US1497199A - Infusion device - Google Patents

Description

.lune 10, 1924,

J. H. SUTTHOFF- INE'US ION DEVICE INVENToR i ali/aff TORNEY Patented .lune IG, 1924;.

.n tenias JOI-IN H. SUTTHOFF, OF SEATTLE,.TASH`1NGTQN.

.INFUSION DEVICE.

Application led August 23, 179723. Serial No. 658,972:

To all fui/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN H. SUTTHOFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of ldlasliiiig'ioii, have invented certain new and useful Improvements iii Infusion Devices, of which the following is a speciting the extraction of the soluble and aromatic substances from material that may ybe contained therein.

Another object is to provide an infuscr of `this nature'that is adapted when open to be usedV as a. scoopto dip up material and that is further adapted to serve as a measuring device for measuring the amount of material -that'is beingY used, said infuscr being arranged to have adjustable measuring apparatus placed therein if desired. j

A further object is toprovide an infuscr 'comprising a plurality of sections hinged together in such a manner that certainsections lare adapted to be `swung or rotated within certain other sections to discharge or eject used material therefrom 'afterbrewing'an infusion. j

AFurther 'objects are to provide 'an infuscr in which the parts are all secured together so'that they cannot be detached from each other and to provide an infuscr which .is shaped so that the liquid in which it is iin- Inersed 'willquickly and easily penetrate all parts of the material iii the infuscr.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Before describing the invention in detail I Ydesire to have it understood that the invention is'not limited to the particular construction and arrangement of parts which Iv have illustrated and shall hereinafter describe and that various changes may be made in the mechanism shown without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention and that the 'phraseology which I employ is for the purpose of description and not for limitation. Y

In the accompanying drawings Figure l,

saine substantially Ylied form ofthe invention.

is a view iii perspective of a preferred form of infuscr constructed in accordance V'with .iny'invention showing the device'c'losed.j

Fig. 2 is VaV View in cross section of the on broken line Q-YQ'of Fig. l showing'the device open.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal mid-see tion of the saine.

Fig. t is a perspective .vien7 of a modi- Fig. 5 is a sectional view on broken line -Y 5, 5 of Fig. 4, showing the infuscr closed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view` similar to Fig. 5,

exceptthat the device is in a horizontal `po" sition and is shown open.

Fig. 7 is a sectionalview' showing aiiother modification of the rinvention in which one of the side members is flat. I i

Fig. 8 isa sectional view showing another modified. form ofthe invention in whicli'the infuscr is made up of one flat member and two arcuate members that are-arranged to slide one over 'the other.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified forni of the invention'in which 'the vinfuscr is made up of a concave 'or recessed rear portion and two arcuate front 'members arranged to slide oneyoverthe other.

Fig. 10 isa sectional view of the'infuser shown nin Fig.' 9 as it may appear when fully open lFig. l1 is a. sectional vview of another 4modified form ofthe invention which VVVmay be similar to the forms shown infFigs. l to 6, except that the inner member is aseg- .ment less than a semiecircle therebymaking it more easily7 cleaned.

become separated when not in use and which often become battered and bent up, in .washing with other dishes, in such a mannerlas to render them difficult to put together again. These two part devicesl `are ofteir relatively deep and small, makingV themgcomparatively hard to clean and are usually constructed so that they require the use of both hands to' putvthem together. In de` signing my present infuscr I have kept'in mind the objectionable features above pointed out and have endeavored to produce a Ydevice that will overcomethe same.

. Referring to `the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals designate like parts, I have shown, in Figs. l, '2 and 3 a preferred embodiment of my infuser com- Y posed of two oval shaped half shells 12 and 13 provided at opposite ends on the line of their major axis with overlapping lugs 1-, through which extend pivots 15 that pivotally connect the two half shells together. The half shells 12 and 13 are of comparatively thin but strong perforated metal and one of said half shells 12 is slightly smaller than the other half shell 13 so that sail two half shells may be turned one within the other. When the half shells 12 and 13 are in the closed position shown in Fig. 1 the device presents substantially the symmetrical oval appearance of an ordinary football.

The innermost half shell 12 is provided with a iiXedly mounted handle 16 having a shouldered portion 17 arranged to snap over the edge of the outer half shell 13 to hold said two half shell members in the position shown in Fig. 1. lf desired a thumb piece 18 may be provided on the exterior of the outer half shell 13 see Fig. 2 to facilitate opening and closing the device.

In filling or charging the infuser the same is opened as shown in Fig. 2 and may be dipped into the material like a scoop or the material may be poured into the inner half shell 12,` the outer half shell is then rotated to the closed position and snapped into engagement with the shouldered portion 17 of the handle 16 which is secured to the inner half shell 12. The infuser may then be imvmersed in a liquid until the desired amount of soluble and aromatic substances are eX- tracted from the contents, whereupon it may be removed and opened into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the material contained therein quickly and easily emptied or washed out. The edges of the inner half shell 12 fit the outer half shell 13 snugly so that, in opening the infuser said edges will sweep through the outer half shell and clean the same. The method of filling or charging, just described, insures that the device will never be filled more than half full thereby allowing room for expansion of the material when it becomes wet and also allowing for a free circulation of liquid through the material at all times. The oval shape of the infuser tends to permit the liquid to penetrate freely in the shorter directions, perpendicular to its major aXis. lf desired the handle 17 may be long like the handle of a spoon as it may terminate in hook that will conveniently hook over the edge of a tea cup where the infuser is placed therein. I

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, l have disclosed an infuser similar to the one disclosed in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the same is formed of two half shells 19 and 2O of semi-cylindrical, instead of oval shape, pivotally connected on an axial line by pins 21 and arranged to be moved rotatably one within the other between the closed and open positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively. A handle 22 is provided on the smaller semi-cylindrical shell 19 and arranged to snap over the edge of the larger semi-cylindrical shell 2O to releasably hold said two shells in the closed position. As a means for measuring a quantity of material in the smaller semi-cylindrical shell 19 l have ilnovided a flat plate 23 having slotted ears 23 which are hingedly mounted on the pivot pins 21 so that the plate 23 may be moved into various adjusted positions said ears 23 being friction bound or being otherwise yieldingly held in such a manner that the plate may be moved by pressure of the fingers but will stay where it is set while material is being dipped or poured into the compartment of which it forms one side. lf desired graduation marks 24; may be provided in the inside of the shell 19 to enable the user to set the device to measure any amount, the graduations preferably corresponding to a tea spoon measure. rllhe measuring plate 23 may also be used to aid in cleaning material out of the shell 19 this being accomplished by placing the fingers onthe plate 23 and moving the saine around within the shell. lt will be understood that a similar measuring plate may be used in other forms herein shown but that the same is not necessary to the successful operation of this device.

ln Figure 7 l have shown an infuser in which the front is formed of a hollow shell 25 as of oblong, spherical or cylindrical shape, and the back member is formed of a flat plate 26 secured to the shell 25 by pivot pins 27 and having a handle 28 provided with snap member 29 arranged to snap over the edge of the shell 25. The lower edge of the shell 25 is provided with an upwardly bent portion 30 forming a stop for the plate 26. ln operation when the shell 25 is turned d own into a position as indicated by dotted lines it may be quickly and easily charged as by dipping or pouring material into that portion of the shell in front of the plate 26. After use the shell 25 and plat-e 26 may be rotated relative to each other to cause the plate to sweep through the shell and eject all used material. therefrom.A

igure 3 shows an infuser substantially the same as shown in Fig. .7 except that the front is made of two shells 31 and 32 are ranged to slide one over the other and each of substantially one fourth of a circle in cross sectional shape. rlhe back portion in Fig. 3 may be a flat plate identical with the plate shown in F 7 and. is connected with shells 31 and 32 by pivots ln iilling this infuser the shells and 32 may occupy the position shown, thus making a device that is very convenient to grasp and dip into the material. This device is easily and quickly cleaned in lthe saine manner as the device shown in Fig. 7' the flat back member being arranged to malte a complete and clean 'rigid with the inner shell 34 and engageable with the outer shell 35 is provided for limiting the relative movement of said two shells in one direction. When closed the several parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 9

and when open said parts may assume the positions shown in Fig. l0, in which latter position the arcuate back portion 36 may serve as a receptacle in which a measured quantity of material may be placed. After use material may be ejected from the shell members 34 and 35 by moving shell member 35 downwardly over shell member 34 and then causing back member 36 with flange 37 to sweep through shell member 34.

In Fig. 11 I have shown an infuser comprising two shell members 4l and 42 connected for relative movement one within the other by pivots 43 the outer shell member 42 being of substantially semi-circular cross sectional shape and the inner shell member 41 being of less curvature than the outer shell member and preferably being, in cross section, a. circular segment, less than a semicircle and arranged so that when it is swung into the outer shell 42 it will stand away from the walls thereof. The extremities of the inner shell member 4l are bent outwardly as at 44 to make a close lit with respect to the outer shell member and to facilitate'the ejection of used material therefrom in cleaning. One advantage gained by making the inner shell member in this form of infuser less than a semicircle in cross section is, that the same is more easily cleaned than are the corresponding forms shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the wet and packed material dropping out or being susceptible to being washed out more easily. Another advantage is that where the inner shell is to be used as a measuring device it may be desired to have the same hold considerably less than the outer shell to allow for expansion of the material that is being used to more than double the original volume when wet.

Infusion devices of the nature liereinbefore described are especially adapted for brewing beverages as tea and coffee and for use as spice boxes which may be placed in vessels of food that are being cooked for flavoriiig the same.

In the use of a device of this nature for preparing an infusion the material as tea or coffee is first placed in the infuser and said infuser is then submerged in liquid preferably hot water long enough lto permit the dissolving out or extractionl of soluble'and aromatic matter from the material suflicient to suit. the taste of the user, whereupon the infusion is poured olf or the infuser removed therefrom. After use the infuser is usually emptied and cleaned before it is used again.

By the terni perforated shell members, as herein used I mean any shell members, as of perforated metal, wire mesh or the like, capable of being freely penetrated by a liquid and yet capable of retaining material,

as tea or coffee, from which an infusion is to be prepared.

' Infusers will preferably be made in various sizes the smaller ones holding only enough material for brewing a singlecup of beverage as tea, and the larger ones beingof sufficient size to meet different requirements.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings disclose what I now consider to be preferred embodiments of my invention but it will be understood that these disclosures are merely illustrative and that such changes in the same may be resorted to as are within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

l. An infuser embodying .a plurality of perforated members pivotally connected for rotary movement one within another and arranged to form a receptacle capable of being penetrated by liquid.

Q.. An infuser embodying a pluralit. of perforated members pivotally connecte together and arranged to forman enclosure capable of being penetrated by liquid, said members being arranged to be moved one within another to open and close said infuser and to discharge material therefrom.

An infuser embodying a plurality of perforated arcuate members pivoted at opposite points and arranged .to swing one within another into open and closed positions. e

4. An infuser embodying a plurality of perforated members pivotally connected together andarranged to co-operate in forming an enclosure capable of being freely penetrated by liquid, one of said members being arranged to swing within another of said members to discharge material therefrom.

5. An infuser embodying perforated shell members of arcuate cross sectional shape and other members pivoted to said perforated shell members on the central axis of the same and arranged to swing within said perforated shell members.

6. An infuser embodying two perforated shell members of semi-.circular cross sectional shape arranged to fit one within the other and pivoted on their common axis for relative swinging movement.

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7. An infuser embodying two perforated shell members of semi-circular cross sectional shape pivoted together for relative swinging movement on their common axis and arranged to be moved one within the other and readily releasable means for securing said two shell members together to form a container.

r8. An infuser embodying two oval shaped perforated half shells pivoted together on the line of their major axis, one ot said halt shells being slightly larger than the other whereby said halt shells may swing one Within the other.

9. An intuser embodying perforated shell members ot arcuate cross sectional shape pivoted together for relative swinging movement on a common axis and arranged to be moved one within another and a measuring plate pivoted on said common axis and ar ranged to be moved into various adjusted positions within one of said shell members.

10. An intuser embodying a plurality of shell members pivotally connected together for relative swinging movement one within another on a common axis, and devices within said shell members arranged to (zo-operate therewith to form adjustable measuring means.

ll. An intuser embodying two hal]c shells pivotally connected on a common axis and arranged to swing one within the other to torni a receptacle for infusion material, a handle secured to the innermost halt shell and spring means integral with said handle arranged to snap over the edge of the outer-

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