HK1030916B - Device for encasing solid flavour substances - Google Patents

Description

Device for wrapping solid aromatic substance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for wrapping solid aromatic substances, in particular tea or coffee, placed in a liquid, in particular water.

Background

Heretofore, such devices have been designed, in particular, as filter cartridges and are generally reusable. However, in this known filter cartridge, it is disadvantageous that the filter cartridge must be removed from the container after the brewing time has elapsed. If the brewing time is exceeded, the taste of the beverage is undesirably adversely affected by the fact that the filter residue in the filter cartridge, for example tea, excessively emits aromatic substances, for example so-called bitter substances. The dispensing of the beverage can only be properly ended by removing the filter cartridge from the container.

Disclosure of Invention

The ease of use of a reusable filter cartridge of the type described above would be improved if it could be left in the container after the brewing time has elapsed. The object of the invention is therefore to further develop a filter cartridge of the type mentioned above in such a way that the contact of the filter cake in the filter housing with the liquid in the container can be clearly ended by the intervention of a user without having to remove the filter cartridge.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a flap is provided which is mounted so as to be movable between an initial position and a final position and which in its final position delimits a space for accommodating the solid fragrance material, wherein the flap is designed as a flap which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotational axis.

The device of the invention allows to definitely end the brewing of the solid aromatic substance by the intervention of the user's hands, since he rotates the rotating plate from its initial position to its final position. Thus, solid aroma substances such as tea are first added to a liquid so that they come into contact with the liquid and emit the corresponding aroma substances thereto. In addition, the rotating plate is in its initial position. After the brewing time has elapsed, the rotating plate of the invention is rotated so that it rotates from its initial position to its final position and simultaneously brings the solid aromatic substance into a space, the boundary of which is defined by the rotating plate in its final position. When the solid aromatic substance is completely entered into the space by rotating the rotating plate, it is no longer in contact with the liquid, thereby definitively ending the infusion of the solid aromatic substance in the surrounding liquid. Since the flap in the final position defines the boundary of the space containing the solid fragrance substance, the solid fragrance substance is prevented from leaving the space in an undesired manner and possibly coming back into contact with the liquid surrounding the space. Thus, the solid aroma is not necessarily removed from the liquid immediately after the brewing process is completed.

The device of the present invention has the advantage that the user can definitely end the brewing process without taking out the solid aromatic substance from the liquid immediately, and thus the convenience of use is significantly improved. Furthermore, the inventive manner of rotatably supporting the pivoting plate allows a simple and reliable use, so that in particular an undesired tipping action is avoided, which can lead to tipping and thus breaking of the liquid-containing container when coffee is pressed, as is usual, by means of a vertically moving plate. In addition, with the structure according to the invention, the filter function of the device can be maintained even in the underfilled state, in comparison with a conventional filter cartridge without through-holes in the bottom and/or bottom side region. Finally, the invention results in a simple construction which has a positive effect on the production costs, for example, the entire device and all its fixed and movable parts can be made of plastic.

Suitably, a housing is provided.

In a preferred embodiment, a device is proposed, in particular for installation in a container, in particular a teapot, having a housing, in particular designed as a rotor, which is formed by the container housing. This results in a particularly simple and thus economical construction. Since the rotating plate is immersed in the liquid during operation, the rotating plate may suitably have a liquid-permeable portion, since the rotation of the rotating plate should not be affected in view of the liquid injection. Therefore, the liquid-permeable part is preferably arranged above the turning plate and/or it has through-holes.

Another presently preferred embodiment of the filter insert as a container, in particular a tea pot, has a filter housing, which is designed in particular as a rotary body and is intended to contain solid aromatic substances, said filter housing having a liquid-permeable first part and a liquid-impermeable second part, the liquid-impermeable second part forming a space which contains the solid aromatic substances and is bounded in the final position by a rotary plate, the rotary plate, when it is rotated from the initial position into the final position, bringing the solid aromatic substances into the second part, and the first part and the second part being arranged approximately side by side in the direction of rotation of the rotary plate.

This embodiment allows to definitely end the infusion of the solid aromatic substance in the capsule by the intervention of the user's hands without having to remove the filter cartridge. This is achieved in that a solid aromatic substance is first introduced into the filter housing, where it comes into contact with the liquid in the container and emits the corresponding aromatic substance to the liquid, and after the brewing time has elapsed the rotating plate is rotated, whereby the filter residue produced by the solid aromatic substance is brought into the liquid-tight second part. If all the filter residue is brought into the liquid-tight second part by the rotation of the rotary plate, the filter residue is no longer in contact with the surrounding liquid, whereby the brewing process is definitely ended. In addition, the flap is pivoted into a position in which it separates the filter cake in the liquid-tight second part of the filter housing from the remaining part of the filter housing, in particular the liquid-tight first part of the filter housing. The flap in this position thus delimits the space formed by the liquid-tight second part of the filter housing, thereby preventing filter residues from leaving the liquid-tight second part of the filter housing in an undesirable manner and possibly again coming into contact with the liquid surrounding the second part. Since the filter residue in the liquid-tight second part of the filter housing is separated from the "surroundings" and therefore no contact with the surrounding liquid in the container can occur, the filter cartridge can remain in the container and the liquid without the filter residue otherwise having an adverse effect on the surrounding liquid. Thus, even after the brewing process has ended, there is no need to remove the filter cartridge of the invention from the container and thus from the liquid.

The first part of the filter housing has at least one at least partially perforated wall and/or at least one hollow space covered with a filter screen.

Finally, a part of the bottom of the filter housing belonging to the first part is likewise liquid-permeable. Such a semi-open bottom allows a very simple cleaning of the interior of the filter housing, since in particular rinsing possibilities exist.

In addition, the flap can slide substantially sealingly against at least a part of the housing wall at least via a part of its edge.

A feature of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is that the rotor plate is distributed over the entire width of the housing and is thus designed in the shape of a double blade, the rotor shaft passing through the central part of the rotor plate connecting the two blades together. The flap preferably extends in this embodiment axially over the entire diameter of the housing and has its edge sliding essentially sealingly against the housing wall to obtain a seal which is as liquid-tight as possible. In this embodiment, the housing is preferably divided into two identical parts, which are distributed over an angle of 180 degrees, wherein one part may be a liquid-permeable first part and the other part may be a liquid-impermeable second part. Before the beverage is dispensed, the position of the flap is adjusted in such a way that the liquid-permeable zone is maximally formed in the first portion. In addition, the flap is brought into a position in which it separates the first portion from the second portion. In the liquid permeable first part, a solid aroma substance is added and subsequently brewed. After the brewing time has elapsed, the rotating plate is rotated 180 degrees, thereby transferring the solid aroma substance from the liquid permeable first portion to the opposite liquid impermeable second portion. Then, contact with the surrounding liquid is interrupted, and it is no longer possible to emit fragrance material into the liquid.

Alternatively, the rotary plate is designed as a vane which extends radially from the axis of rotation to the housing wall, and the second part is delimited, in addition to the rotary plate in its final position, by a stationary part which projects in particular from the housing wall. In this alternative embodiment, therefore, a stationary part is also provided, which preferably extends substantially or approximately radially from the central axis of the filter housing towards the housing wall, while the rotary plate is designed as a movable part, which likewise preferably extends from the central axis towards the housing wall. In this alternative embodiment, a space is formed between the stationary part and the rotating plate, which space either constitutes a first liquid-permeable part or a second liquid-impermeable part depending on the position of the rotating plate. As the rotating plate rotates, the solid aromatic substance can pass from the liquid-permeable first portion to the liquid-impermeable second portion, said portions creating a minimum angle of rotation depending on the size and in particular the angular range. Conversely, the maximum angle of rotation of the rotating plate is determined by the solid aromatic substance or filter cake, i.e. the rotating plate continues to rotate until the filter cake is substantially compacted in the liquid-impermeable second portion.

In a further preferred embodiment, a handle, in particular in the form of a tab, is provided on a part of the rotary plate, i.e. on the part which, in the state in which the rotary plate is immersed in the liquid, is adjacent to the surface of the liquid or projects beyond the surface of the liquid, in order to allow easy manual operation.

In the case of a cover intended to close an opening, in particular at the upper side of the housing, the handle can preferably be fastened directly, preferably integrally, to the flap, and the cover has a recess through which the handle projects to the outside when the cover is applied to the filter housing. Thus, on the one hand, the housing can be closed and, on the other hand, a reliable operation of the flap by means of the handle can be ensured.

Alternatively, a handle is fastened to the flap, which passes through an opening in the cover and has a handle at its outer free end.

In a further alternative, the cover can be mounted on the housing in such a way that it is rotatably mounted on the housing, while the flap is non-rotatably fastened to the side of the cover adjacent to the housing. A particularly reliable support structure for the flap is thereby obtained.

In the last-mentioned embodiment, the cover can form the only pivot bearing of the flap, so that the flap is suspended from the cover and is supported pivotably by the cover on the housing. In this embodiment, the flap can also be arranged fixedly on it relative to the cover and can form an integral part of the cover. By rotating the cover applied to the housing relative to the housing, the solid aromatic substance is brought from the liquid-permeable first part into the liquid-impermeable second part. Thus, the rotation plate is rotated by the rotation of the cover. This embodiment allows a particularly simple but very efficient formation of the device according to the invention, since no additional support structure is required, which is advantageous in terms of production costs.

It is, however, obvious that the swivel plate can be supported on the housing only or additionally rotatably, for example by means of a pointed shoulder which is formed on the underside of the swivel plate and engages in a corresponding recess in the bottom of the housing, thus acting as a needle bearing.

In order to further increase the ease of use, a particularly time-controlled drive is provided which drives the rotary plate. The user can calibrate the time required by the timepiece and, after this time has elapsed, automatically activate the drive mechanism, thereby causing the rotating plate to rotate accordingly, so that the solid aromatic substance enters the space containing the solid aromatic substance and adjacent to the rotating plate in its final position.

Finally, it is also to be noted that the flap can preferably be designed as a substantially flat component.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in a top view (a) and a side view (b) and shows a filter housing bottom (c);

fig. 2 shows a second embodiment in top view (a), side view (b) and the bottom (c) of the filter housing;

fig. 3 shows a third embodiment modified from the second embodiment in a plan view (a) and a side view (b);

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment with the rotating plate in an initial position (a) and a final position (b);

FIG. 5 shows a cover for the filter housing of the second and third embodiments;

figure 6 shows schematically in a perspective view a fourth embodiment of the device of the invention in a jug.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a filter cartridge 2, which has a filter housing 4. The filter housing 4 has a circumferential side wall 4a and a base 4b and, in the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1b, is in the form of a solid of revolution which tapers towards the base 4 b. The filter housing 4 is open at its upper end 4c and has a peripheral flange-like rim 6 there. The filter cartridge 2 is suspended in a container, not shown, by means of a filter cartridge 2 having a bottom 4b and a filter housing side wall 4a being inserted through the container opening into the container and its surrounding flange-like rim 6 resting against a rim portion adjacent to the container opening.

The flange-like rim 6 thus positions the filter cartridge 2 in the container.

The container may preferably be a coffee or tea pot. However, it is also conceivable for the filter cartridge to be used in a drinking container, such as a lug cup.

As shown in fig. 1a, c, the filter housing 4 is circular in cross-section. At two diametrically opposite radial positions, a projecting web 7 is formed on the flange-like rim 6. The web 7 is used primarily as a handle for inserting and removing the filter cartridge 2, but can also assume a clamping function if the container opening diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the flange-like rim 6.

The filter housing 4 is divided into a first part 8 and a second part 10. Both the first and the second part 8, 10 form a so-called 180-degree sector and thus form half of the filter housing 4, as can be seen in particular from fig. 1a, c.

The first part 8 is liquid-permeable, for which purpose a recess 12 is provided in the corresponding half of the side wall 4a of the filter housing 4, which in the embodiment shown is covered by a filter cloth. In the half of the filter housing base 4b belonging to the first part 8, a recess 16 is likewise defined, which is covered by a filter screen. Since the liquid-permeable first part 8 is half of the filter housing 4, the recess 12 in the filter housing side wall 4a together with the filter cloth 14 extends over an angle of 180 degrees, while the recess 18 in the bottom 4b and the filter cloth 18 are correspondingly semicircular. The screen may be, for example, a wire screen or a plastic screen. Instead of the illustrated screens 14, 18, corresponding through-openings can also be provided in the bottom 4b and in the side wall 4a of the filter housing.

In contrast, the second part 10 is liquid-tight, for which purpose the associated filter housing half bottom 4b and the associated side wall 4a are correspondingly closed.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 1a, a rotary plate 20 is mounted inside the filter housing 4 so as to be rotatable about a rotary axis 22. In the embodiment shown, the axis of rotation 22 of the rotating plate 20 coincides with the axis of symmetry or centre line of the filter housing 4. In this embodiment the rotor plate 20 is designed as a so-called double blade, wherein the rotor shaft 22 passes through the middle of the rotor plate connecting the two blades 20a, 20b as shown in fig. 1 a.

The rotary plate 20 is designed in the embodiment shown as a flat plate element and it extends from its upper side 4c through the interior of the filter housing to its bottom 4 b. In addition, the edges (not visible in the figures) of the flap 20 sealingly slide-fit with the filter housing bottom 4b and the side wall 4 a.

As shown in fig. 1a, b, the flap 20 has an upper part 24 on its upper side, which projects above the upper side 4c of the filter housing 4 and at the same time overlaps the flange-like rim 6 from both sides. The upper part 24 serves on the one hand as a handle for the user and on the other hand cooperates with a rib 26 correspondingly provided on the web 7, whereby the rotation of the rotation plate 20 is limited, as shown in particular in fig. 1 a.

The two parts 8, 10, the flap 20 and the stop 26 are arranged in such a way that in the final position of the flap 20 shown in fig. 1a, which extends over the entire diameter of the filter housing, the two parts 8, 10 are separated from one another.

The working principle of the filter cartridge will be explained below with reference to fig. 1.

First, the flap 20 must occupy an initial position as shown in fig. 1. Next, in the first portion 8, which is delimited on one side by the side wall 4a of the filtering casing 4 and on the other side by the rotating plate 20, the material to be treated, which may be conventionally powdered coffee or tea, is added. The pre-prepared cartridge 2 is contained in a suitable container, which may be a coffee or tea pot as is customary. The container is filled with a liquid and preferably water. The liquid is boiled and the filter cartridge 2 remains in the container. After a predetermined brewing time has elapsed, the rotating plate 20 is rotated approximately 180 degrees in the direction of arrow a in fig. 1a until it again abuts against the stop tab 26 (but on the opposite side thereof). In addition, the filter cake, which conventionally may be powdered coffee dissolved in liquid only or tea dissolved in liquid only, is transferred from the liquid-permeable first portion 8 into the liquid-impermeable second portion 10, whereby the contact of the filter cake with the surrounding liquid is interrupted and it is no longer possible to emit aromatic substances into the liquid. In the liquid-tight second part 10, the filter residues are now completely isolated from the surrounding liquid, since the second part 10 is delimited in a sealed manner from the environment by the filter housing side wall 4a on the one hand and by the flap 20 on the other hand.

In fig. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of a filter insert 2 'is shown, which differs from the exemplary embodiment of fig. 1 in that the rotary plate 20' is not designed in the form of a double blade, but rather in the form of a single blade, which extends radially from the axis of rotation 22 toward the filter housing side wall 4a, and in that a stationary wall part 28 is provided, which is formed on the inner side of the base 4b and the side wall 4a and extends radially toward the axis of rotation. Not only the rotary plate 20' but also the stationary wall element 28 is designed as a plate element. As can be seen from a comparison of fig. 1 and 2, the liquid-permeable first portion 8 'is not a sector of 180 degrees in the second embodiment 2' shown, but a sector of 135 degrees. The notches 12' thus extend over an angle of about 135 degrees along the filter housing side wall 4a in the circumferential direction. Correspondingly, a recess 16' is formed in the filter housing bottom 4b, as shown in fig. 2 c. Finally, as shown in fig. 2a, in contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, only one stop 26' is provided on one web 7, to be precise, the stop is formed eccentrically on the web 7.

All the remaining components are identical to those in the first embodiment, and thus descriptions of the identical components are omitted to avoid redundancy.

In fig. 2a the flap 20' is shown in an initial position. It is not necessary to continue the rotation towards the fixed wall element 28, since the part of the rotating plate 20' close to the rotating shaft 22 already rests against the corresponding part of the fixed wall element 28.

In the second embodiment, the material to be treated is introduced inside the filter housing 4, preferably in the first partial region 8 ', while the flap 20' is in the initial position shown in fig. 2 a. Since the two parts 8 ', 10 are not separated from each other in this position of the flap 20 ', i.e. there is no continuous separating wall, the material to be treated is naturally also distributed into the liquid-tight second part 10, which in no way affects the function of the filter cartridge 2 '.

After the brewing time has elapsed, the rotary plate 20 'is rotated in the direction of arrow B away from the initial position shown in fig. 2a and at the same time takes away the filter residue in the first portion 8'. The rotation plate 20 'can continue to rotate until it abuts against the stop 26', after which all filter residues are brought into the liquid-tight second part 10.

It is obviously also conceivable to arrange the stop 26' in another position, so that the space in the second part 10, which confines the filter cake, can also be smaller.

In fig. 3 is shown an embodiment 2 "of a filter cartridge which is slightly modified in relation to the second embodiment 2' of fig. 2 and which differs from the embodiment of fig. 2 in that the liquid-permeable first part 8" is not designed as a 135-degree sector, but over an angle of about 225 degrees and it has no sieve, but is provided with through holes.

The working principle of the third embodiment 2 "is shown in fig. 4, which should be regarded as representative of all the aforementioned and the following embodiments in terms of the flap working principle. In fig. 4a, the flap 20' is in its initial position close to the stationary wall element 28. In the tea filter housing, tea T distributed substantially throughout the tea filter housing floats in the liquid. When the rotating plate 20' is rotated in the direction of arrow a shown in fig. 4b, it reaches the final position shown in fig. 4b, in which it separates the liquid-tight second part 10 "from the liquid-tight first part 8". When transferred from the initial position shown in fig. 4a to the final position shown in fig. 4b, the rotating plate 20 'takes up the tea and encloses it in the liquid-tight second portion 10 ", which constitutes a space that is bordered on the one hand by the rotating plate 20' in the final position and on the other hand by the stationary wall element 28. Thus, the tea T collected in the liquid-impermeable second portion 10 "is separated from the liquid-permeable first portion 8" and is isolated from the surrounding liquid, so that it cannot enter the surrounding liquid any more.

In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the rotary shaft 22 can be designated, for example, as a metal rod, which is axially fixed in the filter housing 4 and is mounted in an articulated manner on the rotary plate 20 or 20'.

It is also alternatively conceivable for the second and third exemplary embodiments 2', 2 ″ to use a cover for the rotatable mounting, as is indicated by reference numeral 30 in fig. 5. For this purpose, the flap 20 'is fastened to the underside 30a of the cover 30 in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the cover 30, so that it projects in a suspended manner into the filter housing 4 when the cover is placed on the filter cartridge 2' or a corresponding container. The cover 30 therefore assumes the task of rotatably supporting the rotary plate 20 ', and it must be ensured that the cover itself is rotatably arranged on the filter housing upper side 4c of the filter cartridge 2' or on the upper side of the container used. The flap 20' is preferably integral with the cover 30 as shown in fig. 3. The rotation plate 20' automatically receives the rotation in the above-described manner due to the rotation of the added cover 30.

It is also conceivable that instead of the flap 20' being completely freely suspended or floating, a small angle is formed on the underside of the flap, which is inserted into a corresponding recess in the filter housing bottom 4c (but this is not shown in the figures).

Finally, it is also conceivable to provide a cap with a corresponding recess instead of the cap 30 shown in fig. 3, through which the upper part of the flap 20 or 20' passes in the case of capping and can thus be used conveniently from the outside. Finally, the cover can be provided with a central opening into which the bar can be inserted, a handle being fixed to its upper end on the outside and a rotating plate being fixed to the opposite end, the bar simultaneously serving as a rotating shaft.

In fig. 6 a fourth embodiment 2' "is shown, which differs from the above described embodiments in that the rotating plate 120 and the stationary wall 128 are not part of the filter insert in a container, such as a teapot, but are positioned directly in a container, such as the jug 40 shown in fig. 6. In addition, the flap 120 is rotatably supported by its vertical side opposite the fixed wall member 128 on the adjacent vertical side of the fixed wall member 128. In addition, the rotating plate 120 has a perforated portion 120a at an upper portion thereof, which is liquid-permeable and thus prevents liquid from overflowing the rotating plate 120 when the rotating plate rotates. The function of the turning plate 120 of the fourth embodiment 2' "shown in fig. 6 is the same as the above-described embodiments, wherein fig. 6 shows the turning plate 120 in the initial position in broken lines and in the final position in solid lines.

Finally, a time-controlled drive mechanism may also be provided, but is not shown in the figure. The user can calibrate the brewing time required according to the clock. After this time, the drive mechanism is automatically activated, by means of which the rotating plates 20, 20' are rotated in order to transfer the filter residue into the liquid-tight second portion 10.

Finally, it should be noted that the device described above in connection with the exemplary embodiments can be made entirely of plastic.

Claims (27)

1. A device for enclosing a solid aromatic substance (T) which is to be introduced into a liquid, having a rotary element (20; 20 '; 120) which is mounted so as to be movable between an initial position and a final position and which, in its final position, delimits a space (8; 8 ') for accommodating the solid aromatic substance (T), characterized in that the rotary element is designed as a vane-shaped rotary plate (20; 20 '; 120) which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation (22).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that a housing (4; 40) is provided.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (2' ") casing (40) is formed by a container casing (40).

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the flap (120) has a liquid-permeable part (120 a).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the liquid-permeable part (120a) is provided at an upper part of the rotating plate (120).

6. The device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the liquid-permeable part (120a) is provided with through holes.

7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it has a filter housing (4) designed as a body of revolution for containing solid aromatic substances (T), said housing having a liquid-permeable first part (8; 8 ') and a liquid-impermeable second part (10; 10') which forms a space which contains the solid aromatic substances (T) and which is delimited in its final position by a flap (20 '), wherein the flap (20') carries the solid aromatic substances (T) into the second part (10; 10 ') when it is rotated from the initial position into the final position, and the first part (8; 8') and the second part (10; 10 ') are arranged substantially side by side in the direction of rotation (A; B) of the flap (20').

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first part (8; 8 ') of the filter housing (4) has at least one at least partially perforated wall and/or at least one recess (12, 16; 12 ', 16 ') which is covered with a filter mesh (14; 18).

9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a portion (16; 16 ') of the bottom (4b) of the filter housing (4) belonging to the first portion (8; 8 '; 8 ') is likewise liquid-permeable.

10. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the filter housing (4) and the turning plate (20; 20') consist solely of plastic.

11. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flap (20; 20'; 120) slides substantially sealingly against at least a part of the wall (4a) of the housing (4; 40) at least via a part of its edge.

12. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating plate (20) is distributed over the entire width of the housing (4) and is thus designed as a double-bladed shape, the axis of rotation (22) passing through the central part of the rotating plate (20) that connects the two blades (20a, 20b) together.

13. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the flap (20 '; 120) is designed as a vane extending radially from the axis of rotation (22) towards the wall (4a) of the housing (4), the second part (10) being delimited, in addition to the flap (20'; 120) in its final position, by a stationary part (28; 128) projecting from the wall (4a) of the housing (4; 40).

14. A device according to claim 13, characterized in that the stationary part (28; 128) extends from the wall (4a) of the housing (4) substantially or approximately in a radial direction towards the axis of rotation (22).

15. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the swivel plate (20; 20'; 120) is rotatably supported on the housing (4; 40).

16. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating plate (20) has a handle on that part (24) which, in the state in which the rotating plate (2) is immersed in the liquid, is close to the surface of the liquid or projects beyond the surface of the liquid.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that it is provided with a cover closing the opening provided on the upper side (4c) of the housing (4), the handle being fastened directly and preferably integrally to the turning plate and the cover being provided with a notch through which the handle protrudes to the outside when the cover is applied to the filter housing.

18. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that it is provided with a cover closing an opening provided in the upper side (4c) of the housing (4), and that a handle is fastened to the swivel plate, which passes through a hole in the cover and has a handle at its outer free end.

19. A device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that it is provided with a cover which closes an opening provided on the upper side (4c) of the housing (4), the cover (30) being adapted to be placed over the housing (4; 40) in such a way that it is rotatably supported on the housing (4; 40), and the flap (20'; 120) being fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to the side (30a) of the cover (30) which faces the housing (4; 40).

20. A device according to claim 19, characterised in that the cover constitutes a rotary bearing for the rotary plate (20').

21. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the flap (20; 20'; 120) is designed as a substantially plate-like part.

22. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that a time-controllable drive mechanism is provided which drives the rotating plate in order to bring the solid aromatic substance (T) into the space (8; 8') which contains the solid aromatic substance (T) and is limited by the rotating plate in its final position.

23. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid is water and said solid aromatic substance (T) is tea or coffee.

24. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is adapted to fit into a container.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the container is a teapot having a housing (40) configured as a body of revolution.

26. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is provided as a filter cartridge.

27. The device of claim 16, wherein said handle is configured in a tab shape.