Patent Publication Number: US-2019193929-A1

Title: Device for the squeezing and disposal of teabags

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a national phase application of international patent application titled “Device for The Squeezing and Disposal Of Teabags”, application number PCT/BY2016/000003, filed in the National Center Intellectual Property Office (Belarus) on May 19, 2016. The specifications of the above referenced patent application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a kitchen appliance, an everyday item, that is used everywhere. It can be either disposable or reusable, depending on the material it is made of. The device is intended for squeezing and recycling individual tea bags provided with threads, after their use in tea preparation. The invention can be put to use universally, wherever it may be required during the use of individual tea bags. Moreover, any or both of the interested parties are free to use the device to place any and all kind of advertising information of any content and context, including expressions, signs, symbols by means of applying any image on either side of the device by any conventional method, using any kind of materials. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A device for squeezing tea bags, in the form of a spoon covered with “hatchings” to place a thread in them, allowing to hold a tea bag up in the air after its immersion in the fluid for further draining of any liquid residues (see. German Patent No. DE 10224597, class AG 19/16, 21/04, published 2003 Jan. 16). However, this device has a significant disadvantage, in particular the low degree of liquid removal and does not offer any options to increase the aesthetic component of the process. 
     Another device, a utility model, is intended for individual squeezing of tea bags provided with threads after their immersion in the liquid. The device is combined with a tea bag by means of a thread placed inside a tea bag, allowing for teabag squeezing by increasing the thread tension (see. Annex 1 to the description of the utility model on tea bag packaging produced by “TETLEY” company). The disadvantage of this device is the low degree of liquid removal, due to the impossibility to apply enough force because of the high probability of thread breakage and rupture of the bag itself. 
     The closest technical solution to the claimed one, accepted as the closest analogue (prototype) of the utility model, is a device for squeezing tea bags (see. Utility Model RF 38559, publ. Oct. 7, 2004), designed in the form of a plate with a tea bag, provided with adjustable sides and a slot in the center of the device (the narrow axis of its bend), made mostly by casting or cutting, using the suitable equipment, mainly of transparent or translucent food grade plastic. After use, the device is positioned in a special way, with a teabag thread placed in the slot. Then force is applied, and the opposite sides are bent to one another, in one direction (foreseen in advance). The teabag is positioned between them and even greater force is applied to squeeze it, removing the excess fluid. The operation cycle is complete. 
     The disadvantage of this device is the high cost of manufacturing and materials used, as well as the lack of any technical solutions for further use of the device after teabag squeezing and final disposal. In the description of the utility model, attached to the certificate number 38559, the author proposes to return the device in its original position, or leave it in a partially bent position. However, neither of the options resolves the issue for final disposal of the tea bag while maintaining the aesthetic component of the process, and thus, is logically incomplete. In both of the above-mentioned options, the direct contact with the tea bag is required, before finally disposing it into the nearest bin, destroying all the progress made in the aesthetic part of teabag recycling. In fact, the device was originally designed to avoid direct contact with the tea bag and facilitate the process of squeezing, liquid removal and disposal. Moreover, in both cases, it is evident that the device will be reused, after a tea bag removal. However, in compliance with hygiene standards, in order to be reused, it should be cleaned, for example, washed together with dishes, using cleaning products, which brings about further inconvenience and unjustified additional efforts in relation to the result (tea bag squeezing). 
     There is also the third and the last option—to throw away the device together with a tea bag in order to avoid direct contact with the tea bag and preserve the aesthetic component of the process, which seems wasteful and costly in relation to the result (tea bag squeezing), while the device was manufactured to help solve these problems. 
     Thus, the device does not fully meet the requirements for tea bag disposal after its squeezing, since the number of device usages is undefined. No options for using the device after bag squeezing have been offered. Similarly, the conditions for its reuse have not been described. Also, the device is expensive to manufacture in relation to the progress made (tea bag squeezing) and in comparison with the new proposed model. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to: eliminate the drawbacks of the utility model (its closest analogue)—the prototype, including by solving the task of the full cycle of teabag squeezing and recycling. The proposed device does not require direct contact with the tea bag, after its squeezing and further disposal (for instance, in a trash bin). It is equally aimed at enhancing the aesthetic aspect of the process in the full cycle of squeezing and recycling, as well as at significant cost-cutting to a degree of manufacturing expediency in relation to the progress made (squeezing and removal of tea bags). The device is suited for general use and is disposable, allowing to attract the interested parties to accommodate any information on its sides by any of the known methods and materials. 
     Thus, the proposed invention solves the problems of full-cycle teabag squeezing and recycling, including that of cost-cutting, as compared to its analogue product (prototype), to the extent of the widespread use of the device (similar to the use of cocktail straws). 
     This is achieved due to the fact that, in comparison with its analog product, in addition to the sides with a slot at its center (directly in contact with the tea bag), the device has a bottom, which can be of any geometrical shape, forming at its end a closed figure with a bag placed inside. Furthermore, the device is equipped with legs on which it is fixed, allowing the device bottom not to touch the surface it is placed on, such as a table. At the same time, to throw the used tea bag in a trash bin, additional contact with the bag is unnecessary, since the device, due to its low price, can be utilized together with the bag. 
     The low cost is achieved due to the fact that the device is mainly made of paper, coated with any kind of laminating film, conventionally used in food industry, or other known materials and methods that meet the requirements for product efficiency. Lamination is required to prevent wetting of the device and burns, as well as to achieve the effect of a spring. However, this spring effect may be achieved by any other known methods, using other suitable materials. The lamination of the end part of the device is optional, depending on the intentions of the interested parties. 
     In conclusion, the device is made of paper or any other suitable material, whose type and quality are determined by the client, but the minimum requirements shall be met to maintain the device performance A single-sided or double-sided lamination of the device is foreseen, in particular, the lamination of its flat sides (the first or second lamination are determined by the client). The lamination is required to prevent the wetting of paper parts, to provide the device with a spring effect, and to prevent the burns during use, but any other conventional materials and methods can be used to achieve the same effects. It is worth mentioning, that end faces of the device are laminated optionally. The decision is made by the interested parties and, if necessary, the procedure can be performed, using any other suitable methods and conventional materials. 
     The device consists of materials in direct contact with the bag, the device bottom—by which means a closed triangular-shaped item is formed with a teabag inside, as well as of four support legs (the number is optional), attaching the device to any surface, such as a table, after the completion of the squeezing and recycling cycle. The device bottom will not touch the surface where it is placed. The novelty is the fact that in addition to the device design in rectangular or any other shape, an elongated plate has a slot at its center or off-center, relative to the long sides of the device, which can be of any geometrical shape—on the left or on the right side, extending half or less than half the width of the device and forming the line of its folding in halves. In addition, it has four legs and a bottom, shaped in any way. After folding the device in half, the bottom by means of the teabag thread is pushed into special slots and fixed/locked there. So the tea bag is fixed inside the device with no risk of falling out, and at the same time a closed figure on four or more legs is aesthetically pleasing (for instance, triangular in shape), which is the final act of the operating cycle. The invention is intended for squeezing and recycling of individual tea bags after their use and meant to enhance the aesthetic component of the process. At the same time, it can be used as an advertising and information medium in a static state before its use, when the tea is served or independently, as well as after its use, when it has formed a closed triangular shape on four legs placed, for example, on a table. During the entire cycle of its use, in addition to its direct functions (teabag squeezing and recycling), the device is able to provide information of any content, placed on its body, available for reading for both its users and people around them, having direct eye contact with the device during a tea-party or other activities. 
     The device for squeezing and recycling of tea bags is manufactured in several stages: initially, by preparing a paper part of the device. The information of any kind developed by any interested person is applied on both sides of the paper part of the device, using any method and any material, followed by double-sided lamination. The paper of any type and format is specifically prepared for this purpose. The process of cutting, using a printing equipment (a printing stamp) or any other suitable equipment, immediately follows this stage. If the device is manufactured from materials not allowing for cutting, any other conventional methods and equipment may be applied at the discretion of the customer. The persons concerned are free to choose any suitable methods, equipment and materials for the device manufacture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevation view of a teabag squeezing and recycling device in its original form and in static condition. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a left side view of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device being folded at a creasing located at a center of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device being folded away from legs located adjacent to the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates insertion of a holding thread of a tea bag in a slot located in the center of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates pressing the teabag squeezing and recycling device from top towards the tea bag so that the teabag squeezing and recycling device is supported on the tea bag. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates pressing the teabag squeezing and recycling device against the top of the tea bag and holding the tea bag with a thread, as well as holding the teabag in place between two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates squeezing the tea bag between the two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrates passing the thread of the tea bag through a slot at the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device, while simultaneously holding the teabag squeezing and recycling device in a compressed state. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates locking the two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device using special slots located in the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device in cuts located at an end of a contacting side. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device in a locked form with the tea bag contained within the teabag squeezing and recycling device. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device in its final form with a special cut-out shown in  FIG. 1  and providing the teabag squeezing and recycling device with an individual design. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a general view of the device for teabag squeezing and recycling in its original form and in static condition, where:  1 —device slot;  2 —creasing in place of device folding in half;  3 —device bottom,  4 —creasing in the bottom made in place of folding;  5 —legs;  6 —slot at the bottom center;  7 —protruding guide ways defining the direction of the squeezed-out liquid;  8 —optional slots for an individual design after folding the product in half during its use and ( FIG. 2 ) an end view of the device for teabag squeezing and recycling in the longitudinal plane. 
     Initially, in its static condition the device has a rectangular shape, but it can have any other shape with prominent parts on both sides at the request of the customer ( FIG. 1 ). In the center of the device, or with a shift to any of its sides in relation to its long sides, as well as either on the right or on the left side, a slot is cut out, which is half the width of the device or less ( 1 ). The slot is randomly shaped. The left and right sides of the slot vary to ease the use for both left-handed and right-handed persons. Next, at the end of the slot and up to the end of the device, a creasing ( 2 ) is made rectilinearly in relation to the slot, defining the direction for folding the device in half. Optional cut-outs ( 8 ) can be made from the beginning of the creasing to either one or both sides at the discretion of the customer. They originate from the center of the creasing and can be directed in either side in relation to the long sides of the device. Further, after the device is folded in half, the cut-out part remains unfolded, as compared to other parts of the device. Thus, the cut-out part will extend beyond the top point of the device, providing it with an individual design, as requested by the interested persons. 
     At both ends of the device, from both sides in relation to the long sides of the device, the so-called legs ( 5 ) and the device bottom ( 3 ) are placed—these are the cut-outs of a special size and random geometrical shape. The bottom is provided with a creasing ( 4 ) at the point of folding, and has a slot ( 6 ) at its center. This slot at bottom center is also randomly shaped and sized. It helps to hold and guide the teabag thread. All cuts are made in such a way, so that at the end of the cycle they (cuts) may be combined with the device bottom, forming a closed triangular-shaped object with a used tea bag inside, firmly fixed by means of the legs to any surface, such as a table. Also, protruding guide ways in both planes ( 7 ) are foreseen in close proximity to the legs of the device to set the direction of fluid motion and minimize the danger of its spilling. The guide ways may randomly shaped and sized, manufactured by any known method, using any known material. The profile plane of the device ( FIG. 2 ) allows us a flat view of the device. However, liquid guide ways and creasings are protruding in both directions, which is explained by technical manufacturing requirements. 
     The device operates as follows: 
     After the tea bag has fulfilled its function and needs to be squeezed and recycled, the following steps are required: 
     For convenience, before the use of the device, it is recommended to fold it in both planes, in places specifically provided for folding, i.e. where creasings are located, with the exception of creasings forming protuberances to guide the squeezed liquid. However, it should be emphasized that this action is optional. 
     These steps are illustrated in ( FIG. 3 ) and ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Then, holding a thread of a tea bag, place the device on top of the tea bag so that the thread came through the slot in the device, and the bottom of the device ( 3 ) was either in close proximity or at a distance of the user. It is, however, extremely undesirable that the bottom of the device was located to the right or to the left side of the user: the device will continue to operate, but the ease of its use can be seriously affected. Moreover, at the beginning of the operating cycle, the device can be turned to the tea bag by any of its planes. 
     These steps are illustrated in ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Then, while holding the thread of a tea bag over a container (the container is not shown in the figure), where the bag has been used, press the device against the tea bag from the top, so that the device is supported. Meanwhile the special cutout will push the bag towards the center of the device. 
     This action is illustrated in ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Then, while pressing the device against the top of the tea bag and holding it with a thread (preferred option) or holding the device and pulling up the thread (less preferred option, since threads of teabags of economy brands of tea are unreliable and break easily), as well as holding the device in place of its folding in half (creasing location) with your fingers, so that the bag remained between the two contacting sides of the device, i.e. inside. 
     This action is illustrated in ( FIG. 7 ). 
     Then, as soon as the tea bag has been placed inside the device, while holding the thread of a tea bag with fingers of one hand, press with greater force on both halves of the device, squeezing them towards each other and thereby removing liquid residues into the container, where the tea bag had been used (container is not shown in the figure). Shake off the remnants of liquid on the legs of the device and, holding the device with the same hand you used to squeeze the tea bag, pick a thread of the tea bag with the other hand from either back or front side, depending on the position of the user, and put it into a special slot, located at the center of the bottom. 
     This action is illustrated in ( FIG. 8 ). 
     Then, pressing the thread that should be located in the slot of the device bottom, while at the same time holding the device in a compressed state, direct the bottom with the help of the thread to special slots, combining and thus, locking them. 
     This action is illustrated in ( FIG. 9 ). 
     Then, while holding the device in a compressed state, use your fingers to pull the thread and hold the bottom of the device on the top point of the lock. Then, without weakening the pressure on the device bottom, quickly relieve the pressure on the device itself in such a way, that the device sprang and straightened to the extreme points, limited by the bottom of the device and forming a closed object in the shape of a triangle. Having performed these actions, ease the pressure on the bottom of the device. The special shape of the slots and the bottom, holding the bag, cannot reopen. Then, the device is mounted on a surface, for example, on a table, using legs, and recycled with no direct contact with the used tea bag. The cycle is complete. 
     This action is illustrated in ( FIG. 10 ) and ( FIG. 11 ). 
     ( FIG. 12 ) displays the device in its final form. 
     ( FIG. 13 ) displays the device in its final form with a special cut-out ( 8 ), shown in detail in ( FIG. 1 ) and providing the device with an individual design.