US20220007865A1

US20220007865A1 - Drinkware with Integrated Infuser Holder

Info

Publication number: US20220007865A1
Application number: US17/352,186
Authority: US
Inventors: Abdallah Ben Hamallah; James Vince Perrine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-07-13
Filing date: 2021-06-18
Publication date: 2022-01-13

Abstract

A drinkware with integrated infuser holder is an apparatus that is used to retain drink infusers in the bottom of the drinkware. The apparatus may include a drinkware body and an elongated holder. The drinkware body holds the liquids to be infused and facilitates the consumption of the infused drink. The elongated holder retains the infuser during the steeping process and during the consumption of the infused drink. The drinkware body may include a body base and a tubular lateral wall. The body base corresponds to the flat portion of the drinkware body that enables the drinkware body to be placed on a surface. The tubular lateral wall corresponds to the walls of the drinkware body that retain the liquids within the drinkware body. The apparatus may also include at least one eyelet on the elongated holder through which the infuser or other ingredients can be inserted and retained.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/051,235 filed on Jul. 13, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to drinkware and drinkware accessories. More specifically, the present invention is a drinkware with an integrated infuser holder designed to retain drink infusers such as tea bags and other ingredients in the bottom of the drinkware.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rise in popularity of caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee has led to a significant increase in the use of drink infusers like tea bags. Tea bags have been a popular means of making tea as most tea bags contain enough tea leaves for a single serving. Tea bags are also convenient as they filter out the tea leaves, preventing the user from accidentally consuming the tea leaves. The same case is now with other drinks such as coffee. Coffee grounds stored in tea bags provide a convenient way of steeping coffee and removing the coffee grounds after use. While these infusers are convenient and easy to use, there are many disadvantages associated with them. For example, when steeping tea, the tea bag must be completely immersed to get the most out of the contents and extract every drop of essence. Due to the structure of most tea bags, the tea bag often remains buoyant until most of the tea bag is soaked in the liquid. Even then, some tea bags remain buoyant after the steeping process. This can create more waste as the user may need another tea bag to create a stronger brew. Further, most users like to keep the tea bag inside the cup during consumption of the drink, which can cause the tea bag to float around as the user drinks from the cup. While the user can just keep the tea bag down with a spoon or similar utensil, there is yet to be a drinkware that can retain the tea bag in the bottom of the cup without requiring the user from manually doing so.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a drinkware such as a cup which can retain an infuser like a tea bag or other ingredients in the bottom of the cup. By keeping the tea bag fixed in the bottom of the cup, the tea bag does not bother the user while drinking from the cup. This allows the user to drink from the cup carefree without having to hold the tea bag down with a utensil. In addition, keeping the tea bag in the bottom of the cup helps to optimally extract the essence from the materials contained within the tea bag. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an infuser holder that is integral of the drinkware so that the infuser holder does not detach from the drinkware. Additional features and benefits of the present invention are further discussed in the sections below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a drinkware with integrated infuser holder designed to keep an infuser such as a tea bag in the bottom of the drinkware. The infuser holder is an accessible feature provided near the bottom of a drinkware such as a cup designed to receive an infuser, like a tea bag, or other ingredients such as garnishes. The user may first insert the tea bag through the infuser holder and then pour hot water for immediate and optimal extraction of all essence from the tea leaves. The infuser holder retains the tea bag in the bottom of the drinkware during the steeping of the infuser contents. In addition, the user does not have to remove the tea bag after the steeping process as the infuser holder prevents the tea bag from interrupting the user while drinking from the cup. The user can normally drink from the cup without worrying that the tea bag may float around or obstruct the consumption of the drink. Thus, the user receives the best experience of consuming a caffeinated drink. The drinkware of the present invention can have different designs for different drinks. Likewise, the infuser holder can be designed to retain different types of infusers or other ingredients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing the present invention, wherein an infuser is shown inserted through the at least one eyelet.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing the present invention, wherein an infuser is shown retained by the elongated holder.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the present invention, wherein an infuser is shown inserted through one eyelet and a garnish inserted through another eyelet.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 13.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a drinkware with integrated infuser holder that is used to retain drink infusers such as tea bags or other ingredients such as garnishes in the bottom of the drinkware. As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3, the present invention may comprise a drinkware body 1 and an elongated holder 6. The drinkware body 1 holds the liquid to be infused along with other ingredients and also facilitates the consumption of the infused drink. The elongated holder 6 retains the infuser during the steeping process and during the consumption of the infused drink.
The general configuration of the aforementioned components enables users to make and enjoy a perfectly infused drink using most popular infusers and ingredients. As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3, the drinkware body 1 is preferably a short, tubular structure designed to retain liquids such as hot water to make popular drinks like tea, coffee, etc. The drinkware body 1 can have different shapes and sizes designed to accommodate different drinks. For example, the drinkware body 1 can be a tall, thinner body designed to retain cold drinks, like lemonade or iced tea, or a short, thicker body designed to retain hot drinks like hot tea or coffee. As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3, the elongated holder 6 is a thin elongated protrusion designed to hold the infuser and other ingredients against the drinkware body 1, thus retaining the infuser and other ingredients within the drinkware body 1. In addition, the elongated holder 6 is preferably an integral part of the drinkware body 1, where the elongated holder 6 is made from the same material as the drinkware body 1. For example, the drinkware body 1 and the elongated holder 6 are made of ceramic or similar materials. However, the drinkware body 1 and the elongated holder 6 may be made of other popular materials such as metal, plastic, foam, etc. In other embodiments, the elongated holder 6 may be a releasable attachment.
As can be seen in FIG. 4 through 7, the drinkware body 1 comprises a body base 2 and a tubular lateral wall 3. The body base 2 corresponds to the overall flat portion of the drinkware body 1 that enables the drinkware body 1 to be placed on a surface. The tubular lateral wall 3 corresponds to the side walls of the drinkware body 1 that retain the liquids within the drinkware body 1. In addition, the tubular lateral wall 3 comprises a first open end 4 and a second open end 5, which correspond to the open ends of the tubular lateral wall 3. The first open end 4 and the second open end 5 are positioned opposite to each other along the tubular lateral wall 3 due to the tubular structure of the tubular lateral wall 3. The first open end 4 is perimetrically connected around the body base 2 to secure the tubular lateral wall 3 to the body base 2. Moreover, the elongated holder 6 is mounted within the drinkware body 1 to retain the infuser within the drinkware body 1. The elongated holder 6 is positioned adjacent to the first open end 4 to keep the infuser in the bottom of the drinkware body 1. In addition, the elongated holder 6 is positioned offset from the second open end 5 to retain the infuser against the body base 2. In other embodiments, the elongated holder 6 can be positioned in other locations within the drinkware body 1 to retain the infuser or other ingredients in a different position within the drinkware body 1.
In addition, the elongated holder 6 may comprise a first holder end 7 and a second holder end 8 corresponding to the terminal ends of the elongated holder 6. As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first holder end 7 is positioned opposite to the second holder end 8 along the elongated holder 6 due to the overall thin and long structure of the elongated holder 6. Further, the first holder end 7 is connected onto the body base 2 to secure the elongated holder 6 to the body base 2. The second holder end 8 is connected onto the tubular lateral wall 3 to secure the elongated holder 6 to the tubular lateral wall 3. Thus, the elongated holder 6 is connected in between the tubular lateral wall 3 and the body base 2 so that the infuser is restrained against the inner bottom edge of the drinkware body 1. In one embodiment, the first holder end 7 may be connected onto the tubular lateral wall 3, diametrically opposed to the second holder end 8 about the inner surface of the tubular lateral wall 3, so that the elongated holder 6 is only connected to the tubular lateral wall 3. Further, the elongated holder 6 is preferably positioned 1.5 centimeters (cm) from the first open end 4 but may be positioned at any height along the tubular lateral wall 3 depending on the size of the drinkware body 1. In another embodiment, the elongated holder 6 may further comprise a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member can be positioned parallel to each other to form a symmetrical structure of the elongated holder 6.
To facilitate the insertion of the infuser through the elongated holder 6, the elongated holder 6 may be an arc-shaped body 9. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arc-shaped body 9 enables the insertion of the infuser through the elongated holder 6 as well as the easy removal of the infuser after the consumption of the infused drink. Further, the arc-shaped body 9 facilitates the insertion of soft infusers such as tea or coffee bags or other ingredients such as garnishes. The elongated holder 6 may further comprise a convex surface 10 and a concave surface 11 due to the arc-shaped body 9. Further, the concave surface 11 is oriented towards the body base 2 while the convex surface 10 is oriented away from the body base 2. Thus, the arc-shaped body 9 and the base body 2 are positioned to each other in such a way that the infuser can be easily inserted through and removed from the elongated holder 6. In other embodiments, the elongated holder 6 may be shaped differently to receive different infusers or ingredients.
The present invention can provide different means to facilitate the attachment of the infuser or other ingredients to the elongated holder 6. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 8, 10, and 11, the present invention may further comprise at least one eyelet 12 that can be used to receive the infuser or other features commonly provided infusers such as the string of a tea bag. The at least one eyelet 12 also enables the user to insert garnishes such as mint leaves through the elongated holder 6 to restrain all ingredients in the bottom of the drinkware body 1. The at least one eyelet 12 laterally traverses through the elongated holder 6, which enables the user to insert the infuser or part of the infuser through the at least one eyelet 12. Alternatively, the at least one eyelet 12 can be used to support utensils such as a straw or to hold multiple ingredients. In other embodiments, the at least one eyelet 12 may be replaced with other fastening means such as a hook integrated into the elongated holder 6.
In addition, multiple eyelets can be provided so that user has more options to insert multiple infusers or ingredients. As can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3, the at least one eyelet 12 may be a plurality of eyelets 13 that enable multiple ingredients to be retained by the elongated holder 6 using the plurality of eyelets 13. Each of the plurality of eyelets 13 is preferably a circular hole, but other shapes may be utilized as well. Further, the plurality of eyelets 13 is distributed along the elongated holder 6 so that the structural integrity of the elongated holder 6 is not compromised. In other embodiments, the plurality of eyelets 13 may be distributed in a non-symmetric manner to match unique designs of the drinkware body 1.
Furthermore, the at least one eyelet 12 may have non-circular shapes. As can be seen in FIGS. 12, 14, and 15, the at least one eyelet 12 may be a single oblong hole 14 to accommodate larger features to be inserted through the at least one eyelet 12. The at least one eyelet 12 is also centrally positioned along the elongated holder 6 to not compromise the structural strength of the elongated holder 6. In other embodiments, the at least one eyelet 12 may have other irregular shapes.
To facilitate the consumption of the infused drink, the present invention may further comprise a handle 15. As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 9, and 13, the handle 15 facilitates the safe handling of the drinkware body 1, especially when the drinkware body 1 is filled with hot liquids. The handle 15 is externally positioned to the drinkware body 1 so that the user can grab the drinkware body 1 from the handle 15 without directly touching the drinkware body 1. In addition, the handle 15 is connected onto the tubular lateral wall 3 to secure the handle 15 to the drinkware body 1. In other embodiments, the present invention may include other features that facilitate the consumption of the infused drink, such as a lid or a straw.
The present invention may be used by first inserting an infuser like a tea bag and other ingredients into the drinkware body 1 through the second open end 5. Then, the tea bag and the other ingredients are tucked under the elongated holder 6 or inserted through the at least one eyelet 12, as can be seen in FIG. 1 through 3. The user may then pour hot water or other liquid into the drinkware body 1 to steep the contents of the tea bag as well as the other ingredients. The user may also choose to add sweeteners, milk, or other consumables to the drink to enhance the beverage and experience. Then, the user can leave the tea bag and other ingredients restrained by the elongated holder 6 while consuming the drink. Alternatively, the user can remove the tea bag and other ingredients from the elongated holder 6 using a utensil before consuming the drink if desired.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A drinkware with integrated infuser holder comprising:

a drinkware body;

an elongated holder;

the drinkware body comprising a body base and a tubular lateral wall;

the tubular lateral wall comprising a first open end and a second open end;

the first open end and the second open end being positioned opposite to each other along the tubular lateral wall;

the first open end being perimetrically connected around the body base;

the elongated holder being mounted within the drinkware body;

the elongated holder being positioned adjacent to the first open end; and,

the elongated holder being positioned offset from the second open end.

2. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the elongated holder comprising a first holder end and a second holder end;

the first holder end being positioned opposite to the second holder end along the elongated holder;

the first holder end being connected onto the body base; and,

the second holder end being connected onto the tubular lateral wall.

3. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the elongated holder being an arc-shaped body;

the elongated holder further comprises a convex surface and a concave surface;

the concave surface being oriented towards the body base; and,

the convex surface being oriented away from the body base.

4. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

at least one eyelet; and,

the at least one eyelet laterally traversing through the elongated holder.

5. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 4 comprising:

the at least one eyelet being a plurality of eyelets;

each of the plurality of eyelets being a circular hole; and,

the plurality of eyelets being distributed along the elongated holder.

6. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 4 comprising:

the at least one eyelet being a single oblong hole; and,

the at least one eyelet being centrally positioned along the elongated holder.

7. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a handle;

the handle being externally positioned to the drinkware body; and,

the handle being connected onto the tubular lateral wall.

8. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drinkware body and the elongated holder are made of ceramic.

9. A drinkware with integrated infuser holder comprising:

a drinkware body;

an elongated holder;

the drinkware body comprising a body base and a tubular lateral wall;

the tubular lateral wall comprising a first open end and a second open end;

the elongated holder comprising a first holder end and a second holder end;

the first open end being perimetrically connected around the body base;

the elongated holder being mounted within the drinkware body;

the elongated holder being positioned adjacent to the first open end;

the elongated holder being positioned offset from the second open end;

the first holder end being connected onto the body base; and,

the second holder end being connected onto the tubular lateral wall.

10. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 9 comprising:

the elongated holder being an arc-shaped body;

the elongated holder further comprises a convex surface and a concave surface;

the concave surface being oriented towards the body base; and,

the convex surface being oriented away from the body base.

11. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 9 comprising:

at least one eyelet; and,

the at least one eyelet laterally traversing through the elongated holder.

12. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 11 comprising:

the at least one eyelet being a plurality of eyelets;

each of the plurality of eyelets being a circular hole; and,

the plurality of eyelets being distributed along the elongated holder.

13. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 11 comprising:

the at least one eyelet being a single oblong hole; and,

the at least one eyelet being centrally positioned along the elongated holder.

14. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 9 comprising:

a handle;

the handle being externally positioned to the drinkware body; and,

the handle being connected onto the tubular lateral wall.

15. The drinkware with integrated infuser holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein the drinkware body and the elongated holder are made of ceramic.