Abstract:
A tea brewing apparatus is disclosed which has a first dish having a rounded periphery and a perforated area, and a second dish also having a rounded periphery and engaging the first dish to form a container, the container forming a cavity for containing tea leaves yet being able to accept water through the perforated area, and the container being able to rest freely on bottom of a tea brewing mug even when the mug is tilted slightly over horizontal position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to tea brewing, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for containing tea leaves during brewing. 
         [0002]    Brewing leaf tea is generally regarded as more desirable for retaining tea&#39;s natural fragrance and taste. However, preventing tea leaf from being poured out with tea water and controlling brewing time remain to be a challenge. 
         [0003]    As such, what is desired is tea brewing apparatus that can contain tea leaves and is easy to use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a tea brewing mug with a leaf tea basket sitting at the bottom thereof according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a bottom disk of the leaf tea basket of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates a locking mechanism of the leaf tea basket of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0007]    The drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the invention. A clearer conception of the invention, and of the components and operation of systems provided with the invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the drawings, wherein like reference numbers (if they occur in more than one view) designate the same elements. The invention may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings in combination with the description presented herein. 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to a leaf tea brewing apparatus. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings. 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a tea brewing mug  102  with a leaf tea basket  110  sitting at the bottom thereof according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. During tea brewing operation, the mug  102  is filled with hot water  108 . A handle  105  remains not heated for easy carrying of the mug  102 . The leaf tea basket  110  has a top disk  113  and a bottom disk  115 . When engaged, the top disk  113  and the bottom disk  115  form a cavity for containing tea leaves  119 . There are small holes formed on the top disk  113  or both the top disk  113  and the bottom disk  115  for accepting water into and out of the leaf tea basket  110 . 
         [0010]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the bottom disk  115  of the tea leaf basket  110  has a plurality of protruding members  117  for lifting the leaf tea basket  110  away from the bottom surface of the mug  102 . With a gap between the leaf tea basket  110  and the bottom surface of the mug  102 , water can enter the leaf tea basket  110  from the bottom, and the bottom surface of the mug  102  will get less stained by the tea. 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , horizontal dimension of the leaf tea basket  110  is significantly smaller than inner diameter of the mug  102 , so that a user can use a utensil (not shown), such as a spoon or a folk, to take out the leaf tea basket  110  from the mug  102  when the user chooses to stop brewing the tea. In another embodiment, a string (not shown) with one end attached to the leaf tea basket  110  and another end fastened to the handle  105  may be used to lift the leaf tea basket  110  out of the mug  102 . 
         [0012]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , height of the leaf tea container  110  is much smaller, at least two times smaller, than width or diameter of the leaf tea container  110 . In embodiments, height of the leaf tea container  110  is only about two centimeters (2 cm), so that a user can leave the leaf tea basket  110  in the mug  102  while drinking tea therefrom. 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates the bottom disk  115  of the leaf tea basket  110  of  FIG. 1 . The bottom disk  115  is exemplarily perforated with numerous holes  202  at the bottom so that water can sift through while tea leaves are contained. The top disk  113  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) has a similar structure. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom disk  115  is a circular shaped shallow column—so is the top disk  113 , as mug  102  is generally also a circular shaped column, so that the leaf tea basket  110  can be snuggly fitted into the mug  102 , and have significant fiction between the side walls of the two so that the leaf tea basket  110  remains at the bottom of the mug  102  even when the mug  102  is tilted slightly over horizontal position to completely pour water out. 
         [0015]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in order to engage the top disk  113  of the leaf tea basket  110 , screw threads  215  are formed on the side wall of the bottom disk  115 . Corresponding screw threads (not shown) are also formed on side wall of the top disk  113 , so that the top disk  113  can be screwed onto the bottom disk  115  forming a closed leaf tea basket  110 . Due to the small height and rounded side wall, when closed, the leaf tea basket  110  is exemplarily shaped like an ice hockey puck. 
         [0016]    In embodiments, the side wall of either the top disk  113  or the bottom disk  115  can also be perforated. The side walls are also straight and perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bottom disk  115 , so that the leaf tea container  110  can better stand on the side wall of the mug  102  when the mug  102  is tilted in a horizontal position. Materials used for making the leaf tea basket  110  have to be heat and corrosion resistant and are preferably rigid. Stainless steel sheet stamped into desired shape can be one of such materials. 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates another locking mechanism of the leaf tea basket  110  of  FIG. 1 . A top disk  313  has a notch  322  that leads to a horizontal slot  325  both formed on side wall of the top disk  313 . A bottom disk  315  has a tap  332  protruding from the side wall of the bottom disk  315 . When aligned, the protruding tab  332  fits into the notch  322 . With a twist, the protruding tab  332  can slide into the slot  325 , so that the top disk  313  and the bottom disk  315  are locked together. In embodiments, two or more notch-and-tab pairs can be formed on respective locations of the top disk  313  and bottom disk  315 ; and notches can be formed on the bottom disk  315  while tabs can be formed on the top disk  313 . 
         [0018]    While this disclosure has been particularly shown and described with references to exemplary embodiments thereof, it shall be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the claimed embodiments.