Abstract:
A tea bag string securable to a lid for a cup enables the bag to be positioned into the cup liquid for removal therefrom and thereafter for storage within the lid underside. A string holding tab on the lid comprises a slotted notch in the tab or a hook formation extending from the lid and enables the string to be secured to the lid. A bag-holding strip extending over the lid underside retains the bag therewithin. The strip may be integral with or separate from the lid. If separate, the strip has a cup-engaging rim that can snap the strip over the container lip.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/441,019, filed 9 Feb. 2011. 
    
    
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to lids for positioning, holding and retaining tea bags and the like in containers, whether disposable or not and a method for effecting such positioning, holding and retaining. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 
     Difficulties exist with respect to the handling of tea bags and the like as used with containers, whether disposable or not. A customary method of such handling is as follows. By holding the tea bag string, the user dips or otherwise places the tea bag into a container containing, for example, hot water, to permit the tea bag contents to steep for a desired period of time so as to enable the tea essence to flavor the water or otherwise to be infused therein, and then removes the tea bag from the container. Such dipping can result in the string and attached tag falling into the container along with the tea bag, which then requires the user to remove the bag with a spoon or even by his or her fingers. Even if such an incident does not occur, the tea bag must be pulled from the hot liquid, usually accompanied by hot liquid dripping from the bag, and finally must be placed in an accessible receptacle or, if such a receptacle is unavailable, on a nearby napkin or on a table. Such operations occur whether or not the container includes a lid, which may not otherwise be used in conjunction with the tea bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other problems are successfully addressed and overcome by the present invention by employing one or more mechanisms associated with the lid that enables both the tea bag and its string to be so controlled and positioned as to avoid the above-noted problems. Such mechanisms include a string grasping or holding device, preferably comprising a notch or other implementation associated with the lid alone or with the container for enabling the string to be positioned and held against the lid, and a holder for holding the tea bag against the lid. Thus, the mechanisms are used to grasp the string and to attach the tea bag to the lid and/or retain the tea bag in or with the lid. The string grasping or holding mechanism and the bag holder, which are both associated with the lid, consequently provide the manner by which the tea bag string is held in association with the lid, so as to enable the tea bag to be placed into the liquid, to be pulled out of the liquid, to be retained in or with the lid, and to be held to the lid or otherwise controlled following its immersion in the liquid. 
     In operation, once the liquid is poured into the container, the string of a tea bag is slid into the notch or other grasping implementation located on the inner or outer rim of the lid alone or with the container with the tail end of the tea bag hanging on the outside of the container. When the lid is placed on the container, the hanging tea bag is provided with enough length of the string to permit the tea bag to reach and be immersed into the liquid in the container. Once a desired steeping time has occurred, the lid may be lifted slightly or the string pulled between the lid and the container as coupled together where the tail end of the string can be pulled to enable the tea bag to come into contact with the underside of the lid. The tea lid may then turned over to create a dish or bowl or like receptacle, using the rim as sides, to contain any excess liquid coming from or otherwise seeping from the tea bag. An additional holding mechanism, in a preferred embodiment, is so constructed as to hold and maintain the tea bag against the interior of the lid. Such lids, as are used with disposable containers, often contain an opening or hole through which the user can sip the contents from the container. To prevent seepage from the used tea bag from flowing into such an opening or hole, a berm and outside channel may be provided adjacent the hole to act as an obstruction. 
     Several advantages are derived from this arrangement. Control and handling of a tea bag or the like is provided before, during and after its insertion into a container and its immersion into the contained liquid. Immersion of the bag into the container and the liquid therein is kept in check as desired by the user. Retention of the bag after its immersion is provided so as to prevent or avoid dripping of liquid outside of the container. Such retention is enabled by using the lid as a receptacle for the bag and for fastening it to the lid. 
     Other aims and advantages, as well as a more complete understanding of the present invention, will appear from the following explanation of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention illustrating a beverage container of disposable constitution and lid therefore with a tea bag string held in its lid tea bag holding notch; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the interior of the lid shown in  FIG. 1  without the tea bag or string; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lid depicted in  FIG. 2  illustrating details of its interior including a tea bag holder latched to or snapped onto the inside surface of the lid; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lid as shown in  FIG. 3  showing the tea bag holder distanced from the lid interior surface and so positioned as to demonstrate how it can be snapped into or latched to the lid; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the lid shown in  FIG. 2  taken along sectional line  5 - 5  thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view in cross-section of the lid depicted in  FIG. 2  taken along sectional line  6 - 6  thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view in cross-section of the lid depicted in  FIG. 6  and illustrating the tea bag held therein; 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are views, respectively in cross-section and perspective, of how several lids may be stacked together, such as for purposes of storage or in preparation for use; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the lid as illustrated in  FIG. 3  depicting how the tea bag holder may be grasped by a user for either its removal from or attachment to a lid; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the lid as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , further depicting how the tea bag string may be placed under the holder following its having been grasped and manipulated, for example as shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a container with liquid therein with the tea bag string held within the lid, as depicted in  FIG. 11 , and the tea bag placed within the contained liquid; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the container with liquid therein with the tea bag withdrawn from the contained liquid and resting against and held to the lid by the tea bag holder, as so positioned by pulling of the tea bag string through the slotted tab; 
         FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B are views of a second embodiment of the present invention respectively showing, in perspective, a stand-alone tea bag holder and, in cross-section, the stand-alone holder and lid placed over and respectively snapped over the rim of a container, with  FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrating different means for holding and gripping the tea bag string; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention illustrating a view of a variant of a bag holder as depicted in previous figures for retaining a bag within and against the interior of a lid; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 16  but with the bag retainer/holder moved away from the lid receptacle in position to receive a used tea bag; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view in cross-section of the lid depicted in  FIGS. 16 and 17  without a tea bag being held therein by the holder therefore; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view in cross-section of the lid depicted in  FIG. 18  with a tea bag held therein by the holder therefore; 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention illustrating a beverage container of ceramic or like constitution and lid therefore with a tea bag string held in its lid tea bag holding tab; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective side view of the lid of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 20 ; and 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view illustrating the inside of the lid depicted in  FIG. 21 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Accordingly,  FIGS. 1-13  illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention characterized as a disposable cup or beverage container  30 , e.g. of plastic or fiber material, having a mouth or lip  32 . Cup or container  30  is used to contain a liquid  34 , e.g., hot water, and is closeable by a lid  36 . For example, cup or container  30  is employed to contain hot water to be flavored by tea. Accordingly for purposes of such exposition as its tea-holding use, such exposition is illustrated by the picturing of a tea bag  38  having a string  40  and a tag or tail  41  attached to the end of the string opposite from the tea bag. 
     As shown, for example, in  FIGS. 5-7 , lid  36  includes a base portion  42  and an outer wall  44  extending therefrom. Wall  44  terminates in a snap-over rim  46  and a guide  48 , which guide is disposed to guide rim  46  over container lip  32  for enabling rim  46  to snap over the container lip, and thus to attach the lid to cup or container  30  and to later enable the lid to be removed from the cup/container. A tab  50  (see  FIGS. 1-5  and  9 - 13 ) is formed on rim guide  48  and extends therefrom. The tab may be configured as a flexible member composed of a thin, relatively rigid plastic into which a slit  52  is formed, which slit has a hook-shaped configuration for reception and gripping retention therein of tea bag string  40 . 
     Base portion  42  of the lid includes an inner wall  54 , that is, inner with respect to outer wall  44 . As illustrated in the first embodiment, outer and inner walls  44  and  54  are ring-shaped and spaced from one another by a connecting wall  56 . The combination of outer wall  44 , inner wall  54  and connecting wall  56  defines an annular liquid conduit or channel  58 . An opening  60  in connecting wall  56  enables a user to imbibe the liquid from cup/container  30  when lid  36  is snapped thereto. A central portion  62  is skirted by inner wall  54  (alternatively termed “skirting wall”) and defines an included berm structure  64 . A bag-receiving area or indentation  66  is adapted to hold bag  38  following its insertion into and removal from contained liquid  34 . Channels  68  (see  FIGS. 2-4 ) are formed in the berm structure and provide a fluid coupling between bag-receiving indentation  66  and annular liquid conduit  58 . 
     Coupling indents or, for example, openings  70  (e.g., see  FIG. 4 ) are formed in berm structure  64 . A bag holder  72  having protruding detents  74  at its ends  80  and a central portion  76  is placeable over central bag-receiving indentation  66 . Detents  74  are disposed to engage coupling indents  70  for enabling the coupling of bag holder  72  to berm structure  64  by which the bag holder enables retention of the tea bag within central bag-receiving indentation  66 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate how more than one lid may be stacked together for storage or as being ready for use. 
     Use of the embodiments previously described may be understood with respect to  FIGS. 10-13 . In operation, once the liquid is poured into the container, by manipulation of holder  72  as exemplified in  FIG. 10  by a user and as shown by a user&#39;s hand and fingers  78 , string  40  of tea bag  38  is placed between holder  72  and tea bag-receiving indentation  66 , such as by placing the string onto indentation  66  and snapping the holder onto the lid or by threading tag  41  and string  40  between the already secured together holder and lid. String  40  is then slid into slit  52  of tab  50  with tail end  41  of the tea bag hanging on the outside of container  30 . 
     When lid  36  is placed on the container, the hanging tea bag is provided with enough length of the string as to permit the tea bag to be inserted into the liquid in the container and to be saturated thereby. Once a desired steeping time occurs, the lid may be lifted slightly, or not lifted as desired, at which time the tail end of the string can be pulled to enable the tea bag to be pulled out of liquid  34  into contact with the lid, and between holder  72  and lid indentation  66  for being held to the lid. The flavored liquid may then be sipped by a user through opening  60 . Alternately, if holder  72  had not previously been secured to the lid, the tea lid may be turned over to contain any excess liquid coming from or otherwise seeping from the tea bag and to avail the use of tea bag-receiving indentation or receiving area  66 . Bag holder  72  would then be placed over the tea bag and its detent elements  74  snapped into coupling indents  70  of berm structure  64  to secure the tea bag in place. 
     Reference is now directed to  FIGS. 14 ,  15 A and  15 B in which a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a tea bag holder  72   a  formed as an independent element, e.g., as a bar, that is, one which is separate from or not molded to a lid  36   a . Lid  36   a , like lid  36  of the prior figures, includes a base portion  42   a  and an outer wall  44   a  extending therefrom. Wall  44   a  terminates in a snap-over rim  46   a  and a guide  48   a . The combination of outer wall  44   a , inner wall  54   a  and connecting wall  56   a  defines an annular liquid conduit or channel  58   a.    
     Unlike lid  36 , however, lid  36   a  includes a central portion  62   a  comprising a berm structure  64   a  which is flat and imperforate but, like lid  36 , is connected to a tea bag-receiving area or indentation  66   a.    
     Tea bag holder  72   a  includes an intermediary connector  84  terminating at its ends  80   a  in a snap-over rim  86  and a guide  88  therefor, which guide  88  is disposed to guide rim  86  over container lip  32  for enabling rim  86  to snap over the container lip. In this embodiment, snap-over rim  46   a  of lid  36   a , as guided by lid guide  48   a , is enabled to snap over holder rim  86 . When lid  36   a  and holder  72   a  are so snapped together, berm structure  64   a  of lid  36   a  firmly contacts intermediary connector  84  of holder  72   a  so as to aid in forming a firm and stable interconnection therebetween. Also, this construction permits both lid  36   a  and bar holder  72   a  to be removed independently or together from cup or container  30 . While a tab, similar to tab  50  shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , may or may not be employed with lid  36   a  or, alternatively, be formed on holder  72   a , such a tab may not be needed, as discussed below with respect to the operational discussion of this embodiment. 
     In the operation as displayed in the  FIGS. 14 and 15A  embodiment, bar holder  72   a  is first snapped over lip  32  of container  30 . The tea bag string is then draped over intermediary connector  84  of holder  72   a  so that the tea bag resides within the container and in any liquid therein and its tag (e.g. tag  41 ) extends outside of the container. Lid  36   a  is then snapped over holder  72   a  and lip  32  of the container. When so engaged, tea bag string  40  is gripped by the engagement between snap-over rim  46   a  of lid  36   a  and container lip  32 . This gripping engagement is sufficient to hold the tea bag stationary within the liquid and, also, to enable the string and the connected tea bag to be pulled from the container and held between bar holder  72   a  and indentation or receiving area  66   a.    
     Furthermore, if desired but not necessarily so needed as depicted in  FIG. 15B , the tea bag string may be initially so placed as to be gripped between lid berm structure  64   a  and intermediary connector  84  of holder  72   a  as well as between snap-over rim  46   a  and guide  48   a  of lid  36   a . Therefore, there may be performed a double gripping function. This enables the tea bag string to be gripped by the engagement between the combination of snap-over rim  46   a  and guide  48   a  of lid  36   a  with the combination of snap-over rim  86  and guide  88  of holder  72   a . When lid  36   a  is secured over holder  72   a , the pressing connection between lid berm structure  64   a  and intermediary connector  84  of holder  72   a  firmly grips the tea bag string. 
     Therefore, because such single or multiple string-gripping, as elucidated with respect to  FIGS. 15A and 15B , performs a similar function as a tab, e.g., tab  50 , such a tab may be dispensed with in this embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16-19  which depict a third embodiment of the present invention as embodied in a lid  136 , a simpler form of bag holder is employed, as identified by indicium  172 . Bag holder  172 , rather than being securable to berm structure  164  as disclosed in  FIGS. 1-8 , is preferably molded as part of lid  136 , being joined at its ends  180  to berm structure  164  by couplers  181 . In addition, a cut-out  182  may be formed in the tea bag-receiving indentation, as identified by indicium  166 . Otherwise, lid  136  is configured the same as lid  36 . Furthermore, bag holder  172  is so formed as to permit it to snap outwardly, as shown in  FIG. 17 , or inwardly as shown in  FIG. 16 . Its ability to hold a tea bag is depicted in  FIG. 19 , similarly to that as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 20-22  which depict a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a ceramic cup or beverage container  200  has a mouth or lip  202  and a ceramic lid  204 . While beverage container  200  and lid  124  are described as being of ceramic composition, it is to be understood that such composition is presented as typical and may comprise any suitable composition, whether inorganic or organic, e.g., hard plastic. Lid  204  includes an outer rim  206  having a depending ring-shaped portion or inside walled rim  208  which is disposed to fit within mouth  202  of cup  200  so that the lid will be firmly retained and secured to the cup. 
     A notch  210  or the like, having a latch or tab  212  or extension or fastening element, is provided with a hook-like implement  214 . A tea bag string  216  is disposed to be wound about latch  212  and retained within the hook-like implement. As best shown in  FIG. 22 , depending ring-shaped portion  208  forms an encircling wall or rim to form a cup-shaped underside or bottom  218 , which operates as a tea bag-receiving indentation in lid  202 , for reception of a tea bag  220 , as conventionally secured to string  218  at one end thereof. Also, conventionally, a tag or tail  222  is fastened to string  218  at its end opposite from that to which the tea bag is secured. As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , an O-ring  224  may be secured about inside rim  208  adjacent outer rim  206  to seal lid  204  within mouth  202  of cup  2100 . 
     The utilization of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 20-22 , comprises the following steps. As shown in  FIG. 20 , tea bag string  216  is slid into notch  210  and wrapped about fastening element  212  as depicted, such that tea bag  220  is downwardly suspended from lid  204 . Referring to  FIG. 20 , the lid is then placed atop cup or beverage container  200 , covering its mouth  202 , in such a manner that the tea bag is inserted within the cup and into the liquid, generally hot water (as designated by indicium  226 ), contained within the cup and that the tea bag string  216  and its tag  222  hang outside of the cup. After such time as the tea in the tea bag is steeped in the hot water, as desired by the user, as observed with respect to  FIG. 20 , lid  104  is slightly lifted from cup mouth  202  and, by gripping string  216  or tag  222 , the tea bag is pulled from the hot water until it comes into contact within rim  208  of the lid. As illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the lid is then flipped over so that the tea bag rests inside the inner rim and on bottom  218 . While these steps as depicted in  FIGS. 20-22  are the preferred steps, it is to be understood that the user may otherwise manipulate the tea bag and the lid so as to attain the end result of having the tea bag reside within the lid bottom, e.g., by lifting the lid completely from the cup, grasping the tea bag with the fingers, and then placing the tea bag onto the bottom of the inverted lid. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.