Coffee filter dispensing device

Abstract

A coffee filter dispenser is provided for distributing individual coffee filters. The coffee filter dispenser includes a container and a stack of interleaved coffee filters. The container has two sets of opposing walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall with an opening for dispensing coffee filters. Each coffee filter in the stack is folded to form a folded edge, a top section and a bottom section. The coffee filters are interleaved to form a stack in the container so that the top section of a first filter is positioned in the container opening, and top and bottom sections of opposing filters overlap so that removal of the first filter from the container causes the top section of a second filter to be positioned in the container opening.

1 . A coffee filter dispenser comprising:
 a container having two sets of opposing walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall forming an interior volume, wherein the top wall has an opening for dispensing coffee filters; and   a plurality of coffee filters forming a stack positioned within the interior volume of the container, wherein
 each coffee filter is folded forming a folded edge, a top section having an interior surface and a bottom section having an interior surface; and 
 the coffee filters are interleaved to form a stack in the container so that the top section of a first filter is positioned in the container opening, the interior surface of the top section of each filter is in contact with the interior surface of the bottom section of an opposing filter, and the top sections and bottom sections of opposing filters overlap so that removal of the first filter from the container causes the top section of a second filter to be positioned in the container opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the coffee filters comprise basket-shaped filters having a generally circular central portion and a side portion, wherein the side portion is pleated with a generally accordion-like construction. 
     
     
         3 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom sections of the interleaved filters are generally parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the coffee filters comprise paper or cloth. 
     
     
         5 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of each coffee filter ranges from about 150 micrometers to about 190 micrometers. 
     
     
         6 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a removable bottom wall. 
     
     
         7 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the walls are generally rectangular. 
     
     
         8 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is generally oval. 
     
     
         9 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises paper, cardboard, plastic, or metal. 
     
     
         10 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the container comprises cardboard. 
     
     
         11 . A coffee filter dispenser comprising:
 a container having two sets of opposing walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall forming an interior volume, wherein the top wall has an opening for dispensing coffee filters; and   a plurality of coffee filters forming a stack positioned within the interior volume of the container, wherein
 each coffee filter is folded forming a folded edge, a top section having an interior surface and a bottom section having an interior surface; 
 the coffee filters are interleaved to form a stack in the container so that the top section of a first filter is positioned in the container opening, the interior surface of the top section of each filter is in contact with the interior surface of the bottom section of an opposing filter, the top sections and bottom sections of opposing filters overlap so that removal of the first filter from the container causes the top section of a second filter to be positioned in the container opening; and 
 the stack is folded along a line generally perpendicular to the folded edges of the coffee filters. 
   
     
     
         12 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the coffee filters comprise basket-shaped filters having a generally circular central portion and a side portion, wherein the side portion is pleated with a generally accordion-like construction. 
     
     
         13 . The coffee filter dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the walls of the container are generally square. 
     
     
         14 . A coffee filter dispenser comprising:
 a plurality of coffee filters positioned within a stack;   a container defining an outer wall and an interior volume,
 the interior volume retaining the stack of filters, and 
 a dispensing opening for dispensing the filters from the interior volume; 
   wherein each filter in the stack is folded to form at least one side edge, a top section and a bottom section,   wherein each of the filters overlap and are interleaved in the stack, such that the bottom section of one filter is positioned below the top section of another filter, and   wherein the top section of a filter positioned on top of the stack and adjacent the dispensing opening in the container and removal of the top filter is accomplished by pulling the exposed top section of the filter from the container, and the frictional engagement of the bottom section of the top filter with the top section of second filter in the stack filter caused the second filter to move into position for discharge from the container opening.   
     
     
         15 . A coffee filter dispenser as in  claim 14 , wherein each of the filters have a basket shape, with a generally circular central portion and a pleated side portion surrounding the central portion. 
     
     
         16 . A coffee filter dispenser as in  claim 14 , wherein the container includes a removable bottom wall, to permit access to the interior volume and to permit loading filters in the stack. 
     
     
         17 . A coffee filter dispenser as in  claim 14 , wherein the walls of the container are generally rectangular, and the container opening is oval. 
     
     
         18 . A coffee filter dispenser as in  claim 14 , wherein the stack is folded along a line generally perpendicular to the folded side edges of the filters in the stack.