Abstract:
A tea sleeve is described. The tea sleeve includes: a pouch adapted to store a tea bag; a tab adapted to secure a first opening of the pouch; and a water resistant lining along an interior surface of the pouch. A tea bag pouch includes: a sealed main body adapted to house a tea bag; a first removable section adapted to form a first opening in the main body, wherein the tea bag is able to pass through the first opening; and a second removable section adapted to form a second opening in the main body, wherein the second removable section is coupled to the tea bag via a retaining element and string. A tea bag envelope includes: a main body adapted to store a tea bag; a tab that extends from the main body to form a closure; and a slot adapted to accept a portion of the tab.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/824,352, filed on May 16, 2013. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many people drink tea or other liquids flavored using infusion elements. Such people may use tea bags, infusion balls, and the like to store tea during infusion. However, such storage elements may not be convenient for a user to carry or pack for future use. 
         [0003]    In addition, many people may wish to squeeze liquid out of a steeped tea bag such that the bag may be disposed of without generating a mess and such that a maximum amount of flavor is extracted from the tea bag during steeping. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, after use, in addition to a used tea bag, a user may have to dispose of wrapping for the tea bag, sweetener packaging, and/or other refuse. 
         [0005]    Therefor there exists a need for a packable storage, infusion, and disposal element that a user may conveniently transport, utilize, and dispose of. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Some embodiments may provide a multi-function solution that may be able to store and/or transport an infusion element (e.g., a tea bag, flavor crystal packet, etc.) and/or a sweetener packet (e.g., a sugar packet, an artificial sweetener packet, etc.). In addition, a multi-function element of some embodiments may also be able to function as a squeezer and/or a recycling or disposal element after use. 
         [0007]    A first exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a tea sleeve. The tea sleeve includes: a pouch adapted to store a tea bag; a tab adapted to secure a first opening of the pouch; and a water resistant lining along an interior surface of the pouch. 
         [0008]    A second exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a tea bag pouch. The tea bag pouch includes: a sealed main body adapted to house a tea bag; a first removable section adapted to form a first opening in the main body, wherein the tea bag is able to pass through the first opening; and a second removable section adapted to form a second opening in the main body, wherein the second removable section is coupled to the tea bag via a retaining element and string. 
         [0009]    A third exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a tea bag envelope. The tea bag envelope includes: a main body that provides a storage pouch adapted to store a tea bag, the storage pouch having an opening; a tab that extends from the main body to form a closure over the opening; and a slot adapted to accept a portion of the tab such that the tab is held in place to secure the tea bag within the storage pouch. 
         [0010]    The preceding Summary is intended to serve as a brief introduction to various features of some exemplary embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments may be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, for purpose of explanation, several embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following drawings. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a tea sleeve according to an exemplary embodiment the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 1  when used for storage; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 1  when used for squeezing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 1  when squeezed along the horizontal fold line of some embodiments; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of an assembled tea sleeve according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an inside view of the tea sleeve of  FIG. 7  prior to assembly; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of an open, unassembled tea sleeve according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The following detailed description of the invention is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, as the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0022]    One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the descriptions below are for example purposes only and that different embodiments may differ in various ways. For instance, different embodiments may have different specific shapes, dimensions, components, etc., as appropriate. 
         [0023]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. Broadly, some embodiments of the present invention generally provide a multi-function solution adapted to store tea and/or sweetener, be used as a tea squeezer, and collect waste materials after preparing tea. 
         [0024]    Although many of the examples below may refer to tea, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the solution is suitable for many infused beverages, soups, etc. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a tea sleeve  100  according to an exemplary embodiment the invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve  100 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the tea sleeve  100 . 
         [0026]    As shown, the tea sleeve  100  may include a main body  110 , an opening  120 , a closure  130 , a set of attachment regions  140 , and a scored or pre-folded line  150 . In this example, the tea sleeve  100  may be composed of a front section and a rear section that are folded along a center line to generate the top surface of the body or pouch  110  and joined at the attachment regions  140  (e.g., using an appropriate adhesive or other appropriate way of connecting the front and back). The tea sleeve may form a pouch that includes an opening  160  along the bottom of the sleeve body  110 . 
         [0027]    The tea sleeve  100  may include a thin flexible material (e.g., cardboard, plastic, etc.), and may be coated with a water resistant or waterproof layer (e.g., a foil-like paper, plastic, wax, etc.) on the interior and/or exterior surface. In some embodiments, the tea sleeve may be about three-and-one-half inches square. Different embodiments may be sized with various appropriate dimensions. 
         [0028]    As shown, the tea sleeve may have an opening  120  on the top edge that a typical tea bag tab and string may be pulled through prior to steeping. The sleeve may have attached edges  140  on each side from sealed compression, and may be open at the bottom  160  to form a pouch  110 . The center of the sleeve  150  may be pre-folded using horizontal compression, thus allowing for easy folding when the tea bag is squeezed. 
         [0029]    Some embodiments may include, at the bottom of the sleeve, a small adhesive tab  130  that is able to fold over to the other side of the sleeve  100  to secure the tea bag  170  and/or sugar packet  180  that may be placed inside for transport and subsequent use when a cup of tea or other infused beverage is desired. The adhesive tab  130  may be permanently secured to the sleeve at one end (e.g., using an adhesive) and may include a removable protective layer over the adhesive portion of the tab to prevent the tab from adhering to any surface before use. Such an adhesive tab may include a reusable adhesive (i.e., an adhesive that allows the tab to be coupled to the sleeve, removed from the sleeve, and recoupled to the sleeve multiple times). Different embodiments may secure the contents of the sleeve in various appropriate ways (e.g., using a tab-and-slot feature, using an envelope fold, using an elastic latch, etc.). The sleeve may be portable and recyclable, providing a complete package that is conveniently available for use at any time. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve  100  when used for storage. In this example, the sleeve holds two elements  170 - 180  (e.g., a tea bag and a sweetener packet) which are secured by the adhesive tab  130 , which is shown in a secured (or “closed”) position in this example. Different embodiments may have different specific shapes and/or provide different storage configurations, as appropriate (e.g., some embodiments may have multiple storage regions (e.g., an internal pouch and an external pocket). Such storage configurations may include differently shaped and/or sized pouches, pockets, etc. 
         [0031]    During use (i.e., during or after infusion), the sleeve  100  may allow a user to open the sleeve, take a tea bag and/or sweetener packet out (the tea bag and/or sweetener packet having been previously stored in the sleeve). The tea bag may then be opened, packaging set aside and the tab/string may be fed through the sleeve up to the top opening  120  and the tab (and at least a portion of the string) may be pulled through the opening. The tea bag may then be placed in a hot liquid and allowed to steep. When the steeping is complete, the user may remove the tea bag from the liquid by pulling the tea bag, by the tab and string, up into the sleeve  100 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve  100  when used for squeezing. In this example, after drawing the tea bag  170  into the pouch  110  by pulling the attached tab  190  and string, any liquid in the tea bag  170  may be squeezed out through an opening  160  in the bottom of the sleeve body  110 , as shown. The user may then fold the sleeve in half at the compressed horizontal line  150 , allowing for the remainder of the tea liquids to be drained into a cup.  FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the tea sleeve  100  when squeezed along the horizontal fold line  150  of some embodiments. 
         [0033]    During squeezing, the interior (and/or exterior) coating of some embodiments may protect the user from burns caused by the hot liquid. In addition, the coating may prevent liquid from passing through the coated portions of the sleeve, thus protecting a user from getting wet (e.g., by keeping fingers dry as the sleeve is squeezed), or preventing the tea bag from leaving a stain when the sleeve is removed from the liquid. 
         [0034]    After use, the bottom tab  130  may be closed or left unsecured, as desired. Then the sleeve  100  (and/or tea bag, tea bag packaging, sweetener packet, etc.) may be recycled or thrown away in one complete unit. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of an assembled tea sleeve  700  according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown, the tea sleeve  700  may include a main body or pouch  710 , a removable section  720  that may form an opening in the pouch  710  when removed, at least one stay  730 , a removable section  740  that may form another opening in the pouch  710  when removed, and sealed sides  750 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  illustrates an inside view of the tea sleeve  700  prior to assembly. As shown, the tea sleeve  700  may include a retaining element  760  adapted to secure a tea bag  770  to the sleeve  700  via a string or other appropriate tether. In addition, the sleeve may be adapted to story other elements (e.g., sweetener, a stirrer, etc.). 
         [0037]    The sleeve may be carried by a user (e.g., in a backpack, purse, pocket, etc.). As above, the pouch  710  may be made from appropriate materials and include a liner that may be waterproof or water resistant, heat resistant, and/or provide other appropriate features. 
         [0038]    During use, a user may remove section  740  to form an opening in the bottom of the pouch  710  such that the tea bag  770  (and/or other contents) may be removed from the pouch  710 . 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the tea bag  770  may be filled with tea and sealed. In other embodiments, the tea bag may be provided in an empty state such that a user can fill the bag before sealing in tea (e.g., using a drawstring-type closure). 
         [0040]    The tea bag  770  may then be used normally by allowing the exposed bag to steep in hot water. When the user wishes to remove the bag from the hot water, the user may then remove section  720  such that the tea bag  770  may be drawn back into the pouch (via the string and tab  720 ) for squeezing and disposal. 
         [0041]    The stays  730  may provide rigidity to the pouch  710  such that a user is able to squeeze the sides of the pouch  710  to extract liquid from the tea bag  770  and/or such that a user is able to squeeze the edges of the pouch  710  such that the opening formed by removing section  740  expands to allow the user to draw the tea bag  770  back into the pouch  710 . 
         [0042]    Retaining element  760  may be any combination of structural elements (e.g., a tab) and/or adhesives or other fasteners (e.g., a staple) that may be used to secure a tea bag  770  to the sleeve  700 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates a front view of an open, unassembled tea sleeve  900  according to another alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown, the envelope-style tea sleeve may include a main body  910 , a set of flaps  920 , a tab  930 , a set of scored, pre-folded, or otherwise appropriately configured lines  940 , an opening  950  with a set of expansion elements  960 , and a slot  970 . As above, the pouch  910  may be made from appropriate materials and include a liner that may be waterproof or water resistant, heat resistant, and/or provide other appropriate features. 
         [0044]    Sleeve  900  may be assembled by folding flaps  920  toward the interior surface of the sleeve  900  along the fold lines  940 , likewise folding the sleeve along the fold line  940  that passes through opening  950 , and gluing the flaps  920  in place such that a pouch is formed with an opening along one side (corresponding to the tab  930 ). In some embodiments, the pouch may be formed by folding the flaps  920  and along the fold line  940  that passes through opening  950  without using any glue or adhesive. As another alternative, the pouch may be formed using heat-sealed edges, or other appropriate ways. 
         [0045]    A user may then be able to store a tea bag, sweetener package, stirrer, etc. inside the pouch formed by the folded sleeve  900 . The pouch may then be secured by folding over the tab  930  and inserting a portion of the tab into the slot  970 . When assembled and closed, the tea sleeve may measure approximately three inches by three and three quarter inches where the pouch may be able to expand to an appropriate thickness to accommodate a tea bag and/or other items. 
         [0046]    During use, a user may remove the tab  930  from the slot  970  to release the tea bag and/or other stored items. A typical tab and string associated with the tea bag may then be pulled through the opening  950  (where the expansion elements  960  may allow the opening to accommodate larger tabs). The opening  950  may be formed by removing a section of the body  910  in some embodiments. The tea bag may then be steeped in hot liquid before using the sleeve  900  to squeeze the bag (after pulling the bag into the sleeve using the tab passed through opening  950 ) and then store the used bag and other items (e.g., sweetener package, stirrer, etc.) with the user able to secure to used items by placing a portion of the flap  930  back into the slot  970 . 
         [0047]    Different embodiments may include various labels, graphics, text, etc. on the outside surface of the tea sleeve. For instance, some embodiments may provide usage instructions. As another example, some embodiments may include a uniform resource locator (URL), a bar code or other appropriate graphical element (e.g., a quick recognition or QR code) that may allow users to access videos or other content using a mobile device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, etc.). 
         [0048]    While the exemplary embodiments of the invention were described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, several embodiments were described above by reference to particular features and/or components. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other embodiments might be implemented with other types of features and components. 
         [0049]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to illustrative details of exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.