WO2012142968A1 - Infuser - Google Patents
Infuser Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2012142968A1 WO2012142968A1 PCT/CN2012/074467 CN2012074467W WO2012142968A1 WO 2012142968 A1 WO2012142968 A1 WO 2012142968A1 CN 2012074467 W CN2012074467 W CN 2012074467W WO 2012142968 A1 WO2012142968 A1 WO 2012142968A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- infuser
- compartment
- buoyant
- perforated
- stem
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
- A47G19/00—Table service
- A47G19/12—Vessels or pots for table use
- A47G19/16—Tea infusers, e.g. infusing bags, egg-shaped infuses
Definitions
- the present invention relates to infusers.
- the invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a tea infuser for infusing tea from tealeaves into hot water in a cup or pot for example.
- Moderntea infusers comprise a stainless steelmesh or perforated canister into which tealeaves are inserted and a separate buoyant part (often decorative) attached to the canister from which the canister is suspended from the water surface in use.
- an infuser comprising: a moulded structure comprising a buoyant compartment and an integral perforated compartmentfor receiving tea leaves or other flavour-containing matter.
- the infuser is formed as two parts wherein each of the two parts comprises a portion of said buoyant compartment and a portion of said perforated compartment.
- the infuser further comprises a partition delimiting the buoyant compartment from the perforated compartment.
- the engagement means extends along the partition.
- the infuser further comprises a ballast weight extending from the perforated compartment.
- the infuser takes the form of a leaf having a stem, and wherein the ballast weight is provided within the stem.
- the stem comprises a cavity within which a ballast weight is received and a plug sealing the cavity.
- the infuser is formed of flexible, resilient plastics material.
- said plastics material is silicone.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an infuser
- Fig. 2 is a schematic elevation of the infuser
- Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the infuser
- Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective illustration of the infuser
- Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective illustration of one portion of the infuser
- Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective illustration of the other portion of the infuser
- Fig. 7 repeats Fig. 2 for convenience alongside the next figure
- Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the infuser taken at VIII-VIII in Fig. 7.
- FIG. 1 there is depicted schematically a moulded plastics infuser 10 typically intended to infuse tea from tealeaves into hot water.
- the infuser comprises a first shell 11 and a second shell 12 which are mutually press-fitted in such manner that the parts can be separated laterally.
- the shells take the appearance of a leaf, but any suitable appearance can be adopted.
- the upper portion of the infuser comprises a buoyant compartment 13, whereas the mid-portion of the infuser comprises a perforated compartment 22 with perforations 14. Separating the buoyant compartment 13 from the perforated compartment 22 is a partition 15.
- an extension 16 in the form of a stem.
- a plug 20 is inserted into the base of the extension/stem 16.
- the buoyant compartment 12 and the perforated compartment 22 include a peripheralpress-fit seal 21.
- This seal extends along the partition 15 to completely seal the buoyant compartment 12.
- the press-fit seal 21 extends around this compartment as well serving purely to holder the two shells 1 1 and 12 of the infuser together.
- an engagement flat 17 against which a bottom edge 18 of the second shell 12 bears when the shells of the infuser are mutually engaged.
- the shells 1 1 and 12 would typically be moulded in a flexible, resilient polymeric plastics material such as silicone so that the parts can deform when the stem is grasped and shifted laterally by the user, whereupon the engagement flat 17 moves away from the edge 18 to enable release of the press-fit seal starting from the bottom. It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.
- the infuser can be used for drinks other than tea.
- a stock cube for example could be inserted into the perforated compartment to make a broth.
Landscapes
- Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)
- Tea And Coffee (AREA)
Abstract
An infuser is formed as a moulded plastics structure and comprises a buoyant compartment and an integral perforated compartment for receiving tea leaves or the like. Tea leaves (or other flavour-containing matter) are inserted into the perforated compartment before the parts are engaged to seal the buoyant compartment. The infuser is then suspended in hot water.
Description
Infuser
Background of the Invention The present invention relates to infusers. The invention more particularly, although not exclusively, relates to a tea infuser for infusing tea from tealeaves into hot water in a cup or pot for example.
Moderntea infusers comprise a stainless steelmesh or perforated canister into which tealeaves are inserted and a separate buoyant part (often decorative) attached to the canister from which the canister is suspended from the water surface in use.
The above type of tea infuser is expensive to manufacture due to cost of the stainless steel and metal work involved.
Objects of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide an improved tea infuser.
Disclosure of the Invention
There is disclosed herein an infuser comprising:
a moulded structure comprising a buoyant compartment and an integral perforated compartmentfor receiving tea leaves or other flavour-containing matter.
Preferably, the infuser is formed as two parts wherein each of the two parts comprises a portion of said buoyant compartment and a portion of said perforated compartment.
Preferably, said two parts are mutually connected by engagement means forming a seal about the buoyant compartment. Preferably, the infuser further comprises a partition delimiting the buoyant compartment from the perforated compartment.
Preferably, the engagement means extends along the partition. Preferably, the infuser further comprises a ballast weight extending from the perforated compartment.
Preferably, the infuser takes the form of a leaf having a stem, and wherein the ballast weight is provided within the stem.
Preferably, the stem comprises a cavity within which a ballast weight is received and a plug sealing the cavity.
Preferably, the infuser is formed of flexible, resilient plastics material.
Preferably, said plastics material is silicone. Brief Description of the Drawings
A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of an infuser;
Fig. 2 is a schematic elevation of the infuser;
Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of the infuser;
Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective illustration of the infuser; Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective illustration of one portion of the infuser; Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective illustration of the other portion of the infuser; Fig. 7 repeats Fig. 2 for convenience alongside the next figure; and
Fig. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the infuser taken at VIII-VIII in Fig. 7.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
In the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a moulded plastics infuser 10 typically intended to infuse tea from tealeaves into hot water. The infuser comprises a first shell 11 and a second shell 12 which are mutually press-fitted in such manner that the parts can be separated laterally. In the preferred embodiment, the shells take the appearance of a leaf, but any suitable appearance can be adopted.
The upper portion of the infuser comprises a buoyant compartment 13, whereas the mid-portion of the infuser comprises a perforated compartment 22 with perforations 14. Separating the buoyant compartment 13 from the perforated compartment 22 is a partition 15.
At the bottom of the infuser 10, there is an extension 16 in the form of a stem. A plug 20 is inserted into the base of the extension/stem 16. Within the extension 16, there is provided a cavity 19 into which a ballast weight can be received, so that when the infuser is placed into water, the buoyant compartment 12 remains uppermost.
As shown in Fig. 8, the buoyant compartment 12 and the perforated compartment 22 include a peripheralpress-fit seal 21. This seal extends along the partition 15 to
completely seal the buoyant compartment 12. Although sealing around the bottom peripheral portion of the perforated compartment 22 is not necessary, the press-fit seal 21 extends around this compartment as well serving purely to holder the two shells 1 1 and 12 of the infuser together.
At the top portion of the extension 16, there is provided an engagement flat 17 against which a bottom edge 18 of the second shell 12 bears when the shells of the infuser are mutually engaged. The shells 1 1 and 12 would typically be moulded in a flexible, resilient polymeric plastics material such as silicone so that the parts can deform when the stem is grasped and shifted laterally by the user, whereupon the engagement flat 17 moves away from the edge 18 to enable release of the press-fit seal starting from the bottom. It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention.
Furthermore, the infuser can be used for drinks other than tea. For example a stock cube for example could be inserted into the perforated compartment to make a broth.
Claims
1. An infuser comprising:
a moulded structure comprising a buoyant compartment and an
integralperforated compartmentfor receiving tea leaves or other flavour-containing matter.
2. The infuser of Claim 1 , formed as two parts wherein each of the two parts comprises a portion of said buoyant compartment and a portion of said perforated compartment.
3. The infuser of Claim 2, wherein said two parts are mutually connected by connection means forming a seal about the buoyant compartment.
4. The infuser of Claim 3, comprising a partition delimiting the buoyant compartment from the perforated compartment.
5. The infuser of Claim 4, wherein the press- fit means extends along the partition.
6. The infuser of Claim 1, comprising a ballast weight extending from the perforated compartment.
7. The infuser of Claim 6 taking the form of a leaf having a stem, and wherein the ballast weight is provided within the stem.
8. The infuser of Claim 7, wherein the stem comprises a cavity within which a ballast weight is received and a plug sealing the cavity.
9. The infuser of Claim 1 being formed of flexible, resilient plastics material.
10. The infuser of Claim 9, wherein said plastics material is silicone.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN201290000433.1U CN203723815U (en) | 2011-04-21 | 2012-04-20 | Soaking and boiling device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
HK11104093A HK1157123A2 (en) | 2011-04-21 | 2011-04-21 | Infuser |
HK11104093.5 | 2011-04-21 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2012142968A1 true WO2012142968A1 (en) | 2012-10-26 |
Family
ID=47041061
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CN2012/074467 WO2012142968A1 (en) | 2011-04-21 | 2012-04-20 | Infuser |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
CN (1) | CN203723815U (en) |
HK (1) | HK1157123A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012142968A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9174795B1 (en) * | 2014-04-17 | 2015-11-03 | Mark Russell Holland | Tea bag pumper infusion apparatus with multi-purpose header attachments and waterproof apparatus handling and disposal container |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105559475A (en) * | 2015-07-27 | 2016-05-11 | 中山市梵凯科技服务有限公司 | Tea making tool |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2642886A1 (en) * | 1976-09-23 | 1978-03-30 | Wmf Wuerttemberg Metallwaren | Oval shaped tea infuser with two shells - has longitudinal division of shells for easier mass production and handling |
CN2097579U (en) * | 1991-06-29 | 1992-03-04 | 孙治环 | Suspended tea net |
CN201171564Y (en) * | 2008-02-26 | 2008-12-31 | 李新杰 | Simple brewing cup |
CN201418616Y (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-03-10 | 石维涛 | Suspension tea set |
-
2011
- 2011-04-21 HK HK11104093A patent/HK1157123A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2012
- 2012-04-20 CN CN201290000433.1U patent/CN203723815U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2012-04-20 WO PCT/CN2012/074467 patent/WO2012142968A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE2642886A1 (en) * | 1976-09-23 | 1978-03-30 | Wmf Wuerttemberg Metallwaren | Oval shaped tea infuser with two shells - has longitudinal division of shells for easier mass production and handling |
CN2097579U (en) * | 1991-06-29 | 1992-03-04 | 孙治环 | Suspended tea net |
CN201171564Y (en) * | 2008-02-26 | 2008-12-31 | 李新杰 | Simple brewing cup |
CN201418616Y (en) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-03-10 | 石维涛 | Suspension tea set |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9174795B1 (en) * | 2014-04-17 | 2015-11-03 | Mark Russell Holland | Tea bag pumper infusion apparatus with multi-purpose header attachments and waterproof apparatus handling and disposal container |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
HK1157123A2 (en) | 2012-06-15 |
CN203723815U (en) | 2014-07-23 |
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