AU750188B2

AU750188B2 - Coffee/tea/beverage stick

Info

Publication number: AU750188B2
Application number: AU57109/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Graham Hopper
Original assignee: DAVID G HOPPER
Current assignee: DAVID G HOPPER
Priority date: 1999-11-01
Filing date: 1999-11-01
Publication date: 2002-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 2019-11-01
Also published as: AU2005200601A1; AU5710999A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT APPLICATION COFFEE/TEA/BEVERAGE

STICK

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of its use known to me: 0 David G. Hopper I I, October, 1999 Complete Patent Application Coffee/Tea/Beverage Stick page 2 of 6 COFFEE/TEA/BEVERAGE

STICK

This invention relates to the combination of various ingredients contained within a single stick form, which is stirred into water or similar fluid in order to produce a beverage. It performs the function of adding all ingredients in the one application while also providing a convenient stirrer in the same application.

People often prepare coffee, tea and other beverages by combining the beverage, for example coffee with sugar and milk. In a number of environments this is performed using sugar, milk, spoons or stirrers. These are often supplied in separate serving forms such as satchels or individual bags. Beverages are often made in an environment that can be inconvenient, disorganised, ill equipped and unhygienic. Such areas include workplace kitchens common areas, camping, and travelling. People are often preparing coffee or tea at work and regularly complain of the lack of availability of ingredients, hygiene that there isn't anything to stir their drink with. Disposable stirrers are occasionally supplied.

These problems are overcome by this present invention comprising a tubular stick containing all of the ingredients required for adding to water, milk or similar liquid in order to make the desired drink. The coffee/tea and beverage stick may be sealed in a small airtight bag to retain 20 freshness. One end of the tubular stick is attached to a diffusion bag that contains the soluble beverage, for example coffee or tea. The hollow handle of the stick contains the other ingredients as appropriate, for example milk and sugar, which are sealed inside the handle until required. The entire stick also acts as a stirrer. The coffee/tea and beverage stick, once used, would then be discarded, similar to disposable stirrers, coffee or tea bags, sugar S 25 satchels.

The application of the invention in principle is to remove the coffee/tea and beverage stick from the airtight bag and stir it into a cup of hot water. The beverage, for example coffee, S' would diffuse into the hot water and simultaneously dissolve a seal or plug at the bottom of S: :30 the tubular stick, allowing the contents, for example sugar and milk to flow into the water as it is stirred by the same stick. Once the desired strength of beverage is achieved, the stick can be removed and discarded.

In another form of the invention, the seal of the hollow stick could comprise of a tear off or removable tip at the opposite end of the diffusion bag, allowing the contents to be poured into the cup.

The tubular stick may be made of any suitable material such as plastic, liquid proof paper or cardboard. The tubular diffusion bag may be made of any material that allows diffusion of granulated, ground, or fine particle beverage. A material similar to that used in tea or coffee bags would be ideal. The airtight bag may be made of foil or any suitable material that provides the sealing of the contents from air, such as proofed paper or plastic. The ingredients contained in the tubular stick handle may be in liquid or dry form, and may vary, depending on the individual requirements of each stick.

One option is to manufacture the coffee/tea and beverage sticks in a number of common combinations. For example tea or coffee, straight (black), black with sugar, white, white with sugar. The other is to manufacture a coffee/tea and beverage stick that allows the user to add the additional contents as desired. These would be contained within the stick, dispensed as required.

David G. Hopper 11 th October, 1999 Complete Patent Application Coffee/Tea/Beverage Stick page 3 of 6 To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which depict examples of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows one example of the coffee/tea and beverage stick according to this invention.

Figure 2 shows another example of the invention and the application of such a beverage stick in a cup of hot water.

Referring to Figure 1 it can be seen that the coffee/tea and beverage stick according to this invention comprises a hollow tubular handle made of a plastic or any similar material, being sealed at both ends so as to encapsulate the desired ingredients The ingredients encapsulated in the tube would ideally be of liquid form however, granulated or powder form may also be used. This tubular handle also performs the function of a stirrer.

It will be realised that the sealed ends of the tube may be performed in the following manner. End may be a permanent seal, requiring the seal at to be temporary in that it will dissolve upon contact with fluid such as water, hence allowing the contents to be released. This seal may be made of any suitable material that will dissolve upon contact S" with water of fluid. The composition of this seal should not interfere with the taste of the beverage being made. Alternatively, end may be a permanent seal, requiring to be a temporary seal, such that can be removed to allow the contents to be released by pouring from the handle. There may also be provision for a breather hole to assist the contents from the tubular handle.

A diffusion bag is attached to end of the tubular handle. The diffusion bag contains any desired beverage that can diffuse or dissolve in water or fluid. The application is ideally S suited to coffee or tea but is also suitable for other beverages.

The coffee/tea/beverage stick may be packaged in an airtight bag to retain freshness of ingredients in the diffusion bag This airtight bag may be made from foil, paper, plastic, or similar material.

35 Figure 2 shows the coffee/tea/beverage stick in operation. The coffee/tea/beverage stick is removed from its airtight bag and stirred into a cup of water or similar fluid. This water or fluid may be hot or cold. Figure 2 depicts a coffee/tea/beverage stick with a temporary seal This seal dissolves upon contact with fluid or water allowing the contents of the handle to be released The handle functions as a stirrer, allowing the user to mix all of the ingredients for the beverage. Once the beverage has been made, the coffee/tea/beverage stick can be discarded. It would be desirable to manufacture the entire invention from recyclable materials.

It will be realised that the coffee/tea/beverage stick is not restricted to one combination and can be manufactured in any number of combinations as required. One example of this would be white coffee with one sugar. The handle would hold the milk and sugar, while the diffusion bag would contain the coffee, possibly a combination of freshly ground and instant coffee.

The airtight bag could be colour coded to indicate the combination. Any number of combinations is possible, depending on the beverage.

David G. Hopper 1 th October, 1999

Claims

1. A coffee/ tea/beverage stick comprising a tubular handle that contains the desirable additional liquid ingredients, encapsulated by a seal at each end of each of the tube, one of which is temporary, with a diffusion bag at the bottom end of the handle thereof, containing the desired beverage in soluble form.

2. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the temporary seal comprises of a removable end such as a perforated tear away part at the end of the stick.

3. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the temporary seal comprises of a removable plug or cap at the end of the stick.

4. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the temporary seal is located at the diffusion bag end of the tube, comprising of a plug or seal that dissolves or is broken upon contact with fluid or water.

The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the desired ingredients are granular or powder form.

6. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim I wherein the tube incorporates a breathing hole to assist liquid ingredients escape. 25

7. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the tubular handle is from plastic.

8. The coffee/tea/beverage stick of claim 1 wherein the diffusion bag is replaced by a solid dissolvable end. 30

9. A coffee/tea/beverage stick substantially as herein described with reference to the *i accompanying drawings. 35 G. 35H Oct David G. Hopper 11 October, 1999 David G. Hopper 11 th October, 1999