GB2105182A

GB2105182A - Draining implement

Info

Publication number: GB2105182A
Application number: GB08123890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Chambers
Original assignee: RILSEW Ltd
Current assignee: RILSEW Ltd
Priority date: 1981-08-05
Filing date: 1981-08-05
Publication date: 1983-03-23
Also published as: GB2105182B

Abstract

A device for squeezing teabags comprises a shallow box 12 with a lid 14 which is resiliently loaded in the opening direction. Moving the lid in a closing direction applies pressure to a tea bag or the like disposed in the shallow box, whereby excess liquid is removed therefrom. The box is provided with a pouring spout 20, and an eyehole from which the squeezer may be hung. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Draining Implement This invention relates to a device which has a multiple of uses but which is particularly useful as a tea or coffee bag squeezer.

Hitherto, a teabag placed in a cup of boiling water has to be removed with the aid of a teaspoon or other similar device. A teaspoon or knife or whatever, not being specifically designed for such purposes, does not fulfill the function of carrying a tea bag with any degree of reliability. Because of its shape one can never, with confidence, carry a wet, used tea bag without the fear of dropping same on the floor. Even if one does manage to carry the tea bag to the nearest rubbish disposal unit a trail of brown marks on the floor is usually evident of the fact that not only has the tea bag not been squeezed to remove excess liquid but the carrying implement does not include a saucer or any part capable of containing the excess liquid.

Furthermore, the fact that the tea bag has not been squeezed indicates the unsuitability of presently available kitchen implements for performing this function. Ateaspoon is the implement normally used, but not only is it not provided with a second surface with which to squeeze the teabag against, the cup in which the tea is made is usually too full to operate effectively as the second surface.

Some people attempt to drain the teabag by squeezing it between their bare fingers. However the consequent lack of hygiene, and the danger of scald ing the fingers usually deters most people from using this method.

It is an object ofthis invention therefore to provide a device which does not incur the aforementioned disadvantages which are prevalent with conventional apparata.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a squeezerforteabags and the like comprising a shallow box having a lid which is resiliently loaded in the opening direction and which can be urged to close the box and squeeze between itself and the base of the box an absorbant object to remove excess liquid there from.

Preferably a pouring spout is provided on one side edge of the box to direct the out flow of said excess liquid.

An eye-hole may be provided on another side edge by which the squeezer may be hung from a hook or keyring or the like as preferred.

The invention is further described hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a squeezer in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a section of the same squeezer taken along the line ll-ll in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section of the same squeezer taken along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 and with a tea bag disposed therewithin.

The squeezer 10, illustrated in the drawings, comprises a shallow box 12with a lid 14which is hinged at the junction 16 of the lid and box. The squeezer is preferably made from plastics material so that no separate, and therefore comparatively expensive, hinge is required.

The lid 14 has a thickened portion 18 which acts as a thumb hold which would be engaged by the thumb when pressing the lid to squeeze out a teabag.

The box 12 has a spout portion 20 which aids the pouring away of excess liquid. The edge 21 of the lid 12 is contoured in this region so that it extends into the spout region and prevents parts of a teabag from projecting outwards and avoiding being squeezed once it has been placed in the squeezer.

An eye-hole 22 is formed at one corner of the squeezer so that the latter can easily be hung on an appropriate hook or on a person's keyring.

Figure 3 illustrates the squeezer of Figures 1 and 2 with a tea or coffee bag 24, inserted therein. When the tea has been made in a cup the bag is lifted out of the cup by gripping the bag between the spout20 and the edge 21 of the lid 12. The bag is then placed entirely inside the squeezer, with the aid of a teaspoon for example, so that it lies in the position shown in Figure 3.

With the fingers underneath the squeezer and the thumb on the thumb-hold 18, the bag is then squeezed between the lid 14 and box 12 until excess liquid pours out. By tipping the squeezer the liquid can be directed into the cup, in the case of tea or coffee so that all the available flavour can be obtained, or else the liquid can be tipped down the sink or elsewhere.

In any event the device ensures that the teabag is neither dropped nor is it allowed to spill liquid onto the floor.

When the teabag has been sufficiently squeezed out, the lid is released by the thumb so that it springs open due to the resilience ofthe plastics hinge atthe junction 16 of lid and box. This resilience is supplied during the manufacture of the squeezer by moulding some in the fully opened condition. After moulding the squeezertendsto remain in a partly opened state.

In this way the finished teabag can just be tipped into a waste bin, still without any direct contact between skin and bag being required.

Thus a squeezer in accordance with this invention is a useful and hygenic implement (it can be washed easily) to have in any household.

CLAIMS (Filed on 4 Aug 1982) 1. A squeezer forteabags and the like, comprising a shallow box having a lid which is resiliently loaded in the opening direction and which can be urged to close the box and squeeze between itself and the base of the box an absorbent object to remove excess liquid therefrom.

2. A squeezer as claimed in claim 1, in which a pouring spout is provided on one side edge of the box to direct the out flow of said excess liquid.

3. A squeezer as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which an eye-hole may be provided on another side edge by which the squeezer may be hung from a hook or keyring.

4. A squeezer as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3, in which the lid and box are formed in one piece by moulding.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Draining Implement This invention relates to a device which has a multiple of uses but which is particularly useful as a tea or coffee bag squeezer. Hitherto, a teabag placed in a cup of boiling water has to be removed with the aid of a teaspoon or other similar device. A teaspoon or knife or whatever, not being specifically designed for such purposes, does not fulfill the function of carrying a tea bag with any degree of reliability. Because of its shape one can never, with confidence, carry a wet, used tea bag without the fear of dropping same on the floor. Even if one does manage to carry the tea bag to the nearest rubbish disposal unit a trail of brown marks on the floor is usually evident of the fact that not only has the tea bag not been squeezed to remove excess liquid but the carrying implement does not include a saucer or any part capable of containing the excess liquid. Furthermore, the fact that the tea bag has not been squeezed indicates the unsuitability of presently available kitchen implements for performing this function. Ateaspoon is the implement normally used, but not only is it not provided with a second surface with which to squeeze the teabag against, the cup in which the tea is made is usually too full to operate effectively as the second surface. Some people attempt to drain the teabag by squeezing it between their bare fingers. However the consequent lack of hygiene, and the danger of scald ing the fingers usually deters most people from using this method. It is an object ofthis invention therefore to provide a device which does not incur the aforementioned disadvantages which are prevalent with conventional apparata. In accordance with this invention there is provided a squeezerforteabags and the like comprising a shallow box having a lid which is resiliently loaded in the opening direction and which can be urged to close the box and squeeze between itself and the base of the box an absorbant object to remove excess liquid there from. Preferably a pouring spout is provided on one side edge of the box to direct the out flow of said excess liquid. An eye-hole may be provided on another side edge by which the squeezer may be hung from a hook or keyring or the like as preferred. The invention is further described hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a squeezer in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a section of the same squeezer taken along the line ll-ll in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section of the same squeezer taken along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1 and with a tea bag disposed therewithin. The squeezer 10, illustrated in the drawings, comprises a shallow box 12with a lid 14which is hinged at the junction 16 of the lid and box. The squeezer is preferably made from plastics material so that no separate, and therefore comparatively expensive, hinge is required. The lid 14 has a thickened portion 18 which acts as a thumb hold which would be engaged by the thumb when pressing the lid to squeeze out a teabag. The box 12 has a spout portion 20 which aids the pouring away of excess liquid. The edge 21 of the lid 12 is contoured in this region so that it extends into the spout region and prevents parts of a teabag from projecting outwards and avoiding being squeezed once it has been placed in the squeezer. An eye-hole 22 is formed at one corner of the squeezer so that the latter can easily be hung on an appropriate hook or on a person's keyring. Figure 3 illustrates the squeezer of Figures 1 and 2 with a tea or coffee bag 24, inserted therein. When the tea has been made in a cup the bag is lifted out of the cup by gripping the bag between the spout20 and the edge 21 of the lid 12. The bag is then placed entirely inside the squeezer, with the aid of a teaspoon for example, so that it lies in the position shown in Figure 3. With the fingers underneath the squeezer and the thumb on the thumb-hold 18, the bag is then squeezed between the lid 14 and box 12 until excess liquid pours out. By tipping the squeezer the liquid can be directed into the cup, in the case of tea or coffee so that all the available flavour can be obtained, or else the liquid can be tipped down the sink or elsewhere. In any event the device ensures that the teabag is neither dropped nor is it allowed to spill liquid onto the floor. When the teabag has been sufficiently squeezed out, the lid is released by the thumb so that it springs open due to the resilience ofthe plastics hinge atthe junction 16 of lid and box. This resilience is supplied during the manufacture of the squeezer by moulding some in the fully opened condition. After moulding the squeezertendsto remain in a partly opened state. In this way the finished teabag can just be tipped into a waste bin, still without any direct contact between skin and bag being required. Thus a squeezer in accordance with this invention is a useful and hygenic implement (it can be washed easily) to have in any household. CLAIMS (Filed on 4 Aug 1982)

1. A squeezer forteabags and the like, comprising a shallow box having a lid which is resiliently loaded in the opening direction and which can be urged to close the box and squeeze between itself and the base of the box an absorbent object to remove excess liquid therefrom.

5. A squeezer as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the lid has a thickened portion which acts as a thumb hold.

6. A squeezer as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, in which the lid has a contoured edge which extends into the spout region of the box.

7. A squeezer constructed and arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.