EP1415577A1

EP1415577A1 - Device for extracting or dissolving of a substrate, especially tea leaves, by or in a liquid

Info

Publication number: EP1415577A1
Application number: EP20020024239
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ofir Stern; Moran Sharvit; Alon Gutbir
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-31
Filing date: 2002-10-31
Publication date: 2004-05-06

Abstract

An extracting or dissolving device for extracting or dissolving a substrate, especially tea leaves, by or in a liquid (3), comprises two hemispheres that are connectable to each other to form a compartment (6) for the substrate. The hemisphere(s) has a perforation (7) to allow for the liquid to penetrate the compartment. It has the shape of a spoon. The second hemisphere is connectable to a backside of the hemisphere of the spoon.

Description

The invention relates to a device for extracting or dissolving of a substrate, especially tea leaves, by or in a liquid.
Specific devices for the extraction of e.g. tea leaves are described in several publications.
In the document DE 26 42 886 A1 there is a device described for the extraction of tea leaves, which is commonly known as "tea-egg". This device comprises two perforated hemispheres, both hemispheres combined having the shape of an egg. In fact, this device efficiently prevents the uncontrolled distribution of tea leaves in the cup and ensures due to its weight that the tea leaves are always covered by the water. However, the handling of this device may be intricately: the "tea-egg" has to be recovered from the cup with the help of e.g. a spoon. Additionally, further ingredients such as sugar or honey have to be added with a separate device, e.g. a spoon.
The document GB 2 301 766 A describes a "tea-egg" comprising a handle. Thus, this device avoids the need of a separate device such as a spoon to recover the "tea-egg" from the water. Furthermore, this handle provides a possibility to stir during the extraction of the substrate. However, further ingredients still have to be added with a separate device, e.g. a spoon.
A combination of a conventional spoon and a "tea-egg" is known from the document NL 810 55 64. Here, a spoon is provided which is situated at the opposite end of a handle that carries one hemisphere of the "tea-egg". Although this device overcomes the need of a separate device for adding additional ingredients to the tea, the handling of the device in general is impaired due to the additional spoon on top of the handle. Furthermore, once the "tea-egg" has been inserted into the water, liquid is running down the handle upon turning the device in order to use the spoon. Additionally, the overall construction of the device is relatively complicated.
Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art. It is a special object of the present invention to provide a device that is easy to produce, conveniently to handle and that allows for stirring and/or adding further ingredients without the need of an additional spoon. It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a more aesthetic device in order to fulfil the above mentioned tasks than those described in the prior art.
The task given above is solved in particular by a device for extracting or dissolving of a substrate, especially tea leaves, by or in a liquid as described in the independent claim.
A device according to the invention comprises two hemispherical parts, each one having substantially the shape of an elongated shell and/or a spoon. Both hemispheres are connectable, especially reversibly connectable to each other by a connecting means. This explicitly also comprises a mechanism involving a hinge between the two hemispheres and a locking means of any kind. A compartment is formed by assembly of the two hemispheres, that can be filled with a substrate to be extracted by or dissolved in a liquid. In order to allow said liquid to penetrate said compartment, at least one of said hemispheres needs to have a perforation, preferentially little holes, characterized in that, on the one hand, the perforation allows for a liquid to penetrate the compartment and, on the other hand, the substrate is retained in the compartment. A basic idea of the invention is, in contrast to the prior art, to connect the both hemispheres in such a manner that their concavities are pointing to the same direction. Thus, in order to enable the above mentioned assembly, the curvature radius of one hemisphere has to exceed the other one's. Furthermore, at least one of the hemispheres possess an extension as a handle - thus being formed spoon-like -, the second hemisphere being connectable to the backside of said spoon-like hemisphere. Preferentially, the spoon-like hemisphere does not possess a perforation. According to the invention, the device can now be used in an advantageous manner as a spoon due to the concavity of the upper hemisphere, e.g. in order to efficiently stir the liquid into which the device is to be inserted. Additionally, further ingredients such as e.g. sugar, honey etc. can be easily added using the device without any difficulties in handling it. Especially, no turning of the device is necessary in order to use all the functionalities of the device.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses a connection of the two hemispheres by a clip-in mechanism. This feature especially allows for a connection of the two hemispheres without the need for other manipulations than the influence of directed pressure. Thus, a clip-in mechanism provides an advantageous feature in large-scale production of the device. Of course, clip-in mechanisms of any kind can be applied according to the invention. Especially, it is possible to provide clip-in mechanisms that may be re-opened to provide a device that can be refilled by the user. Alternatively, a closing mechanism may be provided that is permanently locked.
In a preferred embodiment, the two hemispheres are irreversibly connected, preferentially glued or welded to each other. Such irreversible connections are especially useful in single-serve applications of a device according to the invention.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention is made, especially completely, from plastics, preferentially polyethylene, PE. However, other plastics may be used. The use of plastics on the one hand allows for a low-cost and large-scale production of the device. On the other hand, plastic in general is a material of choice due to its relatively low thermal conductivity: the device is not excessively heated up when put into e.g. hot water. Hence, a comfortable handling of the device in use can be achieved.
Under the terms of another embodiment according to the present invention, the two hemispheres are to be connected in a manner that allows for an easy separation and reclosure. Beside the already above mentioned clip-in and hinge mechanisms, any other means can be used in accordance with the idea of the present invention. This explicitly includes both mechanisms based on partial as well as complete separation of both hemispheres upon disconnecting them.
However, in accordance to another embodiment of the present invention, the two hemispheres can be connected durably. Such a connection may be effected e.g. by gluing, welding or mechanical locking means.
Under the terms of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spoon-like hemisphere possesses a plug-in device, especially a clip. Preferably, this plug-in device is situated at the handle of the spoon-like hemisphere, preferentially nearby or exactly at the end of the handle. This plug-in device is especially useful e.g. in order to prevent the device from sliding completely into or floating on the surface of the liquid, that is used for extracting or dissolving of the substrate.
Especially in the case of the previously described embodiment, the device can be preloaded with the substrate to be extracted or dissolved. Hence, the device is preferentially usable as a single-service device, especially when it is made from plastics. According to an especially advantageous embodiment, the device is prefilled with tea leaves, thus providing an easy to handle and widely applicable tool in the fast preparation of tea.
The invention will now be further explained with the help of the figures as well as examples. However, these figures and examples are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1: a side view of a device according to the present invention;
Fig. 2(a): the two hemispheres according to the invention before being connected;
Fig. 2(b): a device comprising the two hemispheres according to Fig. 2(a), shown here after being connected.
Fig. 3(a): a reversible clip-in mechanism to connect the two hemispheres;
Fig. 3(b): a permanently locked clip-in mechanism to connect the two hemispheres.

Figure 1 is a side view of device 1 according to the present invention. Such a device 1 is typically made from plastics, preferentially from polyethylene, PE. The device 1 comprises a compartment 6 which is situated in between an upper, concave hemisphere 4 and a lower, concave hemisphere 5, the latter being connected to the backside of the upper hemisphere 4. It is a basic feature of the present invention, that both hemispheres 4 and 5 are concave, i.e. pointing with their cavities in the same direction. Hence, the lower hemisphere 5 has to be more bent than the upper hemisphere 4. Furthermore, hemisphere 4 is extended at one end by a handle, rendering the hemisphere 4 spoon-like regarding its shape. Optionally, device 1 possesses a plug-in device 11, preferentially a clip 11, that is situated on the extension of hemisphere 4. This plug-in device 11 is especially useful e.g. in order to prevent the device 1 from sliding completely into or floating on the surface of the liquid 3. At least one of the hemispheres 4 and 5, preferably hemisphere 5, possesses a perforation 7 that enables a liquid 3 to penetrate and, thus, to access the compartment 6. Preferentially, said perforation 7 is formed by holes to allow for the liquid 3 to penetrate the compartment 6. On the other hand, a substrate 2 is retained in the compartment 6. Preferably, said substrate 2 is a portion of tea leaves or other natural material to be extracted by a liquid 3, preferentially hot water. However, a further embodiment of the present invention is related to the use of a device 1 according to the invention not only for extraction, but also for dissolving a substrate 2, e.g. a soup cube in a liquid 3, preferentially hot water.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a device 1 according to the invention. Figure 2(a) shows the two hemispheres 4 and 5 of the device 1 separated, but prearranged in near proximity; figure 2(b) shows the same device 1 after connection of the two hemispheres 4 and 5 as already prearranged according to figure 2(a). The cavities of both the hemispheres 4 and 5 are pointing into the same direction, whereby a compartment 6 is formed in between the two hemispheres 4 and 5 due to their different curvature radii. Said compartment 6 is to be filled with a substrate 2 to be extracted or dissolved, especially tea leaves. The connection of the hemispheres 4 and 5 may be effected reversibly or irreversibly by technical means such as e.g. clip-in mechanisms, welding e.g. by ultrasonic means, gluing or mechanical locking means.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of a device 1 according to the invention, here focussing exemplarily on connecting means for the two hemispheres 4 and 5. A compartment 6 is formed by connection of the two hemispheres 4 and 5; the perforation 7 of this compartment 6 is also shown.
Figure 3(a) shows a clip-in mechanism that can be reversibly reopened. Here, the clip-in mechanism is based on an outer, flexible extension 8 of the upper hemisphere 4. The extension 8 is formed suchlike to provide a slot for taking up a compatible section of the lower hemisphere 5. The clip-in mechanism can be reversibly reopened by bending the extension 8 outwards, thus releasing the lower hemisphere 5.
In contrast, figure 3(b) exemplarily shows a clip-in mechanism that is permanently locked. In this embodiment, the connection of the two hemispheres is based on extensions 9 of the upper hemisphere 4 and extensions 10 of the lower hemisphere 5. Both extensions 9 and 10 are interlocking inside the compartment 6. Once being locked, this connection is not to be reopened by the user.

Claims

A device (1) for extracting or dissolving a substrate (2), especially tea leaves, by or in a liquid (3), comprising two hemispheres (4;5) which are connectable to each other to form a compartment (6) for said substrate (2), at least one of said hemispheres (4;5) having a perforation (7) to allow for the liquid (3) to penetrate said compartment (6),
characterized in that one of said hemispheres (4) has the shape of a spoon and the second hemisphere (5) being connectable to the backside of the hemisphere (4) of said spoon.
Device (1) according to claim 1, whereby said connection of the two hemispheres (4;5) is achievable by a clip-in mechanism.
Device (1) according to claim 1, whereby the two hemispheres (4;5) are glued or welded together.
Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, whereby said hemispheres (4;5) are made from plastics, preferentially from polyethylene.
Device (1) according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 4, whereby said hemispheres (4;5) are connected by a connecting means that allows for an easy separation and reclosure.
Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, whereby said hemispheres (4;5) are not reversibly disconnectable.
Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, whereby said device (1) is prefilled with a substrate (2), preferentially tea leaves to be extracted.
Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, whereby one hemisphere (4) possesses a plug-in device (11), especially a clip (11).
Use of a device (1) according to any one of the preceeding claims as a packaging-unit for a portion of tea.