Tea Bag Pouch for Beverage Cup Sleeve
A tea bag pouch for use with a hot beverage cup sleeve includes a pouch member having front, back, and bottom walls that define an open top for receiving a tea bag. The pouch member includes an absorbent layer for absorbing moisture from a water-laden tea bag, a water resistant layer such that moisture does not soak through, and a more rigid layer for providing form to the pouch member. The pouch member includes a configuration for securely yet removably holding a tea bag, especially when the absorbent layer has absorbed some moisture. An attachment member extends from an upper edge of the back wall for slidably attaching the pouch member to a beverage cup sleeve. The pouch may include a closure flap for selectively covering the open top to more securely hold a tea bag situated therein. Advertising may be imprinted or adhered to the front wall.
This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/741,407 filed on Dec. 1, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to insulated beverage cup sleeves and, more particularly, to a pouch for use with an insulated cup sleeve for holding a tea bag after use or between uses.
Beverage cup sleeves are commonly utilized to surround cups of hot liquids such as coffee so as to make them easier to hold without burning a consumer of the hot beverage. Existing coffee cup sleeves or jackets are constructed of a cardboard, nylon, cloth, or other textile mesh material that resists heat and is comfortable to hold in one's hand while drinking the beverage.
Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, the existing sleeves are not effective for use with serving and consuming hot tea of the type prepared using disposable tea bags. A common problem with preparing tea by soaking a tea bag in hot water is what to do with the bag when it is no longer needed or desired. Sometimes, the bag is repeatedly dunked in and out of the tea until the desired strength is obtained. Other times, the bag needs to be completely discarded. Unfortunately, a trash receptacle is often not conveniently situated nearby, such as when consuming the tea in a car. The existing products and patent proposals do not offer an adequate solution to this problem.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a tea bag pouch for selective attachment and use with a beverage cup sleeve for holding a tea bag when not in use in the beverage. Further, it would be desirable to have a tea bag pouch that is interiorly absorbent of liquid remaining on a tea bag after removal from the beverage and which is also moisture resistant to prevent liquid from soaking through the pouch. In addition, it would be desirable to have a tea bag pouch having a flap for selectively preventing a tea bag from inadvertently falling out of the pouch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, a tea bag pouch for use with a beverage cup sleeve according to the present invention includes a pouch member defining an open top and having dimensions suitable for receiving and holding a tea bag. The pouch member includes an absorbent layer of material along its interior surface for absorbing water from a water laden tea bag that has been removed, temporarily or permanently, from the pouch member. The pouch member includes another layer that is water-resistant such that water dripping from the tea bag will not soak through the pouch member and contact a consumer's hand or other articles.
The tea bag pouch also includes an attachment member formed of a semi-rigid material for engaging a beverage cup sleeve. The attachment member is attached at one end to an upper edge of the pouch member and includes an elongate extent for sliding between a cup sleeve and the cup to which the sleeve surrounds. The attachment includes a thickness such that it is firmly held by the cup sleeve but that may be selectively removed by a user if desired.
The attachment member may also include a flap that may be partially separated from the attachment member and manipulated to cover the open top of the pouch member. Thus, the tea bag may be more securely held in the pouch member. It should be appreciated that the pouch member may alternatively be integrally constructed as part of a larger beverage cup sleeve.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch that selectively and removably attaches to an insulated hot beverage cup sleeve.
Another object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, having an absorbent interior layer for absorbing liquid dripping from a tea bag that has been removed from a beverage cup.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, having a water resistant layer that prevents liquid from a water laden tea bag from soaking through the pouch member.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, in which the attachment member includes a configuration that directs water back into the pouch member.
A further object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, in which the pouch member includes a configuration that holds a tea bag with increasing tension as it absorbs liquid therefrom.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, having a flap for selectively preventing a tea bag from falling or being removed from the pouch member.
Another object of this invention is to provide a tea bag pouch, as aforesaid, having a section for displaying advertising indicia.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A tea bag pouch 10 for use with a hot beverage cup sleeve 8 according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, the tea bag pouch 10 according to one embodiment includes a pouch member 12 having a front wall 14 opposite a back wall 16 with opposed side walls 18 extending between the front 14 and back 16 walls (
Preferably, the pouch member 12 is constructed of three layers of material (
The tea bag pouch 10 further includes an attachment member 30 for selectively attaching the bag pouch 10 to a beverage cup sleeve 8. As best shown in
The attachment member 30 further includes an elongate linear portion 38 that extends from a tip 40 of the ramp portion 36 to an attachment member second end 34 (Fig. 3). The linear portion 38 includes a configuration suitable for sliding in between the beverage cup sleeve 8 and the cup 6. The linear portion 38 preferably includes a thickness sufficient to hold the tea bag pouch 10 snugly to the sleeve 8 but to allow removal therefrom without difficulty when desired. It should be understood that the ramp portion 36 may alternatively include a rounded configuration for aesthetic appeal or for ease of use.
In use, the tea bag pouch 10 may be used in conjunction or combination with a hot beverage cup sleeve 8, the sleeve 8 already being fitted about a cup 6 (
A tea bag pouch 50 according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
In use, the closure flap 54 may be moved to a second or use configuration in which it partially covers the open top 21 of the pouch member 12 (
A tea bag pouch 60 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
It is understood that the tea bag pouch 10 may be attached to a cup 6 in ways other than as previously described. Specifically, the tea bag pouch 10 may be used in combination with a cup having a sleeve type member as part of its construction (not shown). In other words, the configuration of the cup may include a sleeve layer to be grasped by a user and that provides protection of the user's hand from excessive heat and provides enhanced grip characteristics. The tea bag pouch 10 may then be slidingly connected to the integrated cup sleeve substantially as described previously. Further, the tea bag pouch 10 may be fixedly connected to a cup 6 at the point of manufacture, such as with an adhesive, clip, or other suitable fasteners (not shown).
Accordingly, it can be seen that the tea bag pouch 10 provides an effective solution to the problem of storing and disposing of tea bags. The present invention enables a consumer to conveniently store a water laden tea bag to be later used or discarded without making a mess.
Claims
1. A pouch attachable to a beverage cup sleeve that is attached to a beverage cup for holding a tea bag, comprising:
- a pouch member having a front wall, a back wall, and a pair of side walls connecting said front and back walls, said pouch member having a closed bottom and defining an open top, said pouch member defining an interior area for holding the tea bag; and
- means for attaching said pouch member to the beverage cup sleeve.
2. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes an attachment member having a first end attached to said pouch member and an opposed second end for selectively engaging the beverage cup sleeve and holding said pouch member adjacent the beverage cup.
3. The pouch as in claim 2 wherein said attachment member includes:
- a ramp portion extending upwardly from said first end;
- an elongate linear portion attached to a tip of said ramp portion and extending to said attachment member second end for sliding in between the beverage cup sleeve and the beverage cup; and
- a semi-rigid construction.
4. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said pouch member includes an inner layer of absorbent material for absorbing moisture from a water-laden tea bag.
5. The pouch as in claim 4 wherein said pouch member includes an intermediate layer that is impermeable or at least water resistant for preventing moisture from soaking through said pouch member.
6. The pouch as in claim 5 wherein said pouch member includes an outer layer constructed of a generally semi-rigid material.
7. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said pouch member includes a layer that is impermeable or at least water resistant for preventing moisture from soaking through said pouch member.
8. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said pair of side walls define a downwardly decreasing width such that said front and back walls are closer together adjacent said bottom than adjacent said open top, whereby the tea bag is held more tightly at said bottom.
9. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said front wall of said pouch member includes a transparent construction such that a tea bag placed in said pouch member is visible.
10. The pouch as in claim 1 further comprising a closure flap having one end attached to a rear edge of said pouch member adjacent said open top and a free end opposite said one end; and
- wherein said front wall of said pouch member defines a slit for selectively receiving said closure flap free, said closure flap substantially covering said open top when said closure flap free end is received in said slit.
11. The pouch as in claim 10 wherein said attachment member includes said closure flap, said closure flap being selectively separable from said attachment member for covering said open top.
12. The pouch as in claim 5 further comprising a closure flap having one end attached to a rear edge of said pouch member adjacent said open top and a free end opposite said one end; and
- wherein said front wall of said pouch member defines a slit for selectively receiving said closure flap free, said closure flap substantially covering said open top when said closure flap free end is received in said slit.
13. The pouch as in claim 1 wherein said front wall of said pouch member defines a line of weakness extending from said open top to said closed bottom, said line of weakness causing said front wall to be movable between a relaxed configuration substantially parallel to said rear wall and an extended configuration that enlarges an area defined by said open top.
14. A pouch attachable to a beverage cup sleeve that is attached to a beverage cup for holding a tea bag, comprising:
- a pouch member having a front wall, a back wall, and a pair of side walls connecting said front and back walls, said pouch member having a closed bottom and defining an open top, said pouch member defining an interior area for holding the tea bag; and
- an attachment member having a first end attached to said pouch member and an opposed second end for selectively engaging the beverage cup sleeve and holding said pouch member adjacent the beverage cup
15. The pouch as in claim 14 wherein said attachment member includes:
- a ramp portion extending upwardly from said first end;
- an elongate linear portion attached to a tip of said ramp portion and extending to said attachment member second end for sliding in between the beverage cup sleeve and the beverage cup; and
- a semi-rigid construction.
16. The pouch as in claim 14 wherein said pouch member includes:
- an inner layer of absorbent material for absorbing moisture from a water-laden tea bag;
- an intermediate layer that is impermeable or at least water resistant for preventing moisture from soaking through said pouch member; and
- an outer layer constructed of a generally semi-rigid material.
17. The pouch as in claim 14 wherein said pair of side walls define a downwardly decreasing width such that said front and back walls are closer together adjacent said bottom than adjacent said open top, whereby the tea bag is held more tightly at said bottom.
18. The pouch as in claim 14 further comprising a closure flap having one end attached to a rear edge of said pouch member adjacent said open top and a free end opposite said one end; and
- wherein said front wall of said pouch member defines a slit for selectively receiving said closure flap free, said closure flap substantially covering said open top when said closure flap free end is received in said slit.
19. The pouch member as in claim 14 wherein said front wall of said pouch member defines a line of weakness extending from said open top to said closed bottom, said line of weakness causing said front wall to be movable between a relaxed configuration substantially parallel to said rear wall and an extended configuration that enlarges an area defined by said open top.
20. The pouch member as in claim 14 wherein said front wall of said pouch member includes a transparent construction such that a tea bag placed in said pouch member is visible.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 30, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 7, 2007
Inventor: Jeff Bilyea (Toronto)
Application Number: 11/565,150
International Classification: B65B 29/02 (20060101);