IMPROVEMENTS. IN TEA AND COFFEE POTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Bonser and Alfred Edward Bonser, of the Firm
of E. Bonser and Son, of No. 87, Tower Hill, in the County of Middlesex, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS. IN TEA AND COFFEE POTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Edward Bonser and Alfred
Edward Bonser at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
March 1879.
EDWARD BONSER and ALFRED EDWARD BONSER, of the Firm of E. Bonser and
Son, of No. 87, Tower Hill, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TEA
AND COFFEE POTS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tea and coffee pots.
Infusions of tea and coffee are better, more rapidly, and more economically pro-
duced when aided by agitation, than when the materials are left at rest; and when
produced,. these infusions require to be strained off clear from the remaining leaves
or grounds.
To meet these requirements we construct a pot containing a reciprocating agitator
which receives motion by means of a wound up spring and wheel work. The
apparatus is mounted within the lid of the pot. The spring is contained within a
barrel, to which a spur wheel is attached. The spring when wound drives this
wheel and gives motion to a pinion having on its axis an inclined disc, the edge of
which is embraced between two collars upon a rod. The rod is able to move up
and down through a guide, and this motion is imparted to it by the inclined disc.
The disc or agitator to keep the materials in the pot in motion is fixed at the
lower end of the rod..
The straining off of the infusion when made is provided for by inserting a frame
filled in with wire gauze in front of the opening to the spout. This frame is
arranged to slide in guides, and it can be drawn out after use and cleansed.
In this manner we are able to use a straining medium of suitable, fineness, which
is impossible where the strainer is fixed.in the pot, for a strainer of so fine a gauge,
if immoveable, would soon become choked, and it being, impossible effectually to
cleanse it the pot would be rendered useless.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Bonser and Alfred Edward Bonser in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th September 1879.
46
EDWARD BONSER and ALFRED EDWARD BONSER, of the Firm of E. Bonser and
Son, of No. 87, Tower Hill, in the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN TEA
AND COFFEE POTS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tea and coffee pots.
Infusions of tea and coffee are better, more rapidly, and more economically pro-
duced when aided by agitation than when the materials are left at rest; and when
produced, these infusions require to be strained off clear from the remaining leaves
or grounds.
To meet these requirements we construct a pot containing an agitator which
receives motion by means of a wound up spring and wheel-work. The apparatus
is mounted within the lid of the pot. The spring is contained within a barrel, to
which a spur wheel is attached. The spring when wound drives this wheel, and
gives motion to a pinion having on its axis an inclined disc, the edge of which is;
embraced between two collars upon a rod. The rod is able to move up and down
through a guide, and this motion is imparted to it by the inclined disc.
The disc or agitator to keep the materials in the pot in motion is fixed at the
lower end of the rod.
The straining off the infusion when made is provided for by inserting a frame
filled in with wire gauze in front of the opening to the spout. This frame is
arranged to slide in guides, and it can be drawn out after use and cleansed.
In this manner we are able to use a straining medium of suitable fineness, which
is impossible where the strainer is fixed in the pot, for a strainer of so fine a gauge
if immoveable would soon become choked, and it being impossible effectually to
cleanse it the pot would be rendered useless.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shows a tea or coffee pot constructed according
to our Invention.
A is a barrel containing a coiled spring; B is a spur wheel on the barrel. The
spur wheel B drives a pinion C, on which is an inclined disc D; the edge of the'
dise is received between two collars E, E, on the axis of an agitator G, so that when
the disc D is revolved an upward and downward movement is given to the agitator.'
The agitator itself may be of any suitable shape or construction.
The disc D is shown to be formed with teeth around its periphery to gear with
a pinion H on the axis of the agitator so that the agitator may be caused to rotate
at the same time that an upward and downward movement is given to it. I is a
knob on an axis K to which the inner end of the coiled spring in the barrel A is
secured; L is a ratchet wheel on this axis; and M a pawl pressed into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel to prevent the axis from turning back after the spring has been
wound up by turning the knob I. The spring and wheels above described are, as
will be seen, mounted in a frame N contained within the interior of the lid of the
pot. O is the strainer formed of a frame covered with fine wire gauze; the frame
is adapted to slide between guides at the sides of the pot, so that it may either be
slid into place in front of the entrance to the spout or may be drawn out from the
pot after use and cleansed.
.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that we do not' limit ourselves to
the precise details as herein before described, since the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of our Invention; for example, in place of the agita-
ting mechanism being arranged, as above described, so that the agitator has a
revolving motion as well as an upward and downward motion given to it, it might
only be moved to and fro in an upward or downward direction, or horizontally, or

page_text: otherwise; in place also of using a spring for driving the agitator, other suitable
motive power may be used for this purpose. The wheel-work and spring or driving
means may also be mounted below the bottom of the pot instead of in the lid.
What we claim as our Invention is,-
First. The combination with a tea or coffee pot of an agitator, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Second. The combination with a tea or coffee pot fitted as above described with
an agitator of a removeable strainer adapted to be placed in front of the entrance to
the spout or to be drawn out from the pot to be cleansed, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Bonser, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
T DANCED
E. BONSER (L.S.)