Disposable combined squeezer/stirrer/dispenser/brewer device

• US 20050263006A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pamela Saha
• Original Assignee: Pamela Saha
• Inventors: Saha, Pamela
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/16 Tea infusers, e.g. infusing bags, egg-shaped infuses for using only once, e.g. made of paper, B65B, B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/183 with means for changing the flavour of the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 19/005 Hand devices for straining foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/005 Portable or compact beverage making apparatus, e.g. for travelling, for use in automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/02 Coffee-making machines with removable extraction cups, to be placed on top of drinking-vessels i.e. coffee-makers with removable brewing vessels, to be placed on top of beverage containers, into which hot water is poured, e.g. cafe filter filters A47J31/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/06 Filters or strainers for coffee or tea makers ; Holders therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/0615 with special arrangements for making tea or the like, e.g. where the infusion liquid is kept a certain time in the filter before flowing out
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/20 having immersible, e.g. rotatable, filters
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/27 for mixing drinks; Hand-held shakers mechanically driven A47J43/042

Abstract

A disposable packaging form is provided for brewed, hot drinks. The invention allows a user to brew the hot drink, squeeze out the brewed contents, and stir the contents of the hot drink. Each action can be performed multiple times before disposal. In some embodiments, the device of the present invention dispenses sweeteners, creamers, flavorings and condiments. The present invention frees the user of the inconvenience of having to collect, wash, or dispose of the stirrers, squeezers and bags of the hot drink individually.

Claims

1. A beverage apparatus comprising:

a rigid rod,

a manipulator near the upper end of the rigid rod,

a porous material with first and second ends, wherein first ends of the material are attached to the manipulator near the upper end of the rigid rod, and wherein the second ends of the material is attached to the rigid rod near a bottom end of the rigid rod,

wherein an enclosure is created between the material and the rigid rod,

wherein pressing downward, pulling upward, or twisting the manipulator squeezes water from the enclosure, and

beverage brewing contents within the enclosure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rigid rod is hollow.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising substances within the rigid rod selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, creamers, flavorings, condiments, herbs, vitamins, minerals, alcohol, medicine, nicotine, legal mind-altering substances, and combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the material is fibers for passing through the manipulator and attaching directly to the rigid rod near the ends of the rigid rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the manipulator is a ring-like structure, and wherein rotating the manipulator in a plane perpendicular to the rigid rod or sliding the manipulators up and down the rigid rod squeezes the contents of the enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second manipulator near the bottom end of the rigid rod fixed to the rigid rod, and wherein the material attaches directly to the second manipulator.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second manipulator near the top end of the rigid rod, and wherein the first and second manipulators extend outward from the rigid rod in opposing directions when in a relaxed position and surround the enclosure, and wherein the first and second manipulators are pushed toward the enclosure for squeezing water out of the enclosure.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the manipulator is attached to the porous material and/or to the rigid rod for allowing horizontal compression.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage apparatus is free standing for reuse.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage brewing contents are loose within the enclosure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beverage brewing contents are contained within a bag within the enclosure.

12. A beverage apparatus comprising:

a rigid rod,

a first manipulator connected to the rigid rod near a top end of the rigid rod,

a second manipulator connected to the rigid rod near a bottom end of the rigid rod,

a porous material between the first manipulator and second manipulator for forming an enclosure,

beverage brewing contents within the enclosure,

wherein twisting, compressing the first manipulator towards the second manipulator or pulling the first manipulator away from the second manipulator expels water from the enclosure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second manipulators are cone shaped, disc shaped or protrusions.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the twisting or compressing is performed by a motor, wrench or a ratchet-like structure.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first manipulator is a top cup-like portion and the second manipulator is a bottom cup-like portion with holes.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising ribbing on the first manipulator, second manipulator and material.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the rigid rod is hollow.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising substances within the rigid rod selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, creamers, flavorings, condiments, herbs, vitamins, minerals, alcohol, medicine, nicotine, legal mind-altering substances, and combinations thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising two or more compartments within the hollow shaft for holding and dispensing the one or more substances.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the rigid rod operates like a syringe to control release of substances.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a small rod with protrusion within the hollow rigid rod, a spring engaging the protrusions, a bottom disc connected to the bottom end of the small rod, wherein a user depresses the small rod for moving the bottom disc away from a hole in the bottom of the rigid rod.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising seals on a top and bottom of the hollow rigid rod wherein the seals are selected from the group consisting of foil seals, seals made from a substance dissolvable in water, seals popped open by pinching pressure, removable caps, removable plugs, and any combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a ballooned out top of the hollow rigid rod, and further comprising a removable base cap for releasing desired substances from the rigid hollow rod.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the enclosure is filled with the beverage brewing contents before inserting the rigid rod through the first manipulator and second manipulator.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the material is batting type or fibrous material lined on both sides by finely porous mesh.

26. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the material is attached to the first and second manipulators by rings for fitting into grooves on the first and second manipulators, sewing, gluing, or stapling.

27. A beverage apparatus comprising:

first and second legs,

a connection at the top of the first and second legs for connecting the first and second legs together,

porous material forming an enclosure, wherein the material is connected to a bottom end of the first manipulator and a bottom end of the second manipulator, and

wherein the material is compressible between the bottom ends of the first manipulator and second manipulator.

28. A package apparatus comprising:

a container,

a cap for closing the container,

a base for holding the container in a vertical position,

a brewing device comprising;

a rigid rod,

a manipulator near the upper end of the rigid rod,

a porous material with first and second ends, wherein first ends of the material are attached to the manipulator near the upper end of the rigid rod, and

wherein the second ends of the material is attached to the rigid rod near a bottom end of the rigid rod,

wherein an enclosure is created between the material and the rigid rod,

wherein pressing downward, pulling upward, or twisting the manipulator squeezes water from the enclosure, and

beverage brewing contents within the enclosure, and

one or more cups within the container.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising one or more napkins and one or more doilies, further comprising substances within the rigid rod selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, creamers, flavorings, condiments, herbs, vitamins, minerals, alcohol, medicine, nicotine, legal mind-altering substances, and combinations thereof, and wherein the brewing device, cups, napkins, doilies, and substances are attached to the container or held within the container.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the cap is a holder for the one or more cups, or modified into a container for substances to be dispensed.

31. A beverage apparatus comprising:

a rigid hollow shaft,

one or more plugs on one or both ends of the rigid hollow shaft,

substances within the rigid hollow shaft selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, creamers, flavorings, condiments, herbs, vitamins, minerals, alcohol, medicine, nicotine, legal mind-altering substances, and combinations thereof,

a means for opening the one or more plugs for dispensing the substances into a beverage.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising one or more horizontal or vertical partitions dividing the rigid hollow shaft into compartments.

33. A beverage apparatus comprising:

a stirrer wherein the stirrer is a rod or a straw,

a bag attached and surrounding the stirrer,

pad like devices attached to or enclosed within the bag wherein the pad like devices are fixed in opposing positions relative to one another,

protrusions, raised or indented surfaces on outer surfaces of the pad like devices,

wherein force applied by a user compresses the pad like devices toward one another for compressing the bag.