Improvements in Infusers for Tea and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1891-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Infusers for Tea and the like.
I, JAMES ALEXANDER CHANDLER, of 27 Mincing Lane, in the City of
London, Tea Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
It is well known that it is injurious to leave the tea-leaves in the water of the
tea-pot for too long a time and that it is desirable to withdraw thein from the water
or to pour the infusion from off the leaves within a moderate time say generally
not exceeding ten minutes; the present invention relates to means for accom-
plishing this.
In carrying out this invention I prefer to employ a basket or equivalent device
in which the leaves may be placed, and to this I connect a cord, chain or equivalent
device, preferably arranged to pass through the lid and carrying a ring, knob or
the like. This device may be applied to an ordinary tea-pot sufficient space being
left between the interior of the lid and the top of the water in the pot, or, and
prefer this arrangement, it may be used in connection with a particular kind of
lid which I will now describe.
The improved lid is made of sufficient size to contain the basket of tea-leaves and
is preferably made in a conical form so as to be adapted to fit into the opening of
any ordinary tea-pot in place of the ordinary lid. The basket and cord are arranged
in or upon this lid and the operation is as follows:-
The improved lid is placed into the aperture at the top of the pot the conical
walls causing it to fit therein; the basket containing the leaves is now lowered and
may rest on the bottom of the pot. After the tea has been sufficiently infused the
basket is drawn up by its cord into the space in the lid and secured there by any
convenient means as by twisting the cord round the knob, placing it between
suitable clips or by other convenient device.
The shape and size of the basket or container may be varied as required.
By means of this device after the tea is sufficiently infused and the container has
been drawn up the cosy may be placed over the pot or a lamp may be employed
underneath it and the tea kept hot without extracting the tannin from the
leaves.
It will be understood that this invention may be applied to other infusions
besides those of tea leaves, as for example to coffee or hops although it is for tea
that it is principally designed.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1890
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Infusers for Tea and the like.
I, JAMES ALEXANDER CHANDLER, of 27 Mincing Lane, in the City of
0 London, Tea Merchant, 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 :-
It is well known that it injurious to leave the tea-leaves in the water of the
tea-pot for too long a time and that it is desirable to withdraw them from the water
5 or to pour the infusion from off the leaves within a moderate time say generally

page_text: not exceeding ten minutes; the present invention relates to means for accom
plishing this.
In carrying out this invention I prefer to employ a basket or equivalent device
in which the leaves may be placed, and to this I connect a cord, chain or equivalent
device, preferably arranged to pass through the lid and carrying a ring, knob or
the like. This device may be applied to an ordinary tea-pot sufficient space being
left between the interior of the lid and the top of the water in the pot, or, and I
prefer this arrangement, it may be used in connection with a particular kind of lid
which I will now describe.
The improved lid is made of sufficient size to contain the basket of tea-leaves and
is preferably made in a conical form so as to be adapted to fit into the opening of
any ordinary tea-pot in place of the ordinary lid. The basket and cord are
arranged in or upon this lid and the operation is as follows:-
:-
The improved lid is placed into the aperture at the top of the pot the conical
walls causing it to fit therein; the basket containing the leaves is now lowered and
may rest on the bottom of the pot. After the tea has been sufficiently infused the
basket is drawn up by its cord into the space in the lid and secured there by any
convenient means as by twisting the cord round the knob, placing it between
suitable clips or by other convenient device.
The shape and size of the basket or container may be varied as required.
By means of this device after the tea is sufficiently infused and the container has
been drawn up the cosy may be placed over the pot or a lamp may be employed
underneath it and the tea kept hot without extracting the tannin from the leaves.
It will be understood that this invention may be applied to other infusions
besides those of tea leaves, as for example to coffee or hops although it is for tea
that it is principally designed.
In the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1 and 2 are similar sections showing the infuser applied to an ordinary
tea-pot; Fig. 1 shows it in operation and Fig. 2 out of operation.
Fig. 3 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section
showing my improvements applied to an urn adapted to be heated by a spirit
lamp.
Fig. 4 is a section of a tea-pot provided with an infuser and a conical lid for
receiving it.
Fig. 5 represents an infuser of a form differing from that shown in Figs. 1 to 4.
Fig. 6 represents another form of infuser and tea-pot lid.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In Figs. 1 and 2 A is the tea-pot and B the lid both of metal, earthenware or
other suitable material and both of ordinary construction except that in preferably
the centre of the lid B is formed a hole B' which may also extend through the
knob B². C is the infuser which may either be of the flattened shape shown in
Figs. 1 to 4 or egg-shaped as shown in Fig. 5 or of any other desired form. The
said infuser may be made of wire gauze, perforated metal, porcelain or other
material and it is formed in two parts which are taken apart when the spent
tea-leaves are to be removed or fresh tea introduced and which may be temporarily
locked together in any convenient manner.
D is the chain or equivalent one end of which is secured to the infuser and which
passes out through the hole B¹ in the lid and at its other end may be provided
with a ring, cross bar, knob or equivalent D', the said chain being of sufficient
length to enable it to be fastened to a knob F₁ as shown in Fig. 4, or otherwise
secured when necessary and to allow the infuser to be lowered to the bottom of
the tea-pot.
The urn E shown in Fig. 3 is provided with a neck or chamber E' for accom-
modating the infuser C when it is in its raised position.
In Fig. 4 the infuser C is received into the lid F which for this purpose is made
sufficiently deep and in order to enable the said lid to fit various tea-pots it is
formed conical as shown.

page_text: The infuser shown in Fig. 6 is formed of preferably perforated metal and
cylindrical at its lower part and of wire gauze and dome-shaped at its upper part.
The tea-pot lid B in this example is also dome-shaped so as conveniently to
accommodate the infuser.
If desired the knob B2 may be forked as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 provided with
a pin or hook or otherwise suitably formed so that the chain or equivalent D may
readily be made fast to it.
When it is desired to make an infusion say of tea in the before described
apparatus the lid B is removed and with it the infuser. The two parts of the
infuser C are then taken asunder and the desired quantity of tea placed inside and
the infuser again closed. The tea-pot A is then filled with water and the lid B
After the tea has been
replaced and the infuser lowered down into the water.
sufficiently infused the infuser C by means of the chain D is drawn up out of the
water and is supported above its level by fastening the said chain to the handle
or other desired part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For infusing tea and othe decoctions the combination with an infuser such
as C and chain or equivalent D of a lid such as For B for receiving it sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings.
2. For infusing tea and other decoctions the combination with an infuser such
as C and chain or equivalent D of a lid formed with a hole B' for the passage
therethrough of the chain substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
3. A complete infusing apparatus consisting of an infuser lid adapted to receive
within it the infuser and a chain or suspending and connecting device substantially
as and for the purpose described.
4. A tea or coffee pot urn or the like having a recess or space in its upper
portion or lid for the purpose of receiving and accommodating clear of the liquor an
infuser substantially as described.
D
1
1
J
Lul 1201
J. A. CHANDLER.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.