An Improved Method of Packing Tea, for Purposes of Sale or Distribution, in Packets Suited for Immediate Immersion and more Effective and Economical Infusion.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Packing Tea, for Purposes of Sale or
Distribution, in Packets Suited for Immediate Immersion and
more Effective and Economical Infusion.
I, ARCHIBALD VERNON SMITH, of No. 26, Moorgate Street, in the City of
London, Tea Dealer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The packing of tea (for purposes of sale or distribution) in envelopes or bags
made of muslin or a similar fabric, such muslin or similar fabric having been first
impregnated with salt or soda by being boiled or immersed in a solution of salt or
soda. Each such envelope or bag of tea can immediately be placed in a receptacle
or apparatus for the infusion of tea.
The advantages gained by this method are that in cases where expedition is of
importance such a packet or envelope of tea may immediately be used without the
necessity of measuring or weighing the tea for use and also that exact quantities
can be handed to servants and others, thus obviating the wasteful or reckless use
of tea and its dishonest appropriation.
The collection of loose tea-leaves in the receptacle or apparatus used for its
infusion, and in the cups into which the infused liquor is subsequently poured, is
avoided and the packet can at any time be removed from the receptacle or apparatus
without trouble.
The adoption of this method will enable tea of a dusty or powdery nature
(known as "tea-dust" or "faunings") to be more advantageously and commonly
used. Hithertoo, the nature of such "tea-dust" has prevented its use for infusion
in small quantities owing to its floating in the liquor used for its infusion and not
settling at the bottom of the receptacle or apparatus, thus rendering the infused
liquor unpalatable as a beverage. A further advantage arising from the packing
as aforesaid of "tea-dust " arises from the greater strength derived from the infusion
of a specified quantity of "tea-dust "as compared with a similar quantity of ordinary
"leaf-tea."
The impregnation of the muslin or other fabric of which the envelopes or bags
may be composed with salt or soda more effectually infuses the tea and renders the
infused liquor of a stronger quality.
14 Ma. 1906
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Packing Tea, for Purposes of Sale or
Distribution, in Packets Suited for Immediate Immersion and
more Effective and Economical Infusion.
1, ARCHIBALD VERNON SMITH of No. 26 Moorgate Street in the City of
London, Tea Dealer, 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 method commonly adopted of selling or distributing tea consists in making

page_text: up the same in packets of a quarter of a pound or upwards and these packets are
broken by the purchaser and the contents are generally stored in an open caddy
and the tea pot is from time to time supplied with the charge thought to be
necessary to produce a given quantity of the infusion and which is commonly
measured by the aid of a tea spoon with the result that the charge is very
irregular added to which such a system is no check whatever upon the wasteful
or reckless use or misappropriation of the tea by domestic servants.
Now the object of the present invention is to make up the tea in small sealed
bags or packages each containing a given quantity and of such a nature that they
may with advantage be introduced intact directly into the tea pot so that the
necessity for measuring out the tea in the manner hereinbefore described will be
obviated and the requisite charge may be regulated by the introduction of one,
two, or more bags according to the quantity of infusion or extract required, thus
obviating the necessity for the handling of the loose tea by servants and preventing
the possibility of fraud.
In carrying the invention into effect the bags are formed of muslin or other
suitable fabric of a size to contain for example a one ninth part of an ounce of tea,
and previous to the packing of the tea therein these bags are steeped or boiled in
or otherwise impregnated with a solution of salt or soda for the purpose hereinafter
described.
The bags are then dried, and the proper quantity of tea is packed in each, and
the mouths are closed by sewing or otherwise.
These bags after filling are for purposes of sale made up in packets in a similar
way to the packet tea now in use, but with the difference that the breaking of the
packet does not release the tea.
In an ordinary household the bags or packages may be kept in a tea caddy in
the usual way of storing tea, and when required for use, one, two or more bags
according to the quantity of the infusion required may be handed to a servant
for use.
The charge of tea is scalded in the usual way and allowed to stand for a
sufficient time, after which the spent leaves may be withdrawn from the infusion
by removing the bags when the infusion may stand for a considerable length of
time without losing its flavour or without becoming saturated with tannin, as is
common in the ordinary method of brewing tea in the loose state, whilst at the
same time there is no risk of loose tea leaves passing from the tea pot into the
tea cups or of the spent leaves being allowed to remain in the tea pot with
the risk of becoming musty and imparting an unpleasant flavour to the next
brew.
The salt or soda contained in the fabric of the bags assists in the production
of a good infusion, whilst in practice the small bags float immediately beneath
the surface and therefore in the hottest water aud this also assists to the
same end.
"
The invention is especially useful in connection with tea dust or "fannings
inasmuch as tea of this character when introduced into a tea pot loosely in small
quantities in the ordinary way is liable to some extent to float upon the surface of
the water and the loose dust readily passes from the tea pot into the cups whilst
by the present method it is kept effectually under control.
"
Tea dust or "fannings" as is well known gives a better extract in a given
time than ordinary leaf tea, and by the aid of the present method it may be
safely employed without any of the inconveniences which generally accompany
its use.
By the means hereinhefore described at a small additional cost incidental to
snb dividing and packing the tea into the bags the same is protected against
pilfering, the trouble of measuring out the quantity of tea necessary for a brew is
avoided, whilst by reason of the preparation of the bags a better infusion is
obtained.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of packing tea for sale or distribution and immediate use
consisting in enclosing and securing the same in small bags of muslin or other
suitable material of a size to coutain a given charge for the tea pot and adapted
to be introduced intact into the pot substantially as herein described and for the
purposes stated.
2. The method of packing tea for sale or distribution and immediate use
consisting in enclosing and securing the same in small bags of muslin or other
suitable material impregnated with salt or soda and of a size to contain a given
charge for the tea pot and adapted to be introduced intact into the pot substantially
as herein described and for the purposes stated.
3. The method of packing tea for sale or distribution and immediate use
consisting in enclosing and securing the same in small bags of muslin or other
suitable material of a size to contain a given charge for the tea pot and adapted to
be introduced intact into the pot and packing a number of such filled bags
constituting a given weight in a wrapper or envelope for sale after the manner
of vending packet tea substantially as herein described and for the purposes
stated.
Dated this 15th day of February 1897
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.