An Improved Portable Holder or Container and Stand for Tea Leaves, for Use in Tea Pots or Tea Urns.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Holder or Container and Stand for Tea
Leaves, for Use in Tea Pots or Tea Urns.
JOHN CRABTREE Witham Lodge Bracebridge Lincoln, Railway Official, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The construction of a metal stand formed by a vertical rod or stem provided
with extended feet and fitted with a knob or handle. In combination with this
stand I provide a holder, or container, for tea leaves, consisting of a slight metal
frame, the sides and bottom of which are filled in with thin perforated metal or
suitable netting or gauze to allow of the water in the tea pot reaching all the
leaves for the purpose of infusion.
The stem of the stand passes through this holder which rests upon the extended
feet. A loose perforated or netted lid is provided, and this rests upon the top of
the holder, thus enclosing the leaves entirely, but the lid can be raised on the
stem for the purpose of allowing ten leaves to be placed in or removed from the
holder.
The holder will, in its normal position, rest upon the feet or lower frame of the
stand, and the holder itself is at a short distance from bottom of tea pot. Or,
I may make holes through the stem at various distances from the bottom and
provide a moveable pin, which pin being placed in any hole under the holder,
will support the holder at any desired height from the bottom of the tea pot.
The holder is made in various sizes suitable for use in large or small tea pots,
and the dimensions are such as to admit of the holder passing in and out through
the ordinary opening for lid of tea pot. The stem is also made in various lengths
so that the knob, or handle, reaches to the level of the top of tea pot, and
stands just under the lid where it will generally be quite clear out of the liquid.
The holder may be of any shape, but is, by preference, in the shape of an oval or
round with flat top and bottom.
By this simple appliance the tea leaves are kept under control and are placed in
the tea pot and lifted out of it in the holder by the knob or handle, so soon as the
tea has infused the required time, thus preventing over brewing and the production
of tannin.
The novelty is in the extreme simplicity of the combined appliances which are
adapted for use in any tea pot without involving the necessity for any alteration,
or addition to the structure of the tea pot itself; also in dispensing with the use of
such iufusers as have to be supported on the neck or shoulder of the tea pot.
The advantages of my invention are in the lightness and handiness of the holder
for tea leaves which provides ample space within it for the expausion of the leaves,
and at the same time does not allow any leaves to escape into the tea pot itself.
The legs or feet upon which the holder is supported keep it at a sufficient height
from the bottom of teapot to allow of the water entirely surrounding and percolating
through the leaves. There is the further advantage that any liquid remaining in
the tea pot below the level of the holder will not be in contact with the tea leaves
when the holder has not been removed. The legs or feet are also most convenient
for standing the holder upon when out of tea pot.
The holder can be turned round or stirred in the tea pot by the handle to ensure
perfect infusion of all the leaves.
Do thith dow of Anril 1805

page_text: 37
An Improved Portable Holder or Container and Stand for Tea
Leaves, for Use in Tea Pots or Tea Urns.
4 1
JOHN CRABTREE Witham Lodge Bracebridge, Lincoln, Railway Official, 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:
The construction of a metal stand formed by a vertical rod or stem provided
with extended, feet and fitted with a knob or handle. In combination with this
stand I provide a holder or container for tea leaves, consisting of a slight metal
frame the sides and bottom of which are filled in with thin perforated metal or
suitable netting or gauze to allow of the water in the tea pot reaching all the leaves
for the purpose of infusion.
The stem of the stand passes through the 'holder which rests upon the extended
feet. A loose perforated or netted lid is provided, and this rests upon the top of
the holder, thus enclosing the leaves entirely, but the lid can be raised on the
stem for the purpose of allowing the leaves to be placed in or removed from the
holder.
The holder will in its normal position rest upon the feet or lower frame of the
stand, and the holder itself is at a short distance from bottom of tea pot. Or,
I may make holes through the stem at various distances from the bottom and
provide a moveable pin, which pin being placed in any hole under the holder will
support the holder at any height from the bottom of tea pot.
The holder is made in various sizes suitable for use in large or small tea pots,
and the dimensions are such as to adinit of the holder passing in and 'out through
the ordinary opening for lid of tea pot. The stem is also made in various lengths
so that the knob or handle reaches to the level of top of tea pot, and stands just
under the lid where it will generally be quite clear out of 'the liquid. The holder
may be of any shape but is by preference in the shape of an oval or round with
flat top and bottom.
By this simple appliance the tea leaves are kept under control and are placed in
the tea pot and lifted out of it in the holder by the knob or handle so soon as 'the
tea has infused the required tiine, thus preventing over brewing and the production
of tannin.
The novelty is in the extreme simplicity of the combined appliances which are
adapted for use in any tea pot without involving the necessity for any alteration
or addition to the structure of the tea pot itself; also in dispensing with the use of
such infusers as have to be supported on the neck or shoulder of 'the tea pot.
The advantages of my invention are in the lightness and handiness of the holder
for tea leaves which provides ample space within it for 'the expansion of the leaves,
and at the same time does not allow any leaves to escape into the tea pot itself.
The legs or feet upon which the holder 'is' supported keep it at a sufficient height
from the bottom of tea pot to allow of the water entirely surrounding and
percolating through the leaves.
There is the further advantage that any liquid 'remaining in the tea pot below
the level of 'the holder will not be in contact with the 'tea leaves when the holiler
has not been removed. The legs or feet are also most convenient for 'standing
the holder upon when out of tea pót.
The holder can be turned round or stirred in the tea pot by the handle 'to'ensure
perfect infusion of all the leaves.
The upper part of the stem of the stand is made in one pièce, or is telescopic
to allow the length to be adjusted to fit just inside the lid of any tea pot by
simply pressing down or raising the handle or knob of the stem of stand. Or,

page_text: the upper part of the stem is provided with a screw upon which the handle
turns for the purpose of raising or lowering the handle on stem, or removing it
from the stem altogether.
The lid of the container may be made in two parts to meet in the centre, each
lid being hinged to side of top of container.
When the lid is made in one piece it simply rests on top of container or is
secured to the container by a simple catch or catches, or other suitable fastening.
Stem for moveable pm.
FIGURE 2
shews a slightly different manner of constructing the combined container and stand.
In this case a shorter stem D is provided which stem does not pass through the
container A, but is attached to the lid B. To complete the stand the legs or feet C
are constructed on the bottom of container. Suitable fastenings are provided for
attaching the lid (with stem) to the container.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combined tea container and stand for use in tea pots consisting of a
metallic stand adapted to pass through the lid opening of a tea pot, and provided
with a central stem, of a perforated metallic tea container adapted to fit on the
stem of the stand and of a removable handle on the upper end of the stem of the
stand, substantially as described.
2. The combined tea container and stand for use in tea pots consisting of a
metallic stand adapted to pass through the lid opening of a tea pot and provided
with supporting legs and with a central stem, of a perforated metallic tea container
having a removable cover and adapted to slide on the stem, of a
means for
supporting the said container at the desired height on the stem and of a removable
and adjustable handle that projects upwards within the lid of the tea pot,
substantially as described.
3. The combined tea container and stand for use in tea pot substantially as
described with reference to drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of May 1895