GB2494456A

GB2494456A - Beverage infuser bag

Info

Publication number: GB2494456A
Application number: GB1115670.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard James Lawrence Souber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-09-12
Filing date: 2011-09-12
Publication date: 2013-03-13
Also published as: GB201115670D0

Abstract

A beverage infuser bag 101 comprises a first infusible compartment 102 containing a first beverage preparation ingredient 104, preferably tea leaves, and a second infusible compartment 103 containing a second beverage preparation ingredient 105, preferably dried milk. The compartments are detachably connected. Preferably each compartment comprises a sealed edge 106, 107 and the compartments are connected along adjoining sealed edges. The adjoining edges may be perforated to allow manual separation. A third compartment holding a third ingredient may also be provided. The bag preferably has a circular, rectangular or triangular cross-section.

Description

BEVERAGE INFUSER BAG

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a beverage infuser bag.

Background of the Invention

A known type of beverage infuser bag is a tea bag. The tea bag comprises dried tea leaves contained in an infusible bag that allows the contained tea leaves to infuse in water (typically of boiling or near boiling temperature) in which the tea bag is steeped. The tea bag may then be removed from the water when the tea drink has been prepared.

Tea bags may be used within a tea pot, or directly within a cup. It is known for tea bags to contain a quantity of loose leaf tea that has been predetermined as being a suitable amount for preparation of a single cup of tea.

Disposable tea bags are known that are intended for a single use.

The tea bag offers the user convenience, both through containing a predetermined quantity of loose leaf tea and enclosing loose leaf tea in an infusible bag that aUows the tea leaves to be easily and neatly removed from a prepared tea drink and disposed of after use.

It is known for tea drinkers to add milk to tea, according to personal taste.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect, there is provided a beverage infuser bag, comprising: a first infusible compartment containing a first beverage preparation ingredient, and a second infusible compartment containing a second beverage preparation ingredient that is different from said first beverage preparation ingredient, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment are detachably connected.

In an embodiment, the beverage infuser bag further comprises a third infusible compartment containing a third beverage preparation ingredient that is different from said first beverage preparation ingredient and from said second beverage preparation, wherein said first infusible compartment said second infusible compartment and said third infusible compartment are detachably connected.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of preparing a beverage, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a beverage infuser bag according the first aspect; b) optionally separating said compartments of said beverage infuser bag received at step a); c) selecting one or both compartments of said beverage infuser bag received at step a) to be used in the preparation of a beverage; and d) infusing said one or both compartments selected at step c) in water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a beverage infuser bag comprising a first infusible compartment and a second infusible compartment, according to a first example; Figure 2 shows a beverage infuser bag comprising a first infusible compartment and a second infusible compartment, according to a second

example;

Figure 3 shows a beverage infuser bag comprising a first infusible compartment and a second infusible compartment, according to a third example; Figure 4 illustrates modes of use of a beverage infuser bag comprising a first infusible compartment and a second infusible compartment; Figure 5 shows optional further features of a beverage infuser bag; Figure 8 shows steps in a method of preparing a beverage using a beverage infuser bag.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to

unnecessarily obscure the description.

Figure 1 A beverage infuser bag 101 is shown in Figure 1. The beverage infuser bag 101 comprises a first infusible compartment 102 and a second infusible compartment 103. The first infusible compartment 102 contains a first beverage preparation ingredient 104. The second infusible compartment 103 contains a second beverage preparation ingredient 105 that is different from the first beverage preparation ingredient 104. The first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 are detachably connected.

According to this first illustrated example, the first beverage preparation ingredient 104 is tea leaves and the second beverage preparation ingredient 105 is dried milk.

The beverage infuser bag 101 is shown at A with the first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 connected. As shown at B, the first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 of the beverage infuser bag 101 are manually separable. The first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 of beverage infuser bag 101 are shown separated at C. According to this embodiment, the first infusible compartment 102 comprises a sealed edge, indicated at 106, and, similarly, the second infusible compartment 103 comprises a sealed edge, indicated at 107. The first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 are detachably connected along adjoining sealed edges, as indicated at 108. According to this example, the adjoined sealed edges, indicated at 108, are perforated to facilitate separation of the first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103. With this arrangement, a pulling force may be manually applied to the beverage infuser bag 101, such that the first infusible compartment 102 is moved in an outward direction as indicated by arrow 109 and the second infusible compartment 103 is moved in an opposite outward direction as indicated by arrow 110, to terthe first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 apart.

The beverage infuser bag 101 provides first and second beverage preparation ingredients in individual compartments, one or both of which may be used in the preparation of a beverage at the choice of a user.

As previously stated, in this example, the beverage infuser bag 101 provides tea leaves in one infusible compartment and dried milk in the other. At the option of a user, the user may use the beverage infuser bag 101, with the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 connected, in the preparation of a cup of tea with milk, Alternatively, the user may separate the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 of the beverage infuser bag 101 and use the first compartment 102 only in the preparation of a cup of tea without milk.

Further, the user may separate the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 of the beverage infuser bag 101, use the first infusible compartment 102 initially and then subsequently introduce the second infusible compartment, in the preparation of a cup of tea with milk.

According to this embodiment, the beverage infuser bag 101 contains a predetermined quantity of the first beverage preparation ingredient 104 in the first infusible compartment 102 and a predetermined quantity of the second beverage preparation ingredient 105 in the second infusible compartment 103 suitable for preparation of a single unit quantity of prepared beverage. According to this example, the beverage infuser bag 101 contains a single unit quantity of tea leaves in the first infusible compartment 102 and a single unit quantity of dried milk in the second infusible compartment 103 suitable for preparation of a single cup of tea (with or without milk).

The beverage infuser bag 101 may be used within any suitable type of beverage preparation receptacle. The beverage infuser bag 101 may be used within a cup 111. Alternatively, the beverage infuser bag 101 may be used within a teapot 112, possibly within a plurality of beverage infuser bags 101.

According to this illustrated example, the beverage infuser bag 101 comprises a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and each of the first infusible compartment 102 and the second infusible compartment 103 comprises a substantially square cross-sectional shape.

Figure 2 A second example of a beverage infuser bag 201 is shown in Figure 2. The beverage infuser bag 201 comprises a first infusible compartment 201 and a second infusible cdmpartment 203, the first and second infusible compartments 201 and 203 being detachably connected. The first and second infusible compartments 201 and 203 contain first and second beverage preparation ingredients 204, 205 respectively.

The beverage infuser bag 201 is shown at A with the first and second infusible compartments 202 and 203. As shown at B, the first and second infusible compartments 202 and 203 of the beverage preparation bag 201 are manually separable. The first and second infusible compartments 202 and 203 of the beverage preparation bag 201 are shown separated at C. According to this illustrated example, the beverage infuser bag 201 comprises a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and each of the first infusible compartment 202 and the second infusible compartment 203 comprises a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape. It is to be appreciated that the beverage infuser bag 201 may be substantially flat or substantially spherical.

A beverage infuser bag as described herein may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials, and may be manufactured using any suitable process or combination of processes. The fabrication of the beverage infuser bag may include a woven or a non-woven textile. The fabrication of the beverage infuser bag may include one or more of: paper, plastic. It is sufficient that each infusible compartment of the beverage infuser bag can suitably contain a beverage preparation ingredient and is suitably porous to allow the contained beverage preparation ingredient to be infused in water (typically of boiling or near boiling temperature) in which the beverage preparation bag is steeped. For ease of manufacture, each infusible compartment of the beverage infuser bag may be fabricated from the same material.

Figure 3 Figure 3 shows a third example of a beverage infuser bag 301. The beverage infuser bag 301 comprises a first infusible compartment 302 and a second infusible compartment 303, the first and second infusible compartments 302 and 303 being detachably connected. The first and second infusible compartments 302 and 303 contain first and second beverage preparation ingredients 304, 305 respectively.

The beverage infuser bag 301 is shown at A with the first and second infusible compartments 302 and 303. As shown at B, the first and second infusible compartments 302 and 303 of the beverage preparation bag 301 are manually separable. The first and second infusible compartments 302 and 303 of the beverage preparation bag 301 are shown separated at C. According to this illustrated example, the beverage infuser bag 301 comprises a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, and each of the first infusible compartment 302 and the second infusible compartment 303 comprises a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. It is to be appreciated that the beverage infuser bag 301 may be substantially flat or substantially cuboid.

It is to be understood that a beverage infuser bag as described herein may have any suitable overall shape and dimensions, and each compartment of a beverage infuser bag as described herein may have any suitable overall shape and dimensions. Each compartment of a beverage infuser bag as described herein may have the same or different shape and dimensions as the other.

A beverage infuser bag having a construction described herein may contain any suitable first bverage preparation ingredient along with any suitable second beverage preparation ingredient.

It is to be appreciated that a beverage preparation ingredient may take the form of dried plant matter, granules or powder, and that the size of each particle of beverage preparation ingredient may be any suitable size or sizes.

It is considered that a beverage infuser bag as described herein is particularly suitable for tea and milk. The tea may be of any variety. For example the tea may be black tea.

Figure 4 Modes of use of a beverage infuser bag comprising a first infusible compartment and a second infusible compartment as described herein are illustrated in Figure 4. In this Figure, beverage infuser bag 201 of Figure 2 is shown being used with cup 111 of Figure 1.

The beverage infuser bag 201 comprises first and second infusible compartments 202, 203, comprising first and second beverage preparation ingredients respectively. The first and second infusible compartments 202, 203, are manually separable from a detached configuration.

As shown at A, according to a first mode of use, the beverage infuser bag 201, with the first and second compartments 202, 203 connected, is steeped in water (typically of boiling or near boiling temperature) within cup 111. With this first mode of use, either the beverage infuser bag 201 or the water may be introduced first into he cup 111.

According to a second mode of use, shown at B, the user separates the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 of the beverage infuser bag 101 and steep a single one of the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 only in water (typically of boiling or near boiling temperature) within cup 111. In this illustrated example, the first infusible compartment 102 is shown being used.

With this second mode of use, the second infusible compartment 103 is not used in the preparation of a beverage. With this second mode of use, either the single selected infusible compartment 102 or 103 or the water may be introduced first intothecuplil.

A third mode of use is shown at C, according to which the user separates the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 of the beverage infuser bag 101, steeps a single one of the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 only in water (typically of boiling or near boiling temperature) within cup 111 and then adds the other one of the first and second infusible compartments 102, 103 for steeping in the same water. With this third mode of use, either the single first selected infusible compartment 102 or 103 or the water may be introduced first into the cup 111, and then the second infusible compartment 102 or 103 is introduced into the water and the cup 111.

It is to be appreciated that although these modes of use are described with reference to water, a beverage infuser bag as described herein may be used with one or other suitable types of steeping liquid, for example milk, in the preparation of a beverage.

With all three modes of use illustrated at A, B and C, once the beverage has been prepared, each infusible compartment 102, 103 within the cup 111 may then be removed from the cup 111.

The beverage infuser bag as described herein offers the user convenience, both through containing a predetermined quantity of a first beverage ingredient and a predetermined quantity of a second beverage ingredient, one or both of which may be selectively used in the preparation of a beverage and that allows the used beverage ingredient(s) to be easily and neatly removed from a prepared beverage and thereafter disposed of as appropriate.

Figure 5 Further optional features of a beverage infuser bag as described herein are shown in Figure 5.

A beverage,infuser bag 501 comprises first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 comprising first and second beverage preparation ingredients respectively. The first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 are manually separable from a default connected configuration.

As shown, the first infusible compartment 502 has a string 504 attached thereto and, similarly, the second infusible compartment 503 has a string 505 attached thereto, for facilitating handling by a user. One or both of the strings 504, 505 may be used when the first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 are connected, to facilitate insertion of the beverage infuser bag 501 into a drinks preparation receptacle and/or to facilitate removal of the beverage infuser bag 501 from a drinks preparation receptacle. When the first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 are separated, the string individual to a selected one of the first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 may be used.

As further shown, the distal end of the first string 504 of the first infusible compartment 502 has a tab 506 attached thereto and, similarly, the distal end of the second string 505 of the second infusible compartment 503 has a tab 507 attached thereto, for facilitating handling or the respective string by a user and for allowing information to be presented to a user. A may be gripped more easily in the hand of a user than the string to which the tab is attached.

Information that may be carried by the first and second tabs 506, 508 for the benefit of a user include: information identifying the different beverage preparation ingredients of the first and second infusible compartments 502, 503 respectively, information suggesting a method of preparation of a beverage using the first and second infusible compartments 502, 503.

The string and tab may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination materials. A tab may present information in any form, including alphanumeric text, graphical representations. Any suitable technique may be used to apply visual indicia to a tab.

As also shown in this Figure, the beverage infuser bag 501 may be provided within a storage pouch 508. The storage pouch may be of any suitable type, and may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination materials, and manufactured by any suitable process or combination of processes. A storage pouch may contain one or a plurality of beverage infuser bags as described herein.

It is to be appreciated that a beverage infuser bag comprising first and second separable infusible compartments as described herein may comprise further features.

A beverage infuser bag may comprise more than two infusible compartments, each infusible compartment comprising a different beverage preparation ingredient and each infusible compartment being detachably connected to the other infusible compartments. The infusible compartments of a beverage infuser bag comprises more than two infusible compartments may be attached in any suitable arrangement allowing each of the infusible compartments to be separated therefrom.

In an embodiment, a beverage infuser bag comprises a first infusible compartment containing a first beverage preparation ingredient, a second infusible compartment containing a second beverage preparation ingredient that is different from the first beverage preparation ingredient, and a third infusible compartment containing a third beverage preparation ingredient that is different from the first beverage preparation ingredient and from the second beverage preparation ingredient; the first, second and third infusible compartments being detachably connected. In an example, the first beverage preparation ingredient is tea, the second beverage preparation ingredient is dried milk and the third beverage preparation ingredient is a sweetener. In an example, the sweetener is granulated sugar. In an example, the first infusible compartment and the second infusible compartment are detachably connected to one another and the third infusible compartment is detachably connected to either the first infusible compartment or the second infusible compartment. In an alternative example, the first infusible compartment, the second infusible compartment and the third infusible compartment are detachably connected, each to the other two. In a further example, the first infusible compartment, the second infusible compartment and the third infusible compartment are all detachably connected to a common connecting element.

Figure 6 Figure 6 shows steps in a method 601 of preparing a beverage using a beverage infuser bag.

A beverage infuser bag comprising first and second separable infusible compartments is received by a user at step 602. The user then selects, at step 603, to use one or both of the first and second compartments of the beverage infuser bag received at step 602 in the preparation of a beverage. At step 604, the selected one or both of the first and second compartments of the beverage infuser bag is infused in steeping liquid in a beverage preparation receptacle.

The present application provides a beverage infuser bag that is convenient to use and that allows different users to choose which of the different ingredients contained in the different compartments thereof to use in the preparation of a beverage.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1 A beverage infuser bag, comprising: a first infusible compartment containing a first beverage preparation ingredient, and a second infusible compartment containing a second beverage preparation ingredient that is different from said first beverage preparation ingredient, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment are detachably connected.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first beverage preparation ingredient is tea leaves and said second beverage preparation ingredient is dried milk.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment each comprise a sealed edge and said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment are detachably connected along adjoining sealed edges.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adjoining sealed edges are perforated to facilitate manual separation of said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment each has a string attached thereto for facilitating handling by a user.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distal end of each string has a tab attached thereto for facilitating handling by of the respective string by a user and for allowing information to be presented to a user.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a substntially circular cross-sectional shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment each comprise a substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment each comprise a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first infusible compartment and said second infusible compartment each comprise a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape.</claim-text> <claim-text>1 2 A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fabrication of said beverage infuser bag includes at least one of: paper, plastic.</claim-text> <claim-text>13. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, provided within a storage pouch.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said beverage infuser bag contains a predetermined quantity of said first beverage preparation ingredient and a predetermined quantity of said second beverage preparation ingredient suitable for preparation of prepared beverage.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A beverage infuser bag as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a third infusible compartment containing a third beverage preparation ingredient that is different from said first beverage preparation ingredient and from said second beverage preparation, wherein said first infusible compartment said second infusible compartment and said third infusible compartment are detachably connected.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A method of preparing a beverage, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a beverage infuser bag according to claim 1; b) optionally separating said compartments of said beverage infuser bag received at step a); c) selecting one or both compartments of said beverage infuser bag received at step a) to be used in the preparation of a beverage; and d) infusing said one or both compartments selected at step c) in water.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A beverage infuser bag substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A method of preparing a beverage substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Figures.</claim-text>