Patent Publication Number: US-2005120886-A1

Title: Infusion tea maker

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a tea maker and more particularly, to an infusion tea maker, which enables the user to adjust the infusion time subject to one&#39;s taste preference and, which has means to separate infused tea leaves from infused tea.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
       FIG. 1  shows an infusion tea maker according to the prior art. According to this design, the infusion tea maker A comprises a detachable filter assembly A 1 . The filter assembly A 1  has a top flange A 11  supportable on the rim of the jug of the infusion tea maker A. When in use, a suitable amount of tea leaves T is put in the filter assembly A 1 , and then hot water is poured through the filter assembly A 1  into the inside of the infusion tea maker A. A certain length of time after infusion, the user must remove the filter assembly A 1  out of the infusion tea maker A because over-infusion results in bitter taste of infused tea. However, it is not hygienic to take the filter assembly A 1  out of the infusion tea maker A directly with the hand. Further, when removing the filter assembly A 1  from the infusion tea maker A, the hot filter assembly A 1  may scald the user&#39;s hand.  
       FIG. 2  shows another structure of infusion tea maker according to the prior art. According to this design, the infusion tea maker B comprises a jug B 1 , a cover B 4  capped on the jug B 1 , a rod B 2 , which has a top end inserted through the cover B 4  and fixedly fastened with a knob B 21 , and a filter assembly B 3  affixed to the bottom end of the rod B 2 . When in use, a suitable amount of tealeaves T is put in the filter assembly B 3 , and then hot water is poured through the filter assembly B 3  to the bottom space inside the jug B 1 . This design of infusion tea maker cannot separate tealeaves from infused tea. Further, when tealeaves are infused for a certain length of time, the tealeaves will release theophylline that is harmful to the health.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the infusion tea maker comprises a jug, the jug comprising an inside annular flange; a brewing basket supportable on the inside annular flange inside the jug, the brewing basket comprising a top brewing chamber, a bottom air chamber, a center guide tube vertically downwardly extended from the top infusion chamber through the bottom air chamber to the outside of the brewing basket, and a top flange supportable on the inside annular flange inside the jug; and a cover for covering the jug; wherein when pouring hot water into the brewing basket inside the jug to infusion tea leaves in the top brewing chamber into infused tea, the bottom air chamber produces a buoyancy to lift the brewing basket in water inside the jug, for enabling infused tea to flow through the center guide tube to the outside of the brewing basket into the holding space of the jug. According to another aspect of the present invention, the  
      A flow rate regulation means is installed in the bottom side of the center guide tube of the brewing basket for regulating the flow rate of infused tea passing out of the center guide tube. The flow rate regulation means comprises a rotary knob rotatably coupled to a bottom end of the center guide tube in vertical, the rotary knob having a water outlet corresponding to an opening in the bottom end of the center guide tube. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic drawing showing the use of an infusion tea maker according to the prior art.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another structure of infusion tea maker according to the prior art.  
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of an infusion tea maker according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the infusion tea maker according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing hot water poured through the perforated spreader into the brewing basket inside the jug of the infusion tea maker according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing the user lifted the cover and the brewing basket out of the jug according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the infusion tea maker according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view of an alternate form of the infusion tea maker according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing showing an use of the infusion tea maker of  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10A  is a schematic drawing showing the rotary knob of the infusion tea maker adjusted to one position according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 10B  is a schematic drawing showing the rotary knob of the infusion tea maker adjusted to another position according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing an alternate form of the rotary knob installed in the center guide tube of the brewing basket according to the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an infusion tea maker  1  in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of jug  20 , a brewing basket  30 , a flow guide  40 , and a cover  50 .  
      The jug  20  has an annular inside flange  22  adapted to support the brewing basket  40  inside the hub  20 , a spout  21  through which infused tea is poured out of the jug  20 , a scale  23  marked on the periphery in vertical for volume measurement, and a handle  24  at a suitable location.  
      The brewing basket  30  is covered with a perforated spreader  34 , having a top brewing chamber  31 , a bottom air chamber  33 , a filter  311  mounted in between the top brewing chamber  31  and the bottom air chamber  33 , and a top locating hole  321 . The perforated spreader  34  has a perforated base  341 , a peripheral wall  342  fitting the diameter of the top brewing chamber  31 , a locating rod  343  for engaging into the locating hole  321 , and a top flange covered with a metal plate  35 . The perforated spreader  34  is equipped with a handle  70  through which the user can easily remote the perforated spreader  34  from the brewing basket  30 .  
      The flow guide  40  comprises a center guide tube  41  downwardly extended from the bottom side of the top brewing chamber  31  to the bottom side of the bottom air chamber  33 , having a bottom protruding portion  411  extended out of the bottom side of the brewing basket  30 .  
      The cover  50  is covered on the jug  20 , having a plurality of magnets  51  equiangularly spaced around the bottom side for attracting the metal plate  35  of the perforated spreader  34 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when in use, tea leaves T is put in the top brewing chamber  31 , and then the perforated spreader  34  is covered on the brewing basket  30 , and then hot water is poured through the perforated spreader  34  into the brewing basket  30  inside the jug  20 , and then the cover  50  is covered on the jug  20 . At this time, the water pressure in the brewing basket  30  forces the brewing basket  30  downwards, thereby causing the top flange  32  firmly pressed on the inside annular step  22  to stop water from passing through the gap between the inner diameter of the jug  20  and the outer diameter of the brewing basket  30 . At this time, only a small amount of infused tea passes through the center guide tube  41  to the jug  20 . When hot water level reaches the elevation of the top flange  32  of the brewing basket  30 , the air inside the bottom air chamber  33  is caused to expand due to hot, thereby causing the brewing basket  30  to float in hot water and to let infused tea pass out of the center guide tube  41  to the inside space of the hug  20 . At this time, the user can lift the cover  50  to carry the brewing basket  30  out of the jug  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIGS. 4 and 7  again, an air tube  62  is fitted into respective air holes  61  in the perforated spreader  34  and the top flange  32  of the brewing basket  30  for enabling excessive air to pass out of the space between the jug  20  and the brewing basket  30 .  
       FIGS. 8-10  show an alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the bottom protruding portion  411  has an opening  412 ; a rotary knob  42  is rotatably coupled to the bottom protruding portion  411  in vertical, having a water outlet  421  corresponding to the opening  412 . The user can rotate the rotary knob  42  to adjust the flow rate of water through the passage formed of the opening  412  and the water outlet  421 .  FIG. 10A  shows the passage formed of the opening  412  and the water outlet  421  adjusted to a high flow rate status. At this time, hot water passes through the brewing basket  30  to the inside space of the jug  20  at a relatively high speed, and the tea infusion time is relatively shortened.  FIG. 10B  shows the passage formed of the opening  412  and the water outlet  421  adjusted to a low flow rate status. At this time, hot water passes through the brewing basket  30  to the inside space of the jug  20  at a relatively low speed, and the tea infusion time is relatively extended.  
       FIG. 11  shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the rotary knob  42  is installed in the bottom protruding portion  411  in a horizontal position. This embodiment achieves the same effect as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8-10 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8  again the infusion tea maker  1  may be used with an infusion tea maker holder  10 . The infusion tea maker holder  10  holds the infusion tea maker  1  on the inside, having a handle  11  for the holding of the user&#39;s hand to prevent direct tough of the user&#39;s hand with the hot infusion tea maker  1 .  
      A prototype of infusion tea maker has been constructed with the features of FIGS.  3 ˜ 1 . The infusion tea maker functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.  
      Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.