Abstract:
This disclosure relates to infusion bags for infusible substance such as tea or herbs or the like for which separation of the infusible substance from liquid is desired. The disclosure also relates to a device which provides function of storing empty infusion bags in a container, and retrieving the empty bag individually from the container, holding and opening the retrieved bag for filling, and ejecting the filled bag for use. The infusion bags and device of the present invention is ideal for making hot tea or herbal beverages, and for other infusion needs in cooking where separation of the infused material from liquid is desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to infusion bags and to an infusion bag dispensing system, and more particularly to infusion bags and to an infusion bag dispenser that can be used to package the infusion bags at home, within a store environment or within a work or office setting. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Infusion bags used for preparing tea, herbal beverages or the like are known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,235,273 to Ruston discloses an infusion bag having a means for selectively inserting any desired dry beverage material. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,123 to Goodrum et. al. discloses an infusion bag for particulated food products such as tea, coffee and the like, constructed of a tube of perforated thermoplastic film or other porous material. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,699 to Lohrey et al. discloses an infusion bag especially for tea, which has a top part with folded down corners and a middle part folded over it, to which a string with two free ends is attached. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,336 to Chen discloses an improved infusion bag for preparing an infusion of tea or other infusible substance, which makes the infusible substance less compacted and overcomes the constraint. This gives a higher quantity and higher concentration of infusion liquor. 
         [0008]    To package one&#39;s own infusion bags for tea, for a herb tea beverages, or the like for which separation of the infusible substance from liquid is desired often times results in a tedious and cumbersome process. Tradition is such that a person needs to get a sachet, hold it open, and transfer the desired infusible material into the sachet. Therefore, it is desirable to have a device, for example, an infusion bag dispenser, which can help to facilitate such packaging and remove the need for a preparation process that requires many ancillary items stored and employed by the end-user. 
         [0009]    However, there is no infusion bag dispenser available for people to help or facilitate for them the packaging of their own infusion bags at home, within a store, or within a work settings—to prepare their own tea or herbal beverage or the like. 
         [0010]    Therefore there is a need for an infusion bag dispensing system for tea, herb leaves, and the like. Such a system can store the empty infusion bags in a container, retrieve the bag, hold the bag and open the bag for a user to fill the infusible substance for use, and dispense the filled infusion bag. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    This disclosure relates to infusion bags for infusible substances such as tea or herbs or the like for which separation of the infusible substance from liquid is desired. The disclosure also relates to a device which provides function of storing empty infusion bags in a container, and retrieving the empty bag individually from the said container, holding the retrieved bag for filling, and ejecting the filled bag for use. The infusion bags and dispenser of the present invention is ideal for making hot tea or herbal beverages, and for other infusion needs in cooking where separation of the infused material from liquid is desired. 
         [0012]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an infusion bag dispensing system, comprising a plurality of empty infusion bags to receive infusible substance, each of the infusion bags having a porous-walled bag for the infusible substance, an open/close mechanism along the top of the bag; and an infusion bag dispenser which provides function of storing empty infusion bags in its container, retrieving the empty bag individually from the container, holding the retrieved bag for filling, and ejecting the filled bag for use. 
         [0013]    The infusion bag dispenser retrieves the empty bag from the bottom of the container in one embodiment and retrieves the empty bag from the top of the container in another embodiment. The infusion bag dispenser stores the infusion bags horizontally in some embodiments and vertically in other embodiments. 
         [0014]    The dispenser opens the infusion bag by applying force to the open/close clip on the bag in some embodiments and by inserting spades into the bag in another embodiment. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the infusion bag dispenser retrieves the infusion bag one at a time by attaching a pair of hooks or pins to the pair of holes at the open/close clip. In another embodiment a pair of spades are inserted into the infusion bag to retrieve it, and the spades are rotated in order to open the infusion bag. Other mechanism known in the art may be used to retrieve and open the infusion bag in another embodiment. 
         [0016]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0017]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0018]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of an infusion bag according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the embodiment of the infusion bag along the line  1 - 1  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the infusion bag dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention showing that the infusion bags are stored inside the container and the door is in a closed position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  showing the door is in a half-open position and retrieving one piece of the infusion bags out of the container. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  showing that the door is in an open position and the infusion bag is attached to the door with the open/close clip opened ready for filling infusible substance. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the embodiment along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 5  showing that infusion bags are stored inside the container. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of the infusion bag dispenser according to another embodiment of the present invention showing that the sliding bag retriever is in a closed position wherein the infusion bags are stored inside the container and not observable. 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the embodiment along the line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 7  showing that a plurality of infusion bags are stored inside the container and are supported by a spring to the top of the container. 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  showing that one piece of infusion bags is attached to the sliding bag retriever which is partially moving out of the dispenser lid. 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  showing that the sliding bag retriever in an open position holding and opening the infusion bag ready for filling infusible substance. 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the infusion bag dispenser according to a third embodiment of the present invention which has an opening on its front to allow the infusion bag to come out and is at a closed position where the dispenser lid assembly is at a closed position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  showing the dispenser lid assembly is at a fill position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  showing the dispenser lid assembly is at a released position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the embodiment along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 11  showing that a plurality of infusion bags are stored inside the container and are compressed by a compression spring and a pressure towards the front of the container. 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11   
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  from the bottom. 
           [0037]      FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the dispenser lid assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  at a closed position. 
           [0038]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the dispenser lid assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  at a fill position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 19  is a bottom view of the dispenser lid assembly of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  at a release position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention 
           [0041]      FIG. 21  is an exploded view of  FIG. 20   
           [0042]      FIG. 22  is a varying embodiment of a dispenser bag used with the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 20 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 23  is an open view of the top portion of dispenser bag of  FIG. 22 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is disclosed a front view and sectional view of an infusion bag  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a porous-walled bag  11  for the infusible substance, an open/close clip  12  along the top of the bag, and two holes  13  located at two ends of the open/close clip, a string  14  and tab  15 . The infusion bag  10  further comprises an internal seal  16  below and along the open/close clip  12 . 
         [0045]    The bag  11  and open/close mechanism clip  12  is designed so that it will open when pressure is applied and close when the pressure is removed which also leads to opening and closing of the internal seal  16 . The internal seal  16  prevents materials from exiting the bag when it is closed. The bag  11  and clip  12  can be constructed of different materials including but not limited to metal, plastic, and organic materials such as bamboo. The bag  11  and clip  12  can be attached together by different methods including but not limited to by heating, stitching, and other means known in the art. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is disclosed the first embodiment of the infusion bag dispenser  100 , comprising a substantially rectangular shaped container  120  for storing the infusion bags  10  and a bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  for retrieving the infusion bag out of the container  120 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the container has two horizontal walls which are a top  121  and a bottom (not observable in the figure), and four vertical walls which are a front  123 , a rear (invisible in the figure), a right side (not visible in the figure), and a left side  125 . The front wall  123  in the figure is slightly shorter than the other three vertical walls forming a gap  127  at its bottom allowing one single piece of the infusion bags  10  to get out of the container  120 . 
         [0048]    The bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  is connected to the container  120  at the top via hinge(s)  131  so that the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  can pivot approximately 90 degrees from a vertical close position (see  FIG. 3 ) where the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  covers the front wall  123  to a horizontal open position that will be demonstrated later in  FIG. 5 . To retrieve the infusion bag  10  out of the container  120  through the gap  127 , the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  has a pair of hooks or pins  133  that resides on the interior surface so when the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  is closed, the pair of hooks or pins  133  mates with the corresponding holes  3  of the infusion bag  10  and the infusion bag  10  becomes attached to the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  and thus is pulled out of the gap  127  when the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  is opened. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the infusion bag  10  is retrieved from the bottom of the container  120  through the gap  127  one at a time by the hooks or pins  133  on the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  and is held in a vertical position when the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  130  is held in a horizontal position. Other mechanisms known in the art can be used to attach to the infusion bag. 
         [0050]    The infusion bag dispenser  100  further comprises a mechanism which applies force with the use of a compression spring to open the clip  120  of the infusion bag  10  for a user to fill desired infusible substance as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view along the line  5 - 5  of the embodiment. In  FIG. 6 , partial of the right side  126 , bottom  122 , and rear  124  walls are observable. A plurality of infusion bags  10  are stored horizontally from the bottom up inside the container  120  with the open/close clip  12  and hole  13  next to and facing towards the gap  127  on the front wall  123 . 
         [0052]    One of the vertical walls excluding the front wall  123  is hingedly connected to one of its adjacent walls so that it can be opened and allow a user to put empty infusion bags inside the container. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is disclosed the second embodiment of the infusion bag dispenser  200 , comprising a substantially rectangular shaped container  220  for storing the infusion bags  10 , a dispenser lid  230 , and a bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240 . 
         [0054]    The container  220  has four vertical walls including a front  221 , a rear  222 , a right side  224 , a left side  223 , a bottom  225 , and an open top. The rear  222 , right side  224 , bottom  225 , and open top are not observable in  FIG. 7  but is partially visible in  FIG. 8 . The dispenser lid  230  is connected to the top of the container  220  to cover the open top and to hold the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  in a closed position. The bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  is sized and configured to mate the infusion bag  10  and the dispenser lid  230  so that it can slide in and out of the dispenser lid  230  to retrieve the infusion bag  10  one at a time from the top of the container  220 . 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 8  which is a sectional view along the line  7 - 7  of the second embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 7 , the infusion bags are stored horizontally from top to bottom. The container has a compression spring  250  inside to support/push up the infusion bags so that the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  extracts the infusion bag from the top of the container  220 . Partial of the rear  222 , right side  224 , and bottom  225  of the container are observable in this figure. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  has a pair of hooks or pins  241  positioned to attach to the holes  13  on the infusion bag. When the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  is in the closed position, the hooks or pins  241  attach to the holes  13  of the infusion bag  10  that is on the top of the pile and retrieves the infusion bag  10  out when the bag retrieving and opening mechanism  240  slides out. Other mechanisms known in the art can be used to attach to the infusion bag  10 . 
         [0057]    Once the infusion bag is completely pulled out of the dispenser lid  230 , the bag retrieving and opening and closing mechanism  240  further has a compression spring mechanism to enable the infusion bag  10  to turn from the horizontal position (see  FIG. 9 ) to a vertical position (see  FIG. 10 ) and has a compression spring mechanism that is able to apply pressure to open the clip  12  (see  FIG. 10 ). Such mechanism to turn the infusion bag  10  can be a hinge in one embodiment. Other mechanisms to turn the infusion bag  10  from the horizontal position (see  FIG. 9 ) to a vertical position (see  FIG. 10 ) known in the art may be used in another embodiment. 
         [0058]    In one embodiment, the dispenser lid  230  is removably connected to the container  220  allowing for restocking of the empty infusion bags  10 . 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , there is disclosed a third embodiment of the infusion bag dispenser  300 , comprising a substantially rectangular shaped storage container  320  for storing the infusion bags  10 , a dispenser lid assembly  330  located on the top of the storage container  320 . The storage container  320  has an opening on its front allowing the infusion bag  10  to exit therefrom for filling. The opening  321  is shaped similar to but slightly larger than the infusion bag  10  in this embodiment. In another embodiment, the opening  321  may have different shape as long as it&#39;s large enough to allow the infusion bag  10  to come out. The dispenser lid assembly  330  comprises a dispenser lid  332 , a bag dispenser handle  334  which is a bag retrieving and opening mechanism, and two bag arms  333  which are connected to the bag dispenser handle  334 . The dispenser handle  334  and bag arms together are sized and configured to mate the dispenser lid  332  so that they can slide in and out of the dispenser lid  332  to retrieve the infusion bag  10  one at a time from the front of the storage container  320 . The dispenser lid assembly  330  will be further discussed in later paragraphs. 
         [0060]    The infusion bag dispenser  300  further comprises a dispenser base  350  on the bottom of the storage container  320 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows the infusion bag dispenser  300  at a closed position wherein the bag arms  333  and dispenser handle  334  are located inside the dispenser lid  332  and all of the infusion bags  10  are stored inside the storage container  320 . Although invisible in  FIG. 11 , the bag arms  333  have a pair of infusion bag pins  335  to engage the holes  13  on the infusion bag  10  thus the bag arms  333  can retrieve the bag  10  when they are pulled out of the dispenser lid  332 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the bag arms  333  and dispenser handle  334  are partially pulled out of the dispenser lid  332  such that the retrieved infusion bag  10  is vertically disposed outside the container  320  and ready for filling. Once the infusion bag  10  is filled the dispenser handle  334  is further pulled, which triggers the full infusion bag  10  to be released from the infusion bag pins  335  on the bag arms  333  as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 14  which is a sectional view along the line  11 - 11  of the third embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 11 , the infusion bag dispenser  300  stores the infusion bags  10  in an upright direction. The dispenser  300  further comprises a horizontally disposed compression spring  360  and a vertically disposed pressure plate  362  inside the storage container  320 . The pressure plate  362  is parallel to and in contact with the stock of the infusion bags  10 . The compression spring  360  is attached to the rear wall  325  of the container at one end and to the pressure plate  362  at the other end. The compression spring  360  constantly applies a force horizontally to the pressure plate  362  which is in direct contact with the infusion bags. This causes the infusion bags to be pushed towards the front opening  321 .  FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate exploded views of the infusion bag dispenser  300  from slightly different angles. The two parallel bag rails  380  attached to the interior right  322  and left walls  323  respectively extending from the front wall  324  to the rear wall  325  of the container  320  creates two parallel bag retention notches  382  for hanging infusion bags  10  inside the storage container  320 . 
         [0063]    Each of the bag arms  333  has three semicircular cutouts  331  along the exterior edge to engage each of the two arm cams  336  located on the underside of the dispenser lid  332 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIGS. 17-19  there disclosed close-up bottom views of the dispenser lid assembly  330  showing the dispenser handle  334  being pulled out to different positions. The right and left bag arms  333  are attached to the handle  334  so that they slide together in and out of the dispenser lid  332  with the handle  334 . The space created between the underside  337  of the dispenser lid  332  and the two guiding rails  338  running from the rear to the front on the underside of the dispenser lid  332  allows the handle  334  with bag arms  333  to slide in and out, while the bag arm cams  336  hold the handle  334  with bag arms  333  in place by engaging the cutouts  331  along the bag arms  333 . When the bag arm cams  336  engage the front semicircular cutouts  331 , the dispenser lid assembly  330  is at its closed position where the handle  334  and bag arms  333  are held inside the dispenser lid  332  ( FIG. 17 ). When the handle  334  and bag arms  333  are partially pulled out, the cams  336  engage the middle semicircular cutouts  331 ; the dispenser lid assembly  330  is in a fill position ( FIG. 18 ). When the handle  334  and bag arms  333  are pulled further, the cams  336  engage the rear semicircular cutouts  331 ; the dispenser lid assembly  330  is at a release position ( FIG. 19 ), 
         [0065]    The dispenser lid assembly  330  further comprises tension arms  371 , a tension cam  372 , and pivot pin  373 . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIG. 20  to  FIG. 23  there is shown a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 20  is a cross sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 21  is an exploded view of  FIG. 20 .  FIG. 22  is a varying embodiment of a dispenser bag used with the fourth embodiment of  FIG. 20 .  FIG. 23  is an open view of the top portion of dispenser bag of  FIG. 22 . 
         [0067]    Herein when referring to  FIG. 20  through  FIG. 23  the following can be achieved. In the load position, the spade openers are resting on the infusion bag spade opener guide. The control knob is in the full “up” position. The user can depress the control knob until it stops. This action inserts the spade openers into the infusion bag. The user, rotates the control knob 90°, in a clockwise direction. This action engages the rack and pinion assembly, which in turn, rotates the spade openers, and opens the infusion bag. As the spade openers rotate, opening the bag, they also extract the empty infusion bag from the infusion bag canister. The spade openers support the infusion bag, while the user places contents into the open bag. The user rotates the control knob 90°, in a counter-clockwise direction. This action releases the control knob and the return spring moves it back to its original position. The filled infusion bag is released during this process. The user pulls the drawstring on the infusion bag to secure contents. 
         [0068]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.