GB2380987A

GB2380987A - Infusion package

Info

Publication number: GB2380987A
Application number: GB0206361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Illtyd Llewellyn Lewis; Oliver Bishop
Original assignee: Tea Projects Ltd
Current assignee: Tea Projects Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-18
Filing date: 2002-03-18
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-18
Also published as: GB0220073D0; GB0206361D0; GB2380987B

Abstract

An infusion package includes an infusion bag for containing tea or other infusible particulate material. The infusion bag (31) is housed within a container formed from three folded panels (4,11,17) of card or like flat sheet material. The infusion bag is positioned and attached to an inner surface of one panel (17) of the container such that when the container is opened and supported externally of a cup or mug, the bag can be suspended within the latter for immersion in an infusion liquid. Prior to use, the bag (31) passes through an aperture (8) in one of the panels (4,11) into the interior of a pillow-shaped container formed between those panels (4,11) and end flaps (9,16) folded in about concave fold lines. The third panel (17) is initially held closed over the aperture (8), e.g. by adhesive adjacent to its opening tab (19). After use of the infusion bag (31), it can be returned through the aperture (8) into the container for disposal.

Description

INFUSION PACKAGE This Invention relates to an infusion package of the type including a porous bag for containing tea or other infusible particulate material.

In recent years, many attempts have been made to provide a commercially attractive disposable infusion package including an infusion bag such as a tea bag that is simple to manufacture, that enables convenient placement of the infusion bag in a cup or mug for preparation of a beverage, and that also enables disposal of the used infusion bag without inconvenient spillage of the residue of infusion liquid contained within the infusion bag and its contents after infusion.

The majority of currently available infusion packages that are in commercial use comprise either the simple tea bag that is supplied in multiple packs and simply dropped into a cup for infusion, or tea bags that are individually provided with means to assist removal from the cup after infusion. These can be contained in individual sealed envelopes which preserve the flavour or aroma of the tea.

Proposals have been made for an Infusion package comprising a tea bag located within an enclosure that both serves for storage of the tea bag prior to use and for reception of the used tea bag after use. Such packages are adapted to remain externally of the cup during infusion, whilst supporting the

tea bag during the Infusion process They then enable return of the tea bag to the enclosure for disposal thereof Despite the variety of hitherto known proposals, however, none has yet achieved significant commercial success U. K. A-2,167, 380 describes for example an Infusion package comprising a cover having two foldable leaves with a tea bag attached to one leaf. The two leaves can be sealed together to form an enclosure for the tea bag prior to use. However, the package has the disadvantage that spillage of surplus liquid from the tea bag is not adequately prevented after use. It is necessary for the user to squeeze surplus liquid from the tea bag by engagement between the leaves before attempting disposal of the package without spillage. This not only requires an additional operation to be performed by the user, but also has the disadvantage that squeezing of surplus liquid from the tea bag into the prepared beverage may have a deleterious effect on the desired quality of the beverage.

There has also been proposed, see GB-A-2229991, an infusion package in the form of two closure members hinged together, one of said members supporting a tea bag. The arrangement is such that, when opened, the tea bag can be supported within a cup or mug for infusion of the beverage, whereas after infusion the tea bag can be returned to the enclosure, which forms a secure container retaining both the tea bag and any surplus infusion liquid prior to disposal. In this prior proposal, the container members are formed by moulding from impervious material, and the package has

disadvantages both in manufacture, In the aesthetic appearance of the final infusion package, and the environmental impact of the material used.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved infusion package that serves both for the storage of an infusion bag prior to use and for the reception and secure retention of both the infusion bag and surplus infusion liquid, after use. The container should be both simple and inexpensive to manufacture, have an aesthetic appearance that is attractive to the user, and be made from renewable and substantially biodegradable materials.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an infusion package of the kind comprising two relatively hinged container members to one of which is attached an infusion bag, the hinged container members being provided with means for retaining them in relative positions in which they form a closed container for storage of the infusion bag, and the arrangement being such that, when in the open condition, the container members can be positioned externally of a cup or mug in order to support the infusion bag therein, characterised in that the said container members are formed by folding from a flat blank of card or like material, one container member being formed by two opposed folded panels that are interconnected at respective opposite parallel edges with intermediate portions of the respective panels being held in an outwardly bowed convex relationship by overlapping folded

edges thereof, the other container member comprising a panel hinged at one of said parallel edges of the one container member and having an infusion bag attached to one surface thereof, and one of said opposed panels of the one container member having an aperture for receiving the infusion bag attached to the other container member when the latter is folded into a closed position covering said aperture.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention has the advantage that it can be formed simply from a blank of cardboard or like material, whilst providing secure storage both for the infusion bag and its contents prior to use, and for the used bag and surplus infusion liquid, after use Preferably the blank is formed in one piece.

Advantageously a free end of the other container member is adapted for releasable attachment in the region of the free parallel edge of the one container member The other container member may be so adapted for attachment by means of a releasable adhesive provided internally of the free edge of the other container member. The other container member may also have a flap adapted to be folded over the free edge of the one container member and provided internally with a pelable self-adhesive layer.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, In which

Figure 1 is a plan view of a flat blank for use in the preparation of an infusion package, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of an infusion package formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a flat blank generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 is formed in one piece from card or other similar foldable material and has the outline indicated in full lines, whilst being provided with fold lines indicated by the chain dotted lines shown in the drawing.

Thus the blank comprises a flap 2 defined by a fold line 3, a first panel 4 defined by the fold line 3 and fold lines 5,6 and 7 and having a central aperture 8, flaps 9 and 10 forming bounding edges of the panel 4 and defined by the fold lines 5 and 6, a second panel 11 defined by the fold lines 7 and fold lines 12,13 and 14, flaps 15 and 16 forming bounding edges of the panel 11 and defined by the fold lines 12 and 13, a third panel 17 defined by the fold line 14 and a further fold line 18, and a closure flap 19 incorporating a further fold line 20.

In use, the blank shown In Fig 1 IS formed into a container by providing a layer of adhesive 21 on the upper surface of the flap 2 as viewed in the drawing. The flap 2, and panels 4 and 11 are then folded away from one another along the fold lines 3 and 7, and the edges of the panels 4 and 11

represented by the fold lines 3 and 14 are brought to meet one another with the adhesive surface of the flap 2 secured against the lower surface of the panel 11 in the margin adjacent the fold line 14.

The flap 19 is provided with a pelable self-adhesive layer on its lower surface as viewed in the drawing as indicated at 22.

With the blank 1 in the form thus achieved, the blank forms a precursor of a package that may be stored in flat form ready for the insertion of an infusion bag such as a tea bag or like. In order to form the final package, an infusion bag IS secured to the panel 17 on its underside as viewed In Fig. 1, an attachment being made in the region of the fold line 18. To complete the package, the flaps 9,10, 15 and 16 re then folded along the fold lines 5,6, 12 and 13, so that these flaps snap inwardly to overlie one another and support the panes 4 and 11 in an outwardly bowed convex form. The two panels 4 and 11, together with the edge flaps 9,10, 15 and 16 thus form a pillowshaped envelope accessible through the opening 8. The panel 17 is then folded along the fold line 14 so that the infusion package secured thereto passes through the opening 8 into the enclosure formed by the panels 4 and 11 The flap 19 is then folded upon the fold line 18 so that the self-adhesive area 22 engages the panel 11 in the region of the fold line 7 In this condition, the infusion bag is safely enclosed within the package for storage.

For use of the infusion bag, the free end of tab 19 defined by the fold line 20 IS grasped by the user and the self-adhesive layer 22 is peeled from the panel 11 to bring the container into an open condition as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, in which like reference numerals illustrate the same parts of the package as shown in Fig. 1, a tea bag formed by a porous envelope has an upper edge 30 secured to the inside of the flap 17 and the body of the bag extends downwardly therefrom, the infusible contents of the bag being located within a lower region thereof identified by the reference numeral 31.

With the package in the open condition shown in Fig. 2, the lower portion 31 of the infusion bag is passed over the inside lip of a cup or mug, and the region of the bag containing the infusible contents is thus lowered into the cup or mug with the adjacent panels 4 and 17 passing downwardly on the outside of the lip of the cup or mug until the container is arrested with the lip of the cup or mug adjacent the region 30 of the bag that is attached to the panel 17 After infusion of the contents of the bag 30,31, the package is removed from the lip of the cup by lifting the flap 19 or holding the container by panel 9 and its mirror panel on the opposite side and the package naturally adopts an attitude such that the wet infusion bag and any Infusion liquid dripping therefrom fall naturally through the aperture 8 into the enclosure formed by the panels 4 and 11. The fact that the panel 11 IS bowed into an outwardly

convex shape causes any surplus liquid to collect in a central area or trough defined by the panel 11 and the flaps 15 and 16, so that it becomes unnecessary for the edges of the enclosure defined by the flaps 9,10, 15 and 16 to be sealed together The flap 17 is then again folded into the closed position and the flap 19 is resealed to the panel 11 to form a closed container that is convenient for disposal.

It will thus be seen that the arrangement according to the invention provides a very simple and convenient infusion package that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, that is convenient for storage during the packing of the Infusion bags in manufacture, and that securely encloses the used infusion bag for disposal after use.

It will be appreciated that various alterations and modifications may be made to the arrangement shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appending Claims. Thus, although it is unnecessary for the overlapping flaps 9,10, 15 and 16 to be sealed together with adhesive, an adhesive could be used to seal the flaps together if desired.

Furthermore, although the shape of the blank 1 and the fold lines 5,6, 12 and 13 is such as to form a cushion or pillow-shaped container it will be appreciated that flaps of a different shape could be adopted to form an alternative configuration in which the panels 4 and 11 are displaced away

from one another. An alternative form of closure could also be adopted for retaining the panel 17 in the closed condition.

Claims

Claims : 1 An infusion package of the kind comprising two relatively hinged container members to one of which is attached an infusion bag, the hinged container members being provided with means for retaining them in relative positions in which they form a closed container for storage of the infusion bag, and the arrangement being such that, when in the open condition, the container members can be positioned externally of a cup or mug in order to support the infusion bag therein, characterised in that the said container members are formed by folding from a flat blank of card or like material, one container member being formed by two opposed folded panels that are interconnected at respective opposite parallel edges with intermediate portions of the respective panels being held in an outwardly bowed convex relationship by overlapping folded edges thereof, the other container member comprising a panel hinged at one of said parallel edges of the one container member and having an infusion bag attached to one surface thereof, and one of said opposed panels of the one container member having an aperture for receiving the infusion bag attached to the other container member when the latter is folded into a closed position covering said aperture.
2. A package according to Claim 1 wherein the blank is formed in one piece.

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3 A package according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein a free end of the other container member is adapted for releasable attachment in the region of the free parallel edge of the one container member.
4. A package according to Claim 3 wherein the other container member is adapted for attachment by means of a releasable adhesive provided internally of the fee edge of the other container member.
5. A package according to Claim 4 wherein the other container member has a flap adapted to be folded over a free edge of the one container member and provided internally with a peelable self-adhesive layer.
6. An infusion package substantially as described herein with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.
7. A blank as claim in claim 5 substantially as shown in Fig. 1

7. A blank for use in forming an infusion package according to any one of Claims 1-6, comprising two adjacent panels adapted to be secured in facing relationship, at two opposite parallel edges, edge flaps provided at edges of said two panels joining said two opposite parallel edges and so shaped that, when said edge flaps are folded, said panels are distended to form an enclosure, one of said panels having an opening, and a third panel hinged at one of said two parallel edges and forming a closure for said opening.

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8. A blank as claimed in Claim 7 substantially as shown In Fig. 1.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS : 1. An infusion package comprising an infusion bag housed within a container formed from folded panels of card or like flat sheet material, said container including first and second panels joined at respective opposite parallel edges thereof and held in an outwardly bowed convex or pillow shape by overlapping margins that are folded about concave lines extending between said parallel edges, one of said opposed panels having an opening and a third panel located relatively to said one panel by a hinge and closing said opening, said infusion bag being attached to an inner surface of said third panel and accommodated between said first and second panels and the arrangement being such that upon hingeing of said third panel to free said opening the infusion bag attached to said third panel can pass through said opening into a position such that with the container supported externally of a cup or mug, the infusion bag can be suspended within the latter for immersion in an infusion liquid.

2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the container is folded from a blank of card or like flat material formed in one piece.

3. A package according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said third panel remote from said hinge is releasably attached to said second panel.

4. A package according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said third panel is releasably attached by means of a pelable adhesive provided on an inrer surface thereof.

5. A blank of card or like flat sheet material for use in forming an infusion package according to any one of the claims 1-4 comprising two adjacent panels adapted to be secured in facing relationship, at two opposite parallel edges, by

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the folding and overlapping of margins provided at the edges of said two paneis joining said two opposite parallel edges, distending said panels to form an enclosure, one of said panels having an opening and a third panel hinged at one of said two parallel edges and forming a closure for said opening.

6. An infusion package substantial as described herein with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.