step, when a single piece of fabric is cut into a predetermined shape, the fabric pieces 2a and 2b may be separated.

[0067] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the filter of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] 12 is a schematic diagram showing a filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment will be described below, focusing on differences from the first embodiment described above, and a description of similarities will be omitted. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate similar components to those in the first embodiment described above.

[0069] The filter 1A of this embodiment differs from the filter 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the insertion portion and auxiliary portion. Specifically, the insertion portion 3A of this embodiment is formed by cutting the connection portion 24. That is, the insertion portion 3A is a cut. This cut is closed when the filter 1A is unused and is configured to open upon insertion of the grip portion 71. That is, because the insertion portion 3A is closed before the grip portion 71 is inserted, the filter 1 can also be used as a filter for brewing coffee without using a filter holder 7. Furthermore, since there is no need to penetrate the insertion portion 3, the filter 1 can be manufactured more easily. Furthermore, the center of the insertion portion 3A coincides with the first sewn portion 21 in a front view. As a result, when inserting the grip portion 71 into the insertion portion 3, the first sewn portion 21 functions as a marker indicating the center of the insertion portion 3A. As a result, the grip portion 71 can be easily inserted into the insertion portion 3, which is closed before insertion.

[0070] Furthermore, the auxiliary portion 5A of this embodiment is composed of a resin ring. Materials for the resin ring include silicone, urethane, polyethylene terephthalate, and the like. Of these, when the filter 1 is used for beverage extraction, the resin ring is preferably made of silicone. The elasticity of the resin ring allows the engaging portion 4 to be efficiently fixed and held to the frame-shaped portion 72. In this embodiment, the auxiliary portion 5A is fixed to the outside of the engaging portion 4 by sewing, but it may also be detachable from the engaging portion 4. Thus, the auxiliary portion 5A functions as both the fixing member 51 and the holding member 52. In other words, the auxiliary portion 5A can be considered a member that applies an engaging force to the engaging portion 4. The filter 1A of this embodiment also has the same effects as the filter 1 of the first embodiment.

[0071] The filter and filtering tool set of the present invention have been described above based on preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The configuration of each part can be modified or replaced with any configuration having a similar function. Furthermore, any other means or components may be added to the present invention. Furthermore, in the present invention, any two or more configurations (features) of each embodiment may be combined.

[0072] For example, the filter 1 may be configured with a filtering section 2 having a notch as the insertion section 3, without the auxiliary section 5. A cover member may be provided on the insertion section 3. Furthermore, the insertion section 3 may be provided on a section other than the filtering section 2 (for example, the engagement section 4). The constituent materials of each section are not particularly limited as long as they can properly perform their functions. For example, each section may be formed from a constituent material that complies with the Food Sanitation Act.

[0073] The filter of the present invention is detachably mounted on a filter holder including a gripping portion and a frame-shaped portion attached to the gripping portion. The filter has an upper surface opening and includes a filtering portion made of at least one base material. The filtering portion is characterized by having an insertion portion through which the gripping portion can be inserted. This makes it possible to provide a filter that is easily attached to and detached from a filter holder, and a filtering device set including such a filter. Therefore, the present invention has industrial applicability.

[0074] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Filter 1A: Filter 2: Filtration section 2a: Piece of cloth 2b: Piece of cloth 21: First sewn section 22: Second sewn section 23: Upper opening 24: Connection section 3: Insertion section (notch) 3A: Insertion section (notch) 4: Engagement section 41: Fold 5: Auxiliary section 51: Fixing member 52: Holding member 5A: Auxiliary section (resin ring) 6: Container 61: Main body section 62: Lid section 7: Filter holder 71: Grip section 72: Frame-shaped section 711: Bent section 712: First rod-shaped section 713: Second rod-shaped section 714: Curved section 721: Tip section W: Water 10: Filter set

Claims

1. A filter removably provided on a filter holder including a gripping portion and a frame-like portion provided on the gripping portion, the filter comprising: a filtering portion having an upper surface opening and composed of at least one base material; an engaging portion provided at an upper end of the filtering portion and configured to engage with the frame-like portion; the filtering portion having an insertion portion through which the gripping portion can be inserted; the engaging portion being engaged with the frame-like portion by being folded back at the upper end of the filtering portion; the insertion portion being provided along the upper end of the filtering portion so as to be aligned with the engaging portion.

2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is a notch.

3. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is provided on a side of the upper surface opening in the filtering portion.

4. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is provided along a circumferential direction of the filtering portion.

5. The filtering portion is composed of a plurality of base material pieces divided along its circumferential direction, the filter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is provided near a position between two of the plurality of base material pieces.

6. The engaging portion has an upper peripheral edge corresponding to an upper end of the filter and a lower peripheral edge corresponding to the upper end of the filtering portion and having an inner diameter smaller than that of the upper peripheral edge.

7. The filter according to claim 6, wherein a direction in which the insertion portion is provided is configured to be aligned with the lower peripheral edge of the engaging portion in a side view of the filter.

8. The filter according to claim 1 or 7, further comprising an auxiliary portion provided on the engaging portion to assist in the engagement of the engaging portion.

9. The filter according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary portion includes a fixing member for fixing the engaging portion to the frame-like portion and a holding member for holding the fixing of the engaging portion to the frame-like portion.

10. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion is provided vertically below the engaging portion.

11. A filtration tool set including a filter holder including a gripping portion and a frame-like portion provided on the gripping portion, and a filter removably provided on the filter holder, wherein the filter has an upper surface opening and a filtering portion composed of at least one base material, and an engaging portion provided at an upper end of the filtering portion and configured to engage with the frame-like portion. The filtering part has an insertion part through which the gripping part can be inserted. The engaging part is engaged with the frame-shaped part by being folded back at the upper end of the filtering part. The filtering tool set is characterized in that the insertion part is provided along the upper end of the filtering part so as to be aligned with the engaging part.

12. The filtering tool set according to claim 11, further comprising a container for storing the filter.