Teacup Heat Diffuser
A heat diffuser for a teacup is provided. The diffuser is specific to traditional teacups that do not have handles and are made from cast-iron, bone, china, clay, ceramic, or similar materials. The diffuser includes multiple insulated fabric fingers that cradle the teacup to diffuse heat away from the individual holding the cup. The fingers are created by layering one or more fabric pieces and one or more insulating components. The diffuser lays flat on a surface, such as a saucer or table, until the individual engages the diffuser by lifting the diffuser and the cup causing the diffuser to cradle around the cup between the user's hand and the teacup. The diffuser is made to absorb some, but not all of the heat, so that it still allows the individual to feel some warmth.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to heat diffusers for beverage cups. More particularly, the present invention relates to teacup heat diffusers. More particularly, the present invention relates to traditional teacups made from materials such as cast iron, bone, clay, ceramic and other similar materials without a handle.
Tea has been around since the 10th Century according to the earliest written records. It can be served hot or cold. While serving the beverage hot, issues arise from the heat from the material that the cup is constructed from. One of those problems is the individual holding the cup has no shield from the heat and the cup is too hot to hold. If the individual waits until the cup has cooled, so has the tea.
Designs seen in prior art for shielding the heat from an individual holding a cup are made for beverage cups that are not decorative-shaped teacups made from cast iron, bone, clay, ceramic, or other similar materials. Prior art designs are geared for the disposable paper cup trend and are designed as sleeves that are fitted around the beverage cup. Generally, individuals who purchase traditional non-handled tea sets take great pains to choose what is aesthetically pleasing and would not want to place a sleeve over the cup, thus covering the design.
Accordingly, the need for a heat diffuser that is compatible with traditional non-handled teacups and is aesthetically appealing is needed. This invention is directed at fulfilling this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an objective of the invention to provide a heat diffuser for traditional cast iron, bone, ceramic, clay, or similar material teacups without handles. It is an objective of the invention to be aesthetically pleasing and not interfere with the design or pattern on the teacup. The invention acts as a coaster that sits atop the saucer or surface and will not cradle the cup until it is lifted up.
The heat diffuser lays underneath the teacup until ready to be used. When an individual wishes to take a drink, they will initiate lifting the heat diffuser with the cup creating a cradle of the insulated fabric fingers around the cup. This cradle can be achieved by using one or two hands and can accommodate most common positions that an individual may use to hold the cup. Once the diffuser is fully engaged around the teacup, the individual will feel warmth, but the cup will not be too hot to hold.
The following detailed description of the heat diffuser is of one particular preferred embodiment created for specific, traditional, non-handled tea cups made from cast iron, bone, clay, ceramic, or other similar materials.
The insulated fabric fingers 3 are created by layering one or more pieces of fabric 4 (preferably 4¼ inch triangles) with one or more insulating components 5 (preferably 4¼ inch triangles). These basic components are attached together (preferably by sewing with a ¼ inch seam) to form the finished finger 3.
The fabric fingers 3 are then positioned in a way that they can be attached opposite to each other
The newly formed sections 2 created by the fused fingers 3 are preferably placed perpendicular to each other. They are secured together, preferably through top stitching 6 around the perpendicular pieces 2. Once the sections 2 are secured, the basic product 1 is complete
Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of the teacup heat diffuser of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes not exemplified in the detailed description of the invention could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The presented embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all alternate embodiments and changes to the embodiments shown herein which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore to be embraced therein.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- One or more fabric fingers for cradling a teacup when lifted; and
- One or more insulating components layered with the fabric for diffusing heat.
Type: Application
Filed: May 12, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2015
Inventor: Michelle Elizabeth Campbell-Olbert (Orlando, FL)
Application Number: 14/275,652