US3597222A - Infusion packet - Google Patents

Abstract

AN INFUSION PACKET HAVING TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED, RIGIDLY SEPARATED POCKETS OF TEA OR THE LIKE JOINED TOGETHER BY TWO TAPERING END PORTIONS WHICH FORM A NARROW, TRIANGULAR SHAPED POROUS CUP.

Description

Aug. 3, 1971 T- .1. KALEMBA INFUSION PACKET Filed March 22, 1968 [NYE '1 U5: Thaddeus J Ka/emba United States Patent 3,597,222 INFUSION PACKET Thaddeus John Kalemba, 1336 River Ave., Point Pleasant, NJ. 08742 Filed Mar. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 715,375 Int. Cl. A23f 3/00 US. Cl. 9977.1 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An infusion packet having two oppositely disposed, rigidly separated pockets of tea or the like joined together by two tapering end portions which form a narrow, triangular shaped porous cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to dual pack tea bags wherein the total amount of tea alloted for each bag is separated into two parts to afford greater contact with boiling water, faster diffusion and enhanced flavor.

(2) Description of the prior art Conventional tea bags are usually rectangular packets made from a single piece of paper folded in half and crimped along three edges. Or a single strip of paper is folded twice longitudinally to form an inner centrally disposed double fold joining the two meeting edges. A triple transverse fold intermediate the length of the folded strip forms two pockets which are partially filled with tea be fore the open ends thereof are folded over and stapled to a single strand of string. The latter is so-called flothru-tea bag, but in practice the pockets do not tend to deflect away from each other when dipped into water as claimed.

These known embodiments have the disadvantage of retaining about an ounce and a half of liquid in the bag after the desired strength is attained and the bag removed from the water. This represents waste in most instances and especially when only one cup of medium strength tea is desired. It is difficult to remove conventional bags from a cup or tea pot without dripping the solution and staining a tablecloth, etc. The unused tea remaining in the bag is usually discarded because to press these bags with a spoon against the cup would result in a beverage of excessive strength and color. On the other hand, if the bag is reused at a later time it is likely to have lost its initial flavor and aroma. These rectangularly shaped bags rely upon the weight of water absorption after several dunkings of their flat bottom edges before full immersion is possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention an improved infusion packet comprises a pointed dive or sinker type body having two oppositely disposed triangular pockets, rigidly held apart by two connecting end pieces to form a four sided, open, porous cup which readily dives to the bottom of the teacup or tea pot and scoops up a full measure of hot water within its confines when lifted by its attached double string. After submerging, the tea leaves immediately expand to fill each pocket. Due to its unique construction, all flavor, color and liquid is extracted from the pointed tip of the packet in the first cup of water. By fully utilizing all of the tea deposited in each pocket, the amount of tea in these packets can be reduced to eliminate waste and afford greater economy to the consumer.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent in the following detail description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an applied plastic outline printed on a strip of filter paper designating the confines of the bottom layer of the packet;

FIG. 2 is a subsequent plan view of a top hourglass shaped layer of the the packet superimposed over a bottom layer with a portion of tea leaves deposited in between said layers;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the elements shown in FIG. 2 after the two layers of paper are joined, by heat sealing their matching thermoplastic edges together and folded at the middle thereof to form a closed two pocket triangular tea packet;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the assembled packet showing the manner in which the dual length of string is attached to both sides of the closed packet and to opposite ends of the tab to aid in keeping the sides separated; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the packet showing the manner in which the straight plastic edges of FIG. 1 are fused together to form the connecting ends joining the twin triangular tea pockets of an immersible porous cup.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a strip of filter paper 10 upon which has been imprinted, a thermoplastic outline 11 of the basic configuration of the bottom 12, 12' and/or top 13, 13' layer of a tea bag 14. It will be seen that the plastic outline consists of two arcuate top edges 15, 15' and four angular, longitudinal edges or legs 16, 16'.

FIG. 2 shows the top layer 13, 13' superimposed over the bottom layer and two portions of tea 17 deposited on the latter, after said layers have been stamped from strip 10.

The superimposed plastic edges 11 of both layers are then heat sealed at approximately 30 O-500 F. and the packet folded at its mid section 18, see FIG. 3. Match ing plastic edges 16, 16 are then sealed to form two substantially rigid triangular ends 19, 19 connecting separated tea pockets 20, 20'. i

A length of string 21 is then stapled at the center of both edges 15, 15' to the outer surface thereof as at 22, 22. These staples act as guides through which the string is free to move in either direction and thus restrict tearing of the packet. A third staple through the pointed tip anchors the string to the packet as at 23. The ends of the string are joined and attached in any conventional way as by stapling or being adhered to the outer edges of a one or two ply tab 24, etc., as shown in FIG. 4.

The spread of the dual strands of string cooperates with the rigid ends 19, 19' to restore and/ or retain the tea pockets 20, 20 to their original mutually spaced position from a possible more flattened condition imposed by packaging, etc. The convex shape of edges 15, 15 also act to retain the separation of the pockets.

The pointed tip advantageously causes the cupped packet to dive easily into a container of boiling water and also affords a central point for fast drainage. However, if desired, a spoon may be placed in the middle of the porous cup with one hand and pressed downwardly against the support of the string held by the other hand to remove the last vestige of water in the tea leaves.

The printed thermoplastic forming the borders of the cutout layers is tasteless and remains intact at water boiling temperature of 212 F. It also provides a convenient insulated area for grasping the packet in the event one should desired to squeeze it with the fingers.

The forms of the invention here described and illustrated are presented merely as examples of how the invention may be embodied and applied. Other forms, embodiments and applications of the invention, coming within the proper scope of the appended claims, will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A sinker type infusion packet comprising two separate triangular shaped side portions forming porous pockets tea disposed in each of said pockets, two triangular rigid end portions, said end portions disposed at right angles to said side portions along the longitudinal length thereof to mutually separate said side portions and form an open pointed cup having two dripless porous pockets of tea.

2. An infusion packet according to claim 1, wherein two folded superimposed paper cutouts form said triangular shaped pockets.

3. An fusion packet according to claim 2, wherein each of said cutouts is of hourglass configuration forming two oppositely disposed triangularly shaped tea pockets having a common pointed end.

4. An infusion packet according to claim 2, wherein each of said pockets comprise two superimposed triangular cutouts, printed plastic borders disposed along both longitudinal edges of each of said cutouts and across the top thereof, said plastic borders sealing said superimposed cutouts together to form two sealed porous pockets of tea.

5. An infusion packet according to claim 4, wherein the sealed edges of said pockets form inwardly directed flanges and the flanges of one of said pockets overlap the flanges of the other of said pockets to form said rigid triangular end portions joining said pockets in mutually spaced relationship.

6. An infusion packet according to claim 1, wherein said side portions are provided with an upper, substantially rigid, insulated border, guide means disposed centrally of said borders, a hold tab and dual string means, said string means threaded through said guide means and attached to opposite ends of said tab.

7. An infusion packet according to claim 6, wherein said upper borders are of convex configuration which c0- operate with said dual string means and said rigid end portions to maintain separation of said pockets.

8. An infusion packet according to claim 6, wherein said side and end portions taper downwardly to form a pointed tip of said cup, and anchor means disposed through said pointed tip, said string means extending downwardly from one end of said tab through a first of said guide means to said anchor means and upwardly through a second of said guide means to the other end of said tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,874 11/1910 Korn et al. 99'77.1 2,922,717 1/1960 Whelan 9977.1 Re. 22,490 5/1944 RarnbOld 9977.1 2,307,998 1/1943 Eaton 99--77.1 2,334,156 11/1943 Hansen 9977.1 2,359,292 10/1944 Barnett 99-77.1 2,466,281 4/1949 Shaw 9977.1 3,092,439 6/1963 Harrison 9977.1

TIM R. MILES, Primary Examiner S. H. MARKOWITZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 99295

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