Improvements in Tea and Coffee Pots and similar Vessels employed in the Preparation of Infusions.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1891-Accepted. 2nd Jan., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tea and Coffee Pots and similar Vessels employed
in the Preparation of Infusions.
1, THOMAS EDWARD WILLIAMS of 21 Kings Road, Brownswood Park
London, N. Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention
und in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention consists, Firstly-of the manner of constructing the lid or cover of
the tea pot or other vessel so as to be easily removed from the body thereof for the
purpose of thoroughly cleansing the same, and Secondly of a perforated tray placed
within the vessel and capable of being raised or lowered at will, by means of a
simple mechanical device or devices, for the purpose of lifting the tea leaves or
other substance undergoing infusion out of or above the level of the liquor, when
the said infusion has reached the strength desired, or when a given time has
elapsed, beyond which, certain objectionable or injurious properties that may be
contained in the article or preparation being infused would exude therefrom, such
for instance as the tannic acid in tea, contained in very minute cells or clambers
concealed within the herb, which do not burst and discharge their contents until a
certain space of time has clapsed from the commencement of the process of infusion.
and attain this by constructing the vessel upon the principles herein described
aud illustrated by the accompany two sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a complete tea pot constructed in the manner
forming the subject of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of the lid, tray and connecting screw as it would appear when
removed from Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the perforated tray as it would appear when the lid or
cover and screw were removed therefrom.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing an alternative method of raising
and retaining the perforated tray.
Fig. 5 is a view of said tray similar to Fig. 3 shewing the formation of same
when employed in connection with the modification shown by Fig. 4.
Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged views of details to be hereinafter fully explained.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of further modifications in the device employed for
raising and retaining the perforated tray.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same or like parts throughout the
drawings.
I wish it understood that the objects of my invention is to provide a means for
removing the substance or ingredients undergoing infusion, from or above the level
of the liquor when the same has reached a certain or given strength, or specific
gravity, and this without removing the cover from the vessel, and also a quick and
ready means of cleansing said vessel after use, and although I have chosen to
illustrate the application of my invention in connection with tea pots, it is obvions
that the same principle may be adapted for use with and upon other vessels
employed for a like purpose, vis-the preparation of infusions, and the employ-
ment of the method and means for attaining the ends set forth in the manner
hereinafter explained is what I desire to secure by Letters Patent.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct of any suitable metal or
material, and of any desired shape in plan, a tea pot, coffee pot or other vessel A
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 the cover of which 13, is portable, and capable of being removed
from A as in Fig 2 Sheet 1, and is provided with a rim C, arranged to fit either
within or without A. The said cover B, may be solid to any extent of its area, but
preferably somewhat less than one half, when the method shewn by Figs. 1, 2 and 3

page_text: Sheet 1 is employed, the remainder of its area being covered by a lid D, of any
desired shape or pattern,-hinged or otherwise connected thereto at a. Within any
suitable part of the solid portion of B, I provide an aperture and insert and fix
therein a vertical boss E, which may be made to extend any desired distance
within and without B, and carries the upper end of a vertical Archimedean screw F,
journalled therein, and surmounted by a milled nut, or other contrivance G, by
which it may be rotated by the thumb and finger. The screw F passes through
and loosely engages with an internally threaded hoss H, connected by a suitable
stay or stays, to a perforated or wire gauze tray J, the rim of which may be of
any suitable metal or material, the outer conformation thereof corresponding with,
and its diametrical dimensions slightly less than, the interior of A, so that it may
be free to travel up and down therein, when F is turned or rotated in the direction
necessary to accomplish this. In order that I may perform its up and down travel
without friction against the interior of A., 1 may provide a guide c, within A,
engaging with a Vor other shaped slot din J, or if necessary I may provide a
second guide c, and a second V or other shaped slot d', or I may employ the use of
c' and without e and d, or in lieu of either I may provide any number of pro-
jections e upon the rim of J for a like purpose. When the guide c is employed,
the perforated strainer K at the internal orifice of the spont. L, would be formed in
a manner to permit the presence of e, which may if necessary be attached thereto.
The screw F may be provided at its lower end with a burrif needed, but prefer-
ably without, so that E may be removed from H to further facilitate the cleansing
of the vessel, as in Fig. 3.
The tea or other substance or ingredient to be infused would be placed within J
when this is at the bottom of A as in Fig. 1, and the water or other liquor poured
thereon in the usual way, and the lid D closed, and when the infusion has reached
the desired strength, the nut G or its equivalent would be turned in the direction
necessary to feed the screw F into the boss H, and I would be raised thereby until
above the level of the liquor, or until it had reached the position indicated by the
dotted outline thereof in Fig. 1, and so place the tea or the like above the fiquor
and prevent further infusion. The liquor could be poured out in the usual way
while remains suspended, thereby insuring a perfectly clear infusion, and if a
second infusion should be required J could of course be again lowered by the
reverse motion of G and F.
In Fig. 2 Sheet 1 the position of the cover, screw and tray are reversed rela-
tively to that of Fig. 1, the object of this view being to illustrate that the same
may be entirely removed from A for the purpose of thoroughly cleaning the vessel,
and to shew that the same may be returned to A still reversed if desired, or in
other words so that D may open from the handle instead of the spout as in Fig. 1.
The percolating surface of may be of punctured metal or other substance or
material, or of woven wire, and of any size puncture or mesh suitable for the tea or
other ingredient to be infused.
In the method illustrated by Fig. 4 Sheet 21 dispense with the screw F, and
slightly extend the area of the solid part of B, and form an orifice or aperture at
or about the centre of the entire area thereof, and insert and fix therein a boss E',
through which is passed a rod F, the lower end of which passes through a boss H',
fixed by a suitable stay or stays to the centre of the percolating surface of J, or
in such a position that the rod F is perfectly vertical. A burr or flange is
formed upon, or a nut attached to, the lower end of F, and a suitable recess for
sanie provided in the under surface of H. A. knob or its equivalent G is provided
upon the upper end of F, and it will be easily understood that the raising of F
by G would consequently raise the tray J, and in order to retain the same in its
elevated position provide upon the boss E', two vertical slots diametrically
opposite to each other, in which I place double cranked levers y and y', pivotted
apon pins passing through the substance of E. The upper ends of and g
extend slightly above the cover B, and are curved or otherwise shaped to receive
the thumb and finger, and by means of suitable springs and, the upper ends

page_text: thereof are kept apart. The lower ends of g and g' incline towards the rod. I", and
terminate with a catch or hook on each, shewn byk and . A rim or collar im is
When J is raised
formed upon the upper end of H', tapered upon its outer surface.
to its highest position, shewn by the dotted outline thereof in Fig. 4 Sheet 2, the
rim m coming in contact with and forces them apart, and these when m has
passed, close by the agency of the springs i and, and grasp the under surface of m
and prevent the fall of J, although the rod F' may be pushed down until G¹ is
again upon E. In Fig. 6 Sheet 2 I have shewn a vertical section of this locking
arrangement drawn to an enlarged scale in order that its manner of operation may
be the better understood and Fig. 7 shews an external view of the boss E', rod Fi
and lever g, as these would appear if viewed from right to left of Fig. 6.
The boss E' may be fixed upon B, so that the lever arms y and g' are lengthwise
or crosswise with B as may be desired.
In Fig. 8 Sheet 2 shew a further modification of the lifting and retaining
apparatus of J. In this method I dispense with the boss E', and its appurtenances,
the rod and the boss H', and in lieu thereof I place within the orifice or
aperture in B, (occupied by E' in the last previous method) a boss E Fig. 8
capable of being rotated therein, in the under surface of which I form a tapered
internally threaded recess a, and upon the tray J, 1 fix by means of ', a boss H"
the upper end of which is tapered and provided with an external thread capable of
engaging with the thread in E". A rod F" passes upward through H" and
engages therewith in a similar manner to that described in Fig. 6 Sheet 2. The
lower end of F is circular in cross section for so much of its length as is equal to,
or slightly in excess of the vertical dimensions of H", and capable of revolving
freely therein, the remainder of its length is square in cross section and passes
through a square vertical hole in the boss E", and may be surmounted by a knob
or the like similar to Gin Fig. 4. The raising of " raises J as in the last
previous method and when so raised the tapered screw thread on H, enters the
tapered threaded recess in E, F may then be revolved which carries
round with it the boss E", so that the internal thread of n engages with the
external threal of H" and so retains J in its elevated position. The rod F" may
be then lowered until the knob G¹ is upon E" as in the previous method.
n
Or may reverse the positions of E" and H" in so far as regards their rigidity,
and make a fixture upon B, and arrange the boss H" so that it may revolve
within, in which case the circular and square sections of would be reversed,
as also would the apertures or bores in E and H" through which F" passes.
In both the methods shewn by Figs. 6 and 8 Sheet 2, the tray J when released
from its suspended position would fall evenly and steadily to the bottom of A. by
its own weight without jerk or thud or may be let down by the vertical rod.
In the method shewn by Fig. 4 I find in practice that the guides core Fig. 1 are
not needed, from the fact that in this method the tray is more evenly poised,
but I may employ the use of the said guides or the projections e Fig. 3 if necessary,
in conjunction with the method Fig. 4 Sheet 2.
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
1st. The combination with a tea or coffee pot or other vessel A for the prepara-
tion of infusions, of a portable cover B, with lid D, and rim C fitting within or
without A, and provided with a boss E, carrying the upper end of a suitably pitched
Archimedean screw F, surmounted by a nut or its equivalent G. The perforated
tray J, carrying an internally threaded boss H, engaging with the lower end
of F, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 1. 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The combination with a tea or coffee pot or other vessel A, for the
preparation of infusions of a portable cover B, with lid D, and rim C, and provided
with a fixed boss E', carrying within suitable recesses or slots, cranked levers

page_text: and g pivotted by pins and h, and operating by the tension of suitable springs i
and for engaging with the rim m, of a boss H', upon a perforated tray J, and
retaining the same in an elevated position within A, when raised by the lifting of the
rod F, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn by
Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combination with a tea or coffee pot or other vessel A for the pre-
paration of infusions of a cover B, with lid D, and rim C, provided with a
revolving boss E" on B, with tapered and screwed recess 21. The perforated
tray J, with boss H", provided with an external thread. The vertical rod F having
a portion circular in cross section engaging and revolving freely. within H", and a
portion square in cross section passing through and engaging with a square hole
in E"
The manner of retaining J in an elevated position within A, by the
revolving of F and E", so that El may engage with H" by means of their
respective threads. The manner herein described of making E" a fixed boss upon B,
and H a revolving boss upon J, and reversing the circular and square cross
sections of F, so that E" and H" may engage by the rotation of F" for retaining J
in an elevated position within A substantially as described, and shewn by Fig. 4
and 8 of the appended drawings.
4th. In combination with a tea or coffee pot or other vessel for the preparation
of infusions the employment of the several parts and alternative devices specified in
the preceding claims, combined and operating in the manner described for the
purpose of raising the ingredients undergoing the process of infusion above the
surface of the liquor, so that the said process may be abruptly terminated at will,
substantially in the manner herein described, and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
Di, öz lan of No 1001
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.