The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a solid from which a substance, such as a flavour or a colour is to be extracted by immersion in a liquid. In particular the invention relates to an infuser for holding granular material such as coffee grounds or tea leaves or dust, to be brewed to obtain a flavoured drink.

It is well known to infuse the flavour extracts from coffee grounds or tea leaves to obtain a drink. The disposal of the spent grounds or leaves has been a problem.

To attempt to alleviate this problem, Thomas Sullivan in 1904, placed a predetermined amount of tea leaves in small silk bags which became known as "tea bags".

There are presently two types in the market place, the first being a flat rectangular package having a string extending therefrom; the boiling water is poured over the teabag in a cup and the bag is moved up and down in the hot water by means of the string. When the desired flavour has been infused the "tea bag" removed by means of the string. The thus removed "tea bag" is soggy and messy, and the tea bag drips liquid when it is removed.

The second type is the flat circular bag which is placed in the bottom of the cup and boiling water is poured on top. The problem with this type is that it is difficult to control the extraction of the tea flavour, as the bag is left in the

SUBSTTTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

cup. Again removal of this bag is messy, due to the soggy nature of the spent bag.

Many attempts have been made to provide infusion units which contain a predetermined charge of tea or the like. For example Conrey US Patent 3,193,388, Thompson US Patent 4,806,369. However, these did not alleviate the problem of the soggy nature of the spent charge.

US Patent 3,102,465 attempted to overcome this problem by telescopically enclosing a perforated cylindrical infusion holding chamber, within a cylindrical sheath element, having a single open end which is enclosed by a closure means. The problem with this infusion unit is that it is not a disposable unit and is difficult to use without touching of the perforated cylindrical infusion holding chamber.

Further, these devices are complicated in their manufacture.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate the above disadvantages by providing an infuser, adapted to hold solids to infuse a substance into a liquid in which the infuser is immersed, comprising:

an elongated member having an outer surface and a gripping portion located at a first end;

an infusion charge holding chamber located at or adjacent the other end of the elongated member, and having perforations or porous material therealong communicating between the chamber and the said outer surface;

an external sleeve adapted to move along or over said elongated member such that in a first position the perforations are exposed, whereby, in use, with the infusion charge held in said chamber, when said chamber is immersed in a desired liquid, infuses a substance into the liquid, while in a second position the sleeve covers the perforations or porous material to resist leakage of liquid from said chamber, said sleeve and said elongated member being so dimensioned that, in use, the elongated member is held by a user, at the grip portion and the sleeve moved along or over said elongated member, without the need for the user to touch the perforations or porous material of the infusion charge holding chamber.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a flavour infuser container according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a part sectional view of the particulate holding chamber of the flavour infuser shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 illustrates the flavour infuser shown in figure 1 with the sleeve in its sealing position;

Figures 4a and 4b illustrate another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the sleeve has a spoon-element integral therewith;

Figure 5 illustrates a close up view of the spoon of the embodiment illustrated in figures 4a and 4b;

Figure 6 illustrates a variation of the embodiment shown in figures 4a and 4b;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate details of the end portion of embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 9a to 9c illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention wherein a spoon element is integral with the main body of the infuser;

Figure 10 illustrates a variation of the embodiment of figure 9a, 9b and 9c;

Figure 11 illustrates further embodiment of the present invention in which the infuser body is shaped to act as a spoon;

Figures 12a, 12b and 12c illustrate an infuser of yet a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 13a and 13b illustrates an infuser according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 14a and 14b, 15a, 15b 16 & 17 illustrate furthers embodiment of the present invention with particulate material cartridges packaged as modular units;

SUBSITTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

Figures 18, 19a and 19b and 20a and 20b illustrate yet further embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 21 and 22 illustrating a modified version of the embodiment illustrate in figures 1 and 2;

Figures 23 and 24 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in which the infiision charge holding chamber is arcuate;

Figures 25, 26 and 27 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention, having a folding sleeve;

Figures 28 and 29 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention having a conical infusion charge holding chamber;

Figures 30 and 31 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 32 and 33 illustrate a further embodiment utilizing an annular shaped infusion charge holding chamber;

Figures 34, 35 and 36 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 37 illustrates a variation of the infuser shown in figures 34, 35 and 36;

Figures 38 and 39 illustrate yet a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 40 and 41 illustrates yet a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 42, 43 and 44 illustrate a variation on the embodiment shown in figures 25, 26 and 27; and

Figures 45 to 47 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in figure 1 one embodiment of the present invention provides an infuser (1) suitable for brewing tea. The infuser comprises a cylindrical housing (2) having sealed ends (3 & 4). Located adjacent the sealed end (3) is a perforated wall portion (5). Located at the end (4) is a gripping portion (64). As shown in figure 2, the inner surface (6) of the wall portion (5) is lined with a porous material (7) which retains the particulate material, in this case tea leaves or dust, within the infuser (1), yet when the infuser is placed in a suitable fluid, the flavour solution passes through the porous material (7) and out through the perforations (8). Because of the elongated nature of the housing (2). The user grips the gripping portion (64) in one hand and slides the sleeve (9) with his other hand towards the gripping portion (64). The thus exposed perforated wall portion (5) of the infuser (1) is immersed in the cup of boiling water and stirred around by means of the gripping portion (64), which action readily assists in the extraction of the flavour from the tea leaves.

Further it is easier to control the amount of extraction and hence the strength of the tea as opposed to some of the prior art.

When the desired amount of extraction has occurred the infuser is removed from the cup and drained for a short period. The sleeve (9) as shown in figure 3 is slid down the housing (2) to seal the perforations (8) of the perforated wall portion (5), to lessen or prevent dripping of liquid from the interior of the cylindrical housing (2). The dimensions of the sleeve (9) and the cylindrical housing (2) could be such as to provide a tight seal therebetween, or the cylindrical housing (2) at end (3) could have a tapered plug shape to seal against the end (10) of the sleeve (9). A stop (30) as shown in figure 7 could be formed with the closed end (3) or integrally with the perforated wall portion (5) is shown in figure 8 to stop the sleeve (9) from moving over the closed end (3) of the housing (2).

Hence the infuser can be readily used without need for the user to touch the perforated wall portion (5), and as such is more hygienic than existing products.

The perforated wall portion (5) could be sealed intermediate its ends by a seal (11) to form a chamber as shown in figure 2, or alternately the housing (2) is hollow for all the length between ends (3) and (4).

Further the housing (2) could be transparent so that the contents can be readily inspected by potential users. Also the perforations (8) could be of any suitable shape or size. The cylindrical housing (2) and sleeve (9) could be made from any suitable material, such as plastics or paper.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 2b;

A further embodiment is shown in figures 4a and 4b, wherein the sleeve (9) has a spoon (12) integral formed therewith. Preferably the tip (29) of the spoon (12) is turned under to reinforce the spoon (12), as shown in figure 5.

Yet a further embodiment is shown in figure 6 wherein the spoon (12) is integral with the sleeve (9) but is positioned facing the closed end (4) of the housing (2).

To protect the spoon (13) during transportation the spoon (13) is integrally formed with the cylindrical housing (2) as shown in figures 9a, 9b and 9c, wherein the sleeve (9) is slid over both the perforated wall portion (5) and the spoon (13) which folds back radially onto itself as shown in figure 9b, when sheathed by the sleeve (9).

A further variation of the embodiment shown in figures 9a, 9b and 9c is shown in figure 10 wherein the spoon (13) is mounted integral on the housing (2) at the end (4) remote from the perforated wall portion (5).

Rather than have the housing as cylindrical the housing could be of any desired cross section such as that shown in figure 11, wherein the housing (14) is crescent in cross section or has a concave upper surface, such that the housing (14) itself at the end (15) or at the perforated end (16) with or without the sleeve (9), can be used as a spoon.

Other embodiments of the infusers of the present invention are shown in figures 12a, 12b and 12c and 13a and 13b, wherein a compressive force is used to squeeze out liquid from the particulate material. In figures 12a, 12b, and

12c, rather than have perforations, the housing (18) has longitudinal slits (19). A particulate material cartridge (25) could be retained in the flexible holding portion (20) by being inserted during manufacture through one of the slits (19) or by folding the cartridge (25) and pushing it through the open end (21) of the housing (18), where it could hold within the flexible holding portion (20) by locking fingers (31) which face inwardly of the flexible holding portion (20).

The infuser (1) is again used in the same manner as those described previously, and on completion of the extraction the sleeve (9) as shown in figure 12b is forced over the flexible holding portion (20) squeezing liquid from the particulate material cartridge (25) and sealing the slits (19) as shown in figure 12c.

The infuser (1) in figures 13a and 13b, comprises a flexible walled perforated portion (22), with the sleeve (23) being of a rigid material having a taper or a necking (24), whereby when the sleeve (23) is pushed towards the closed end (3) of the infuser (1) as shown in figure 13b the particulate material held in the infuser (1) is compressed, squeezing liquid therefrom. In both of these embodiments of figures 12 and 13, the sleeves (9) and (23) again seal against the closed ends (3).

A further squeezing method is shown in figures 14a and 14b which utilizes a piston (32) which is forced down the hollow cylindrical housing (2), to compress the particulate material. In this embodiment the sleeve has been omitted for clarity.

A re-usable infuser is shown in figures 15a and 17 wherein a cap (26) is removable from the free end (27) of the infuser (1), and the spent particulate material cartridge (25) is disposed of. The cartridges (25) are held in separate compartments (28) and the infuser (1) is pushed over the cartridge (25) to remove it from its compartment (28) and the cap (26) closed over the free end (27) sealing the cartridge (25) in the infuser (1). The infuser (1) is then operated in its before described manner.

A further reuseable infuser (1) is shown in figures 15b and 16 wherein a removeable perforated modular (33) is used which has engaging means (34) which releasably lock into a recess (35) in the housing (2).

Whilst the infuser would predominantly be used for making tea, other substances such as coffee, soup, flavouring, herbed teas, or flavouring for milk or cold drinks, or food additives, chemicals or pharmaceuticals, could also be used.

Further rather than have the spoon (13) at the "extraction end" the spoon could be located at the other end or, on top of the sleeve (9) as shown in figure 18.

The present invention therefore provides an infuser which is relatively "drip free" to use or dispose of, and that with the sleeve over the perforations provides a good seal to keep the contents fresh.

The infusers could be made from any suitable material such as plastics, or paper products, or plastic coated or impregnated material.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET ^" (Rule 26)

Rather than the sleeve sliding along the housing of the infuser, the housing (36) as shown in figures 19a and 19b, could have perforations (37) of a similar pattern to that of the sleeve (38) and the sleeve (38) is rotated around the housing (36) to match up the perforations (37) or to close them. In another form, shown in figures 20a and 20b, the sleeve (9) or the cylindrical housing (2) could climb on a helical pathway (39) along the other component, in a similar manner to the operation of a lipstick.

The infuser (1) of figures 21 and 22, rather than have a perforated chamber lined with a porous material as shown in figures 1 and 2, has a porous end (40) with the tea leaf or the like located within the infuser (1), allowing infusion through the pores. A sleeve (9) can be slid along the infuser (1) to cover or expose the porous material (40), as shown in figures 21 & 22. The sleeve (9) could be C shaped in cross section to cover a corresponding shaped porous area.

As shown in figures 23 & 24, the perforated wall portion (41) can be of any suitable shape and have perforations (8) located only on one side of the infusion charge holding chamber (42), with a complementary shaped sealing portion (43) able to slide over and close or expose the perforations (8). Any suitable means such as a retaining band (44) can be used to hold the two parts in engagement.

Rather than have perforations all the way around the infuser, perforations (8) could be located only on one side of the infuser (1). As shown in figures 25, 26 & 27, the sealing portion or sleeve (43) is hingedly attached to the rear of the infusion charge holding chamber (42), and is pivoted from its

SUBSTTTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

open position as shown in figure 25 to its closed position as shown in figure 27 where it snaps over the perforated wall portion (41), closing the perforations

(8)-

The infuser can therefore be packaged in a smaller length than its "in use" length.

The infuser as shown in figures 28 & 29 can have a non uniform cross- section infusion holding chamber (45). The infuser is used in the beforementioned manner, with the sleeve (46) being of a complementary shape to seal the perforations (8), as shown in figure 29.

The embodiment shown in figures 30 and 31 have the end (47) of the infuser (1) heat sealed for ease of production. The sleeve (48) is flexible such that it can expose the perforations (8) as shown in figure 30 or seal them as shown in figure 31 as it moves along the infuser (1).

Figures 32 & 33 show an infuser with a annular body (49) with the perforations (8) located on the inner surface (50) of the annular infusion holding chamber (51) with the "tea leaves" located therein. A central sealing tube or rod (52) slides within the hollow to seal or expose the perforations (8).

In the two embodiments shown in figures 34, 35 & 36 and figure 37, the infuser has been made telescopically collapsible to decrease the volume of storage.

As shown in figure 34, 35 & 36 the infusion charge holding chamber (51) is telescopically connected to the extension rod (53). Therefore as shown in figure 36 when the sleeve (9) is covering the perforations (8), the extension rod (53) can be withdrawn into the solids containing chamber (51).

Figure 37 illustrates schematically one means of forming a collapsible infuser. The sleeve (54) encloses the perforated chamber (55) to seal the perforations (8). The sleeve (54) has an annular shoulder (56) against which the end (57) of the perforated chamber (55) abuts. A hollow extension tube (58) slides through the central opening of the annular shoulder (56) into the perforated chamber (55) in sealing engagement with the end (57) of the chamber (55).

The sleeve (54) may or may not have the spoon (59). In use the extension tube (58) is withdrawn out of the chamber (55) until the end (57) of the chamber (55) locks onto the groove (60) of the extension tube (58). The sleeve (54) can then be slid towards the free end of the extension tube (58), exposing the perforations (8). The "tea leaves" can be loose in the chamber (55) with appropriate porous material covering the perforations or the "tea leaves" could be enclosed in a porous cartridge (61). After use the infuser can be moved to its "collapsed" condition.

Rather than use a sleeve to seal the perforations, the infuser body itself could be collapsible, as shown in figures 38 and 39, and figures 40 and 41.

The infuser body (62) could be concertina shaped as shown in figures 38 & 39, wherein the body (62) is expanded as shown in figure 38 so as to be used

to stir the liquid in order to infuse the liquid, and then compressed to seal the perforations (8) as shown in figure 39.

A similar concept is applied in the embodiments shown in figures 40 and 41, except that the collapsible infuser body (63) is twisted to close or expose the perforations (8).

A modification, as shown in figures 42, 43 and 44, of the embodiment shown in figures 25, 26 and 27 wherein the infuser (1) is elongated to provide a gripping portion (64) remote from the perforated wall portion (42).

As shown in figures 45, 46 and 47, the outer layer (65) of the infuser (1) could have lines of weakness (67) and be attached to the sleeve (66). Upon sliding the sleeve towards the end (4), the outer layer (65) tears along the lines of weakness (67) exposing the perforations (8). Instead of the perforations there could be slits or the like. Further, instead of a single finger of outer layer (65), there could be a plurality of fingers connected to the sleeve (66) which tear along lines of weakness forming slits as the perforations.

Once infusion has taken place, the sleeve, which is of suitable dimension, is slid down to the end (3) covering the perforations, or slits, to resist the infuser from leaking.

With all of the embodiments shown the sleeve could have a spoon formed therewith located at either end or even attached directly to the body of the infuser.

SUBSTTTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

As a disposable unit the infuser body, spoon and/or sleeve could be made from paper or a light cardboard.

It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications and alterations can be made to the infusers shown above without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.