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

• US 20050120884A1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Thermoelectric Consortium
• Original Assignee: United States Thermoelectric Consortium
• Inventors: Kerner, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,152,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/275
• 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 liquid from a wet tea bag, comprising:

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

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

means for supporting said wet tea bag and allowing liquid from a wet tea bag to flow to the bottom of said container.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a spout positioned on said container;

wherein said spout is configured to provide a path through which liquids may be displaced from said container in response to tilting of said container.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lid adapted to cover the entire top opening, or a majority of said top opening, within said container.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising a lid skirt configured to engage an upper portion of said container.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said lid skirt extends generally downward and is configured to fit over the exterior of said container rim when said lid is positioned on said container rim.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising a handle joined to said lid.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

a spout positioned on said container through which container liquid may be directed;

wherein said lid is configured for sealing said top opening while directing liquid through said spout for displacement from said container in response to tilting of said container.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for compressing a tea bag positioned on said supporting means toward increasing the amount of liquid drained from the tea bag to the bottom of said container.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8:

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

wherein said protruding portion of said lid is configured to compress a wet tea bag retained between said protrusion and said supporting means.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said protrusion is further configured to substantially fit within the interior of said container.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

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

wherein a liquid containment reservoir is defined between the top of said extending structures and the bottom of said container.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the upper portion of said extending structures are configured for draining liquid from a tea bag being retained on said means of support in response to gravity, or a compressive force, applied to the tea bag.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said container comprises a non-porous material.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said container is made substantially of a material selected from the group of materials consisting essentially of plastic, recycled plastic, silicone, glass, ceramic, porcelain, wood, treated paper and metal.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said extending structures comprise a plurality of raised bosses extending from the bottom of said container.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said extending structures comprise a porous member configured for retention at a predetermined distance from the bottom of said container.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 1:

wherein said means for supporting comprises an inner porous container coupled to the interior of said container;

wherein said inner porous container is configured as volumetrically compliant for applying compression for draining liquid from a tea bag retained therein; and

wherein said liquid is drained through said inner porous container into said container into which said inner porous container is coupled.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said outer container comprises a non-porous material.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said inner container comprises a non-porous material into which apertures are formed, at least on a lower portion, for draining liquid.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said inner and said outer container comprise a flexible, food-grade material.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the material for said inner and outer containers are selected from the group of materials consisting essentially of plastic, recycled plastic, rubber, plasticized paper, treated paper, silicone, and flexible food grade materials.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said inner porous container comprises a compliant material configured for receiving a manual compression force.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one notch formed in an upper portion of said container for receiving a string extending from a wet tea bag.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said container is generally configured in a rectangular shape.

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

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

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

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

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

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said inner container bottom comprises a portion of said outer container bottom.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the walls of said outer container are formed into a generally rectangular shape.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein the walls of said inner container are formed into a generally rectangular shape.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, further comprising a spout positioned on said outer container rim configured for pouring liquid from said outer container by tilting said apparatus.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said inner container is configured to compress a tea bag positioned in said inner container when said outer container is squeezed against said inner container.

31. An apparatus for collecting liquid from a wet tea bag, comprising:

a container having an opening on top for receiving a 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 may be displaced from said container in response to tilting of said container;

a lid adapted to cover the entire top opening, or a majority of said top opening, within said container;

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

means for compressing said tea bag positioned on said supporting means toward increasing the amount of liquid drained from the tea bag to the bottom of said container.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 31:

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

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

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said protrusion is further configured to substantially fit within the interior of said container.

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 33, wherein said protrusion is further configured to be a porous structure.

35. An apparatus as recited in claim 31:

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

wherein a liquid containment reservoir is defined between the top of said extending structures and the bottom of said container.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein the upper portion of said extending structures are configured for draining liquid from a tea bag being retained on said means of support in response to gravity, or a compressive force, applied to the tea bag.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said extending structures comprise a plurality of raised bosses extending from the bottom of said container.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said extending structures comprise a porous member configured for retention at a predetermined distance from the bottom of said container.

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

a container for receiving a 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 a tea bag retained in said container is compressed in response to a compression force applied to the walls of said container; and

wherein the amount of liquid drained from the tea bag and into said container is increased in response to said compression force.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 39 wherein said flexible material comprises silicone.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 39:

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 compressive force is applied to said first and second end walls; and

wherein said second position of said rim is adapted to receive a tea bag in said container.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising a spout positioned in said rim of said first end wall.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising a gripping region positioned on said first and second side walls.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising a plurality of vertical ribs positioned on said first and second side walls and extending to said bottom of said container.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

a spout positioned in said rim of said first end wall;

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

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

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising:

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

wherein a tea bag retained in said container and on the top of said extending structures is compressed in response to a compression force applied to the walls of said container.

47. A method for extracting tea liquid from a wet tea bag, comprising:

providing a container for receiving and compressing a tea bag, said container comprising a container bottom, a plurality of substantially vertical container walls, a lid, said lid having a downward protrusion, and a tea bag support coupled to said container bottom;

placing a wet tea bag on said support in said container;

compressing the wet tea bag between said support and said lid protrusion, in response to which tea liquid drains from the tea bag to the container bottom; and

pouring the tea liquid from the container.

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

providing a flexible container for receiving and compressing a tea bag, said flexible container having an inner container and an outer container, said outer container fluidly connected to said inner container;

placing a wet tea bag in said inner container;

compressing said outer container thereby compressing said inner container thereby compressing the wet tea bag, and in response to said compression tea liquid flows from the compressed tea bag, into said inner container, and further into said outer container; and

pouring the tea liquid from said outer container.

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

providing a flexible container for receiving and compressing a tea bag, said flexible container having first and second side walls, first and second end walls shorter than said side walls 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 a wet tea bag through said circular rim and in said container;

compressing said first and second side walls thereby compressing the wet tea bag, and in response to said compression tea liquid flows from the compressed tea bag, into said container; and

pouring the tea liquid from said container.