Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/18—Apparatus in which ground coffee or tea-leaves are immersed in the hot liquid in the beverage container
  • A47J31/20—Apparatus in which ground coffee or tea-leaves are immersed in the hot liquid in the beverage container having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
• • 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
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F31/00—Mixers with shaking, oscillating, or vibrating mechanisms
  • B01F31/80—Mixing by means of high-frequency vibrations above one kHz, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations
  • B01F31/85—Mixing by means of high-frequency vibrations above one kHz, e.g. ultrasonic vibrations with a vibrating element inside the receptacle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G2200/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A47G
  • A47G2200/20—Vibration
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G2400/00—Details not otherwise provided for in A47G19/00-A47G23/16
  • A47G2400/04—Influencing taste or nutritional properties
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/002—Apparatus for making beverages following a specific operational sequence, e.g. for improving the taste of the extraction product
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/005—Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
  • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
  • A47J31/06—Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F2101/00—Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field
  • B01F2101/06—Mixing of food ingredients
  • B01F2101/14—Mixing of ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages; Dissolving sugar in water

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to tea brewing apparatus and more specifically to portable handheld tea infusion enhancing device.
• a portable handheld tea infusion device which may be inserted into a teacup containing a teabag or tea leaves to enhance infusion.
• the device comprises an elongate body having a proximal stem portion and a distal watertight infusion head for submersion within a teacup having loose or bagged tea leaves therein.
• the device has a battery powering a vibration generating transducer within the infusion head which generates vibrations which emanate from the infusion head to enhance infusion of the tea leaves in the water in use.
• the transducer is an ultrasonic transducer vibrating in excess of 20 kHz and which induces microcavitations within the water.
• the device may comprise ergonomic user controls comprising one or more control dials and/or a pushbutton to control the operation of the device.
• the device may comprise a controller which controls the operation of the transducer according to the type of tea being brewed. Furthermore, the device may comprise a thermometer within the infusion head used to determine if the water temperatures is within an ideal brewing range, including that which may be retrieved by the controller according to a type of tea setting. The controller may further control the operation of the transducer according to sensed temperature.
• the device may comprise a tea basket attachment within which the infusion head inserts for infusing loose tea leaves.
• the device comprises a rotor which rotates the infusion head so that the infusion head can infuse tea both by inducing vibrations and stirring.
• the body may engage the tea basket so that the infusion head can rotate within the tea basket.
• Figure 1 shows a side elevation view of a tea infusion enhancing device in accordance with an embodiment
• Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the device
• Figure 3 shows an exploded representation of a tea basket for engaging an infusion head of the device in accordance with an embodiment
• Figure 4 shows a magnified view of a proximal end of the device
• Figure 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the tea basket engaged to the infusion head of the device
• Figure 6 illustrates the utilisation of the device for infusing tea in a teacup
• Figure 7 shows a functional schematic of the device in accordance with an embodiment
• Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the tea infusion enhancing device comprising a rotary infusion head in accordance with an embodiment.
• a portable handheld tea infusion enhancing device 100 comprises an elongate body 101 for insertion into a teacup 102 in use as shown in Figure 6.
• the body 101 has a proximal stem 103 and a distal infusion head 104.
• the infusion head 104 is submerged within water having tea leaves therein within the teacup 102 in use.
• the infusion head 104 comprises a vibration generating transducer 105 powered by a battery 108.
• the transducer 105 generates vibrations which emanate from the surface of the infusion head 104 which agitates the water to enhance infusion of the tea leaves within the teacup 102.
• a user may pour hot water into the teacup 102 comprising bagged or loose tea leaves therein. Thereafter, the infusion head 104 of the device 100 may be inserted into the water as shown in Figure 6 and operated to generate the vibrations to enhance infusion of the tea leaves. The device 100 may cease operation of the transducer 105 and/or provide an indication such as an audible sound upon completion of infusion.
• the transducer 105 may comprises an electric motor 106 turning an eccentric drive 107 to vibrate the infusion head 104.
• the transducer 105 is an ultrasonic transducer generating vibrations in excess of 20 kHz.
• the transducer 105 preferably generates vibrations optimised in frequency and/or amplitude to induce microcavitations within the water of the teacup 102.
• the transducer 105 may comprises a solid-state piezoelectric oscillator.
• the stem 103 may comprise the battery 108 therealong.
• the battery 108 therealong.
• the device 100 further comprises recharging circuitry 109 therefor.
• the body 101 is entirely watertight and the recharging circuitry
• the device 100 may comprise exposed electrical contacts 134.
• the exposed electrical contacts 134 may magnetically attract a corresponding electric connector.
• the stem 103 may further comprise electric control circuitry 1 10 which may include a controller 1 11.
• the controller 1 1 1 may comprise a processor 112 for processing digital data.
• the memory device 1 14 stores digital data including computer program code instructions which may be logically divided into various computer program code modules 115.
• the processor 112 fetches these computer program code instructions and associated data for interpretation and execution for controlling the operation of the device 100 in the manner described herein.
• the data stored within the memory device 1 14 may comprise various operational settings, including those used by the controller 1 11 for controlling the operation of the transducer 105.
• the controller 11 1 may further comprise an I/O interface 1 16 for interfacing with the various componentry of the device 100.
• the I/O interface 116 may comprise digital or analogue to digital inputs and outputs.
• the I/O interface 116 may communicate with a mobile communication device via a short-range Bluetooth wireless interface.
• the mobile communication device may execute a software application thereon.
• the software application may be configured for controlling the operation of the device 100 and obtaining sensor data information therefrom.
• the device 100 may comprise user controls 117 for controlling the operation of the device 100.
• the user controls 117 may control the operation of the transducer 105 and/or the operational duration thereof.
• the user controls 117 may further control the frequency and/or amplitude of vibrations generated by the transducer 105.
• the user controls 117 may comprise at least one control dial 118 which rotates with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body 101.
• the user controls 117 may comprise a first control dial 118A rotatable to set the operational duration of the transducer 105, such as in one-minute increments.
• the control dials 118 may further comprise a further control dial 118B controlling and operational mode of the device 100. Depending on the operational mode, the controller 111 may control at least one of the amplitude and frequency of vibrations generated by the transducer 105.
• the further control dial 118B may be set to indicate the type of tea being infused.
• the user controls 117 may further comprise an operational pushbutton 119. Activation of the operational pushbutton 119 may cause the controller 111 to operate the device 100 in accordance with the settings set by the control dials 118.
• the operational pushbutton 119 may locate on an end of the body 101. Furthermore, the at least one control dial 118 may surround the operational pushbutton 119.
• the user controls 117 may further comprise an indicator 120.
• the indicator 120 may surround the operational pushbutton 119 and may comprise at least one LED which illuminates between the operational pushbutton 119 and the control dial 118.
• the indicator may comprise a plurality of different colour LEDs which indicates operational status and/or a sensor reading using different colours.
• the colour displayed by the indicator 120 may represent the operational time period progression according to the operational time period set by the operational time period control dial 118A. For example, as the operation of the device 100 progresses, the colour may change from blue to orange to red.
• the infusion head 104 may comprise a sensor 121.
• the sensor 121 may be a thermometer which senses the temperature of the water within the teacup 102.
• the indicator 120 may indicate the temperature of the water within the teacup 102.
• the controller 111 may be configured with a plurality of temperature bands and the indicator 120 may display a different colour depending on the relevant temperature band of temperature sensed by the thermometer. For example, the indicator 120 may show red to indicate that the water temperature is too hot, orange to represent that the temperature is within an ideal brewing temperature range and blue to represent that the water is too cold.
• the controller 111 may be configured depending on the type of tea (such as by rotating the control dial 118B) and wherein the controller 111 retrieves the ideal temperature band from the memory device 114 according to the type of tea.
• the memory 114 may be configured with a brewing range of 65 - 70°C for white tea, 75 - 80°C for green tea, 80 - 85°C for Oolong tea or 100° for black tea.
• the controller 111 may control the operational duration of the transducer 105 depending on the type of tea.
• the memory 114 may configured with a brewing time of between 1 - 2 minutes for white tea, 1 - 2 minutes for green tea, 2 - 3 minutes for Oolong tea and 2 - 3 minutes for black tea.
• the controller 111 may cease operation of the transducer 105 and/or output an indication (such as by the indicator 120 or via an audible output device) that the duration is complete.
• the controller 111 is configured to only operate the transducer 105 when detecting elevated temperature within the teacup 102 or detecting when the temperature is within the ideal brewing temperature range. In a yet further embodiment, the controller 111 may automatically operate the transducer 105 when the sensed temperature exceeds a threshold or is within the ideal brewing temperature range.
• the device 100 may generate an exception warning, either by controlling the colour of the indicator 120 (such as blue for water which is too cold or red for water which is too hot) or emitting an audible sound.
• the controller 1 11 may automatically commence operation of the transducer 105.
• the controller 11 1 may adjust an operational time period of the transducer 105 and/or the frequency and/or amplitude of vibrations generated by the transducer 105 according to sensed temperature. For example, for hotter water, the controller 11 1 may reduce the operational time period as opposed to when detecting cooler water, thereby obtaining infusion consistency. Furthermore, for hot water, the controller 11 1 may reduce the frequency and/or amplitude of vibrations generated by the transducer 105.
• the sensor 121 may additionally or alternatively sense the presence of fluid.
• the controller 11 1 may be configured for only operating the transducer 105 when sensing water or alternatively automatically operating the transducer 105 when sensing water.
• the sensor may comprise exposed electrical contacts which sense the presence of fluid using conductivity.
• the device 100 may comprise a vibration decoupling 122 isolating vibration from the transducer 105 from the stem 103.
• the vibration decoupling 122 may prevent rattling of the stem 103 against the rim of the teacup when the stem 103 lies against the rim as shown in Figure 6.
• the stem 103 may comprise an exterior soft sheath such as rubber or silicon, cushioning vibratory contact with a rim of the teacup when the stem 103 lies against the rim as shown in Figure 6.
• an exterior soft sheath such as rubber or silicon
• the device 100 may further comprise a clip 123 extending from a side of the body 101 , above the infusion head 104 and approximately midway along the length of the body 101.
• the clip 123 may be generally circular and have an opening 124 orientated towards a distal end of the body 101 and slightly away from the body 101 .
• the rim of the teacup 102 may insert through the opening 124 when the body 103 lies at an angle against the rim of the teacup 102.
• a teabag string may be wrapped around the clip 123.
• the clip 123 may comprise a longer arm 135 and a short arm 136 defining the opening 124 between adjacent distal ends thereof. With reference to Figure 6, the short on 136 may bear against an edge of the teacup 102, thereby holding the device 100 at an appropriate angle.
• the device 100 may further comprise a tea basket 125 defining an interior for holding loose tea leaves 126 therein.
• the basket 125 may comprise perforations 127 therethrough and a port 128 through which the infusion head 104 is engaged.
• the basket 125 may be openable in comprising a top portion 129 separable from a lower portion 130.
• the lower portion 130 may comprise the perforations 127 and the upper portion 129 may comprise the port 128.
• the port 128 may comprise an interference extending therein which runs along a longitudinal axis channel 131 of the infusion head 104.
• the longitudinal axis channel 131 may deviate substantially orthogonally to form a locking channel 132 within which the interference rotatably locks, thereby holding the infusion head 104 within the port 128.
• the user controls 117 may be configured in accordance with an operational mode depending on whether the device 100 is used with a teabag as shown in Figure 1 or with loose tea leaves and the tea basket 125 as shown in Figure 5. According to each selected mode of operation, the controller 11 1 may adjust the operation of the transducer accordingly.
• the body 101 may comprise a sensor, such as a watertight electromechanical switch or the like, which may detect the attachment of the tea basket 125.
• the device 100 comprises a rotor 133 operable between the stem 103 and the infusion head 104 which rotates the infusion head 104 with respect to the stem 103 to further enhance infusion by stirring.
• the rotary infusion head 104 in accordance with this embodiment may comprise exterior surface protuberances 137 which stir the water as the rotary infusion head 104 rotates.
• the protuberances 137 may be elongate along a longitudinal axis of the body 101.
• the rotary infusion head 104 may comprise a smooth rounded distal end 138 which is preferably hemispherical. As such, the smooth rounded distal end 138 may lie against the bottom of the teacup 102 whilst the infusion head 104 rotates without moving the device 100 with respect to the tea cup 102.
• the rotary infusion head 104 in accordance with this embodiment may comprise a diameter so that the infusion head 104 may yet insert within the aforedescribed tea basket 125. As such, within this embodiment, the rotary infusion head 104 may enhance infusion of the tea leaves 126 within the tea basket 125 both by inducing vibrations within the water and by stirring.
• the rotary infusion head 104 may be engaged by the body 101 so that the infusion head 104 may rotate within the tea basket 125. As shown in Figure 8, the aforedescribed longitudinal axis channel 131 may commence above the rotary infusion head 104.
• the device 100 may comprise a lid 139 for covering the rotary infusion head 104.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Apparatus For Making Beverages (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=78708816

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Citations (6)

• 2021
  • 2021-05-20 CN CN202180046683.2A patent/CN115776855A/zh active Pending
  • 2021-05-20 WO PCT/AU2021/050471 patent/WO2021232101A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2021-05-20 JP JP2022570740A patent/JP2023526489A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

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