DEVICE FOR THE SQUEEZING AND DISPOSAL OF TEABAGS

Abstract

The invention is intended to solve the problem of squeezing and recycling of individual tea bags after their use, to enhance the aesthetic component of the process, as well as to be used as an advertising, information medium. In its original static state, the device has an elongated shape, presumably of a rectangular flat plate. After the device is folded in half, i.e. after the completion of its operation cycle, it acquires a different shape, presumably of a triangular, with four legs (the number is optional), fixing it to a surface, for example, a table. The used bag will be located inside the device, on any of its planes. Due to its low cost, a one-time and widespread use of the device is foreseen.

Claims

1. A teabag squeezer and recycler, characterized by a prolate form, such as rectangular, in its static condition. However, it may take any other form and has a slot at its center (or slightly shifted from the center) against its long sides, as well as on the right or on the left sidea slot half the width of the device (or less). The slot is randomly shaped, as a cone, for instance. The slot can be located on both the left and the right side of the device. At the end of the slot (according to the device width), a creasing can be made rectilinearly against the slot, defining the direction for further folding of the device in half (in two parts). The parts in their turn may not necessarily be of the same length. Additionally, starting from the creasing to either side or to both sides simultaneously, special cut-outs can be made, originating from the creasing center and directed to any side against the long sides of the device. At both ends of the devices, at each of its sides against the long sides, the legs and the device bottom are cut out. They are of the random size and geometrical shape, while the bottom can also be provided with a creasing at the point of its folding, made by any conventional method. Also, the bottom may have a slot in its center, or in any other place. The bottom slot, in its turn, is randomly shaped. All cut-outs are made in a way, ensuring that at the end of the operation cycle, they are combined with the device bottom, forming a closed object of a triangular or any other shape with a used tea bag inside, standing on four feet (the number is optional), or just lying on one of the flat sides of the surface, for example, on a table. Also, in close proximity to the legs of the device, protruding guide ways are foreseen in both planes to help determine the direction of liquid drainage and minimize the risk of spilling. The guide ways may be randomly shaped and sized, made in any quantity, using any conventional method.

2. The device described in claim 1, is characterized by the presence of a cut-out on both left and right sides of any shape and any size, which can be shifted in any direction in relation to the long sides of the device.

3. The device described in claim 2, is characterized by the presence of a creasing, located immediately after the cut and up to the end of the opposite side of the device, which is rectilinear to the cut-out and defines the direction of the folding.

4. The device described in claim 3, represented by a flat plate of a random, mainly elongated shape.

5. The device described in claim 4, characterized by the fact that any of the planes can be used in a direct contact with a tea bag, since the device can bend freely to any side, and in case of the protruding partsallowing for their interconnection in the folded state.

6. The device described in claim 5, characterized by the presence of legs, on which the device is standing, and the bottom, locking the device in a folded, closed position, as well as keeping the bag inside the device.

7. The device described in claim 6, characterized by the fact that any of the sides or planes can be used as an advertising or information medium of any content, or signs, applied by any conventional materials using any conventional methods.

8. The device described in claim 7, produced mainly of the paper or any other suitable material, coated with laminating film, conventionally used in food industry, or with any other substitute material or method.

9. The device described in claim 8, produced mainly using the printing equipment or any other conventional methods, using any other suitable equipment.

10. The device described in claim 9, characterized by the presence of a creasing at any of the sides or at both sides simultaneously, as well as cut-outs, originating from the center of a creasing directed to any side against the long sides of the device. Thus, the solution of an individual design of the device is given.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevation view of a teabag squeezing and recycling device in its original form and in static condition.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a left side view of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device being folded at a creasing located at a center of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device being folded away from legs located adjacent to the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0020] FIG. 5 illustrates insertion of a holding thread of a tea bag in a slot located in the center of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates pressing the teabag squeezing and recycling device from top towards the tea bag so that the teabag squeezing and recycling device is supported on the tea bag.

[0022] FIG. 7 illustrates pressing the teabag squeezing and recycling device against the top of the tea bag and holding the tea bag with a thread, as well as holding the teabag in place between two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0023] FIG. 8 illustrates squeezing the tea bag between the two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0024] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrates passing the thread of the tea bag through a slot at the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device, while simultaneously holding the teabag squeezing and recycling device in a compressed state.

[0025] FIG. 11 illustrates locking the two contacting sides of the teabag squeezing and recycling device using special slots located in the bottom of the teabag squeezing and recycling device in cuts located at an end of a contacting side.

[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device in a locked form with the tea bag contained within the teabag squeezing and recycling device.

[0027] FIG. 13 illustrates the teabag squeezing and recycling device in its final form with a special cut-out shown in FIG. 1 and providing the teabag squeezing and recycling device with an individual design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a general view of the device for teabag squeezing and recycling in its original form and in static condition, where: 1device slot; 2creasing in place of device folding in half; 3device bottom, 4creasing in the bottom made in place of folding; 5legs; 6slot at the bottom center; 7protruding guide ways defining the direction of the squeezed-out liquid; 8optional slots for an individual design after folding the product in half during its use and (FIG. 2) an end view of the device for teabag squeezing and recycling in the longitudinal plane.

[0029] Initially, in its static condition the device has a rectangular shape, but it can have any other shape with prominent parts on both sides at the request of the customer (FIG. 1). In the center of the device, or with a shift to any of its sides in relation to its long sides, as well as either on the right or on the left side, a slot is cut out, which is half the width of the device or less (1). The slot is randomly shaped. The left and right sides of the slot vary to ease the use for both left-handed and right-handed persons. Next, at the end of the slot and up to the end of the device, a creasing (2) is made rectilinearly in relation to the slot, defining the direction for folding the device in half. Optional cut-outs (8) can be made from the beginning of the creasing to either one or both sides at the discretion of the customer. They originate from the center of the creasing and can be directed in either side in relation to the long sides of the device. Further, after the device is folded in half, the cut-out part remains unfolded, as compared to other parts of the device. Thus, the cut-out part will extend beyond the top point of the device, providing it with an individual design, as requested by the interested persons.

[0030] At both ends of the device, from both sides in relation to the long sides of the device, the so-called legs (5) and the device bottom (3) are placedthese are the cut-outs of a special size and random geometrical shape. The bottom is provided with a creasing (4) at the point of folding, and has a slot (6) at its center. This slot at bottom center is also randomly shaped and sized. It helps to hold and guide the teabag thread. All cuts are made in such a way, so that at the end of the cycle they (cuts) may be combined with the device bottom, forming a closed triangular-shaped object with a used tea bag inside, firmly fixed by means of the legs to any surface, such as a table. Also, protruding guide ways in both planes (7) are foreseen in close proximity to the legs of the device to set the direction of fluid motion and minimize the danger of its spilling. The guide ways may randomly shaped and sized, manufactured by any known method, using any known material. The profile plane of the device (FIG. 2) allows us a flat view of the device. However, liquid guide ways and creasings are protruding in both directions, which is explained by technical manufacturing requirements.

[0031] The device operates as follows:

[0032] After the tea bag has fulfilled its function and needs to be squeezed and recycled, the following steps are required:

[0033] For convenience, before the use of the device, it is recommended to fold it in both planes, in places specifically provided for folding, i.e. where creasings are located, with the exception of creasings forming protuberances to guide the squeezed liquid. However, it should be emphasized that this action is optional.

[0034] These steps are illustrated in (FIG. 3) and (FIG. 4).

[0035] Then, holding a thread of a tea bag, place the device on top of the tea bag so that the thread came through the slot in the device, and the bottom of the device (3) was either in close proximity or at a distance of the user. It is, however, extremely undesirable that the bottom of the device was located to the right or to the left side of the user: the device will continue to operate, but the ease of its use can be seriously affected. Moreover, at the beginning of the operating cycle, the device can be turned to the tea bag by any of its planes.

[0036] These steps are illustrated in (FIG. 5).

[0037] Then, while holding the thread of a tea bag over a container (the container is not shown in the figure), where the bag has been used, press the device against the tea bag from the top, so that the device is supported. Meanwhile the special cutout will push the bag towards the center of the device.

[0038] This action is illustrated in (FIG. 6).

[0039] Then, while pressing the device against the top of the tea bag and holding it with a thread (preferred option) or holding the device and pulling up the thread (less preferred option, since threads of teabags of economy brands of tea are unreliable and break easily), as well as holding the device in place of its folding in half (creasing location) with your fingers, so that the bag remained between the two contacting sides of the device, i.e. inside.

[0040] This action is illustrated in (FIG. 7).

[0041] Then, as soon as the tea bag has been placed inside the device, while holding the thread of a tea bag with fingers of one hand, press with greater force on both halves of the device, squeezing them towards each other and thereby removing liquid residues into the container, where the tea bag had been used (container is not shown in the figure). Shake off the remnants of liquid on the legs of the device and, holding the device with the same hand you used to squeeze the tea bag, pick a thread of the tea bag with the other hand from either back or front side, depending on the position of the user, and put it into a special slot, located at the center of the bottom.

[0042] This action is illustrated in (FIG. 8).

[0043] Then, pressing the thread that should be located in the slot of the device bottom, while at the same time holding the device in a compressed state, direct the bottom with the help of the thread to special slots, combining and thus, locking them.

[0044] This action is illustrated in (FIG. 9).

[0045] Then, while holding the device in a compressed state, use your fingers to pull the thread and hold the bottom of the device on the top point of the lock. Then, without weakening the pressure on the device bottom, quickly relieve the pressure on the device itself in such a way, that the device sprang and straightened to the extreme points, limited by the bottom of the device and forming a closed object in the shape of a triangle. Having performed these actions, ease the pressure on the bottom of the device. The special shape of the slots and the bottom, holding the bag, cannot reopen. Then, the device is mounted on a surface, for example, on a table, using legs, and recycled with no direct contact with the used tea bag. The cycle is complete.

[0046] This action is illustrated in (FIG. 10) and (FIG. 11).

[0047] (FIG. 12) displays the device in its final form.

[0048] (FIG. 13) displays the device in its final form with a special cut-out (8), shown in detail in (FIG. 1) and providing the device with an individual design.