Abstract:
An automatic system for removing tea from a teapot is disclosed. The present invention incorporates the use of a timing mechanism, a release mechanism and an infuser mechanism to automatically remove the tea from hot water. The timing mechanism is user set and controls the length of time the tea is steeped in hot water. The infuser mechanism comprises a filter element that holds the tea in contact with the hot water and a counterbalance that rotates the filter element out of the water when released and the release mechanism that releases the infuser mechanism when the time has expired.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not applicable 
   STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to the field of adding flavor to a liquid, and more particularly to a device that controls the steeping time for brewing tea. The strength and flavor tea imparts to a liquid is controlled, in part, by the length of time the tea is steeped in water. Failure to remove the tea in time may result in a disagreeable taste. Conventional teapots normally require intervention by the user to control the steepage time. The invention at hand, however, uses an infuser mechanism coupled with a timer mechanism and a release mechanism to automatically remove the tea from the water without intervention by the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A first aspect of the present invention generally relates to the release mechanism. The first preferred embodiment of this aspect generally relates to an infuser mechanism that is rotatably fixed around an axis. The infuser mechanism is comprised of a filter element and a counter balance. A detent supports the infuser mechanism so that the filter element remains in contact with the water. An actuator is operatively connected between the timing mechanism and the infuser mechanism. Once the timing mechanism finishes the count down, the actuator applies a one-time force to the rim of the infuser mechanism, overcoming the support provided by the detent. The infuser mechanism then rotates and the filter element is rotated completely out of the water. 
   A second embodiment of this aspect generally relates to an infuser mechanism that is rotatably fixed around an axis. The infuser mechanism is comprised of a filter element and a counter balance. A latch supports the infuser mechanism so that the filter element remains in contact with the water. An actuator is operatively connected between the timer mechanism and the latch and is constrained at a pivot point. As the timer counts down, a downward force is applied to the end of the actuator nearest the timer mechanism. The actuator then pivots around the pivot point such that the opposing actuator end applies an outward force on the latch and releases the infuser mechanism. The infuser mechanism then rotates around the axis such that the filter element is completely out of the water. 
   A second aspect of the present invention generally relates to the infuser mechanism. In the first preferred embodiment of this second aspect an infuser mechanism, comprised of a filter element and a counter weight, is operatively connected to the teapot housing and is rotatably fixed around an axis. If left unsupported, the infuser mechanism would rotate around the axis and the filter element would come to rest out of the water. Tea is placed within the filter element and a mechanism for releasing the filter element as described in the first aspect of the invention is then coupled with this embodiment to allow for the filter element to be removed from the water without intervention by the user. In this embodiment the counter weight must weigh more than the combined weight of the wet tealeaves in the filter element and the filter element. 
   A second embodiment of the second aspect of the invention generally includes an infuser mechanism comprised of a filter element and a torsion spring. In this embodiment, the torsion spring is operatively connected between the teapot housing and the filter element such that the filter element is rotatably fixed around an axis. If left unsupported, the infuser mechanism would rotate around the axis and the filter element would come to rest out of the water. Tea is placed within the filter element and a mechanism for releasing the filter element as described in the first aspect of the invention is then coupled with this embodiment to allow for the filter element to be removed from the water without intervention by the user. In this embodiment, the torsion spring moment must be greater than the combined weight of the wet tea in the filter element and the weight of the filter element. 
   A third embodiment of the second aspect of the invention generally includes an infuser mechanism comprised of a filter element and a flotation device. In this embodiment of the invention an infuser mechanism, comprised of a filter element and a flotation device, is operatively connected to the teapot housing and is rotatably fixed around an axis. If left unsupported, the infuser mechanism would rotate around the axis and the filter element would come to rest out of the water. Tea is placed within the filter element and a mechanism for releasing the filter element as described in the first aspect of the invention is then coupled with this embodiment to allow for the filter element to be removed from the water without intervention by the user. In this embodiment, the flotation device moment must be greater than the combined weight of the wet tea in the filter element and the flotation device. 
   There has thus been outlined features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, 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 to the arrangements of the components set forth above or 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. 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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention according to the best mode presently devised for practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a teapot; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the counter weight embodiment utilizing the detent release mechanism of the present invention. In this figure the filter element is in the brew position; 
       FIG. 3  is a rotational view of the counter weight embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 2 , where the filter element is in rotation; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the counter weight embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 3 , where the filter element has rotated 180 degrees; 
       FIG. 5  is a isometric view of the latch release mechanism; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a side view of the float embodiment utilizing the latch release mechanism. In this figure the filter element is in the brew position; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the float embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 5   a , where the filter element has been rotated 180 degrees; 
       FIG. 7  out 
       FIG. 8  out 
       FIG. 9  is a isometric view of the torsion spring embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the torsion spring embodiment; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the latch release mechanism; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the infuser mechanism utilizing a latch release mechanism; 
       FIG. 13  is a top view of the invention of  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  out 
       FIG. 15  is a zoom view of the latch release mechanism of  FIG. 12 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the drawings like reference numerals throughout the various figures refer to the same item. Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1–4  depict of one of the preferred embodiments of the release mechanism coupled with an infuser mechanism of invention and shows a teapot housing  20  a lid  22  and an infuser mechanism  24 . In this embodiment the infuser mechanism is comprised of a detent  28  a detent couple  30  a filter element  26  a counter weight  34  and an actuator  32 . As is shown the actuator  34  operatively connects a timing mechanism  36  with the counter weight  34 . The infuser mechanism  24  is rotatably connected to the teapot housing  20  such that it may rotate around an axis  25 . The detent  28  supports the infuser mechanism  24  such that the filter element  26  in the down position while the counter weight  34  is in the up position It is important to note that if the infuser mechanism  24  is allowed to rotate naturally, the filter element  26  would be in the top position as is shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the detent  28  cooperates with the detent couple  30  to hold the filter element  26  in the down position. 
   In practice, tea is placed in the filter element and the timing mechanism  36  is set to the desired setting, when timer has finished the actuator  32  applies an one-time force to the counter weight  34  such that the infuser mechanism  24  is no longer stabilized by the detent  28  and the detent couple  30  and the infuser mechanism rotates to its natural position. Thus, in the final position, the filter element  26  is completely out of the water. 
   The timer mechanism may be any conventional timer mechanism such as a slider timer mechanism. For instance, if a conventional slider timer mechanism is utilized, as the timer is counting down a slider moves and stretches a return spring. Once the timer has finished, the slider is released and the return spring returns the slider to the start position. In the present invention, the actuator may be operatively connected to the slider such that when the slider is returned to the start position, the actuator contemporaneously moves forward and thereby applies a force to the counter weight, destabilizing the infuser mechanism. 
   When additional tea is required, the lid  22  is removed and the infuser mechanism  24  is reset such that the detent  28  cooperates with the detent couple  30  to stabilize the filter element  26  in the down position. Tea is then added to the filter element  26  and the timer mechanism  36  is set to the desired setting. It is not necessary that the actuator  32  remain in constant contact with the counter weight  34 . What is essential is that when the timing mechanism has finished, the actuator  32  is operatively connected to the counter weight  34  such that a force great enough to destabilize the system is applied. Thus, the actuator  32  may be designed to apply an ever-increasing force, or may apply a one-time force. As is shown in  FIG. 2 , the actuator  32  applies a force that is designated by an arrow  33 . Obviously, the arrangement of this invention may be modified such that the force may cause the infuser mechanism  24  to rotate either direction. Additionally, the invention may include a drip barrier, such that when the filter element  26  is in the final position, the drip barrier will prevent the filter element  26  from imparting additional flavor to the tea. As such, these modifications are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5–6 , these drawings show and an additional infuser mechanism embodiment and an additional release mechanism embodiment. In this release mechanism embodiment the actuator  32  operatively connects the timer mechanism and the latch mechanism. A pivot point  38  cooperates with the actuator  32  such that as the timer mechanism finishes, it supplies a downward force to End A  48 . The actuator  32  is constrained at the pivot point and the downward force is translated into an outward force at End B  50 . The outward force exerted upon the latch by the actuator  32  then aids in opening the latch and allows the infuser mechanism  24  to rotate to its natural position. 
   In practice, as shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  6 , this release mechanism embodiment may be coupled with an infuser mechanism that includes a filter element  26  and a float  52 . The infuser mechanism  24  is rotatably connected to the teapot  20  such that it may rotate around an axis  25 . The latch  40  and latch couple  46  cooperate to hold the filter element  26  in the downward position. The actuator  32  operatively connects the timer mechanism  36  with the latch  40  and for best results is positioned such that end A  48  is adapted to receive a downward force from the timing mechanism while end B  50  is adapted to provide an outward force upon the latch  40 . The downward force may be accomplished by for example a button being released from the timing mechanism  36 , however any conventional means may be utilized and is considered within the scope of this invention. The actuator  32  should be constructed from a rigid material such that when the downward force is applied at end A  48 , the actuator  32  will not flex around the pivot point  38  and such will translate the downward force at end A  48  into an outward force at end B  50 . The outward force would then open the latch  40  and release the infuser mechanism  24  and allow the infuser mechanism to rotate to its natural position with the filter element out of the water. The timer mechanism in this embodiment may utilize a release button timer mechanism. In practice, once the timer has finished, a button is released that conventionally struck a bell, or in this embodiment applies a force to one end of the actuator. 
   An additional embodiment of the infuser mechanism is reflected in  FIGS. 9–14 . These drawings show an additional embodiment of the invention, which includes an infusion mechanism comprised of a filter element  26  and a torsion spring  52 . In this embodiment, the torsion spring  52  is operatively connected between the teapot housing and the filter element  26  such that the filter element is rotatably fixed around an axis  25 . If left unsupported, the infuser mechanism would rotate around the axis and the filter element would come to rest out of the water. Tea is placed within the filter element  26  and a mechanism for releasing the filter element  26  as described in the first aspect of the invention is then coupled with this embodiment to allow for the filter element  26  to be removed from the water without intervention by the user. In this embodiment, the torsion spring moment must be greater than the combined weight of the wet tea in the filter element and the weight of the filter element. In this embodiment, the torsion spring acts to force the infuser mechanism into its natural position with the filter element out of the water. 
   It will now be understood that what has been disclosed herein includes a new teapot that utilizes an infuser mechanism coupled with a timer and a release mechanism to automatically remove the tea from the water without intervention by the user. Those having skill in the art to which the present invention relates will now as a result of the teaching herein perceive various modifications. Accordingly, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention that is to be limited only by the claims.