U.S. patent application number 10/414136 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for infusion bag squeezing assembly.
Invention is credited to Chernov, Yuriy D., Kleyman, Gennady I., Liberman, Boris, Stokes, Patricia L..
Application Number | 20040091580 10/414136 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23741316 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040091580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chernov, Yuriy D. ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Infusion bag squeezing assembly
Abstract
A filter bag has at least one thread forming a pair of spaced
apart first and second loops extending between a bottom and top
region of the filter bag. The filter bag further has a support
traversed by the thread, which forms a loop above the support. The
loop is sized so a user can pull the thread and the bag upward
toward the support to a squeezing position of the filter bag,
wherein the bottom region thereof is lifted toward the top
region.
Inventors: |
Chernov, Yuriy D.;
(Brooklyn, NY) ; Kleyman, Gennady I.; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Stokes, Patricia L.; (New York, NY) ;
Liberman, Boris; (Brooklyn, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael R. Bascobert
RADER, FISHMAN & GRAUER, PLLC
39533 Woodward Avenue.
Bloomfield Hills
MI
48304
US
|
Family ID: |
23741316 |
Appl. No.: |
10/414136 |
Filed: |
April 16, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10414136 |
Apr 16, 2003 |
|
|
|
09438608 |
Nov 12, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/80 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/812
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/080 |
International
Class: |
B65B 029/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A squeezing device comprising: a bag containing infusible
product and having a bottom and top region; a support having an
inner surface facing the top region of the bag; and at least one
filament having a lower stretch looping around the bottom region of
the bag and an upper stretch extending through the support, the bag
and the support being displaceable relative to one another upon
applying a lifting force to the upper stretch of the one filament
so as to bring the bag in a squeezing position, wherein the bottom
region of the bag is displaced towards the upper region which urges
against the inner surface of the support.
2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the one filament has one
of opposite ends thereof threaded through the bottom region, so as
to form a first loop on the bag upon threading the ends of the
thread through the top region, the ends further traversing the
support and being sequentially threaded through the top and the
bottom region of the bag, thereby forming a second loop on the bag
spaced apart from the first loop upon attaching the ends
together.
3. The device defined in claim 1, further comprising a lifting
element receiving the upper stretch of the one filament and adapted
to be held by a user.
4. The device defined in claim 3 wherein the lifting element
includes two spaced apart flat surfaces bridged by a C-shape
intermediate surface.
5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the support has a C
cross-section and extends at least along a substantial portion of
the top region of the bag.
6. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the support has at least
one thoroughgoing hole traversed by the upper stretch of the one
filament and an outer surface formed with a formation which extends
upwardly from the support, the hole including a first region having
a diameter at least equal to a width of the filament and a second
region having a diameter less than the width, so that displacement
of the filament and the support relative each other can be arrested
upon displacing the filament into the second region.
7. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the
support is flat, the support further being formed with a lateral
extension adapted to be pressed upon by a user.
8. The device defined in claim 1, further comprising another
filament having a lower and upper stretch, the upper stretches of
the one and other filaments being connected to one another above
the support, and the lower stretches extending peripherally along
an exterior of the filter bag under the bottom region and toward
the top region to form two spaced apart loops on the bag.
9. The device defined in claim 8 wherein the lower stretches of one
and other filaments are parallel to one another and form three
rectangular regions on the bag.
10. The device defined in claim 8 wherein lower stretches are
inclined toward one another to form two spaced trapezoidal regions
and a triangular region.
11. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the support has a pair of
resilient flaps formed substantially in a central region of the
support and displaceable upward and away from another upon moving
the bag towards the squeezing position, the flaps preventing
rearward displacement of the bag.
13. The device defined in claim 1 wherein the bag has a
cross-section selected from the group consisting of pyramidal and
annular cross section.
14. The device defined in claim 14 wherein the bag having the
circular cross-section is formed with a peripheral annular edge
receiving the lower stretch of one filament.
15. The device defined in claim 1, further comprising a tag
connected to the upper stretch of the filament and having a side
covered by an adhesive.
16. The device defined in claim 1, further comprising an outer bag
receiving the support and having a pocket which has a shape similar
to a shape of the bag.
17. The device defined in claim 17 wherein the shape of the pocket
is selected from the group consisting of semicircular, pyramidal
and polygonal shape.
18. A squeezing device comprising: a filter bag containing
infusible product and having a bottom and top region; a support
having an inner surface facing the top region of the bag; and a
single filament forming a pair of spaced apart loops extending
between the bottom and top regions of the filter bag and an upper
stretch connecting the loops and extending through the support, the
bag and the support being displaceable relative to one another upon
applying a lifting force to the upper stretch of the filament, so
as to bring the bag in a squeezing position, wherein the bottom
region of the bag is displaced towards its upper region which, in
turn, urges against the inner surface of the support.
19. A method of manufacturing a filter bag containing infusible
product, the method comprising the steps of: forming a first loop
of at least one thread extending between a bottom and top region of
the filter bag; extending ends of the one thread through a support
facing the upper region of the filter bag; forming a second loop of
the one thread spaced from the first one on the peripheral wall of
the filter bag; and upwardly displacing an upper stretch of the one
thread formed above the support in a squeezing position, wherein
the upper region of the bag is in contact with the support so as to
enable the first and second loops to vertically squeeze and
displace the bottom region toward the upper region.
20. A squeezing device comprising: a filter bag containing
infusible product and having a bottom and top; a support facing the
top of the bag; and at least one continuous filament extending
between the bottom and the support to provide displacement of the
bag relative to the support upon applying a lifting force to the
filament, so as to bring the bag in a squeezing position, wherein
the bottom of the bag is displaced towards its top.
21. A squeezing device comprising: a filter bag containing
infusible product and having a bottom and top; and at least one
continuous filament extending between the bottom and the support to
provide displacement of the bag relative to the support upon
applying a lifting force to the filament, so as to bring the bag in
a squeezing position, wherein the bottom of the bag is displaced
towards its top.
22. The squeezing device defined in claim 21 wherein the top has a
pocket opening towards and receiving the bottom of the filter bag
in the squeezing position, said pocket being shaped to arrest
upward displacement of the bottom upon applying the lifting force.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a squeezing assembly adapted to
enhance brewing of infusible product. Particularly, the invention
relates to a filter bag for infusible products selected from the
group consisting of tea, coffee, extracted beverages and the
like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is almost impossible to imagine a modern household whose
members do not consume tea or coffee. Big cities and small towns
champion a great variety of coffee and tea chains turning
industries that manufacture these products in one of the most fast
growing segments of our economy. Efficiency, compactness and
convenience provide a widespread use of bags containing infusible
products for rapidly brewing and preparing beverages.
[0003] A variety of such bags can generally be categorized as
having four main types of filter bags. Common to all of these types
is the fact that the increase in the contact area between the
liquid and the infusion product accelerates the infusion process.
Also, a method of brewing or preparing a beverage is rather uniform
and, as is known, includes soaking a bag at the time of consumption
in a container with water.
[0004] One of the traditional types of filter bag is a multi-layer
bag made of porous material and having a substantially pyramidal
shape. This type of bag is flat and is limited in its capacitative
volume, which on immersion in the water tightly holds the product.
A fundamental requirement for efficient brewing is an increased
contact surface between the liquid and the infusion product
particles that enables a greater unit utilization of the product.
Clearly, a type of filter bag described above is in contrast with
this requirement and is characterized by a slow volume growth and
poor dissolution of the product. As a consequence, the infusion
process is slow.
[0005] Another type of filter bag is basically similar to the
above-described one and has two layers of face-to-face superimposed
layers of porous paper and a number of folds along opposite sides.
Although this structure is intended to improve a volume growth, in
practice, it has been found that these folds allow only a partial
swelling of the product when immersed in the water. Expansion of
product particles is not nearly enough to allow the water to flow
freely therethrough.
[0006] Still another type of filter bag envisages multiple
sections, each of which contains the product, with or without
lateral folds. Typically, the sections are densely packed one
against the other, with little possibility of opening out at the
bottom, and none in upper area. Allowing the swelling, the product
is pressed against the walls of each individual compartment with
reciprocal contact with the walls of the neighboring compartment.
As a result, the water flow is partially blocked by the compressed
particles of the product.
[0007] A further structure of filter bag has been developed to
allow it to assume two stable positions. A generally flat position
has been found to be particularly convenient for storage and for
packaging in lots for sale. The other position is for
three-dimensional use. The internal volume in this structure is
manifestly greater than in previously discussed structures.
However, similar to those structures, the lower area of the bag
still contains compressed product particles upon swelling during
infusion.
[0008] The practical embodiment of such a three-dimensional filter
bag is furthermore problematic both from the point of view of
production capacity and consequently, from the standpoint of
production costs.
[0009] Traditionally, the upper terminal section of filter bags is
shaped with a polygonal profile generally of a trapezoidal
development. A thread is departably attached to the upper terminal
section and is always anchored to a tag or label forming the
pick-up element for the handling of the filter bag. Typically, a
user shakes a filter bag to enhance penetration of water through
the product particles. Yet, as has been discussed, typically an
infusion process is far from satisfactory and, regardless of
numerous types of filter bag, the process is inefficient because
only a small fraction of product particles is infused.
[0010] To enhance brewing, users simply tend to squeeze a filter
bag. This practical utilization of filter bag certainly achieves
the intended results, but it also has negative consequences. One of
them is the fact that by pressing against the walls of filter bag,
a user may burn his or her fingers. The other consequence is that a
filter bag may be accidentally torn apart, and product particles
flowing into a cap suspend therein.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,990 to Casper discloses an extendable
crossbar serving as a supporting surface for vertically
displaceable filter bags. As a result of a generally triangular
shape, the supporting surface acts laterally upon the walls of
filter bag, particularly, on an upper region thereof, as the bag is
displaceable upward. However, to provide a desirable result a user
has to literally punch the supporting surface acting, in turn, on
the tea bag.
[0012] Typically, lateral forces leave lower most
particle-concentrated areas of filter bag unaffected. Further,
because of esthetic and structural considerations, the supporting
surface may not be deep and narrow enough to effectively act even
upon upper regions of the bag. Thus, while preventing a user from
direct contact with a hot bag, this structure is far from solving a
problem of better utilization of the product.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,243 illustrates a typical packaging
assembly of filter tea bag having an outer bag which is stapled
with a tag. A filter bag having its upper region folded and
attached to one end of thread is oscillatory displaceable along a
vertical direction upon applying an external force to an outer end
of the thread. As is typical to all of the above-discussed types of
filter bag, here an external force is applied only to one end of
the thread so the bag's bottom is left unexposed to a squeezing
action. Consequently, the lower most product-concentrated region of
filter bag remains practically untouched.
[0014] What is desired, therefore, is a squeezing assembly that
enables efficient utilization of the infusible product. Providing a
squeezing assembly that effectively presses against lower regions
of the filter bags is also desirable, as is a filter bag whose
bottom is exposed to vertical upwardly acting forces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] This is achieved by provision of a tea bag assembly having
the increased contact surface between an infusion product and a
squeezing filament allowing the bag's bottom to be squeezed in both
lateral and vertical directions.
[0016] The tea bag includes a filter bag provided with at least one
filament looping around the bag's bottom and attached to a lifting
bar. Upon raising the lifting bar to a position, wherein an upper
region of the filter bag presses against a supporting surface, a
user may further squeeze the filter bag, so that its bottom is
brought upwardly toward the supporting surface.
[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, a filter bag is
able to move up due to vertically directed tension forces applied
to a lifting member. This embodiment features at least one filament
looping around the bottom of filter bag and having its upper end
connected to the lifting member. The filament allows the bag to be
primarily exposed to vertical forces and secondary to lateral
forces fairly uniformly squeezing the product particles all over
the bottom region of the bag.
[0018] In accordance with another aspect of he invention, a support
providing a reliable limiting surface that acts downward upon the
squeezed filter bag contributes to vertically directed tension
forces, thereby enhancing a brewing process. Having a variety of
shapes, the support is sized to predominantly generate vertical
forces, and only then it may act as a wedging surface generating
lateral forces.
[0019] Still another aspect of the invention relates to a
particular circular arrangement of filter bag that has a single
continuous filament sewn along the bag's perimeter. This particular
embodiment provides a uniform pressing force that has its
components directed in mutually perpendicular planes.
[0020] The invention also discloses a variety of outer bags used
either individually or in combination with a support to provide a
vertically directed force. A combination of such outer bag and
continuous filaments generates substantially uniform forces
pressing against a lower bottom region of filter bag.
[0021] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
filter bag assembly enabling efficient utilization of infusible
product.
[0022] Still another object of the invention is to provide a filter
bag assembly having at least one filament attached to the bag's
bottom so as to provide a vertical squeezing force uniformly acting
upon a bottom region of filter bag.
[0023] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a filter
bag assembly having a support generating a force directed opposite
to a pulling force which is applied to the filter bag during
brewing as it is gradually displaceable towards the support.
[0024] Another object of the invention is to provide a filter bag
assembly having a structure enabling easy displacement of filter
bag in a vertical plane.
[0025] A further object of the invention is to provide a filter bag
having an annular shape enabling a continuous filament sewn along a
perimeter of the bag to provide substantially uniform squeezing of
product particles during its displacement towards a support.
[0026] The invention and its particular features and advantages
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a filter bag assembly
according to the invention shown in a rest position.
[0028] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of filter bag assembly of FIG. 1
shown in a squeezing position.
[0029] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of filter bag assembly according
to another embodiment of the invention having a flat support
surface.
[0030] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of filter bag assembly of FIG. 3
shown in a squeezing position.
[0031] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of filter bag assembly according
to still another embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of filter bag assembly of FIG. 5
shown in a squeezing position.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the filter bag of FIG.
5.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the filter bag of FIG. 7
shown in a squeezing position.
[0035] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of still another embodiment of
the invention showing an annular filter bag.
[0036] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of
the invention.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a perspective view if a filter bag substantially
similar to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 and shown in a brewing
position.
[0038] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a filter bag of FIG. 11 but
shown in a squeezing position thereof.
[0039] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a filter bag, which is an
embodiment of the filter bag shown in FIGS. 11-12, and is shown in
a brewing position.
[0040] FIG. 14 is a filter bag of FIG. 13 shown in a squeezing
position thereof.
[0041] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
filter bag shown in FIG. 1.
[0042] FIGS. 16-18 are perspective views of still another
embodiments of the filter bag shown in FIG. 1.
[0043] FIGS. 19-20 are perspective views of still further
embodiments of the filter bag shown in FIG. 1.
[0044] FIG. 21 is an isometric view showing the filter bag of FIG.
1 provided with broader strips.
[0045] FIG. 22 is an isometric view illustrating still a further
embodiment of the filter bag of FIG. 1.
[0046] FIG. 23 is an isometric view illustrating still another
embodiment of the filter bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1-10 a filter bag assembly is shown and
described in its various embodiments, where identical parts are
denoted by the same numeral references.
[0048] Particularly, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a filter bag assembly
2 including at least one filament 12 wrapped about a bottom 11 of a
filter bag 10. The filament, which is in this case includes a
single thread 12, allows the filter bag to be compressed in a
vertical direction as a result of applying a pulling force to the
upper end of the filament 12. As is clearly illustrated in these
drawings, the filament surrounding the filter bag 10 provides a
fairly uniform distribution of squeezing forces acting on all
regions of the filter bag including a bottom region with the
highest concentration of infusible product particles.
[0049] Enhancement of squeezing ability of the filter bag, as shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2, is particularly achieved by the thread 12 forming
substantially equally sized and shaped parallel longitudinal
regions 10', 10" and 10'" on the bag's peripheral surface.
Insertion of the thread is simple and begins with attaching a first
base portions 14 of the thread to the bottom 11.
[0050] Numerous methods of attachment are available. For example,
one can pierce a lower region of the filter bag with one end of the
tread. Another method is simply to fuse or glue the base portion of
the tread to an exterior of the bottom 11. In either case, ends of
the thread 12 are attached to a top region 16 of the filter bag to
form the first stretch 18. After extending the free ends through
first and second holes 22, 24 of a support 14, the free ends again
are connected to the filter bag in the reverse order of forming the
first stretch. As a result, the thread's second stretch 26,
extending through the support and attached to two spaced-apart
locations at the top region of the bag, and the third stretch 20
looping around the bag's periphery are formed after the thread's
ends are interconnected.
[0051] Having reached its squeezing position as a result of the
external pulling force applied to the thread 12, as seen in FIG. 2,
the bag's top region 16 meets the support 14 that may controllably
extend over the entire width of the bag 10. Since the thread 12
attached to the lifting element 26 displaces the bottom 11 parallel
to this support 14, further application of external pulling forces
causes the filter bag to uniformly reduce its vertical dimension. A
squeezing action lasts until a pulling force applied by a user to
the lifting element is balanced by an oppositely directed pressing
force generated upon contact between the top region 16 and the
support 14. Due to the uniform distribution of squeezing forces and
the increased contact surface between the liquid and the infusion
product particles, one obtains efficient unit utilization without
applying excessive pulling forces.
[0052] A material used for manufacturing the filter bag is porous
and relatively thin. The support 14 may be made of any light
material, such as plastic, and, in order to prevent contact between
a user and the filter bag in its squeezing position, may be
provided with a formation 14'. It is contemplated within the scope
of this invention to have the support that is extendable to cover
differently sized containers. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
support 14 has a dome shape, wherein an inner cross-sectional area
14'" is sized to predominantly generate vertically directed forces.
Preferably, each semi-circled edge 14" is equal to at least one
third (1/3) of the total support length L. Only, upon applying
excessive pulling forces, the support can generate lateral forces
that at the point of its origination are superfluous since the
brewing or inflation process is substantially over.
[0053] The support 14 has a pair of holes 22, 24 traversed by the
thread 12 which is attached to a lifting element 26. The latter can
have different shapes and sizes. Particularly, in the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the lifting element 26 has a U-shaped
central portion flanked by identical lateral wings, so that a user
can easily hold the central portion while lifting the element 26 to
the squeezing position of the assembly.
[0054] The assembly operates in the following manner. A user pulls
the lifting member by one of his or her hands and, while holding
his other hand on the formation 14', provides displacement of the
bag and the support relative to each other. Once the top 16 of the
filter bag reaches the inner surface 14'" of the support, the
thread is extended at full length indicating that a beverage is
ready. However, a user can continue to pull the lifting element 26
until oppositely acting pressing and pulling forces reach a state
of equilibrium. Clearly, the infusion's concentration generally is
a function of the pulling force and duration of holding the filter
bag in a reservoir filled with water. Hence, a user intuitively can
cease a squeezing action at any point during the infusion process,
thereby achieving a desirable state of the beverage. Using a
lifting element, it is easy to remove the once used filter bag from
the reservoir, and, if the bag was not totally squeezed, it would
be possible to reuse it.
[0055] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4 another embodiment of a support 32
is shown. In contrast to the support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, here
the support 32 is flat. Thus, in a squeezing position shown in FIG.
4, no lateral forces act upon the filter bag 10. This embodiment is
distinguished by its structural simplicity without, however,
sacrificing its effectiveness. A lateral projection 34 serves as a
support for the user's finger.
[0056] Optionally, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4 can be used
without the lifting element. The thread 18 is formed with an upper
loop 36 serving as a lifting element for the user. Alternatively,
the lifting element still can be used with the single continuous
thread that has an upper end formed as a loop.
[0057] Although, the projection 34 is laterally spaced from a
longitudinal axis L of the entire assembly, a pulling force P seen
in FIG. 4 causes the swollen wet filter bag 10 to spread out along
a sufficiently large surface of an inner face of the support 32.
Once the user feels that the support is ready to swing, it is a
reliable indication that the bag is fully squeezed and the infusion
process is substantially finished.
[0058] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a support 44 formed with a pair of
displaceable resilient flaps 46, 48 that provide a squeezing action
as the filter bag 10 moves upward. While this embodiment provides
squeezing of the bag both in lateral and vertical directions, the
threads 18 attached to the bottom enable the latter to be
effectively squeezed. Also, a wedge action produced by the flaps 46
and 48 prevents reverse displacement of the bag as it upwardly
advances to its squeezing position, as shown in FIG. 6.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, the filter bag 10 has a single filament
threaded through and anchored to the top 16. A free end of the
filament further penetrates the bottom region 11, and after being
threaded through the top 16, it is received between the lips 46,
48. Finally, the free end is attached to a tag that can serve as a
lifting element.
[0060] FIG. 8 illustrates the filter bag in one of its squeezing
positions. It is clear that penetration of the filter bag is a
function of a pulling force applied to the lifting element. To
facilitate a squeezing process, the support is made of material
flexible enough to provide easy deformation of the lips 46, 48
during the bag's displacement.
[0061] Another aspect of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9 and
relates to a filter bag 54 having an annular shape. Preferably, a
broad strip 56 whose end is attached to a lifting element
peripherally belts the bag 54. Similarly to the previously
disclosed embodiments, the strip acts on the bottom 11 providing
squeezing of the bag in a vertical direction in response to a
pulling force. A single strip having its free ends attached to the
lifting element or tag is shown. However, it is understood that a
number of strips are easily available for this embodiment. During
application of the pulling force to the lifting element, the strip
uniformly squeezes the bag's annular periphery and, as a
consequence, brings the bottom 11 toward the top 16 after it has
reached the support 44.
[0062] According to still another aspect of the invention shown in
FIG. 10, the upper stretch of the of the filament 18 is connected
to a tag 92 that has an adhesive surface allowing a user to anchor
the whole assembly to an outer surface of reservoir. Thus, it is
not necessary to immediately start an infusion process. A user may
leave the filter bag in the reservoir for some time before he or
she initiates a squeezing process.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 11-20, different techniques of attaching
a strip are shown. Particularly, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the
filter bag provided with the single strip 60 whose base portion 62
is located at a top 64. Free ends of the strip 60 extending towards
and penetrating a bottom 66 of the filter bag belt a periphery 68
and are threaded through the top 64 at separate locations 70 and
72. Penetrating further through a support 74 the free ends are
attached to a tag or lifting elements 76, thereby making the strip
60 continuous.
[0064] FIG. 12 illustrates a squeezing position of the filter bag
shown in FIG. 11. As clearly seen in this figure, the strip 60
forms three regions 78, 80 and 82 on the filter bag thereby
effectively eliminating a possibility of any part of the bottom 66
to remain unsqueezed.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the support 74 is formed with a
pair of openings 59 traversed by the strip or strips 60. Clearly,
this holes have a diameter which is sufficient to allow the support
and the strip to be freely displaceable relative each other. The
hole 59 is further formed with a narrow slit 61 used by a user to
arrest displacement of the support relative to the strip. This
feature is particularly advantageous when a user wants to leave the
filter bag in a container and a tag is not provided with an
adhesive layer.
[0066] FIG. 13 illustrates two strips 84 attached to the filter bag
10. Each of the threads is threaded through the top 64 and the
bottom 66 to further penetrate the top 64, thereby forming two
loops around the bag's periphery. Upon penetrating a circular
support 86, opposite ends of the strips are attached to the tag 76.
A squeezing position of the filter bag, as shown in FIG. 14, is
similar to the one shown in FIG. 12 and is characterized by three
adjacent regions 78, 80 and 82 formed during displacement of the
bottom toward the top of the filter bag.
[0067] FIGS. 15 and 16 show a single strip 86 belting a periphery
of the bag 10 substantially midway between the bag's opposite
sides. The only difference between these two embodiments is that
the strip 86 of FIG. 16 is affixed to an exterior of the bottom 66,
whereas FIG. 15 illustrates the strip that is threaded through the
bottom of the bag.
[0068] According to FIG. 17, the strip 86 first attached to the
bottom of the bag has its free ends penetrating the bag's top in
the same location 90 to form a loop around the bag's periphery. The
ends further penetrate the support and are finally attached to the
tag, thereby forming a second loop.
[0069] Attachment of a single strip 96, as shown in FIG. 18,
differs from the previously described techniques in that that its
one end 98 is first affixed to the tag and then penetrates the
bag's top twice to be further threaded through the bag's bottom.
This one end further penetrates the top at another location 100,
and upon traversing the support, is attached to the tag, thereby
completing a continuous path thereof.
[0070] FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate a bell-shaped support 102
receiving the filter bag 10 in its squeezing position as shown in
FIG. 20. In this embodiment, the bag filter is uniformly squeezed
by vertically and laterally acting forces generated by an interior
of the support. A three-dimensional support, as shown in FIGS. 19
and 20, may have different shapes varying from triangular to
circular to rectangular.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 21, a strip can have different sizes.
Increasing a width of the strip can translate to an increased
reliability of the filter bag since there is less chance to tear it
apart. Preferably, the broad filaments are glued to the bottom and
walls of the filter bag.
[0072] FIG. 22 illustrates another embodiment of the filter bag 10
which has at least one filament attached thereto so that the bag is
divided into two prismatic and one triangular regions. The free end
of the strip is attached to a lifting element. This construction
allows peripheral regions of the bottom to be upwardly displaced
toward a point located along an axis of symmetry that coincides
with the upper stretch of the filament.
[0073] FIG. 23 illustrates the filter bag which is formed with a
pyramidal top portion forming a pocket. A filament is attached to
the bag's bottom by its opposite ends and is adapted to be pulled
upward by a user holding a tag. The upward displacement of the
bag's bottom is arrested once it is introduced into the pocket,
which has a triangularly-shaped interior continuously squeezing the
bottom in response to applying a pulling force to the tag.
[0074] The infusible product can be selected from a wide variety of
beverages including, for example, tea, coffee, juices, soups and
the like. Also, a material of filter bags can be made of a great
variety of porous fabrics that can be permeable to provide
efficient penetration of water through product particles contained
in the filter bag. It is clearly seen that the inventive concept
does not require modification of already existing tea bags and can
be easily implemented in the existing equipment.
[0075] Although the invention has been described with reference to
a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are
not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and
indeed many other modification and variations will be ascertainable
to those of skill in the art.
* * * * *