WO2014140418A1

WO2014140418A1 - Infuser

Info

Publication number: WO2014140418A1
Application number: PCT/FI2014/050139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juhani Sirén
Original assignee: Magisso Oy
Priority date: 2013-03-12
Filing date: 2014-02-24
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: FI124396B; FI20135236A

Abstract

The object of the invention is an infuser (1), especially a tea infuser, comprising an opening and closing perforated (11c, 14) container (10) consisting of a first half (11) and a second half (13), into which the substance to be infused, especially tea, may be placed. In the upper part of the first half (11) is arranged an elongated holder part (20). At one end of the holder part (20) is arranged a suction pad (30) provided with a first magnet (31) for attaching the infuser (1) to the infusion dish. The first half (11) is provided with a second magnet (12), whereby the first half (11) and the suction pad (30) are detachably attached to one another by the attractive force between the first magnet (31) and the second magnet (12).

Description

Infuser

The object of the invention is an infuser, especially a tea infuser, comprising an opening and closing perforated container consisting of a first half and a second half, into which the substance to be infused, especially tea, may be placed, in the upper part of which first half is arranged an elongated holder part.

Previously are known infusers of the above type, especially tea infusers, where the container is formed of two perforated halves. The container is typically made of metal, but there are also containers made of plastic on the market. In connection with the first half is arranged a holder part which may be a lengthy chain. At the end of the chain is a hook from which the container, with the substance to be infused inside, can be placed to hang on the edge of a kettle (for example for heating water). The container with the substance then hangs under water during infusion. On the market, this type of product is generally known as a 'tea ball".

There are also other versions, so-called tea tongs, where the holder part forms a handle with which the container can be supported and opened by means of the mechanism between the handle and the container.

The problem with known infusers is their handling in connection with infusion. Especially the removal of the container from the hot water in the kettle and its handling, for example draining, require precision and care to prevent the hot container made of metal from burning one's hands.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, the above- mentioned disadvantages concerning the handling of the infuser.

The foregoing aim of the invention is achieved in accordance with the invention in such a way that at one end of the holder part is arranged a suction pad provided with a first magnet for attaching the infuser to the infusion dish, and that the first half is provided with a second magnet, whereby the first half and the suction pad can be detachably attached to one another by the attractive force between the first magnet and the second magnet. In this way, a container hanging from the lid of a kettle or the like by a suction pad can be lifted from the hot water without touching it by hand and without a risk of sustaining burns. Furthermore, by means of magnets, the container can be placed into contact with the suction pad on the lid. In this case, the water in the container and the substances to be infused that have dissolved in it drain into the water in the kettle while the lid is on.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an infuser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 shows a rear view of the infuser of Figure 1.

Figures 1 and 2 thus show an infuser according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is marked with reference numeral 1. Here, the infuser 1 is one intended especially for infusing tea. The infuser comprises a container, a holder part and a suction pad, of which are in the following disclosed more specific structural descriptions, however, without being limited to these. Here, the tea infuser 1 comprises a container 10 which consists of two

hemispherical halves, a first half 11 and a second half 13. The container 10 can be opened and closed. It is made in such a way that the halves 11 and 13 are detachable from one another and the substance to be infused, especially tea, can be placed in the space 15 defined by them. The halves 11 and 13 can be detached from one another completely or the halves are provided with a hinge (not shown) in a manner known as such. The material of the first half 11 is preferably heat- resistant silicone, but it may also be some other similar plastic composition. The second half 13 is preferably of stainless steel, or of silicone or some other plastic composition like the first part 11. The halves 11 and 13 are provided with perforations 11c and 14. Their purpose is to allow, in a manner known as such, the infusion liquid (hot water) to enter the container and to exit with ingredients released by the substance being infused, such as tea.

In the upper part of the first half 11 is arranged a holder part marked with reference numeral 20. The holder part 20 is preferably a flat elongated part, which is of flexible material at least in its longitudinal direction. This material is preferably silicone. It is also conceivable that the holder part 20 is for the most part rigid from the ends towards the centre in its longitudinal direction. In this case, the material thickness or material of the holder part 20 has been changed at an appropriate point in such a way that the holder part 20 is able to bend at this point. This appropriate point is preferably within the centremost third of the holder part 20 in the longitudinal direction. The purpose of the bending is to allow the container 10 and the suction pad 30 arranged at the ends of the holder part 20 to be brought into contact with one another in the manner described below.

To one end of the holder part 20 is arranged a suction pad marked with reference numeral 30. The suction pad 30 is made of heat-resistant elastic silicone or similar material used in suction pads. By means of the suction pad 30, the infuser 1 can be attached by its front-side suction part 30c to the infusion dish (not shown), preferably on the lower surface of the lid of the infusion dish. The infuser 1 container 10 then hangs by means of the holder part 20 in the infusion liquid inside the infusion dish. As the length of the holder part 20 can be selected a length suitable for the height of the kettle, the length typically being 5 to 15 centimetres. The suction pad 30 of the infuser 1 according to the invention is provided with a first magnet 31. The first magnet 31 is preferably arranged inside the body 30a of the suction pad 31. This is achieved in such a way that in the body 30a is made an opening, a recess or the like, in which the first magnet 31 is embedded. For this purpose, the body 30a must be sufficiently thick at the magnet 31 for an opening, . recess or the like to be formed. The point of embedding is made neat by means of a covering which is preferably of the same material as the suction pad 30.

In addition to this, the first half 11 of the container 10 is provided with a second magnet 12. Also the second magnet 12 is preferably arranged inside the body 11a of the first half 11. For this purpose, an opening, a recess or the like is made in the body 11a, in which the second magnet 12 is embedded. Also for this embedding, the thickness of the body 11a of the first half 11 is made at least at the second magnet 12 to be such that an opening, a recess or the like can be made. The point of embedding is preferably covered with a covering lib which covers and protects the end of the second magnet 12, the covering preferably being of the same material as the first half 11.

The protective coverings 30b and lib are relatively thin in thickness, preferably about 0.2-1 millimetres. Thus, the distance formed by their thickness between the magnets does not reduce the attractive force between the first magnet 31 and the second magnet 12 excessively, when the first half 11 and the suction pad 30 are brought into contact with one another in accordance with the invention by the attractive force between the first magnet 31 and the second magnet 12. The first half 11 can be lifted, for example, with a spoon guided by the holder part 20 into connection with the suction pad 30. The first half 11 will then turn with respect to the suction pad 30 in such a way that the first magnet 31 and the second magnet 12 turn, as indicated by arrow A in Figure 1, adjacently towards one another, whereby the suction pad 30 and the first half 11 (and thus the entire container 10) are attached detachably to one another. This can be done while the infuser 1 is attached, for example, to the lid of the infusion dish by means of a suction pad 30. In this case, the infusion liquid can be left to drain from the container into the infusion liquid while the lid is closed. In addition to this, no separate dish/base is required for placing the hot infuser 1 and the hot substance to be infused inside it temporarily aside before cooling or reuse.

The present invention is not limited only to the embodiment disclosed, and it may be applied in many ways within the scope of protection determined by the claims. For example, the holder part 20 may be chain-like or the holes 11c and 14 of the container may be sieve-like openings.

Claims

1. An infuser (1), especially a tea infuser, comprising an opening and closing perforated (11c, 14) container (10) consisting of a first half (11) and a second half (13), into which the substance to be infused, especially tea, may be placed, in the upper part of which first half (11) is arranged an elongated holder part (20), characterised in that at one end of the holder part (20) is arranged a suction pad (30) provided with a first magnet (31) for attaching the infuser (1) to the infusion dish, and that the first half (11) is provided with a second magnet (12), whereby the first half (11) and the suction pad (30) can be detachably attached to one another by the attractive force between the first magnet (31) and the second magnet (12).

2. An infuser (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first magnet (31) is fitted inside the body (30a) of the suction pad (30).

3. An infuser (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second magnet (12) is fitted inside the body (11a) of the first half (11).

4. An infuser (1) as claimed in any of the above claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first half (11), the holder part (20) and/or the suction pad (30) are of heat- resistant silicone, plastic or other similar plastic composition.

5. An infuser (1) as claimed in any of the above claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the first magnet (31) is arranged in an opening, a recess or the like made in the body (30a) of the suction pad (30), and that the opening, recess or the like is covered with a covering (lib).

6. An infuser (1) as claimed in any of the above claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the second magnet (12) is arranged in an opening, a recess or the like made in the body (11a) of the first half (11), and that the opening, recess or the like is covered with a covering (lib).