NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE OBTAINING OF INFUSIONS FOR CULINARY AND OTHER PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY FOR TEA MAKING
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles John Simms at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th October 1880).
CHARLES JOHN SIMMS, of 2, Draper's Gardens, Throgmorton Street, in the
City of London, Stock and Share Dealer. "NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
FACILITATING THE OBTAINING OF INFUSIONS FOR CULINARY AND OTHER
PURPOSES, ESPECIALLY FOR TEA MAKING."
This Invention relates to new or improved apparatus for facilitating the
obtaining of infusions for culinary and other purposes, especially for tea making,
the object being to provide apparatus which will keep the portions of the material
to be steeped, or from which the infusion is to be made, compactly together, and
from mingling with or floating in the infusion liquid, at the same time that the
liquid may readily have access to, and effectually steep the material, which may be
tea, coffee, herbs, meat, vegetables, and so forth.
The apparatus consists of discs of perforated metal or wire netting hinged two
and two together, and having on opposite edges to the hinges rods or bars, one of
which rods is attached to the edge of one of the discs opposite to the hinge and
serves as the supporting rod upon which a sleeve or runner is free to run, and the
other disc has a corresponding rod, arm, or nose piece provided thereon, over which
the said sleeve or runner will, when the apparatus is changed, be passed to retain
the parts together. The apparatus, according to this, is made as a broad bowled
spoon with a second bowl hinged at the point so as both bowls will, when the
apparatus is charged, lie edge to edge and enclose the material, such as tea, and
the rod will be formed as a handle, and this apparatus will be specially useful for
obtaining readily cups of tea at railway stations, cafes, and so forth, as it will also
serve the purpose of a spoon as a stirrer for sugar, and the steeping of the tea and
moving of the same through the body of the water will be effectual without boiling
or stewing.
In another arrangement of this apparatus the holding device is arranged as a
large receptacle mounted on feet or as a cluster, and joined to a main centrul rod
with the hinged discs opening outward for holding the material to be steeped or
boiled suspended in the liquid and without being in contact with the bottom of the
saucepan or receptacle in which the operation takes place, which impedes the

page_text: effectual obtaining of the infusion, and in case of boiling being resorted to and
effected with the receptacle, such as in making beef tea, mutton broth, barley water,
linseed tea, boiling rice or vegetable matter, and such like, the material would not
touch or be in contact with the bottom of the saucepan or receptacle, and so will
avoid burning by contact. In this arrangement the centre rod may be carried
on a circle, rim, or collar piece provided with cross supports which will rest upon
the edge of the receptacle or saucepan in which the steeping or boiling process is
carried on, or the apparatus will be provided with feet to stand on the bottom of
the saucepan or receptacle.