U.S. patent application number 10/580707 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for brewing and drinking receptable.
Invention is credited to Rani Bhamra, Raid Hosein, Kevin Urquhart.
Application Number | 20070251946 10/580707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34655220 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070251946 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Urquhart; Kevin ; et
al. |
November 1, 2007 |
Brewing and Drinking Receptable
Abstract
A brewing and drinking receptacle comprises an outer cup, an
inner cup nested within the outer cup and turnable relatively
thereto, and an ingredient chamber formed between mutually opposed
bottom walls of the nested cups. A brewing aperture which may be a
perforated section, is formed in the bottom wall of the inner cup
and communicates with the ingredient chamber. A shut-off boss
projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the outer cup within
the ingredient chamber is arranged to control liquid flow through
the brewing aperture. The outer and inner cups are turnable
relatively to one another selectively to admit or shut off flow of
water, which is added to the inner cup to produce the beverage,
between the inner cup and the ingredient chamber, via the brewing
aperture. This enables the water to be mixed or infused with the
ingredient in a controlled fashion and for the flow of beverage
between the ingredient chamber and the inner cup to be shut off
when the beverage achieves the desired strength. A paddle member
projects into the ingredient chamber from the bottom wall of the
inner cup so as to squeeze and/or agitate the ingredient in the
ingredient chamber in response to relative turning movement of the
cups and thereby enhance mixing or infusion.
Inventors: |
Urquhart; Kevin; (Birtley,
GB) ; Hosein; Raid; (Eire, GB) ; Bhamra;
Rani; (Surrey, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MYERS BIGEL SIBLEY & SAJOVEC
PO BOX 37428
RALEIGH
NC
27627
US
|
Family ID: |
34655220 |
Appl. No.: |
10/580707 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 25, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB04/04969 |
371 Date: |
March 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/20 20130101;
A47J 31/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.6 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 27, 2003 |
GB |
0327624.3 |
Nov 27, 2003 |
GB |
0327626.8 |
Claims
1. A receptacle comprising an outer cup, an inner cup nested within
the outer cup, an ingredient chamber located between the nested
outer and inner cups, and one or more apertures formed in the inner
cup that communicate with the ingredient chamber, wherein the inner
and outer cups are turnable relatively to one another, and wherein
one or more shut-off sections are formed on the outer cup and
arranged to control flow of liquid between the inner cup and the
ingredient chamber, via the one or more aperture(s), in response to
turning of the cups relative to one another, and wherein at least
one protuberance projects into the ingredient chamber from at least
one of the outer or inner cups for squeezing and/or agitating the
ingredient in the ingredient chamber in response to relative
turning movement of the cups.
2. A receptacle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ingredient
chamber is between a bottom wall of the outer cup and a mutually
opposed bottom wall of the inner cups.
3. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer and inner
cups are of circular cross-section, wherein the outer cup includes
a sidewall extending upwardly and generally outwardly from the
bottom wall of the outer cup, and wherein the inner cup includes a
sidewall extending upwardly and generally outwardly from the bottom
wall of the inner cup.
4. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one
aperture is formed in the bottom wall of the inner cup, and a
cooperating shut-off section extends from the bottom wall of the
outer cup, wherein the shut-off section includes an upper end
arranged so as to shut off flow of liquid through the aperture(s)
into the ingredient chamber upon alignment of the aperture(s) and
said upper end.
5. A receptacle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shut-off section
is formed by a shut-off boss projecting into the ingredient chamber
from the bottom wall of the outer cup.
6. A receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the at least
one protuberance comprises a paddle member projecting downwardly
into the ingredient chamber from the bottom wall of the inner
cup.
7. A receptacle as claimed in claim 6, wherein each paddle member
is arranged to serve as a stop defining a fully open position and a
fully shut-off positions of the aperture(s).
8. A receptacle as claimed in claims 2, wherein each protuberance
or paddle member is perforated and/or includes a bottom wall or
edge which slopes with respect to the bottom walls of the cups.
9. A receptacle as claimed in claims 1, wherein each aperture
comprises a perforated section having perforations sufficiently
small so as substantially to prevent flow of loose ingredient from
the ingredient chamber into the inner cup.
10. A receptacle as claimed in claims 1, wherein the outer and
inner cups are formed with interengaging means which retains the
cups in nested relationship while permitting them to turn relative
to one another.
11. A receptacle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interengaging
means comprises one or more annular ribs on the sidewall of one of
the inner or outer cups engaging in cooperating annular grooves in
the sidewall (6) of the other of the inner or outer cups.
12. A receptacle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the interengaging
means comprises interengaging rim flanges which depend downwardly
from the lips of the outer and inner cups on the outsides of the
cups and which are arranged to engage when the cups are assembled
in nested relationship.
13. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the interengaging
rim flanges are designed to seal the space between the rim flanges
so as to alleviate leakage of liquid contents between the outer and
inner cups.
14. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rim flange of
the inner cup is formed with an inwardly projecting annular rib on
its inside surface and the outer cup is formed with a plane
downwardly directed rim flange so that, when the cups are fully
nested, the rim flange of the inner cup resiliently engages over
the outside surface of the rim flange of the outer cup and the
annular rib snaps into engagement beneath the lower edge of the rim
flange of the outer cup.
15. A receptacle as claimed in claim 12, including a lid fitted to
the mouth of the receptacle and snapped into engagement with the
rim flange of the inner cup.
16. A receptacle as claimed in claims 1, wherein the outer cup is
formed with an array of external ribs which facilitate gripping of
the receptacle by a user.
17. A receptacle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outer cup has
a plane area above and/or below the ribs for enabling printing,
embossing or other form of decoration to be applied to the
receptacle.
18. A receptacle as claimed in claims 1, wherein the outer and
inner cups are thermoformed from sheet plastics material.
19. A receptacle as claimed in claims 1, further including an
ingredient within the ingredient chamber, said ingredient being
either in loose form or in a liquid permeable container.
20. A method of preparing a liquid product in a receptacle
comprising an inner cup nested within an outer cup and defining an
ingredient chamber therebetween, an ingredient disposed in the
ingredient chamber, and one or more apertures formed in the inner
cup for permitting communication between the inner cup and the
ingredient chamber, the method comprising: adding to the inner cup
liquid for producing the liquid product in conjunction with the
ingredient; controlling admission and shut off of flow of the
liquid into the ingredient chamber, via the aperture(s), in
response to relative turning movement of the outer and inner cups;
and agitating and/or squeezing the ingredient in the ingredient
chamber by relatively turning the cups.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising relatively
turning the cups to shut off flow of liquid between the ingredient
chamber and the inner cup when the liquid product has reached the
desired strength.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a receptacle for containing
an ingredient for the preparation of a beverage or other liquid
product and in which the ingredient can be mixed or infused with a
liquid, such as water, to create the product. More particularly,
the invention relates to a disposable drinking receptacle which is
intended to be prefilled and supplied with a beverage ingredient,
such as tea or coffee, and in which the selected beverage can be
brewed, when required, in a controlled fashion, upon the addition
of hot or cold water to the receptacle.
[0002] It is well known to supply disposable drinking cups
containing a powdered or granulated beverage ingredient or teabag
in readiness for preparation of a beverage. Such disposable
drinking cups are designed to be stacked in nested relation with
one another, the ingredient being trapped in an ingredient chamber
formed between one cup, arid the bottom of the next cup above in
the stack. When the beverage is to be prepared, the cup is
dispensed from the bottom of the stack and water is added to the
ingredient contained in the bottom of the cup.
[0003] With such so-called "in cup" drinks, there is no effective
control of the mixing or infusion of the water with the beverage
ingredient contained in the cup, the water simply being added to
the ingredient and left to mix or infuse with the ingredient,
possibly, assisted by stirring of the resulting beverage. Moreover,
it is desirable, for example, in the case of tea or coffee, to
remove the teabag, tea leaves or coffee grounds from the cup before
drinking the beverage, not only for the purposes of improving the
quality of the drink, but also to avoid continued brewing of the
beverage after it has attained the desired strength. Depending on
circumstances, disposal of the waste ingredient may be messy and
inconvenient and, possibly, environmentally unfriendly.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,963 describes a disposable beverage
brewing system for the single cup brewing of a beverage and which
comprises inner and outer cups designed so that the inner cup can
snugly fit within the outer cup. The inner cup has a bottom wall
formed by a filter screen. In one method of using the system, the
ingredient to be brewed and water is disposed in the outer cup and
the mixture is allowed to brew for as long as the consumer
considers desirable. When the brew is deemed to be acceptable, the
inner cup, which serves as a filter press, is pushed into the outer
cup and the brewed beverage flows from the outer cup into the inner
cup, via the filter, so that any remaining ingredient is trapped
between the outer cup and the filter of the inner cup. The beverage
can then be consumed without the need to remove the inner cup. In
an alternative method of use, the inner cup is prepositioned in the
outer cup, ingredient and water are added to the inner cup and
stirred. After brewing for the required time, the inner cup is
slowly lifted from the outer cup together with any remaining
ingredient and is discarded. The brewed beverage remains in the
outer cup.
[0005] A controllable brewing device in the form of a disposable
plastics drinking receptacle has been proposed in WO-A-2004/008925.
It comprises an outer cup having an inner cup dimensioned so as to
fit or nest within the outer cup and so that it can turn relatively
to the outer cup. In one embodiment, a discrete chamber containing
tea or coffee is disposed between the bottoms of the two nested
cups and the inner cup has perforations in its bottom wall which
may be selectively moved into and out of alignment with
perforations in the discrete chamber by rotating the inner cup,
whereby to control flow of hot water contained in the inner cup
into and from the ingredient in the discrete chamber in order to
produce a beverage in the inner cup. In other embodiments,
specially shaped cavities are provided in wall portions of the
outer cup upstanding from the bottom thereof, for cooperating with
perforated upstanding wall portions of the inner cup. Ingredients
are positioned in the cavities and liquid poured into the inner cup
is mixed or infused with the ingredients in the cavities to produce
a beverage by rotation of the inner cup relatively to the outer cup
so as selectively to admit and shut off flow of liquid between
inner cup and the ingredient cavities. Natural convection and
migration of contents also adds to this process.
[0006] The above proposal enables the consumer to determine when
the brewing process should start and when it should stop and
permits brewing of the beverage to the strength desired by the
consumer. Also, it avoids the need to remove loose tea leaves,
coffee grounds, other solid ingredients or ingredient containing
sachets or bags from the cup, after brewing, and the need to
dispose of the ingredients separately. However, the proposal
requires the use of either a discrete ingredient chamber or a
special arrangement of the ingredient cavities which can create
problems in loading the ingredients and assembling the brewing
device.
[0007] Moreover, in order to produce an acceptable brew, generally,
it is necessary to squeeze and/or agitate the ingredient and liquid
to produce thorough mixing or infusion. For example, upon the
addition of hot water to a teabag, air is initially trapped in the
teabag and subsequently, the teabag absorbs a quantity of the water
and swells. It is desirable to express air and, subsequently, water
and circulate the latter through the bag in order to provide for
the required amount of infusion and brewing. No effective
provisions are made in the brewing device described in either the
above US specification or the International publication for
achieving squeezing and/or agitation of the ingredients and added
liquid.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a
receptacle which can be prefilled with an ingredient for the
preparation of a beverage or other liquid product and which enables
improved and controlled mixing or infusion of the ingredient with
liquid added to the receptacle in order to prepare the liquid
product. Another, more specific object is to provide a combined
brewing and drinking receptacle for a beverage which facilitates
initial loading of the beverage ingredient into the receptacle,
controlled mixing or infusion of the ingredient with water added to
the receptacle in order to prepare the beverage, and disposal of
any remaining ingredient after brewing and drinking.
[0009] To this end, the present invention consists in a receptacle
comprising an outer cup, an inner cup nested within outer cup and
turnable relative thereto, an ingredient chamber formed between the
inner and outer cups, one or more apertures formed in the inner cup
for communicating with the ingredient chamber, and one or more
shut-off sections formed on the outer cup and arranged to control
flow of liquid between the inner cup and the ingredient chamber via
the aperture(s), in response to relatively turning or twisting the
cups. Preferably at least one protuberance projects into the
ingredient chamber from at least one of the cups for squeezing
and/or agitating the ingredient in the ingredient chamber in
response to relative turning of the cups.
[0010] The receptacle according to the invention may be supplied
with an ingredient contained in the ingredient chamber. The
ingredient may be disposed in the ingredient chamber either in
loose form or in a suitable liquid permeable sachet or bag, such as
a teabag. The invention enables the ingredient to be mixed or
infused in a controlled fashion with water or other liquid
subsequently added to the inner cup by turning or twisting the
inner cup relatively to the outer cup in order selectively to allow
the liquid to flow into the ingredient chamber and mix or infuse
with the ingredient, or partially or entirely to shut off the flow
of liquid to the ingredient chamber. Relatively twisting the cups
also causes the protuberance(s) to agitate and/or squeeze the
contents of the ingredient chamber so as to enhance mixing or
infusion. When, for example, a beverage being brewed has reached a
desired strength in response to relative manipulation of the inner
and outer cups, the inner cup is twisted so as to shut off flow of
liquid to and from the ingredient chamber and prevent further
mixing or infusion of the liquid contents of the inner cup with the
remaining ingredient in the ingredient chamber. When the ingredient
chamber is shut off, the remaining ingredient can no longer affect
the strength or quality of the resulting beverage in the inner cup.
After the beverage has been consumed, the container may be disposed
of together with any ingredient or ingredient bag retained within
the receptacle. On the other hand, before disposal, the receptacle
may be used, if acceptable, to prepare a second cup of the beverage
by adding fresh water to the inner cup and repeating the
process
[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ingredient
chamber is formed between the bottom walls of the inner and outer
cups which are of circular cross-section and comprise bottom walls
and sidewalls extending upwardly and generally outwardly from the
bottom walls. A single, relatively large aperture is formed in the
bottom wall of the inner cup and the cooperating shut-off section
is formed by a boss projecting into the ingredient chamber from the
bottom wall of the outer cup. The upper end of this boss is
configured and positioned so as effectively to shut off flow of
liquid through the aperture into the ingredient chamber when the
aperture is aligned with the upper end of the boss. A protuberance
in the form of a paddle member for agitating and/or squeezing the
contents of the ingredient chamber projects downwardly into the
ingredient chamber from the bottom wall of the inner cup at a
position adjacent the aperture and also serves as a stop defining
the fully open and fully shut off positions of the aperture.
[0012] Locating the ingredient chamber between the bottom walls of
the inner and outer cups has the advantage of providing a brewing
receptacle which is easy to load with an ingredient in either loose
form or in a bag. It is simply loaded into the bottom of the outer
cup, whereafter the inner cup can be readily assembled to the outer
cup with the ingredient in place.
[0013] The or each paddle member may be perforated and/or include a
bottom wall or edge which slopes with respect to the bottom walls
of the cups.
[0014] The inner and outer cups may be formed with interengaging
means which retains the cups in nested relationship whilst enabling
them to turn relatively to one another. For example, the
interengaging means may be formed by one or more annular ribs on
the sidewall of one of the cups engaging in cooperating annular
grooves in the sidewall of the other cup. Alternatively, or in
addition, it may be formed by interlocking rim flanges which depend
downwardly from the lips of the inner and outer cups on the
outsides of the cups and which are arranged to interengage when the
cups are assembled in nested relation. The interengaging rim flange
structure may also be designed to seal the space between the rim
flanges so as to alleviate leakage of liquid contents between the
cups when a beverage within the receptacle is being drunk by a
consumer. For example, the rim flange of the inner cup may be
formed with an inwardly projecting annular rib on its inside
surface and the outer cup may be formed with a plain downwardly
directed rim flange so that, when the inner cup is fully nested
within the outer cup, the rim flange of the inner cup resiliently
engages over the outside surface of the rim flange of the outer cup
and the annular rib on the rim flange of the inner cup snaps into
engagement beneath the lower edge of the rim flange on the outer
cup. In addition to alleviating the leakage problem, such a rim
flange construction also enables an anti-splash lid to be fitted to
the mouth of the receptacle and to be snapped into engagement with
the rim flange of the inner cup.
[0015] The outer cup may be formed with an array of external ribs
which facilitate gripping of the container by a user. They enable
the container to be held more comfortably when the content is a hot
beverage and this advantage is further enhanced by the insulating
characteristics inherent in the double walled construction of the
receptacle. The outer cup may have a plain area above and/or below
the ribs for printing, embossing or other form of decoration.
[0016] Conveniently, the inner and outer cups are thermoformed from
sheet plastics material, as thin walled seamless products.
Alternatively, they may be injection moulded from plastic
granules.
[0017] In order that the present invention may be more readily
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from below, of one embodiment
of the present invention which is a disposable drinking receptacle
or cup,
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view, from above, of the drinking
cup illustrated in FIG. 1,
[0020] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the drinking cup,
[0021] FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.
3,
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating the
rim flange structure of the drinking cup, and
[0023] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, half section taken along the line
VI-VI of FIG. 4 and illustrating stacked drinking cups.
[0024] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disposable
drinking receptacle or cup 1 comprises an outer cup component 2 and
an inner cup component 3 coaxially nested within the outer cup
component. These cup components or cups, as they are herein called,
are preferably thermoformed from sheet plastics material, as thin
walled seamless mouldings.
[0025] Each of the outer and inner cups 2,3 is of circular shape in
plan and comprises a bottom wall 4,5 and a sidewall 6,7 extending
upwardly and generally outwardly from its bottom wall to a mouth 8
at the top of the receptacle. The sidewall of each cup is
terminated at the mouth 8 by a rim flange 9,10. The cups are
retained in nested relationship, and so as to be turnable
relatively to one another, by the interengaging structure of the
rim flanges 9,10 (as best shown in FIG. 5) and interengaging ribs
and grooves 11,12 on their sidewalls. The bottom walls 4,5 of the
nested cups are spaced apart and define an ingredient chamber 13
therebetween for containing a beverage ingredient capable of mixing
with hot or cold water to produce the beverage. For example, the
beverage ingredient may be tea in a conventional teabag, loose tea
or coffee grounds. A brewing aperture 14 is formed in the bottom
wall 5 of the inner cup 3 and communicates with the ingredient
chamber 13 under the control of a shut-off boss 15 projecting from
the bottom wall 4 of the outer cup. The inner and outer cups can be
turned relatively to one another so as selectively to admit or shut
off water to the ingredient chamber 13 via the brewing aperture
14.
[0026] The sidewall 6 of the outer cup has a plain annular part 16
adjoining its bottom wall 4 and extending upwardly therefrom, and
an array of hollow ribs 17 moulded in an annular zone above the
plain bottom part 16. These ribs serve to strengthen the sidewall
and as a gripping zone where the outer cup may be conveniently
gripped by the fingers of a consumer. Above the ribs there is an
upper plain annular zone 18 which terminates at the rim flange 9 of
the outer cup. The rim flange 9 which forms one component of the
interlocking rim structure of the drinking cup extends downwardly
from the lip 19 of the outer cup, about the outside of the outer
cup. The pair of annular grooves 12 which comprises one component
of the interengaging sidewall structure of the outer and inner cups
is formed about the inside of the sidewall of the outer cup,
immediately below the axial ribs 17.
[0027] The shut-off boss 15 is a hollow boss moulded in the bottom
wall 4 of the outer cup and projecting inwardly of the bottom wall.
It has a part-circular cross-section generally coaxial with the
outer cup. Its top wall 20 is substantially planar and
perpendicular to the cup axis and its sidewalls 21 are generally
outwardly inclined towards the bottom wall.
[0028] The sidewall 7 of the inner cup is predominantly of plane
configuration except for annular strengthening shoulders 22 moulded
about the cup so as to correspond to the top and bottom of the zone
of axial ribs 17 in the outer cup. The two hollow annular ribs 11
are moulded on the outside of the inner cup immediately below the
lower strengthening shoulder in a position to snap into engagement
with the pair of hollow grooves 12 on the inside of the outer cup.
The rim flange 10 of the inner cup, which forms the second
component of the interlocking rim structure, extends downwardly
about the outside of the inner cup from its lip 23 and is moulded
at its lower end with a hollow annular rib 27 projecting on the
inside of the flange.
[0029] In its bottom wall 5, the inner cup is formed with the
brewing aperture 14 which is a part-circular aperture coaxial with
the axis of the inner cup and matching, but slightly smaller than,
the top end 20 of the shut-off boss 15. Also moulded in the bottom
wall 5, adjoining or adjacent the brewing aperture and projecting
on the outside of the bottom wall, is a hollow paddle member 24.
The latter is of generally sector shape in cross-section with its
radially outer end terminating adjacent the periphery of the bottom
wall 5. Sidewalls 25 of the paddle member taper downwardly and its
bottom wall 26 is generally parallel to the bottom wall of the
inner cup. Alternatively, the bottom wall 26 may slope upwardly
towards the centre of the inner cup and, in a modification, the
paddle member may be perforated. It is of significantly less height
than the height of the shut-off boss.
[0030] The inner cup is designed to fit snugly within the outer cup
2 when the cups are disposed in nested relation. As the inner cup
becomes fully nested within the outer cup, the annular locking ribs
11 of the inner cup snap into engagement with the locking grooves
12 of the outer cup and the rib 27 at the lower end of the rim
flange 10 of the inner cup snaps underneath the plane lower end of
the rim flange 9 of the inner cup. These interengaging structures
securely retain the outer and inner cups 2,3 in nested relationship
whilst permitting the cups to turn or twist relatively to one
another. When interengaged, the rim flanges of the two cups are
resiliently urged together and this rim structure is designed also
to prevent leakage between the inner and outer cups and to provide
for comfortable drinking.
[0031] When interengaged in nested relationship, as described, the
bottom wall 5 of the inner cup is resiliently urged against the top
end 20 of the shut-off boss 15 and the brewing aperture 14 is shut
off from the ingredient chamber 13 when the cups 2,3 are relatively
turned so as to align the brewing aperture with the top end 20 of
the shut-off boss. Turning of the inner cup relatively to the outer
cup is limited by the paddle member 24 which, at one end of the
angle of rotation of the inner cup engages the shut off boss 15 to
define the shut-off position of the brewing aperture and, at the
opposite end, engages the shut-off boss to define the fully open
position of the brewing aperture in which the liquid contents of
the inner cup can flow through the brewing aperture into the
ingredient chamber.
[0032] In use, an ingredient, such as a conventional circular
teabag, is loaded into the bottom of the outer cup 2 prior to
assembly of the two cups 2,3, as described above. The ingredient
chamber 13 is designed so as to allow for expansion of the
ingredient when liquid is added and so that the positioning of the
ingredient in the bottom of the outer cup 2, before assembly, does
not obstruct subsequent assembly of the inner and outer cups.
[0033] When preparing a beverage from an ingredient, for example, a
teabag, trapped in the ingredient chamber 13, the inner cup 3 is
firstly turned relatively to the outer cup 2 so that the brewing
aperture 14 is shut off by the shut-off boss 15 of the outer cup.
Hot water is then added to the inner cup 3 and the latter is turned
relatively to the outer cup 2 by gripping the ribbed zone 17 of the
outer cup and the rim flange 10 of the inner cup. The inner cup can
only be turned in one direction relatively to the outer cup to open
the brewing aperture, as dictated by the paddle member 24, and when
it is turned in the relevant direction, hot water flows through the
aperture into the ingredient chamber 13. The teabag in the chamber
expands on contact with the hot water and, thereafter, the inner
cup 3 may be turned in the opposite direction relatively to the
outer cup 2, and then backwards and forwards relatively to the
outer cup in order to cause the paddle member 24 to squeeze and
agitate the teabag between itself and the bottom wall 4 of the
outer cup and thereby enhance infusion of the hot water with the
teabag and the brewing process. The resulting tea drink produced
flows from the ingredient chamber 13 back into the inner cup 3, via
the brewing aperture, and when a brew of the desired strength has
been produced, the inner cup is turned in order to restore it to
the initial position in which the shut-off boss 15 shuts off flow
of liquid through the brewing aperture 14. Thereafter, milk and
sugar may be added to the tea in the inner cup, if required, in
order to complete the tea drink.
[0034] The cups 2,3 can be twisted relatively to one another
selectively to permit and shut off flow of hot water between the
inner cup 3 and the ingredient chamber 13 until the desired
strength of drink has been produced, thereby enabling the infusion
of the teabag with hot water to be effectively controlled without
the need to remove the teabag from the container or add further
ingredients or water to the inner cup after initial infusion. If
adequate ingredient is loaded into the ingredient chamber 13 when
the drinking cup is initially assembled, there may be sufficient
ingredient to allow for the preparation of more than one acceptable
drink. Hence, after first drink has been consumed, hot water may be
added to the inner cup member 3 which is again turned to open the
brewing aperture and enable the next charge of water to infuse with
the tea in the teabag and thereby produce a second drink. The inner
cup 3 is turned relative to the outer cup 2 to shut off the
aperture 14 when the second drink has acquired the desired
strength.
[0035] The drinking cup is conveniently gripped by a consumer at
the ribbed zone and the ribs 17 serve to insulate the user's
fingers from a hot drink in the drinking cup. The insulation is
enhanced by the double walled structure provided by the assembled
inner and outer cup components 2,3. An anti-splash lid may be
fitted to the mouth 8 of the drinking cup by simply snapping the
lid into engagement with the lower edge of the rim flange 10 of the
inner cup. Finally, when the disposable drinking cup has been used,
the teabag or any other remaining ingredients in the ingredient
chamber 13 are automatically disposed of with the drinking cup.
[0036] A multiplicity of the drinking cups may be stacked in nested
relation for storage and transportation purposes. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, when stacked in nested relation, the stacked cups are
prevented from wedging or jamming together in the stack by the
bottom of an upper drinking cup resting via the bottom wall 4 of
its outer cup component 2 resting on the bottom wall 5 of the inner
cup component of the next drinking cup below.
[0037] Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will
be understood that modifications can be made without departing from
the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For
example, the interengaging rim structure may be omitted if the
outer and inner cups 2,3 can be satisfactorily retained in nested
engagement by the sidewall interengaging structure alone. In this
event, the rim of the outer cup 2 may simply be moulded with a
narrow projecting lip which engages the inside of the lip 23 of the
rim flange 10 of the inner cup. In a modification particularly
suitable for brewing a beverage with loose ingredients, the single
brewing aperture 14 may be replaced by a perforated section having
perforations sufficiently small so as substantially to prevent flow
of loose ingredient from the ingredient chamber into the inner cup
which contains the drinkable beverage. Marks may be printed or
embossed on the outside of the outer cup 2 in positions
corresponding to the stop positions defined by the paddle member 24
to provide a visual indication of the relative positions of the
inner and outer cups and, hence, the brewing aperture 14 and the
shut off boss 15. Furthermore, whilst the invention has been
particularly described as a drinking cup suitable for brewing a
desired beverage, it will be apparent that the receptacle of the
invention is also suitable for use in other circumstances, such as,
for mixing alcoholic drinks, medicines and paints.
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