Tea pot

Abstract

To provide a tea pot that is easy for a user to handle even if a ceramic or glass pot body is used.SOLUTION: A tea pot 10 comprises: a ceramic or glass pot body 1 comprising a barrel part 22 provided with a spout 4, and a cylindrical part 23 provided on an upper part of the barrel part 22, and of which an upper end surface is an opening surface 231; a metallic lid 5 for openably closing the opening surface 231; and a connection member 6 for connecting the pot body 1 and the lid 5. The connection member 6 comprises: a wound body 7 wound around the cylindrical part 23; and a hinge 8 including a fixed piece 81 fixed to the wound body 7, and a movable piece 82 rotatably connected to the fixed piece 81, and fixed to the lid 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a teapot. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional teapot is described in Patent Document 1. The teapot described in Patent Document 1 includes a pot body made of a metal material such as stainless steel, a lid that closes the opening of the pot body in an openable and closable manner, and a hinge that connects the pot body and the lid.

[0003] The teapot described in Patent Document 1 has a metal pot body and lid, so even when filled with hot water, the total weight is light. This has the advantage of being easy to handle. In addition, the lid is connected to the pot body via a hinge, so there is also the advantage that the lid will not get lost. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-264135 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, as in Patent Document 1, when the pot body is made of metal, it has a small heat capacity and poor heat retention, and is insufficient to bring out the delicate aroma and flavor when extracting black tea.It is also difficult to use with Japanese tea or Chinese tea, and lacks versatility.

[0006] On the other hand, if the entire teapot is made of ceramic or glass, the total weight becomes too large, making it difficult for the user to handle, and since the pot body and lid are separate, it must be handled with both hands, which also makes it difficult to handle.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a teapot that is easy for the user to handle, even if the pot body is made of ceramic or glass. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a teapot comprising a ceramic or glass pot body having a cylindrical portion with an opening at its top end and a spout that opens to the opening, a metal lid that can open and close the opening, and a connecting member that connects the pot body to the lid. The connecting member has a wrapping member that wraps around the cylindrical portion, a fixed piece fixed to the wrapping member, and a hinge that includes a movable piece rotatably connected to the fixed piece and fixed to the lid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The teapot of the above aspect of the present invention has the advantage that, although the pot body is made of ceramic or glass, the lid is made of metal, making the total weight as light as possible, and because the pot body and lid are connected by a connecting member, the lid is less likely to be lost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a teapot according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper part of the teapot according to the embodiment, where (A) is a view when the lid is in the closed position, and (B) is a view when the lid is in the open position. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a fastening member of the teapot according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view of the recess as seen from the rear surface of the pot body according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the tea strainer according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in Figure 1, a teapot 10 according to this embodiment comprises a pot body 1, a lid 5, a connecting member 6 connecting the pot body 1 and the lid 5, and a tea strainer 9.

[0012] For ease of explanation, the following description will be based on the state in which teapot 10 is placed on a horizontal surface. As shown in FIG. 1 , the direction from handle 3 to spout 4 of teapot 10 and parallel to the horizontal surface is defined as the "front direction," the direction opposite to the front direction is defined as the "rear direction," and the direction parallel to the front and rear directions is defined as the "front-to-rear direction." Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and parallel to the horizontal surface is defined as the "left-to-right direction," and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions is defined as the "height direction." However, these definitions of directions are not intended to specify the manner in which teapot 10 is used.

[0013] In addition, in this specification, "parallel" does not only mean that two lines, planes, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "lines, etc.") do not intersect even when extended, but also means that the angle between the two lines, etc. is within a range of 10°. Furthermore, "perpendicular" means that two lines, etc. intersect within a range of 90°±10°. However, even if two lines, etc. do not intersect directly, if they intersect when extended, they are included in the term "perpendicular."

[0014] (1 pot body) The pot body 1 can store hot or cold water (including the extracted liquid), has a spout 4, and constitutes the main body of the teapot 10. The pot body 1 comprises a storage section 2, a handle 3 formed at the rear end of the storage section 2, and a spout 4 formed at the front end of the storage section 2. The pot body 1 has the storage section 2, the handle 3, and the spout 4 formed integrally.

[0015] The pot body 1 is preferably made of ceramic, and more preferably porcelain. The pot body 1 is made of ceramic, which has the advantages of better heat retention and easier maintenance than pot bodies 1 made of metal such as stainless steel, as well as bringing out the delicate aroma and flavor of black tea in a mellow manner. Furthermore, because the pot body 1 is made of ceramic, it can be used not only for black tea, but also for Japanese tea and Chinese tea, making it a highly versatile teapot 10 that can be used for any type of tea.

[0016] The storage section 2 is a section for storing hot water. There are no particular limitations on the shape of the storage section 2 as long as it is hollow, and examples include a cylindrical, spherical, conical, and truncated conical shape. However, at least the upper end of the storage section 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape (the cylindrical portion at the upper end is referred to as the "cylindrical section 23"). In this embodiment, the storage section 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is cylindrical as a whole.

[0017] The reservoir 2 is composed of a bottom 21, a body 22, and a cylindrical portion 23, in that order from bottom to top. The bottom 21 is the portion that rests on the placement surface. The body 22 extends upward from the bottom 21, and is provided with a handle 3 and a spout 4. The cylindrical portion 23 extends upward from the upper end of the body 22.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2 (B), cylindrical portion 23 has an opening 231 at its upper end surface. Opening 231 of cylindrical portion 23 leads to the interior of storage portion 2 and to spout 4. Opening 231 is surrounded by a flange 232 formed at the upper end of pot body 1. Flange 232 protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of cylindrical portion 23.

[0019] The flange 232 is preferably formed at a position lower than the upper end of the cylindrical portion 23. The distance between the upper end of the cylindrical portion 23 and the flange 232 is preferably 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less. This reduces the risk of water droplets leaking out even if water droplets adhere to the back surface of the lid 5 and adhere to the flange 232. Furthermore, since the flange 232 is formed at a position lower than the upper end of the cylindrical portion 23, even if there is a small gap between the flange 232 and the lid 5, it is less noticeable, and the appearance is less likely to be impaired.

[0020] 2(A) and 2(B), the cylindrical portion 23 preferably has a constricted portion 233 in the middle in the height direction. The constricted portion 233 is a portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 23 with a smaller diameter than other portions in the height direction. By having the constricted portion 233, the wound body 7 of the connecting member 6 (described later) fits into the constricted portion 233, making it difficult for the wound body 7 to come off.

[0021] The handle 3 is the part that serves as the grip of the teapot 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle 3 protrudes rearward from the rear end surface of the body 22. The handle 3 is formed in a roughly C-shape. The length L1 of the handle 3 in the vertical direction within the opening 41 is preferably a length that allows the second, third, fourth, and fifth fingers to fit through all at once. For example, the length L1 is preferably 5 cm or more and 10 cm or less. However, the shape of the handle 3 is not limited to a roughly C-shape and may be, for example, a roughly D-shape, a roughly L-shape, a roughly T-shape, etc.

[0022] Spout 4 is a portion having an opening 41 for pouring out hot and cold water stored in reservoir 2. Spout 4 protrudes forward from the front of the portion below tubular portion 23 (i.e., body 22). Spout 4 extends diagonally upward and forward. Opening 41 of spout 4 is preferably located above the top end of body 22.

[0023] (Lid 5) The lid 5 opens and closes the opening surface 231 of the pot body 1. The lid 5 is connected to the pot body 1 by a connecting member 6, and can be switched between an open position (see FIG. 2(B)) and a closed position (see FIG. 2(A)).

[0024] The lid 5 is made of metal. There are no particular limitations on the metal that constitutes the lid 5, and examples include stainless steel, steel plate, tinplate, and aluminum. However, from the viewpoints of rust prevention and design, it is preferable to use stainless steel. As shown in FIG. 2(A), the lid 5 includes a lid main body 51 and a knob 52. In this embodiment, both the lid main body 51 and the knob 52 are made of metal, but, for example, only the lid main body 51 may be made of metal and the knob 52 may be made of resin. In this specification, if the lid main body 51 is made of metal, it is referred to as a "metal lid 5."

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2(A), the lid main body 51 is formed into a curved shape that bulges upward in the closed position. The lid main body 51 is formed, for example, by drawing or bulging a metal plate. The knob 52 protrudes upward from the lid main body 51. The knob 52 is preferably positioned in the center of the lid main body 51 in a plan view. The user can easily open and close the lid 5 by pinching the knob 52.

[0026] (Connecting member 6) The connecting member 6 connects the pot body 1 and the lid 5. As shown in Fig. 1, the connecting member 6 includes a winding body 7 and a hinge 8. By including the hinge 8, the connecting member 6 can connect the lid 5 to the cylindrical portion 23 in a manner that allows the lid 5 to be switchably switched between an open position and a closed position.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1 , the wrapping body 7 is fixed to the tubular portion 23 by being wound around the tubular portion 23. The wrapping body 7 includes an elongated member 71 and a fastening member 72 that can adjust the tightening force on the tubular portion 23. The wrapping body 7 is firmly fixed to the tubular portion 23 by fastening the fastening member 72 with the elongated member 71 wound around the constricted portion 233 of the tubular portion 23. In particular, there is concern that the connection strength between the pot body 1 and the lid 5 may weaken when hot water is poured into the pot body 1, but the use of the wrapping body 7 reduces the likelihood of the lid 5 falling off the pot body 1. As a result, the wrapping body 7 can withstand use in a frequently used coffee shop or the like.

[0028] Examples of the elongated member 71 include a belt, a wire, a string, a ring, and the like. In this embodiment, the elongated member 71 is formed in a belt shape. The elongated member 71 is preferably made of metal. This allows the connection to the metal hinge 8 to be made by welding, thereby reducing the risk of the elongated member 71 and the hinge 8 coming loose. Furthermore, since the elongated member 71 is made of metal, the risk of the elongated member 71 breaking can be reduced, thereby preventing the lid 5 from falling off the pot body 1.

[0029] The fastening member 72 is provided at the longitudinal end of the elongated member 71, and the clamping force can be adjusted by changing the inner diameter of the elongated member 71. As shown in FIG. 3 , the fastening member 72 includes a first cylindrical body 721 fixed to one longitudinal end of the elongated member 71, a second cylindrical body 722 fixed to the other longitudinal end of the elongated member 71, and a screw 723 connecting the first cylindrical body 721 and the second cylindrical body 722. The inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical body 721 is a so-called clearance hole and is not threaded. On the other hand, the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical body 722 is threaded. The screw 723 passes through the first cylindrical body 721 and is screwed into the thread of the second cylindrical body 722. By turning the screw 723, the distance between the first cylindrical body 721 and the second cylindrical body 722 changes, so that the fastening force of the wound body 7 to the tubular portion 23 can be adjusted.

[0030] Fastening member 72 is preferably disposed at a position corresponding to the front end of pot body 1. This makes fastening member 72 less noticeable and less likely to detract from the design of teapot 10.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2(A), the hinge 8 includes a fixed piece 81 fixed to the winding body 7, and a movable piece 82 rotatably connected to the fixed piece 81 and fixed to the lid 5. The fixed piece 81 extends upward from the rear of the winding body 7. The fixed piece 81 is disposed between the cylindrical portion 23 and the winding body 7, and is welded to the inner peripheral surface of the winding body 7. The fixed piece 81 is formed, for example, by folding back a strip-shaped metal plate and fixing the tip ends of the metal plate to each other. The upper end of the fixed piece 81 can rotatably support a rotation shaft 821 of the movable piece 82.

[0032] The fixing piece 81 is preferably disposed in a recess 234 formed in the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 23. As shown in FIG. 2(A), the recess 234 is formed in the rear portion of the cylindrical portion 23. The depth of the recess 234 is preferably, for example, 1 mm or more and 3 mm or less. As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the recess 234 is formed wider than the width of the fixing piece 81. It is sufficient that the fixing piece 81 is positioned within the recess 234, and it is not necessary that the entire thickness of the fixing piece 81 is contained within the recess 234. This can reduce the protrusion of a portion of the fixing piece 81 toward the handle 3.

[0033] The movable piece 82 is rotatably connected to the fixed piece 81. A rotation shaft 821 of the movable piece 82 extends in the left-right direction and is held at the upper end of the fixed piece 81. When the lid 5 is in the closed position, the rotation shaft 821 is preferably located at a position (middle position) between both ends of the movable piece 82 in the front-to-rear direction, and more preferably at the center of the movable piece 82 in the front-to-rear direction. This allows the lid 5 to be switched between the open position and the closed position simply by rotating the region of the movable piece 822 on the opposite side of the rotation shaft 821 from the lid 5 (referred to as the "opening / closing operation portion 822") around the rotation shaft 821.

[0034] It is preferable that the opening / closing operation part 822 is inclined so that it moves away from the handle 3 as it moves toward the rear tip when the lid 5 is in the closed position. This makes it easy for the user to open and close the lid 5 by operating the opening / closing operation part 822. The movable piece 82 according to this embodiment is formed with an arc-shaped cross section, so that the opening / closing operation part 822 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane when the lid 5 is in the closed position.

[0035] 2(B), when the lid 5 is switched to the open position, the underside of the lid 5 (the surface of the lid 5 facing the opening surface 231) preferably forms an angle t1 with the opening surface 231 of 90° or more, and more preferably the angle is set to 95° or more. This makes it easier to supply tea leaves and hot water from the opening surface 231 and to lift the tea strainer 9 from the pot body 1.

[0036] Furthermore, it is preferable that hinge 8 holds lid 5 in the open position. This configuration makes it easier to supply tea leaves or hot water through opening surface 231 and to lift tea strainer 9 from pot body 1. To hold lid 5 in the open position in hinge 8, for example, a mechanism may be employed in which fixed piece 81 supports rotating shaft 821 in a sliding manner to hold lid 5 at any rotational position, or a mechanism may be employed in which a stopper holds lid 5 in the open position. Alternatively, a moment from lid 5 in the open position may be applied to press movable piece 82 against fixed piece 81, thereby holding lid 5 in the open position.

[0037] The hinge 8 preferably holds the lid 5 approximately horizontally in the closed position, maintaining a gap between the opening surface 231. The gap between the opening surface 231 and the lid 5 is preferably greater than 0 mm and less than 1 mm. This allows the lid 5 to be kept horizontal in the closed position, even if the handle 92 of the tea strainer 9 protrudes from between the upper end of the tubular portion 23 and the lid 5, improving appearance and reducing rattle. Furthermore, because the hinge 8 holds the lid 5 approximately horizontally in the closed position, tilting of the lid 5 can be reduced even when the tea strainer 9 is not in use. Furthermore, because there is a certain gap between the lid 5 in the closed position and the opening surface 231, rattle of the lid 5 can be reduced even when the handle 92 of the tea strainer 9 is rotated around the center of the tea strainer 9 in a plan view. This allows the handle 92 of the tea strainer 9 to be positioned as desired by the user.

[0038] The opening / closing operation unit 822 is preferably disposed in a position overlapping the handle 3 in a plan view. In the opening / closing operation unit 822 of this embodiment, the center line in the width direction is located in a position overlapping the handle 3 in a plan view. This allows the user to switch the open / closed position of the lid 5 with the hand holding the handle 3 while holding the handle 3. However, the opening / closing operation unit 822 does not necessarily have to be located in a position where the center line in the width direction overlaps the handle 3 in a plan view, as long as any part of the opening / closing operation unit 822 in the width direction overlaps the handle 3 in a plan view.

[0039] (Tea strainer 9) As shown in FIG. 5, the tea strainer 9 comprises a cylindrical container 91 with a bottom formed from a porous material such as a mesh material or punched metal, and a handle 92 that protrudes radially outward from the container 91 in a plan view.

[0040] A flange portion 93 is provided on the edge of the upper opening of the container 91, and the tea strainer 9 is held in the pot body 1 by placing this flange portion 93 on the flange 232 of the pot body 1.

[0041] The container 91 preferably has a marker plate 911. The marker plate 911 extends in the circumferential direction. The marker plate 911 is provided on the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the container 91. When the marker plate 911 is attached to the pot body 1, the upper edge of the marker plate 911 indicates the appropriate amount of hot water. Therefore, the user can use the upper edge of the marker plate 911 as a guide to pour the appropriate amount of hot water.

[0042] Handle 92 has a shape formed by bending a long, thin plate, and is fixed to flange portion 93 by rivets, welding, or the like. Handle 92 is made up of a horizontal piece 921, an inclined piece 922, and a gripping piece 923, which are connected in this order. As a result, even when tea strainer 9 is stored inside pot body 1, as shown in Figure 2, handle 92 can be protruded to the outside through the gap between opening surface 231 and lid 5, making it easy for the user to handle tea strainer 9.

[0043] The horizontal piece 921 protrudes horizontally from the flange portion 93 of the housing 91. The horizontal piece 921 extends along the upper surface of the flange 232 of the cylindrical portion 23. The inclined piece 922 extends from the outer end of the horizontal piece 921 and stands upright along the inner circumferential surface of the opening of the cylindrical portion 23. The gripping piece 923 extends from the upper end of the inclined piece 922 and protrudes outward beyond the cylindrical portion 23 in a plan view.

[0044] (effect) As described above, teapot 10 according to this embodiment comprises pot body 1 made of ceramic, metal lid 5, and connecting member 6 that connects pot body 1 and lid 5. Pot body 1 has body 22 provided with spout 4, and tubular portion 23 provided at the top of body 22 and having an opening 231 at its upper end surface. Connecting member 6 has wrapping body 7 that wraps around tubular portion 23, and hinge 8. Hinge 8 includes fixed piece 81 fixed to wrapping body 7, and movable piece 82 rotatably connected to fixed piece 81 and fixed to lid 5.

[0045] In the teapot 10 according to this embodiment, the pot body 1 and lid 5 are connected by a connecting member 6, making it difficult to lose the lid 5 and eliminating the need to worry about where to store the lid 5 when brewing tea or other beverages. Furthermore, because the lid 5 is made of metal, the overall weight can be kept as light as possible. Furthermore, because the pot body 1 is made of ceramic, it has the advantages of better heat retention and easier maintenance than a metal pot body 1, as well as bringing out the delicate aroma and flavor of black tea in a mellow way. Furthermore, because the pot body 1 is made of ceramic, it can be used not only for black tea but also for Japanese tea and Chinese tea, making it a highly versatile teapot 10 that can be used for any type of tea.

[0046] Furthermore, in teapot 10 according to this embodiment, cylindrical portion 23 has constricted portion 233 around which wrapping body 7 is wound, making it difficult for wrapping body 7 to come off cylindrical portion 23. This prevents lid 5 from falling off pot body 1, allowing the user to use teapot 10 with peace of mind even when handling boiling water.

[0047] In addition, in the teapot 10 of this embodiment, a recess 234 in which the fixing piece 81 is arranged is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 23, thereby reducing the protrusion of the fixing piece 81 from the cylindrical portion 23.

[0048] Furthermore, in the teapot 10 of this embodiment, the lid 5 has a lid main body portion 51 to which the hinge 8 is connected and a knob portion 52 provided on the lid main body portion 51, so that it is easy to hold the pot main body 1 with one hand while operating the lid 5 with the other hand.

[0049] Furthermore, in the teapot 10 according to this embodiment, the movable piece 82 has the opening and closing operation part 822, so that the lid 5 can be easily opened and closed by simply moving a finger.

[0050] In addition, in the teapot 10 of this embodiment, the opening and closing operation part 822 is positioned so that it overlaps the handle 3 when viewed in a plan view, so that the lid 5 can be opened and closed while holding the teapot 10 with one hand.

[0051] Furthermore, in the teapot 10 of this embodiment, the surface of the lid 5 facing the opening surface 231 is set so that when the lid 5 is in the open position, the angle it forms with the opening surface 231 is 90° or more, making it easy to supply tea leaves and hot water from the opening surface 231, and even when a tea strainer 9 is used, it is easy to attach the tea strainer 9.

[0052] Furthermore, in the teapot 10 according to this embodiment, the connecting member 6 is configured to hold the lid 5 in the open position, making it even easier to dispense tea leaves and hot water from the opening surface 231.

[0053] [Modification] The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present invention. The embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Modifications of the embodiment are listed below. The modifications described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the pot body 1 is made of ceramic, but the pot body 1 of the present invention may be made of glass.

[0055] In the teapot 10 according to the above embodiment, the connecting member 6 is made of metal, but it may also be made of, for example, resin.

[0056] Although the teapot 10 according to the above embodiment has the tea strainer 9, the tea strainer 9 may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10 Teapot 1 pot body 22 Torso 23 Cylindrical part 231 Opening 233 Neck 234 Recess 3 Handle 4 spout 5 Lid 51 Lid body part 52 Knob 6 Connecting members 7 Winding body 71 Long members 72 Fastening members 8 Hinge 81 Fixed piece 82 Movable piece 821 Rotating shaft 822 Opening and closing operation part

Claims

1. a ceramic or glass pot body having a body portion provided with a spout and a cylindrical portion provided at the top of the body portion and having an open top surface; a metal cover that closes the opening surface in an openable and closable manner; a connecting member that connects the pot body and the lid; Equipped with The connecting member is a winding body wound around the cylindrical portion; a hinge including a fixed piece fixed to the winding body and a movable piece rotatably connected to the fixed piece and fixed to the lid; A teapot having:

2. The cylindrical portion has a constricted portion around which the wound body is wound.

2. The teapot of claim 1.

3. A recess in which the fixing piece is disposed is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.

3. A teapot according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The lid is a lid main body to which the hinge is connected; A knob portion provided on the lid main body portion; having 3. A teapot according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. The movable piece has an opening / closing operation part located on the opposite side of the rotation axis of the movable piece from the lid.

3. A teapot according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The pot body has a handle, The opening / closing operation unit is disposed at a position overlapping the handle in a plan view.

6. The teapot of claim 5.

7. The surface of the lid facing the opening surface is set so that when the lid is in the open position, the surface forms an angle of 90° or more with the opening surface.

3. A teapot according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The connecting member is configured to hold the lid in the open position.

8. The teapot of claim 7.

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