US20150023125A1

US20150023125A1 - Multifunctional Tea Bag Holder/Stirrer

Info

Publication number: US20150023125A1
Application number: US13/947,013
Authority: US
Inventors: Oleg Ivanov; Peter Oleg Ivanov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-19
Filing date: 2013-07-19
Publication date: 2015-01-22

Abstract

This invention provides an improved method of securing a tea bag within a body of liquid in a beverage container. The invention is a utensil which is characterized by a pinching/grasping area at one end in which to hold a tea bag, with a wedging area along the side closer to the other end in which to secure the string of a tea bag.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/673,735, filed Jul. 20, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to beverage accessories and in particular to a method for securing specific objects within the beverage into the user's desired arrangement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are plethoras of beverage accessories in existence that serve many purposes in the way beverages are mixed, formed, and served. More specifically, solid components within a beverage may present a nuisance to the user enjoying the drink. Some accessories are designed to alter flavor, temperature, or simply exist without purpose.
This invention was created in response to events experienced where loose objects within drinks created issues prohibiting the drink's owner from complete satisfaction.
Water is a fundamental component of any water based drink. The general physical properties of liquid water are well known within modern science and can show how water behaves in different circumstances. More specifically, water has a tendency to flow from a higher to lower level (depending on pressure states) through an object that promotes transportation through various methods such as osmosis, tubular flow, and others in order to create an equilibrium state, regardless of whether the liquid needs to traverse a higher terrain in order to fulfill this equilibrium. Also, it is known that water may have different layers and depths as well as different specific properties. Therefore, objects with various compositions and densities that are placed into beverages may act abnormally (based on the grounds of floatation, absorption, etc.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed distinguishes a method for which to secure floating or inadequately positioned objects (such as tea bags, fruit, etc.), whether intentionally or naturally and randomly placed, in the desired location that the user of the invention so chooses. It also maintains the ability to stir the user's beverage.
The utensil defined is an object with the ability to secure in its hold, with a pinching/clenching opening, at the end of the stick, a tea bag, regardless of whether a thread and/or label is attached, held at another point on the stick in an indentation/insertion point. The stick is capable of holding a tea bag without a thread, multiple tea bags, and tea bags of any shape. It is able to stick on a slice of fruit or any other feasible ingredient, which will keep the ingredient at the bottom of the cup or wherever the user chooses and prevent it from floating around into inadequate areas. Specific models of the stick may have jagged edges for the ability to slice/cut. Specific modifications of the stick may have an opening at an end to hold decorations such as a cocktail umbrella or items of that nature. The internal body area of the stick may be altered in such a way that allows for optimal preferences (such as space preservation, stirring capabilities, production material and design efficiency, etc.).
The holder/stirrer is designed for convenience purposes. It eliminates unnecessary contact with liquid or use of other utensils or fingers to fetch the tea bag or other attached items from the cup. The stick will prevent the string and label attached to the tea bag from falling into the liquid, poured from a tea kettle into a cup, by securing the tea bag and its thread and label. The stick will allow the ability to wring out the tea bag; draining out the liquid remnants within. Due to the natural physics of liquid flow, the stick will hold the end of the string and label at an elevated point in relation to the level of liquid, preventing the liquid from seeping up the string and dripping off the side of the cup.
The stick may be carved out of wood, composed of metal, molded plastic or biodegradable material, or any other feasible material, based on its permanent use or disposable nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a side view of the holder/stirrer;

FIG. 2 depicts FIG. 1 with the holder capabilities put in use with a tea bag;

FIG. 3 depicts an alternate form of the holder/stirrer in FIG. 1 in which there exists a jagged edge.

FIG. 4 depicts a top view thereof

FIG. 5 depicts a front view thereof, and

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of FIG. 2 showing the design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, a general depiction in accordance with preferred embodiment of the holder/stirrer is labeled with the reference number 10. The utensil 10 contains a region 11 on one end with the ability to pinch/hold and/or pierce an object (typically to hold a tea bag or pierce through fruit and the like). A small indentation or cut out 12 on the side of the holder/stirrer is used to wedge and grasp a string. The regions defined by the number 13 are simply exemplified areas where material could be cut out of the utensil to maximize costs and efficiently use material.
Referring to FIG. 2, an equivalent model of utensil 10 is shown while being put in use to hold a tea bag 15, with its corresponding string 16 in the wedging area 12, and an attached label 17 a decent distance away from the tea bag. This configuration will allow the tea bag 15 to remain at the bottom of the beverage container with the labeled end 17 at a secure heightened distance away from the soggy bag, preventing liquid from seeping up the string 16 and potentially creating a nuisance by dripping out of the cup via the label 17. In addition, this configuration secures the tea bag 15 and labeled end 17 such that if water is poured into the beverage container with the tea bag 15 placed beforehand, the labeled end 17 is prevented from being pulled into the cup.
Referring to FIG. 3, an altered form of utensil 10 is used where a jagged edge 14 has been applied for potential slicing/cutting purposes. This potential allows for slicing of possible additions (such as fruits, etc.).
Referring to FIG. 6, it exemplifies FIG. 2 in a three dimensional format.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been depicted; due to the fact that various modifications can be applied to the invention, the details and explanation above are not meant to limit the capability, features, and function of the product.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A multifunctional holder/stirrer for use with a tea bag, comprising: means for grasping the tea bag at one end and another location along the edge to wedge a possible accompanying string and/or label of the tea bag, said holder/stirrer possibly having extrusions within the body for purposes of material efficiency, as shown and described.

2. A multifunctional holder/stirrer arrangement of claim 1, wherein a portion of an edge is jagged.