Abstract:
A filter envelope which is filled with ground coffee or other drinkable dry granular substance by a user and sealed for use comprises two (2) round filter media sections crimped together about a perimeter and an extended opening along one (1) edge. The user would fill the interior space of the filter with a desired amount of chosen dry granular substance through the opening. A preferred embodiment comprises the dry granular substance to comprise ground coffee for subsequent brewing within a conventional coffee machine including those such as percolators that require the filter to have a central hole.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/209,487 filed Mar. 9, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of small coffee makers, and in particular, to a coffee filter with novel housing and filling means. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Coffee represents one (1) of the most highly consumed beverages in the world. In addition, much coffee is produced by means of small personal coffee machines due to the facts that personal preferences vary greatly and that coffee is often consumed early in the morning and in small quantities. Conventional coffee makers require a user to load a filter and a desired amount of coffee grounds every time a new pot of coffee is to be brewed. However, this process often leads to inconveniences and messes related to the collapsing of the filter, spilling of the grounds, and the like. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide various types of coffee filters for low volume batches of coffee. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,355, issued in the name of Kasakoff, describes a coffee filter bag which provides a sealed bag-type enclosure for a volume of coffee. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,478,858, issued in the name of Baird et al., describes a conventional “instant coffee” type packet and a method of production, which contains a sealed and pre-packaged amount of coffee for quick and convenient usage by a consumer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,298,267, issued in the name of Gruenbacher, describes a coffee filter pack with added provisions to make the filter self-aligning within the coffee maker and to provide enhanced water-to-coffee contact for high efficiency brewing. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices do not provide features to help eliminate messes associated with conventional brewing procedures. Also, many such devices do not allow a user to select the type or amount of coffee to be brewed according to volume requirements and personal preference. Furthermore, many such devices do not provide the user with a means to easily and cleanly fill the device for use with a conventional coffee maker. Accordingly, there exists a need for a coffee filter envelope without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a coffee filter envelope which provides secure containment of coffee grinds in order to prevent messes and which also allows a user to easily and selectively fill the device. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to comprise a dual layer filter media which further comprises a first side and second side. The two (2) sides are the same size and shape and attached to each other along a perimeter edge via an adhesive and a common crimped edge. 
     Another object of the present invention is for the adhesive to comprise a non-toxic bonding material which seals the sides together to form a generally circular main body and an extended opening. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is for the main body of a housing to comprise a storage area for a dry granular substance such as coffee grinds. The substance is introduced by a user into the housing by means of the extended opening. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a distal end of the extended opening of a filling aperture as defined by an opening between the first and second sides. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to comprise a conventional funnel with features such as a large mouth, a conical shape, and a tapering narrow stem. The funnel is sized to fit inside the filling aperture, providing a user with a simple means of introducing coffee grinds or the like into the interior of the device. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide an alternate embodiment in which the extended portion and filling aperture are located at a top center face of the device, as opposed to a perimeter edge location. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow a method for sealing the invention to comprises a user to fold the extended portion of the device after filling in order to seal the dry granular material inside the main body. In this manner, the device may be utilized with an existing coffee machine in a conventional manner without risk of spilling the contents of the device. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a filter envelope  10  depicted in a loading state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of the filter envelope  10  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the filter envelope  10  depicting a first state of a folding configuration, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the filter envelope  10  depicting a second state of a folding configuration, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the filter envelope  10  depicting a fully loaded state, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a filter envelope with a center opening  100  depicted in a loading state, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  filter envelope 
               20  main body 
               22  extended opening 
               24  first side 
               26  second side 
               28  twisted portion 
               30  crimped edge 
               31  adhesive 
               32  filling aperture 
               50  funnel 
               51  mouth 
               52  stem 
               100  filter with center opening 
               120  alternate main body 
               122  alternate extended opening 
               124  alternate first side 
               126  alternate second side 
               150  center opening 
               152  center opening crimped perimeter 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a filter envelope (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means and a method for a user to package a personalized type and amount of a drinkable dry granular substance, such as, but not limited to: coffee, tea, or a mixture of the like for conventional brewing. These filter media units would be packaged together and sold to the consumer in an empty state. Upon purchase, the user would fill the interior space of the device  10  with a desired amount of chosen dry granular substance through an extended opening  32 . Once filled, the extended opening  32  would be folded and tucked under the device  10  and utilized for brewing or stored in a preferably airtight container until use. The device  10  is preferably introduced in various sizes and designs to accommodate use with standard coffee makers, personal coffee makers, and percolators. The device  10  provides several benefits, such as saving time during measuring out coffee, eliminating the possibility of the granular substance spilling into the finished beverage, and easy and quick cleaning. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a top perspective view of the device  10  depicted in a loading state and  FIG. 2 , a section view of the device  10  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  is comprised of a dual layered pancake-style filter media further comprising a first side  24  and a second side  26 . The first side  24  and the second side  26  are of equivalent size and shape. The first side  24  and the second side  26  are preferably made of an appropriate filter media such as paper which allows water, oils, flavor saturated liquid, and the like to pass therethrough. The sides  24 ,  26  are attached to each other along a perimeter edge via an adhesive  31  and a common crimped edge  30  which further seals the perimeter edges of the sides  24 ,  26  together. The adhesive  31  is preferably a non-toxic bonding material which bonds an underside perimeter edge of the first side  24  to an upper perimeter edge of the second side  26 . Once sealed the sides  24 ,  26  form a generally circular main body  20  and an extended opening  22 . The main body  20  provides the main housing and storage area for the dry granular substance which is inserted thereinto via the extended opening  22 . The device  10  is preferably introduced comprising various main body  22  sizes to accommodate usage of said device  10  with regular coffee machines, small personal coffee machines, and the like. The outline and shape of the device  10  is defined by on the outer crimped edge  30 , thereby further bonding the sides  24 ,  26  together. 
     The device  10  further comprises a filling aperture  32  located thereon a distal end of the extended opening  22  which is defined by the opening therebetween the first side  24  and the second side  26 . The filling aperture  32  is utilized to fill the device  10  with a desired dry granular substance via a funnel  50 . The funnel  50  comprises conventional features such as a mouth  51  and a stem  52 , thereby enabling the user to channel the desired dry mixture into the device  10  via the filling aperture  32 . The mouth  51  is conical in shape and the stem  52  is a tapering narrow extension of said mouth  51 . The stem  52  is appropriately sized to fit thereinside the filling aperture  32  thus making filling and packaging simpler and cleaner. The funnel  50  is fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: plastic, stainless steel, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , various views of the device  10  depicting prepared states, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed.  FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the device  10  depicting a first state of a folding configuration,  FIG. 4  illustrates another top view of the device  10  depicting a second state of a folding configuration, and  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the device  10  depicting a fully loaded state. After the main body  20  has been filled with a desired amount and mixture of dry granular substance the device  10  may be sealed and prepared for use with an existing coffee machine. In a first state the user is to fold an upper portion of the extended opening  22  into a pair of opposing valley folds which creates a triangular-shape. In the second state the extended portion  22  is then tucked beneath the now packaged main body  20  positioned subjacent to the second side  26 . The folding of the extended portion  22  provides a means of sealing the filling aperture  32  and maintaining a secure enclosure for the dry granular substance thereinside the main body  20 . Although depicted as creating a triangular folded sealing means it is known that other means of securing the extended portion  22  may be utilized without limiting the scope of the device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a top perspective view of a coffee filter envelope with a center opening  100  depicted in a loading state, according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The coffee filter envelope with a center opening  100  comprises substantially similar features, materials, and functions to that of the preferred device  10  with the particular distinction of comprising a circular center opening  150 . The filter envelope with a center opening  100  is to accommodate usage with regular and large size percolator type coffee makers. The coffee filter envelope with a center opening  100  comprises an alternate main body  120  and an alternate extended opening  122  which are formed via the attachment of an alternate first side  124  thereto an alternate second side  126 . The sides  124 ,  126  are to be crimped and sealed along a crimped outer edge  30  and each comprise a center opening  150  therein the center of the portion which makes up the alternate main body  120 . The alternate first and second sides  124 ,  126  further comprise a center opening crimped perimeter  152  which is crimped and sealed with a non-toxic adhesive or the like thus sealing the center opening  150 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1  and alternately in  FIG. 6 . 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: retrieving a device  10  and an amount of dry granular substance, such as coffee, tea, or the like; inserting the stem  52  of the funnel  50  into the extended opening  22 ; pouring a desired amount of granular substance thereinto the mouth  51  of the funnel  50 , thereby filling the main body  20  with the granular substance; creating a pair of opposing valley folds on an upper portion of the extended opening  22 ; tucking the extended opening  22  under the main body  20  positioning the said extended opening  22  subjacent to the second side  26 ; inserting said device  10  thereinto the coffee filter housing of a standard coffee maker; using said coffee maker in a normal manner; discarding said used device  10 ; and, benefiting from the increased efficiency, personalization, and ease of use afforded a user of the present device  10 . 
     The method of utilizing the coffee filter with center opening  100  may be achieved by performing substantially the same abovementioned steps as those described for the preferred embodiment of the device  10  and used for percolator style coffee makers. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.