Improvements in Tea Infusers or Steepers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tea Infusers or Steepers.
I, JOHN HENRY SUTTHOFF, of Russell House, Seattle, Washington D.C.
United States of America, Tea Salesman, 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 improvements in tea infusers or steepers in which a
perforated receptacle is provided for holding tea leaves during the time of their
immersion in preparing tea liquor, and the objects of my improvements are to
provide a utensil which will produce a uniform strength of tea at each steeping no
matter what quality of liquor is desired; also, that the last cup drawn may be of
the same quality as the first; also, to provide an article of manufacture that will
be self-cleaning and contain the essential features of an adjustable measure,
provided with a bob for the purpose of easily extracting the infuser from the
tea-pot.
I attain these objects by the novel construction and arrangement of forms
illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:-
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my infuser.
Figure 2 is a broken side elevation showing a modified form of punctures or
perforations.
Figure 3 a bottom view of the perforated top cap.
Figure 4 a cross section of the same.
Figure 5 a top view of the removable bottom cap.
Figure 6 a cross section of the same.
1
Figure 7 a side elevation of the perforated adjustable measuring piston and rod.
Figure 8 is a cross section of piston rod on line c―y.
Figure 9 is a plan view of piston and rod.
Figure 10 is a sectional plan view showing the adjusting rod in position when
locked.
Figure 11 is a section on line G, H, of Figure 10, showing the rod in position
when locked.
Figure 12 is a section on line I, J, showing the rod in position when locked.
Figure 13 is a plan view showing the rod turned for adjustment.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The perforated, metallic, cylindrical tube A, provided with a rigidly attached,
perforated, metallic gauge-cap B. constitute the main body or case, containing the
adjustable, perforated, measuring, disk piston E, attached to the eliptical shaped
piston gauging rod D, provided with halt moon shaped gauge slots k, and having a
bulb shaped knob b, having an anchor cord hole, with the lower end of a bob
cord F, fastened therein; the upper end of this cord F, passing longitudinally
through a concave conical shaped cork or bob G, and being attached thereto.
The lower end of the cylinder A, provided with short cap dowel pins i, projecting
radially receiving slots d, diametrically opposite each other in the inwardly
projecting flange g, these receiving slots being equal in width to the diameter of the
attaching pins l.
The cylinder case A, cap B, and piston E are punctured or perforated to allow
for the perfect action of the water upon the enclosed tea-leaves; the perforations
may be of any desired form, one modified shape being indicated in Figure 2. In
preparing tea or other liquid obtainable by steeping leaves the piston E, is adjusted

page_text: by grasping the case A, in one hand and with the thumb and fore-finger of the
other hand grasp the bulb b, turn the eliptical shaped rod D, in the eliptical shaped
puncture of cap B, until the major diameter of both are in line, the rod can then
be slipped in or out. If one cup of liquor is desired the rod is pushed down from
the position indicated in Figure 1 bringing the first slot k, below the bulb, on the
same plane with the cover B, and by turning the rod one-quarter turn to the right
or left fastens the piston E, in a position to measure the proper amount of leaves.
If more cups than one is desirable the rod D, is adjusted outwardly in the gauge
cap B, to the desired notch, each notch representing a cup of liquor when steeped.
After the piston E, has been adjusted as heretofore described the infuser is reversed,
the cap C, removed by turning the slot d, in line with the pins i, leaves are then
placed upon the piston E, until the infuser is full, the cap C, replace and secured
by turning a quarter turn to the right or left, the rod D, moved outwardly bringing
the lower notch from the bulb b, in contact with the dise cap B, this allows the
leaves to separate and become well soaked, the infuser is then ready to be placed
in the water. As it rests in the teapot or other vessel the bob G, remains upon the
surface of the liquid being connected to the infuser by the hob-cord F.
I use cork in the construction of my bob G, which being a nonconductor of heat
there is no danger of burning the operator's hand. The bob cord F. is of sufficient
length to allow the infuser to rest upon the bottom of the receptacle in which it
may be placed and the bob G, attached thereto is employed to locate and remove
the infuser, but in no case is it used to sustain the infuser in the liquor.
As clearly seen this device allows for a uniformity of tea or other liquor
obtained by steeping leaves as when the liquor is of the required strength the
infuser is removed from the teapot and the last cup drawn is of the same degree of
strength and quality as the first, thus avoiding the effects of tannin and astringent
properties which are contained in the tea when the leaves are allowed to remain in
the pot for some time. As clearly shown no strainer is necessary when the infuser
is used as the tea leaves are withdrawn from the infuser, this also avoids clogging
of the teapot spout with leaves; when the spout is closed with leaves the teapot is
often tipped so that the top falls off breaking the cup and deluging the guest, by
the use of the infuser this is avoided. By using my infuser as a measure a uniform
tea is obtained at all times and no guess work is necessary in preparing tea. This
infuser takes the place of a strainer as the liquor runs out of the perforations into
the teapot when the infuser is withdrawn leaving the tea leaves inside the case.
My infuser is economical, clean and scientifically correct; avoids grounds in the
cup, drips from a strainer and is cleaned of all leaves by pressing the piston down
and out of the cylinder after removing the removable cap, and can be produced as
cheaply as an ordinary strainer. I propose to construct it of aluminum though
other metals may be used.
I do not confine myself to the form shown as it may be constructed in different
fornis with the same novel points.
Having now particularly described and ascertained my said invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In tea infusers, a perforated cylinder A, provided at one end with a perforated
cover B, permanently attached thereto and provided with an opening h, of eliptical
form and at the other end with oppositely arranged pins
or projections i, a rod D,
operating in the opening h, of cover B, and provided at one end with knob b, and
with slots k, cut across one edge and a perforated piston E, attached to the opposite
end and operating in cylinder A, being capable of adjustment therein to different
measures by said slots k, of rod D, adapted to engage the perimeter of said
opening h, a removable cover C, provided with slots d, and attached to the end of
cylinder A, by the engagement of slots d, with the pins i, providing for the
introduction and retaining of tea leaves, substantially as set forth and shown.
2. In a tea infuser, the perforated holder, the adjustable piston with its rod,
and the float attached to the infuser by a cord, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The improvements in tea infusers herein shown and described including the
perforated holder having the removable cap and the follower piston with its rod.
having the slots by which the pistou may be adjusted.
Dated this 8th day of June 1896.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant..