| Implement for making a beverage by infusion -> Monitor Keywords |
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Implement for making a beverage by infusionRelated Patent Categories: Food Or Edible Material: Processes, Compositions, And Products, Foraminous Material Infusion Type, Or Foraminous Container Per SeImplement for making a beverage by infusion description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070042083, Implement for making a beverage by infusion. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is directed to an implement for making a beverage by infusion and a method for making the beverage. More particularly, the invention is directed to an implement for making a beverage like fruit juice, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and a drinkable soup. The invention is most particularly desirable for making tea, especially hot tea. The implement comprises a beverage precursor, like tea leaf, that is encapsulated in a solvent permeable or soluble material whereby the encapsulated beverage precursor is associated with the implement at a point on the implement that is sufficiently removed from its handle. The implement for making a beverage by infusion provides for a convenient and enjoyable means for making a beverage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Next to water, tea is the most popular beverage consumed by man. A variety of mechanisms exist to make tea, and these include tea brewing with an automatic brewing machine, infusion of tea leaf in a tea bag with hot or cold water and tea preparation with water and a powdered concentrate. Such mechanisms, while well known, are not always perceived as being convenient, and typically are not perceived as being very posh or "shi shi" to young adults that frequent beverage houses, like coffee and tea cafes. [0003] There is an increasing interest to develop a convenient mechanism for making beverages, especially beverages like tea that are excellent sources of antioxidants. This invention, therefore, is directed to an implement for making a beverage by infusion. The invention is particularly directed to an implement for making a beverage like fruit juice, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and a drinkable soup as well as sauces or marinades. The implement comprises a beverage precursor, like tea leaf, that is encapsulated in a solvent permeable or soluble material whereby the encapsulated beverage precursor is associated with the implement at a point on the implement that is sufficiently removed from its handle. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION [0004] Efforts have been disclosed for making beverages. In U.S. application Ser. No. 2003/0226448 A1, a beverage brewing stirrer with a container having holes is described. The stirrer can be used to infuse or steep a beverage substance like tea. [0005] Other efforts have been disclosed for making beverages. In European Patent No. EP 0 722 410 B1, an infusion package having at least three sides and a drawstring is described. [0006] Still other efforts have been disclosed for making beverages. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,946 B1, a multi-purpose beverage infuser is described. [0007] None of the additional information above describes an implement for making a beverage by infusion wherein a beverage precursor is encapsulated in a solvent permeable or soluble material and associated with the implement at a point sufficiently removed from its handle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to an implement for making a beverage by infusion comprising: [0009] (a) a body; and [0010] (b) an encapsulated beverage precursor, the body comprising a first portion that is associated with the encapsulated beverage precursor, the first portion being sufficiently removed from a second portion on the body, the second portion acting as a handle on the implement. [0011] In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for making a beverage with the implement for making a beverage by infusion of the first aspect of this invention. [0012] In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a beverage made via the method of the second aspect of this invention. [0013] As used herein, infusion is meant to include soaking, steeping or dissolving within a solvent like hot water. Precursor, as used herein, means a material that can produce a beverage when contacted with a solvent, like leaf (especially, tea leaf), powders, crystals, agglomerates and ground bean. Body as used herein means a tangible item or frame made from a material that will not warp or disintegrate when placed in a solvent like boiling water, and including but not limited to, wood, plastic, wax, coated paperboard or metal. Encapsulated, as used herein, means surrounded by or encased within and solvent permeable or solvent soluble above and below a center plane of the implement. Associated with includes, for example, connected or attached to. Sufficiently removed means at a point that when held by a consumer's hand, it is far enough from the encapsulated beverage precursor to prevent the consumer's hand from contacting solvent when the encapsulated beverage is submerged in the solvent. Beverage, as used herein means a liquid consumable by humans, like tea for drinking as well as liquids to cook with such as sauces and marinades. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which: [0015] FIG. 1 is an illustrative perspective view of the implement for making a beverage by infusion of this invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is an illustrative right side view of the implement for making a beverage by infusion of this invention, the illustrative left side view being a mirror image thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0017] The only limitation with respect to the type of beverage precursor that may be used in this invention is that the beverage precursor is one which can yield (upon contact with a solvent) a beverage suitable for human consumption. Illustrative classes of the types of beverage precursors that may be used in this invention include leaf, crystal, powder, liquid, agglomerate and ground bean. Preferred leaf suitable for use in this invention is tea leaf. Preferred crystals and powders and agglomerates include those which can be used to make coffee (including expresso), hot chocolate, tea, sauces, marinades and fruit juice, like lemonade. The ground bean that may be used in this invention is preferably ground coffee bean, and when the beverage precursor is a liquid (including a gel) the encapsulating material should be one which is hot solvent soluble. [0018] It is particularly noted that the tea leaf suitable for use in this invention can be that which is useful for hot or cold brewing, and such tea leaf can be harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant and includes black, green, white and oolong tea, including mixtures thereof. It is also within the scope of this invention to use herb tea (e.g., hibiscus, lemon grass, fennel, licorice, chicory, malted barley or mixtures thereof) with or in lieu of tea leaf harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant. Illustrative tea leaf which may be used for hot brewing is described in European Patent No. EP 1202635 B1 and illustrative tea leaf suitable for cold brew is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,454, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. The most preferred beverage precursor suitable for use in this invention is tea powder or tea leaf, especially black tea leaf. In an especially preferred embodiment, the tea leaf is of superior quality and provided from suppliers like Unilever Foods under the Lipton.RTM. Tea Brand. [0019] In addition to beverage precursor, it is also within the scope of this invention to combine, with the beverage precursor, optional ingredients like sweeteners (natural or artificial); vitamins and supplements like calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin C, B vitamins or mixtures thereof; natural and artificial flavors like, for example, lemon and apple flavors and flavors provided as flavor granules; acidulants like citric acid, malic acid or mixtures thereof and spices like cinnamon, chai, ginger, cardamon, or mixtures thereof. Yet another optional ingredient suitable for use in this invention is a whitener like a fat comprising or non-fat powdered creamer or milk. Such whiteners typically have a mean diameter particle size distribution ranging from about 0.1 microns to about 10 microns and are commercially available from suppliers like Rich Products Corporation. [0020] As to the beverage precursor, the implement for making a beverage by infusion typically comprises from about 1.5 to about 10 grams of beverage precursor. When an individual serving is desired (e.g., about 0.25 liters), such implements preferably comprise from about 1.5 to about 4, and most preferably, from about 1.85 to less than about 3.5 grams of beverage precursor, including all ranges subsumed therein. When a family size serving is desired(e.g., about 1 liter), such implements typically comprise from more than about 3.5 to about 10 grams, and preferably, from about 6.5 to about 8.5 grams, including all ranges subsumed therein. Continue reading about Implement for making a beverage by infusion... 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