Patent ID: 8205542

Claim:
An integrated beverage infuser and lid for use with a drinking vessel, comprising: a main body adapted for removable receipt on the drinking vessel, the main body having an upper portion defining a drinking aperture and a sidewall directed downwardly therefrom defining a downwardly opening cavity; a fluid-permeable brewing basket having first and second ends and a sidewall enclosing the space between the first and second ends to define an enclosable receptacle for removable receipt of a consumable brewing product, wherein an upper edge that extends around a perimeter of the brewing basket is formed at the junction between the first end and the sidewall; a lever arm operable to move the brewing basket between a stowed position wherein the first end thereof is positioned within the cavity and above the second end thereof, and a deployed position wherein the brewing basket is disposed below and outside of the cavity for submerging at least a portion of the brewing basket in a liquid contained in the drinking vessel, the lever arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotally connected to the brewing basket at a pivot point located at a first portion of the upper edge of the brewing basket and the brewing basket being free to rotate about the pivot point when moving between the stowed position and the deployed position; and an actuating mechanism coupled to the sidewall of the main body at a location distal from the first portion of the upper edge when the brewing basket is in the stowed position and operatively connected to the second end of the lever arm such that when the brewing basket is in the stowed position the lever arm extends from the actuating mechanism, across the brewing basket above the first end of the brewing basket, and to the pivot point at the first portion of the upper edge whereat the first end of the lever arm is pivotally connected to the brewing basket, the actuating mechanism being operative to facilitate manual operation of the lever arm to move the brewing basket between the stowed position and the deployed position.