TEA BAG WITH STRING ATTACHED STEEP INDICATOR

Abstract

A tea bag system is disclosed that includes a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator. The tea bag includes a water permeable material that contains tea leaves. The water permeable material enables tea particulates from the tea leaves to diffuse into water when the tea bag is placed in a water-filled container. The tea bag string has a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the tea bag. The tea bag tag connected to the second end of the tea bag string. The steep indicator is operatively associated with the tea bag system. The steep indicator displays discernable indicia that the tea bag has steeped in liquid for designated period of time.

Claims

1.-32. (canceled)

33. A tea bag system, comprising: a tea bag including a water permeable material that contains tea leaves; a tea bag string having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the tea bag; and a steep indicator operatively associated with the tea bag system, the steep indicator displaying discernable indicia that the tea bag has steeped in tea for designated period of time.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising a tea bag tag connected to the second end of the tea bag string.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that is positioned in the tea bag or the tea bag string.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that wicks up the tea bag string to the tea bag tag.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that is activated by contact with the steeped tea.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that is activated by contact with the steeped tea and incorporates a time-release triggering component after contact with liquid.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that is activated by contact with the steeped tea and incorporates a heat-sensitive triggering component after contact with hot liquid.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that is activated by contact with the steeped tea and incorporates a water-dissolving triggering component after contact with liquid.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator displays discernable indicia in response to contact with steeped tea.

42. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator displays discernable indicia in response to contact with steeped tea that has wicked up the tea bag string from a water-filled container.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the steep indicator is positioned between layers of the tea bag tag.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the steep indicator is incorporated into the tea bag tag.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is an alkaline compound that darkens after contact for the designated period of time with the steeped tea.

46. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator is a chemical that displays a color after interacting with tannins, polyphenols, or acids in the steeped tea for the designated period of time.

47. The system of claim 33, wherein the tea bag string comprises a cotton core that is surrounded by an outer coating, the outer coating being comprised of a polymer that prevents dampness from a wet core from penetrating the outer coating.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the tea bag tag comprises a paper core that is surrounded by an outer coating, the outer coating being comprised of a polymer that prevents dampness from a wet core from penetrating the outer coating.

49. The system of claim 34, wherein the steep indicator is operatively associated with the tea bag string in addition to the tea bag tag.

50. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator changes to a first color at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second color at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third color at a third level of tea steeping.

51. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator changes to a first shape at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second shape at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third shape at a third level of tea steeping.

52. The system of claim 33, wherein the steep indicator changes to a first length at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second length at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third length at a third level of tea steeping.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn are not necessarily intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, and a tea bag tag.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a water-filled container into which the tea bag of a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, is submerged.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag tag, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string and the tea bag tag, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0020] FIG. 6A illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string to a first length, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0021] FIG. 6B illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string to a second length, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0022] FIG. 6C illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string to a third length, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0023] FIG. 7A illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag tag to a first size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0024] FIG. 7B illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string to a second larger size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

[0025] FIG. 7C illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, having a tea bag, a tea bag string, a tea bag tag, and a steep indicator displayed on the tea bag string to a third largest size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and the like.

[0027] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word comprise and variations thereof, such as, comprises and comprising are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is, as including, but not limited to.

[0028] Reference throughout this specification to one implementation or an implementation means that a particular feature, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.

[0029] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term or is generally employed in its broadest sense, that is, as meaning and/or unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of the implementations.

[0030] FIGS. 1 and 2 present a perspective view of a tea bag system 100 with a string-attached steep indicator, according to one implementation of this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, in one or more implementations, the tea bag system 100 includes a tea bag 110, a tea bag string 130, and a tea bag tag 150. The tea bag 110 contains tea leaves 112 that are used to steep a cup or pot of tea, or other tea-type beverage. It should be appreciated that the tea leaves 112 may be white tea leaves, green tea leaves, oolong tea leaves, black tea leaves, or any other desired variety of tea leaves. Alternatively or additionally, the tea leaves 112 may include herbal teas or have other types of herbs, flowers, plants, and/or spices included in the tea bag 110.

[0031] As described above, in some implementations, the tea bag system 100 includes a tea bag string 130. Referring now to FIG. 2, the tea bag string 130 is used to facilitate the removal of the tea bag 110 from a tea cup 200, tea pot, or other container in which the tea bag 110 is submerged during the steeping process. In one such implementation, the tea bag 110 is submerged in water within a tea cup 200, while at least a portion of the tea bag string 130 remains outside of the water within the tea cup 200. The tea bag string 130 enables a user to pull the tea bag string 130 and remove the tea bag 110 from the water within the tea cup 200 without touching the water, which is typically hot to the touch.

[0032] FIG. 2 displays an implementation of a tea bag 110 submerged in a cup 200 of water to prepare a cup of tea. In another implementation, the cup 200 may be replaced with a pot, a glass, a kettle, or any other known container for use in holding a quantity of liquid. The tea leaves 112 in the tea bag 110 steep within the hot cup 200 of water. Steeping is the soaking of a solid material in a liquid (e.g., water) to extract flavors from the solid material into the liquid. In tea preparation, steeping involves leaving tea leaves 112 in heated water to release the flavors and other particulates into the water.

[0033] Referring still to FIG. 2, after the tea bag 110 has been submerged in the hot cup 200 of water for a period of time, tea particulates from the tea leaves 112 in the tea bag 110 have dissolved into the water and infused the water with the tea particulates, thereby creating tea. Notably, the length of time necessary to properly steep tea may vary based any number of factors, including the type of tea, the temperature of the water, the user's taste preferences, the pH of the water, the presence of any potential contaminates in the water, the material comprising the tea bag, the porosity of the tea bag, and the like. Notably, allowing the tea bag 110 to steep in the cup 200 for a longer period of time will typically create a stronger, but potentially more bitter or astringent, tea flavor.

[0034] As described above, in some implementations, the tea bag system 100 includes a tea bag tag 150 attached to the end of the tea bag string 130. Traditionally, the tea bag tag 150 has served as the primary display of the tea manufacturer's logo, as well as the primary point for a user to hold the tea bag system 100 when dipping the tea bag 110 into the tea cup 200 or removing the tea bag 110 from tea cup 200. As shown in FIG. 3, in some implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag tag 150 is the location of steep-related indicia 160 which specifies that the tea has steeped for a certain period of time.

[0035] In one or more implementations of the tea bag system 100, the steep-related indicia 160 on (or in) the tea bag tag 150 is activated by steeped tea wicking up the tea bag string 130 to contact the steep-related indicia 160. The steeped tea climbs the string 130 via the wicking action created by the teabag string. The wicking action is basically a capillary phenomenon in which fluid is pulled up the string 130. Capillary phenomenon is demonstrated when fluid climbs up a narrow tube inserted into a fluid. Notably, the fluid will climb farther as the tube gets narrower. After the steeped tea has reached the top of the cup 200, the steeped tea may then soak down the side of string external to the cup 200 and reach the steep-related indicia 160 on (or in) the tea bag tag 150.

[0036] Notably, in one or more implementations, it is the steeped tea that activates the steep-related indicia 160 on (or in) the tea bag tag 150, not just water. As such, the tea leaves must first steep into the water to create steeped tea, and then the steeped tea must be wicked up the tea bag string 130 to contact the steep-related indicia 160. This produces a longer time period to activate the steep-related indicia 160, and thus, a long steep time period. In other implementations where a short steep time period is desired, the steep-related indicia 160 on (or in) the tea bag tag 150 may by activated just by contact with the water.

[0037] As the tea leaves 112 steep, the tea leaves 112 release particles called tannins that give the tea its astringency. Additionally, polyphenols and various acids such as succinic, oxalic, malic, citric, and isocitric acid are released from tea during the steeping process. In one or more implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag tag 150 includes alkaline materials (or acidic materials) that interact with the acids in the tea, and/or other materials, such as pH materials in the tea. The alkaline materials, such as liquid dish detergent, purple cabbage, and the like, will make the color of the tea darker. In contrast, acidity materials, such as lemon juice, will make the color of the tea lighter. In other implementations, other chemical reactions can also be created in the steep-related indicia 160 of the tea bag tag 150 by generating reactions with various steep tea components (e.g., tannins, polyphenols, and various acids such as succinic, oxalic, malic, citric, and isocitric add, and the like).

[0038] Accordingly, in some implementations of the tea bag system 100, when the tea leaves 112 in the tea bag 110 have sufficiently steeped into the water to create tea, the tea then wicks up the tea bag string 130 to the steep-related indicia 160 of the tea bag tag 150. The tea bag contains chemical that interact with the tannins, polyphenols, acids, and or other pH containing materials in the tea. In some implementations, the one or more steep-related indicia 160 on the tea bag tag 150 become visible when the tea has been sufficiently steeped and is ready for consumption.

[0039] Notably, the tea bag tag 150 may have initial indicia (other than the steep-related indicia 160) on its surface prior to being moistened by the steeped tea that is wicked by the tea bag string 130. That is, the tea bag tag 150 may have a logo, product name, or other initial indicia on its surface. When the tea bag tag 150 is moistened by the tea that is wicked by the tea bag string 130, the initial indicia on the surface of the tea bag tag 150 may change. For example, in some implementations, additional indicia become visible on the tea bag tag 150 after the tea bag tag 150 has been moistened by the steeped tea that is wicked by the tea bag string 130. In other implementations, at least a portion of the initial indicia is concealed, altered, or otherwise modified by the steep-related indicia 160 after the steeping process and the wicking of the tea up the tea bag string 130.

[0040] In some implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag tags 150 may contain varying amounts of an indicator material for creating the steep-related indicia 160, such as alkaline materials and acidic materials to customize the color response that is produced by the steeped tea reaching the tea bag tag 150 via the wicking action of the tea bag string 130. The indicator material may be incorporated into the material of the tea bag tag 150 itself or the indicator material may be contained inside layers of the tea bag tag material, with the tea bag tag material (e.g., paper) being thin enough to be translucent and show the indicator material for creating the steep-related indicia 160 within the tea bag tag 150 when the tea bag tag 150 is wet. The steep-related indicia 160 may be shaped as a figure, logo, design, phrase, slogan, or any other desired message or image.

[0041] The one or more implementations of the tea bag tag 150 are composed of a paper or cotton material blend, while various different materials may be used in other implementations. In another implementation, the tea bag tag 150 may have a paper or cotton material blend core that is surrounded by an outer coating, such as a polymer (e.g., wax or plastic) that prevents the tea bag tag 150 from being damp to the touch when the core is wet.

[0042] In some implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag string 130 is composed of simple wicking cotton. In other implementations, various different materials may be used instead of, or in addition to, the wicking cotton. In some implementations, the length of the time period that it takes fluid to wick up the tea bag string 130 may be modified by changing the components of the tea bag string 130. For example, in addition to the simple wicking cotton, a percentage of the tea bag string 130 may also be composed of non-wicking (or slower wicking) material (e.g., a polymer) to slow down the wicking of the fluid and lengthen the time period at which the steep indicator 160 is activated for a longer desired steep time. In another example, a percentage of the tea bag string 130 may also be composed of faster wicking material (e.g., a paper product) in addition to the simple wicking cotton, to speed up the wicking of the fluid and shorten the time period at which the steep indicator 160 is activated for a shorter desired steep time.

[0043] In another implementation, the tea bag string 130 may have a wicking cotton core that is surrounded by an outer coating, such as a polymer (e.g., wax or plastic) that prevents the tea bag string 130 from being damp to the touch, or leaking outside of the tea cup 200, when the core is wet. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, in other implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag string 130 may contain the indicator material of the steep-related indicia 160 instead of the indicator material of the steep-related indicia 160 being located in the tea bag tag 150. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, in other implementations of the tea bag system 100, the tea bag string 130 may contain the indicator material of the steep-related indicia 160 as well as the indicator material of the steep-related indicia 160 that is located in the tea bag tag 150.

[0044] In one or more implementations of the tea bag system 100, the steep-related indicia 160 changes to a first color at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second color at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third color at a third level of tea steeping. In other implementations of the tea bag system 100, the steep-related indicia 160 changes to a first length at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second length at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third length at a third level of tea steeping. For example, FIG. 6A illustrates a tea bag system 100, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag string 130 to a first length, after the tea bag has been submerged in a water-filled container 200. In another example, FIG. 6B illustrates a tea bag system 100, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag string 130 to a second length, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container 200. In still another example, FIG. 6C illustrates a tea bag system 100, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag string 130 to a third length, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container 200.

[0045] In still other implementations of the tea bag system 100, the steep-related indicia 160 changes to a first shape or size at a first level of tea steeping, changes to a second shape or size at a second level of tea steeping, and changes to a third shape or size at a third level of tea steeping. For example, FIG. 7A illustrates a tea bag system 100, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag tag 150 at a first size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container 200 until a first level of tea steeping. In another example, FIG. 7B illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag tag 150 to a second larger size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container 200 until a second level of tea steeping. In still another example, FIG. 7C illustrates a tea bag system, in accordance with the present disclosure, with a steep-related indicia 160 displayed on the tea bag tag 150 to a third largest size, after the tea bag has been submerged in the water-filled container 200 until a third level of tea steeping.

[0046] In yet other implementations of the tea bag system 100, indicator material may be located at the connection of the tea bag string 130 with the tea bag 110. In such an implementation, it may be the indicator material (chemical) what wicks up the tea bag string 130 rather than the steeped tea itself. In at least one implementation, the indicator material may be selected to activate in response to contact with a predetermined level of a component of the steeped tea. In another implementation, the indicator material may incorporate a time-release component and activate in response to contact with a predetermined level of a component of the steeped tea. In still another implementation, the indicator material may incorporate a heat sensitive component and activate in response to contact with a predetermined level of a component of the steeped tea. In yet another implementation, the indicator material may incorporate a water dissolving component and activate in response to contact with a predetermined level of a component of the steeped tea. In each of the above implementations, the indicator material may be selected to activate in response to contact with the steeped tea for a designated period of time, not simply in response to immediate contact with the steeped tea.

[0047] The above description of illustrated implementations, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Although specific implementations of and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art. The teachings provided herein of the various implementations can be applied to other portable and/or wearable electronic devices, not necessarily the exemplary wearable electronic devices generally described above. The various implementations described above can be combined to provide further implementations.

[0048] These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.