BREWING DEVICE

Abstract

A brewing device, particularly for brewing tea or coffee. In one embodiment, the steeping portion (11) is formed with the handle (10) and the squeezing means includes an actuator element (13) arranged to extend through the handle. Such a device is thus arranged to compress the steeping portion by means of a pulling action on the actuator element. In an alternative embodiment, the squeezing means is formed with the handle (51) and the steeping portion is formed with an actuator element (54) arranged to extend through the handle. By such an arrangement, the device is arranged to compress the steeping portion by means of a pushing or pressing action on the actuator element.

Description

The present invention relates to brewing devices, particularly to a brewing device for brewing tea or coffee.

Tea and coffee are typically prepared by infusion brewing, i.e., by steeping tea leaves or coffee grounds in hot water. A variety of devices are available for separating spent coffee grounds or tea leaves from a brewed drink. For example, a French press uses a mesh filter fitted to a plunger to extract spent coffee grounds from the brew. When brewing loose-leaf tea, it is traditional to use a tea infuser. A commonly-used tea infuser comprises a mesh cage, which separates the tea leaves from the brew during steeping. The press and mesh cage must each be emptied and cleaned after use.

The present invention seeks to provide a brewing device for brewing tea or coffee by infusion. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a single-use device that is convenient, cost-effective to produce and simple to use.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a brewing device comprising a handle portion and a steeping portion, wherein the device further comprises steeping portion compressing or squeezing means.

Preferably, the steeping portion is resiliently deformable, more preferably, the steeping portion is reversibly deformable.

Preferably, the steeping portion comprises a frame, more preferably a triangular or circular frame.

Preferably, the squeezing means comprises a strip, strap, film or string, which engages at least a part of the frame of the steeping portion.

Preferably, the frame is triangular and the squeezing means engages an edge of the frame, such that, in use, operation of the squeezing means comprises the frame between the edge and an apex of the triangular frame.

Suitably, the handle is formed as an elongate element, preferably tubular.

In one embodiment, the steeping portion is formed with the handle and the squeezing means includes an actuator element arranged to extend through the handle. Such a device is thus arranged to compress the steeping portion by means of a pulling action on the actuator element.

In an alternative embodiment, the squeezing means is formed with the handle and the steeping portion is formed with an actuator element arranged to extend through the handle. By such an arrangement, the device is arranged to compress the steeping portion by means of a pushing or pressing action on the actuator element.

In a preferred embodiment, the brewing device is made substantially from paper, preferably waxed or water-resistant paper.

In preferred embodiments, the squeezing means is made from paper, preferably, waxed or water-resistant paper.

Advantageously, the squeezing means comprises locking means. Preferably, the locking means comprises at least projection for engaging the handle portion. Suitably, the projection is a barb, flap or stud.

In one embodiment, at least one barb has a first configuration, in which it is flush with the squeezing means and a second configuration, in which it projects from the squeezing means. Conveniently, in its second configuration, the barb engages the handle portion.

In one embodiment, the brewing device is packaged with a porous bag containing loose-leaf tea, broken-leaf tea, fannings or ground coffee. Preferably, the porous bag is retained by the steeping portion. In one embodiment, the porous bag is secured to the steeping portion by means of an adhesive strip.

Advantageously, the device comprises at least one compartment for storing powdered milk, sugar, sweetener or a mixture thereof. Suitably, at least one compartment is provided on an exterior wall of the handle portion or within the actuator element.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates two perspective views of a first embodiment of a brewing device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a porous bag suitable for use with the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are a series of partial perspective views of the embodiment 1, illustrating locking of the squeezing means;

FIG. 4 illustrates two perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the apparatus in use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a brewing device in accordance with the present invention, in a first configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a second configuration;

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 5 in use; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a storage compartment in the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 illustrates a brewing device having a handle 10, a steeping portion 11 and a squeezer strip 12. Handle 10 is a hollow element having a grip end 20 and a stirring end 21. Steeping portion 11 adjoins stirring end 21 of handle 10. Squeezer strip 12 engages steeping portion 11 and handle 10. In particular, squeezer strip 12 engages an edge 14 of steeping portion 11 and is received by an open base of stirring end 21 of handle 10. Squeezer strip 12 extends from stirring end 21 to grip end 20. Grip end 20 has a sealed top, adjacent which is a slit 36 for engaging squeezer strip 12.

Steeping portion 11 comprises a generally triangular-shaped frame 22. A porous bag 40, containing tea leaves or coffee grounds, is retained in triangular frame 22. Bag 40 has an adhesive strip 39 for attaching bag 40 to frame 22. Triangular frame 22 has an upper apex 15 and two lower apices 30, 31. Upper apex 15 adjoins stirring end 21 of handle 10. Opposite apex 15 is edge 14.

A first end of squeezer strip 12 comprises a loop that encircles steeping portion 11. In particular, the loop encircles edge 14 of triangular frame 22. A second end of squeezer strip 12 comprises an actuator element in the form of tab 13. Tab 13 projects from slit 36. Locking means, in the form of a plurality of barbs 37, is provided on squeezer strip 12 (FIGS. 3a and 3b). In one embodiment, barbs 37 have a first configuration in which they are flush with squeezer strip 12, and a second configuration, in which they project outwards from squeezer strip 12 (FIG. 3a). The second configuration is obtainable by bending squeezer strip 12.

Squeezer strip 12 is operated by pulling tab 13 in a direction that is away from frame 22 and perpendicular to edge 14. Triangular frame 22 is reversibly deformable, and in particular, edge 14 can be moved towards, and away-from, apex 15 by operation of squeezer strip 12. Movement of edge 14 towards apex 15 causes compression of bag 40 retained within triangular frame 22. Once the pulling force is removed from tab 13, squeezer strip 12 will relax and frame 22 will return to its original, non compressed, configuration.

In certain embodiments, handle 10 includes one or more storage compartments (not shown) for storing a portion of powdered milk, sugar or artificial sweetener (or mixture thereof). Conveniently, the compartment is formed on an outer wall of handle 10.

It is intended that the brewing device of the present invention will be packaged with a porous bag 40, containing either tea leaves or coffee grounds, retained in steeping portion 11. In use of the brewing device, steeping portion 11 (and bag 40, retained therein) is submerged in a cup of hot water and stirred using handle 10. During steeping, tab 13 can be pulled (to compress bag 40) and released, in order to speedup the infusion process. Once a drink has been prepared, the device is removed from the water and tab 13 is pulled to squeeze liquid from bag 40. Tab 13 can be pulled and released several times to squeeze additional liquid tea or coffee from bag 40. Prior to disposal of the device, barbs 37 are aligned adjacent slit 36 (FIGS. 3a and 3b) by pulling tab 13. Tab 13 is held in this final, locked, position by engagement of one of barbs 37 with handle 10.

A second embodiment 50 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9. This embodiment is arranged to provide a “push to squeeze” operation, but the construction is broadly similar. Handle 51 is formed integrally with squeezing strip 52. Frame 53 of the steeping portion is formed integrally with squeezing actuator element 54 which passes within handle 51. Actuator element 54 and handle 51 are conveniently both tubular. As can be seen by a comparison of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 and also from FIG. 7, pushing down on squeezing actuator 54 causes the lower edge of frame 53 to pull upwards against a bag 55 positioned within the frame, thereby compressing the bag 55 against a lower portion of frame 53, restrained by squeezing strip 52.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, advantageously, this embodiment of the brewing device also includes locking means into the form of a series of studs 60 formed on squeezing actuator 54 engageable with an aperture 61 formed in corresponding location in handle 51.

As shown in FIG. 8, suitably tubular actuator element 54 forms or includes a container to contain sugar or powdered milk or cream; or a mixture of the two, sealed by a cap or seal 62. It will be appreciated that the container will also have a closure at a lower end to retain the powdered materials.

The brewing device of the present invention is intended as a single-use product, sold as a factory-assembled unit. Since the device is not intended to brew multiple servings of tea or coffee, the handle and steeping portions can be formed entirely from paper, preferably waxed or water-resistant paper. Consequently, the device is simple and cost-effective to produce, as well as being straight-forward to recycle. Furthermore, once a drink has been prepared, the device and bag can be disposed of as a single unit.

Claims

1. A brewing device comprising a handle portion and a steeping portion, wherein the device further comprises steeping portion compressing or squeezing means.

2. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steeping portion is resiliently deformable.

3. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steeping portion is reversibly deformable.

4. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steeping portion comprises a frame.

5. A brewing device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the frame is a triangular or circular frame.

6. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the squeezing means comprises a strip, strap, loop, film or string that engages at least a part of the steeping portion.

7. A brewing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the frame is triangular and the squeezing means engages an edge of the frame opposite an apex of the frame such that, in use, operation of the squeezing means comprises moving the edge of the frame towards the apex of the frame.

8. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle is formed as an elongate element, preferably tubular.

9. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steeping portion is formed with the handle and the squeezing means includes an actuator element arranged to extend through the handle.

10. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the squeezing means is formed with the handle and the steeping portion is formed with an actuator element arranged to extend through the handle.

11. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the squeezing means further comprises locking means.

12. A brewing device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the locking means comprises at least one barb, flap or stud for engaging the handle portion.

13. A brewing device as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one barb has a first configuration, in which it is flush with the squeezing means and a second configuration, in which it projects from the squeezing means.

14. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 formed substantially from paper, preferably waxed or water-resistant paper.

15. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle portion comprises a compartment for storing powdered milk, sugar, artificial sweetener, or mixtures thereof.

16. A brewing device as claimed in claim 1 packaged with a porous bag or filter bag.

17. A brewing device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the porous bag or filter bag contains loose-leaf tea, broken-leaf tea, fannings or coffee grounds.

18. A brewing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the steeping portion is reversibly deformable.

19. A brewing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the steeping portion comprises a frame.

20. A brewing device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the frame is a triangular or circular frame.