An Improved Method of and Means for Weighing Tea for Domestic Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Weighing Tea for Domestic
Purposes.
I. ERNST AUGUST SCHACHT of 35, Carysfort Road, Stoke Newington, London,
Gentleman, 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 invention relates to an improved method of and means for weighing tea for
domestic purposes, the object being to provide a cheap and handy device of simple
construction for weighing out small quantities of tea for domestic use and to
remedy certain defects existing in the present method of tea making, inasmuch as
the tea would be taken by weight instead of by measure so that whereas by the
present method the actual quantity or relative proportion of tea varies according
to whether a light or heavy tea is employed, as it is possible for there to be a
difference of 32 spoonsful between one pound of tea of large leaf and a corre-
sponding pound of small tea or tea dust, but by the use of the device or contrivance
hereinafter described an equal weight of any quality tea is always employed for
making a definite number, say 6 cups, instead of the greater weight of a heavier
tea being employed as is the case where the tea is taken by measure.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a light balance arm or
lever pivoted upon a knife edge or suitable cross pin, passing through the sides of a
small hollow block which is surmounted by a ring in order that it may be con-
veniently held. The end of the shorter arm of the balance lever is furnished with
a hook supporting a small receptacle for containing the tea, while the other end
is furnished with a graduated scale and upon this end or arm a sliding weight is
placed.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. I is a side elevation of my improved device and Fig. 2 an end view of
same,
Fig. 3 is a detail view drawn to an enlarged scale showing a slight modification
or addition.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
My improved device consists essentially of the balance lever A furnished with a
knife-edge cross-pin k pivoting in the side plates p, p, of the supporting block,
filling pieces b, b, being provided for keeping the said plates apart, while a ring r
passes through an extension of the upper filling piece 6 by means of which the
device may be easily held or supported. The end of the shorter arm a' is furnished
with a hook / for carrying the receptacle e which may be of aluminium, glass,
earthenware or other suitable material and designed to contain the tea while it is
being weighed, while the longer arm a of the device is furnished with a graduated
scale as shown each full division thereon indicating the distance to which the
sliding weight w has to be drawn back to balance the receptacle when it contains
a sufficient quantity of tea for making a corresponding number of cups of tea, for
instance if it is desired to make 6 cups of tea the sliding weight w is drawn back
to the sixth division or degree of the scale and a sufficient quantity of tea is then
passed into the receptacle c until it brings the lever to a balance.

page_text: In order to more easily ascertain when the aforesaid lever A is at the balance,
one end of the supporting pin or axis k may be furnished with a small projecting
hand such as ' which comes exactly opposite a small indicator i when at the.
balance.
The division upon the longer arm of the balance are arranged in such a manner
that each division of same corresponds to or will take a definite and pre-ascertained
weight of tea to bring it to the balance, the said weight of tea corresponding to
each division of the scale being sufficient to make one cup of tea.
Although I have above described the device as used for weighing tea it is
obvious that it could also be arranged for weighing out requisite quantities of
coffee, cocoa or the like.
The device above described may vary in size according to requirements so as to
weigh up to any desired number of cups, the one shown in the drawing only
extending to nine, while the said device may be arranged in such a manner as to be
readily contained or carried within a tea caddie or the like.
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 :-
1. The new or improved device more particularly intended for weighing tea or
the like for domestic purposes consisting essentially of the balance arm or lever A
pivoted within a supporting block and furnished with a graduating scale in
combination with the sliding weight w and a receptacle such as c for containing the
tea while being weighed, substantially as herein described and shown and for the
purposes specified.
as
2. In combination with a device such as above claimed the use of a hand such
and an indicator such as i in order to more readily ascertain when the lever A
is at the balance, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to
Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. The improved method of and means for weighing tea or the like for
domestic purposes, substantially as herein described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 19th day of March 1896
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.