Improvements in Appliances for Controlling or Regulating the Time of Infusion of Tea.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 8th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Controlling or Regulating the Time
of Infusion of Tea.
JOHN CRABTREE Witham Lodge Bracebridge Lincoln, Railway Official, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A cylindrical infuser which contains an appliance for opening or closing a valve
or st oper, which controls the communication between the infuser and the outer
tea p
or urn, in which the infuser is placed. In combination with this valve is
an appliance, also inside the infuser, for raising or lowering the tea leaves on an
inner piston or carrier.
This simple combination of an infuser, and valve or regulater, and the piston or
lift already referred to, is carried out as follows.
A cylinder, or chamber, fitting vertically into the ordinary opening at the top of
the tea pot or urn, is placed therein, and extends downwards from the neck or
shoulder of the tea pot, or urn, to the required distance.
This vertical cylinder, which really forms the infusing chamber, is supported on
the shoulder or neck under the outer lid of the tea pot. The infuser is open at
the top, but has no small perforations either in the sides or bottom. There is,
however, a small opening, or outlet, at the bottom of the cylinder, which opening
is controlled by a small valve or stopper operated by a rod reaching from such
valve up to the level of the lid of the outer vessel. This rod has a knob, or
handle, which passes through the lid, and is operated without the necessity of
opening the lid.
By this means the water placed on the tea can be retained in the infuser for any
time desired, and then liberated, or the valve can be set for the liquid tea to flow
through the opening, either quickly or slowly, into the outer tea pot or tea urn, and
so the time of brewing or infusing tea is easily regulated.
Part of the vertical rod which works the valve is formed as a screw, and this
screw carries a piston or floor of the same diameter as the cylinder. This piston or
tray is slightly cup shaped to hold tea leaves, and is perforated for the liquid to
strain through.
The turning of the same knob or handle which operates the valve (and can be
turned freely in either direction) also raises or lowers, by the action of the screw,
the carrier which is provided with guides upon which it slides up and down.
The tea leaves for brewing are carried in this tray which can be held at any
level in the infuser, or be raised high enough to be clear out of the liquid.
The carrier, and the valve, with the combined rod and screw, can be removed
separately, or with the infuser, out of the tea pot or urn, leaving the interior
altogether free for cleaning purposes, or for use in the ordinary way.
The advantages of the combination of these features are in the simplicity and
economy of the arrangement of the parts, which arrangement does not involve any
Structural alterations in ordinary tea pots or urns. Also in the efficiency of the
combined appliances for regulating the infusion of tea as applied to infusers.
To sum up, my invention consists of the introduction of a rod and screw
regulater combined for operating with one knob or handle a separate valve, as well
s a carrier or lift for tea leaves in tea infusers.
Also the combination of a cylindrical tea brewer, or infuser, (without perforations,)
which infuser may be of any shape, but must be of equal size or bore-with
ue or both of the following appliances-namely, a tray or lift for carrying the
eaves within the infuser. An inner, or intermediate tap, or valve, for regulating

page_text: the infusion of tea, or the flow of liquid from the infuser to the outer tea vessel,
as applied within ordinary tea pots or tea urns-as already described, for the
more convenient and satisfactory infusion of tea, and avoidance of deleterious
matter.
JOHN CRABTREE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Appliances for Controlling or Regulating the Time
of Infusion of Tea.
JOHN CRABTREE Witham Lodge Bracebridge Lincoln, Railway Officil,
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 :—
A cylindrical infuser which contains an appliance for opening or closing a valve
or stopper, which controls the communication between the infuser and the outer
tea pot or urn, in which the infuser is placed. In combination with this valve is
an appliance, also inside the infuser, for raising or lowering the tea leaves on an
inner piston or carrier. This simple combination of an infuser, and valve or
regulater, and the piston, or lift, already referred to, is carried out as follows:
A cylinder, or chamber, fitting vertically into the ordinary opening at the top
of the tea pot or urn, is placed therein, and extends downwards from the neck or
shoulder of the tea pot, or uru, to the required distance.
This vertical cylinder-which really forms the infusing chamber is supported
on the shoulder or neck under the outer lid of the tea pot. The infuser is open
at the top but has no small perforations either at the sides or bottom. There
is, however, a small opening, or outlet, at the bottom of the cylinder, which
opening is controlled by a small valve or stopper operated by a rod reaching
from such valve up to the level of the lid of the outer vessel. This rod has a
knob, or handle, which passes through the lid, and is operated without the necessity
of opening the lid. By this means the water placed on the tea can be retained
in the infuser for any time desired and then liberated, or the valve can be set for
the liquid tea to flow through the opening, either quickly or slowly, into the outer
tea pot or tea urn, and so the time of brewing or infusing tea is easily regulated.
Part of the vertical rod which works the valve is formed as a screw, and this
screw carries a piston, or floor, of the same diameter as the cylinder. This piston,
or tray, is slightly cup shaped to hold tea leaves, and is perforated for the liquid
to strain through. The turning of the same knob or handle which operates the
valve (and can he turned freely in either direction) also raises or lowers, by the
action of the screw, the carrier which is provided with guides upon which it slides
up and down.
The tea leaves for brewing are carried in this tray which can be held at any
level in the infuser or be raised high enough to be clear out of the liquid. The
carrier and the valve, with the combined rod and screw, can be removed
separately, or with the infuser, out of the tea pot, or urn, leaving the interior
altogether free for cleaning purposes, or for use in the ordinary way.
The advantages of the combination of these features are in the simplicity and
economy of the arrangement of the parts, which arrangement does not involve any
structural alterations in ordinary tea pots or urns. Also in the efficiency of the
combined appliances for regulating the infusion of tea as applied to infusers.
To sum up, my invention consists of the introduction of a rod and screw
regulater combined, for operating with one knob or handle a separate valve, as well
as a carrier, or lift, for tea leaves in tea infusers.
Also the combination of a cylindrical tea brewer, or infuser (without perforations),
-which infuser may be of any shape, but must be of equal size or bore-with

page_text: one or both of the following appliances-namely a tray, or lift, for carrying the
leaves within the infuser. An inner, or intermediate tap, or valve, for regulating
the infusion of tea, or the flow of liquid from the infuser to the outer tea vessel,-
as applied within ordinary tea pots or tea urns-as already described, for the
more convenient and satisfactory infusion of tea, and avoidance of deleterious
matter.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
"A" is a
Figure 1. shews in section an ordinary tea pot containing an infuser.
groove for guiding the carrier or tray "B" when raised or lowered on the
screw "D," operated by the knob, or handle "H," which handle may be just under
the ordinary lid of tea pot, or be carried through the lid as shewn in Figures 1 and 4.
When this is done an opening is provided in centre of lid of sufficient size to
allow the lid to clear the knob when the former is raised by a lug provided at the
opposite end to the hinge. In order to close such opening in centre of lid a disc
a little larger than the hole in lid is provided on the rod D." just under level of
lid. The lid when shut rests upon this (and the opening is closed) but leaves the
knob free to turn. The position of the valve at the bottom of the infuser is
indicated by the letter "C." The liquid tea wheu liberated from the infuser
occupies the space generally indicated by letter E.
Figure 2. is a plan of the tray or carrier "B" (sometimes called the piston).
Figure 3. is a plan of the bottom of the cylinder (or infuser) "A" shewing
three holes on which the valve "C" works. The small centre hole is to receive
the pivot upon which the valve turns. The other two openings correspond with
holes in the valve "C." By a slight turn of the knob "H," the valve is opened
or shut.
Figure 4. gives, in section, a simplification of the arrangement in Figure 1.
In Figure 4a rod, "D" without screw is shewn. The strainer and valve are
combined as shewn in plan of valve "C," which has a number of small perforations
in lieu of one or two openings. These perforations occupy a circular space of the
same size as the two holes shewn in plan of bottom of cylinder or infuser "A."
By turning the handle "H," the valve is moved so as to place the perforations in
valve over the two holes in bottom of cylinder, and so opens the strainer, or outlet
from the infuser. By reversing the knob or handle the outlet is closed. The same
handle can be used for lifting or stirring the tea.
The valve can of course be worked with only one hole in bottom of infuser,
but two are shewn by preference. The rod "D" and valve "C" in Figure 4 are
designed as a tea lift, and tea stirrer, as well as a combined valve and strainer.
The infuser in Figure 4 is shewn as cylindrical in shape, but this is not a necessary
feature in this case. The combined round valve and strainer may be smaller than
the bottom of cylinder (as shewn by valve C in Figure 1.) and so can be applied
to any shaped infuser. Near the top of the infuser there is an opening "F," to
allow liquid to pass from infuser into the tea pot and so prevent any running
out of the lid of tea pot when the valve is closed and the tea pot is tilted for
pouring out of spout.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
The combination of a tea valve and strainer, with lift or stirrer, operated by a
rod, or a combined rod and screw with one knob or handle, as applied to infusers
within tea pots or tea urns in the manner and for the purpose already described.
Dh
A1001
JOHN CRABTREE.