Patent Publication Number: US-2007101870-A1

Title: Structure of tea ball

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      I. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to a “structure of tea ball”, comprising of a tea caddy and an infuser, is adaptive for usage to the common tea tumbler. It is easy to carry and use, as well as conforming to the attribute of health science in brewing tea.  
      II. Description of the Prior Art  
      Generally to brew tea, the tea leaves are usually placed in the teapot, subsequently flushing the hot water therein. In this way, hardly anybody could bring the tea pot along to brew tea anywhere. To rectify the deficiencies thereof, an infuser basket  FIG. 1  was thus invented. The top opening element thereof features a supportive convex A, a connective concave B as well as sieves C on the body thereof. Fit the lid into connective concave B. However, construction of such infuser basket  FIG. 1  makes it not easy to use, carry and store, especially where it causes EGCG of tea to be oxygenized. The oxygenized EGCG makes the tea lose its flavor. Objective of this invention is to rectify the deficiencies of foregoing infuser basket.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention refers to a “structure of tea ball” that can improve the deficiencies of foregoing infuser basket.  
      Objective of this invention is to introduce a tea ball adaptive for usage to a common tea tumbler whichever, especially to keep the flavor of tea by retaining its EGCG. Besides, the construction of tea ball of this invention makes it easy to use and carry.  
      To achieve the foregoing objective, the “structure of tea ball” of this invention comprises of an infuser and a tea caddy. The infuser features a convex bottom, screen on the bottom, as well as hooks on the edge of the top opening. The tea caddy also features a convex top, groove on the edge of bottom opening as well as a plastic seal.  
      Tear off the plastic seal on the bottom opening of tea caddy to pour the tea leaves into the infuser. Hook the infuser to groove of the tea caddy to form a tea ball. Drop the tea ball into a tea tumbler. In addition to effectively retain the EGCG of tea, the construction of this invention also makes it easy to use and carry. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is construction of the existing infuser basket.  
       FIG. 2  is diagram of tea ball of this invention.  
       FIG. 3  is construction of tea ball of this invention.  
       FIG. 4  is tea ball of this invention in a common tea tumbler.  
       FIG. 5  is diagram of integrated tea tumbler of this invention.  
       FIG. 6  is construction of integrated tea tumbler of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Further aspects, objects, and desirable features of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description and drawings, with a better embodiment of the disclosed invention being illustrated by way of examples, as follow:  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the “structure of tea ball” of this invention comprises of a lid-typed tea caddy  10  and an infuser  20 . The infuser  20  features a convex bottom, hooks  21  on the edge of top opening as well as screens  22  on the bottom. And, the tea caddy  10  features a convex top, groove  12  on the edge of bottom opening as well as a plastic seal  11 . A tea ball is formed while fastening the infuser with its hooks  21  to groove  12  of the tea caddy  10 . Construction of this invention is adaptive to the usage of a common tea tumbler.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , tear off the plastic seal  11  on bottom of the tea caddy  10  to pour the tea leaves into the infuser  20 . Fasten the infuser  20  with its hooks  21  to groove  12  of the tea caddy  10  to form a tea ball. In this way, the tea caddy  10  becomes a lid to the infuser  20 . Drop the tea ball into a tea tumbler  30  with hot water. The infuser  20  shall be horizontally balanced because the tea caddy  10  serve as a lid thereby keeping the air inside. And, the tea leaves are completely immersed in the hot water that flows in and out of infuser  20  through screens  22 . This is how the EGCG is retained to consequently reserve the flavor of tea. Besides, this invention presents the functions of easy carrying and usage.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a joint ring  40  on the tea tumbler  30 , designed to park the tea ball, features a supportive element  41 , a connective element  42 , a spout as well as a tap  44 . Assemble the joint ring  40 , tea ball and tea tumbler  30  per following steps. Firstly, clip the connective element  42  of joint ring  40  to the tea tumbler  30 . Secondly, park the tea ball composed of tea caddy  10  and infuser  20  therein while clipping the groove  12  of tea caddy  10  to connective element  41  of joint ring  40 . Subsequently, the tea leaves are completely immersed in the hot water that flows in and out of infuser  20  through screens  22 . After few minutes, open the tap  44  to insert a straw  50  through spout  43  to drink the tea. The tap  44  is a device covering the spout  43  to keep the tea from spilling. It also effectively blocks air circulation to retain the EGCG of tea. This integrated tea tumbler can be carried anywhere.  
      To sum up, the “structure of tea ball” and integrated tea tumbler of this invention is easy to use and carry. This invention is “practical” and “advanced”. Submission of this invention is to register the patents thereof according to the patent law.  
     NOTATIONS  
     
         
           10 —lid-typed tea caddy  
           20 —infuser  
           30 —tea tumbler  
           40 —joint ring  
           50 —straw  
           11 —plastic seal  
           12 —groove  
           21 —hook  
           22 —screen  
           41 —supportive element  
           42 —connective element  
           43 —spout  
           44 —tap