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US 9,089,232 B1Granted
Tea brewing containment device and method of using same
OwnerScott Edward Parazynskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments for a device and methods to contain a tea bag or tea leaves in the course of the preparation of a cup of tea are disclosed. The device holds in place the tea bag or tea leaves while immersed in hot water, provides for pressure onto the tea bag or tea leaves and provides for a plate or bowl to contain any dripping due to the removal of the bag or tea leaves from the cup.
Claims20
A tea bag containment assembly for manipulating a hot tea bag in the course of preparing a cup of tea, said device comprising:
- an upper plate member containing a split plate having a center slit, a pivot axis and a handle;
- an open plate member containing a porous plate having a plurality of holes, a pivot axis and a handle;
- and
- a catch basin member containing a closed catch plate having a rim around an upper part of the catch plate, said catch basin member also comprising a pivot axis and a handle,
- said split plate being configured for placement on top of the porous plate, said porous plate being configured for placement over the catch plate, said porous plate configured for allowing liquid to drain through,
- said split plate, porous plate and catch plate being configured for pivotal attachment to one another, said attachment being accomplished by means of a hinge pin that threads through the pivot axis of the upper plate member, the pivot axis of the open plate member and the pivot axis of the catch basin member.
3 more elements
A method for preparing a cup of tea from a tea bag having a string attached to the tea bag in a standard cup having inner and outer walls, said method comprising:
- providing a tea bag containment assembly, said tea bag containment assembly comprising an upper plate member containing a split plate having a center slit, a pivot axis and a handle;
- an open plate member containing a porous plate having a plurality of holes, a pivot axis and a handle;
- and a catch basin member containing a closed catch plate having a rim around an upper part of the catch plate, said catch basin member also comprising a pivot axis and a handle, said split plate containing an anvil, said anvil being disposed at a rear side of the center slit, said porous plate and catch plate being pivotally attached to the split plate, said split plate also containing at least one lip extending out of a front side of the split plate, said porous plate being configured to exert pressure onto a bottom of the split plate;
- providing a cup having a wall and a top rim, said cup containing hot water;
- placing an unused tea bag inside the cup, said tea bag string being held in a manner as to prevent the tea bag from falling into the cup and in a manner as to enable preparing a cup of tea;
- placing the tea bag containment assembly onto the cup wherein the split plate is disposed onto the rim of said cup, the catch plate is disposed outside the cup alongside an outer side of the cup wall and said porous plate being disposed inside the cup below the tea bag;
- pivoting said porous plate upward in a manner as to trap and squeeze the tea bag against the split plate;
- moving the tea bag containment assembly upward in such a manner that the catch plate clears the cup, and drippings from the tea bag that go through the porous plate fall into the cup;
- pivoting the catch plate upward toward the porous plate in a manner as to contain any further drippings from the tea bag;
- and
- enjoying a delicious cup of tea.
8 more elements
A tea leaf containment assembly for making a cup of tea from tea leaves, said device comprising:
- an upper bowl member containing an upper bowl, said upper bowl being downwardly concave, said upper bowl member also containing a pivot axis;
- a strainer member containing a downwardly concave strainer bowl having a plurality of holes, said strainer member also containing a pivot axis and a handle;
- and
- a catch basin member containing a downwardly concave lower bowl, said catch basin member also containing a pivot axis and a handle,
- said upper bowl being configured for placement on top of the strainer bowl, said strainer bowl being configured for placement over the lower bowl, said strainer bowl being configured for allowing liquid to drain through,
- said upper bowl, strainer bowl and lower bowl being configured for pivotal attachment to one another, said attachment being accomplished by means of a hinge pin that threads through the pivot axis of the upper bowl member, the pivot axis of the strainer member and the pivot axis of the catch basin member.
3 more elements
A method for preparing a cup of tea from tea leaves in a standard cup having inner and outer walls, said method comprising:
- providing a tea leaf containment assembly, said tea leaf containment assembly comprising an upper bowl member containing an upper bowl, said upper bowl being downwardly concave, said upper bowl member also containing a pivot axis;
- a strainer member containing a downwardly concave strainer bowl having a plurality of holes, said strainer member also containing a pivot axis and a handle;
- and a catch basin member containing a downwardly concave lower bowl, said catch basin member also containing a pivot axis and a handle, said strainer bowl and lower bowl being pivotally attached to the upper bowl, said strainer bowl also containing at least one lip extending out of a front side of the strainer bowl, said upper bowl being configured to exert pressure onto the strainer bowl;
- providing a cup having a wall and a top rim, said cup containing hot water;
- placing a tea leaf containment assembly onto the cup wherein the strainer bowl is placed over the cup rim in such a manner that the extending lips rest against the rim, the upper bowl is elevated above the strainer bowl and the lower bowl is pivoted downward and disposed outside the cup alongside an outer side of the cup wall, wherein a lower portion of the strainer bowl is immersed in the water;
- placing tea leaves inside the strainer bowl;
- pivoting said upper bowl downward onto the strainer bowl in a manner as to trap and squeeze the tea leaves against the strainer;
- moving the tea containment assembly upward in such a manner that the lower bowl clears the cup and in a manner that tea drippings from the tea leaves that pass through the strainer bowl fall into the cup;
- pivoting the lower bowl upward toward the strainer bowl to align horizontally with the strainer bowl in a manner as to contain any further drippings from the tea leaves;
- and
- enjoying a delicious cup of tea.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.