GB2517182A

GB2517182A - Tea Brewing Equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2517182A
Application number: GB1314550.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Fraser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-08-14
Filing date: 2013-08-14
Publication date: 2015-02-18
Also published as: GB201314550D0

Abstract

The invention provides a brewing lid which forms a brewing receptacle for receiving one or more brewing elements such as loose leaf tea, a dried herb, spice or flower, and wherein the brewing receptacle forms one or more perforations for receiving liquid to be brewed. The lid provides a convenient and disposable way of preparing tea without a teabag. The lid also keeps the tea warm whilst it is being brewed. The brewing lid 100 has a downwardly extending lip 140 and forms a brewing receptacle 160 which has a circular base 170 in which a plurality of perforation 180 are formed. The brewing receptacle may be placed to one side of the lid or two receptacles provided, and a drinking orifice (290) may be located at its circumference. A cup may be provided, wherein the cup is marked with a pre-determined level for liquid wherein the pre-determined level is selected such that when the brewing lid is placed on the cup, the level of the liquid is high enough to engage with the one or more perforations and the one or more brewing elements but not so high to risk spillage of the liquid out of the brewing receptacle. A method of preparing a beverage is also disclosed.

Description

TEA BREWING EQUIPMENT

[001] The present invention relates to a lid for a beverage receptacle where the lid has a perforated recess for receiving an element for flavouring a beverage and to a method for preparing a beverage.

[002] There are many more varieties of tea available as loose leaf teas than those sold in tea bags. For a tea connoisseur, who wishes to consume their beverage of choice as a take away, there is no quick and convenient way to prepare the beverage without using a tea bag.

[003] A way of ameliorating this problem has been sought.

[004] According to the invention, there is provided a brewing lid which forms a brewing 1 0 receptacle for receiving one or more brewing elements wherein the brewing receptacle forms one or more perforations for receiving liquid to be brewed.

[005] According to the invention, there is provided brewing equipment which comprises a brewing lid as defined in any one of the preceding claims, a cup wherein the cup has been marked with a pre-determined level to which the cup should be filled with liquid wherein the pre- 1 5 determined level is selected such that when the brewing lid is placed on the cup, the level of the liquid is high enough to engage with the one or more perforations and the one or more brewing elements but not so high to risk spillage of the liquid out of the brewing receptacle and, optionally, one or more brewing elements.

[006] According to the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a beverage which method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a brewing lid which forms a brewing receptacle for receiving one or more brewing elements wherein the brewing receptacle forms one or more perforations; (b) providing a cup wherein the cup is marked with a pre-determined level for liquid wherein the pre-determined level is selected such that when the brewing lid is placed on the cup, the level of the liquid is high enough to engage with the one or more perforations and the one or more brewing elements but not so high to risk spillage of the liquid out of the brewing receptacle; (c) placing one or more brewing elements in the brewing receptacle; (d) placing liquid to be brewed in the cup to the pre-defined level; (e) placing the brewing lid on the cup such that liquid enters the brewing receptacle through the one or more perforations and contacts the one or more brewing elements such that a flavoured beverage is prepared.

[007] Advantages of the invention include that the lid provides a convenient and disposable way of preparing tea without a teabag. The lid also keeps the tea warm whilst it is being brewed.

[008] In some embodiments, the one or more brewing elements may be a loose leaf tea or an optionally dried herb, spice or flower.

[009] The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention claimed: 1 0 FIGURE l.A shows a schematic perspective view from above of a first embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE lB shows a schematic perspective view from below of the first embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 2A shows a schematic perspective view from above of a second embodiment of 1 5 the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE ZB shows a schematic plan view of the underneath of the second embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 2C shows a schematic side view of the second embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 2D shows a schematic rear view of the second embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE ZE shows a schematic rear view of a variant of the second embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 3A shows a first schematic overhead perspective view of a third embodiment of brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 3B shows a second schematic overhead perspective view of the third embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 3C shows a schematic rear view of the third embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; FIGURE 3D shows a schematic view of the underneath of the third embodiment of the brewing lid according to the invention; and S FIGURE 4 shows a schematic view of brewing equipment according to the invention.

[0010] The first embodiment of a brewing lid according to the invention is indicated generally at in Figures 1A and lB. The brewing lid 100 has a downwardly extending lip 140 at its circumference and forms a circular brewing receptacle indicated generally at 160 which has a circular base 170 in which a plurality of perforations 180 are formed. The lid 100 is formed from a 1 0 mouldable plastic, for example a bioplastic and may be transparent. The lid 100 has an outer raised annular portion 110 which by means of step 130 forms a spilled beverage well 120 which is annular to the opening for the brewing receptacle 160. Step 130 provides raised annular portion 110 with a height above well 120. As shown in Figure 1B, lip 140 has an inwardly extending circumferential protrusion 150 for engaging with a lip on a cup (not shown). As an alternative, the brewing 1 5 receptacle may have a different shape, for example it may have tapered sides or a different cross-sectional shape other than a circular cross-sectional shape. As an alternative, the brewing receptacle may be placed differently and may not be at the centre of the lid, for example to one side. As an alternative, protrusion 150 may he replaced by a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions.

[0011] In a second embodiment of a brewing lid indicated generally at 200 of Figures 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E, like features to the first embodiment are identified by like reference numerals. The brewing lid 200 has a downwardly extending lip 240 at its circumference and forms a drinking orifice 290 and an oval brewing receptacle indicated generally at 260 which has walls 265 in which a plurality of perforations 285 are formed and an oval base 270 in which a plurality of perforations 280 are formed. The lid 200 is formed from a mouldable plastic and may be transparent. The lid 200 has a raised outer arcuate portion 210 in which the drinking orifice 290 is formed. The raised arcuate portion 210 has a height which tapers in steps from an area around the drinking orifice 290 to the area on the edge of the lid 200 which is diametrically opposite the drinking orifice 290. By means of step 230, the raised arcuate portion 210 forms a partial spilled beverage well 220. The brewing receptacle 260 is formed within the well 220 and the brewing receptacle is formed such that it is diametrically opposed to the drinking orifice 290. As shown in Figure 2C, lip 240 has an inwardly extending circumferential protrusion 250 for engaging with a lip on a cup (not shown). As an alternative, the brewing receptacle 260 may have a different shape, for example it may have tapered sides or a different cross-sectional shape other than an oval cross-sectional shape. As an alternative, the brewing receptacle 260 may be placed differently and may not be at the centre of the lid, for example to one side. As an alternative, the drinking orifice 290 may have a different shape other than rectangular, for example circular or oval. As an alternative, the walls 265 of brewing receptacle 260 may not form perforation 285, as shown in Figure 2E.

[0012] In a third embodiment of a brewing lid indicated generally at 300 of Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D, like features to the first and second embodiments are identified by like reference numerals. The brewing lid 300 has a downwardly extending lip 340 at its circumference and forms a drinking orifice 1 0 390 and two oval brewing receptacles indicated generally at 360A and 360B which have walls 365A,365B in which a plurality of perforations 385A,385B are formed and an oval base 370A,370B in which a plurality of perforations 380A,380B are formed. The lid 300 is formed from a mouldable plastic and may be transparent. The lid 300 has a raised outer arcuate portion 310 in which the drinking orifice 390 is formed. The raised arcuate portion 310 has a height which tapers in steps 1 5 from an area around the drinking orifice 390 to the area on the edge of the lid 300 which is diametrically opposite the drinking orifice 390. By means of step 330, the raised arcuate portion 310 forms a partial spilled beverage well 320. The brewing receptacles 360A,360B are formed within the well 320 and the brewing receptacles 360A,360B are formed such that they are diametrically opposed to the drinking orifice 290. As shown in Figure 2C, lip 340 has an inwardly extending circumferential protrusion 350 for engaging with a lip on a cup (not shown). As an alternative, the brewing receptacles 360A,360B may have a different shape, for example they may have tapered sides or a different cross-sectional shape other than an oval cross-sectional shape. As an alternative, the brewing receptacles 360A,360B may be placed differently, for example at the centre of the lid.

As an alternative, the drinking orifice 290 may have a different shape other than rectangular, for example circular or oval. As an alternative, the walls 365A,365B of brewing receptacle 360A,360B respectively may not form perforations 385A,385B.

[0013] Brewing equipment is indicated generally at 500 of Figure 4. Brewing equipment 500 comprises brewing lid 200 which is substantially as described above for the second embodiment of the brewing lid and cup 400. Cup 400 is marked with pre-determined liquid level 405 and has a lip 407. Cup 400 is shown to contain a liquid 415 which has a liquid level 417. The pre-defined liquid level 405 marked on the cup 400 is selected such that the level of the base 270 of the brewing receptacle 260 is below the liquid level 417 when the lid 100 is engaged with the opening of the cup to an extent that the level of the liquid in the brewing receptacle 260 is not too high to risk spillage of the liquid into the spilled beverage well 220 and is not too low such that there is insufficient liquid to be flavoured by the brewing elements (not shown). A suitable pre-defined level 405 may easily be determined by a person of skill in the art. The liquid may be hot or cold water or hot or cold milk or a mixture thereof. As an alternative, the brewing equipment may comprises a brewing lid 100 according to the first embodiment as illustrated in Figures 1A and lB or a brewing lid 300 according to the third embodiment as illustrated in Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D. As an alternative, the brewing equipment may include an adhesive label suitable for closing the opening to the brewing receptacle 260.

[0014] In use with the first embodiment of the brewing lid 100, one or more brewing elements are 1 0 placed in the brewing receptacle 160 of a lid 100 and a cup 400 having a lip 407 around its opening is filled with liquid 415 up to the pre-defined level 405.The lid 100 is placed over the cup such that protrusion 150 engages the lip 407 of the cup 400 and such that the liquid 415 which is in the cup enters the brewing receptacle 160 by means of the plurality of perforations 180. After the lid 100 has been placed over the cup 400, the opening to the brewing receptacle 160 may be closed, for 1 5 example by attaching an adhesive lid (not shown). After a sufficient time has passed for the liquid 415 to be flavoured by the brewing elements (not shown), the lid 100 may be removed such that the flavoured liquid 415 in the cup 400 may be consumed.

[0015] In use with the second or third embodiments of the brewing lid 200,300, one or more brewing elements such as loose leaf tea leaves are placed in the brewing receptacle(s) 260,360A,360B of a lid 200,300 and a cup 400 having a lip 407 around its opening is filled with liquid 415 up to the pre-defined level 405. The lid 200,300 is placed over the cup 400 such that protrusion 250,350 engages the lip 407 of the cup 400 and such that the liquid 415 which is in the cup 400 enters the brewing receptacle(s) 260,360A,360B by means of the plurality of perforations 280,285,380A,385A,380B,285B. After the lid 200,300 has been placed over the cup 400, the opening to the brewing receptacle(s) 260,360A,360B may be closed, for example by attaching an adhesive lid (not shown). After a sufficient time has passed for the liquid 415 to be flavoured by the brewing elements, the flavoured liquid 415 may be consumed through the drinking orifice 290,390. As the flavoured liquid 415 is consumed, the level of the liquid 415 in the cup 400 will drop until it is below the level of the base 270,370A,370B such that the liquid 415 is no longer being flavoured by the brewing elements (not shown) such that there is no risk of the liquid being over-flavoured.

S

Claims

CLAIMS1. A brewing lid which forms a brewing receptacle for receiving one or more brewing elements wherein the brewing receptacle forms one or more perforations for receiving liquid to be brewed.
2. A lid as defined in claim 1 wherein the brewing receptacle has a base in which the one or more perforations are formed.
3. A lid as defined in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the brewing receptacle has a wall in which the one or more perforations are formed.
4. A lid as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid forms a drinking orifice.

1 0
5. A lid as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid forms two or more brewing receptacles.
6. A lid as defined in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lid forms an outer raised annular portion to form a spillage well around the brewing receptacle.
7. A lid as defined in claim 7 wherein a drinking orifice is formed in the raised annular portion.

1 5
8. A brewing lid substantially as hereinbefore described or as illustrated with reference to one or more of Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3C and/or 3D of the drawings.
9. Brewing equipment which comprises a brewing lid as defined in any one of the preceding claims; a cup wherein the cup has been marked with a pre-determined level to which the cup should be filled with liquid wherein the pre-determined level is selected such that when the brewing lid is placed on the cup, the level of the liquid is high enough to engage with the one or more perforations and the one or more brewing elements but not so high to risk spillage of the liquid out of the brewing receptacle; and, optionally, one or more brewing elements.
10. Equipment as defined in claim 9 wherein the one or more brewing elements is a loose leaf tea or an optionally dried herb, spice or flower.
11. Brewing equipment substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings.
12. A method of preparing a beverage which method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a brewing lid which forms a brewing receptacle for receiving one or more brewing elements wherein the brewing receptacle forms one or more perforations; (b) providing a cup wherein the cup is marked with a pre-determined level for liquid wherein the pre-determined level is selected such that when the brewing lid is placed on the cup, the level of the liquid is high enough to engage with the one or more perforations and the one or more brewing elements but not so high to risk spillage of the liquid out of the brewing receptacle; (c) placing one or more brewing elements in the brewing receptacle; (d) placing liquid to be brewed in the cup to the pre-defined level; (e) placing the brewing lid on the cup such that liquid enters the brewing receptacle 1 0 through the one or more perforations and contacts the one or more brewing elements such that a flavoured beverage is prepared.
13. A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the liquid is hot water and optionally milk.
14. A method as defined in claim 12 or claim 13 wherein step (b) comprises providing a cup with a lip around its opening and step (a) comprises providing a brewing lid with a protrusion for 1 5 engaging the lip; and wherein step (e) comprises placing the brewing lid on the cup such that the protrusion on the brewing lid engages the lip of the cup.
15. A method as defined in any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein step (e) comprises closing the opening to the brewing receptacle by attaching an adhesive lid.
16. A method as defined in any one of claims 12 to 15 which comprises step (f) of consuming the flavoured beverage.
17. A method as defined in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein step (a) comprises providing a brewing lid with a drinking orifice.
18. A method substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as illustrated with reference to one or more of the accompanying Figures of the drawings.