Infusion Package

Abstract

Providing an infusion package, such as a tea bag, with means for holding the bag in a horizontal floating position during steeping results in a more rapid quiescent extraction without mixing or dunking of the bag, and in a greater yield of extract over a given period of time than is otherwise attainable with conventional tea bags.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various modifications have heretofore been made to infusion packages for the purpose of permitting the consumer to squeeze fluid from the package and also to provide a receptacle for holding the extracted package until disposal. None of the heretofore known infusion packages, such as tea bags, have provided means whereby the package can be maintained in optimum position for extraction of the package contents.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an infusion package which permits faster extraction of the package contents and which permits a greater total extraction in a given period of time. Another object is to provide an infusion package having means for maintaining the package in optimal position for extraction of the package contents. A further object is to provide an infusion package wherein the means for maintaining the package in optimal position for extraction may also be used to squeeze residual liquid from the package. These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that a faster and more thorough extraction of an infusion package is obtained when the package is provided with means to maintain the package in a horizontal floating position at about or near the upper surface of the extracting liquid with the material to be extracted spread out in a relatively thin uniform layer substantially parallel to the surface of the extracting liquid. The means for maintaining the package in the desired position for optimal extraction function independently of the extracting vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a plan view of a tea bag having positioning means along two sides of the bag; FIG. 1b is a side elevation of FIG. 1a.

FIG. 2a is a plan view of a tea bag having positioning means along the central portion of the bag; FIG. 2b is a side elevation of FIG. 2b.

FIG. 3a is a plan view of a tea bag having positioning means in the shape of an I beam; FIG. 3b shows the bag of FIG. 3a in position for squeezing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tea bag having positioning means along the central portion of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an infusion package and, more particularly, to an infusion package for extracting tea, i.e., a tea bag. The present invention is founded on the discovery that not only are the contents of an infusion package extracted more rapidly but also that a greater amount of extract may be obtained in a given period of time when the infusion package is provided with means to maintain the package in a horizontal floating position at about or near the upper surface of the extracting liquid with the material to be extracted in a relatively thin uniform layer substantially parallel to the surface of the extracting liquid. In the case of a tea bag, the means maintain the bag in a substantially horizontal position at about or near the upper surface of the water. By maintaining the infusion package in this position, circulation of liquid through the material to be extracted is promoted because the extract is greater in density than the extracting liquid and, as the extract percolates downward through the extracting liquid, it pulls fresh water behind it from above into and through the package. Because the material to be extracted is loosely packed and is spread out relatively uniformly in the horizontal direction, resistance to percolation is lessened, and natural convection increases the supply of fresh extracting liquid. Circulation within the extracting vessel takes place as the denser extract breaks up as it settles to the bottom and, at the same time sweeps less concentrated extract towards the top. Because of this circulation, the extraction, in the case of a tea bag, may be completed in quiescent manner without the necessity of dunking the tea bag.

The tea bag of the present invention may be made of any water premeable material. Conventionally, such bags are formed from fibrous matter, preferably paper. The paper may be patterned or non-patterned. Types of pattern paper are Schweitzer, Keybak, Masllin and the like. Plastics, either woven or non-woven may be used in place of paper. The plastics may be polymers, e.g., nylon 6, copolymers, e.g., nylon 66, or perforated plastic film, e.g., polyester, or woven or non-woven fabric of natural or synthetic origin.

The positioning means may be any flotation means which will maintain the bag in a substantially horizontal position at about the top of the cup. Suitable flotation means are, for example, rigid or semi-rigid closed cell foams, such as, for example, foamed polystyrene or foamed polyurethane members which are attached to the tea bag, or a flexible chamber containing a gas which chamber is attached to or incorporated into the tea bag.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1a and 1b show, in plan and side elevation, respectively, an infusion package formed of a porous paper tea bag 10 containing tea 11. The positioning means consist of a float 12 attached to each end seal of the bag 10. Each float 12 consists of a strip of foamed polystyrene about 0.2 cm thick with a density of 0.07 g/cm.sup.3 and a specific weight of 0.014 g/cm.sup.2. Each float 12 is fastened to the bag 10 by means of a staple 13.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show, in plan and side elevation, respectively, an infusion package formed of a porous paper tea bag 20 containing tea 21. The positioning means consists of a single float 22 formed of foamed polystyrene as described for FIGS. 1a and 1b. The float is located along the center of the tea bag 20 and secured thereto by means of a staple 23 at each end of the float. The float 22 has a crimp 24 at its center to facilitate picking up and lifting the bag out of the water.

FIG. 3a is a plan view of an infusion package, while FIG. 3b shows this bag in squeezing position after removal from the cup. The infusion package is formed of a porous paper tea bag 30 containing tea 31. The positioning means consists of a float 32 in the shape of an I beam. The float is fastened to the bag by means of a staple 33 at each end of the float. The float 33 has a crimp 34 at its center to facilitate picking up and squeezing of the bag. A string 35 is looped loosely around the bag and fastened by a staple 36 to the side seal of the bag. The string prevents the bag from sagging away from the float during squeezing. Squeezing is accomplished by doubling the float over itself and pressing it between thumb and forefinger.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tea bag 40 having a strip of plastic film tubing 42 heat sealed to the central portion of the bag. The strip of film forms a chamber 41 sealed at each end 43 and containing a gas which chamber serves as a float.

While the infusion package of the present invention has been described heretofore with particular emphasis on tea, it is to be understood that other materials which are prepared or treated by infusion, for example, coffee, may also be employed in place of tea. The infusion package of the present invention may also be used for the extraction of natural materials used to obtain biologicals, medicinals, flavoring extracts, and so forth.

The following examples illustrate the present invention without, however, limiting the same thereto.

EXAMPLE 1

Twenty-eight tea bags were removed at random from a package of tea bags (Tetley) purchased at a food store. Polystyrene floats were stapled along two opposite sides of 14 of the bags so that they conformed to FIGS. 1a and 1b of the drawing. The tea bags were then suspended individually in cups to which 7 oz of boiling water were added. Seven of the tea bags provided with floats and seven of the unmodified bags were extracted for 1 minute; the remaining bags were extracted for 3 minutes. For the bags extracted for 1 minute, the color of the tea in the cups containing bags provided with floats averaged 24.5 percent greater than the average of the color of the tea in the cups containing standard bags, while the solids content of the tea in the cups provided with floats averaged 33.3 percent greater than the average solids content of the tea in the cups containing standard bags. For the bags subjected to a three minute extraction, the color of the tea in the cups containing bags provided with floats averaged 19.3 percent greater than the color of the tea in the cups containing standard bags, while the solids content of the tea in the cups containing bags provided with floats averaged 27.7 percent greater than the average solids content of the tea in the cups containing standard bags.

EXAMPLE 2

Tea prepared from tea bags obtained as described above and provided with floats were compared with tea prepared from each of three similarly obtained competitive brands of tea bags. Brands A and B contained amounts of tea similar to the bags provided with floats, while brand C contained about 10 percent more tea (brand C contained the most tea of any commercially sold tea bag). Seven of the tea bags provided with floats and seven tea bags each of brands A, B and C were extracted for 1 minute and for 3 minutes and tested for color and solids content. The average improvement in color and solids content of the tea prepared from the bags provided with floats as compared to the average color and solids content of the tea prepared from bags of brands A, B and C is shown in the following table.

% Color Improvement % Solids Improvement 1 Minute 3 Min. 1 Minute 3 Min. Extrac- Extrac- Extrac- Extrac- tion tion tion tion __________________________________________________________________________ Brand A 30.7 26.6 22.8 13.9 Brand B 9.5 7.4 22.8 8.7 Brand C 11.9 12.5 14.3 7.6 __________________________________________________________________________

Claims

1. A generally horizontally disposed flat beverage infusion package containing a quantity of material adapted to be immersed into an extracting liquid for extraction of said material comprising light-weight flotation means fastened to the upper surface of said infusion package, said flotation means being dimensioned and disposed along said upper surface so as to maintain said package, and with the material to be extracted therefrom disposed in a uniform layer parallel to the surface of the extracting liquid in a horizontal floating position at about or near

2. An infusion package as claimed in claim 1, said flotation means comprising a pair of spaced substantially rigid members being each fastened to said upper package surface so as to extend along two opposite

3. An infusion package as claimed in claim 1, said flotation means comprising an elongate substantially rigid member fastened to said upper

4. An infusion package as claimed in claim 3, said flotation member having widening end portions extending along the opposite edges of said upper package surface and being of generally I-shaped configuration in a

5. An infusion package as claimed in claim 1, said flotation means being

6. An infusion package as claimed in claim 1, said flotation means comprising an elongate sealed flexible chamber containing a gas, said chamber being fastened to the package upper surface and extending centrally thereof.