Combined vessel lid and tea bag receptacle and method of using
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for making tea with tea bags face issues such as disposal of wet tea bags, condensation leakage, and inconsistent tea strength, as they lack effective solutions for containment and agitation during infusion.
Innovation Solution
A combined vessel and lid assembly with a built-in receptacle for used tea bags, featuring a continuous drip projection and perimeter recess that allows for secure placement as a lid, prevents leakage, and enables easy agitation of the tea bag, while maintaining the desired tea strength by controlling infusion time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate tea bag receptacle is provided, then tea bag disposal is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure is merged with an integrated tea bag receptacle function. The elevated central platform with its recessed area serves dual purposes: managing condensation during infusion and providing a receptacle for used tea bags. This merging eliminates the need for separate tea bag disposal containers while maintaining all necessary functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The central elevated platform structure performs multiple functions: it serves as a condensation collection platform during infusion and as a tea bag receptacle for disposal. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the tea-making system.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a narrow slot is provided in the lid for tea bag placement, then tea containment is improved, but tea bag string location becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lid structure segments the containment function (peripheral recess) from the placement function (central elevated platform). The peripheral recess provides tight containment to prevent tea leakage, while the larger central platform area provides ample space for locating and placing the tea bag string, resolving the contradiction between tight containment and ease of string location.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1F
Figure 2A~2F
Figure 3A~3F
AI summary
A tableware tea piece (10, 11, 12) intended to be used in conjunction with a drinking cup (60, 6) or teapot (63) vessel (60), includes first and second principal surfaces (1) and a well (8) defined by the second surface (1, 2, 95). It further includes a perimeter recess (40), and is configured and arranged (2) to be placed to act as a lid on a vessel (60) containing hot water (90) with the first surface (1, 2, 95) uppermost without slipping sideways off the vessel (60) and forming an aperture in side (1, 2) the rim (62) of the vessel (60). The tea piece (10, 11, 12) may be inverted and placed on a horizontal surface (1, 2, 95) with the second principal surface (1, 2, 95) uppermost and the first principal surface (1, 2, 95) supporting the piece (10) after inversion, to act as a receptacle for a used tea bag (80, 84), such that tea (89) which emanates from the used tea bag (80, 84) is contained on the second principal surface (1, 2, 95) within the well (8) and does not spill onto the horizontal surface (1, 2, 95).