Nonrigid Tethered Type Patents (Class 426/83)
  • Patent number: 10602870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a beverage preparation device (1), comprising a central axis (2) with a brewing plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the brewing plane comprises a curved trajectory (3), curved with respect to the central axis, a first (4) and second (5) compression element, arranged for movement relative to each other along the curved trajectory, extending perpendicular to the curved trajectory, a brewing chamber (6) arranged for movement relative to the first and second compression elements along the curved trajectory, the brewing chamber having a tubular wall (7) extending parallel to the curved trajectory, wherein the tubular wall is arranged to be moved over an outer circumference (8, 9) of the first and/or second compression elements, a water inlet (14) arranged for discharging water into a brewing space, and a beverage outlet (15) arranged for discharging beverage from the brewing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Bravilor Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Cornelis van Hattem
  • Patent number: 9428289
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for making a medium-filled packing of two superposed heat-sealable elongated webs of plastic film (3) which are thermally sealed in longitudinal and transverse directions of the film webs for forming packings (11), and where the formed packings are filled by medium and closed. The film webs (3) are passed between a pair of rollers (6) which are pressed against each other, retaining the film webs therebetween. Thermal sealing across part of the width of the film webs is performed so that unbroken longitudinal areas (9) without any thermal sealing appear in the longitudinal direction of the film webs (3). The medium is filled into the packing before closing it for the formation of the medium-filled packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: REDDY ICE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventor: Henrik Pape
  • Publication number: 20150037467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pouch and a method for making the same. In the inventive method, which is adapted to produce pouches having a limited amount of fusible material, a heat-sealable cord is arranged on a web forming confronting side surface of each pouch. Those confronting side surfaces are fused by heating the heat-sealable cord. The present invention furthermore provides a pouch, in particular containing a brewable or extractable commodity such as tea, with a pocket defined between confronting side surfaces of a web. The pouch of the present invention can have a limited amount of fusible material as the confronting side surfaces are joined by solidified melt of a heat-sealable cord arranged in vicinity of at least one edge of the pouch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Stefan Lambertz, Phil Haddow, Peter John Whitlock, Bradley Wiggett, Michael Klein, Hans Knops, Wolfgang Richael
  • Publication number: 20140342049
    Abstract: A tea sleeve is described. The tea sleeve includes: a pouch adapted to store a tea bag; a tab adapted to secure a first opening of the pouch; and a water resistant lining along an interior surface of the pouch. A tea bag pouch includes: a sealed main body adapted to house a tea bag; a first removable section adapted to form a first opening in the main body, wherein the tea bag is able to pass through the first opening; and a second removable section adapted to form a second opening in the main body, wherein the second removable section is coupled to the tea bag via a retaining element and string. A tea bag envelope includes: a main body adapted to store a tea bag; a tab that extends from the main body to form a closure; and a slot adapted to accept a portion of the tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Julie Forrest
  • Publication number: 20140227398
    Abstract: In the interior of a disposable closed bag formed of a package material, a beverage preparation of a solid substance is placed, the substance being capable of giving off components of the beverage through the water-permeable packaging material when the bag is infused in water for preparing the beverage. On part of the package material the bag includes a supporting surface which is formed as a water-impermeable structure having an upward dimension as a collar of a given height, for preventing water from leaking out from the wetted beverage preparation in the bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Spotless Tea Bag Oy
    Inventor: Matti Koskinen
  • Publication number: 20140134297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new invention provides a new infusion bag that is easy to handle even if a long hanging string is used, allows easy infusion, and prevents the hanging string from being caught in a seal part during individual-package sealing. Said infusion bag 1 is provided with the following: a bag part 2 that contains the substance to be used to produce an infusion; and a hanging string 3, the tip of which is affixed to a tag 5 for holding the infusion bag and the base end 3a of which is affixed to the surface 4 of the bag part 2. This infusion bag is characterized by a structure wherein: the hanging string 3 is coiled into a spiral and disposed on the surface 4 of the bag part 2; and the tag 5 is detachably affixed to the surface 4 of the bag part 2 so as to cover the hanging string 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: ITO EN SANGYO, LTD., ITO EN, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Aizawa, Katsuhisa Kajiyama, Motomu Takamatsu
  • Publication number: 20130287901
    Abstract: A tea bag and a method and apparatus for its use are disclosed. Generally speaking the tea bag comprises an indicia that is selectively visible based on a desired characteristic of a tea-based beverage brewed from the tea bag. In various exemplary embodiments, the indicia indicates an elapsed time that the beverage has been brewed. In various other exemplary embodiments, the indicia indicates a relative strength of the brewed beverage. In yet other exemplary embodiments, the indicia indicates a temperature of the brewed beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: John J. Hong
  • Publication number: 20130164414
    Abstract: For use in a single serving beverage brewer, a disposable beverage filter package comprises a closed permeable pouch. A dry beverage medium is contained within the pouch. The disposable beverage filter package is inserted into a reusable brewing filter chamber which is arranged to force the flow of a metered liquid into the filter package. The filter package and chamber are arranged such that the liquid is retained temporarily in the filter package for infusion of the beverage medium before permeating and then flowing through the filter package and exiting the brewing chamber near its opposite end as a liquid beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: James C. Hermanowski, Sherri M. Hermanowski, Ashley L. Hermanowski, James B. Hermanowski, Henre M. Hermanowski
  • Patent number: 8337918
    Abstract: A filter envelope which is filled with ground coffee or other drinkable dry granular substance by a user and sealed for use comprises two (2) round filter media sections crimped together about a perimeter and an extended opening along one (1) edge. The user would fill the interior space of the filter with a desired amount of chosen dry granular substance through the opening. A preferred embodiment comprises the dry granular substance to comprise ground coffee for subsequent brewing within a conventional coffee machine including those such as percolators that require the filter to have a central hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Sara E. Fair
  • Publication number: 20120189741
    Abstract: A weighted fluid infusion device is provided and comprises a sealed porous pouch containing brewing material and capable of allowing brewing fluid to filter therethrough, a string for manipulating the fluid infusion device, and a weighted device. The weighted device is sufficient to completely submerge the sealed porous pouch in the brewing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Vernon Francis LIGHTFOOT
  • Patent number: 7744939
    Abstract: An infusion beverage package includes a body portion having overlying layers of porous material that are joined to form at least one compartment for carrying infusion beverage product in addition to a weight that causes the body portion to sink in water. The compartment(s) may also carry an agent (e.g., sweetener) that imparts flavor characteristics into a solution during steeping of the infusion beverage product. The weight is preferably realized by a non-toxic, insoluble odorless, flavorless microwaveable material (e.g., ceramic material, porcelain material, and naturally-occurring rock material). Alternatively, the weight may be realized by a dissolvable agent such as a sweetener. A multi-compartment single bag design and dual-bag designs are illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventors: Paul V. Greco, Mario Aieta
  • Publication number: 20100159076
    Abstract: One embodiment of an infusion package comprises a prepared raw material compartment (10) formed by sealed partitions (12) and (14) and containing prepared raw material (16). Partition (14) separates compartment (10) from a flotation compartment (18) filled with flotation material (20) to cause the package to float in a liquid. Any floatable material which is inert and harmless in the liquid, or a gas bubble sealed in a liquid-tight bag can serve as flotation material. A sealed package top (22) carries advertising materials, though advertising labels can be attached to its surface as an option. One end of a string (24) is attached to top (22) and the other—to a conventional label (26). The package can be agitated and removed from the liquid with the help of top (22) or string (24). The package can be entirely or in part of a liquid-permeable, heavier-, or lighter-than-liquid, inert and harmless material like paper, fabric, plastic net, perforated plastic film, etc. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Marat Purliyev
  • Publication number: 20090263546
    Abstract: A single-lobe filter bag for infusion products comprises a length (2) of filter material forming a chamber (3) containing a charge (4) of the infusion product. The length (2) comprises: a first closed top end (5) formed by a first join (S1) between two first end edges of the length (2); a second closed bottom end (7) and two sides (8, 9) connecting the two ends (5, 7) of the length (2); the two sides (8, 9) connecting the first and second edges (5, 7) are at least partly folded onto each other to form a fold towards the inside of the chamber (3) and the second bottom end (7) of the filter bag (1) is closed by second join (S2) designed to form a rigid flat bottom surface (11) of the filter bag (1) such as to define a stable base, with a substantially triangular cross section, for supporting the filter bag (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: IMA FLAVOUR S.R.L.
    Inventors: Dario Rea, Rodolfo Caroli, Sauro Rivola
  • Publication number: 20090246324
    Abstract: An infusion device includes an infusion bag containing tea. A string is attached to the bag and a cover encloses the bag. The cover is perforated at the bottom to permit the user to remove the bag from the cover. The string is also attached to a detachable tab on the cover so that the bag can be drawn back up into the cover after brewing the tea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Daniel M. Sluzas
  • Patent number: 7592027
    Abstract: A method of preparing a beverage with the steps of: a) inserting a first beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into a beverage preparation machine; b) operating said beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the first beverage cartridge to dispense a first portion of said beverage into a receptacle; c) inserting a second beverage cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients into the beverage preparation machine; and d) operating the beverage preparation machine to pass an aqueous medium through the second beverage cartridge to dispense a second portion of said beverage into the receptacle; wherein one of the first or second beverage cartridges contains a liquid dairy-based ingredient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Kraft Foods R & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Halliday, Colin Ballard, Satwinder Panesar
  • Publication number: 20090130262
    Abstract: A beverage infusion device for preparing a beverage in a single beverage container (700), comprises housing means (100, 101) and infusion means (200). The infusion means (200) is joined to the housing means by a thread (201). The housing means (100, 101) stores the infusion means (200) inside said housing means and, after said infusion means has been immersed into a fluid in the beverage container (700), permits pulling the infusion means back into the housing means and pressing excess fluid out of said infusion means by means of said thread (201). The housing means (100, 101) is further fitted with slots to fit onto the rim of the beverage container (700) while the beverage is prepared. The infusion means finally comprises a filter bag (200) containing an infusible substance for making the beverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Lars Bendix, Hakan Lofholm, Frank Thygessen, Johnny Ragazzo
  • Patent number: 7523595
    Abstract: A method for automatically attaching a draw string to an infusion bag, in which the draw string surrounds the infusion bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Haussier & Sauter KG
    Inventor: Paul Gerhard Klar
  • Publication number: 20090041903
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the tea bag string (3) equipped with the state display function coming off of the tea bag (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: ABANKO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byungkook Moon
  • Patent number: 7401450
    Abstract: This invention concerns an infusion bag, especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached that goes from one side of the top part through a hole in the folded down parts forming a loop on the other side of the top part and comes back, whereby the two free ends are drawn up through the loop laid over the top edge of the infusion bag and pulled to form a knot. The solution in the invention is characterized by the fact that two holes are made in the top part at a lateral distance next to one another, on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the bag; each hole goes through a folded down corner and the middle of the top part; by the fact that the string forms a loop and one end goes through one hole and the other end through the second hole; by the fact that the loop is laid over the top edge of the infusion bag, and both ends of the string go up through the loop to form a double knot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co.KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Stefan Lambertz, Manfred Hauers, Dieter Vits
  • Patent number: 7299940
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is open and alterable such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 7235273
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses an infusion bag 18 having means for selectively inserting any desired dry beverage material 16. The disposable infusion bag 18 has spaced apart reinforced elements 20 fixedly attached to the bag material with a string 22 passing through the elements in predetermined positions whereby pressure applied to the distal ends of the string causes the top corners 30 to fold forward engaging the bag whereupon the remaining triangular center element folds over covering the previously folded corners preventing any of the inserted material from escaping. The bag 18 may be reusable by unfolding the bag, discarding the used contents, replacing with fresh material and refolding the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Andrea Ruston
  • Patent number: 7140510
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 7070824
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for slicing and seasoning meat, such as a ham. In one example, the apparatus includes a blade for slicing meat and a sprayer, such as a nozzle, for providing a stream of liquid seasoning in the direction of the blade during slicing, such that the liquid seasoning is distributed in between each slice substantially throughout the cut of meat. The sprayer may be coupled to a domestic water supply and/or at least one reservoir for holding a liquid seasoning. The apparatus may further include a spiral slicing configuration such that the meat is rotated while it is sliced and seasoned. Angling the blade with respect to the meat advantageously provides an opening in the meat so liquid seasoning may be distributed therein during the slicing process. In other examples, multiple sprayers and/or blades may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Honey Baked Ham, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Gore
  • Publication number: 20040217119
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 6746699
    Abstract: This invention concerns an infusion bag, especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached that goes from one side of the top part through a hole in the folded down parts forming a loop on the other side of the top part and comes back, whereby the two free ends are drawn up through the loop laid over the top edge of the infusion bag and pulled to form a knot. The solution in the invention is characterized by the fact that two holes are made in the top part at a lateral distance next to one another, on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the bag; each hole goes through a folded down corner and the middle of the top part; by the fact that the string forms a loop and one end goes through one hole and the other end through the second hole; by the fact that the loop is laid over the top edge of the infusion bag, and both ends of the string go up through the loop to form a double knot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Teepack Spezialmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Stefan Lambertz, Manfred Hauers, Dieter Vits
  • Patent number: 6742670
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 6729494
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 6730338
    Abstract: A package comprising a bag body and a suspending member having a tag and a suspending line, the bag body being formed of a packing material to a given shape, the tag being fixed to the outer surface of the bag body and the suspending line having one end fixed to the tag, a middle portion wound on the tag and the other end fixed to the outer surface. Preferably, the tag has a notch part tapered off, and the middle portion of the line is wound on the notch part of the tag. The package has a suspending line with a sufficient length while it has good external appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Fuso Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6692780
    Abstract: The invention is a beverage device having a beverage pack, such as a bag containing substances to be added to flavor a liquid and a shield. The shield is connected to the pack and encapsulates the pack in the bottom of a cup. The shield has an open orientation which allows beverage pack steeping and a closed orientation. The shield can be made from two portions. A stick can be used to push the shield to the bottom of the cup and orient the shield in its closed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Sonja A. Sandin
  • Publication number: 20030203074
    Abstract: This invention concerns an infusion bag, especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached that goes from one side of the top part through a hole in the folded down parts forming a loop on the other side of the top part and comes back, whereby the two free ends are drawn up through the loop laid over the top edge of the infusion bag and pulled to form a knot. The solution in the invention is characterized by the fact that two holes are made in the top part at a lateral distance next to one another, on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the bag; each hole goes through a folded down corner and the middle of the top part; by the fact that the string forms a loop and one end goes through one hole and the other end through the second hole; by the fact that the loop is laid over the top edge of the infusion bag, and both ends of the string go up through the loop to form a double knot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Stefan Lambertz, Manfred Hauers, Dieter Vits
  • Publication number: 20030170345
    Abstract: An improved structure of a tea bag is disclosed. The bag body is corrugated which can be extended and the bag body is made from higher porosity and hydrophilic paper, and the top face of the bag body is a first porous face with loosen pores, and the center of the bag body is a second porous face with further loosen pores, thereby, the bag body provides an effective way of brewing tea.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Te Sheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20030113412
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for attaching a label (5) to the free end (3e) of a thread (3), the other end of which is attached or attachable to an infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, wherein thread (3) having its free thread end (3e) placed on the one side of label (5) is taken by a needle penetrating label (5) and is pulled in a loop (3f) through label (5), loop (3f) is then introduced from the other side in two slits (5a) in the marginal region of label (5), such that its closed portion is again placed on the one side of label (5) and wherein the loop is afterwards tightened by pulling thread (3). The invention also relates to an infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, as well as a label (5) for an infusion bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Manfred Hauers, Stephan Lambertz, Wilhelm Lohrey, Dieter Vits
  • Publication number: 20030031759
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 6464099
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a raised container lid bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner, Michael Barry
  • Patent number: 6460725
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a bag retention structure that is openable or open such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Mighty Leaf Tea
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Publication number: 20020094360
    Abstract: A package comprising a bag body and a suspending member having a tag and a suspending line, the bag body being formed of a packing material to a given shape, the tag being fixed to the outer surface of the bag body and the suspending line having one end fixed to the tag, a middle portion wound on the tag and the other end fixed to the outer surface. Preferably, the tag has a notch part tapered off, and the middle portion of the line is wound on the notch part of the tag. The package has a suspending line with a sufficient length while it has good external appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Fuso Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6372270
    Abstract: The present invention comprises various methods and apparatus for making or brewing personal quantities of beverages using bottled water, either in a conventional or specially formed bottle. One embodiment includes a cap assembly having an outer attachment portion and a plunger portion fitting within the attachment portion. The two portions define a chamber therein containing a drink mix, one or more tea bags, etc. A seal is provided to prevent mixing of the drink mix and water within the bottle until desired. When the plunger is pushed downwardly, it drives the drink mix through the seal, bursting the seal and deploying the drink mix or tea bags into the water within the bottle. In another embodiment, the bottle and drink mix are packaged together, with the bottle including a pocket formed in the side thereof and the drink mix secured in the pocket by a label extending thereacross. Yet another embodiment includes a conventional bottle, with the label having a pocket formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Sean P. Denny
  • Publication number: 20010053400
    Abstract: This invention concerns an infusion bag, especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached that goes from one side of the top part through a hole in the folded down parts forming a loop on the other side of the top part and comes back, whereby the two free ends are drawn up through the loop laid over the top edge of the infusion bag and pulled to form a knot. The solution in the invention is characterized by the fact that two holes are made in the top part at a lateral distance next to one another, on the left and right of the longitudinal axis of the bag; each hole goes through a folded down corner and the middle of the top part; by the fact that the string forms a loop and one end goes through one hole and the other end through the second hole; by the fact that the loop is laid over the top edge of the infusion bag, and both ends of the string go up through the loop to form a double knot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventors: Wilhelm Lohrey, Stefan Lambertz, Manfred Hauers, Dieter Vits
  • Patent number: 6187349
    Abstract: A beverage bag having a porous holder for receiving a beverage making component and a tab secured to the porous holder is disclosed. The tab comprises a first and a second layer. While the first layer is impervious to liquids, the second layer, secured to the first layer is formed of a moisture absorbent material. The first and second layers form a butler for receiving the porous holder after the beverage has been made. Initially, the tab is folded to the size and shape of a standard tab, and is thereafter unfold-able to form the butler which is sized to receive the porous holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Alfred Sulpizio
  • Patent number: 5989602
    Abstract: A double compartment infusion packet has a drawstring (4) running through both compartments. The compartments are doubled over are joined together at opposite ends. The drawstring has an intermediate portion (6) retained at one end between the compartments and further portions (8) extending through the compartments to the other end where the ends of the drawstring are secured to a tag card (40). The tag card overlaps the sealing of the compartments at the other end and is secured there to the packet material. A line of weakening (42) allows the tag card to be detached to draw out the further portions of the drawstring to contract the packet and squeeze out excess moisture after infusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Lipton
    Inventors: Timothy Drury, Dante Ghirlandi
  • Patent number: 5874149
    Abstract: A tagged packet carries a tag which is attached to the main body of the packet by a thread. The thread comprises polypropylene so as to be attachable by heat sealing to the body. The body is made up of layers of sheet material also comprising thermoplastic material to allow the body to be closed by heat seals. The thread is secured to the f ace of the body at one edge at the same time as that edge is heat sealed and the heating for the thread seal is applied from the opposite face of the body whereas the adjacent regions of edge seal spaced from the thread has the heating applied through the first face. This arrangement gives closer control of the different conditions required for securing the thread and for sealing together only the sheet material of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey William Vernon, James Goodwin, Andrew Cleall, Thomas William Bailey
  • Patent number: 5871789
    Abstract: A machine and process for making complete tea bags comprising a filter bag and thread for holding the filter bag. The machine comprises a continuously turning wheel, whose lateral surface has pins which can move from a rest position, where they are retracted into the lateral surface, to a working position where they protrude from the wheel; the wheel assembles a strip of porous material with the thread, with a pickup tag and with the infusable product in such a way as to form tea bags where the thread is arranged in a closed loop inside the filter bag, together with the infusable product, and is attached to the edges of the filter bag to form a particularly resistant fastening during infusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Tecnomeccanica S.r.l.
    Inventor: Andrea Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 5863575
    Abstract: Packets containing a flowable material are provided with a draw-string or thread to squeeze the packet contents. The packet envelope is formed from a doubled-over web which gives the packet a folded-over edge and which encloses an intermediate portion of the thread close to the folded-over edge. The end portions of the web extend from the intermediate portion of the thread to extend through the opposite edge of the packet. The external ends of the thread are secured to a tag which is attached to the outer face of the envelope. The thread intermediate portion is retained close to the folded-over edge by heat sealing. Apparatus is also described for producing the packets in a continuous or semi-continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Kuipers, Simon Charles Martin, Geoffrey William Vernon, Petrus Wilhelmus Van Der Zon
  • Patent number: 5674544
    Abstract: The invention provides an infusion package comprising a closed bag (1) containing an infusible substance for infusion in a liquid, the bag being formed from panels (2,3) of porous material sealed together at their peripheral margins (4); and a pair of drawstrings (11, 12), each of which extends into the interior of the bag through a seal between the panels at a first location (13,14) on the peripheral margins, and extends across the interior of the bag to an anchoring point at a generally opposed location on the peripheral margins without any intermediate interengagement with the said panels of the bag; and wherein each drawstring is anchored by being held between two sealed together portions of the panels, the arrangement being such that pulling the drawstrings in generally opposite directions causes the bag to collapse, thereby to express liquid absorbed by the infusible substance during infusion. The infusion package is preferably a tea bag or coffee bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Tidy Tea Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Evan Shakspeare
  • Patent number: 5672368
    Abstract: A beverage bag containing a substance from which essences can be extracted by steeping is arranged so that steeping liquid does not drip from the bag during its transport from the steeping liquid to a place of disposal. The beverage bag is arranged as a generally planar envelope having at least one substantially straight side and an apex formed by the intersection of two envelope sides. A first handle, suitably string, is attached to the bag at a location that will cause the bag to hang with the apex at the lowermost point, thus facilitating rapid drainage of the steeping liquid from the bag contents. A second handle is attached to the bag at a location that will cause the bag to hang with its substantially straight side in a generally horizontal plane. Residual steeping liquid will be reabsorbed by the bag contents and the bag will then not drip during its transport to another location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Warren E. Perkins
  • Patent number: 5657898
    Abstract: A container cover having chamber for retaining a porous filter bag, such as a tea bag. The cover has an upwardly extending protrusion forming the retaining chamber. The protrusion has an aperture enabling passage of the drawstring of the tea bag. An opening closed by a removable lift tab is formed in the container cover for access to liquid contents of the container. The protrusion and opening are located opposite one another on the container cover. The user withdraws the tea bag from the liquid contents of the container into the retaining chamber by pulling the drawstring of the tea bag through the aperture. The aperture resiliently grasps the drawstring. The container cover and porous filter bag are used and discarded without causing direct handling of the porous filter bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventors: Jill Portman, Gary Shinner
  • Patent number: 5620724
    Abstract: The invention disclosed herein provides a way to engage a used concentrate packet such as a tea bag in a drink container in which a liquid product was made from the concentrate without removing the packet from the container and without having to directly contact the packet. Thus, one need not wet his or her fingers or anything in the area of the container, and the used packet when engaged will not interfere with drinking of the liquid product. The packet is also isolated from the interior of the drink container to inhibit further infusion or dissolving of any concentrate remaining in the packet, thereby to control the strength or concentration of the liquid product without having to remove the packet from the container. In the preferred embodiment the holder defines a compartment into which the used packet may be moved to isolate the packet from the interior of the drink container so as to inhibit further concentrating the liquid product from any concentrate in the packet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Inventor: Richard S. Adler
  • Patent number: 5580408
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for tag and thread assembly for tagged infusion packets. Spaced tags from a strip of tags and a length of thread are laid over each other on the periphery of a first assembly wheel and the thread is drawn out in loops between successive tags. The spaced tags and looped thread are transferred to a second assembly wheel where they are connected to a web of sheet material that is to form the infusion packets. The web is subsequently formed into a series of compartments in which infusion material is contained. The compartments are severed from the web for forming the individual packets and the thread is simultaneously severed between the packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co.
    Inventors: Geoffrey W. Vernon, James Goodwin, Andrew J. Cleall
  • Patent number: 5552165
    Abstract: A package for containing a flowable infusible material comprising a closed bag made from a porous material. The bag has a first side, a second side that opposes the first side and two other sides. The package also has a drawstring that passes out of the interior of the package via a first exit point located adjacent one end of the first side and a second exit point located adjacent the other end of the first side. Means are provided to constrain the drawstring against adjacent the ends of the second side and at some intermediate point along each of said other sides (preferably near the midpoint). The arrangement being such that pulling the ends of the drawstring in substantially opposite directions causes the drawstring to move relative to the sides it engages and thus enable the package to collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H. A. Haak, Jan J. Kuipers, Craig S. McLean
  • Patent number: 5552164
    Abstract: A package containing a flowable infusible material which has a drawstring that passes out of the interior of the package via a first exit point and a second exit point and means which constrains said drawstring adjacent at least two sides. The arrangement is such that pulling the ends of the drawstring in substantially opposite directions causes the drawstring to move relative to the sides it engages thus allowing the package to collapse. Preferred embodiments of the package are rectangular, square or circular in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton, Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Kuipers, Craig S. McLean