U.S. patent application number 11/099323 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for package for draining an infusion bag.
Invention is credited to Ann-Marie Paz.
Application Number | 20060222738 11/099323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37070806 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060222738 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paz; Ann-Marie |
October 5, 2006 |
Package for draining an infusion bag
Abstract
A package for an infusion bag is disclosed comprising a cavity
defined by front and rear opposing surfaces and top and bottom
lids. The top lid outwardly biases top edges of the front and rear
opposing surfaces for preventing the top edges from brushing
against a string during retraction of the infusion bag. A lid is
located on the bottom of the cavity, opposing the top lid, where
the bottom lid has one free edge, and wherein inwardly biasing side
edges of the surfaces outwardly biases the free edge of the bottom
lid from the adjacent surface.
Inventors: |
Paz; Ann-Marie; (Portland,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GOTTLIEB RACKMAN & REISMAN PC
270 MADISON AVENUE
8TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
100160601
US
|
Family ID: |
37070806 |
Appl. No.: |
11/099323 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
426/77 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 85/8085 20130101;
B65D 85/812 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
426/077 |
International
Class: |
B65B 29/02 20060101
B65B029/02 |
Claims
1. A package for an infusion bag comprising a cavity defined by
front and rear opposing surfaces and a top lid, where the top lid
outwardly biases top edges of the front and rear opposing surfaces
for preventing the top edges from brushing against a string during
retraction of the infusion bag.
2. The package of claim 1, where the opposing surfaces are joined
at respective side edges, and the lid has at least one opening
through which the string can retract the infusion bag into the
package.
3. The package of claim 1, having a lid on the bottom of the
cavity, opposing the top lid, where the bottom lid has one free
edge, and wherein inwardly biasing side edges of the surfaces
outwardly biases the free edge of the bottom lid from the adjacent
surface.
4. The package of claim 3, wherein the bottom and top lids forming
semicircular shapes around a centerline so that the front and rear
surfaces forming semi-cylindrical shapes about the centerline.
5. The package of claim 3, wherein the bottom of the rear surface
has an extension with a shape that mirrors at least a portion of
the bottom lid.
6. The package of claim 3, wherein the lids each have a medial fold
separating each lid into front and rear halves, where each half
folds planar with the respective front and rear surface.
7. The package of claim 3, wherein the width of the package is
larger than the width of the infusion bag when the side edges are
inwardly biased so that the infusion bag may be located entirely
within the package.
8. A method of forming a package for an infusion bag comprising the
step of forming a cavity defined by front and rear opposing
surfaces and a top lid, where the top lid outwardly biases top
edges of the front and rear opposing surfaces for preventing the
top edges from brushing against a string during retraction of the
infusion bag.
9. The method of claim 8, where the opposing surfaces are joined at
respective side edges, wherein the method further comprises the
step of forming at least one opening in the lid through which the
string can retract the infusion bag into the package.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming a lid on the
bottom of the cavity, opposing the top lid, where the bottom lid
has one free edge, and wherein inwardly biasing side edges of the
surfaces outwardly biases the free edge of the bottom lid from the
adjacent surface.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the bottom and top lids form
semicircular shapes around a centerline so that the front and rear
surfaces forming semi-cylindrical shapes about the centerline.
12. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming an extension
on the bottom of the rear surface, where the extension has a shape
that mirrors at least a portion of the bottom lid.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the lids each have a medial
fold separating each lid into front and rear halves, where each
half folds planar with the respective front and rear surface.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the width of the package is
larger than the width of the infusion bag when the side edges are
inwardly biased so that the infusion bag may be located entirely
within the package.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to infusion bags such as teabags and
to packages that assist in the draining of the infusion bags after
removal from a liquid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Infusion commodities and related bags are well known and
include typical teabags having a tag connected by a string. Hot
water is poured into a mug or other sturdy and heat resistant cup
and the teabag is inserted into the cup so that the tag hangs over
the cup rim. After a typical period of infusion (e.g., three to
five minutes), the tag is lifted away from the cup, pulling the bag
from the cup. The teabag is then pressed between the tag and the
bowl of the spoon for draining.
[0003] There are several challenges presented by using the tag to
lift the teabag from the teacup and for draining the teabag. Upon
placement into a cup of boiling water, teabags often sink to the
teacup base, pulling the tag into the cup. The tea is thus
contaminated by the substance in the tag. After the saturated
teabag and tag are removed from the cup (e.g. by using a spoon),
the user cannot drain the teabag without having hot water drip on
the user's fingers.
[0004] In view of the stated challenges, there is a need for a
teabag implement for lifting the teabag from a cup of water after
infusion, where the tag cannot fall into the teacup during
infusion. The implement should also enable the user to drain the
teabag without requiring direct contact between the users' fingers
and the tag or the teabag.
[0005] Several prior art patents disclose teabag packages connected
to the teabag by a string that attempt to satisfy the above stated
needs. One example of a prior art teabag page is illustrated in
FIG. 1 and generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,308,241 to
Hogaboom, U.S. Pat. No. 3,047,397 to Irmscher, U.S. Pat. No.
3,057,729 to Grant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,810 to Dacal, and U.S. Pat.
No. 5,091,197 to Ferro. Each patent discloses a teabag 2 and
package 6 connected by a string 4. Each package 6 contains first
and second opposing, liquid impervious body sheets, 8 and 10, that
are continuous about a medial fold 12. During infusion, as the
teabag fills with water, the package 4 is large enough to hang over
the cup rim without slipping into the cup. After infusion, the
teabag 2 is drawn between the body sheets 8 and 10, towards the
medial fold 12, and drained by being squeezed between the sheets 8
and 10.
[0006] A challenge with this prior art design is that if the user
drains the teabag by squeezing the side edges of the body sheets 8
and 10, the user will be subjected to liquid dripping from the side
of the teabag 2. On the other hand, the user can grip the opposing
faces of the body sheets 8 and 10 to drain the teabag. However,
this action will cause the sheets to pinch the string 4 at the
medial fold 12 as the teabag 2 is drawn into the package 6,
preventing the retraction of the teabag 2 into the package 6.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,528 to O'Neill, illustrated in FIGS. 2
and 3, also teaches a squeezable package for emptying a teabag
similar to the discussed prior art. O'Neill has a teabag 2
connected to a package 6 by a string 4, where the package has front
and rear body sheets 8 and 10 connected at a medial fold 12.
O'Neill also has first and second side liners 14 and 16 which
expand upon the opening of the package for protecting the user from
exposure to the teabag liquid during retraction of the teabag. If
the user grips the opposing faces of the body sheets 8 and 10 to
retract the teabag 2, then the user will find the same problem as
the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1. If the user grips the sides of
the body sheets 8 and 10, around the liners 14 and 16, the liners
will be inwardly biased which will collapse the opening and prevent
the teabag 2 from retracting into the package 6.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,269 to Goldberg discloses a conical
package connected to a teabag by a string running through the apex
of the package, where the user retracts the teabag by pulling a
string through the apex of the cone. The shape of Goldberg is
essentially a rounded form of O'Neill, so that the package of
Goldberg will also tend to bias inwardly from the grip of the user,
collapsing the opening and preventing the retraction of the
teabag.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,387,978 to Major teaches a teabag that is
directly connected to a squeezable package, without the use of a
string. To empty the teabag, the package is folded around the
teabag in a book form, with the resulting shape similar to that of
FIG. 1, above, with the teabag retracted into the package.
Accordingly, Major has at least the same drawbacks as the prior art
related to FIG. 1. Another weakness of Major is that without a
string, the cup needs to be filled almost to the rim before water
can mix with the contents of the teabag.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,724 to Adler teaches a teabag straining
package that is connected to the inside of the teacup and submerged
in tea water. After retracting the teabag into the package with a
string, a watertight strainer drains the tea water from the teabag
so that the user is not required to touch the teabag. The problem
with Adler is that the cup will tend to tip when the user draws the
teabag through the strainer.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the prior art, it is an object of the invention
to provide a straining package for a teabag that is light and
unobtrusive like a tag but is unlikely to fall into a teacup. The
straining package should allow for the complete immersion of the
infusion bag in the cup so that water can be poured over it and for
draining of tea water through a single opening. The package should
also be unlikely to brush against the string during retraction of
the teabag and be able to maintain its shape while the user
retracts the teabag into the package.
[0012] To satisfy the recited objectives, a package for an infusion
bag is disclosed comprising a cavity defined by front and rear
opposing surfaces and a top lid. The top lid outwardly biases top
edges of the front and rear opposing surfaces for preventing the
top edges from brushing against a string during retraction of the
infusion bag. A lid is located at the bottom of the cavity,
opposing the top lid, where the bottom lid has one free edge, and
wherein inwardly biasing side edges of the surfaces outwardly
biases the free edge of the bottom lid from the adjacent
surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0013] To further satisfy the recited objectives, a detailed
description of typical embodiments of the invention is provided
with reference to appended drawings that are not intended to limit
the scope of the invention, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one configuration of a prior
art teabag straining package;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a front view of another configuration of a prior
art teabag straining package;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side of the teabag straining package of FIG.
2;
[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the teabag of the
invention retracted into the package and being drained within the
package;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the teabag package of FIG. 4
illustrating the removal of a teabag from the package;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a front view of the teabag package of FIG. 4;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a front view of the teabag package of FIG. 4
illustrating the retraction of the teabag into the package;
[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates the teabag package of FIG. 4 while the
teabag is within a teacup; and
[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the package of FIG.
4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Turning to FIG. 4, the package 6 for a teabag is displayed
having front and rear opposing surfaces 8 and 10. The surfaces are
mirror images of each other, having a width defined by the distance
between joined side edges 12 and 14, and a length defined by the
distance between opposing top edges 16 and 18 and bottom edges 20
and 22.
[0024] A top lid 24 is located between top edges 16 and 18 of the
surfaces 8 and 10, having a front edge 32 and a rear edge 34 that
are integral with the respective surfaces edges. A bottom lid 26 is
located between the bottom edges 20 and 22 of the surfaces 8 and
10, where the front edge 28 is integral with the respective surface
edge 20 and the rear edge 30 is unattached to the adjacent surface
edge 22. The shape of the bottom lid 26 and top lid 24 is
semicircular about respective centerlines 40 and 41, defining a
cylindrical cross sectional shape for the top edges 16, 18 bottom
edges 20 and 22 and along the length of the surfaces 8 and 10. A
cavity 31 is defined by and internal surfaces of the lids 24 and 26
and the surfaces 8 and 10, where the cavity 31 provides benefits
when lowering a teabag into a teacup (before infusion) or
retracting a teabag from a teacup (after infusion).
[0025] When lowering the teabag 2 from the package 6 (FIG. 5), the
side edges 12 and 14 are inwardly biased (in a direction along
arrows A-A in FIG. 5). The inward biasing causes the surfaces 8 and
10 to curve outwardly, beyond the initial cylindrical contour of
the surfaces. This outward motion expands the cavity 31 and causes
the free edge 30 of the lid 26 to retract from the bottom edge 22
of the surface 10, defining an opening 43. The cavity 31 and
opening 43 are large enough for the teabag 2 to fall through and
out of the package 6 (in a direction along arrows B-B in FIG. 5),
into a teacup. As compared with the prior art, it is unnecessary to
grip the teabag before placing the teabag in water.
[0026] When retracting the teabag 2 into the package 6 after
infusion (FIG. 6), the side edges 12 and 14 are again inwardly
biased for expanding the cavity 31 and opening 43 so that the
package 6 may receive the teabag 2. The teabag 2 is retracted into
the package cavity (in a direction along arrows C-C in FIG. 6)
using a string 4 connected to the teabag 2 through the top lid 24
of the package 6. The cylindrical contour of the lid 24 and the
expanse of the cavity 31 prevent the package structure from rubbing
against and resisting the motion of the teabag 2 or string 4. As a
result, the teabag 2 is retracted into the cavity 31 with minimal
effort as compared to the prior art described above. Once the
teabag is retracted into the cavity 31 (FIG. 4), the front and rear
surfaces 8 and 10 are biased inwardly, against the cylindrical
contour of the surfaces 8 and 10, using a person's fingers,
squeezing the liquid from the teabag 2.
[0027] In the illustration of FIG. 4, the top lid 24 has two slits
36 and 38 through which the string 4 is connected to the teabag 2.
However, the top lid 24 could have one slit, where the string 4
would connect at one end to the teabag 2 and at the other end to a
tag (FIG. 1) or a knot (FIG. 2) that is larger than the slit
opening.
[0028] The width of the package 6 is larger than the width of a
teabag 2, and is illustrated in FIG. 7 as approximately ten percent
larger than the width of the teabag 2. The width of the package 6
prevents the teabag 2 from hitting the edges 12 and 14 when the
edges 12 and 14 are biased inwardly to release or retract the
teabag 2. The length of the package 6, as with the width, is
illustrated as being larger than the height of the teabag 6 by
about ten percent. Due to the size of the package 6, the teabag 2
may be fully enclosed within the package 6, before and after
infusion (FIG. 5). As seen in FIG. 8, the size of the package 6
also prevents the package from falling into the teacup during
infusion.
[0029] The lids 24 and 26 are foldable about the respective
centerlines, whereby the surfaces become planar with a rectangular
plan view (not shown). Folding the lids minimizes the depth of the
package so that, prior to infusion, a large number of packages 6
many be stored in a minimal volume. After infusion, the lids may be
folded to minimize refuse volume.
[0030] Turning to FIG. 9, a bottom extension 42 is attached to the
rear surface 10 to provide an extra surface for containing the
teabag 2 during storage or disposal. When the lid 26 is extended
towards the rear surface 10, the extension 42 overlaps with the
half of the lid 26 that is proximate to the rear surface 10 and
serves as a lip for restraining excess water after a teabag 2 is
drained from within the package 6.
[0031] The extension 42 has a shape that mirrors the half of the
lid 26 that is proximate to the rear surface 10 when the lid 26 is
extended towards the rear surface 10. The extension 42 has an edge
44 that is integral with the bottom edge of the rear surface 20 and
which is adjacent to the free edge 30 of the lid 26 when the lid 26
is unfolded. The extension 42 has a free edge 46 that is located
where the centerline 40 would be located if the lid 26 were placed
over the extension 42.
[0032] Before assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the side edge 12
that connects the front and rear surfaces 8 and 10 is defined by a
medial fold 48. The opposing side edge 14 on the front surface 8 is
defined by two joined edges, including an exterior edge 50 on the
rear surface 10 and a fold edge 52 connected to an extension 54 on
the front surface 8. The fold edge 52 is placed against the
exterior edge 50 upon folding the surfaces 8 and 10 about the
medial fold 48.
[0033] An outside edge 56 of the extension 54 is parallel to the
fold line 14, and edges 58 and 60 border the extension 54 with a
shape that matches the contour of the edges 16 and 20 of the rear
surface 10. The distance between fold edge 52 and exterior edge 56
is large enough so that an application of an adhesive permanently
bonds the extension 54 to the rear surface 10.
[0034] The top lid 24, prior to assembly, has components 62 and 64
on the front and rear surface 8 and 10. Each component 62 and 64
has the same shape as the lid 24 and the shapes are manufactured
using known stamping procedures. When assembled, the components 62
and 64 are glued together similarly to the extension 54 and the
rear surface 10, thereby forming the top lid 24.
[0035] The package 6 is manufactured from a material that is rigid
enough to maintain its shape when not under biasing stress by a
person. For example, the package 6 is manufactured from a known
paper product or plastic stock. The surfaces 8 and 10 are heat
resistant so that hot liquid within the package will not burn the
skin of a user when the water is begin squeezed from the teabag.
The heat resistance may be a function of the material type, such as
with the addition of insulation in the inside or outside of the
surfaces 8 and 10. Alternatively, the heat resistance is a function
of the material thickness. The material is also liquid impervious
so that hot water will not leak out of the package onto the hands
of the user.
[0036] Although a teabag has been discussed herein, any infusion
bag for any infusion commodity may be used with the package of the
invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
Moreover, the present invention may be embodied in other specific
forms without departing from its spirit or essential
characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. The scope
of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims
and their combination in whole or in part rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their
scope.
* * * * *