Year: 1886

page_text: We, JAMES AYLWARD GAME, Tea Merchant, and MONTAGUE AFLALO, Manager,
both of 3 Eastcheap, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:—
'
A tea-tasting pot as ordinarily constructed consists of a small china or earthen-
ware vossel resembling a parallel sided cup having a handle on one side and a
spout or pouring lip on the opposite side; the whole being surmounted by a lid or
cover the underside whereof is furnished with a circular rib which loosely fits
within the upper edge of the pot and serves to retain the lid in position when the
pot is turned on its side. Immediately within the spout or pouring lip is provided
a strainer for the purpose of intercepting the passage of the tea leaves, this strainer
being formed in the material of the pot.
In tasting fine teas, it is a matter of the first importance that the vessels
employed should. be perfectly clean. With tea-tasting pots as ordinarily con-
structed, it is practically impossible to comply with this condition on account of
the deposit which accumulates about the strainer and interior of the spout and the
great difficulty which occurs in obtaining complete access to these parts for the
removal of impurities.
The object of this invention is so to construct a tea-tasting pot that every part
thereof shall be readily accessible for thorough cleansing; the complete apparatus
being moreover in certain respects better. adapted to the purpose for which it is
intended..
A tea-tasting pot constructed according to our improved method consists of a
vessel resembling, as regards general dimensions and proportions, that at present in
use; except that we prefer to make the bottom flat or very slightly concave on the
under face, whilst the upper face thereof connects with the side walls by an easy
curve so as to facilitate the cleansing of the interior of the vessel. We also
slightly splay the upper extremities of the side walls. The pot is provided with
the usual bow-handle, or by preference with a solid handle; but it has no strainer
and preferably no spout or pouring lip. The under side of the lid is formed with
a circular rib which is conical on its outer face and corresponds in diameter with
the interior of the. upper or splayed portion of the pot. The straining of the liquid
from tea-leaves is effected between these two surfaces; that is to say, the outer
face of the rib and the inner surface of the pot close to its upper edge. For large

page_text: leafed teas, the outer face of the conical rib may be forined with undulations or
corrugations, the high parts of which alone come into contact with the inner surface
of the pot, whilst the intervening hollows form channels for the passage of the
liquid. For small leafed teas, the outer face of the conical rib is more or less finely
ribbed or fluted. For use with tea-dust the face of the rib is smooth and closely
fits the inner surface of the pot, the liquid nevertheless escaping with sufficient
freedom.
It will be obvious that the outer face of the rib appertaining to the cover may,
if preferred, be even instead of corrugated or fluted, the corrugations or flutings
being formed upon the inner surface of the pot.
The joint or connection between the pot and the lid being of a conical descrip-
tion, provision is made for some variation in the diameter either of the upper part
of the pot or of the rib carried. by the cover; such variations being common in
articles of the class herein alluded to, owing to inaccuracy in manufacture.
The lid or cover is by preference slightly curled downwards at the edge, the
under side thus forming a channel for conveying the liquid to the lowest point
when the pot is turned over in accordance with ordinary practice. The lid is
provided in the usual manner with a vent hole and with a central knob or projec-
tion for resting over one edge of the cup whilst the pot is being drained.
Although the projection on the under side of the lid has been described as a
circular rib, it is obvious that it might be in the form of a solid cylinder. In that
case, the upper side of the cover would be formed with a corresponding depression
for lightness' sake.
When it is preferred for the pot to be provided with a spout or pouring lip, the
same may be added; care only being taken that it is not carried down to such a
depth as to extend beyond the reach of the rib appertaining to the cover, the
presence of which is essential to the proper straining of the liquid. In some
instances, particularly where care is taken to ensure a close correspondence between
the inner diameter of the pot and the outer diameter of the rib appertaining
to the cover, these parts may be cylindrical instead of conical, réliance for producing
the requisite straining effect 'being placed on the proximity of these surfaces to
one another and on the contiguity existing between the top edge of the pot and
the laterally projecting rim of the cover.

page_text: We, JAMES AYLWARD GAME, Tea Merchant, and MONTAGUE AFLALO, Manager,
both of 3, Eastcheap, in the City of London, 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 tea-tasting pot as ordinarily constructed consists of a small china or carthen-
ware vessel resembling a parallel sided cup having a handle on one side and a
spout or pouring lip on the opposite side; the whole being surmounted by a lid or
cover, the underside whereof is furnished with a circular rib which loosely fits
within the upper edge of the pot and serves to retain the lid in position when the
pot is turned on its side. Immediately within the spout or pouring lip is provided
a strainer for the purpose of intercepting the passage of the tea leaves, this strainer
being formed in the material of the pot.
In tasting fine teas, it is a matter of the first importance that the vessels
employed should be perfectly clean. With tea-tasting pots as ordinarily con-
structed, it is practically impossible to comply with this condition, on account of
the deposit which accumulates about the strainer and interior of the spout and the
great difficulty which occurs in obtaining complete access to these parts for the
removal of impurities.
The object of this invention is so to construct a tea-tasting pot that every part
thereof shall be readily accessible for thorough cleansing; the complete apparatus
being morcover in certain respects better adapted to the purpose for which it is
intended.
A tea-tasting pot constructed according to our improved method is represented
in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings; the former being a vertical
section and the latter a horizontal section on a line cutting the receptacle near its
upper edge. The vessel a resembles, as regards general dimensions and proportions,
that at present in use; except that we prefer to make the bottom flat or very
slightly concave on the under face, whilst the upper face thereof connects with the
side walls by an easy curve, so as to facilitate the cleansing of the interior of the
vessel. For reasons which will appear hereafter, the upper extremities of the side
walls are slightly splayed, as shewn. The pot may be provided with the usual
bow-handle, or by preference with a solid 'handle b; but it has no strainer in the
ordinary sense and preferably no spout. The under side of the lid c is formed
with a circular' rib c¹, which is conical on its outer face and corresponds in diameter
with the interior of the upper or splayed portion of the pot. The straining of
the liquid from tea leaves is effected between these two surfaces; that is to say,
the outer face of the rib c¹ and the inner surface of the pot a close to its upper
edge. For large leafed teas, the outer face of the conical rib may be formed with
undulations or corrugations, the high parts of which alone come into contact with
the inner surface of the pot, whilst the intervening hollows & form channels for
the passage of the liquid. For small leafed teas, the outer face of the conical rib is
more or less finely ribbed or fluted, the operation being as before described. For
use with tea-dust, the face of the rib is smooth and closely fits the inner surface of
the pot, the liquid nevertheless escaping with sufficient freedom.
It will be obvious that the outer face of the rib c¹ may, if preferred; be even
instead of corrugated or fluted; the corrugations or flutings being formed upon the
inner surface of the pot a Such an alternative arrangement is represented in
the vertical and horizontal sections Figures 3 and 4. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in these Figures.

page_text: The joint or connection between the pot and the lid being of a conical description,
provision is made for some variation in the diameter either of the upper part of the
pot or of the rib carried by the cover; such variations, owing to inaccuracy in
manufacture, being common in articles of the class herein alluded to.
The lid or cover c is by preference slightly curled downwards at the edge, the
under side thus forming a channel c², shewn in Figures 1 and 3, for conveying the
liquid to the lowest part when the pot is turned over in accordance with ordinary
practice. The lid is provided in the usual manner with a central knob or pro-
jection. for resting over one edge of a cup whilst the pot is being drained.
Although the projection on the under side of the lid c has been described and is
shewn as a circular rib, it is obvious that it might resemble in form a solid cylinder;
the upper side of the cover would then be formed with a corresponding depression
for lightness' sake.
When it is preferred for the pot to be provided with a spout or pouring lip, the
same may be added; care only being taken that it is not carried down to such a
depth as to extend beyond the reach of the rib c¹, the presence of which is essential
to the proper straining of the liquid. In some instances, particularly where care
is taken to ensure a sufficiently close correspondence between the inner diameter
of the pot a and the outer diameter of the rib c, these parts may be cylindrical
instead of conical, reliance for producing the requisite straining effect being placed
on the proximity of these surfaces to one another and on the contiguity existing
between the top edge of the pot and the laterally projecting rim of the cover.
A tea-tasting pot embodying the modifications last described is illustrated in
Figures 5 and 6, the former being a vertical section and the latter a plan view;
a portion of the cover c having been removed, so as to expose the spout or pouring
lip a¹ to view. is a vent hole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The manufacture of tea-tasting pots in which the contiguous or adjacent
surfaces of the vessel and of the cover respectively are of such a character and are
so disposed that these surfaces mutually act to perform the functions of a strainer,
substantially as herein described.
2. In a tea-tasting pot, the improved means for effecting the straining of the
tea-liquor from the tea-leaves, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1
and 2 and to Figures 3 and 4 respectively; such means consisting of a series of
undulations, corrugations, ribs or flutings formed upon that portion of the cover
which fits against the vessel, or upon the portion of the vessel against which the
cover fits; the parts referred to mutually serving to form passages for the escape
of the tea-liquor.
3. The improved construction of tea-tasting pot substantially as described with
reference to Figures 5 and 6, and in which a rib formed on the cover and extending
the full depth of the spout leaves only a narrow straining passage between itself
and the interior of the vessel.
4. In tea-tasting pots of the kind referred to in the second claiming clause
hereto, forming the lid with a curved lip such as c², the same serving as a channel
for the conveyance of the liquor when the pot is turned over in the usual manner.
Dated this 26th day of August 1886.