| US20070062376A1 | 2007-03-22 | |||
| US6314866B1 | 2001-11-13 | |||
| US6374726B1 | 2002-04-23 | |||
| DE202010010872U1 | 2010-10-21 |
| CLAIMS 1. A cover for attachment to a container comprising: a membrane shaped to cover and engage the open top of a container with the periphery of the membrane shaped to removably engage the periphery of the open end of -he container; & first opening in the membrane; a mesh forming a pouch, sized to receive and hold materials from which flavors are extracted mid to permit li uid to pass through me pouch and materials to infuse the liquid; means securing the periphery of the pouch to one side of fee membrane; a lid shaped and sized to access and close the first opening; and a sip hole in fee roemhrane spaced from the opening for removal of infused liquid from fee covered container, 2. A cover as set forth in claims 1, wherein the pouch formed by fee net is secured to the periphery of die opening. 3. A cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein t e membrane has a second opening shaped and sized to permit stirring of the liquid, 4. A cover as set forth in ekim 1, wherein fee first opening extends across a portion of the membrane, at least primarily on one side of a diameter thereof. 5. A cover as set forth in claim 4, wherein the pouch may be extended into the cup from the plane of the membrane to allow the materials in the pouch to be infused by liquid in iise container. 6. A cover m set forth i claim 5, wherein a sip hols is positioned in the membrane remote from the opening. 7, A cover as set forth In claim 6, wherein the membrane has a depending peripheral flange shaped and sized to engage the outside of the rim of the container. 8, A cover as set forth in claim 7, having a lid with a depending peripheral edge shaped and sised to close the opening, said cover hinged to said membrane, 9, A cover as set forth in claim 8 wherein the opening is bordered by a flange depending from the membrane wi h the edge of the pouch secured thereto, 10, A slack of covers as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lids are closed and the pouch is flattened against the underside of the membrane, 11. A stack of covers as set forth in claim 10 wherein -he pouch contains tea leaves. 12, A cover as set forth in claim 3, wherein the first opening extends across a portion of the membrane, at least primarily on one side of a diameter iiiereof, 13. A cover as set forth in claim 12, wherein the pouch may be extended into the cup from the plane of the membrane to allow the materials In the poach to be infused by liquid in the container. |
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a lid or cover for infijsing beverages in a cup.
The invention is useful for tea, herbal teas, as well as coffee arid other various steeped beverages such as cocoa and the like,
A wide range of disposable lids are specifically designed for use in infusing tea into disposable cups. Many of these use a separate infuser member which is secured to an opening in the cover with the member projecting into the cup to infuse the tea water within ibe cap.
In general, these systems use cylindrical or frusta-conic cylinders having perforations in the side. The cylinder with the cyiinder centrally located in the cover occupies a good portion of the cover, Such units are comparatively expensive to make.
There are other systems in which the infuser is formed integrally with the cup as an extension on one side of the cup with a limited number of openings through which the tea may be infused. These constructions re uire a sophisticated molding process which does not permit easy stacking of the cups or die containers.
Other systems also contemplate the use of infusers which are lowered into the cup to a significant depth for immersion in the liquid for a time period. Such units are difficult and time consuming to use and frequentl result in a messy spilling of or over absorption of the liquid from the container during the infusion process,
Most of these systems do not contemplate the use of loose tea in an infuser system. Such systems which permit fee use of loose tea have advantages over others. Such systems are more versatile and adapted for infusing a wide range of tea, since loose tea is more readily available in a variety of styles and types than pre-ha.gged teas. Some earlier patents illustrate , the use of a tea hag secured to a cover in a manner in which will allow the bag to steep into the container but do not provide a simple system for removing the tea once the tea has been steeped, or a sim le system for removing the bag once the tea has been steeped. The- cover itself is formed as a membrane with a depending peripheral flange shaped and sized io engage the rirn of the enp,
it is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved cover for dispensing loose tea in a container in a manner that will allow the tea to be fully Mused and with the infused liquid easily removed without allowing tea sediments to float in the infused tea once it is steeped, in another embodiment of the invention, a second opening is provided to permit adding other ingredients suc as milk, honey, and sugar without having to remove the cover or also use the infusing portion of the cover.
One further object of the present invention is to provide a simple design for a cover intended for infusing tea and the like with the covers shaped and sized for easy stacking and use with a variety of standard disposable cups,
A further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable cover for use in infusing beverages which is inexpensive to manufacture mid easy to use and attractive in overall appearance.
One further object of the present invention is to provide a disposable cover for a container, with the covers shaped to be assembled with quantities of loose tea or the like io the stacked containers.
SUMMARY OF INVE TiON
The present invention is intended to provide an improved cover for infusing beverages such as tea, coffee, and cocoa in a cup. In the present invention, a cover formed of a membrane is removably secured to the open end of the cup. The membrane is provided with art opening on. about oEse half of the cover through which materials such as fragments of loose tea may be inserted into a poroas bag. The porous bag is formed of a mesh or netting material with an upper periphery secured to the periphery of the opening. The pouch or porous mesh is shaped to extend down into a quantity of the water within the cup so that infusion will take place and to allow the water in the cup to irtfese through the poroas mesh to steep the tea or other material which is being processed. The opening is provided with a lid that is hinged to the cover in a manner thai will permits Its closure oace the tea has been inserted, A sip hole is provided in fee cover, remote from the opening to allow a user to sip the tea or the material from the cup oace the tea is properly steeped. A second opening is provided through with other ingredients may be included such as milk, honey, or sugar, as well as room for properly stirring the beverage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompany drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lid with a cover closed, embodying the present invention;
FIG, 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the lid opened;
FIG. 3 is a cross- sectional view of the cover with the open lid taken substantiall along the line 3-3 of FIG, 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-secti mal view of a membrane with a cover in a closed position and the membranes in a stackable position;
FIG. 5 is a top view of a second embodiment of the cover of FIG. 1 with an open lid; and FIG. 6 is a top view of the cover of FIG, 5 with the lid dosed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
The cover 1 is preferably formed of a v cuum or injection molded plastic conventionally
Bsed for fabricating disposable plastic covers for disposable cups. However, it should be understood that this invention can readily be used in conjunction with non-disposable beverage ware, This cover 1 is shaped and sized to fit over and engage in an air tight seal the disposable cup 2 (FIG. 3) which is a conventional cup, made in a suitable manner. As illustrated in FIG, 3, the disposable cup 2 is formed with a peripheral edge defined by a beaded or rolled rim 4 in a conventional fashion. The cover I is shaped with a periphery 6 depending from a rnesnbrane 7 which effectively forms the cover of the present invention. The membrane 7 is preferably circular io configuration to conform to the shape and size of the open top of the cup 2, and the periphery 6 is formed with a series of annular depending flanges 10 shaped to engage and disengage the rim 4.
The membrane 7 is formed with n opening 12 preferably positioned on one side of the diameter of the cover as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, This opening 12 is preferably arcuate In configuration conforming to the periphery of the cover and spaced a short distance from its periphery with the opening 12 occupying a portion of one-half of the lid of the membrane 7, The opening 12 is bordered with a depending continuous flange 23 to which the open end of the poach 22 is permanently secured by heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, or other suitable means. The opening 12 may be selectively opened and closed b a lid 14 which is suitably secured at one end 16 to the membrane 7 by a heat sea! or other suitable means conventional in the industry. The lid 14 is preferably formed with a depending lip portion 18 defining a peripheral wall that is shaped and sized to engage the periphery of the opening 10 in a sealed fashion when the lid 14 is closed.
The cover may be opened to allow tea leaves 20 (FIG, 3), ground coffee or other material to be inserted the pouch formed by the mesh or net 22, The mesh pouch 22 may be of any standard fine filter material such as paper, woven and non-woven fabric. Many commercially available filter materials are available. It is important that die mesh he fine to effectively prevent small particles from passing through it. Other filter material may be selectively used hut should be shaped and dimensioned and have permeability sufficient to allow the infusion of water through the porous membrane or pouch 22 io infuse the tea or other related material 20.
The filter or pouch material 22 is sufficiently large to allow it to extend into the disposable cup 2 a sufficient distance to be positioned in the water or other liquid added to the cap for infusion purposes. In this configuration, the pouch 22 lies partially below the water line 24 for infusion purposes, particularly when initially filled. A sip hole 28 is provided in the lid through the membrane at a distance remote from the opening 12 with the sip hole sized and simped to allow a user to draw tea or other infused liquids from the disposable cup through the sip facie 28.
FIG. 4 illustrates the lid in a position suitable for stacking. In this configuration, the cover is formed with its lid closed and with the tea bag or pouch folded closely under the under side of the cover or membrane 7. In this fashion, stack of covers may he arranged in a column for easy disposition or shipment, F rther the pouch may be prefilied with loose tea.
While the description of this application describes the material, in which the tea is brewed as comprising a filter, there are many types of filters that are available, but preferably a niiero- filter mesh with mesh openings of a fraction of a millimeter are preferred so as to prevent the tea particles from entering into the liquid body of the tea. It is preferable that the filter material not be made of plastic since plastic tends to l each and has on some occasions become a concern with consumers.
FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment in which there are two openings in the cover 50, The opening 51 is sized and shaped to permit addiag milk, sugar, or other ingredients to the beverage without removing the lid. It also allows the contents to be stirred. The second opening 52 is parallel to the opening 12 of the first embodiment including a mesh pouch 53 for holding the materials 20 to be infused such as tea leaves or coffee, FIG. 6 illustrates the cover of FIG 5 with a lid 60. The lid 60 may be integrally formed with two segments to fit respectively over the openings 51 and 52, Another option is to have lid 60 hinged along its center line 61 to permit access to either openings 51 or 52 separately while keeping the other opening closed, If secured to the cover 50 along the center line 61, both can openings can be accessed without removing the lid.
The present invention is particularly useful in the developing tea market which high quality loose tea is more commonly sold today than previously. Because of this trend, there is a greater demand for various types of loose teas that can be selectively used in various quantities. The present invention provides an improved method for ase in restaurants and by other vendors presenting to the potential customer, a selection of different types of teas and coffees of different strengths and sizes, it also allows cafes or other vendors of tea to packag its own brand tea product. Other uses are obvious.
The specific design of the tea bag and cover permit the tea to depend into the liquid for thorough infusion. When the tea Is renamed by drinking the infusion stops at an appropriate time, there is no need to remove the spent tea leaves.
In use these lids may be initially loaded or not with tea particles or the like and compactly stacked one upon the other.
The system may be used for other beverages such as coffee , any other Infused beverage, and used in a manner as described.
Having now described my invention, I claim;