Improvements in Apparatus and Vessels for the Infusion of Tea, Coffee, and other Substances.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Vessels for the Infusion of Tea,
Coffee, and other Substances.
I GEORGE FEATHERSTONE GRIFFIN of No. 7 Mandeville Place, Portman
Square in the City and County of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to Improvements in Apparatus and Vessels, for the Infusion
of Tea Coffee and other Substances, and it consists, in the adaptation of simple tubes
made of metal china, glass, earthenware, stone or other material with or without
diaphragms or partitions, with holes within them (or such combinations thereof as
I may find suitable), as will allow by their action all the valuable properties and
flavours of tea, coffee or other substances to be fully extracted, by hot or boiling
water, whilst at any moment the tannin and injurious properties and flavours can be
shut off at will.
The means by which I effect this object is fully explained in a Patent taken out
by me numbered 21,861 and dated the 14th December 1891, but instead of an
upper cover reversed with the sides downwards, fitting and sliding over the under
one as therein described I find it very convenient to substitute for such upper cup
or cover, a metal, china, glass, earthenware, stone, or other tube, perforated, or
non perforated, and fitted with a diaphragm, or partition within, so placed, that
when pressed down, to close the perforations in the lower cup (or if I prefer it to
close perforations in the tube itself), the act of pressing down or closing it, squeezes
the valuable properties, and flavours, out of the tea, coffee, or other substances
infused.
I also provide, a cover for keeping the infusions hot, one form of which is made
in such a manner, that whilst the before mentioned tube can pass through it, it
offers a convenient receptacle, for placing the tube on, after the infusion has taken
place, and another, knob, or cover, for fitting into the top of the tube, to press it
down with, whilst it is still hot.
Dated this 24th day of July 1893.
GEORGE FEATHERSTONE GRIFFIN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus and Vessels for the Infusion of Tea,
Coffee, and other Substances.
I GEORGE FEATHERSTONE GRIFFIN of No. 7 Mandeville Place Portman
Square in the City and County of London, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My improvements in apparatus and vessels for the infusion of tea, coffee and
other substances made in tea, coffee or other pots, cups or vessels have specially for
their object a ready, quick, effective and economical method, by which the
substances to be operated upon, are so held and consentrated together, as not only
to subject them to the full action, and heat of the boiling water whilst it is being
poured upon them, but that when this has been done, such substances, can at any
desired moment be pressed or squeezed by my apparatus before its removal from
the infusion so as effectually to extract all the good properties therefrom, which
D

page_text: would otherwise be lost by clinging to the leaves or substances so infused-I find
that by putting a piece of plain or ornamental tube, of metal or other suitable
material, over or into a perforated cup or strainer, containing the substances to be
infused, and pouring boiling water down the tube upon the same that the best
results can be obtained, and that these are further enhanced, when a diaphragm,
with one or more holes in it is so fixed within the tube, as not only to allow of the
boiling water passing freely through it, and upon the substances to be infused but
that the act of closing the perforations, in the cup, or strainer, may cause the said
diaphragm, to press or squeeze the materials.
A Patent taken out by me numbered 21,861 and dated the 14th December 1891,
explains the object I had in view in preventing the tannin, or injurious properties,
mixing with the tea, coffee or other substances, and by this invention, not only is
this object effected, but by gradually pouring, and keeping the tube full of boiling
water, its direct action, and weight whilst forcing itself through the consentrated
substances, extracts all the strength and value, from the articles so infused in the
quickest and most effectual manner.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shew
Fig. 1. A piece of tube (a), fitted over, and above, a perforated cup or strainer (b)
containing the substances to be infused (e) standing in an ordinary cup (c), and
ready for the boiling water to be poured down it, upon such substances. The cup (c)
and tube (a) shewn in broken section, with a cover (g) which would rest upon its
edges to keep the contents hot.
Fig. 2. The tube (a) pressed down by the knob (f) over the perforated
strainer (6) so as to close the perforations and prevent further infusion. The tube (a)
being then ready for removal from the cup (c), as shewn in broken section.
Fig. 3. The tube (a), shewn in broken section, with diaphragm (d), fitted and
wheel'd into it, at such a height from the perforated cup or strainer (6), as will
allow of the expansion of the tea or other substances, from which infusion is to be
taken.
Fig. 4. The tube (a) (in broken section) closed over the perforated cup or
strainer (b), after the squeeze or pressure has taken place, and the goodness has been
forced out of the substances infused, through the perforations, and into the pot, cup
or vessel employed to receive it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. An apparatus suitable for the infusion of tea, coffee and other substances
constructed so as to operate substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference
to the accompanying drawing.
2nd. The combination of parts, forming my improved apparatus, constructed
substantially as herein described.
G. FEATHERSTONE GRIFFIN.