Tea bag squeezing device

Abstract

The tea bag squeezing device includes a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being symmetrically bisected by at least one joint. The joint(s) preferably extends across a symmetrical axis of the planar body such that the planar body may be selectively folded about the joint. A central aperture is further formed through the planar body and the joint. The central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that, in use, the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body. When folded, the tea bag is sandwiched inside the folded planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when lateral pressure is applied by the user's fingers to the opposed upper surfaces of the planar body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/958,018, filed on Jul. 18, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to beverage infusion packages, such as tea or coffee bags or the like, and particularly to a tea or coffee bag squeezing device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Drinking beverages, such as tea, is common in multiple cultures around the world. In the case of tea and similar beverages, the tea leaves add flavor to water, milk or the like after soaking in the beverage for a suitable amount of time. A tea bag or other porous package holds the tea leaves to retain the leaves while soaking in the liquid. When the tea has reached a desired concentration, the tea bag is removed and water or other liquid is drained from it. Most consumers prefer to squeeze the tea leaves or other flavoring substance after removing the tea bag in order to make as much use as possible of the tea leaves and to return flavored liquid retained in the tea bag back to the drink.

Commonly, when the tea bag is removed from the cup, the user squeezes the excess liquid from the tea bag using his or her bare fingers. As the excess liquid is typically quite hot, this practice is dangerous to the user. Further, it is an unsanitary practice. Although covers, flaps and the like are known for protecting the user's fingers during squeezing of the bag, such devices are typically in the form of a simple body formed from paper or the like, often provided with the tea bag and, as such, are sized similarly to the tea bag. This relatively small size offers little protection for the user's fingers, as the liquid easily leaks and spills around the periphery of the device. Given the often permeable nature of the material used, combined with its relatively small size and tendency to leak, the user is still in danger of receiving dangerous burns.

Thus, a tea bag squeezing device solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tea bag squeezing device includes a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being substantially symmetrically bisected by a joint. The joint preferably extends across a symmetrical axis of the planar body such that the planar body may be selectively folded about the joint. A central aperture is further formed through the planar body and the joint. The central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that, in use, the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body. When folded, the tea bag is sandwiched inside the folded planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when lateral pressure is applied by the user's fingers to the opposed upper surfaces of the planar body.

Preferably, the tea bag squeezing device includes a means for preventing hot fluids (such as hot liquids and steam) from penetrating upwards from the lower engagement surface; in particular, that upper area against which the user's fingers come in contact with the device when applying the requisite pressure to force the hot liquid from the teabag. Without this precautionary means, heat transfers from the hot liquid quickly to the upper surface and become exceedingly uncomfortable to the user.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental perspective view of a tea bag squeezing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tea bag squeezing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an upper surface of the tea bag squeezing device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a lower surface of an alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an upper surface of another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an upper surface of yet another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an upper surface of still another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a lower surface of another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the parts of another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an upper surface of the embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of still another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of another alternative embodiment of the tea bag squeezing device.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now referring to FIGS. 1-3, the tea bag squeezing device 10 is shown. Throughout the below, it is understood that the term “tea bag” is merely exemplary of any type of infusion or beverage bag (e.g., coffee bags or other type of infusion bags or packs). The tea bag squeezing device 10 includes a planar. body 12 having opposed lower and upper surfaces 24, 26, respectively, and being symmetrically bisected by a joint 18. The joint 18 preferably extends across the length of the planar body 12, as shown in FIG. 3, such that the planar body 12 may be selectively folded about the joint 18. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the planar body 12 is shown as being substantially square with rounded corners and with joint 18 being formed across the diagonal of the substantially square planar body. It should be understood that planar body 12 may have any desired contour or relative dimensions, as will be described in further detail below, and that joint 18 may bisect the planar body 12 at any desired location. Planar body 12 may be formed from any desired material, such as paperboard, plain cardboard, corrugated cardboard, fluted cardboard, absorbent fabrics or the like.

Additionally, it should be understood that joint 18 may be formed by any desired method or technique, such as, for example, defining a decreased thickness portion across planar body 12, forming perforations in the planar body or the like. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the planar body 12 may be bifurcated into two separate panels which are spaced apart from one another by joint 18. A liquid impervious layer 20 is then formed on the lower surface 26 of planar body 12 with joint 18 being formed by the portion of liquid impervious layer 20 which is exposed between the upper surfaces of the pair of panels. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid impervious layer 20 only partially covers the lower surface 26 such that an absorbent peripheral area is defined on the lower surface 26 of planar body 12 about the liquid impermeable layer 20. The liquid impermeable layer 20 may be formed as a laminate on planar body 12, or may be adhered thereto as a bonding agent for the planar body thereby forming the hinges, or may be secured thereto by any suitable method or manufacturing technique. It should be understood that layer 20 is preferably impervious to all fluids; i.e., both liquids and gas, thus preventing accidental burning by the escape or leakage of steam.

Further, a central aperture 14 is formed through the planar body 12 and the joint 18, as shown. The central aperture 14 is sized and contoured to receive a string S of a tea bag T such that, in use, the tea bag T may be pulled by the string S to be positioned adjacent the lower surface 26 of the planar body 12. As shown in FIG. 2, when folded, the tea bag T is sandwiched inside the folded planar body 12 such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when lateral pressure is applied by the user's fingers to the opposed upper surfaces 24 of the planar body 12 (as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 2). As noted above, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, an absorbent peripheral area is defined on the lower surface 26 of planar body 12 about the liquid impermeable layer 20. Thus, when squeezed, the liquid which is not squeezed into a desired area (such as a tea cup or the like positioned beneath device 10) will not be able to saturate the area of planar body 12 which is held by the user but, rather, will be absorbed into the paperboard, cardboard or the like forming the boundary about lower surface 26. It should be understood that the overall contouring and relative dimensions Of the absorbent peripheral area are shown in FIG. 4 for exemplary purposes only. For example, the entire periphery does not need to be absorbent; i.e., there could be additional coverage by the fluid impermeable material extending into the periphery, as long as at least a portion of the periphery is exposed and absorbent. Additionally, it should be understood that upper surface 24 may have indicia, in the form of decoration, advertisements or the like, imprinted thereon.

As noted above, the planar body may have any desired overall contouring and relative dimensions, and the joint may be formed by any suitable method. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, tea bag squeezing device 400 is constructed in a similar manner to tea bag squeezing device 10 of the previous embodiments, however planar body 412 has a substantially elliptical or oval contour. Joint 18 of the previous embodiments has been replaced by a linearly arranged perforations 418, extending across the minor axis of the elliptical planar body 412. A slit or central aperture 414 is formed central to the body 412, extending along the minor axis, as shown, similar to central aperture 14 of the previous embodiments. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 11, tea bag squeezing device 500 of FIG. 12 is also shown as having a substantially elliptical or oval planar body 512 having perforations 518 formed along the minor axis. However, in this embodiment, the linearly extending slit of the previous embodiments is replaced by a relatively small hole 514, as shown, with thin, linear perforations extending outwardly therefrom (along the minor axis of the elliptical body 512). The string S of the tea bag may pass through the hole 514 and then be moved, in either direction, to hold the string in place.

In the previous embodiments, the exemplary contouring has been selected from symmetric geometric designs. It should be understood that any desired contouring may be used. For example, tea bag squeezing device 600 of FIG. 13 has an asymmetric planar body 612 with a contouring similar to that of a poinsettia leaf. As in the previous embodiments, a linear array of perforations 618 form the folding joint, with an slot or central aperture 614 being formed central to the perforations 618 and extending along the same axis.

As a further alternative, as shown in FIG. 8, the absorbent peripheral area may be replaced by, or used in combination with, a raised peripheral rim 40, providing further protection against accidentally leaked liquid. The raised rim 40 preferably includes passages 42 formed therethrough for directing the squeezed liquid into the desired area. In the example shown in FIG. 8, where the overall contour of body 12 is substantially square, similar to that shown in FIG. 1, when folded, the passages 42 would be adjacent the lowest points of the body 12, allowing the squeezed liquid to be easily directed to the tea cup or the like positioned below device 10.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, the central aperture 14 is shown as being elongated, extending along joint 18, and having a substantially rectangular contour. It should be understood that central aperture 14, similar to planar body 12, may be sized and contoured dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, device 100 includes a planar body 112, similar to planar body 12 described above, which is bisected by a joint 118. However, in this exemplary embodiment, planar body 112 has a substantially elliptical contour with joint 118 extending across the minor axis thereof. Central aperture 116 is formed through planar body 112 and joint 118 and further includes a plurality of slits 122 radially extending outwardly therefrom and forming boundaries for the segments or “ears” formed therebetween. In use, the string S is pulled through the central aperture 116, as described above with respect to device 10, but may then be further pulled into one of slits 122 to further lock the string S in place and prevent the tea bag T from slipping away from the lower surface of planar body 112. As shown in FIG. 5, the slits 122 may terminate in additional slits (shown here as having an exemplary arrowhead contour) for further securement of the string S and to ease the force required to bend the segments or “ears” upward from the lower surface when the string is passed through in preparation for steeping of the tea bag.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary embodiment, wherein device 200 includes a substantially rectangular planar body 212 (similar to planar body 12 of device 10) having a joint 218 defined across the diagonal and with an elongated rectangular aperture 216 formed through the planar body 212 and joint 218. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5, additional slits 222 are formed through planar body 212 and are in communication with central aperture 216. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the radial slits 222 extend outwardly from the corners of the rectangular aperture 216.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the device 300 includes a planar body 312 which is bifurcated into a pair of panels 312A and 312B. However, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 4, an additional central panel 324 is positioned therebetween, as shown. The panels 312A and 312B define respective joints 318A and 318B with the opposed side edges of central panel 324, as shown, with the joints 318A and 318B being formed from an additional liquid impervious layer 320, similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 4. As shown, in this exemplary embodiment, central aperture 316, formed through central panel 324, has a plurality of slits 322 extending outwardly therefrom, as in the previous embodiments. However, in FIG. 7, the slits 322 extend along the same direction as central panel 324; i.e., along the diagonal of the substantially rectangular body 312.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, the device is similar to the previous embodiments. The difference is that the planar body 12′ is made from fluted cardboard, while the hinge element 18′ (shown in FIG. 10) is similar to 18, 118, 218, or 318 of the previous embodiments; i.e., the hinges may be formed by partially scoring the planar body or by forming distinct pieces with the impermeable membrane or the bonding agent providing the means to form the hinged segments. As shown in FIG. 9, the planar body may be provided with as many layers as desired to form the device. For example, the planar body may have a vapor barrier layer in addition to the impermeable layer, wherein the vapor barrier layer may be an adhesive.

It is to be understood that the absorbent material may be made of known absorbent or blotting paper and could be made of cotton, cotton blends, cotton-cellulose blends, rice or flax-seed paper etc. in order to effectively absorb or wick excess liquids.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A tea bag squeezing device, comprising:

a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being symmetrically bisected by a joint such that said planar body may be selectively folded about the joint, a central aperture being formed through said planar body and the joint,

whereby the central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when the planar body is folded, the tea bag being sandwiched therein.

2. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the planar body is at least partially covered by a fluid impermeable layer.

3. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 2, wherein an absorbent peripheral area is defined on the lower surface of the planar body about the fluid impermeable layer.

4. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one slit is formed through the planar body, the at least one slit being in communication with the central aperture and extending outwardly therefrom.

5. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said planar body has a contour selected from the group consisting of substantially rectangular and substantially elliptical.

6. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 1, wherein said joint comprises a set of perforations formed through the planar body.

7. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 5, wherein said planar body has a substantially elliptical contour, the joint being positioned across a minor axis of said planar body.

8. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a raised peripheral rim formed on the lower surface of said planar body, at least one fluid passage being formed therethrough.

9. A tea bag squeezing device, comprising:

a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being symmetrically bisected by at least one joint such that said planar body may be selectively folded about the at least one joint, a central aperture being formed through said planar body,

whereby the central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when the planar body is folded, the tea bag being sandwiched therein.

10. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 9, wherein the lower surface of the planar body is at least partially covered by a fluid impermeable layer.

11. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 10, wherein an absorbent peripheral area is defined on the lower surface of the planar body about the fluid impermeable layer.

12. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one slit is formed through the planar body, the at least one slit being in communication with the central aperture and extending outwardly therefrom.

13. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 9, wherein said planar body has a substantially rectangular contour.

14. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 9, wherein said planar body has a substantially elliptical contour.

15. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 14, wherein the joint is positioned across a minor axis of said planar body.

16. A tea bag squeezing device, comprising:

a planar body having opposed upper and lower surfaces and being symmetrically bisected by a joint such that said planar body may be selectively folded about the joint, a central aperture being formed through said planar body and the joint;

a fluid impermeable layer at least partially covering the lower surface of the planar body, wherein an absorbent peripheral area is defined on the lower surface of the planar body about the fluid impermeable layer,

whereby the central aperture is sized and contoured to receive a string of a tea bag such that the tea bag may be pulled by the string to be positioned adjacent the lower surface of the planar body such that excess liquid may be squeezed from the tea bag when the planar body is folded, the tea bag being sandwiched therein.

17. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one slit is formed through the planar body, the at least one slit being in communication with the central aperture and extending outwardly therefrom.

18. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 16, wherein said planar body has a substantially rectangular contour.

19. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 16, wherein said planar body has a substantially elliptical contour.

20. The tea bag squeezing device as recited in claim 19, wherein the joint is positioned across a minor axis of said planar body.