# US 5,326,472 A · Filter for rapid extraction of the aromatic substances of a product by a liquid under pressure, and an apparatus equipped with a filter of this type > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,326,472 A - Document ID: US5326472A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/885,287 - Filed: 1992-05-18 - Granted: 1994-07-05 - Earliest claimed: 1991-05-22 - Assignees: Seb S. A. - Inventors: Daniel Combe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5326472A ## CPC - A47J 31/0663: {to be used with loose coffee (A47J31/0689 takes precedence)} - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES ## Abstract In an apparatus such as an electric coffee-maker, a filter (5) is placed at the bottom of a vessel (3) containing the product to be treated such as ground coffee. Resilient tongues (18) cut in the filter are disposed at uniform intervals about the center so as to form normally-closed orifices (17). When a predetermined pressure of liquid such as hot water is attained within the vessel, the orifices are freed to a sufficient extent to permit filtration of the liquid which has been in contact with the product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filter for the preparation of beverages by rapid extraction by a liquid under pressure of soluble aromatic substances of a product contained in a treatment vessel (3) having a bottom wall closed by the filter, said filer (5) comprising at least one orifice (17) adapted to cooperate with resilient closure means (18) which free said orifice (17) so as to provide a narrow passageway (19) when a predetermined pressure of said liquid is attained within the vessel (3), the width of said passageway being sufficiently small to ensure filtration of the liquid which has been in contact with said product, wherein the resilient closure means (18) are constituted by a plurality of tongues (18) uniformly spaced on said filter, each of said tongues being attached to the filter (5) and substantially closing-off said orifice (17). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A filter according to claim 1, wherein said filter is constituted by a thin element of flexible material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A filter according to claim 2, wherein said filter has the shape of a circular disk (5) and wherein the tongues (18) are identical and disposed at uniform intervals about the center (24) of the disk (5) at equal distance from said center. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A filter according to claim 3, wherein the periphery (26) of said filter rests on the top face of a filter carrier (4), said top face having an annular groove (10) for collecting filtrate, and said resilient tongues (18) being located above said annular groove when the filter (5) is in a service position on the filter carrier (4). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A filter according to claim 4, wherein the filter carrier (4) has on its top face a central portion (14) which is radially internal with respect to the annular groove (10) and projects with respect to said groove (10) but is set back with respect to the peripheral portion (15) of the filter carrier (4) so as to limit the deformation of the central portion of the filter (5). ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A filter according to claim 3, wherein said filter is made of stainless steel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A filter according to claim 1, wherein the tongues (18) extend in a radial direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A filter according to claim 7, wherein the tongues (18) remain attached to the filter (5) by their base (23) at the end nearest the center of the filter (5). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus for the preparation of beverages by rapid extraction by a liquid under pressure of the soluble aromatic substances of a product contained in a treatment vessel (3) having a bottom wall closed by a filter, wherein said apparatus is equipped with a filter (5) in accordance with claim 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said apparatus is an electric coffee-maker or an electric coffee machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A filter according to claim 1, wherein each of said tongues (18) is cut in the thickness of the filter (5) and remains attached thereto by its base (23). ### Claim 12 A filter for the preparation of beverages by rapid extraction by a liquid under pressure of soluble aromatic substances of a product contained in a treatment vessel having a bottom wall closed by the filter, said filter comprising a plurality of orifices, each orifice adapted to cooperate with resilient closure means which free said orifices so as to provide a plurality of narrow passageways when a predetermined pressure of said liquid is attained within the vessel, the width of each passageway being sufficiently small to ensure filtration of the liquid which has been in contact with said product, wherein the resilient closure means are constituted by a plurality of uniformly spaced resilient tongues which are attached to the filter and substantially close off said orifice, said filter further comprising a circular thin disc of flexible material, said filter having a periphery resting on the top face of a filter carrier, said top face having an annular groove for collecting filtrate, said resilient tongues being located above said annular groove when the filter is in a service position on the filter carrier, said filter carrier having on its top face a central portion which is radially internal with respect to the annular groove, and projects with respect to said groove, but is set back with respect to the peripheral portion of the filter carrier so as to limit the deformation of the central portion of the filter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An apparatus for the preparation of beverages by rapid extraction by a liquid under pressure of the soluble aromatic substances of a product contained in a treatment vessel (3) having a bottom wall closed by a filter, wherein said apparatus is equipped with a filter (5) in accordance with claim 12. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said apparatus is an electric coffeemaker or an electric coffee machine.