Patent Publication Number: US-2019191914-A1

Title: Coffee filter holder

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference German patent application DE 20 2017 006 551.7 filed on Dec. 21, 2017. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a coffee filter holder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A coffee filter holder of this generic type is well known in the art and used with good success in millions of households. However, contaminations of the environment may occur when handling the coffee filter holder, in particular when transporting the coffee filter holder to a pot or a cup or to another pot or cup. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a new coffee filter holder which reliably prevents any environmental contamination during handling. 
     The object is achieved by a coffee filter holder configured to be placed on a coffee pot and to receive a filtering arrangement that is at least partially filled with coffee powder, the coffee filter holder including a conical receiver for the filtering arrangement, the conical receiver including a base side pass through opening and a base plate configured to support the coffee filter holder on the coffee pot; and a valve arrangement that is arranged below the base plate wherein the valve arrangement is actuated by a weight of the coffee filter holder when the coffee filter holder is placed on the coffee pot. 
     The coffee filter holder according to the invention has the essential advantage that the flow through opening is automatically closed when lifting the coffee filter holder so that a dripping of the coffee filter holder is reliably prevented when moving the coffee filter holder to another location. 
     In an advantageously embodiment of the invention the valve arrangement is formed by a closure element that is arranged below the pass through opening and a radially extending rocker arm that is connected with the closure element and spring loaded in a closing direction. Advantageously the valve arrangement opens automatically when the coffee filter holder is placed on a coffee pot since the coffee filter holder automatically rests on the rocker arm and the rocker arm opens the valve due to the weight of the coffee filter holder. When lifting the coffee filter holder the valve is automatically closed again and reliable drip protection is achieved. 
     Advantageously the closure element can be configured as a silicone gasket by which the pass through opening is closable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention can be derived from the subsequent description of an embodiment with reference to drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a coffee filter holder; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates sectional view of the coffee filter illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view through a coffee pot with the coffee filter holder according to  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the drawing figures, a coffee filter holder is overall designated with the reference numeral  10 . 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a coffee filter holder  10  that includes a funnel  11  for receiving the non-illustrated coffee filter. The funnel  11  has a free form transition shape wherein the upper opening is circular and the base portion is oval. In the operating condition a non-illustrated filter arrangement is arranged in the funnel  11  of the coffee filter holder  10  wherein the filter arrangement is configured as a paper filter or as a permanent filter configured as a reusable stainless steel or synthetic material filter. 
     A handle  12  is arranged at the outer circumference of the funnel element  11 . In the base portion the funnel  11  is provided with a pass through opening  13  (c.f.  FIG. 2 ). Below or laterally from the base portion of the filter  11  a circular plate  14  with a tubular extension  15  is arranged. Below the plate  14  that is used for supporting the coffee filter holder on a coffee pot  16  ( FIG. 3 ) a rocker arm  17  is arranged that extends in a radial outward direction from the portion below the pass through opening  13  through a window opening (F) wherein the rocker arm is pivotally supported at the coffee filter holder  10  between the portion of the pass through opening  13  and a free end portion  20 . The rocker arm  17  includes a silicone seal element  18  below the pass through opening  13  and a compression spring  21  is arranged between the pivot lever  17  and a bottom surface  19  of the plate  14  between the non-illustrated joint and the free end  20  of the pivot lever  17  wherein the compression spring provides that the pass through opening  13  is closed drip tight by the silicone seal  18  in a position where the coffee filter holder is not placed on a coffee pot  16  (c.f.  FIG. 2 ). It is appreciated that that the seal  18  can also be made from other seal materials. 
     Only when the coffee filter holder is placed on the coffee pot  16  according to  FIG. 3  the pivot lever  17  moves into the impact portion of the upper edge portion of the coffee pot  16  wherein the weight of the coffee filter holder  10  moves the pivot lever  17  counter clock wise upward until the pivot lever contacts the bottom side of the plate  14 . In order to better support the pivot lever  17  the free end portion  20  is furthermore provided with a protrusion  22  which reaches through a pass through opening  23  in the plate in an open condition of the valve arrangement (c.f.  FIG. 3 ). 
     Using the illustrated coffee filter holder  10  it is advantageously possible to fill individual cups, beakers or also other coffee pots one after the other without contaminating the environment when moving the coffee filter holder  10  onto a new container that is to be filled. 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS AND DESIGNATIONS 
       10  coffee filter holder 
       11  funnel 
       12  handle 
       13  pass through opening 
       14  plate 
       15  tubular extension 
       16  coffee pot 
       17  pivot lever 
       18  silicone seal 
       19  bottom surface of plate 
       20  free end of pivot lever  17   
       21  compression spring 
       22  protrusion of  17   
       23  pass through opening 
     F window opening.