Method and apparatus for collecting liquid and extracting tea essence from a tea bag

• US 7,152,520 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Thermoelectric Consortium
• Original Assignee: United States Thermoelectric Consortium
• Inventors: Kerner, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, REGINALD
• Application Number:
  US10/943,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20050120884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 100/135, 100/113, 100/116, 100/213, 100/266, 100/133, 100/211, 100/245, 100/134, 100/131, 993/23, 994/95, 992/79, 994/96, 210/248, 426/80, 426/82, 426/77
• US Class Current: 99/323
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/12 Vessels or pots for table use
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 21/106 Tea bag squeezers

Abstract

A tea bag press and container assembly configured for receiving a tea bag during or after brewing, which conceals the wet tea bag, collects dripping liquid, and extracts tea liquid essence by efficiently compressing the wet tea bag vertically or sidewardly. In a vertical compression embodiment, a lid has an integral press element that compresses the tea bag against a tea bag support means in the bottom of the container upon applying pressure to the lid. In a sideward compression embodiment, a flexible container retains the tea bag during sideward compression, such as between the thumb and fingers, for releasing tea liquid from the bag. The tea bag press-container assembly is designed to reduce staining and mess on saucers, tables and fabric caused by a dripping tea bag and provides efficient extraction and pouring of tea liquid into an existing beverage, or the brewing of an additional beverage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting and extracting tea liquid from a tea bag comprising:

an outer container having an opening on top for receiving the tea bag, vertical walls terminating in a rim, and a bottom; and

an inner container having an opening on top for receiving the tea bag, vertical walls terminating in a rim, and a bottom coupled to the bottom of the outer container;

wherein the bottom of the inner container or lower wall portions of the vertical walls of the inner container are porous for draining the tea liquid from the inner container into the outer container;

wherein the tea liquid is drained from the tea bag retained in the inner container, into the outer container, in response to a compression force applied to a portion of the vertical walls of the outer container.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the walls of the outer container are formed to provide the rim of the outer container with a generally rectangular shape.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the walls of the inner container are formed to provide the rim of the inner container with a generally rectangular shape.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a spout positioned at a location in association with the rim of the outer container and configured for pouring the tea liquid from the outer container by tilting the apparatus.

5. An apparatus for collecting and extracting tea liquid from a tea bag comprising:

an outer container having an opening on top for receiving the tea bag, vertical walls terminating in a rim, and a bottom; and

an inner container having an opening on top for receiving the tea bag, vertical walls terminating in a rim, and a bottom coupled to the bottom of the outer container;

wherein the bottom of the inner container or lower wall portions of the vertical walls of the inner container are porous for draining the tea liquid from the inner container into the outer container;

wherein the tea liquid is drained from the tea bag retained in the inner container, into the outer container, in response to a compression force applied to a portion of the vertical walls of the outer container;

wherein the bottom of the inner container comprises a portion of the bottom of the outer container.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein the inner container is configured for compression of the tea bag positioned in the inner container when the outer container is squeezed against the inner container.

7. An apparatus for collecting liquid from a tea bag after steeping said tea bag in the apparatus, comprising:

a container having an opening on top for receiving said tea bag;

said container having generally vertical walls terminating in a rim, said container having a bottom;

a spout positioned on said container and configured to provide a path through which liquids are capable of being displaced from said container in response to tilting of said container;

a lid adapted to an entire top opening, or a majority of said top opening, of said container,

supporting means for supporting said tea bag configured to allow said liquid from said tea bag to drain to said bottom of said container; and

compressing means for compressing said bag positioned on said supporting means toward increasing an amount of said liquid to be drained from said tea bag to said bottom of said container;

wherein said compressing means comprises a protruding portion of said lid which is directed to an interior region of said container upon placing said lid on said container;

wherein said protruding portion of said lid is configured to compress said a tea bag between said protruding portion and said supporting means;

wherein said protruding portion is further configured to substantially fit within said interior region of said container;

wherein said protruding portion is further configured to be a porous structure.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7:

wherein said supporting means comprises one or more structures extending up from said bottom of said container; and

wherein a liquid containment reservoir is at least partly defined between said top of said one or more structures and said bottom of said container.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein an upper portion of said one or more structures are configured for draining said liquid from said tea bag being retained on said supporting means in response to gravity, or a compressive force, applied to said tea bag.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said one or more structures comprise a plurality of raised bosses extending from said bottom of said container.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said one or more structures are configured for retention of said tea bag at a distance from said bottom of said container.

12. An apparatus for extracting and collecting tea liquid from a tea bag comprising:

a container for receiving said tea bag, said container having generally vertical walls terminating in a rim, said container having a bottom;

said walls of said container comprising a flexible material;

wherein said tea bag is retainable in said container for being compressed in response to a first compression force applied to first respective portions of said vertical walls of said container;

wherein an amount of said tea liquid is drained from said tea bag and into said container, said amount of said tea liquid being increased in response to a second compression force applied to second respective portions of said vertical walls of said container;

wherein said container is adapted to retain said tea liquid extracted from said tea bag responsive to application of said second compression force;

wherein said vertical walls comprise first and second side walls and first and second end walls;

wherein said first and second side walls are longer than said first and second end walls;

wherein said rim has a first position and a second position;

wherein said first position of said rim generally defines an oval opening;

wherein said second position of said rim generally defines a circular opening;

wherein said rim moves from said first position to said second position when said first compression force is applied to said first and second end walls; and

wherein said second position of said rim is adapted to receive said tea bag in said container; and

a plurality of vertical ribs positioned on said first and second side walls and extending to said bottom of said container.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a spout positioned along a first end wall of said first and second end walls; and

a gripping region positioned on said first and second side walls.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

one or more structures extending up from said bottom of said container;

wherein said tea bag retained in said container including being on a top portion of said one or more structures is compressed in response to said second compression force applied to said first and second side walls of said container.

15. A method for extracting tea liquid from a tea bag comprising:

providing a flexible container for receiving and compressing said tea bag, said flexible container having an inner container and an outer container, said outer container connected to said inner container to allow for passage of said tea liguid from said inner container to said outer container;

placing said tea bag in said inner container;

compressing said outer container to cause compression of said inner container to cause the tea liguid to be extracted in part form said tea bag, and in response to said compression said tea liquid flows from said tea bag, into said inner container, and further into said outer container; and

wherein said tea liquid is capable of being poured from said outer container.

16. A method for extracting tea liquid from a tea bag comprising:

providing a flexible container for receiving and compressing said tea bag, said flexible container having first and second side walls, first and second end walls shorter than said first and second side wallls, and a continuous rim;

compressing said first and second end walls to move said rim from a generally oval cross section to a generally circular cross section;

placing said tea bag in said container when said rim has said generally circular cross section;

compressing said first and second side walls to cause compression of said tea bag, and in response to compression of said tea bag said tea liquid flows from said tea bag, and is retained in said container; and

wherein said tea liquid is capable of being poured from said container and over said rim.