Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Processes – Extraction utilizing liquid as extracting medium
Utility Patent
1998-11-25
2001-01-02
Weier, Anthony J (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Processes
Extraction utilizing liquid as extracting medium
C426S080000, C426S082000, C426S435000, C426S077000
Utility Patent
active
06168816
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of beverage containers and specifically to a beverage infuser suitable for use in a beverage cup.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A popular practice for many individuals is to drink beverages while travelling, such as in the car, on the bus, ferry, train etc., or while walking. These beverages are prepared at home or purchased at a shop or kiosk selling carry out beverages. Many varieties of disposable and non-disposable beverage containers are available for these purposes.
Many tea drinkers favor freshly brewed tea made from loose tea leaves. Brewing loose tea requires steeping the tea leaves in hot water for a desired period of time that is typically around two minutes. During steeping, the tea leaves are normally held in a basket or strainer suspended in a tea pot which is filled with hot water. Once the steeping period has ended, the brewed tea is poured into a separate cup for consumption.
For this reason, tea drinkers purchasing “carry out” tea drinks must typically remain in the store until steeping is completed and the tea has been transferred into a beverage cup. Likewise, tea drinkers preparing their tea at home must remain at home during the steeping process. Until now, the only alternative carry-out option for tea drinkers has been the use of pre-packaged tea bags which are suspended into the hot water in the beverage cup and then discarded at the end of the steeping period. For tea drinkers preferring the flavor of tea made from loose leaves, this alternative is undesirable.
The object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container configured for brewing loose tea leaves without the use of a pre-packaged tea bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a beverage infuser particularly suitable for use on individual drinking cups, including disposable cups of the type commonly used for carry-out beverages.
The beverage infuser is preferably used for making tea using bulk tea leaves, although it is also suitable for use with tea bags or for other beverages, including coffee.
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Hammond Chris
Limbach & Limbach LLP
Weier Anthony J
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