Infusion bag

Abstract

An infusion bag is provided and has a drawstring that is doubled through an opening in an upper portion of a bag to form a loop. One portion of the drawstring extends from the loop and around the bag and back through the loop, with another portion of the drawstring proceeding from such loop. These two portions form pull members for squeezing the bag. The drawstring can also extend around the bag in a doubled state. In addition to extending through the bag opening, the doubled drawstring can also extend through a looped end thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a teabag or infusion bag with a drawstring guided through an opening in the top section thereof, which drawstring longitudinally encircles the teabag thus rendering it compressible.

[0002] A teabag of this type is known from DE 87 07 075-U1. In order to be able to produce an encircling body for this teabag, it is necessary to provide a clamp or loop at the top section, and the drawstring is doubled and passed therethrough. The tensile forces exerted on the drawstring when the teabag is being squeezed must then be supported at the clamp or loop because otherwise the teabag would be wrenched therefrom. In addition, the non-linear path and consequential frictional losses diminish the tensile forces. Thus the clamps or loops have an unfavorable effect on the squeezing process, but it is particularly disadvantageous that a foreign body made of metal is applied to the teabag, which can have a negative effect on the aroma of the brewed tea.

[0003] In a similarly constructed teabag in accordance with DE 296 01 442 U1, in order to be able to cause the teabag to be squeezed by pulling on the two ends of a string looped around a teabag, two openings are arranged mutually adjacent in the top section of the teabag, through which openings the string is alternately passed. In addition, the thread is conducted in a transverse fold in the bottom of the teabag. Since the two ends of the drawstring that have been attached to the top section of the teabag must be pulled apart in order to squeeze the teabag, substantial tensile forces are exerted on the teabag in the region of the openings so that the teabag frequently tears and the intended purpose cannot be achieved.

[0004] The object of the present invention is therefore to create a teabag or infusion bag of the type described in the foregoing such that not only is the drawstring affixed thereto in an extremely secure manner and without metal clamps, but also the teabag can be nearly completely squeezed out by means of the drawstring without thereby tearing the teabag. The use of a teabag when brewing tea shall be substantially simplified thereby without foreign bodies having a negative impact on the brewed tea.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, in a teabag of the type cited in the foregoing this object is realized in that the drawstring is doubled and inserted through the opening of the top section and on one side of the teabag constitutes a loop, in that the one segment of the drawstring leading out from the loop encircles the teabag and returns through the loop, and in that the other segment leading out from the loop and the segment of the drawstring conducted therethrough are arranged on either side of the top section and constitute the pull members for squeezing out the teabag.

[0006] In accordance with another embodiment, it is also possible for the same purpose to be achieved in that the drawstring is doubled and conducted around the teabag, the end of the drawstring encircling the teabag is inserted through the opening of the top section as a loop, and the two segments of the drawstring leading out from the loop are returned through the loop and continue on as pull members.

[0007] In accordance with a further embodiment, it is also possible to double the drawstring and insert it through the opening of the top section and to conduct it doubled around the teabag up to the level of the opening and to insert the two segments of the drawstring distanced from the opening of the top section through the looped end of the drawstring placed around the teabag such that they constitute the pull members.

[0008] In all of the embodiments, it is useful to stabilize the loop or the looped end of the drawstring by a knot, by adhesive, with a band, or in a similar fashion.

[0009] For forming the loop, two openings embodied, for example as bores, can be worked into the top section of the teabag, preferably at the same level, and the drawstring can be alternately passed therethrough.

[0010] In addition, the drawstring should be conducted through one or two openings arranged laterally spaced from each other and provided in the region of the bottom of the teabag so that the drawstring cannot slip laterally.

[0011] The two segments of the drawstring constituting the pull members can be knotted securely to each other, but they can also be mutually affixed to a label or can be provided with individual labels.

[0012] When a drawstring is attached to a teabag in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to squeeze the teabag out and to press the residual liquid therefrom without benefit of any other aids. It is merely necessary to pull apart the two segments of the doubled drawstring leading from the top section. This causes the drawstring that has been looped around the teabag in the longitudinal direction to compress the teabag firmly so that its volume is reduced without requiring any additional aids for this purpose.

[0013] Since the drawstring is maintained on the teabag without any aid, the aroma of the tea is not negatively impacted and altered by foreign bodies made of metal. Also, when the teabag is compressed it is not damaged because no lateral forces are exerted thereupon when the two end pieces of the drawstring are pulled apart; rather these forces are absorbed by the loop through which the parts of the drawstring have been conducted. Thus, the use of such bags for brewing beverages is much simplified and facilitated at very low production costs, and the drawstring can be affixed to any type of steeping or infusion bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] Two exemplary embodiments of a teabag embodied in accordance with the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in detail in the following.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective of a teabag with a drawstring conducted around it and through a loop;

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates the teabag in accordance with FIG. 1 in its compressed condition;

[0017] FIGS. 3 & 4 illustrate a differently embodied teabag, shown as in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates another teabag with a string guided through a loop and looped around it;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a teabag with a drawstring doubled and looped around it;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates the teabag in accordance with FIG. 6 in its compressed condition;

[0021] FIGS. 8 & 9 illustrate the teabag in accordance with FIG. 6 with the drawstring conducted through openings provided in the bottom region therein;

[0022] FIG. 10 is another embodiment of a squeezable teabag; and,

[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates the teabag in accordance with FIG. 10 with a looped end fixed by a knot.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The teabags or infusion bags labeled 1 or 1′ or 1″ in FIGS. 1 through 11 are embodied differently and are each provided with a top section 2 or 2′ or 2″ to which a drawstring 11 or 11″ is attached. In the embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11, a label 21 is attached to the segments 13 and 14 or 13″ and 14″ of the drawstring 11 or 11″; in the embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 the segments 13 and 14 are securely joined by a knot 22.

[0025] A cut-out 3 in the form of a bore is provided in the top section 2 and 2′ of teabag 1 and 1′ for attaching the drawstring 11; the drawstring 11 in the form of a loop 12 is doubled and drawn therethrough. The one segment 13 of the drawstring 11 is looped around the teabag 1 or 1′ after the loop 12, then pulled through the loop 12 and attached to the label 21 at a distance from the teabag 1, as is the other segment 14 of the drawstring 11, as well.

[0026] Once the teabag 1 or 1′ has been steeped, these two leading segments 13 and 14 of the drawstring 11 are pulled apart, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, thereby shortening the segment 13 of the drawstring 11 that is conducted around the teabag 1 or 1′. The teabag 1 or 1′ is thus compressed and thereby wrung out so that the residual liquid residing therein is squeezed out without any additional assistive aid. Since the process can be readily undertaken over a receptacle, not only are the aromatic elements of the tea located in the teabag 1 or 1′ used nearly in their entirety, but in addition soilage is avoided that is caused by liquid dripping when the teabag 1 or 1′ is disposed of.

[0027] In the embodiment variation in accordance with FIG. 5, a loop 12′ is formed for the same purpose in the region of the top section 2″ of the teabag 1″, through which loop the segment 13 of the drawstring 11 looped around the teabag 1″ is drawn. In order to make it possible to form the loop 12′, two cut-outs 3 and 4 are worked into the top section 2″ at the same level; the drawstring 11 is conducted through each. Pulling apart the two segments 13 and 14 of the drawstring 11, which are attached to the label 21, in the region between the label and the teabag 1″ causes the volume thereof to decrease so that the residual liquid is pressed therefrom.

[0028] In accordance with FIGS. 6 through 8, the drawstring 11″ is doubled and looped around the teabag 1″ and its end is inserted as a loop 12″ through the opening 3 provided in the top section 2″. The two segments 13″ and 14″ leading from the loop 12″ are thus returned through the loop 12″ and continue on as pulling members that are attached to the label 21. This makes it possible to exert more force on the teabag 11″, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0029] In order to ensure that the drawstring 11″ does not slip laterally from the teabag 1″, especially when in storage and/or when being transported, as is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 one opening 5 or two openings 6 and 7 are provided in the teabag 11″ in the region of the bottom, through which openings the segments 13″ and 14″ are inserted. In addition, in accordance with FIG. 8, individual labels 21′ or 21″ are attached to the ends of the segments 13″ and 14″.

[0030] Thus, differently constructed teabags 1, 1′, and 1″ can be squeezed out by means of the drawstring 11 or 11″ without force being exerted thereupon in the region of the opening 3. On the contrary, the tensile forces are absorbed by the loop 12 or 12″ and the teabag 1, 1′, or 1″ is nearly completely squeezed out.

[0031] In the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 10 and 11, the drawstring 11″ is doubled and inserted through the opening 3 in the top section 2″ of the teabag 1″ and is conducted around the teabag 1″ until it reaches the level of the opening 3 so that a looped end 15 is formed in the region thereof. Furthermore, the two end segments 13″ and 14″ that are not adjacent to the opening 3 are inserted through the looped end 15 and comprise pull members, a label 21 being attached to the ends thereof. The teabag 1″ is thus squeezed out as soon as the ends 13″ and 14″ are pulled apart.

[0032] In the embodiment of FIG. 11, in order to stabilize the looped end 15, in front thereof the two parts of the drawstring 11″ are securely joined by a knot 16; the looped end 15 therefore always remains in the region of the opening 3 of the top section 2″, even if the force exerted on the ends 13″ and/or 14″ is uneven.

[0033] The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 100 01 003.2 of Jan. 12, 2000 and European priority document 00124677.6 of Nov. 11, 2000.

[0034] The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An infusion bag, comprising:

an upper portion having an opening; and

a drawstring that is doubled through said opening to form a loop on one side of said infusion bag, wherein a first portion of said drawstring extends from said loop and, starting on a side of said infusion bag opposite said one side thereof, extends around said infusion bag and through said loop on said one side of said infusion bag, wherein a second portion of said drawstring proceeds from said loop on said side of said infusion bag opposite said one side thereof, and wherein said first portion and said second portion of said drawstring form pull members for squeezing said infusion bag.

2. An infusion bag according to

claim 1, wherein said loop of said drawstring is stabilized by a knot, by adhesive, or with a band.

3. An infusion bag according to

claim 1, wherein said opening in said upper portion of said infusion bag is in the form of two holes or bores in said upper portion.

4. An infusion bag according to

claim 1, wherein said drawstring is guided through a single opening or two spaced apart openings, which are respectively disposed in a base portion of said infusion bag that is located opposite said upper portion thereof.

5. An infusion bag according to

claim 1, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are fixedly interconnected by means of a knot.

6. An infusion bag according to

claim 1, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are attached to a single label or two separate labels.

7. An infusion bag, comprising:

an upper portion having an opening; and

a drawstring that is doubled through said opening to form a loop on one side of said infusion bag, wherein said drawstring, in a doubled state, extends from said loop and, starting on a side of said infusion bag opposite said one side thereof, extends around said infusion bag and through said loop on said one side of said infusion bag, wherein two segments of said drawstring proceed from said loop and form pull members for squeezing said infusion bag.

8. An infusion bag according to

claim 7, wherein said loop of said drawstring is stabilized by a knot, by adhesive, or with a band.

9. An infusion bag according to

claim 7, wherein said opening in said upper portion of said infusion bag is in the form of two holes or bores in said upper portion.

10. An infusion bag according to

claim 7 wherein said drawstring is guided through a single opening or two spaced apart openings, which are respectively disposed in a base portion of said infusion bag that is located opposite said upper portion thereof.

11. An infusion bag according to

claim 7, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are fixedly interconnected by means of a knot.

12. An infusion bag according to

claim 7, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are attached to a single label or two separate labels.

13. An infusion bag, comprising:

an upper portion having an opening; and

a drawstring that is doubled to form a looped end, which is placed about said opening on one side of said infusion bag, wherein said drawstring, in said doubled state, extends from said looped end and about said infusion bag, and from a side of said infusion bag opposite said one side thereof, extends through said opening and said looped end, and wherein two segments of said drawstring proceed from said looped end (15) and form pull members for squeezing said infusion bag.

14. An infusion bag according to

claim 13, wherein said looped end (15) of said drawstring is stabilized by a knot, by adhesive, or with a band.

15. An infusion bag according to

claim 13, wherein said opening in said upper portion of said infusion bag is in the form of two holes or bores (3, 4) in said upper portion.

16. An infusion bag according to

claim 13, wherein said drawstring is guided through a single opening or two spaced apart openings, which are respectively disposed in a base portion of said infusion bag that is located opposite said upper portion thereof.

17. An infusion bag according to

claim 13, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are fixedly interconnected by means of a knot.

18. An infusion bag according to

claim 13, wherein said first and second portions, or said two segments, of said drawstring are attached to a single label or two separate labels.