Improvements in Tea Infusers.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tea Infusers.
I, SIDNEY HARTNOLL BEARD, of The Homestead, Maybury Hill, Woking, in
tte County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of iny said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Whereas it is well known that, when tea is infused for more than 4 minutes,
tannin is dissolved and becomes mixed with the infusion. This tannin is highly
injurious to the lining of the stomach, and to the nervous system, and causes
habitual tea drinkers to suffer from various ailments.
Now the object of my invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby
the production of wholesome tea may be ensured, and the tannin entirely excluded
from the infusion.
By means of my invention the tea leaves can be easily removed entirely from the
tea pot, by simply lifting the infuser, containing the leaves, from the pot. If this
is done when the tea has brewed for 3 or 4 minutes only; the beneficial properties
of the tea are left in the pot in solution, and the injurious tannin is removed before
it has had time for extraction. The tea may then be kept warm for any length of
time without deterioration, instead of turning black and becoming absolutely
poisonous, as, under the present system, it does in a short time. My invention also
enables a single cup of tea to be made in a tea pot, as easily as a larger quantity,
as the infuser rests upon the bottom of the pot, where a small quantity of water
will surround it. My invention also avoids the use of metal, which readily becomes
corroded, on account of the chemical action of the acids contained in the tea.
this purpose I make use of china or earthenware, which materials are unaffected by
the acids.
For
My invention consists of a small vessel formed of earthenware or china, the walls
of which are perforated with a number of holes. Into this vessel the tea leaves
are placed, and the vessel is inserted in the tea pot. The hot water is then poured
into or over the vessel, from which it percolates to the tea pot. The lid of the tea
pot is then put on, and the vessel may remain in the tea pot for 3 or 4 minutes. It
is then removed from the tea pot, leaving a clear and wholesome infusion.
The vessel may be of any convenient form, either globular, barrel shaped,
cylindrical, polygonal, or otherwise; and may be fitted with any suitable lid,
secured by a screw neck, or bayonet or other joint.
The lid may be fitted with a handle or other suitable means for raising and
removing the vessel from the tea pot, or the vessel itself may be so fitted that it can
readily be raised and removed by a hook, cord or other means.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1. is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating one method of carrying out
my invention; and
Fig. 2 illustrates another modification of the same.
a is the teapot. 6 is the infuser. 6' is a broad flange, formed in one with the
nfuser. 62 is a handle for lifting and removing the infuser from the teapot. c is
the lid of the infuser. The tea pot requires a separate lid, in this arrangement, for
use after the infuser has been removed.
In Fig. 2 a is the upper part of the tea pot. a¹ is the ordinary lid of the same.
is the infuser, which may be supported by resting upon the bottom, or by a
lange d resting upon a flange e. 6³ is a bar formed in one with the infuser, for
ifting and removing the same from the teapot after infusion.

page_text: When the infuser is made of a globular, barrel, or other shape, and intended to
be wholly immersed, the lid of the infuser is secured, so that it may not become
detached in the tea pot; this may be effected by means of a screw, bayonet, or
other suitable joint; the lid, or other portion of the infuser being provided with
an eye or other provision for attaching a cord, or for receiving a hook, whereby the
infuser may be readily removed from the teapot after three or four minutes of
immersion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of infusers, constructed, arranged and operating,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of infusers, constructed, arranged and operating,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by Fig. 2 of the drawings.
3. The manufacture and use of infusers, so formed as to be entirely inserted in
the tea pot, while infusing, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The improvements in tea infusers, substantially as herein before described.
33331 LOS FUTCH 1071.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.