Utensil for Making Tea or Coffee in the Cup.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Utensil for Making Tea or Coffee in the Cup.
We, ALBERT FRANKLIN STEPHENS Physician and RICHARD THOMAS CONNELL
Contractor, both of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, U.S.A., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a perforated utensil for making tea or coffee in separate
cups by placing the utensil supplied with the requisite quantity of tea or coffee
in a cup, then pouring boiling water thereon and allowing it to stand for a few
minutes, after which the utensil is withdrawn from the cup leaving the beverage
entirely free from dregs.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a cup with the
utensil of the invention placed therein. Fig. 2 an elevation and Fig. 3 a plan
view of the utensil. Fig. 4 a perspective view of the tea or coffee receptacle
which is placed within the perforated bowl of the utensil.
1 is a small bowl which may be made of porcelain or metal and is provided
with perforations 2. 3 a handle attached to the bowl. 4 lugs diametrically
opposite one another on the bowl for the reception and attachment of the perforated
cover 5 having at its centre a hand knob 7 for its manipulation. The cover is
provided in its periphery with a notch 9 and is fixed in place by placing its edge
underneath one of the lugs 4, lowering the notch over the other of the lugs, and
then turning it sufficiently to bring the notch away from the lug as shewn. To
remove the cover the operation is reversed.
10 is a tea or coffee receptacle preferably made of wire mesh or gauze of the
requisite fineness and having a cylindrical form. The receptacle is held in place
within the bowl by the bottom of the latter and the cover. When it is required
to make a cup of tea or coffee, the receptacle supplied with the material is placed
within the bowl and after the cover has been attached the utensil is placed in
the cup and boiling water poured therein and into the utensil through the per-
forations.
Preferably the receptacle 10 is made of just sufficient size to contain the
quantity of tea or coffee required for a single cup. The expansion of the tea after
receiving the boiling water causes an internal pressure whereby the essence of
the tea is quickly extracted.
The utensil may be withdrawn from the cup immediately the beverage is of
a strength to suit the palate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
A utensil for making tea or coffee in the cun. comprising a perforated hal

page_text: having a handle, a lid or cover for the same also provided with a handle, and a
foraminous receptacle or cylinder within said bowl held in place by the bottom
of the bowl and the cover thereof, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 13th day of October 1897.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.