Graduated filter

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a filter including a membrane adapted to hold a material to be filtered and adapted to allow a filtrate to pass through. The membrane includes an indicator adapted to indicate a quantity of the material to be placed in the filter.

1 . A filter comprising:
 a membrane adapted to hold a material to be filtered and adapted to allow a filtrate to pass through; and   an indicator on the membrane adapted to indicate a quantity of the material to be placed in the filter.   
   
   
       2 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the indicator is one selected from the group consisting of: printed, embossed, silk-screened, and stained. 
   
   
       3 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the material is coffee grounds and the filtrate is coffee. 
   
   
       4 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the indicator is a line adapted to be generally horizontal when the filter is in a filtering position. 
   
   
       5 . The filter of  claim 4  wherein the line is one of continuous or discontinuous. 
   
   
       6 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes multiple indicators comprising bands of different value. 
   
   
       7 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the indicator includes multiple indicators comprising alternating bands of relatively darker and lighter values. 
   
   
       8 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the indicators are labels indicating the quantity of material. 
   
   
       9 . The filter of  claim 1  further comprising labels corresponding with the indicators. 
   
   
       10 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter is a coffee filter and the membrane is one or more selected from the group consisting of:
 paper;   cloth;   mesh;   metal mesh;   gold plated; and   stainless steel.   
   
   
       11 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the filter is a coffee filter and is one or more of a type selected from the group consisting of:
 cone;   funnel;   gold tone;   Swiss gold;   wrap-around   coffee sock; and   basket.   
   
   
       12 . A coffee filter comprising:
 a sidewall; and   one or more indicators on the sidewall adapted to indicate one or more predetermined quantities of coffee grounds substantially corresponding to one or more predetermined quantities of a coffee product.   
   
   
       13 . The coffee filter of  claim 12  wherein the one or more indicators are selected from the group consisting of printed, embossed, silk-screened, and stained. 
   
   
       14 . The coffee filter of  claim 12  wherein the one or more indicators are lines adapted to be generally horizontal when the filter is in a filtering position. 
   
   
       15 . The coffee filter of  claim 14  wherein the lines are one of continuous or discontinuous. 
   
   
       16 . The coffee filter of  claim 12  wherein the coffee filter is one or more of a type selected from the group consisting of:
 paper;   cloth;   wrap-around   gold tone;   Swiss gold;   cone   funnel;   coffee sock; and   basket.   
   
   
       17 . A filter making method comprising:
 marking a membrane with one or more indicators substantially corresponding to a quantity of a material to be filtered to yield a filtrate product; and   forming the membrane into a shape adapted to hold the material to be filtered.   
   
   
       18 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the forming takes place before the marking. 
   
   
       19 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the forming and the marking take place substantially concurrently. 
   
   
       20 . The filter making method of  claim 17  further comprising cutting a membrane sheet into a shape adapted for the forming the membrane into a shape adapted to hold the material to be filtered. 
   
   
       21 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the marking includes one of printing, embossing, silk-screening, and staining. 
   
   
       22 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the material is coffee grounds and the filtrate product is coffee. 
   
   
       23 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the one or more indicators are lines adapted to be generally horizontal when the filter is in a filtering position. 
   
   
       24 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the lines are one of continuous or discontinuous. 
   
   
       25 . The filter making method of  claim 17  wherein the one or more indicators includes multiple indicators comprising bands of different value. 
   
   
       26 . A method comprising:
 placing an amount of a material to be filtered into a membrane; and   determining or adjusting the amount base on the proximity of a top surface of the amount relative to an indicator visible on the membrane.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the material is coffee grounds and further comprising effecting water to pass through the coffee grounds to make a coffee beverage.